Where's ya funny bone Harry?

Seems like when it rains it pours, lately i have been kept busy with a number of old time music gigs in nursing homes, Hell you don't get young screamers moshing and running the stage but hell these guys appreciate their hour of entertainment.

Barry and Speedy are guitarists, great blokes, who dress up in Mexican gear and play the oldies their favorite tunes whilst I follow along on the keys. In addition to this, they add a touch of corny humour to the act with jokes and witty interchange between members.

One show last Friday gave me a moment of joy as I saw a elderly lady holding on to her walker, and dancing along to the music. It's so good to see an audience enjoying what you have to offer.

Just before the show, I got a call from an old drummer mate, who was asking whether I was interested in joining a swing / jazz band. The word Jazz always fills me with fear, though I thought it would be a good opportunity to improve my technique and learn some songs that I would otherwise shy away from, we have had one rehearsal since then, and the band made me feel real comfortable, and there was really no problem, I coped well (jazzphobia and all).

Last Saturday night was Johnny O'Keefe night at Fingle Bay RSL on the North Coast of NSW, and I got a call late Friday afternoon as to whether I would be interested in joining the band for the night on Keys, though it was a 4 hour trip there and back, I agreed, and enjoyed a night of playing 50's-60's rock for a appreciative audience, once again it was great to see people dancing and enjoying the music.

I was outside in the beer garden having a drink before the show dressed in full black attire, and one of the patrons asked me if I was part of the band. I replied no, and that I was a member of a cult called the "Connicks" who went around in all black except for our faces. Not sure if she got the joke or thought I was serious.

The year is quickly filling up with gig bookings, as it usually does around this time, so I will be quite busy performing, and probably will not have much time to compose stuff, but then again, I
might just surprise you all.

Cheers

Ecca

Club Silencio

A few months ago, I was privileged to be invited to a friend's birthday, it was a huge event with great people, food and music. One particular artist that played was a friend of mine, who has a mutual interest in songwriting and recording his original material. He was keen to pull me aside and play me some of his latest songs.

After having played a few of his songs to me in a quiet spare room of the host's house, he began to explain some of the spiritual aspects of his songs. He began by explaining to me that he often felt threatened to expose real meaning of his songs for fear of ridicule, and felt that he had to be somewhat cryptic in his lyrics to hide their true message.

He continued to explain how his belief had changed his life dramatically and how he felt so strongly about this truth he had discovered, yet felt uncomfortable in openly displaying in his songs. Whilst feeling somewhat empathetic to his situation, I also felt somewhat the opposite as often I would try and delve deep into my musical innards to express my beliefs yet all that would come out was dark brooding music.

The reason I mention this at this stage is that I have just had a listen to the new Mountain Goats release "The Life Of The World To Come" which is a collection of songs based on biblical verses. There is no hiding this fact, as each song is titled after the verse which it is inspired by.

Though the Mountain Goats are not a Christian band and have never presented themselves as such in their earlier 13 or so recordings, they have obviously taken a risk with their fan base to release a collection of songs based on biblical verses, yet must have felt the impulse to do so openly and beautifully.

I have provided a download link for the album below which isn't something I normally do in this blog, so if you do download the album and like it , I'd encourage you to go out and buy it.

Cheers,

Ecca.

The Life of the World To Come

Primeval Instinct

Been a while since I have posted any new tunes to this space, so I thought I would add something recent. When I say recent, I have been steadily getting back into the recording process after a major computer malfunction and restoring my Virtual instruments, This has taken time.

I have been completed a few tunes, one which I cannot post here due to copyright issues using unauthorised sample (hopefully these will be cleared), and the others still in refining stages (which isn't quite like me, I normally won't spent too long on the refining process, more of a spontaneous hit and run with it style so you may actually see it posted here soon).

I have been listening to a long awaited new release and have been inspired by some of the sounds of the new Flaming Lipps CD - Embryonic, so if some of the new stuff sounds rather psychedelic and experimental, that's probably the reason. Having been listening to the Lipps, I am currently experimenting with delay effects on distorted drum loops to get a raw industrial type of rhythm section happening, whilst also playing around with unconventional bass sounds, so ready your ears for some new sounds.

Meanwhile, I have attached below a soundtrack style tune I called "Creature Journey". Reminds me of the birth of some massive prehistoric creature and it's steps toward discovery of its leafy surroundings.

Would love to hear what imagery it concocts in your little twisted minds :)

Creature Journey

Enjoy.
Ecca.

Time Sponges

My, computers are time sponges. My main system started toying with me a few weeks ago doing all sorts of strange stuff acting like it was possessed by some evil code which pulls its heads in on the slightest sniff of a virus scan. First my cd rom began to play up, only writing to a disk if a written disk was previously inserted (what the?), then my secondary hard drive packed it it, my ethernet card decided to start hanging up my system, and then as if to taunt me where it would injure me the most, my audio drivers refused to load on start up intermittently.

