Wow, we feel like a band. It's actually amazing how quickly things come together. I still hate the fucking Journey song, but man do we have that crap together. We sound in sync with each other and we are looking at one another for cues and actually listening which took us much longer when we were trying to do Message of Love. The band is actually functioning as a whole and that is really exciting me, especially because we worked on a song that I can actually stand. We started learning Baba O'Reilly by The Who (whom I actually really like and kind of grew up with because of my uncles) which from the start sounded much better than we would have been just weeks before. There is a definite jump in the skill level from all of us. I'm associating the notes better, Bobby is actually sometimes tuning down and letting others take the lead when he has no idea what he is doing. Alex is really jumping on the drum beats and getting into it. I can stand there and watch his face light up when we speed up. Ellen is more confidant. The first few times when she was playing Sax no one could hear her, admittedly we have turned our volume down but man is that girl wailing the notes out now. Doug seems to be getting better at improvising. It's been a lot of work learning for him to play guitar, I remember last year him performing at out lunch break, he was meek-ish and playing his notes by the book but now he is so confident and when he takes his solos there is real feeling in them. I personally like his solos the best. They sound much more smooth and effortless that they just work. I think this workshop although awkward at first has really become a growing experience for all of us, not just as musicians but as people learning to interact with one another. When someone is too loud and we tell them, they turn down without argument, sometimes there is even a "Thanks I didn't realize" or "Oh wow, that worked now I can hear better. None of us sit anymore, well, besides Katz but I don't see how you could wail on the bass drum and high hat without sitting. We look at each other, move around so that we can hear each other, this is really turning out to be something successful. I can't believe how I used to hate this and it ending on a note where I kind of wish I would be going back down to the community center on Tuesday to see Freddie walk in as we are setting up out instruments to dive into another one of his lessons.
Well, one more day, here we go. GET THERE!
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Further You Get...
It seems that the workshop is only fun when we aren't playing crap.
The first thing we did on Friday was learn some of this groovy song that Freddie said he and the guys he plays with were working on. It had a really funky feeling and just playing it felt so different than any I had done before that I really was like "Damn this is really cool, why haven't I tried anything like this before." We did that for a good portion but it seems all good things must come to an end, because we had to go back to that stupid Journey song. The one good thing about it was that other people learned to turn their instruments down enough so that we could hear Ellen soloing. Other than that we didn't do much new this time besides suggest that we play the famously retitled "Teenage Wasteland" next time. This song to me is alright, it's fun once in a while when it comes on the radio, I just wish we could play something that hasn't been covered a million times by every band that does commercials these days. But I guess that's how it has to happen sometimes.
I managed to talk to Doug a bit about the culminating project for the group, seeing as we both thought that we should learn as a group to play a song that was fun and interesting that included the horn that we learned to play with (Ellen). I had suggested Black and White People by Matchbox Twenty, that would be pretty cool I think. I don't know though, we'll have to see soon I guess.
The first thing we did on Friday was learn some of this groovy song that Freddie said he and the guys he plays with were working on. It had a really funky feeling and just playing it felt so different than any I had done before that I really was like "Damn this is really cool, why haven't I tried anything like this before." We did that for a good portion but it seems all good things must come to an end, because we had to go back to that stupid Journey song. The one good thing about it was that other people learned to turn their instruments down enough so that we could hear Ellen soloing. Other than that we didn't do much new this time besides suggest that we play the famously retitled "Teenage Wasteland" next time. This song to me is alright, it's fun once in a while when it comes on the radio, I just wish we could play something that hasn't been covered a million times by every band that does commercials these days. But I guess that's how it has to happen sometimes.
I managed to talk to Doug a bit about the culminating project for the group, seeing as we both thought that we should learn as a group to play a song that was fun and interesting that included the horn that we learned to play with (Ellen). I had suggested Black and White People by Matchbox Twenty, that would be pretty cool I think. I don't know though, we'll have to see soon I guess.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Third Time's The Charm
This workshop seemed to flow a lot better. Maybe it was because I didn't have to listen to about three guitars wailing on the fucking Journey song. I did like what we did this time because it was something that I could actually learn. We did some blues basics and I feel like that was something simple enough for me to learn without really freaking out. Nobody in the room really knew much about the blues that we were playing (Save for John but it wasn't like he was a master of blues guitar) and we all moved slowly towards sounding really good. I actually settled in comfortably with the blues that we were playing rather quickly. It was a pattern of notes that let me play around with the rhythm and that made it fun.
