The thing I hate most when working on guitar playing is showmanship. I absolutely hate working on it. However I have to.
Comments from my last gig with my band is that I was pretty still like a rock. So, upon pulling votes, finally, we all needed to work on our showmanship.
I can’t be like Pete Townshend really.
Or do Slash’s ultimate body-bend.
I think I’m the John Mayer showmanship kind…
Obviously, I can’t do Jimi Hendrix kind.
I wish I could do Steve Vai type. He’s the coolest.
Derek Trucks kind is my kind too.
So, what to do now?
Find out tomorrow night @ Capsquare KL, my band’s set is 11pm.
Hope I don’t screw up.
*Pictures are taken off the net and used for illustrative purposes.
Due to a leak in Universal Music Group’s Australian arm, U2’s new album has been made available for download at Getmusic.au. I guess the guys must have been pretty unhappy but turn the tables otherwise using an official channel, their myspace.
U2 have made available streaming of their new album, due to be released next week, March 2nd, on www.myspace.com/u2. Fans get to enjoy. Critiques filling up their myspace comments.
Well, I’m thinking, should I get the digipak set? (Since I have the special edition set Atomic Bomb set).
Reminds me of that Haptic, Kenya Hara, emptiness, Japanese thing. Despite the recent controversy about the design of the album cover, I still think it’s nice.
I have been studying Electric Ladyland for the past few weeks; digging up details from interviews, reading articles, etc. And I find it really fascinating.
To further complete my Hendrix Experience, I bought these two DVD to play with. I think they are awesome. Although there are no details on his guitar rig while recording still the lessons given are good enough for one to at least get an idea of how imaginative Hendrix’s mind is, especially on the guitar.
There are many musicians out there who I admire who happen to have a little or two to do with graphic design.
I just found out recently that Queen’s crest, was designed by Freddie Mercury, the bands lead singer who dies of AIDS in the early 90’s. Happens to be a London art-school graduate as well. Writer of the awesome Bohemian Rhapsody.
The famous KISS logotype, designed by Ace Frehley, Gibson endorser and also hero the many legendary metal-heads including Dimebag Darell (Pantera, Damageplan) and Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society).
Having being the godfather of Grunge and charisma enough to influence and change culture, Kurt Cobain is definitely no stranger to all. While the world thinks Nirvana is probably all that is, but apparently, Kurt’s visual side manifests very interesting imaginary collectives; including toy monkeys of musical nature, heart-shaped boxes and plastic dolls. Not to mention his fascination with meat, as seen prominently on the album In Utero. Usually dark and sends out the message that everything is a little messed up and dark. But beyond the drugs, the girl, the lyrics and the depression, there’s something truly genius about him.
I also suspact Micheal Johnson of johnson banks probably has his own band as well. By reading this post about guitars and design on the johnson banks blog, suggest a very complete set of guitar effect pedals with a vast knowledge in the world of rock and roll. Plus, I don’t think he’s as amatuer as he claims he is on his blog; probably could lay a few SRV chops…
Meanwhile, in the world of typography, we see the guys at LettError, playing in a band called Wolfraam.
Underworld, the English electronic band, also happen to be designers from the London based design consultancy Tomato. I probably listened to electronica music a little bit because of them. And if you look close and observe long enough, probably the designs coming up from the studio can be visual representations of the music their colleagues make—not everything but maybe like the one above.
I always find designers who have a good sense of taste in music interesting to talk with. Probably the platform of common interest I share but also the fact that their interest expands beyond merely art, design and typefaces. It’s always very appealing to hear from a colleague in the design industry speak about Van Halen or maybe even King Crimson album covers. Even more interesting if they actually play, produce or write their own music.
That said, somehow, in a society, I feel that there’s always many other mediums or stages where we can make our presence known to that society; for profession, for entertainment; for pleasure; to express an emotion, to voice an opinion or suggestion or even just to leave a mark.
I did it by extending my options to playing music. The only way I know of right now. Not to mention the other hundreds of ways that probably you can be intact with. It might just suggest to the outside world that designers are not only crazy long-haired people who work long hours with no life and are ‘emo-creatures.’ Might even change their perception and take designers, musicians, artists, actors and others who are more linear with ‘cuture’ more seriously and with much thought.
Used to have little of respect for Linkin Park. Compared to the sort of respect for guitar virtuoso’s like Joe Satriani or Steve Vai… In my old vocabulary, the guitar parts or sections played by guys like Brad Delson are simple, predictable and the easy-way-out to make a song. Blurred between the lines of performance and songwriting, I then judge every musician who play in modern bands creating modern music as boring or uninteresting. Further more, my music buddies are frequent listeners of stuff by Deep Purple, ELP, Jimi Hendrix and the leagues that stay in line with them, where technique matters.
Judging with what I knew as good music, I started to mix match what I identify as ‘good musicanship’ with songs I play in my band. I thought Nu-Metal needed more guitar solos and flashy parts. Bass parts needed to be slinky and groovy in rock. Guitar effects are secondary stuff.
I was recently introduced into the world of songwriting and composition when I joined my current band. I learned that proper structuring should take over the song and not performance in musicianship by broadening my concept of appreciation towards music. I learned the importance of consistency and tight rhythm in playing an instrument. Saw the importance of keeping things clear and the importance of silence and dynamics in music.
Now, still a fan of dynamic guitar solo’s, still enjoy the old farts as much as I do last time; but with a new found love for clearly build, tight and tasteful rhythm, covered with a catchy tune using memorable tone and consistency.
Last Tuesday, I spend about 8 hours in the studio trying to lay down my guitar parts for recording. Thought that if I learned how to appreciate music in a different matter, with the proper application, probably 2 hours will do the job.
Last night, I disciplined myself to learn this song. Armed with the March 2008 issue of Guitar Techniques, my arsenal and a metronome, with the backing tracks from the CD, I nailed down the licks in about one hour (I’m not Steve Stevens). I’m still missing the little details at the solo ending but yeah, who plays the licks that accurate anyway.
