How to prepare for a live performance

I had the opportunity to talk to several musicians. We discussed the best ways to prepare for a live show. What do you need to do in order to be successful in front of an audience? Here is a summary.

Before the show

Rehearse your songs and develop a set list that you plan to use. In our practice space we would write all the songs on a large piece of paper. It was usually the back of an old poster. When all the members arrive and everybody has set up, start with the first song on the list and continue until all the song are done. Don’t stop. Practice playing the set as if you were on stage. If someone makes a mistake, continue. When you play live you cannot stop playing and restart. Each member of the band will find that they make a mistake at some time. This technique will train you to overcome the small problems and learn to correct the situation on the go. You will discover any technical problems. You can find solutions to you effects pedals glitches or for those with your amps. You will feel more confident when you know that any equipment issues have been solved.

Organize your gear the night before the show

I write a list of all the equipment that I will need for the show. Then I check each item as it is packed up. Another musician said that he does a “dummy check” the next day. He double checks the items with his list. Always be prepared the more organized you are the more focused you will be. Here are some items that a guitarist might include:

1. extra guitar strings
2. guitar capo
3. plenty of picks
4. a couple extra connection cables
5. guitar tuner
6. back up batteries

The day of the show

Always be able to contact the promoter/ sound crew at the show. This allows you to stay informed should there be any scheduling changes. Find out the venues load zone. Do you have access to a ramp or does the gear need to be moved by stairway? Bring a dolly or rolling platform to help move equipment. It is best to arrive at least an hour before the scheduled performance time. If possible organize a convenient time to do a sound check. If you have any problems you can fix them before the show.

Last Post of 2008

This will be my last posting of 2008. I thought that I should end the year with a best of rock list. I realised that this year is Led Zeppelin’s 40th anniversary. According to the official Led Zeppelin website their first live gig was September 7, 1968.

It’s been a long time since…

The concert took place at the Gladsaxe Teen Club, Copenhagen Denmark. This was the first show of their Scandinavian tour. The tour was billed as The New Yardbirds. The Yardbirds had all but broken up, the only member remaining was Jimmy Page. In order to fulfill the  contract, Jimmy Page put together a new band. Robert Plant and John Bonham played together in the Band of Joy and John Paul Jones was a prominent studio musician. Together the four members played a set-list which included The Yardbird’s classics Train Kept a Rollin’ and For Your Love; a new song I’m Confused (later to be known as Dazed and Confused). This small concert would be the start of the rock phenomenon that would be Led Zeppelin. On September 7, 2008 a Danish Led Zeppelin cover band celebrated by putting on a show at the Egegaard School.

Who started rock and roll ?

Who do you think are the icons of rock ? When did  rock and roll music officially begin? That has been greatly debated. The first mention of rock and roll  in a song was by Bill Moore in 1948. Alan Freed, a Cleveland disc jockey in 1951, is created as coining the term “Rock and Roll” which he used to describe the music he played. Still others say that it began in 1955, with Bill Haley and the Comets, the song Rock Around the Clock. Finally, Rolling Stone magazine cited Elvis Presley’s version of That’s All Right Mama as the shot heard round the world. There is no definite start, and I’m sure it will be debated as long as rock exists.

Freddie Mercury of Queen

The icon’s of Rock by decade

The Fifties: Elvis Presley

The Sixties: The Beatles

The Seventies: Led Zeppelin

The Eighties: Queen

The Nineties: U2

What are your picks ?

Have a great holiday season and I wish everybody a great new year in 2009.

Christmas Party

The first Christmas party of the year was on December 5. The party was produced by Mint Records and MCed by the always entertaining Nardwuar (aka the human serviette). The event was billed as the Ridiculously Early Xmas Party and was held at the Ukrainian Hall. The show started early just after 7 pm and was an non alcoholic all ages event. Refreshments were available (pop was $1) and free potato chips and Pocky chocolate sticks. Ummm Pocky. The talented Nardwaur introduced all the performers.

Five talented groups entertained at the party

The night feature five unique music acts. The first act was Thee Goblins one of Nardwaur’s bands and was followed by Kellarissa and Lois (on acoustic guitar). In between the music, Nardwaur played some of his most (in)famous interviews with celebrities. The most notable was with Courtney Love.

