tune the dial

Ever wish that you didn't have to dj for yourself?
Probably not right, cause you always know what you want...well for those of you studying hard and tired of changing your playlist every half hour to keep you in the mood, then check this out.

Do you know what .pls and .m3u files are? They rule a side of iTunes most never use, its the ability to enjoy live streaming radio from your favorite bands and local radio stations, via iTunes and the web. It's just like classic radio, only you are picking stuff you really want to hear. Many radio stations have added this handy to the feature to their sites and now more and more of our favorite groups are offering it as well. Here are a few I just found that you should check out.

WRUV 90.1

WeenRadio

LivePhish

Check other band sites and look for links to stream.
It's a great way to add some variety to your daily mix.
peace

Why can't every night be like "Monday Night"?

...the “Monday Night” Jazz Ensemble that is.


On Tuesday, December 6th, if you were a cool cat, you were rolling on the jazz river at the University of Vermont Recital Hall; where viewers were privy to hot grooves as the big bang romped through a septuplet of jazz standards. If you were not among us, have no fear, just sit back and imagine what could have been.
The night warmed up with an aura of déjà vu as I was brought back to my high school jazz days. The band stretched out with Sonny Rollins’ Doxy and perked the crowd to a mood, eager for more, but it was merely a tease. Not yet. With a sudden twist of routine, they sunk into a cavernous rendition of Mingus’ Goodbye Pork Pie Hat. I found myself thrust into a mysterious presence, with only the sultry swoons of the tenor sax to keep me company. It glued me to the chair, eyes shut, ears open, with the kind of current that brings your every hair to life. After that, what more could there be?
Off to the work of Monk they spun with Well You Needn’t, a cunning rendition; followed by an entourage of Shiny Stockings, Hot House and How Sweet It Is, educating the audience in how to show it off like Foster, heat it up with Dameron and sugar-coat it for Nestico, all in a Monday Night. The cherry, was chosen wisely. With their most sincere intentions of stimulating, arousing and pleasing, the group began their long farewell of Con Alma by the unparalleled Dizzy Gillespie. It was a ripe choice of bebop and made a perfect closer, raising the senses of the audience and scheduling their next December 6th. Where will you be?


This was actually a concert report I was required to do for Music 6, but I figure this is a music blog, so why not.
Mad props to Mike Dunn for killin it on Goodbye Pork Pie Hat.
peace

Back from the future

For those of you well cultured listeners who have ventured into the sound of Bela Fleck and his fabulous Flecktones, high-five, for those of you who haven't, WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM! I can understand that there is plenty of music out there that just isn't for everyone, but these guys should be enjoyed by every soul at least once in a while. Their ability to play some of the sickest rhythms and time-signatures, then break into separate solos or jams and some how bring it back around for a finale of the original tune, is just unfathomable.

I highly recommend that when listening to these guys, try and focus on a particular melody line or instrument, most of the way through the song, just to hear all of the incredible little things they do. These guys are just incredible musicians and when you put them all together, its like nothing else. First off Bela is a sensei on the banjo and with a bass revolutionary like Victor Wooten, it is impossible for them to do anything but rock the crap out of every tune they play. Definitely check out Stomping Ground on the Live Art album. It is one of my favorite tunes and a great example of just how tight these guys are.

I have been enjoying their stuff intensely for the past year or so, and I actually caught Bela with his Acoustic Trio and the Del McCoury band this summer in Northampton, MA. It was a great show aside from the fact it was in a seated venue and there was no room to bust out, but it was still a hell of a night. I highly recommend trying to catch Bela with the Flecktones at some point, or even just Bela if possible, if you dig the banjo and someone who can seriously rock it, you won't be dissappointed.

With the formalities out of the way, the real subject of my post is about one particular member of the group, Roy "Futureman" Wooten, also known as Futch. He is responsible for providing the funked out percussion and drumwork for the group. Until recently I was just assuming he did hand precussion and drumset, which was blowing my mind listening to some of the synocpations and patterns he cranked out with such accuracy and ease. So I did a little research, and in fact he uses a home-made electronic device known as the Synthaxe Drumitar.

