Holidays

Here we are again with holiday sales upon us and I am getting ready to do some work to make the money that will go to all those wonderful corporations that market Christmas , Channukkah, Kwanzaa and what ever new day of happy sparkly goodness so well. Its difficult not to lose sight of the fact that these 'holy' days have degraded into Black Friday and Christmas sales where usually at least one walmart greeter will be trampled to death all in the name of getting a flat screen TV at a decent discount --(which is PROBABLY what the REGULAR sales price should be.)


Don't get me wrong, I like family -- I like seeing people I haven't seen as much as I should have over the past year -- it does kind of force you to see people you SHOULD be seeing all year round but you don't have (or make) the time for. I think the true and original meaning of what the holiday IS which is... Christmas, not Channukkah or Kwanzaa -- DECEMBER 25 is Christmas and THAT is why we get all sales crazy  is completely gone from the hearts and minds of the American people.

I might or might not have worked in a Hasidic Jewish community. Those guys were straight from 'the holy land' and they actually believe and keep the old traditions alive -- and MOST of them DO MEAN it. Its not just the pretense -- they are the real deal when it comes to keeping the God and Faith in religion (even if they Do have extremely 'creative accounting' procedures come tax time).

Anyway -- I am including myself when I say that Christmas has lost something ad if Jesus were alive today (and don't go telling me that he IS because if he was he would've given up on us a long time ago and just gone fishing or comic book collecting in some small town in Tibet) he would've at best scolded us for the ways we have justified the use of his name -- first for the crusades, then for the Holiday BS that the purveyors of said TV's, Keurig coffee makers, and salad shooters spew out year after year -- in HIS name.

Lets step back and take a look at what we are about -- and while we go and get those 'killer 'deals lets not lose our humanity in the process. If the greeter is being trampled step OVER him or her to get the TV... try NOT to knock the old woman down while reaching for that new toaster complete with the newest 'bagel technology' built right in.

If you don't get the item you wanted go home and hug your family and know that life is none the worse for any of it... you can always find the useless cheaply made crap all year round, and while it might not be at the SAME discount as now 

-- BIG F'ing DEAL... 

it doesn't matter.

I am a proud american but this phenomenon seems to have its epicenters in OUR cities and suburbs so lets just ease off a smidgen this year and set a GOOD (or at least a decent) example for the world instead of being the punchline for every other country this holiday season, ok ?

Thanks -- thats all for now.

Anniversary of a guy who went semi-postal.

On Dec 7 1995, Disgruntled postal employee John Pitney arrives at his Denver workplace in a dress and is placed on administrative leave.

Pitney returns later that day in the same dress but sporting a strap-on dildo and gorilla mask.

He is arrested.

God bless America and God bless the US Postal Service.

Found this on story on Dailyrotten.com.

End of guitar rig week

It obviously went over like a lead balloon as I had less than a hundred visitors all week -- I should really make a better effort to get the word out there -- but this isn't really my focus as much as it should be -- I am going to pump up traffic in the coming weeks as I am going to have a little bit of free time with the holidays coming -- anyway for those of you who DID get to see it I hope you found something that you can use and if nothing else at least now there's an archive of gear to sift through -- I am going to go back and list some of the different gear so just in case these videos on youtube go bye bye there will still be a record of what the guitar guys were using and it wont just be a dead link.

So as of tomorrow we are back on with the standard fare here of music -- the more 'out there' the better, I am going to add a little funk into the mix since that also holds a special place in my heart (LOVE those guys from Pfunk and Parliament) And of COURSE there be the avante garde orchestral stuff I always have an itch for.

Thanks to everyone for checking the broadcast -- see you all soon. (as in tomorrow)
Peace.

Joe Satriani Rig

This is the sound I wish I had come up with, the epitome of melodic guitar and he has the soulful sound thst I do so deeply dig.

Satch's Guitar tech goes through the gear Joe uses live.

Alex Skolnick -- Remember him ?

Former -- then replaced -- then returned, guitarist for the band "Testament"

Good art - Bad art - Good god man - who blew that fart?

Why is it that people feel the need to compete in artistic matters?

--insert crazy rant here--

Ridiculous.

Technical ability aside -- any art in and of itself can only be as 'good' or 'bad' as the viewer/listener who is taking it in. There will be things that appeal to us in some primordial way, and then there are things that we are unappreciative of. There are things you might like 'the best' but it's entirley subjective and often due to socialized standards that were put onto you from your parents and upbringing. The art itself is something that is neither good nor bad; perceptions and life experiences are what filter all art through our own little prism... whether that is good or bad remains to be seen; as the last man(or woman) alive will be the real final arbiter of what 'fine' art is or was and only they'll be in a position to say who WAS the BEST.

