Music-related happenings in 2011

January 1, 2011 @ 3:47 pm

Hi friends,

The holidays are here, and keeping with that theme of renewal and change, I wanted to collate recent announcements about some cool new stuff happening on the music and Indie Rock 101 front. New single, blogging for Focal Press’s blog, updated Amazon author page with new articles and content. Read on for details…

Read more

I'm blogging for Focal Press's blog for the audio community, Audio Undone

November 21, 2010 @ 6:41 pm

I’m honored and excited to announce my first post for my Indie Rock 101 publisher’s blog for the audio community, ‘Audio Undone.’ If you’re into audio production, it’s a great forum for new tips and info. I’ll be submitting new columns as time allows, so please subscribe for my latest musings on all things indie rock.

I’m now a blogger for AudioUndone.com, my publisher’s (Focal Press) blog for the audio community

My most recent entry is an interview with San Francisco mastering engineer and AES (Audio Engineering Society) 2010 Convention committee member and co-chair of the workshop track, Mike Wells. You can scroll down on the same page to see recent my première post, “3 Killer iPhone Apps for Guitar Gods on the go.”

I will be posting the same entries at the website for my book, Indie Rock 101, so subscribe to the RSS feed there for my posts about the book, my music, audio production and running, recording and promoting your music.

Read more

Tune in online to my Boston radio interview this Saturday!

August 31, 2010 @ 10:54 pm

Tune in to my interview on Boston ’s WMWM this Saturday (9/4) at 4 p.m. EST for my book, “Indie Rock 101.” I’ll be talking about the book with DJ Cosmic Amanda and sharing some of my recorded songs. Listen online at www.wmwmonline.com. Should be fun!

My Favorite Music of 2009

October 29, 2009 @ 9:06 pm

I know the year isn’t quite over but I already know I’m gonna like Weezer’s new record and I’m probably going to be too busy over the holidays to indulge in longer blog posts like this. But the holidays are all about excess—as in excessive debt, stress, social commitments, eating and family bonding—so who knows.

Let me start off by saying that I didn’t call this entry “Top 20 Records” or “Best Records of 2009” because even though I think I have exceptional taste in music—along with food, wine, movies, women, interior décor and Tokugawa-era woodblock prints—who’s to say what’s best for anyone else? My intention here is to share what I discovered or rediscovered this year and in the process, hopefully turn you on to good stuff. And yes, state my opinions. After all, it’s my blog.

Read more

The Star Chamber, Marvin Gaye and Getting Closer to the Music

September 2, 2009 @ 10:03 pm

I know it’s been a while since I posted, so I’d like to start off with a bit of news and gratitude. Since I found out the book would be published about a year ago (on my birthday, August 22^nd), it’s been enjoying a 4.5 star (out of 5) average on Amazon.com, most of them coming from readers I don’t know personally. So I’d like to give a shout-out to the friends that have reviewed it so far and the new folks that gave it nice notices as well. Thank you! I’ve been spending the last few months working on a new, non-music related writing project—a screenplay—but I look forward to hearing from more new readers and listeners, and eventually putting out some new music.

Read more

Interview with masters of metal Anvil

May 4, 2009 @ 3:07 am

From left to right: Glenn, Steve, me (with swollen face from wisdom tooth extraction) and Robb of Anvil. See all photos from this evening here.

Tonight I was fortunate enough to chat with and then see in concert true masters of metal, Anvil, at the Bridge Theater in San Francisco’s Inner Richmond district. The band powered through a short, blistering set to a standing-room only crowd following a screening of Anvil: The Story of Anvil, a new documentary about the band that Rolling Stone is calling “this year’s most praised rock doc” and one Michael Moore is calling “the best documentary I’ve seen in years.”

Read more

Collaboration Tools & Process Seminar at Leo’s Pro Audio focuses on sharing large files online

February 14, 2009 @ 8:22 pm

From left to right: Gabriel Sheppard, Mike Wells, Mr. Ski, me, Michael DentonPhotos by Becky Ruden

What a cool Valentine’s Day. I just got back from being a panelist at this seminar and it was a total blast. The knowledge, expertise and passion of my fellow panelists was infectious and inspirational. I know the crowd learned a lot and I certainly did as well.

Read more

I'm a panelist on a pro audio seminar this Saturday (Oakland, SF)

February 11, 2009 @ 10:22 pm

Hi all, this Saturday, I’m honored to be a panelist on the “Collaboration Tools & Process” seminar at Leo’s Pro Audio this Saturday Feb 14^th.

Read more

Guitars have souls

February 9, 2009 @ 2:05 am

I first heard this theory upon reading Michael Azerrad’s Nirvana biography many years ago; Melvins and one-time Nirvana drummer Dale Crover had said it in protest of Kurt smashing his guitars on stage at the time. Here’s Crover in Azerrad’s excellent book Come as You Are…

“It’s anti-climatic. Kurt trying to break a guitar—it takes him 15 minutes. By the time it’s over, it’s like, big deal. I think that’s guitar murder. I think guitars have souls.”

Read more

Easy, affordable web design software

February 2, 2009 @ 2:05 am

If you’re trying to promote your music, it definitely helps to know a little web design. If you think you aren’t tech-savvy enough to make your own website, or you think you can’t learn the software, don’t panic–there are options.

Read more