Open Mic - Dinner Report - Thursday 12/11

[sickbutnottired]

It's getting late so I am jumping in with rough jam.

Lunch, I had left overs. Pepper steak in a brandy cream sauce, and a plain baked potato, and some roasted broccoli.

Dinner. I cook at my house. My wife works her rear off, and does ton's of chores, but cooking my thing. I love to cook, but am currently doing a lot more simple and reusable things than I used to. Tonight is pork chops and applesauce...not my fav, but easy and the wife loves stuff her mom used to make.

My guitar playing is in a similar state, I am working on songs and rhythms and trying to tie down a cohesive style to really make some music with. Anybody else going through focus changes with their music? (This has been going on for a couple of years with me.)

I am also seriously considering a career change. I have been in IT my whole professional career, and I am sick of it. I am seriously considering going back and getting an ME degree and doing something different. Like going to play in the oil fields or something. Somewhere their is some action.

I am looking forward to going home and playing my ASAT Deluxe through some old fender amps turned to 11 for a little while......

Questions -

(1) How many of you find that you are very creative, and that music is a very positive influence in unsettled and difficult times in your life? I know it is for me, some guitar playing and writing really clears the mind and heart (emotions) for me.

(2) Darwin has shared his preparations for a pre-holiday gig, sounds fun. Anybody else got anything winter/holiday related going? My band is currently on hold, long and very troubling story, but I am going to go hit an open mic next Thurs, just to get out.

(3) I had a music store owner tell me that his busiest time of year was Easter these days, because of people gearing up their worship bands. That blew me back, being an irregular (very) church attendee. Anybody doing any G&L, or other gear buying for holiday related shows. Or just your own gift?

There is an ASAT on da bay killing me, but if I am going back to school.....

[sam]

Very strange night Mr. Gitman, we (family) had dinner at my parents tonight and we had....pork chops, broccoli with a cheese sauce and baked sweet potatoes. Yep, we had that a few times when I was a kid and guess it was a reminder of days at home.

Had no computer access from noon until now, thanks for pitching in with the dinner report!

No real focus change to my music lately, probably would help my playing to switch it up a bit.

(1) Music is definately a very positive influence in my life. I find that playing is one of the few things that actually takes my mind off work, family and all the mayhem in the world.

(2) No band or jams planned.

(3) Considering a low price PA for the family this year. Everyone in the family plays an instrument and the kids sing in choirs and theatre so they may get the chance to project it to all the neighbors. Any low cost PA suggestions?

ASAT's can do that to ya!

[sam]

Should have addressed Mr. sickbutnottired, what a day, brain is shot

[darwinohm]

SBNT, It must be pork day. As we speak the stuffed loin chops are in the oven!

I was in the computer business my whole life and the last thing in the world I want to look at is a sick computer. The next career is always a hard decision. The one thing I have discovered is that if there is any way you can become your own boss, it is highly recommended. Benefits in a large company is nice but the stress and reward is not for many people. Folks who are very happy in their jobs are very fortunate as that is not the norm today. My life has been mostly stress free for the last 9 years. Being involved with the KRS can be stressful at times but all it takes is some music if I am stressed to get life back on track. Gigs have always been one of my highlights.

It is surprising how many worship bands that are out there. The one that Kari is in is all pro musicians or music teachers. Most of these bands are very good and they do not take shortcuts with their gear so they are probably a large factor to music stores. Thanks for jumping in today SBNT and Sam, I would recommend looking for a good used PA. There are so many bands folding and they are usually easy to find.-- Darwin

[zapcosongs]

Thank you sincerely for stepping up, sbnt. Badly needed and fine report - and not just because you and I have much in common.

I too do the cooking in the household, and my wife too brings home most of the bacon these days. The least I can do is fry it up well!

I made some excellent meatballs last night and they will be re-purposed this evening as a featured element of dinner. Late supper for me tonight, as my oldest and I just got home from his swim team practice. I feed him on the road to practice. Since pasta and meatballs don't work well in the car, I made him an "Ed McMuffin," my own take on the familiar and satisfying sandwich that can be enjoyed any time of day.

Q #1: I like to think of myself as creative, though I very much lack the physical skills to translate my ideas well in a musical sense. Regardless, I treasure my time at the end of the day - when the kids are asleep and the wife is watching some talent-show TV or is on facebook - when I can retreat alone to my basement, pick up a guitar (usually an acoustic these days) and just forget my cares and unwind. Sometimes my old dog will join me. He never complains about my modest skill level, and I love him all the more for his kindness and discretion.

