Instead of my usual day of rest and hunkering down after the Fri-Tue 'work week', braved the blustery evening to hang out at the bar tonight, in the fine company of Gregory and Al Ritchie. *Tried* to get there late and miss the opener, but they started at 9:45ish. The poster said 9PM. The opener were a prog trio from Chicago featuring a swell Chapman stick player. The IDM solo performer (headliner) was a 'button pusher', in addition to wielding a couple guitars and dancing with abandon to his programmed beats and keeping the beer bottle in reach. The music was somewhat unremarkable, but what I found interesting was the performer's physical presence. It was most entertaining! Being entertaining, that's something I admire. Takes absolute belief in yourself.
Erik stopped his 1-day-a-week cleaning shift cuz it conflicts with his day job. Kelly offered me that shift, and I said yes. I will regret it, but work is work. Door shifts are kinda slim pickings this time of year, and since I'm only working 3 nights, I can handle 4 mornings, maybe, we'll see.
Many music making and drumming projects on tap. Hope they lead to something that won't just fizzle out. A generously donated floor tom, that in it's former life was a parade drum, needs heads and the right size legs. The ones from my old floor tom tom (currently the kick) are too large.
Tonight Deadwood season 3 - 2nd rental this week - awaits my pleasure to view and kettle corn will soon be popping. *** ** ***
*
Listen:
The Cemetery Improvement Society and Aziola Cry live
Ralph Towner - Batik
Read:
The Onion
Tape Op
View:
Deadwood Season 3
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Sunday, November 25, 2007
the holiday season is opon us
Fine Turkey Day with Mom. Hope yours was a wondrous Thanksgiving holiday.
Black Friday's only retail purchases: shampoo and Fairport Convention CD.
Review and tweaking of recordings of Greg and I at our Mother Fools gig in Sept.
CD writer doesn't wish to cooperate in the production. Ouch.
Greg's radio show RTQE is on in a few minutes. Enjoying having Sun nights free, after 2+ yrs working. Sometimes I get to broadcast the show when Greg is away, which is always fun. Yeah, I geek out on all the new fringe music and usually re-discover some things on my shelves at home in the process. So much music, so little airtime.
Listen:
Fairport Convention - What we did on our holidays
Power Tools - Strange Meeting
Thelonious Monk - Alone in San Francisco
Paul Motian - Time and Time Again
Read:
Tape Op magazine
Mastering Audio - Bob Katz
Eat:
Stuffed Squash with red sauce and assorted veggies
Black Friday's only retail purchases: shampoo and Fairport Convention CD.
Review and tweaking of recordings of Greg and I at our Mother Fools gig in Sept.
CD writer doesn't wish to cooperate in the production. Ouch.
Greg's radio show RTQE is on in a few minutes. Enjoying having Sun nights free, after 2+ yrs working. Sometimes I get to broadcast the show when Greg is away, which is always fun. Yeah, I geek out on all the new fringe music and usually re-discover some things on my shelves at home in the process. So much music, so little airtime.
Listen:
Fairport Convention - What we did on our holidays
Power Tools - Strange Meeting
Thelonious Monk - Alone in San Francisco
Paul Motian - Time and Time Again
Read:
Tape Op magazine
Mastering Audio - Bob Katz
Eat:
Stuffed Squash with red sauce and assorted veggies
Friday, November 16, 2007
Some assembly required
Hey, the K2000 *should* work, y'know, be a sampler. New power switch found in box of switches fits fine, soldered and screwed in place, ohmed out, ready to fire up and see if it actually plays samples? Maybe yet tonight.
Sent the invoice for hotel work to budget man and will see if the check shows up yet this year. Hope so, lean times. Grand total of 55 on the door clicker when the bar owner said "you're done" with a smile. S'funny, I was in the middle of doing my only significant 'work' for the late show - telling the teens huddled near the heater that since ID could not be presented, best if they leave. Then running around to other areas of the patio to repeat, yes, in fact, you have to GO!
Snagged a neat whiskey and my slim tippins and went up front to see the 2nd band of three. Engaging, but PUNISHING volume. Best to save my tender sensibilites for playing tomorrow with that Primordial Soup trio.
Listening:
WORT-FM Crazeology
currently Coltrane - My Favorite Things live
Sent the invoice for hotel work to budget man and will see if the check shows up yet this year. Hope so, lean times. Grand total of 55 on the door clicker when the bar owner said "you're done" with a smile. S'funny, I was in the middle of doing my only significant 'work' for the late show - telling the teens huddled near the heater that since ID could not be presented, best if they leave. Then running around to other areas of the patio to repeat, yes, in fact, you have to GO!
Snagged a neat whiskey and my slim tippins and went up front to see the 2nd band of three. Engaging, but PUNISHING volume. Best to save my tender sensibilites for playing tomorrow with that Primordial Soup trio.
Listening:
WORT-FM Crazeology
currently Coltrane - My Favorite Things live
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Day off?