Now I'm one for a good puzzle, and a bit of problem solving, otherwise every computer I've ever owned would meet it's timely end traveling through a pane of glass to a resting place outside my window, but alas I am overall a patient man with enough spare time, and a yearning for discovery.

I managed to solve all these issues, but lost track of how much time this has taken. As soon as I tackle another quirk, as soon as the (permanently unscrewed) side panel is removed from the computer case, time seems to accelerate beyond belief. Note that this acceleration is exponentially multiplied during the hours of 9pm and 6am often only to be pulled into reality by the appearance of daylight though the aforementioned window.

Apart from the trouble shooting and quirk eliminating, the amount time spent downloading current software and updates to keep the systems running smoothly ironically devours time which would rather be spent utilizing the very same applications, how much music making time has been spent installing drivers, updating recording software, gathering samples, setting up hardware devices etc. We all need the right tools to work with, though a line needs to be drawn where we say, 'lets work with what we got' otherwise end up spending three days sharpening the axe to chop down a tree.

Cheers.
Ecca.

Bring out yer Dead

Ahhh Heath, what memories you have conjoured from the dark pit of my musical past As it scrapes against the lid of its coffin awoken by the sounds of the Beasts of Bourbon. I rememebr seeing Tex in my teenage years, larger than life, almost godlike performing at the Commercial Hotel in Paramatta, ahh the memories. Thanks for the brutal reminder of a past life long retired and decaying giving off the stench of moshpits and stale beer. As a momento I here present my own little BOB jewel.

Funk Nut

Billy loves his funk, and when we got together the other week, he wanted to put down a funky sounding track.

We started off with a knightrider sort of intro sequence, even looked for some knightrider samples to put on top, but decided against it. We then started with recording a funky guitar loop and adding a cool bass line.

We added some horns and some changes to the theme. A lead guitar section and some other bits and pieces.

For me this one is a little too repetitive and need something to keep it interesting though has some nice moments (including my synth solo).

Have a listen and hope you enjoy.

Cheers.

Funkadelic (Shoulders of Giants)

KG comes alive

Its not often when the boys get together that we know exactly what we want, and how to tackle it, and even less often that when we do, the result is what we were after. Continue on dear reader and you will hear of the rare exception.

Dave arrived with a clear idea in his head for a song genre, it was his mum's birthday on the weekend and he was telling us that whenever he went over his folk's place, that his mum would slap on some Kenny G as background music. He felt it was his obligation as and duty as a respectful son to create a classic KennyGesque style track to impress her with on her birthday.

We started with a smooth enough progression, with a floating / wafting guitar playing a delicate melody over a straight rhythm. We added as close as we could get to a saxophone using a suitable VST instrument and that's when it sank in that we were onto something.. particularly something we were after.

After adding a bridge section which basically flew off on a tangent from the theme we had set, we recorded a delicate meltdown back into the main theme.

That night, I rearranged some sections, added some effects to the guitars and such, and added some drum loops and fills.

We're still waiting to hear what Dave's mum thought of it.

Enjoy,
Cheers.
Ecca


KG's Whale Song

From Parties to Snakes.

G'day all, just a entry to post up a recording done yesterday by myself and Billy.
We got together mid morning and after some repairs to billy's recording software on his laptop, got straight into creating something new.

Thought we would take a different approach today, well different for Billy maybe it is the usual approach that I take, but I don't think Billy was familiar with the process I use, so he seemed a little skeptical at first.

We put down a few drum and bass loops that we were happy with, and then recorded a few loops to arrange throughout the song, mainly guitar riffs etc. This was our basic structure for the arrangement, and from there we added sections as needed.

As you can hear it is a cross between the soundscapes I would normally create on my own, and what we would normally do as a collective, so... enjoy !

Cheers
Ecca


Path of the Snakeman

More Party

Last few days have been rather quiet, had been looking forward to a quiet weekend, and in some regards it was. On Saturday, got together with Wayne and the crew at his place for a band jam/rehearsal, looks like the Wayne and Billy's MIDI band may have evolved into a full blown production with no MIDI at all. Which is always a good thing I guess.

The guys wanted to come over during the week to put down a new tune, Jen suggested they did this on holiday Monday as she would be home and be able to experience the whole process. (Normally she is at work when the guys pop over so doesn't really get to see what we get up to).

Billy wasn't feeling too well on the morning and was trying to pike out of the day, but we convinced him to rock up with headache and all.

We played around with another of Wayne's tunes, added a few bits to it, took a few bits out, and soon we had another little ditty to play around with. That night I mixed and rearranged some of the sections, added some keys (which I usually do once the guys leave), and also added a bass guitar part.