The Pack A.D. played a great blues-rock set. The duo Becky Black (guitar and vocals) and Maya Miller (drums) energised the hall. Many enjoyed their song Don’t Have to Like You. They are currently building a new website, but you can visit the Myspace site, in the meantime.

The Evaporators surprised by special guests

Nardwuar the Rockstar

The Evaporator’s were the headline act. The music is  high energy alternative nouveau punk (heanp rock?). They played a great set of classic gems. Half Empty Hall kicked off the show, other songs included You Got Me into This, Now You Get Me Out! and Gassy Jack (from the 2007 release Gassy Jack and Other Tales).

Nardwuar kept the crowd entertained by body surfing in his keyboard through the audience. Special guests fired up the hall. Andrew W.K. was a pleasant surprise joining The Evaporators in I Don’t Need My Friends To Tell Me Who My Friends Are, and later doing his past hits, Party Hard and She is Beautiful.

Before the show ended, Wimpy Roy (Subhumans), Randy Rampage (DOA) and drummer Jon Card (DOA) climaxed the show with the Punk Classics Oh Canaduh and F*ck You.

Wimpy and DOA storm the finale

Everybody enjoyed the night, and the $8 ticket price was the entertainment deal of the holiday season.

Thank you Mint Records, Nardwuar, Jean C and all. I look forward to the next event.

The Magical effects of Music

Many studies have been written about the benefits of music. People that play a musical instrument will tell you that the effects are magical. You don’t have to be a professional to enjoy the rewards. Drum circles are becoming more popular. Check your local community paper to find events in your area. Groups of people sit around a circle and create stress relieving rhythms. The participants find the experience up-lifting and meditational. These programs are designed to reduce stress and well as help make social contacts. You health improves and you brain creativity is enhanced.

Working out to Music boosts Intelligence

If your going to workout, listen to music. Charles Emery of Ohio State University studied the effect of exercise with music. Over 30 cardiac rehab patients were studied. Those listening to Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons while exercising scored twice as well on a verbal fluency test. When no music was played there was no mental advantage. Dr. Emery believes that these results could be duplicated with healthy people.

Listening to Classical Music can make you Smarter

Their have been many claims that listening instrumental music will boost your IQ. The most famous was a University of California study, dubbed the “Mozart Effect”. Two groups were tested. One group listening to 10 minutes of Mozart  Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, K448. The results showed a temporary improvement in the students spatial IQ test. The Rauscher and Shaw study suggested that listening to Mozart helped keep the firing patterns of brain neurons organized. This sparked the creative right-side of the brain which is responsible for spatial-temporal reasoning.

Classical music can heal your body

A French physician has spent over 50 years studing music’s healing effect on the human body. Dr Alfred A Tomatis created the Listening Therapy system. The basic premise is that there is a distinct difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is passive, while listening is active. By listening to enhanced music, most notebly classical music, you retrain your brain. It is the higher frequencies and rich musical sounds that help the brain stay focused. The late doctor has left a legacy of over 250 world wide clinics. The testimonials of hundreds of clients support his theory that music is important in the well being of the body.

A new website opening soon…

The Musician’s Network

A site dedicated to help musicians find bands and bands find gigs to promote music.

The purpose of The Musician’s Network is to promote music and allow musicians of all levels to network.
The website is easy to use:
1)    Become a new member (it’s FREE to join).
2)    Create your musical profile.
3)    Open your private email account.

Once you’re a member. You can browse through the Bands section. Using the search option, you can specify: genre of music, musical proficiency, or by location.

Are you interested in writing original songs?

There are many musicians looking for you. Some are professional and need to fill their line-up to play paying gigs. You are able to audition, by creating a video demo. This demo is part of your profile. Bands looking for suitable players will be able to see your performance, and if they feel “you got want it takes” they will send you an email and ask to meet you for a live audition.

If you prefer, you can search for bands looking for players. At the Bands section, you can send your profile, with a video demo. The bands that like your style, will email you back.

Do you want to play covers?

It’s better than calling ads in the newspaper. On The Musician’s Network site you are able to find out the band’s musical influences, listen to a music demo and judge for yourself if you want to send an email request.

You don’t have to wait for your phone to ring. When a band is interested, you will receive an email. Only Bands that you want to join will respond to you.

Maybe you just want to play music as a hobby

The Musician’s Network unites musicians of equal ability. Beginner musicians are invited to learn and participate in making music. You can find music lessons on the site. Whatever musical instrument you play, whatever music genre you want to learn. There is somebody that is ready to play music with you.