--crazy rant over--

John Petrucci's Guitar Rig

Remember Dream Theater ? This is the guitar muscle from those guys.
Part One


Part Two

The Edge

That guy from U2 is a freaking nut job when it comes to guitar effects, I like some of his tones a lot so here you go, I actually laughed a little to myself when they were about halfway through some of the pedal names... LOTS of toys.



The Edge demonstrating his guitar rig.

Part one


Part two

Eddie VH's Rig

Any guitar player who can't acknowledge Eddie Van Halen's impact on the sound, timbre and tone of modern guitar solos should be tarred, feathered and forced to listen to Hot For Teacher, Unchained and Mean Streets on repeat until they do finally 'get it'.

A brief overview of Eddie's Live rig -- and a quicker rundown of his studio sound.


About the most recent guitar ala Eddie


aaand the funny bit....

Devin Townsend

Devin Townsend sonically and attitudinally tearing this song a new one --
Deadhead


Love this guy... I am going to have to buy some more of his stuff.

Dweezil Zappa's Rig

Yup -- Frankie's kid has a few different rigs, and an arsenal of guitars to drool over.
Tour of the U.M.R.K. and Guitars and such

(WAY out of MY price range)

Guitar Rig software

Clever

Guitarists will get this -- others might not... I have no idea how non guitar players listen to music anymore...

Back Otra vez (Again)

Howdy -- it's your freindsly sub earth dweller back from the family -- Yep, I've been busy too much with RL to worry about the blog but now I have yet again returned... with a vengeance.

The world is my oyster and I'm here for the pearl baby... I don't really know where I was going with that little snippet but I had to give it a go .. now here I am left at a loss for words once again...

What to do in these awkward quiet moments ?

Terry Bozzio Drum solo

Rock on Terry.

Guitar rig week starts (AGAIN) tomorrow so check back everyday -- I'll try and have it posted early mornings so you all have something W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L (insert semi-sarcasm tone here) to look forward to.

Be good y'all.

Whoops

Totally forgot that this week was thanksgiving -- so NEXT week we will continue with the guitar rig week here at broadcast central... I have bigger fish to fry (actually turkeys to cook) Sorry all, we will return on the day after turkey day.

Zakk Wylde's Rig

Guitar player extraodinaire for Ozzy Osbourne. His tone makes you want to play guitar.

Slipknot's Guitar Rigs?

Yeah -- I like their tone.

Wanna make something of it?

John Cage

He is one of the real thinkers in music, helping to define what music really is. I don't think I could just sit and listen to all his music for hours, but I don't think that's a bad thing, he provokes thought into our own perceptions and breaks boundaries that were before ingrained into our unconscious. He takes supposed truths turns them on their ear and makes us take it.

Nine out of ten people resist the change, they might try to ignore it but its too late ...

You can't un-ring a bell.

The other one out of ten will look at it, examine it and see what usefulness it might have and enjoy the liberation of 'sound' as music.

Guys like me see how they can implement it in their own work without just stealing it outright.

I like that bell and all the ideas that come from it.

27 sounds manufactured in a kitchen

Speech

Off topic

Just wanted to share a story you will want to read about. Its a historic figure not everyone knows of but the story is a great one.

I first found out about this guy at "Badass Of The Week" and you can go directly to Leonard Funk's page there by clicking h e r e

At the risk of sounding repetitious, redundant and saying things again and again -- his story is great, and I recommend reading about him there first -- obviously not an unbiased account (the author there MIGHT blow things up a slight bit), but the meat of the story is true and its a good one.

He is also on Wikipedia but that is just as bare-bones as you can get.

I am actually considering getting a tattoo "Never Surrender" because I think THAT as a reminder when "the stuff" goes down, will help me maintain composure and never let me be taken by the Germans should WWWIII ever happen. (Just kidding)

Mr. Funk did eventually pass on (I believe he was 86 or so) I can't speak for others but for me his ability to hold things together was inspirational and I just had to do my part in keeping the memory alive. His grave at Arlington National Cemetary can be seen here.

Thanks be to Leonard Funk for showing us that real life can be bigger, better and more triumphant than the movies.

Yngwie Malmsteen

Neo-classical bad ass extraordinaire gives a tour of his studio rig and guitars.

Why so much guitar stuff?