It is basically a combination of velocity sensitive triggers in the form of a little guitar. It is plugged into a collection of samplers and can be programmed to litteraly any sound or a blend of different sounds on one trigger. So all the audience sees is Futch tapping away on this little device hanging from his neck, while hearing these crazy beats and solos, that sound just like a drumset! Very trippy. This is a really advanced electronic instrument that is a true technological breakthough. Sometimes Futch also uses a similar, publicly marketed device, the Zen Drum.

Check out the Flecktones and Futch's crazy Drumitar. Crazy shit, it will blow your mind.
Peace

Unbe-freakin-leavable

So what happens when the best band in the world makes a come back. i dont know yet but it looks like 2006 may be the year we find out. Thats right after three years without a full on touring schedule it seems that the mighty mighty Disco Biscuits will be returning to the road in 2006. With some dates already announced (Chicago opening for moe. in Febuary and at the Langerado and Jam in the Dam festivals next March) and more dates soon to come the future looks bright for the Biscuits. With old friend Sammy Altman leaving the kits behind, the replacement drummer and newest member of the band has yet to be announced to the public. stay tuned here and to Discobiscuits.com for more bsico news.

Thats all
K-Theory

Looking for something really chill?

Has the end of the semester gotten to that point, that you can only take so much more before a serious meltdown occurs. Had repeated all-nighters lately? Still feeling wiped and completely hopeless over the mountain of things on your plate? Then try this.

A new pain reliever, if you will, but there is one catch...
You must willingly take the jump from guitar to sitar.

Her name is Anouska Shankar, daughter of the Ravi Shankar. For those of you thinking about 9/11, grow up, they aren't all like that. Her father was in fact a well-known composer and sitar virtuoso. He started teaching Anoushka at 9 and at 13 she made her debut New Delhi, India. Her family was close friends with George and Olivia Harrison, and Anouska did conducting with her father and George on an album. She played at Carnegie Hall in 2001 and the show recording was nominated for Best World Music Album. Since then, she has continued to realease more and more solo albums. She just released a new one in September and is now selling out large venues, all over the globe.

If you need something new and really chill, put this on at the end of a long night, or while studying, it's great for reading. And if you can get a hold of "Red Sun" off of Rise (the new album) it features some sick tribal beat-boxing. Fucking nuts! Enjoy


Anoushka Shankar
or her father at
Ravi Shankar

John Scofield with Phil Lesh and Friends

This past sunday night I made a trip down to Albany, New York( my hometown ) to check out Phil at the Washington Ave. Armory. The Armory is a recently refurbished venue that was shut down for a while and recently just reopened. I left Burlington at 3 in the afternoon hoping to get in early and meet Phil. My friend had some kind of meet and greet ticket so he got in and met him. The doors opened at 7:30, the show began a little after 8:30.To my surprise and delight the tickets I got from my sister were box seats, My friends and I had our own little private box.

Phil and Phriends, a band that is constantly changing line ups featured Chris Robinson (vocals) Phil Lesh (bass) John Moto (drums) John Scofield (guitar) Mookie Siegel (keys) and, Barry Sless (Steel Pedal.) The place was out of control, very little security allowed for tons of crazy shit to go down. Smoking was a given, it seemed like everyone in the venue was lighting up, cigs and joints. The first set opened with "Just Another Whistle Stop" a nice bluesy opener. The first song set the tone for the rest of the night, very bluesy. Highlights were "Friend of the Devil," "Eyes of the World," "I Know you Rider," "You've Got to Hide Your Love Away"(Beatles), and my favorite of the night "All Along the Watchtower" (Hendrix)

John Scofield, known for his jazz guitar playing, has played with greats like Miles Davis and MMW. I knew that this show would be something special because Scofield has such an original style, and is so good that he makes whoever he is playing with that much better. He wasnt overbearing and let the band flow as Phils band always does, but when it was time for him to take a solo, he didnt hold back. I think he is one of the best ever, and the fact that he can play with Miles Davis, put out several jazz albums, and then play Jerry's part for Phil and Friends shows how talented he is. This show will be availiable on the Archive, I highly sugguest you take a listen.