Wed was a good day of some fun and useful activities:
-Replaced all but 2 light bulbs in the apartment with compact florescent ones.
-Made it to invited Jam with neighbor Ellie and friends. I must have done OK on the drum stool as a standing invite for more of these nights was offered. Sun will feature dinner! Nice people and music that I enjoy playing. Hey, have some drums there already too.
-Payed bills and groceries for the next week or so in the fridge and cupboards.
todo:
-Fix the K2000 sampler, phase 3. It now seems to blow fuses because of the mangled power switch. Gotta buy more fuses and tear the sucker apart after all - scary. Borrowed gear is never free - when will I learn!
-Submit an invoice to be paid for that hotel booking work, to include awesome phone charges that arrived yesterday.
-Start an outline of lecture/Q&A for Madison Media Institute.
-More house cleaning, catching up with the neglect of domestic activity from the last 3 weeks of wage-earning toil. Dishes done, next!
-Make some felt-covered caps for the chairs at the nightclub. I love the smell of glue in the evening.
Somewhere in there, call everyone that is wondering why I haven't. Does Greg have time for coffee at Zoma?
Is Thanksgiving at Moms a goer? That *will* be a real day off, separation from the stuff of my living quarters will enforce this nicely!
Listening:
The Mic (as usual during the daytime)
Thomas Dolby - The Flat Earth
-Replaced all but 2 light bulbs in the apartment with compact florescent ones.
-Made it to invited Jam with neighbor Ellie and friends. I must have done OK on the drum stool as a standing invite for more of these nights was offered. Sun will feature dinner! Nice people and music that I enjoy playing. Hey, have some drums there already too.
-Payed bills and groceries for the next week or so in the fridge and cupboards.
todo:
-Fix the K2000 sampler, phase 3. It now seems to blow fuses because of the mangled power switch. Gotta buy more fuses and tear the sucker apart after all - scary. Borrowed gear is never free - when will I learn!
-Submit an invoice to be paid for that hotel booking work, to include awesome phone charges that arrived yesterday.
-Start an outline of lecture/Q&A for Madison Media Institute.
-More house cleaning, catching up with the neglect of domestic activity from the last 3 weeks of wage-earning toil. Dishes done, next!
-Make some felt-covered caps for the chairs at the nightclub. I love the smell of glue in the evening.
Somewhere in there, call everyone that is wondering why I haven't. Does Greg have time for coffee at Zoma?
Is Thanksgiving at Moms a goer? That *will* be a real day off, separation from the stuff of my living quarters will enforce this nicely!
Listening:
The Mic (as usual during the daytime)
Thomas Dolby - The Flat Earth
Sunday, November 11, 2007
the end virtual tour managment
That hotel booking work is finished. Nice to have my life back and unshackle from this 'puter for a while. So here I am blogging - ha! I will get back to doing creative things that do not need digital support. Better living through technology my ass! Computers are a way to make very fast and accurate mistakes.
The performance last night by Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists at the spanking new remodeled Majestic - Wow! Nice place. The Hopilicious on tap was quite tasty. Many friends in attendance!
The music: words fail and it will take some time to digest the experience. One of the most moving musical performances for Tom in recent years. Maybe the less said the better. Ha, that'll never happen.
Well, I got chores 'round the house to do, so gonna post this and - zoom!
The performance last night by Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists at the spanking new remodeled Majestic - Wow! Nice place. The Hopilicious on tap was quite tasty. Many friends in attendance!
The music: words fail and it will take some time to digest the experience. One of the most moving musical performances for Tom in recent years. Maybe the less said the better. Ha, that'll never happen.
Well, I got chores 'round the house to do, so gonna post this and - zoom!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
then backtrack to fix it up
So the 1st hotel I booked was not appropriate for the boss. The ramification: rehearsal room was changed to somewhere else with the likelihood of an acceptable hotel nearby. This was accomplished by a certain Patrick who lived in the area and had a better handle on the logistics. There is no substitute for experience! Then I was given the information to go for it. 2 phone calls later and that's settled, whew. Everyone's happy, at least until they stay there :)
It's day 2 of my 'weekend' and I am getting some of these rooms booked. My 'real' job is goes Friday to Tuesday, it's back to the nightclub tomorrow for 2 shows back to back. Saturday afternoon is time to play drums with pals Tom L and Unk. Boy am I looking forward to some music-making fun!
Raining off and on today, perfect for being shackled to the computer desk in my 'home office'. To do: figure out an easy way to receive faxes without real humans calling being subjected to the dreaded 'fax tone'. I can only have one phone line in this apartment and must be shared between dial-up (yes, I am Old School), fax machine and of course telephone. If I can get at least 2 or 3 more hotels booked and settle the rest of the routing (the when and where of touring musicians), perhaps I can watch a movie or read a bit.
So, it's back to the middle and forward into the possible future lodging of road warriors.