I don't really know -- I have been looking at equipment and guitars for the past few months -- basically doing research into what I might make into a rig for myself -- I am tired of trying to mish mosh different bits nad pieces that dont really complement me or my style of playing -- I like (read as need) lots of tonal varieties as well as a couple basic standards for rhythm playing. What Iam thinking is I need at least 3 different types of guitars with decently wide fretboards, I like the classics a lot -- Les Pauls for rock (chunky rhythm playing and that humbucker sound) Fender tele's have produced a lot of the solos I have enjoys over the years -- Come on -- the solo from Stairway was a tele as well as a lot of the old hendrix standards. Strats have a great glassy bell like tone for cleans and that cool brown tone. And SG's (the older ones) give a thick lead sound (although I dont know how well they allow for shredding)

Ibanez has been my axe for years and it has served me well but maybe its time to look into others as the sound just isn't what I envision myself sounding like anymore. A little thin (even with heavier gauge strings) It just seems to be lacking that magic for me. Maybe a new se of pick ups/Head/stack is all I need.
Unforunately its a journe and there is no right or wrong answer other than the one in my own head. I wish there really WAS a cut and dry scientific answer as that would save me a lot of buckage.

Just wanted to let you all know why this blog has kind of morphed into guitar rig central for the past little bit. I guess I can make it a theme for the next week too -- kind of like an online notepad for references to other guitar players and what they are all using.

ENJOY GUITAR RIG WEEK Officially beginning today and ending in ... one week. maybe a day or two extra we have to see how it goes.

Kind of funny -- Sarah Palin

If you like Sarah Palin, don't watch the tribe at Fox news casue they basically call her out during what they thought was a commercial break when the cameras 'weren't rolling'

* Note to ALL television personalities out there -- the cameras are ALWAYS rolling.

Yngwie Again

He shows us some licks that he uses all the time.
I've seen the guy a few times now and he is also one of the LOUDest guitar players I have ever seen in a reasonably sized venue. You might want to bring your earplugs.

Buckethead Anyone?

I like the guy. Nuff said.

I love My Parents


Cool Stuff I don't know the name of.

Another Music Blog

This blog isn't mine but if you are interested in music theory and have a little more than a passing knowledge of how music works you might find the Classical Music Blog a good read. As I've said before I am a music nerd so this type of info gives my brain something to sink its teeth into.

Just thought I'd share.

One More Vai

Here is another one by Stevie Vai, its got 2 electric fiddle players and the one is super cute (ahh - if I wasn't already married... well, honestly she'd probably not be interested, but a guy can dream right?) You have to watch to the end though as the best parts come later in the performance(as they should).

Steve Vai

Great guitar player -- he likes dense orchestrations like I do... He's matured a lot over the years -- I have degraded a bit more into 'sampled' and synthesized influences although I still love to jam out on guitar. I feel that most virtuoso guitar playing USUALLY sounds a bit contrived but this guy manages to keep things interesting.   

Listen to this really cool arrangement  done back in 1993 that you would never know was by Vai if you weren't already familiar with the tune.

*Note the prevalence of the mullet as a phenom.

It ends with an arrangement from the soundtrack for Star Trek II the Wrath Of Khan (only the BEST Star Trek Movie ever)



Now to give some context -- the original studio album version with vocals.


Very cool.

Birthdays

Yessss 'tis the season for another B-day. Older and none the wiser -- you'd think I would be smarter than I was at 19 but I have progressively lost my brains by a smidgen each year -- by the time I am 50 I should be a blithering F'ing mess. I  do nothing exceptionally well other than make my daughter smile fairly frequently.

I look forward to that each &every time it happens and I do have a gift for doing it -- I hope I can keep that up for a few more years and save up those smiles in my memories to carry through my golden years of mental degradation into incompetence, colonoscopies, and incontinence.

Happy F'ing Birthday to me.

Can we get off now?

I have often wondered how the world is eventually going to end... there are lots of opinions and here are probably even more options on what COULD happen that we can't even fathom -- molecular implosion, spontaneous combustion or maybe we just poof into the stratosphere as a pnchline in a cosmic joke we were never really "in" on.

Now I don't think that is how its going to go down (I am HOPING that it will be from my giant death star planet laser cannon thingamabob.) But I can tell you what some of the signs are and they are clicking into place recently like the tumblers of some ancient Chinese puzzle lock just waiting for the final combination to be revealed to release its existence before destroying it all.

Here are a couple headlines I just finished reading.

• Polish exorcists gather in Warsaw

• 'Refudiate' Now Proper English

• A proposal to classify happiness as a psychiatric disorder

   Now I'm not sure, but this HAS to be the beginning of the end for humanity -- the world ending is never going to happen for billions of years but people aren't long for this world. 

  Enjoy today.

  There might be only a few left.

  
  

Adagio for Strings

A classic piece that I try to capture bits of in my own work. Perfect use of harmony and subtle movement. It breaks your heart but at the same time it leaves you wanting more -- I guess its like love.

Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings


Another arrangement with brass instruments -- Triangle Youth Brass Band with alumni play a concert in May 2005. On this concert was this version of Adagio for Strings. The band was about 75 players, all brass in the British style. I give you Adagio for Strings ... for Brass.