Become the pimp you always dreamt you'd be.

A great way to become popular with the opposite sex (and the same sex), and to become a legend...well at least a start is to broaden your musical horizons by taking lessons. Fancy life as a guitar player? A singer? A world reknowned pianist? Why the hell not? A great place to hook up with local Vermont musicians who can help you boost your talents is at www.PrivateLessons.com. Go ahead and explore. Find your true passion and become an artist.


Enjoi.

nye in nyc.

New York City seems to be the hottest place for good music this New Year's Eve. We are quite unfortunate to have very few good shows scattered throughout the fifty states, however, we have truly been blessed with the performances available in the Big Apple for '05/'06. For those that love the electronic beats and trancey sounds flowing from the amplifiers, I would suggest going to see The New Deal (B.B. King Blues Club), Infected Mushroom (Spirit), The Disco Biscuits (Hammerstein Ballroom), or Brothers Past (Bowery Ballroom). Some other great jam bands to check out if you are in NYC for the dropping of the ball, are Gov't Mule (Beacon Theater), North Mississippi Allstars (Madison Square Garden), U Melt (Coda) and Toubab Krewe (The Blue Note). The cool thing is, is that most of these shows are set up so that you can attend one after another and not miss a slobbering, drunken, New Year's beat. Cheers.

Tell us what you want.

Lately, around campus I've been hearing much jibber-jabber about the up and coming springfest '06. Honestly, in my eyes, the lineup does not look extremely appealing and seems to be in need of a bit of fine tuning. Perhaps with the help of some devoted music fans we can get our foot in the door to change things. As far as posted (on a UVM survey) the contestants began as follows:
Beck
Weezer
Guster
Ben Harper
Modest Mouse
Trey Anastasio
Black Eyed Peas
Counting Crowes
Gov't Mule
The Killers
Ween
Jack Johnson
Kanye West
OAR
Tenacious D

However, currently it seems as though that list has been narrowed down to:
Tenacious D
Trey Anastasio
Kanye West
...aaand a couple others that I cannot even remember at this time.
Anyways, we have had great performers like Keller Williams, String Cheese Incident and Particle in past years and I feel that this year should be just as awesome. So what do you guys think? Please comment and post on who you would like to see at this year's Springfest '06.

Roku for You

I'd like to take this opportunity to make those who aren't aware, a bit farmiliar with a new Burlington based group that is on the rise. Roku. They are a unique eight piece jazz band with an individual style with a personal friend of mine, Dan Ryan, on drums, and Russ Flynn on bass, Justin Monsen playing guitar and Ari Daiconis with percussion. The band's tight driving rhythm selection is comprised of Alex Wolston's trumpet and fugelhorn, Sean Feely and Christopher Diasparra on the sax, and the most current addition of Andrew Mallon on the vibraphone. Audience members have been seen "grooving on the edges of their seats" at Roku shows and if you are in fact so lucky, you could be one of them too. Roku is playing at Nectar's Bar on the 7th of this month at 9:30 in support of Dave Grippo. Check out this happenin' new group at www.rokumusic.com.

Don't be a square.

