Kino Eye

My all time favorite documentary was released in the 1920's in Russia. Man with a Movie Camera is an extraordinary film essay by Dziga Vertov, revealing a very unique look at Russian life, demonstrating the magic of film making and suggests its revolution would destroy stage performance.

Today the music is recomposed by a group of performers who play music while the silent film plays on screen, the same way it was done in the 1920's when film didn't have a soundtrack.

The Alloy Orchestra recomposed the original musical score with modern synthesizer sounds and grooves, sparking a very original soundtrack. They have an unusual combination of percussion and state-of-the-art electronics, giving the Orchestra the ability to create any sound imaginable. Utilizing a "rack of junk" and electronic synthesizers, the group generates beautiful music in a spectacular variety of styles.

I'm inspired by their approach and would like to cover one of their songs in the future.

My Picks This Week

1) Wilco - War on War
2) Alexi Murdoch - Woxy performance
3) Midlake - Roscoe
4) Tap Tap - 10,000 Thoughts
5) Beck - Nausea

Calloused Finger-Tips

I've been working on two original songs for the past few weeks for future solos, practicing singing and playing at the same time. Keeping rhythm without a drummer, remembering the lyrics & their timing, strumming the guitar correctly and finding my way around the fret board without looking is all proving to be quite a challenge. It's also amazing how much thought goes into creating a song featuring only one singer, playing an acoustic guitar. You are limited by how much you can do, working with two instruments, your voice and guitar. I've turned to Alexi Murdoch for inspiration. This Alternative/Indie/Folk artist from the UK has a wonderful grasp on the craft.

I can't wait until I get enough material to perform with.

Tackling Fears and Climbing Mountains

I am very proud of my little family. My wife conquered her fears and led the pack in an expedition roller derby event on cracked and slanted blacktop. Go Skull Rollers! There were a couple girls who ended up with ripped up fishnets and road rash.

I’m also proud of my dog, Charlie. Yesterday we went for a hike up the Green Lakes Trailhead off of Century Drive, leading us to the base of the South Sister. Charlie is a small dog, a little under a foot tall. His short legs worked hard and he completed the 10 mile hike!

Thank you Jack White...

for the fiber optic Main Stream that you gave me.

My Picks this Week

1) The Raconteurs - Hands
2) Muse - Supermassive Blackhole
3) Man Man - Black Mission Goggles
4) Golden Smog - Another Fine Day
5) The Foundry Field Recordings - Buried Beneath the Winter Frames

A Band in Creation

A concept of an Indie-geared rock band based in Bend was created last night by three aspiring musicians.

I attended a meet-n-greet event with two potential band members last night at Deschutes Brewery's pub downtown Bend. I was a little nervous. I think we all get a little jumpy meeting new folks, especially people who we don't know what they look like. I'm a nervous chatter, meaning I have a tendency to talk a lot and very fast.

They both arrived and we chatted about ourselves for a bit, explaining where we are from, what we're about and what our music history is. So, we're going for it! Two male acoustic guitarist/backing vocalist with a female lead singer/songwriter. We all agreed to start off with a couple covers to find out how we work with each other. As of right now we're going to practice unamplified, without a drummer. We're going start off with a harmony approach.

If things work out we've go a long road ahead, developing our sound, adding a drummer, maybe keys and everything else that makes a band, which is a helluva-lot.

Back from the Beach

We had a great time at the coast. We got to air out from all the smoke from the fires and cool off from heat in Central Oregon. Everything, aside the heavy traffic on 101, was fantastic. When I heard that the rest of the country was suffering from record high temps I quickly changed my complaining from, "man it's friggin cold" to "the weather couldn't be better."

The Oregon Coast Aquarium is a must see. If you're a sushi fan, Sada's is probably the best that I've ever had. That's coming from someone who lived in Japan for three years and made it a point to find the best of the best when I was there. It's located between The Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe it or Not.

We went to Lincoln City and had a storybook casino moment. I split the Zeroes on the Roulette table with our last five dollars of the twenty we were going to spend. It landed on 00 and we won $90. We took the money and ran.

Jen, we didn't have a chance to go to Shark's. Thanks for the suggestion though!

I'm meeting two potential indie band members tonight, discussing our musical interests and if we'd like to collaberate on a project or not.

ARRRGH!

Yo Hoi there matie! We had a great time on the coast. Coolest place on planet Oregon. ARRRRRHHHHg!

My picks this week

Here's my top 5 Indie rock picks this week.

1) Goldfrap -REmix of the Flaming Lips W.A.N.D song
2) Ratatat - Wildcat
3) The Rapture - Get Myself Into It (Disco MIX)
4) Silver Sun Pickups - Lazy Eye
5) Say Hi To Your Mom - Angels and Darlas

Ready to shift tides

We're heading to the Oregon coast tomorrow. Seems like ages since the last time I went there. We are heading to Newport. I've got a free pass for us to check out the Oregon Coast Aquarium. We heard about a great sushi restaurant that we're definitely going to it check out. Any suggestions for the Newport area?

I'm feeling pretty optimistic right now with my musical endeavors. I'm hesitant about giving details because I don't want to jinx it. Let's just say next week I'm going to meet up with some cool folks who share the same musical interests and aspirations...and leave it at that.