The idea for lyrics came fairly easily, the song gave me a old time lounge / jazz feel and reminded me of a Tom Waits style tune. I kept on thinking of his song 'Underground' off the album "Swordfishtrombones", but adapted the theme a little, so I soon got down to writing about how all the insects and vermin play around the house once the humans go to sleep. The lyrics are included below.

I recorded the vocals and may still add some party noises over the instrumental section as this seems to go for a little too long without something to hold it together, but anyway take a listen to it from the link below. Cheers.




Theres a bat wing shadow on my screen door
theres a six legged shuffle on my kitchen floor
the faint sounds of transistor jazz
theres a party when the lights go out.

arachnids all groove in their webs
Jitterbugs jivin under the bed
the night's lights a mirror ball
The house is thier stage
Theres a party when the lights go out.

The rodents are smoking them fat cigars
like their hanging in some mobster club
in their cocktail dresses and ratail suits
swinging from the rafters to a rhythm guitar
or just taking in the moon on a clear dark night
The skylight's a window to million stars

Ferret face freddy shakin on them bones
Frank blowin hard on the saxaphone
the nights not over till the rat lady sings
theres a party when the lights go out

Outside their watching for the crack of dawn
theres an owl on a branch and crow on the lawn
Hootin and crowing when its all over
They only party when the lights go out.




Party when the lights go out

Party on dudes

have had parties on my mind recently, went to a great one last weekend for Billy's 49th, was a fantastic night, all the usual muso friends were there, was great to see them all and have a jam with many of them.

On Tuesday Billy and Wayne popped over to put some sounds down, and there was a tune Wayne played me some time ago which I was impressed with, so we decided to work on it, we needed to write a chorus and bridge, but the basic verse riff was great and inspiring, so the rest wasn't too hard.

We managed to get the guitar bass and keys down by the arvo, and the song was left with me to add some additional instruments (drums, flute), and to tidy up and produce a little.
4am the next morning this was all done.

Wednesday, morning I started writing some lyrics and the agreed title of the song Afterparty sort of left an impression. I played around with the idea that when you are young and full of energy you tend to party hard not really caring about much but it all affects your later life (the afterparty).

So you can gather what the song is about, no need to give you the lyrics.

Check it out below.

Cheers !


Afterparty

Ecca the slacker

I've been accused of being a slacko and not updating this blog.

Well stay tuned...some suprises on their way.

By the way Bryzy, I know who you are and where you live, and the school your children go to.... :)

Musical Lunch

Recently I have had the pleasure of coming across a sort of audiobook of one of my favorite novels (and movies for that matter) being William S Burroughs' Naked Lunch.

I was desperately hoping that the recording was by Burroughs himself which to my excitement it turned out to be.

The recording ended up being only excerpts from the book, though one of the first things which popped into my head was to use some of the readings for spoken word pieces, so I immediately started working on some tunes to back the legendary Burroughs voice.

I was very tempted to do something weird and abstract but then decided that something melodious and rhythmical would also be nice. I remember hearing a few years back the album that he did with a hip hop band (Disposable Disciples of Hiphopracy I think it was), called Spare Ass Annie, and how it suited his voice well.

The only drawback with the voice recording is the quality, it's not great.

Enjoy the Links below.

Cheers
Ecca

The Black Meat

Meeting of International Conference

Tubby Fear.

It's amazing how someone's offhanded comment can inspire you when you play them a song before you put lyrics to it, The guys got together and recorded a song last Tuesday and I hadn't recorded the vocals to it yet ( Wayne had written them).

Upon playing it to Jen she shook her head and commented what provoked us to write a kids song and that it should be the new teletubby's theme as it was all jangly and ska like

It inspired me to put alternate lyrics to it (after I recorded Wayne's written ones as to not disappoint him), yet I couldn't resist the temptation to record the alternate version as well. Upon mentioning this to Billy he liked the idea and encouraged me to do the deed, so posted below is a tune called 'Teletubby Nightmare' with the lyrics so you can all sing along....

Just for reference, Ragdoll productions are the Teletubby Production Company, Tele tustard is preferred Teletubby food, and Linda Blair starred in the Exorcist movie for the uninitiated.

Enjoy !

Cheers
Ecca


When I lay myself to sleep
Freddie Kruger he don't bother me
My tormentors come from my TV
Ragdoll productions and the BBC

Teletubby nightmare

Well Alice Cooper welcomed me to his
Now I know just what evil is
Just like he told me, there is no escape
Baby talk and colored suits
Take me to my darkest place.

Watching Linda Blair seems like a comedy
It doesn't seem to strike any fear in me
But when you mention the names of tele crew
It makes me projectile vomit tele tustard spew

Teletubby Nightmare

Have a musical weekend

What a great weekend I've had.
Basically all I did was play music and hang out with Jen, perfect as far as I can tell.