Q #2: No jam plans here, though I do look forward to the kids' vacation from school when we can make some music together as a family. My oldest boy has learned some guitar and bass, my wife is enjoying the Uke I got her last Xmas, and our youngest (recently adopted) boy has a beautiful voice (his first vocal recital is tomorrow afternoon).

Q #3 I don't know enough about today's PA options to add much here. I will say that I agree with the suggestion, above, that you consider used (after reading reviews enough to focus your search). Lots of good values out there.

Regarding the career thing - I can only advise you to follow your heart. Having crested 50, I realize that we only get so many chances to reinvent ourselves. I used to spend 10+ hours a day (and many weekend days) behind a desk in a law office. It was fine when I didn't have children, but I work for myself now in addition to running the household and spending lots of wonderful time playing Daddy. I'm confident that with a bit of luck and if you listen to your heart, you will find something to do that will be personally satisfying if not financially rewarding. - ed

[blargfromouterspace]

I too do the cooking in the household, and my wife too brings home most of the bacon these days. The least I can do is fry it up well!

That makes three of us

I say change careers. You might as well be happy doing what you do - I'm studying at the moment because I didn't like my last job. Thinking back to that crappy job really helps me when uni gets tough - the calculations might be difficult but it beats the hell out of sanding a ceiling in 40 degrees Celsius. My part time job is playing in bands. Life is great at the moment!

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

Love pork and have it somewhere around 4 out of 7 days a week..........bacon, chops or ham and sometimes carnitas. My favorite home cooked meal from the mom was pork roast with pork gravy and mashed potatoes. Pork gravy is the best!

Music and stress......I dropped it thinking it was taking up time and creative energy that could be utilized in what I have considered my true calling in life, art. The problem is that I am not one of those tormented artists that can channel everything into art. Instead something that once flowed naturally became a major chore. I put so much into it without seeing anything in return. Finally I could no longer produce anything because I would feel too much pointlessness in it. It is still a calling however because I cannot bring anything to a stage of gratification it has become the ultimate torment. I decided to start playing music again hoping it would open things up in me. I used to do both. I have recently acquired two keeper guitars. The first was a transition but the day the second arrived and I played it was the moment I realized I had made a wise choice to get back to music again. After a particularly miserable day I experienced such a relief from the stress. I just sat back with my eyes closed and played for a couple of hours relishing the feeling. I must point out how pleased I was to be playing an ASAT Classic. The tone and responsiveness was what I had anticipated after a lot of research. I am very happy with it. I am also surprised when people want to change pickups. I think the ASAT MFDs and Legacy pickups sound great. The only reason I am changing my Legacy pickups is because I want that neck position to be noiseless. On the ASAT I can live with the noise of the neck position (it is less) but my favorite position is the neck/bridge combo anyway.

I have noticed that there are so many "worship" players around that some general musical instrument player forums have a special section for them. It is sort of an odd thing to me. It has nothing to do with religion. It is that "worship" music is often terrible IMO. I have dialed through a radio and stopped at a song only to find out it is "Christian Rock" and so I realize there are good musicians producing quality music with "worship" themed lyrics. What I think is terrible are the songs that are standards and traditionally played in churches where everyone sings to them. Then again, I have also heard contemporary "worship" music that was awful and seemed to be floating on the "worship" theme alone. Remove the "worship" aspect and the music itself is pretty bad IMO. However, these musicians have inspired more and they spend money on gear.

No gigging or anything on the horizon here.

Career change- you posed the question so... this is not a good time to give up a profitable career with so many people out of work. Entire fields have collapsed. What a luxury to choose to go to school and switch careers on your own accord rather than being forced by a layoff or a complete evaporation of a profession. There are aspiring young people with sharp moldable minds along with the once employed looking to adapt their skill and experience to something from which to earn a living that you will be competing with. The best thing would be to do them simultaneously until you can go completely with the new life. You will not likely have time and energy to play guitar for a long while though. The best of luck to you if you really want to do something different.

[CGT]

Great questions. Lunch today was a can of Mushroom Barley soup and some crackers as I was running late. Made up for it with fishcakes for dinner.

I'm a writer by trade and playing guitar is a way of staying creative when I get blocked and need to do something to get myself back on the right track that otherwise engages my creativity. Of late that's been playing rhythm on the Squier Tele and learning songs that I've known for year.

