TD, Beaver Dam Best Western, 2/25

We rocked the Beaver Dam Best Western on short notice. Got paid $20 for gas and free beer. The venue quickly realized that three bands would drink them out of house and home though...I wonder if they'll do this again.

The place was classic 1960s hotel bar. And tiny. The picture doesn't do it justice...on the other side was a horseshoe bar and super tackey decor.


The show went pretty well. We revisited the last Great Dane setlist. I couldn't hear shit but the bass...so I did the best I could and it went ok. Those in attendance did not leave and seemed to enjoy themselves. A couple of folks followed us up from Madtown, which was nice.

Lessons, Week 4 and Final

We went over Tightrope by SVR, then Samba, and Songa.

And I'm done.

For whatever reason it just didn't feel right this time around and so I'm quitting. I know that JBB is a great teacher and I could have learned a great deal quickly from him...but it just isn't going to work out.

I feel like a loser and a quitter and like I'm giving up a chance to really advance my skills, but I learned a long time ago that sometimes you just have to quit. I think I was about 25 or so when I quit the UW string orchestra and I remember thinking..."huh, I can quit stuff". It has since become something of a habit...where once I would push through anything just so as not to quit. Perhaps I'm getting lazy in my old age, but such is life.

I would like to try again what I intended to do starting last August when EN left town...so take an hour each week that WOULD have been my lesson and study on my own. That plan got messed up because I joined The Drain and my Monday nights (and all my practice time) became about that band. But things have settled into place with The Drain now and perhaps I can make time on Sunday nights for personal study instead. It's kind of like exercise...it isn't rocket science...it's just a matter of putting in the time.

So we'll see.

Is She Weird and Songsterr

I thought I had this down, but upon playing it with the boys it was clear something was off in the chorus. At a loss, I turned to Songsterr and all was revealed.

I've only used Songsterr for the few times that I've really gotten stuck on things. I've mostly tried to figure stuff out on my own first. But there's no denying that the easiest way is to go with Songsterr. What it does is add rhythm to tab and plays the song for you.

The site itself is free, but you get bonus stuff (like the ability to print the music or slow the song to half speed) if you join Songsterr Plus. It's pricey ($10 per month) and doesn't seem to add that much.

I might have done it at the start if it had occurred to me...but now that I have tab for every Pixies song and 75% have already been corrected...it seems like a waste. Perhaps if I ever start a new project that I require such things for. There are only four Flaming Lips bass tabs listed, so that project doesn't make it worth it (plus I think the bass parts are easy enough to learn by ear).

Ironically, there are 50 Pixies bass tabs on the site...and that's about where we are at with having the songs learned (it isn't the same 50 songs we know, though).

Silver

I've been missing that Kim Deal sings the low part on this song. Trying to pick it out now.



Second version on the video above has just her low vocal. Awesome.

A nice modern live version with clear vocal:

Planet of Sound

EDIT 2/23/2011: I have gotten the part. It is now in the complete fakebook.

This SEEMS like a ridiculously easy song...but because of that no one has posted the full tab online. Most videos tend to not stay on Kim...but this one keeps her in frame and you can actually make out the part pretty well...at least where the shifts and transitions are...


EDIT:
Found 120 Minutes...she's not in frame the whole time, but it is a better close up when she is. Around 0:36 seconds there's a clear shot of her part. Also...Black Francis signals sound guy for more lead vocal in the monitor.


Super clear shots of the guitars (same part as bass in the "tough" section) in Brazil...plus you get to hear Joey and Charles detune.


Paradise:

SSW, Harmony, 2/13

It went ok. Our second tour with the Lowellapaloosa benefit. Afternoon show at The Harmony. We played an hour set. I guess I don't have much else to say.

Setlist:
1. THAT'S HOW I ESCAPED MY CERTAIN FATE
2. HATE & WAR
3. BOSCOBEL BREAKOUT
4. PART TIME PUNKS
5. TEENAGE KICKS
6. WE ARE THE ONE
7. DANCE (4X) TO THE RADIO
8. HELICOPTER
9. NEW ROSE
10. FABLE
11. TWO PINTS OF LAGER AND A PACKET OF CRISPS, PLEASE
12. POLITICAL SONG FOR MICHAEL JACKSON TO SING
13. EVERYBODY'S HAPPY NOWADAYS
14. THIS SIDE OF PARADISE
15. THE WAY I LOVE YOU
16. WARSAW
17. I HATE THE RICK
18. SUSPECT DEVICE
19. STARMAN

Lessons, Week 3

We went over Tightrope by Stevie Ray Vaughn as a possible piece for me to play at the student jam. But I don't really want to go to the student jam...so we'll see.