Thursday night was a great night as usual at Jake's Jam, with some regulars and old friends turning up and having a good ole play together. Yes it can get loud and messy at times, but what the hey, we're all having a great time.

Friday night, I was asked to play with a local 50's - 60's rock and roll outfit. Great band, tight, all fine musicians, and as expected I had a ball. First time I had played with them, it felt so natural and after a few apprehensive numbers, I felt totally comfortable. I was actually asked to join them the following night at another gig, but i had a daytime gig to do, so unfortunately had to decline.

Saturday, Jen and I joined a group of musicians offering an afternoon of entertainment for a charity function. We had a great time and were well received.

Sunday Jen and I sang and played at a local market, which went really well, we had a friend of mine with us playing guitar, and banjo, and it sounded great. Looks like it is a regular gig every 6 weeks or so. looking forward to it again in April.

The guys were around again yesterday, we worked on a new song of Wayne's (which I hope we didn't mess around with too much as it ended up sounding quite Ska), i put some vocals on it today from Lyrics Wayne game me, but I thing I will rewrite them to suit the style more, it will be a surprise post in the not too distant future.

Today I will leave you with another tune I did on the new keyboard, it is a Prince style number, take a listen if you want, and feel free to comment.

Cheers.
Ecca


Suzie's Emancipation

Bit of Everything

Welcome back lovelies... thought I'd post a short entry today to let you know what's been happenin'.

Musically Ive been doing quite a bit of composing, I may have mentioned in an earlier post that I received a great keyboard for Christmas that has some quite impressive sounds and musical accompaniment styles. Basically in an effort to be as varied as possible I'm going through the styles and trying to write something from each genre, it's been getting quite interesting. I've so far covered, Disco, Guitar Rock, Trance and a few others. It's a bit like giving a child all these different ice cream flavours to try out. :). I am currently putting vocals on the Guitar rock track, so expect to see it posted here fairly soon.

It looks like this week is a going to be a busy one for performing, starting on Thursday night at the regular Jam ( If i make it..) , Friday night at a local RSL with a 50-60's rock and roll band, Saturday at a regular Charity Gig Jen and I play at and finally on Sunday at a Blues Gig with a friend of mine at one of the day markets up here on the Central Coast. I think by Sunday afternoon my fingers may need a little rest.

I've been checking out some cool stuff on the web of late.
Managed to find the complete Cremaster Cycle series which I am slowly getting through ( its difficult at times). If you are not aware of Micheal Barney's Cremaster work, do some googling, it's quite interesting stuff. Very artistic and symbolic, and beautifully filmed. Don't try to watch it without some background knowledge as it will come across very disjointed and weird. Winkipedia has some great background material on the project.

I have also come across some Charles Bukowski recordings of him reading his poetry and short stories. A friend of mine introduced me to his work a few years back (gave me a listen to a spoken word recording) and I found it quite interesting. This latest one though still interesting needs some editing, because you can clearly tell he is pretty drunk and it is a little hard to tell where his ranting ends and his poetry recital begins. Also it sounds like it was recorded outside of a studio, because some of the production (especially microphone feedback) is pretty poor.

I have given a provided a link below. Be prepared though if you are unfamiliar with his work, it can be quite hard hitting and brutal. Maybe another googling job for yaz.

The boyz have been getting together to do some more collaborative recordings, and to finish work on some older numbers, we managed to get one of our favoured vocalists to come over and put vocals down to a tune we recorded some time back, it seems to have turned out OK though I had major hassles with my setup, I think I must have had some system tray programs running which seemed to have been interfering with my sound card, anyway we managed to rectify the problem after many false starts.

Link is provided below.

Hope you enjoy your homework if you wish to accept it, and see you next time...

Ecca



Bukowski

Prison

Catch Up

Wow it's been a while, I haven't posted here since way before the holidays, don't ask me what I have been up to, i cant remember back that far.

I had a good break though, and spent New Year watching the obligatory fireworks, and making a few of my own with some of my nephews. Jen was off work for 8 weeks, so we spent a fair bit of time together and did some handy stuff around the house / yard.

Musically, the end of the year was fairly hectic, though the beginning of 2009 has been rather slow on the gig front, but I'm working on that.

The boys have been around a number of times and we have dabbles around with some new tunes and such. One of which I have posted below, so check it out if you want, if you don't then 'boo to you' who cares...

I got a great new keyboard for Christmas from my folks, one of them auto everything jobs, so I'm using it quite creatively to explore as many music genres as i possibly can. i even whipped up a disco tune the other day which I am in the process of throwing some vocals onto, so listen out for that one soon.

Oh I also managed to pick up a cheap 35mm SLR camera off ebay over the last few weeks, so I will be adding some of my weird shots to the blog posts.

There you go, a quick update. hope the next one doesn't quite take so long.

Cheers.
Ecca

Nothin'