I don't gig but I'm looking at possibly starting a band in the new year. I've got a fever and the only cure is... more cowbell (and that's one of the few things I don't have in my arsenal).

With respect to worship/praise music, whenever I hit the forums at ultimate-guitar and harmony-central for user gear reviews, half the players seem to be in praise bands. I have one friend who plays in a church band and is a pretty good multi-instrumentalist but I have no other contact with the phenomenon. As for most of Christian rock/country/pop, most of it is awful because it emulates the lowest common denominator trends. Every once in awhile, something like Creed comes along that doesn't make me want to vomit (too much) but when it comes to praise, give me that old time gospel, whether it's gospel or bluegrass. There's a lot of good music to be tapped in that vein. As with all music, the less commercial it is, the better it gets.

As for a career change: I've gone through several and I'm happy where I am right now, though not as rich as my mother would have liked me to have been if I'd become a lawyer.

[louis cyfer]

It's getting late so I am jumping in with rough jam.

Lunch, I had left overs. Pepper steak in a brandy cream sauce, and a plain baked potato, and some roasted broccoli.

Dinner. I cook at my house. My wife works her rear off, and does ton's of chores, but cooking my thing. I love to cook, but am currently doing a lot more simple and reusable things than I used to. Tonight is pork chops and applesauce...not my fav, but easy and the wife loves stuff her mom used to make.

My guitar playing is in a similar state, I am working on songs and rhythms and trying to tie down a cohesive style to really make some music with. Anybody else going through focus changes with their music? (This has been going on for a couple of years with me.)

I am also seriously considering a career change. I have been in IT my whole professional career, and I am sick of it. I am seriously considering going back and getting an ME degree and doing something different. Like going to play in the oil fields or something. Somewhere their is some action.

I am looking forward to going home and playing my ASAT Deluxe through some old fender amps turned to 11 for a little while......

Questions -

(1) How many of you find that you are very creative, and that music is a very positive influence in unsettled and difficult times in your life? I know it is for me, some guitar playing and writing really clears the mind and heart (emotions) for me.

(2) Darwin has shared his preparations for a pre-holiday gig, sounds fun. Anybody else got anything winter/holiday related going? My band is currently on hold, long and very troubling story, but I am going to go hit an open mic next Thurs, just to get out.

(3) I had a music store owner tell me that his busiest time of year was Easter these days, because of people gearing up their worship bands. That blew me back, being an irregular (very) church attendee. Anybody doing any G&L, or other gear buying for holiday related shows. Or just your own gift?

There is an ASAT on da bay killing me, but if I am going back to school.....

where are you going to jam next thursday?

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

...With respect to worship/praise music, whenever I hit the forums at ultimate-guitar and harmony-central for user gear reviews, half the players seem to be in praise bands. I have one friend who plays in a church band and is a pretty good multi-instrumentalist but I have no other contact with the phenomenon. As for most of Christian rock/country/pop, most of it is awful because it emulates the lowest common denominator trends. Every once in awhile, something like Creed comes along that doesn't make me want to vomit (too much) but when it comes to praise, give me that old time gospel, whether it's gospel or bluegrass. There's a lot of good music to be tapped in that vein. As with all music, the less commercial it is, the better it gets....

This is a good point........it emulates the lowest common denominator trends.....it may be an attempt to offer an alternative but no one has what it takes to become a trend setter......they are all Osmonds.

BTW, Creed is not a Christian Rock band. They were picked up by a label that typically carried Christian Rock bands and people drew a misguided conclusion.

[sickbutnottired]

Wow, Thanks everyone for the great feedback on the questions and on career change!!! A lot of great and encouraging thoughts.

There Open mic's at the brew pub tasting rooms in Helena. In MT, breweries can serve up to 3 'samples' and be open between the hours of 4-9 (or something along that line. These open mics are not a hotbed of talent, but it is generally not competitive to get on, and a loose jam is encouraged. I was going to these some before my last band got going. So just low key fun. But enough to get me to get a couple songs together, complete.

Sam - A PA and a couple of decent mic's are a great tool for kids of all ages. Watching my 3 year old run around the house with a carvin 58 knockoff is one of the cutest things ever.

My cheap PA is not integrated, I use a cheap Peavey 8 track board, Alesis MKII powered speakers. I have lot's of other odds and ends from my live sound reinforcement stuff. I do recommend the speakers at the price, about $250.

Darwin - Well, I have enough corporate and small business experience to know one thing, I don't have 'the look' for corporate. Thanks!