Whats Music anyway?

Who here knows WHAT music is ?

Anyone?

Anyone?

I have heard a lot of definitions and I think a lot is left to be desired from all of them. I am a bit of a music nerd (as if you hadn't noticed) and I have heard a range of them.

• Organized pitches in time. 

That was one I learned in college. Thats what music is. Well maybe if you're lame, but I think it can be a little more interesting than that, why do we need to have actual pitches? John Cage threw that definition right out the window when he wrote his 3'44" (which can be heard HERE ) I honestly like the idea of it; he puts an elaborate frame around a chunk of time and whatever happens to spring out of it -- well so be it.
I am glad we have a John Cage around to remind us that music can (if you are willing to let it) just spontaneously happen when we are sitting around waiting for the performance to start.

I, happen to like mechanical noises -- I had a brief period as a kid working in a factory which sterilized medical equipment. The machinations in there, with all of the looming, ominous sounds of these enormous hulking metal tote things were a thing of beauty -- I don't think everyone heard them the way I did, but I wanted nothing more than to record some of those sounds and use them as effects for stuff I had going on in my head at the time. That never happened due to me having a slight injury (I was almost crushed to death by a forklift driver after we were working 13 hours straight, which was the norm there...) and not returning to work there. It worked out for the best (no more factory work for me woohoo!), I still would have liked to take some audio samples from there though -- no other place on Earth had the same metallic ring to it as that one did.

 But I digress, THAT was music to me: an improvised daily cacophony of audible colors, I am sure pitches did play a part in it but the unnatural rhythms and the chunk-chunk of  gears and such was incredibly musical to me.

I still enjoy noise as art, if anyone knows anything about me its that the sound of a guitar feeding back can be like angels singing --

it can also be an ear piercing cluster funk <--------(Like that last edit ?)

Most people dont see music in any of these ways though -- their perceptions (epecially with the advent of visual media that originally accompanied the music) has replaced the "sound as art" almost altogether. It is based more on the packaging, rather than the actual sound product.

This has led me to the conclusion I recently let my wife in on-- I am not sure if she agrees, but the fact is that  most people want music as a 'decor for their lives' rather than hearing any thing that really deserves an active listening. When I began making music I really wanted music that could change the world and turn music on its ear... While I probably haven't achieved anything close to that (as of yet), I HAVE always gone out there with a relatively eclectic attitude and people can take from it what they wish. I think I have enough musical quirks as to identify my music as being mine -- even when I am playing covers, I try and put that stamp on it that lets you know this has been put through the 'schizoid'  filter and "this here noise" is what comes out.   

Fantasia was the beginning of the end I think as no one just wanted to hear the music -- now we need little pictures to tell us what to think -- we can't just imagine things for ourselves and come up with our own ideas -- its better to have people who can take the time for that and leave us to think about "what normal folks think about."


Jut remember that its the Music that is everything.

A couple days rest

Hopefully SOMEone out there has read a few of these posts and mabe a couple even find them interesting but as of right now I am going to take a 2 (maybe 3) day sabbatical from all things interweb. Don't get your panties in a twist about it though, as I will only be gone a few days to spend some time with the family
(Even Mad Scientists hell-bent on earth wide destruction need a little time with the tribe.)

You won't even know I'm gone.



See you soon....


Just not TOO soon.

Cartoons

I always liked cartoons as far back as I can remember-- it could be those memories that made me want to be a mad scientist in the first place

Who could forget the Looney Tunes episode with the orange creature?

But I digress, I know a lot of "artistic" composers will think I'm out of my gourd but I really like Looney tunes music -- Cartoons introduced me to some great music in my formative years and it doesn't matter how you get there as long as you get there. so lets find some interesting music from cartoons...

Zappa - G Spot Tornado

Orchestral, Ensemble Modern, Dancers, Frankie conducting, Priceless.
(One of the songs that made me have to do music.)



Listen to the love at the end.

Daylight savings time?

WHY in modern society do we NEED this antiquated and ridiculous idea... How many farmers are there compared to the rest of the general population ? They are the ones who began this practice so I think i is time we took all the farmers out and just told them -- listen -- do whatever you want with YOUR clocks but I am just going to stay at one F'ing time -- Deal with it.

Don't get me wrong, I DO like getting an hour more of sleep, but the price is too much -- it throws me off for at least a week while my body (which is usually time accurate to 10 -- MAYBE 15 minutes) is unable to guess what the hell just happened.
"Oh yeah some jerk off decided to switch things around again."

I think since we supposedly live in a "democratic" society -- let the people vote on this one and if I am in the minority I'll just deal with it-- otherwise lets get on with life people -- most places DON'T have daylight savings and their worlds haven't imploded or anything.