I think this is a step in the right direction. I am actually getting something out of this workshop other than sitting there to hit the same notes of that dumb band's song that shouldn't have ever been popular anyway. If a little girl can match your pitch by straining her voice upward and the lyrics sound like they are from her "Dear Diary" entries then there is something a tad wrong with your song.
I was very happy, though, when Freddie just came out and said "Bobby you can't play the blues on the metal setting, with all of the distortion no one can really hear what notes you are playing" After that I think Bobby learned that he can't just dick around and do whatever he wants. I hope the next workshop is more of a learning experience like this one was rather than just playing awful music.
I think this is a step in the right direction. I am actually getting something out of this workshop other than sitting there to hit the same notes of that dumb band's song that shouldn't have ever been popular anyway. If a little girl can match your pitch by straining her voice upward and the lyrics sound like they are from her "Dear Diary" entries then there is something a tad wrong with your song.
I was very happy, though, when Freddie just came out and said "Bobby you can't play the blues on the metal setting, with all of the distortion no one can really hear what notes you are playing" After that I think Bobby learned that he can't just dick around and do whatever he wants. I hope the next workshop is more of a learning experience like this one was rather than just playing awful music.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Stac Ska Take 2
I guess it was more fun this time?
I actually really don't know what to say because while I was actually able to play the notes I felt like I was really lagging behind and was completely uncomfortable. It might have just been the air of relaxation in the place where as I had come prepared to do work.
Not to be rude or anything but when Freddie was trying to talk or to explain something Bobby couldn't put down the guitar so that we could hear what was being said, and Freddie didn't have the heart to flat out tell Bobby to cut the shit and shut his guitar off.
I don't know. I mean, I guess playing with a band is cool and all, being able to play my instrument is nice but again, I'm spending 15-20 minutes figuring everything out only to hear Ellen correct me every other note. I don't mind her correcting me at all, what bothers me is that I am the one being corrected. It's not that I think I am so good, it's that I am the only one who is so bad.
Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. Freddie is a nice guy and all, but did we really have to do another cover of Journey's Don't Stop Believing? I hate that fucking song to begin with, and now I have to sit there uncomfortably trying to figure out how to play it while Bobby wails that stupid guitar of his in my ears. I just don't have the heart to yell at the kid. I know no one really says it but I do feel like I'm slowing them down and feel like this is not the workshop for me but I might as well just stick with it. I mean, if Luke thinks it's right and I don't have the balls to just say I don't want to be there then I guess I'm stuck.
Wow, this is starting to sound like a rant. I don't think I ever meant for it to go like this. I just don't really feel like we are doing anything. I'm sure Freddie is trying his best but to teach a bunch of kids Ska in minimal time and the kids aren't all trained musicians, just seems like we're going to be playing a variation on the same song that everyone and their mother has covered. I actually feel like I would get more out of any of the other workshops but it seems too late now.
I don't, however want to come off as rude or whiny or even childish. It's not my intention to complain, though I feel that my thoughts about the workshop should be voiced. Next time I hope there is a writing workshop. I like to play my bass but I don't like to spend 3 weeks feeling like the most brainless person in the room. It's not fun dreading Tuesdays and Fridays.
I actually really don't know what to say because while I was actually able to play the notes I felt like I was really lagging behind and was completely uncomfortable. It might have just been the air of relaxation in the place where as I had come prepared to do work.
Not to be rude or anything but when Freddie was trying to talk or to explain something Bobby couldn't put down the guitar so that we could hear what was being said, and Freddie didn't have the heart to flat out tell Bobby to cut the shit and shut his guitar off.
I don't know. I mean, I guess playing with a band is cool and all, being able to play my instrument is nice but again, I'm spending 15-20 minutes figuring everything out only to hear Ellen correct me every other note. I don't mind her correcting me at all, what bothers me is that I am the one being corrected. It's not that I think I am so good, it's that I am the only one who is so bad.
Maybe I'm looking at this the wrong way. Freddie is a nice guy and all, but did we really have to do another cover of Journey's Don't Stop Believing? I hate that fucking song to begin with, and now I have to sit there uncomfortably trying to figure out how to play it while Bobby wails that stupid guitar of his in my ears. I just don't have the heart to yell at the kid. I know no one really says it but I do feel like I'm slowing them down and feel like this is not the workshop for me but I might as well just stick with it. I mean, if Luke thinks it's right and I don't have the balls to just say I don't want to be there then I guess I'm stuck.