Ed - Following the heart is important, I feel fortunate to have enough ability and courage to be able to do that, now I just have to figure out what it is!

Jamie - Sanding is the worst, I have had ton's of jobs. Mostly when I was younger--I started working at age 13 when not in school. I did a little time as a painter, and a little time as a taper. So sanding is definitely out!

Louis, See above!

I can't stand 'christian' pop/rock either, and you guys nailed my feelings about the genre. But gospel, I mean, I am a blues/country practitioner and gospel can be some of the finest references of those influences. Listening to Willie sing 'I'll Fly Away' is amazing; with little sister on keys, of course!

I hope everyone's pork last night was as good as ours! cheers, jeremy

[zapcosongs]

Sad to report no "pork" for me last night ;+( - ed

[louis cyfer]

I have noticed that there are so many "worship" players around that some general musical instrument player forums have a special section for them. It is sort of an odd thing to me. It has nothing to do with religion. It is that "worship" music is often terrible IMO. I have dialed through a radio and stopped at a song only to find out it is "Christian Rock" and so I realize there are good musicians producing quality music with "worship" themed lyrics. What I think is terrible are the songs that are standards and traditionally played in churches where everyone sings to them. Then again, I have also heard contemporary "worship" music that was awful and seemed to be floating on the "worship" theme alone. Remove the "worship" aspect and the music itself is pretty bad IMO. However, these musicians have inspired more and they spend money on gear.

i have also noticed that most worship players are not very good themselves. when i read opinion of worship players on gear, i rarely take it seriously. the music does usually suck. i did like styper growing up, but i think most of them go into christian rock because they can't cut it in the open market. in the christian rock scene, as long as the lyrics are lovie-dovie jesus, it is good enough.

[zapcosongs]

Hmmmm. I may have just found my niche! ;+) - ed

[Ahryn]

Dudes I jsut saw this so skiping ahead, worship and Christian rock are two different styles.

Worship is almost 100% volunteer where the only one actually listening to the differences in gear is you, its aimed at a different audience.

Christian rock and whatnot are usually aimed elsewhere and usual deal with aspects of Christianity and humanity other than praise specifically.

Think of worship players as garage bands that do free gigs, Christian rock generally charges and as such hold themselves to a higher stylistic standard.

There is more christian rock in the open market than most people think, its labeling oneself as christian that usually halfs your perspective audience.

and yes there are standards that are played everywhere and yes they can sound bad, sometime because the player is bored of playing it

IMHO and what not...

(1) Positive influence? yup, bad day play some guitar, good day play some guitar.

(2) No gigs other than, you guessed it worship band.

(3) Picked up a used 76 reissue dynacomp this week, its fun in moderation and make a real nifty boost.

I hear yah on the ASAT, everywhere I look is gear I want. or want to afford.

[louis cyfer]

Dudes I jsut saw this so skiping ahead, worship and Christian rock are two different styles.

Worship is almost 100% volunteer where the only one actually listening to the differences in gear is you, its aimed at a different audience.

Christian rock and whatnot are usually aimed elsewhere and usual deal with aspects of Christianity and humanity other than praise specifically.

Think of worship players as garage bands that do free gigs, Christian rock generally charges and as such hold themselves to a higher stylistic standard.

There is more christian rock in the open market than most people think, its labeling oneself as christian that usually halfs your perspective audience.

and yes there are standards that are played everywhere and yes they can sound bad, sometime because the player is bored of playing it

IMHO and what not...

(1) Positive influence? yup, bad day play some guitar, good day play some guitar.

(2) No gigs other than, you guessed it worship band.

(3) Picked up a used 76 reissue dynacomp this week, its fun in moderation and make a real nifty boost.

I hear yah on the ASAT, everywhere I look is gear I want. or want to afford.

you are right. i am mixing my terminology. christian rock usually is the bad bands that can't make it on the open market.
worship music usually is the bad players, who can't really do payed gigs and like to butcher the playing. at church, iguess, that is ok. this is what i have seen. i am sure there are good worship players out there. i have heard a few good christian bands. this is just what i have experienced.

[Ahryn]

Cool man, just wanted folks to know there is good ones out there. but you might not have experienced any, to get a feel for live worship you would have to be in and out of a lot of churches, some have people who do it as a side other then the normal gigging some do straight up worship ministry (it's like a two years bachelors of music program) then you have the regular mix of people you would get on an open mic, some better than most.

Fortunately christian music kind of covers everything from Chris Tomlin to Emery and everything in between.

YMMV