A great place to check out live dj's spinning records and also to see some great acts is right in front of your nose, at Red Square in downtown, Burlington located on Church Street. Hot bands like the Jazz Guys have played on their patio adjacent to the bar and grille and always pull in huge crowds. The weekly lineup for Red Square is as follows:
Sunday
Opening at 8pm
Sunday Funday with Astrid and Stevia
Mellow Music. Good Times.
No Cover

Monday
LIVE Music every Monday starting at 9pm. Check listings below.
No Cover

Tuesday
Link-Up Reggae/ Dancehall Night with John Demus, Super K and JahRed
No cover

Wednesday
LIVE JAZZ EVERY WEDNESDAY 8-11PM. SEE LISTINGS BELOW

11PM-2 AM "Members Only" 80's Night with Fattie B
No cover.

Thursday
A-Dog Presents. A night of hip-hop with special guests.
No cover

Band Listings for Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Shows run 9PM-12AM (w 8pm-11pm) followed by resident DJ's A-Dog, DJ Rugger or Nastee from 12AM-2AM.
Friday and Saturday $3.00 cover at the door. All other shows are Free.

S12/3 REVISION

M12/5 GRIPPO FUNK BAND "Featuring the horn section that traveled with Phish and Trey Anastiasio Band"

W12/7 PARKER SHARP TRIO (JAZZ)

F12/9 STARLINE RYTHYM BOYS (ROCKABILLY)

S12/10 BOW THAYER AND PERFECT TRAINWRECK. "A riveting, eclectic collection of melodically rich, lyrically engaging tunes" -Rick Petreycik, NO DEPRESSION c:www.bowthayer.com

M12/12 THE HORSE (ROCK)

W12/14 NICK CASSERINO AND FRIENDS (JAZZ)

F12/16 JAZZISMO "Latin Jazz with an attitude" c:www.Jazzismo.com

S12/17 CHRONIC FUNK (FUNK/JAM)

M12/19 GRIPPO FUNK BAND

W 12/21 DIRTY BLONDES CHRISTMAS. PRELUDE TO THE OPERA
"The Dirty Blondes bring a sense of danger and urgency to the Legend of the Birth of Christ"
-Joshua Lunetta

F12/23 SWALE (ROCK)
"Somehow Swale finds a way to extract and then express, the chaotic elements buried in peacefulness.." c:www.swalesong.com

S12/24 DANCE ON DOWN THE EVE w/ADOG & FRIENDS

M12/26 MOBOPRIX (ROCK)

W 12/28 NICK CASSERINO AND FRIENDS
(JAZZ)

F12/30 ATAVISTIC ENSEMBLE (JAZZ)

S 12/31 "THE WORLD NEEDS RESOLUTION" A SPECIAL NIGHT OF AWARENESS AND HOPE WITH DJ ADOG AND FRIENDS. $10 COVER

1/1 CLOSED! 2006! HAPPY NEW YEAR!

1/4 NICOLE WILLIAMS (JAZZ)

Finals and a Grand B'Ton Exedus

Well its that time of year again. when the ground gets colder, the air crisper, and snow starts to cover the ground around us. the Library is always packed. Your roomates been staing up nights studying for his Biology final. There is a way to escape all this, achance to get away from stress and cool your tatered nerves. I give you a list of songs from my own personal library that always soothe nervous minds.
Talkin Blues-Bob Marley
Kaya-Bob Marley
Crosby,Stills,Nash,&Young-Wooden Ships
Flaming Lips-Anything off the "Soft Bulliten"
The Grateful Dead-Morning Dew
The Grateful Dead-Jack Straw
The Grateful Dead-Must've Been the Roses
Jimmy Cliff-The Harder They Come
Pink Floyd- Goodbye Blue Sky
Pink Floyd-Shine on you crazy Diamond
Santa Cruz Hemp All-Stars-Any live disc you can find (i know that the archive has one or two of their shows these guys are awsome)
Sigur Ros-Tracks 1-4-5 The () Album (all tracks untitled)
STS9-Circus (I Recomend the version from 6/13/03)
STS9-Breathe In (this song is almost always great)
Talking Heads-Heaven
Talking Heads-This must be the Place (Naieve Melody)
Traffic-Empty Pages
Traffic-John Barleycorn must Die
Traffic-The Low Spark of High-Heeled Boys
Van Morrison-Old Old Woodstock
Van Morrison-Tupelo Honey
Van Morrison-It Stoned Me
Wilco-Muzzle of Bees
Wilco-I Am Trying to Break your Heart
Wilco-Jesus etc.