Coffee - Nectar of the Gods ?

Not going to be a long post today as I have a lot of things I need to do today in RL. I just got done with work for today,(Planning the takeover of the free and NOT so free world is exhausting!) and now I am brewing a pot of coffee. The smell is so good -- I am sure you knw what I mean -- it literally wakes you up before you pour that frst cup. Then of course there's the taste... a wonderfully nutty, aromatic bean that just makes your taste buds come alive. The caffeine is the kicker, decaf is right out for me -- if it isn't the real deal, I'd rather have tea; if THAT isn't available I'll just wait for the good stuff...

Just wanted to share.

Now I must summon & then employ my minions to fix the heat here, as it is surprisingly cold here at the center of the earth... who woulda thunk it?

Later I am off to get a haircut since evil megalomaniacs should really look good. Maybe tonight I'll go out and see what you surface dwellers are up to... but I'll probably just crash early (it's been a bit of a long day.)

Bacon

Believe it or not I was once a vegetarian, I was "that way" for 9 years and nothing that could squeal, squirm, or otherwise let me know that they didn't want to be eaten passed my esophagus (with the occasional exception of a fly or bug that just happened to find its way down there-- and they DESERVED what they got -- stupid F'ing bugs.)

Flash forward 8 years and now I am basically a carnivore, I like the taste of meat and I am constantly on the lookout for new and interesting tastes and kinds of meat. When I went down to Argentina I was taking pictures... not of the cities, beaches or culture down there (although the tango is pretty hot and I did click a few pics of the dancers in the outdoor cafes there) ... but no... my REAL photography was done at the carnicerias and the cattle farm barbecue stops...

The food was FAR BEYOND good and they filled your plate again and again with some of the finest beef you can imagine. It was heavenly to me and all those years of vegetarianism just went right out the window as I firmly established myself ONCE AGAIN at my rightful place at the top of the food chain.

I know there are some who don't understand why I left the ranks of carnivore to be as rabbit. It was a needed part of my growth as a human being to appreciate things in a real way. Anyway, Upon returning I discovered the love of bacon that I once had as a kid - my mom didn't make it often (if at all) because it was (and IS) a messy delicacy. I can understand that, when you have kids running around you don't wat to be cleaning up grease upon grease but I remember my Grandma's house when ever I went over there for breakfast had the standards -- bacon and eggs and oatmeal (not the instant kind the real cook it with milk and add butter to make it even creamier kind.)

Obviously, it left an impression since here I am years later after having made a homage to my Grandmother through a breakfast feast that I think she would be proud of and sitting here typing up this story that means more to me than to any one else who might just happen upon it. I needed to share this little tidbit though in some form or another since it was just so good.

Paganini

Paganini always held a fascination for me since he was rumored to have sold his soul to the devil to have played the violin the way he did. The women would pass out at his concerts and he was known to be quite the ladies man if you know what I mean -- He was a rock star before there WERE rock stars!

Although the music lacks something for me (I can't listen to more than a couple pieces in a single sitting without wanting to hit the forward arrow button on my mp3 player) There is something here that is just impressive to listen to. If someone could nail both the technical ability of this with a few more, 'unorthodox' ideas, you might have one of the greatest works of all time. That's just my opinion tho, and I am just an idiot at the center of the earth.

Here is Hilary Hahn who has some great chops and is so fluid on the violin neck I think she used butter...



This number was one of the ones I studied back in the day on guitar even though I don't really feel it translates well to guitar at all -- it lacks the character of a non fretted instrument. You can never play it a smoothly, with out those damn frets being obvious during slides.

Might just be my OCD kicking in.

Buddhism? ... Really?

Buddhists have a great view on things that I believe everyone should at least look into -- meditation is basically a form of praying on a primordial level and before you start saying "I ain't gonna pray to no fat statue," look INTO the ideas before making snap judgments -- Buddhists aren't really PRAYING in a conventional sense, meditation IS different. These monks and laypeople are looking for clarity of mind and compassion of the soul -- you never hear about rampant gangs of Buddhist monks knocking over liquor stores or blowing anyone up (other than the ones who self immolated as protest, and even they didn't hurt anyone other than themselves THEN.)

There are weak people in every religion who end up being hypocrites but the ideals of Buddhism are something that everyone should aspire to -- not everything is as defined in Buddhism as it is in other religions, and of course there are differert schools of thought in this group as well --I just find it more appealing to me than memorizing line and lines of rhetoric that can be interpreted to mean I need to handle snakes to get to heaven or I need to marry 14 women and girls and have as many kids as I am physically able to, Christ would probably be pretty sad if he saw how people have warped his words over the last 2 millenia.

