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A musical update: life has been slow for me musically in San Diego. I’ve had a few musical adventures withOUT my horn that have hopefully led to the departure of a saxophone FROM my apartment to a VENUE, to play with a group who is called UFO.

It’s slow partly due to my lack of discipline in leaving to go meet and hear and be a part of music in any way. This is mostly because of a distinct lack of employment, steady income of any sort. I wrote about that here.

However, it also partly due to the lack of desireable scene that I can find. Given my complete lack of experience, I’m going to give my take on the scene in San Diego:

There are about 30 old dudes and duderesses, playing music that I play, who are playing all of THESE gigs. I will go see some/most of these people play at some point hopefully. A worthy venture to be certain.

However, there has to be more music happening that doesn’t sound like this:

(as a side note, that guy playing trumpet, is called the “Vibe Elevator.” He had an ad on craigslist that I answered. Subsequently, I listened to that video, and most importantly, this video:

… I ultimately decided that that particular venture was not best suited for my personality. By listening to any of THESE recordings, I’m sure you can venture a guess as to why that was the decision I came to.)

And the conclusion that I’ve come to with regard to “young people” music, is that it is happening in and around the universities. I’ve talked to a few people about it, and it seems like the general consensus is, to the joy of the students in San Diego, and the dismay of 26 year olds from OHIO, that the gigs are sort of contained with the universities. This seems like a great idea, except not for me.

I’m still wondering aloud to those who ask if this is the case, but I have a suspicion, given the lack of information I’ve gathered, that it is. There are some heavyweights out here to be sure. I’m making an effort to hit the “spots” when the heaviest of heavies are playing. I’ll keep the ones of you who frequent these pages updated as to my endeavors.

Good vibes and sunny days from west coast to you. Miss you, cloudy O H.

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Liver Quiver, LIVE at Dick’s Den

2/10/1013

This gig was my birthday present from Aaron and Seth. Our first gig couldn’t have gone better.

One more coming up on March 15 at Hal and Al’s. Also featuring groups lead by Paul Cohn and
Ishmael Ali.

If you didn’t know, I’m moving to San Diego a few days after this gig, so this is my (read: your) last opportunity to play (read: see me play) in Columbus. At least for a while. So you should come.

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According to Songfacts.com: “Mathcore is a highly technical, very progressive form of metal, metalcore, or plain experimental rock. Think eccentric time signatures, angular melodies, dissonant chords, atypical rhythms, peculiar chord progressions, and just about anything else that would only make sense to a band geek. Example bands: Black Flag, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Converge.”

I think its a little bit short-sighted to insinuate that only “band geeks” will get this music. I think the vibe of the probably makes more sense to me than the rhythmic and metric loopiness and strange chord progressions. I’d much rather listen to Black Sabbath than Black Flag, but I definitely get both.

This is Behold the Arctopus. They’re from Brooklyn. They are super duper sick nasty. The “bass” player plays a Warr guitar, which is a 12-string bass and guitar hybrid that spans from the bottom of the bass range to the top of the guitar range. Dude.

I generally don’t get into stuff like this but for some reason, these guys really light me up. Check them out. They list both Krzysztof Penderecki and Meshuggah as influences. I can dig.

ALSO, check out Molotov Trio, a band comprised of Josh Bryant, Blaine Faherty and Jeff Laser. They are talented, “new classical music” composers and percussionists by trade. They also all went to Grove City High School and 2 of them work at libraries. I don’t know what the third does.

ENJOY. Rock and Roll.

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This is David Ornette Cherry.

I had the pleasure of a playing a gig at Hal and Al’s with David last night. We (beautyofmyland) featuring last night the likes of Stan Smith, Roger Hines, Andre R. Scott, Chad Greenwald, bandleader Dairdre Scriven collaborated with Mr. Cherry on three sets of improvised music, featuring some of Cherry’s sketches as well as his playing and ambient soundscapes. It was a blast.

I absolutely love playing with Dairdre. Both because of the musicians she convinces to play with her, and because of her raw and often brutally honest poetry. It may not be music that everyone would be into right away, but if you get a chance to check it out, give a look-see.

Do yourself a favor and read David’s BIO as well as his REVIEWS page. Both say a lot about him and his music. Also, check out his MEDIA. Some of it is weird. All of it is earnest.

ENJOY

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This is Reggie Watts. This is the title track of his latest album. Its better than most hip hop albums. Its got a lot of bad language. If you are offended by bad language, do NOT listen to it.

F**k S***t Stack is an example something artistically delicious, that has bad words.

THIS is an example of something artistically gross, that has bad words.

Enjoy.

EDITOR’S NOTE ::: Don’t let the words get you down. They’re just words. And they’re not the point. Except in the youtube video. They are the point in that particular endeavor. And they’re stupid. Use your brain not your fear of angry rap words.

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Are you joking me, Paul Desmond? How many awesome things can you do in the exact same vibe? Look at this rundown:

Paul Desmond, alto saxophone
Herbie Hancock, electric piano
Ron Carter, upright bass
Jerry Jemmott, electric bass
Airto Moreira, Bill Lavorgna, João Palma, drums
Gene Bertoncini, Sam Brown, guitar
Don Sebesky, arranger

I bought this record on a set break with the FJO a yearish ago. NEVER LISTENED TO IT. Until yesterday. Out of this world.

Also, apparently he was addicted to scotch and Pall Malls. I’ve heard but not been able to find an account pertaining to the assertion that he was a jerk.

Do yourself a favor and enjoy the rest of this album with a scotch or other whiskey of your choice.