Obama is the Most Popular President…Ever

You thought that Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Madonna and The Kennedys were popular. They pale in comparison to the next US President. Obamania is huge, with the election now official and history having been made, there is no doubt that Barack Obama is the most popular President (elect).

Living in Vancouver, the hottest ticket, is for the 2010 Olympic Ice Hockey Gold Medal Game. To get a ticket would surely cost thousands of dollars. It’s in such demand, that a lottery system is the only way to get a chance at a ticket. A friend mentioned that he could get $3000 for a pair of AC/DC tickets. When Led Zeppelin played their last concert the world wide demand crashed the computer server. Never have scalpers been able to receive so much.

Bigger than the Beatles

Obamania has set new heights. It has been reported that all the hotels in Washington, DC are sold out for the January inauguration. His popularity grows even stronger outside the US. Who would have dreamed that a US President(elect) could have stirred up such a frenzy? Imagine what his first world tour as US President will be like. It is great to see people’s spirits shine with great hope.

Secret Agent Man

The US Secret Service uses codenames for the Presidents. Obama’s codename is Renegade. The White House Communications Agency actually issues these names. Michelle Obama is Renaissance, their daughters are Radiance (Malia) and Rosebud (Sasha). The Vice-President (elect), Joe Bidden, is Celtic.

Some previous presidential code names:
John F Kennedy:Lancer Jacqueline Kennedy:Lace
Bill Clinton:Eagle Hillary Clinton: Energy
President GW Bush:Tumbler Laura Bush:Tempo
Richard Nixon:Searchlight Pat Nixon:Starlight

Washington DC the Place to be January 20

If you can’t afford to get a hotel room in Washington DC for the week of January 20, 2008, you can still see the parade. You don’t need tickets because it is FREE. The inaugural week is actually 10 days of fun and festivities. You can be sure that the TV ratings will be huge. If you ever wondered about the events here is the schedule.

Who is Les Paul ?

The Story of the Les Paul Guitar

With the new development of Gibson’s Robot guitar, this led me to research the story behind today’s world famous Les Paul model.

Les Paul is 90 and still rocking

Les Paul began his career at age 13 playing country-western. After 5 years playing with the country troupe Rube Tronson’s Cowboys, he was approached by Sunny Joe Wolverton to join his radio band. It was there, in Chicago, that Les created his alter ego. His Jazz name was Lester Polfuss and his country title was Rhubarb Red (after his Red hair). During this period he gained a fond admiration of fellow jazz plectrists Django Reinhardt and Eddie Lang.

It was after playing at 1934 Chicago World’s Fair, that Les finally decided to pursue his dream of designing an amplified “electric” guitar. He used a new stage name “Les Paul”.

In 1936, he commissioned the Larson Brothers of Chicago to build him a solid top guitar. It has a single cutaway, without the common f holes, and instead it had two pickups. He also began experimenting with recording overdubs.

His first Brush with death

By 1939, Les had his own trio and a couple years after, he joined another national radio group in New York City. This band helped give Les Paul a lot of exposure, especially with his unique style of playing. Still trying to develop a solid electric guitar, he worked on weekends at the Epiphone guitar factory. It was there that he created an electric guitar known as the “log” (made of a 4”x4” fence post).
One night, while jamming at his home, he electrocuted himself. The shock was serious; and it was several months before he recovered. Soon after he returned to Chicago.

The Electric Log

By 1943, he found himself in Hollywood, where he began working with Bing Crosby. Together they recorded several songs, including a number 1 single. It was Crosby that helped finance the first successful multi-tracked single featuring Les’ electric “log”.

A Second Brush with Death

In 1948, Les was seriously injured in an auto accident; his right arm was crushed. He had the doctors set his arm at a right angle, so he could pick his guitar.

After recovering, Les continued his work to develop his idea of a multitrack recorder. His idea was finally developed commercially, after Ampex decided to fund the technology. This was the first 8 track recording system.

In 1952, Gibson introduced the Gold Top Les Paul guitar. Les agreed to always play Gibson’s model in public, in return for royalties for its sales. Finally, after 20 years of persistence the commercially viable electric guitar is released.

Within 5 years, two phenomenons would be born…Rock ‘n Roll and Elvis.