I like Christ, and I should know -- I went to Catholic school growing up and HAD to go to church EVERYday. When you are 15, let me tell you, Church is the LAST place you want to be -- Even more than now as an adult -- which is really saying something.

(I think I gained some serious brownie points with 'our creator' if there IS one who gives a crap.)

I think there are rules in Christianity that are too rigid in their interpretation and people trying to legislate it on other people is an absolute waste of time -- legislating morality is like going hunting for unicorns -- you can do it, but you probably aren't going to get much out of it.

Worry about yourself and eventually everything else will fall in line.

Don't expect everyone else to 'do the right thing' and you won't be disappointed, and always wash behind your ears.

Stravinsky's Firebird with Disney

I love Stravinsky and this is a helluva tune... I caught the NY philharmonic doing this when they were doing a Russian composers theme and they flew in Valery Grieg (and they TRIED to fly in a Russian choir unfortunately there was a blizzard and the flights into NY were shut down that week) as the maestro who did a very good job on this number.



EDIT: I just listened to this one again and it never ceases to amaze me how F'ing PERFECT this song is. Songs like this don't come along everyday -- ENJOY it.

What's Religion ?

Ok I am going to get a little personal here and i think you are going to need an open mind for this one... (this is coming from a guy at the center of the earth, so take it with a grain of salt)

Religion is a very personal and subjectivet thing -- the reason we have so many different sects and subclasses of the various religions is that almost everyone has a varied opinion on how we should live (our systems of morals, and where we will ultimately end up at the 'end of the day')

The place a lot of religions begin with is the concept of a god or gods as creator beings. I can understand that -- but really to ME it doesn't matter too much at all either way. I take my cue on that attitude from the animals who couldn't care less about where they came from. Believe what you want about a creator -- it doesn't change a thing at all -- whatever the reason , we are HERE now. That is good enough for me.

Morality is where things tend to get fuzzy. What is moral or immoral or Amoral for that matter? I think this is what makes people start crusades and jihads because "those guys over there" are disrespectful of "the guys over here" or of OUR god figure -- since we are RIGHT and JUST people, we simply MUST have God on our side to smite the infidels because that's what 'god' would WANT us to do, right?

So it all begins (and has been going for at LEAST 2000 years.)

As I said, the elusive "God-figure" doesn't even enter my thought processes very often at all -- although I DO have a bit of an unconventional view on how to define what "God" is, and that is: the order of the universe and the experience of the moment to moment Is IT.

That's IT.

That's what God is.

No more No less -- there IS a balance of everything, or else the universe would either blow apart or implode on itself and the fact that it doesn't is proof of a God or higher power to ME (your own mileage may vary.)

Whether that force cares about us making stupid or illogical choices, or just being pricks to each other in our day to day lives is probably not of any importance to anyone other than ourselves and to the people we encounter everyday. I think eating fish on Friday or choosing not to eat bacon probably won't help you gain any higher level of understanding of anything other than your own self control and discipline (which is GENERALLY a very positive thing.) So knock yourself out -- I however like Ham and I eat fish sometimes, (just for the taste, what day I do it isn't really a major concern for me.)  

I'll continue on this topic another time and delve into my own beliefs a bit more in depth for anyone bored enough to be interested on ANOTHER day.

Randy Rhoads - Guitar solos MIX

It's a collection of some of Randy's finer moments on the fretboard, I used to cop a LARGE portion of his unacccompanied solo when I was doing live gigs, its got such a great energy even if the tone is a bit dated. I wonder what he would be up to if he was still among us in the here and now. 

Randy Rhoads - Dee

A pretty little number that has mistakes and outtakes from the late great Randy Rhoads. (Former guitar player for Ozzy Osbourne.)

Improvs, Jamming and Being Spontaneous

There are a lot of people who are of the mindset that if music isn't written out (or at least all PLANNED out) then you are just going to be noodling around for your own (as the musician) amusement. While sometimes this IS indeed true, a lot of the best ideas can just come forth from the ether at the spur of the moment on a wing and a prayer.

I LOVE jamming -- I am guilty of extending solos on more than one occasion a bit longer than they might NEED to be extended, but I'm ok with it.

I play guitar because I enjoy the instrument-- I like the noises that come out of it and I like the fact that you have the options of rhythm, harmony and melody in one great compact package -- sure, everyone and their grandmother play, or have known someone who played guitar; but its too late for me - I LIKE feedback, I get a warm fuzzy feeling from well executed arpeggios and I like adventures in music ala Hendrix, Zappa, and Jimmy Page.

These are the guys I grew up listening to and they were my idols -- Edward Van Halen and Randy Rhoads were right up there as well with the advent of 2 handed tapping and this was all before I discovered guitar 'virtuoso music' rock instrumentals from the late 80's, early 90's.