Just a short crusie through some of the calmer things ive got laying around. Post some of your own ideas. maybe we can create the ultimate Chill Out During Finals mix. Probablly not but there is always wishful thinking.

Peace and Love
K-Theory

Heads Up

Hey Deadheads! Guess what- http://www.dead.net/index2.php has just been completely renovated. You should check out the new site. It is packed with all kinds of goodies. There is a link to stream live video clips, links to their music archive that can be downloaded onto iTunes, and even a spot for you to post pictures and comments. Not only that, but there is also a place to post reviews of shows! The best feature by far, however, is the open archive vault which features historical background of the given year, events, photos, music, shows, art, and news. It’s simply wonderful. So, have yourself a hightime and check this out!

Greyspoke Variety Update

Updating again on Greyspoke Variety... So, as of late the band has been playing around Burlington and in Potsdam, New York. You may have been lucky enough to catch them playing on a Sunday night at Nectar’s "Open Band Night", which they have made three appearances at. If you are cool enough, you probably saw them jamming out at a local house party on North Union. Perhaps you are a sneaky one, or just in the right place at the right time, for once, and have heard some bad-ass rhythms pumping out of the basement of Slade Hall. Yes, that was Greyspoke Variety. Let it also be noted that they have been practicing in the Living/Learning Complex on the UVM campus. If you are the long-distance kind, or maybe even a SUNY Potsdam student, you most likely have heard about this band rocking out and making the party at the "7 1/2" house. For those of you who have no clue what I am talking about, I HIGHLY recommend Greyspoke Variety. They have recently added a show to Archive.org. Go now before you forget, http://www.archive.org/... and check them out. But let it be known, a forewarning, Greyspoke Variety may just melt your face.

Billboard top 100 a useful resource?

Ever been to Billboard.com? If not surely you have heard of the Billboard charts, they rank the top selling albums overall and in most musical categories(country,rock,pop, etc..) This week I visited the Billboard website and not to my surprise I found the first 5 albums on the top 100 were all hip-hop albums.
On a side note..Sorry if I offend anyone but why is rap considered music? Sure it has a beat, and reptitive sound effects, and someone spiting words out at lightening speed but isn't this more like advanced poetry? Not that there is anything wrong with Hip-Hop or Rap. The 3 B's, Bling, bitches and blunts are great I'm not denining that, Im also a fan of a good rhyme Mother Goose is a favorite of mine(see?),the mainstream genre just seems all to repetitive. Mos Def, The Roots, even Kanye West I can dig on, they have a message but still this gets all to old.
But back to the Billboard...Chris Brown (r&b artist not a rapper)at number one for the the third week in a row!! Wow! Well, I've never heard of Chris Brown and I'm sure he has the voice of an angel but for some reason I'm not interested in hearing his music. Sorry Chris but number 1 for 3 weeks in a row doesn't indicate to me that you are anything special. You share the honor of a number 1 selling album in the U.S. along with other greats such as N'Sync, The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears... the list could go on significantly longer...
I didnt sample any of Chris's music but I looked up his lyrics and I must say they seem like typical shitty girl I wanna do you lyrics, here are some from his title track "Run It" off his number 1 album featuring Julez Santana

" You'll see
Girl I can set you off
Don't believe my age is gonna slow us down
I can definitly show you things
that's gon have you sayin I can't be 16
Once I get in you won't wanna go
(and I...)
I'll have yo girls wishin they were you
(and I...)
I know your heard about me, but guess what's goin down if we leave"

Pretty sophisticated if you ask me... here's more

" I got friends, and you got friends
They hop out, and you hop in
I look fly, and they jockin
The way you drop, drop makes me hot, hot"

^Now thats just silly, and what the fuck is "jockin"?

