Homework
Current mood: mellow

Every Wednesday night after the show I am given a CD with 3 or 4 new songs on it that I must learn and have ready to perform at rehearsal on Friday afternoon... This is the highest paying gig in town and the boss sure makes you work your ass off for it!

This weeks tunes...

"So What" by Pink - This is a pretty funny tune about Tommy Lee and Kid Rock... Apparently Pink was doing Tommy for a while during the time Tommy and Kid got into a fist fight and this is a song about that... Musically it's pretty much your standard pop-rock tune... nothing too exciting.

"Take Me Out" by Franz Ferdinand - This is just your typical 1-4-5 chord progression like thousands of other tunes but has a great 1/4 note groove to it... kind of cheeser but really fun to play... reminds me of Talking Heads.

"So Hott" by Kid Rock - Speaking of Kid Rock... this is quite the rocking (and vulger) tune with kind of a different arrangement and very cool dynamics... another one that I'm sure will be popular amongst the late night drunken crowd.

"Hitchin A Ride" by Green Day - This is like a killer punk version of the Stray Cat Strut... awesome lyrics about falling off the wagon... As far as punk music goes Green Day is quite melodic...

These are all more examples of songs that I never would have bothered to even learn (let alone listen to) but are very interesting to break down logically and see what makes them "hits"

Constantly learning so many songs sure makes you listen to music differently... sometimes silence truly is golden... 

Currently watching : Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition) Release date: 2005-03-22

9:45 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

I feel like an old man!
Current mood: sore

It's amazing to me how worn out your body can feel just from playing music... people assume that because it's a hobby for most that it doesn't take any work or your energy... not true.

I'm two weeks into the regular house gig and I feel like an old man! I need more naps more often and somehow (I think it's from my rock & roll stance) I have really, really hurt my right hip! It hurts so bad that I can hardly move without any pain... even something as simple as driving the car was agonizing!

I'm going to have to get back into some yoga or at least start a stretching routine or something... I don't know how all these old rockers do it! No wonder Eddie Van Halen had to have hip surgery!

Currently watching : Manhattan Murder Mystery Release date: 1998-12-15

12:40 PM - 9 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

I’m not going to blog about EVERY gig...
Current mood: ninja

But I am going to blog about this one... actually about what happened after the gig...

Unfortunately there is no parking lot close to Hannah's that you don't have to pay to park... I refuse to pay for parking every night I have a gig so I do the "George Costanza method" and work my way out, block by block until I find a parking spot... Tonight I had to park a few blocks away in an area that was not at all crowded with people...

I was just telling Jaime today how it kind of makes me uncomfortable to be walking with a bass guitar case in each hand at 1:30am down these back alleys to get to wherever I have to park... It'd be pretty easy for two guys (possibly one... if he was big enough) to just kick me in the back and grab one (or both) of my basses and take off...

Tonight I opted to take just one bass for that very reason and I'm glad I did...

After the show I was walking back to my car and some drunken college-aged asshole was talking shit to some guy right in front of my car... I slowly made my way across the road towards them when the guy who was clearly not the drunken asshole took off running leaving the drunken asshole talking shit to me about the guy who took off...

"Do you know that faggot?!!?" he screamed.

"No, I don't know him... why are you talking shit to me?" I said.

He got in my face "Good thing you don't know him or I might have to kick your ass too!!"

At this point my blood started boiling and I just about... seriously, just about without a word put my bass down calmly and clocked him right in his fat drunken eyeball... Fucker pissed me off!! (most drunkards who are past a certain point piss me off anyway but he had to get in my face so I became extremely pissed off)

But, I just said "You better get the fuck out of my face... If you have a problem with that guy you go chase after that guy and get the fuck away from me." then I pushed his chest to keep his stank ass breath away from me... He didn't like that I pushed his chest but he must have seen the anger in my face cause he turned around and walked off and resumed talking his shit (yelling it actually) to the other guy...

I'm not the kind of guy to carry a gun or a knife or anything like that but I'm thinking I might have to get a wallet with a chain on it or something (It's kind of Rock & Roll (or trendy at least)) cause I thought for sure that I was going to have to beat this drunk asshole down until he couldn't get up just so I could get away...

Drunk fuckers who can't control their testosterone piss me off!!

Phew... ok, I feel a little better after venting that out...

Oh, the life of the gigging musician!

Currently listening : Demon Days By Gorillaz Release date: 2005-05-24

12:24 AM - 5 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

RJB Gig 1
Current mood: tired

I just got home from my first gig in the new band...

All my practicing and hard work paid off... there were a few little flubs here and there (nothing that wasn't easily recoverable though) but for the most part it went pretty well... It's a pretty high intensity show and I'm feeling pretty sore and tired tonight (especially my plucking fingers... yow!)

My orders from the boss for this week:

-Learn the remaining 6 or 7 songs on list 1

-Start working on list 2

-Get the dimensions for a box to raise my bass cab

-Start thinking about backup vocal parts (already been working on that)

-Buy some "Rock & Roll shirts" and some "Funky hats" (There's something about bass players and their funky hats! ...I don't know what it is)

I'm glad the first gig is over... it feels like I was cramming for a huge exam or something and now it's a relief that it's over... It's already feeling pretty comfortable, the guys are cool, I have my little space on the stage for my amp & cab and there's even a wall-hanger for my bass!