What is the future of guitar music is a fair question these days, as musical tastes have changed dramatically and everything has been homogenized down to the lowest common denominator which, believe it or not, sounds uncannily like the latest Justin Bieber tune. (which I am proud to say I have avoided like the plague as of the date of this posting.)

While this MIGHT be one of the final signs of the apocalypse (and I will be there to take advantage of it all when it DOES come!) I'd rather see a higher level of musical risk-taking -- the only way to make something that is worth making is to take chances.

LOTs of chances, and risk looking BAD occasionally... 

Yes, it's true -- you WILL fail to achieve exactly what you are setting out to do more often than you will succeed... thats why success is so great -- BUT you need to EARN it by paying your dues (Which, surprise surprise, turn out to be failures)

Don't let a fear of trying something new keep you down -- or maybe trying something new means going back to an old idea or era of music that you dug from way back when. Explore things and don't let yourself feel  embarrassed about it -- the worst thing you can do is sit around wondering if people will like this or that -- If you do that, you have my guarantee that you won't make ANYthing interesting or worth listening to... EVER.

Frank Zappa Circa 1969?

An original version of Frank Zappa's classic "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama" (Listen to him cop the riff from Needles and Pins at the end of the one solo) You can also hear bits from Hot Rats which I don't believe  was recorded yet -- a few months after this performance and that record would go down in history as one of his best records of all time (Although I might disagree). Very cool Frankie -- Nice eyebrows on this one.

More Frank Zappa - Dumb All Over, 1981

Not really classical by any stretch -- but I dig the lyrical content and he has such a cool sense of rhythm.

1st the studio version.


A live version



Check out a young Stevie Vai back in the day -- Love the animal print :)
Who else but Frankie could get away with sitting down in the middle of a show to do a guitar solo? We miss you man.

A cover version of Frank Zappa

3 guitar virtuosos (Eric Johnson, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, with Mike Keneally on Vox) doing a rock cover of Frank Zappa's "My Guitar Wants To Kill Your Mama," Satch's solo actually gave me a little goosebump action.


Rock on brothers.

Stockhausen - Gesang der Junglinge

Stockhausen - Gesang der Junglinge (Song of the Youths)

Another one of those tunes you might or might not like -- I DO like it, especially considering when it was written.

Edgard Varese Ionisation

Edgard Varese - Ionisation
A very cool piece that I liked a lot from the first time I heard it -- its not for everyone (my wife HATEs it) but it moves ME so here ya go.

Music -- Why I dood it ?

What I do with most of my day as I am plotting my eventual takeover of the Earth is this - I make music. Generally, not your pleasant pop tunes in common time locked in at 120 bpm -- although I have been known to create a pretty wild groove or ethereal ambiencical music, the likes of which no man (or WOO man) should continue living without knowing of.

I really enjoy classical -- not in the sensibility of Beethoven (Who I enjoy SOMEtimes and who I have the utmost respect for) or Mozart (who made some nice polyphonic interweaving melodies) but if you've ever heard of Edgard Varese, Igor Stravinsky, Frank Zappa or John Cage-- now your getting closer.


I realize that I am nowhere near the level of musicianship these guys were, but they were all VERY individual -- very different, and that is really where its at isn't it?

I have written a few classical TYPE pieces which sometimes are a bit heavy in the 'electronical sound' idiom... I write on computer so why NOT use those sounds, (at least until I can find orchestras willing to play some of my chamber music pieces?)

I am not going to be posting much of MY work for a while (until I can get relatively decent mixes,) so until I do, I will post a couple pieces I do deeply dig, by some composers and other all around cool guys who have led to some form of inspiration for me and I will PROBABLY be posting BITS of MY work among them so keep your eyes peeled.

You might lose one if you aren't careful.

Republicans ?

It would appear that the Republicans are now going to bring a little balance back to things in the US, although I think with the way things are going presently there are no real answers to ANY of the messes we're in, other than grab something nearby that is bolted down and just hold on for your life.

I am not a fan of people who label themselves as conservative and then go on telling me that not decriminalizing drugs or allowing a woman's right to choose is part of the platform... I am also pretty agro about the censorship issue -- If people are REALLY conservative about government involvement in our lives they would drop these tidbits from their platform like a hot potato.

But the fact is "conservative" only means "MONEY conservative" -- and even that is a bit of a misnomer. Marching our boys off to a war that we really didn't need to get ourselves into and spending billions and billions of dollars that would have been better spent so we could RE-build from all the carnage and waste that we MADE seems more than a little counter-productive to me. I know if I could have had the option to vote on going to war I probably would've put it off until we caught the guy who DID attack us.