Wow, this is starting to sound like a rant. I don't think I ever meant for it to go like this. I just don't really feel like we are doing anything. I'm sure Freddie is trying his best but to teach a bunch of kids Ska in minimal time and the kids aren't all trained musicians, just seems like we're going to be playing a variation on the same song that everyone and their mother has covered. I actually feel like I would get more out of any of the other workshops but it seems too late now.
I don't, however want to come off as rude or whiny or even childish. It's not my intention to complain, though I feel that my thoughts about the workshop should be voiced. Next time I hope there is a writing workshop. I like to play my bass but I don't like to spend 3 weeks feeling like the most brainless person in the room. It's not fun dreading Tuesdays and Fridays.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Rocksteady Freddie
Ska is something that I have heard before, though have not had a lot of experience with, myself. I know a few songs just from overhearing it at Warped Tour and that my cousin's boyfriend is in a local long island Ska band called O.B.S.
My initial impression is that it sounds kind of Punk-y with horns and saxes thrown in there to add this kind of upbeat, dance-y kind of effect and I think it is rather pleasing to the ears. I did a little bit of research into Ska itself though, and found out that the origins are not anywhere near what I thought it would be. Jamaican.
Wikipedia said: Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the upbeat
This makes a lot of sense to me after listening to the YouTube video that Alex Katz sent out to everyone of Rocksteady Freddie playing a show at the Knitting Factory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkOWB3UkkLk
It didn't sound all that Punk-y like I was used to, which I found out was a subgenre called Skapunk. I learned about this genre when I was young playing the old Tony Hawk video games which had this song: on it. I guess I had just not been exposed to what Ska in it's original form was.
As for research about Freddie Reiter I found that, the band that Luke said he had been in, The Toasters were one of the first American Ska bands of the third wave and could be one of the longest running ska bands with records from 1985 to 2007, which is pretty amazing. He was a sax player for them which was kinda cool to hear since I'm exposed to Sax everyday with my brother playing it all of the time.
His name is also on at least 15 Ska albums (found by looking up his name in something that listed discographies.) Which is pretty amazing.
I'm actually really looking forward to this workshop. I think this is something necessary for me to move forward on my bass guitar skills, and not only that, but the experiences that I have had playing with a band in STAC probably have been some of the most helpful things. I've played two different songs so far, but, with this, since it's lasting a few weeks maybe not only can we get a song or two out of this and advance our skills but maybe to just have a band to play with after this workshop. The STAC Live and STAC Night band have been for a performance but maybe with GET THERE! we can do more than one show. Maybe even play the Rock Show. Who knows? Sounds fun to me.
My initial impression is that it sounds kind of Punk-y with horns and saxes thrown in there to add this kind of upbeat, dance-y kind of effect and I think it is rather pleasing to the ears. I did a little bit of research into Ska itself though, and found out that the origins are not anywhere near what I thought it would be. Jamaican.
Wikipedia said: Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues. It is characterized by a walking bass line accented with rhythms on the upbeat
This makes a lot of sense to me after listening to the YouTube video that Alex Katz sent out to everyone of Rocksteady Freddie playing a show at the Knitting Factory. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkOWB3UkkLk
It didn't sound all that Punk-y like I was used to, which I found out was a subgenre called Skapunk. I learned about this genre when I was young playing the old Tony Hawk video games which had this song: on it. I guess I had just not been exposed to what Ska in it's original form was.
As for research about Freddie Reiter I found that, the band that Luke said he had been in, The Toasters were one of the first American Ska bands of the third wave and could be one of the longest running ska bands with records from 1985 to 2007, which is pretty amazing. He was a sax player for them which was kinda cool to hear since I'm exposed to Sax everyday with my brother playing it all of the time.
His name is also on at least 15 Ska albums (found by looking up his name in something that listed discographies.) Which is pretty amazing.
I'm actually really looking forward to this workshop. I think this is something necessary for me to move forward on my bass guitar skills, and not only that, but the experiences that I have had playing with a band in STAC probably have been some of the most helpful things. I've played two different songs so far, but, with this, since it's lasting a few weeks maybe not only can we get a song or two out of this and advance our skills but maybe to just have a band to play with after this workshop. The STAC Live and STAC Night band have been for a performance but maybe with GET THERE! we can do more than one show. Maybe even play the Rock Show. Who knows? Sounds fun to me.
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