How can it be?? how can this be the number 1 album in America? Honestly I dont know, but it makes me sad. To the peolpe who bought and listen to this album I hope you enjoy it, and I'm sure that its amazing.. after all it is Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Billboard

'Tis the Season

On a more festive note, Christmas and Hanukkah will soon be here and that means that you probably have some shopping to do. In the spirit of giving, I have found some really cool CDs that might help you decide what to get for the people on your list. There are a lot of benefit CDs out there, especially with all of the disasters that seem to be infecting the Earth these days. It is a good idea to remember the hurricane victims who most likely will not be able to share in their regular holiday traditions this year due to these unfortunate events. Therefore, I have found two, in particular, that might just be the thing you are looking for- a gift that keeps giving.

Nugs.net has joined together with many generous artists including the Benevento/ Russo Duo with Mike Gordon, David Grisman Quintet, Galactic, and others to bring you Union Justice & Confidence: A nugs.net Benefit Album for New Orleans Musicians. All profits (100%!!) will proceed from nugs.net and the various artists to help support relief organizations like Tipitina’s Foundation, New Orleans Musicians Hurricane Relief Fund, New Orleans Musician’s Clinic, and Conscious Alliance. You can find out more about this wonderful compilation by visiting http://www.livedownloads.com/show.

Another great CD is M.A.D.E. Musicians Assisting Disaster Efforts: A Conscious Alliance of Voices, Vol. 1. This CD features tracks from Umphrey’s McGee, the Gourds, Yonder Mountain String Band, plus many others as well. Again for the second time, Conscious Alliance has generously teamed up with the band the Deep Fried Pickle Project to bring you this CD which will help assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. The funds will be donated to those that are in need of food, baby formula, baby supplies, toys, and other necessities. You can find out more about this CD at http://www.jambase.com/headsup. Do your part and help make the season a little brighter for those in need!
Peace, Love, and Goodwill to All!

Some thoughts...