I learned a very good lessons in the past when I wrote my first fiction novel: If you are going to create an artistic product, take your time, remain focused and take step one before you take step ten - then introduce your masterpiece to the world with pride. So many people associate "I'm writing a book" in the same light as "I'm running a marathon." At the time of writing it, I was more focused on finishing the marathon than I was running in it. Sure I finished the race, but I didn't end in the position my efforts deserved.

I'm making it a point not to run that way while in my musical marathon. Just takin' one step at a time and enjoying the run.

All Aboard!

We made some new friends a couple of weeks ago while attending a friends wedding in Eugene. I was happy to receive a call from them, telling us that they were planning to go rock climbing at Smith Rock and wanted to meet up with us at Terrebonne Depot. We met up with them and their climbing buddies Saturday evening.

The food and drinks there were very good. The inside of The Depot has a more urban atmosphere than you'd imagine to be in Terrebonne. Although we didn't experience it, we were told that the trains rushes by quite often. The environment was very down to earth, it seemed like a comfortable place to come and stop in for lunch or dinner on the way to or from Bend. I can see why climbers love this place.

The building would be an outstanding venue to play and listen to music. It's very open and inviting. Speaking of: my week definitely starts of with a shimmer of hope that I might actually be jamming with a band. I'll be meeting with two singer/songwriters, hopefully during the same time, to discuss practice session and developing a band from the ground up! Coolest thing is, from the get-go, all three of us like the Shins and other indie geared bands.

The Most Disgusting Mocha Ever

I stood in line this morning to get some coffee at a downtown shop and the man in front placed an order that shocked everyone behind the counter and made me want to puke.

He order a White Mocha and cover his mouth and whispered, "with an extra shot." Then he whispered, "add peach flavoring into it and plenty of whip cream."

GROSS! Bluck... patooi!

DUDE... What ever gets your follicles tingling, I guess.

I ordered a dark roast coffee.

My Picks

I'm going to start posting my top five favorite songs of the week.

1- Band of Horses - Funeral (Seattle, WA)
2 - SilverSun Pickups - Well thought out... (LA, Cal)
3- Mew - The Zookeeper's Boy (Denmark)
3- Heartless Bastards - All this Time (Cincinnati, OH)
5-Oh No! Oh My! - Jane is Fat (Austin, TX)

Call out to Mystery Indie Rocker

This is a note to the anonymous dude who posted a sign of interest in playing some music with me. He mentioned that he might be interested in finding another vocalist/guitarist for potential Indie rock sessions.

This fella is interested in these bands right now---- “bands like Midlake, Human Television, David & The Citizens, Band of Horses and Brendan Benson.” WHERE did ya go? Since your last postings I have had a response from a female vocalist who is also interested in developing a local Indie project. She’s into Indie electro pop.

Imagine the possibilities if we found a percussionist and/or keyboardist. We’d have ourselves a band.

My Wife the Roller Derby Queen

She joined a roller derby club and I couldn't be prouder. She is in the Renegade Rollergirls Club and her teams name is the Skull Rollers and they asked me to make up a team logo. I made up this logo and they seem to like it.

What do you think about the logo?

Bright Idea

So what's the deal with all those cars driving up to the top of Pilot Butte during an electrical storm? Did you guys miss that day in 8th grade science class explaining that lightening strikes the highest point?

In fact, we saw a nice bolt zap the top, probably blinding ever one up there. Shortly after the river of cars changed direction back down, I'm guessing with a lot of dudes with bruised arms from their lady's fist.

Sounds Ironic?

I don't get it. Bend commercial builders can begin jackhammering the pavement at 11:30pm The street sweepers can make as much noise they want at 3am. Bend Garbage can empty every big dumpster it wants to in the wee hours. Trains can blast their horns all night long.

But musicians, with thousands of fans craving more when it's finally dark and the stage lights are delivering their true effect, have to unplug their amps and say goodbye at 10pm on the dot because of the noise ordinance?

Likin' Silversun Pickup

Anybody in Portland see the Silversun Pickups last week at the Doug Fir? The more I listen to them the more I like them.

I thought the lead singer was the girl in the band. He has a very unique vocal approach that sounds like Concrete Blonde.

That lounge also seems pretty cool. I'm going to try talking Shannon into going there in November to see Hot Chip.

Truth Revealed

Okay... I'm not actually from Bend. I was born on the planet, ironically, named Globe. My dad, mother and brother are posing with me in the mid 70's(I grew out of my chimp stage early).

Not exactly the Doc's orders

When somebody asks you what you did last night, how often can you reply: Oh, when I came down from my nitrous oxide high I had a martini while getting a high-five from about 10 models.

I know I should've been on the couch, soaking up a gallon of water after my dental adventure, but what the hell, I knew I was going to be in pain today anyway, so why not get a hangover also?

I had fun hanging out with some close friends. Had some wine and then watched a fashion show at the martini bar. I got away with howling at the models like a sailor at a strip club. Man - the things I get away with....

Smells Like Nitrous Oxide

I'm going to the dentist this afternoon and I'm freaking out.

I remember once when I was a teenager I went to a children's dentist. Unfortunately, I was too big for the chair. Above me was a small television screen with cartoons. At the time of my visit, the Smurfs was on and Gargamel had captured Handy smurf.

I needed Nitrous Oxide because I was getting my canines pulled to make room for my braces that would haunt me throughout high school.

They pulled the perfectly healthy teeth from my head and I began to laugh at Papa Smurf, wearing his silly red outfit, saving Handy from certain death.

I hope Papa Smurf comes and saves me this afternoon and brings me some N20.