Let's not lose focus ladies and gentlemen.

No use crying over spilt milk as they say. So here we are and we're going to have another go round with the kinder gentler supposedly conservative republican party.

I hope they have an open mind--although I doubt it.

If its anything like what I imagine it will be, the next 2 years will be a rehashing of politics as usual without much ground being broken on either side and everyone complaining that the OTHER side is the one who is HOLDING PROGRESS BACK.

It reminds me of Orwell's "1984," except instead of physical wars constantly going on (Which ironically we DO have) to keep people on edge, it's political B. S. that keeps us wondering who is winning and what will happen next -- when in reality it's more like an unending feedback loop of pointless rhetoric that has been rehearsed to the point of being BEyond scripted and programmed into these elected officials.

Bottom line -- I hope I don't lose my lunch more often now that the Republicans have a little more of a fair shake than I did when the liberal platform with its weak to the extreme attitude made me embarrassed to have democrat as my affiliation.

Hossenfeffer?

Just a shout out to anyone else who remembers that Bugs Bunny episode where the King keeps asking for Hossenfeffer?



 I loved these old Looney Tunes but they have stopped showing a lot of them because NOW they're "offensive, or bad role models"... People really need to lighten up.

I, personally, am a mix of just about all of Europe and I can take a joke about ALL of it -- so why do SOME people need to take themselves sooo seriously ?

One thing that really cracked me up was when the "Italian-American Community" all came out against the show "Jersey Shore" saying they were stereo typing Italians...

The funny thing is .. it's a REALITY show.

That's just "those people" (reality show "contestants"(& I sincerely hope they DO eventually WIN something for all the jackass things they do on those shows)) being THEMSELVES. They might or might not be idiots but they THEMSELVES are doing the stereotyping. I think this might cause a rift in the space time continuum somehow but people sometimes DO fit the stereotypes of their own cultural financial or ethnic (Yes, I went there) group...

Isn't that how stereotypes came into being in the first place ?

I know I am going out on a limb here, but stereotypes CAN indeed be funny: As long as people aren't asses about it.

(Now I am off to write an article with even MORE parentheses)

That's all for now.

Election Day

Well, here we are again kiddies, it's time to choose who will govern the states and such. Exciting isn't it ? Not so much so for me since I will eventually be the one ruler for ALL to follow, but when choosing which candidate will best serve the people at the voting booth think about these few tidbits.

• WARNING: Rant ahead.

If they are running for office are they really the types of people you WANT to have running things ?

Obviously, they have hugely self inflated egos or they wouldn't be trying to be in charge. Personally I prefer the "lying in wait until releasing a hellstorm of mutant molemen to usurp and overthrow the government" approach, but these political types really, REALLY scare me with their own brand of conceit and arrogance-

"Vote for me -- I know what's best for you."

So do I -- someone who doesn't need to whine for votes. The fact is, that as soon as these guys & girls get INTO office they are already worried about the NEXT election so much that they IMMEDIATELY begin planning for that election and instantly forget about doing anything worthwhile during their term IN office.

Pretty pathetic, isn't it ?

That mentality isn't likely to change anytime soon either. Why? Because we allow it to happen. Of course, what choice is there? These systems which were designed to serve some public purpose many moons ago have evolved into veritably useless machinations that do nothing. Giant useless hulks of debris littered over a barren landscape of forgotten dreams for a hopeful future: hope for a better tomorrow that's been crushed into the pulp of a once vibrant spirit.

And don't even get me started on the two party system which is so inherently flawed as to definitively demonstrate the meaning of what political gridlock is.

Welcome to today's America folks.

Don't just say we're the best and act like that's "being patriotic" it's time to get back to those ideals which really once existed in all their naive brilliance.

People should and can do something.

Let your voice be heard!

Don't just VOTE.

Vote INTELLIGENTLY.

Think it through, and then don't complain when these clowns don't deliver.

End of Rant.

First Contact

Welcome, my future servants of Earth. Allow me to introduce myself: I am a time-traveling, sub-Earth dwelling mad scientist/ music composer bent on taking over ze VORLD!! And oh boy, It's been a long time coming! This is the first installment on how it's all going. I have set up a comfortable little existence for the time being deep inside the earths core and I have several of the 'denizens of the dirt' down here to entertain and serve me. I even set up a little broadcasting and recording facility down here so I could communicate with the surface dwellers. I will occasionally share things which I find interesting, as well as post the odd video or mp3 of MY LATEST WORK which you won't want to miss. That's all.. for now.

I lied

Ok, so I didn't entirely tell the truth to all 2 or 4 of you who actually read this blog on a regular basis... Yes its true it was really I, Dr. Schizoid, and *NOT* SOME guy, all along.

Bwuahahahaha!!!