Barefoot Jimmy Bivens and his Americana pals opened the show this week and it was the first time I've seen JB with the full band and they really kicked some ass!!  

Anyway, I'm glad I was able to practice as much as I did this last two weeks... It's all about fine tuning it now... I think for the most part I'm past the hardest part of this new situation and that's good because I would really like to get back to working on my solo show (I got a KILLER new Line 6 filter pedal that is blowing me away and I can't wait to start messing with it!)

I saw a few familiar faces out there tonight... as always, Thank You to all of you wonderful folks out there who support me!

I'm beat... goodnight!  

Currently listening : Blues Dream By Bill Frisell Release date: 2001-01-30

12:51 AM - 4 Comments - 1 Kudos - Add Comment

New Songs
Current mood: creative

I have two new songs on my page...

They are both recorded live in my basement...

Just me, multiple instruments and a loopstation...

This is much like what my solo shows are going to be like...

See you at Moon's on Sunday for brunch right?

10:06 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I Got The Gig!
Current mood: grateful

For the last 3 days I have been practicing my ass off learning about a dozen songs for an audition that I had today... and I got the gig!

I am now officially the bassist for The Rocci Johnson Band!

For my friends and family who are not aware, The Rocci Johnson Band is the house band at Humpin' Hannah's (check out the myspace in my top friends) Hannah's is the club/bar that is pretty much the apex of the downtown scene. The place is packed nuts to butts pretty much every night... The band is made up of some of Boise's most stellar musician's (once again they are all about twice my age! ) I will play three nights a week plus one rehearsal... I will more than double my current income (hell ya!) and since it's a house gig... I DON'T HAVE TO MOVE MY GEAR!!!!!!!    I'll start sometime in early August but for now I've got about 150 songs to learn!

Wow... I am so very thankful for all that I have... I don't know how I got so lucky... Thank you to all of my friends and family that have supported me... thank you, thank you, thank you, I love you!

3:05 PM - 13 Comments - 21 Kudos - Add Comment

Gear Geek

For the last ten years or so I've been subscribed to just about every guitar magazine available... I end up get 3 or 4 magazines a month and up until Jasmine was born I've been able to keep up on reading all of them as well as many books in between... I think I have read maybe 2 books since January and haven't even touched my magazines!

That first few months since a child is born is incredibly hard! But the standard cliche sayings that I hate hearing people say actually are true... it really does get easier!

Now that she is getting a little older and is sleeping a little better and is able to entertain herself somewhat I've been able to work through some of my guitar magazine pile the last few days. (I decided that I'm not going to start a new book until I am caught up with the mags)

Between the mags and my job I'm constantly thinking and analyzing everything about gear (guitar gear in particular) It's gotten so bad that I've even started to dream about tube amps!! Seriously... The other night I was explaining "Class A" versus "Class B" amplification to what I think was a leprechaun!

I've even thought about writing my own review columns for amps and effects pedals!! I don't know why... I don't know who the hell would read it... but it's just one of those things that sometimes it helps you when you write it out (much like long rambling blogs! )

Currently watching : Modes No More Mystery, Frank Gambale Release date: 2002-10-29

5:02 PM - 4 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment

Soundgarden - Superunknown - Track 13
Current mood: grateful

It's a lazy 4th of July morning...

We've spent the morning drinking coffee, eating fruit and watching various kids shows on PBS... Dillon and I will probably go out this afternoon and get a few small fireworks for tonight... We've got dinner already planned and we're just having a nice laid back weekend starting today!

There has been lots of musical things going on these days... I've been playing with Thomas Paul for one... We played a show last weekend at Pengilly's and it turned out pretty well!

There's also a couple of other things in development one in particular that is HUGE... (hopefully) more on that very soon... I should hear something about it today.

And of course I'm still developing my solo show with the loopstation... One of these days I may actually get it all set up and doing what I imagine myself to be doing with it... My vision is bigger than my wallet right now though!!

I've enjoyed the break but I'm definitely feeling that familiar desire/drive again... Some good musical Karma seems to be coming my way these days and I'm incredibly grateful that I have so many options... I'm excited to see what happens! 

Currently listening : Superunknown By Soundgarden Release date: 1994-03-08

10:13 AM - 0 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

Snakes, Arrows, Beers, Hot Dogs & Almonds
Current mood: tired

There are no words to truly describe my evening last night...

I was right next to my Dad and 30 feet away from Alex Lifeson all night long...

Truly a night that will never be forgotten...

Currently listening : Snakes & Arrows By Rush Release date: 2007-05-01

7:39 AM - 3 Comments - 6 Kudos - Add Comment

I need a REAL vacation!
Current mood: bummed

Ok, so I'm usually a little grumpy and cynical (mostly cynical I think) but it's almost always in a joking matter... It's like Larry David... Things/people annoy me and I have to complain about it and get it off my chest but I try to laugh about it and do it in a comedic manner most of the time...

So to those who may have taken offense to my last blog, I wasn't saying anything bad about the firemen themselves... Firemen are great. I'm glad we have them in our society. My Step-brother is a fireman... I have no problems with firemen.  I just don't like anybody shoving a boot in my face asking for money while I'm stuck at a red light... So don't take my ramblings so seriously people!

I'm really stressed out these days... I need a REAL vacation!

Currently listening : Smokin' at the Half Note By Wes Montgomery Release date: 2005-02-15

9:47 AM - 4 Comments - 8 Kudos - Add Comment