Yeah, I know it’s been awhile but here’s the deal- a friend told me about this article and I strongly urge the fluffHeads out there that may be left floating in oblivion with many thoughts unclear to read the following article that was recently published in the Burlington Free Press on November 28, 2005. "How to Disappear Completely" written by Bret Gladstone for The Associated Press, includes direct comments taken from an interview with Trey Anastasio. Read it for yourself, please, http://burlingtonfreepress.com.... But, for now, all that I am able to offer are my own thoughts.
First off, I find Anastasio to be generally honest with his audience. He offers answers to some of the whys that have left me bitter since that sad night on August 15th summer of ‘04.
Some of the points I find most poignant include Anastasio’s comments about our, the fans, reactions towards the breakup. For instance, he speaks about our lack of receptiveness towards the feelings with which he had been dealing with for some time now. He says, "I’ve kind of built my life around having an outlet with the audience, and what’s particularly interesting is this, the audience that I’m so used to having as my emotional outlet was, you know, not so thrilled about all this. So that made it hard for everybody." This is understandable, for me at least, because he is right. I have been feeling apathetic towards him. After all, this is not what I want- I want Phish back. But, obviously, it is not about me... I guess after reading that comment I feel guilty, in a sense, and relieved, as well, that he is aware of my feelings. I feel a sense of guilt because I feel bad for the guy. He is just a regular dude behind that Cheshire grin. But after 20 years, and over 20 billion instants in which the band and the fans have connected in an almost celestial way, it is hard to imagine the four of them as anything less than prophetic.
Which leads into my next point concerning Anastasio’s biblical comparison. He is speaking about his newly released track ‘Invisible’, which he says is directly related to Coventry. The lyric that he refers to specifically is ‘walking on wood, sinking in water’. He mentions the awful sea of plywood that caused me surf through mud and wood rather than just coast along. Nonetheless, he says, "There was mud all over the place and everywhere that the four of us walked they laid down sheets of plywood so we didn’t have to walk on the mud... We were walking on water for 20 years. To some degree. In some people’s eyes. And that’s the oddity, cause nobody does that... sometimes sinking is the best thing that can happen". Here he makes a direct link between the holiness of Jesus and the omniscient band. Now, more than ever, I am able to relate to the pressure and anxiety that they have had to live and perform under. Being compared to God is not something that any regular dude (no matter what he is on) is ready for, and naturally so. With this, I have a better understanding of where he is at . He allows me to empathize with his concerns and doubts of living up to such extensive expectations.
Although, what really strikes a cord (no pun intended) is Anastasio’s confessional comments about the essential reasons as to why Phish suddenly floated away on that velvet sea for ever more. He says, quite mater-of-factly, that it was the drug scene that enveloped the band for however long. He says, "it did get very crazy... Everybody I knew- it was pretty much what people were doing the last four years,". Later, he mentions the hiatus which had many on high alert and says, "we tried to take the hiatus– didn’t do anything,". And then, he brings up the big factor: Coventry. For those that made it to this emotional finale, it was clearly evident that the band was very fucked up. By that I mean, there were times when the band played entire songs out of key, forgot the lyrics, or simply neglected to sing them. I, for one, did not really care. If I were them I might do the same thing– just to get by. Nevertheless, he bluntly states: we had 3,000 people on the guest list at Coventry, that’s how big the backstage was... We had oceans of hangers-on, and it was completely out of control, meanwhile the music was getting worse and worse as far as I’m concerned. The funny things about Coventry itself was that it was just like, All right, you want to see why this is ending? This is it, sort of.
And with that, all I can say is that it is sad to see such talent so far gone. Whether I believe all that he has said to be true is something of a different matter. Regardless of that, this article has taught me a lot about Trey as a human being. Oftentimes, it easy to take others for granted, especially those that give us what we need until the wee hours of the night. And it is important, for me at least, to be respectful and maybe a little more understanding of these four guys because, after all, they were just some college kids in Vermont trying to play music at one point in time...
Take care and remember, please me, have no regrets...

Thanksjamming!

Welcome back all you jive turkeys,
Hope the holiday break was enjoyable and mmmm, mmmmm, good! I know I haven't eaten so well all semester and was aching for some home-cooked grits to fatten me back up. Anywho, in the spirit of our tasty vacation, there is a new poll for you to drool over. Try to think of your favorite tunes as a holiday feast and finish this sentence. "Grandma, please pass the..."
NOW GO VOTE!
-peace

What the hell is Looping?

Hello old friends, We all know and love the guitar, Americans especially. No where else in the world has the guitar been more influential, except maybe England. As time progresses new styles develop, some have tried to build upon what the greats like Hendrix and Clapton did. Others have tried to reverse the idea of musicianship and rebel like the punk periods The Clash for example. Recently there has been a new trend in guitar playing, Looping.
<~~Keller
Looping is when a guitar player lays down either a chord progression or some kind of bass run on a Looping Station, this is a fairly complicated pedal that allows the guitarist to record a progression and keep recording on top of each layer. It is quite amazing, some really cool stuff can be done if it is used right. One problem I tend to have is getting the timing right, you have to play with them for a while to figure them out. Some guys really have them down though. The number one example has to be Keller Williams- the one man band. If you havent seen this guy it really is a treat for the eyes and ears. Keller will be at Higher Ground on December 10th, 20 bucks in advance, 22 day of show. More guys are getting into the Looping thing, Howie Day is another big name. Howie has more of a "pop" sound, but proves to be talented none the less.
<~~Howie
If you are a guitarist and interested in the Loop, there are many different options available. The Boomerang is a quality pedal, Line 6 makes a really nice Loop pedal, Boss also makes a nice looping station. I am most familiar with the Boss, it can't do nearly as much as the other two but its still quality.