It's day 2 of my 'weekend' and I am getting some of these rooms booked. My 'real' job is goes Friday to Tuesday, it's back to the nightclub tomorrow for 2 shows back to back. Saturday afternoon is time to play drums with pals Tom L and Unk. Boy am I looking forward to some music-making fun!
Raining off and on today, perfect for being shackled to the computer desk in my 'home office'. To do: figure out an easy way to receive faxes without real humans calling being subjected to the dreaded 'fax tone'. I can only have one phone line in this apartment and must be shared between dial-up (yes, I am Old School), fax machine and of course telephone. If I can get at least 2 or 3 more hotels booked and settle the rest of the routing (the when and where of touring musicians), perhaps I can watch a movie or read a bit.
So, it's back to the middle and forward into the possible future lodging of road warriors.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Start at the beginning
Hey, it still works. Signed up and started this firstly to leave a comment, wave hello, on another blog.
Find myself reading a few others now, so might as well jump in and be a blogger too.
October has so far been all about the balancing act of 3 jobs, keeping my head from exploding and body succumbing to a furthered state of middle-agedness.
2 of Tom's jobs take place in a night club. Taking the door cover charge and keeping people safe. I must also enforce the rules. My nights go like this:
-Give me cash and we'll pay the band.
-In Wisconsin, you must be 21 to drink alcohol. No ID? sorry!
-Don't fight or destroy things.
-Keep yer drinks on the premesis, please.
-Please come out to have a good time.
This last is a variation of an axiom from this smartypants person I know. The diligent and welcoming staff here attempt to create an environment where it's *possible* to have a 'good time'. When someone sets out to have a *bad* time (they do), and drag others down with them, the best we can manage is damage control. I try to remain cheerful and welcoming until the badness escalates. But usually, it's 'good times'!
The whole affair orbits the likelihood that music will be played and in turn - *listened* to.
Even **danced** to! Ain't we got fun?
The other job: cleaning & setting up for the next day of good times. Yup, I'm a Janitor. Some would say "Maintenance Engineer", but most of the engineering part is already settled. I loathe house cleaning like anybody, but manage to keep the nightclub clean and shinning like a new penny. While I toil- CDs are played at a volume that would annoy my fellow apartment neighbors. Not that loud really, and not that quiet either. No phone, no trains, no ambient bass from overpowered car systems destroying the vibe. How cool is that?
Fave listening:
Amon Tobin
Captain Beefheart
Paul Simon
The Bears
Job 3, which is really the most difficult, is something I have done before: Hotel Coordinator. wtf? OK, I work with touring artists to arrange their hotel stays in advance while they are on the road. Off to a flying start, my first hotel booking was rejected as just plain wrong. But I haven't been 'fired' yet, so I'll keep plugging away. It's not that kind of 'job' anyway. It's more like something I want to do, to repay a debt. I've said to much...
Have to get back to it RIGHT NOW. a cuppa and off I go.
Find myself reading a few others now, so might as well jump in and be a blogger too.
October has so far been all about the balancing act of 3 jobs, keeping my head from exploding and body succumbing to a furthered state of middle-agedness.
2 of Tom's jobs take place in a night club. Taking the door cover charge and keeping people safe. I must also enforce the rules. My nights go like this:
-Give me cash and we'll pay the band.
-In Wisconsin, you must be 21 to drink alcohol. No ID? sorry!
-Don't fight or destroy things.
-Keep yer drinks on the premesis, please.
-Please come out to have a good time.
This last is a variation of an axiom from this smartypants person I know. The diligent and welcoming staff here attempt to create an environment where it's *possible* to have a 'good time'. When someone sets out to have a *bad* time (they do), and drag others down with them, the best we can manage is damage control. I try to remain cheerful and welcoming until the badness escalates. But usually, it's 'good times'!
The whole affair orbits the likelihood that music will be played and in turn - *listened* to.
Even **danced** to! Ain't we got fun?
The other job: cleaning & setting up for the next day of good times. Yup, I'm a Janitor. Some would say "Maintenance Engineer", but most of the engineering part is already settled. I loathe house cleaning like anybody, but manage to keep the nightclub clean and shinning like a new penny. While I toil- CDs are played at a volume that would annoy my fellow apartment neighbors. Not that loud really, and not that quiet either. No phone, no trains, no ambient bass from overpowered car systems destroying the vibe. How cool is that?
Fave listening:
Amon Tobin
Captain Beefheart
Paul Simon
The Bears
Job 3, which is really the most difficult, is something I have done before: Hotel Coordinator. wtf? OK, I work with touring artists to arrange their hotel stays in advance while they are on the road. Off to a flying start, my first hotel booking was rejected as just plain wrong. But I haven't been 'fired' yet, so I'll keep plugging away. It's not that kind of 'job' anyway. It's more like something I want to do, to repay a debt. I've said to much...
Have to get back to it RIGHT NOW. a cuppa and off I go.
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