This has been relatively an easy mix. Skip, a short video, solos by Nick , Jenn, and Kenny. A small black gospel choir. A kids choir. The worship band. And a partridge in a pinon tree.
So I am grateful for a job. A staff that is grateful for me. And I hope and pray many lives are touch today and tonite from all over.
Merry Christmas
Ok. I am going to change the direction of this blog. I want to use this one to talk tech. More gear. Reviews. Rants. Raves. Observations. And such. For more on my personal life and thoughts, I am posting on a new blog call Me Myself I. I know, really original. It will change at some point. So for audio, video, lighting, production stuff, hang out here. For the other side of things, be sure to check out my other one.
Thanks
I'd like to give a shout out to the man with guit fiddle. Mr. Del Puckett.
Carrying his computer around with a web cam, interviewing me like a rock star. Check it out.
Going to Redding California and Gilbert Arizona with Jeremy Riddle and his drummer Brandon McCoy.
The victimization started early. After having to get up early, my door knob came apart walking out the door. Then I ended up behind one of ABQ's finest and couldn't make up time. Check in was smooth. Thank you Southwest Airlines. Security was packed. 4 lines going to 3 checkers. Then I forgot about a pair of wire strippers in my backpack. Under 7 inches got to keep them. My flight is rapidly approaching. Rush to the gate. And waited for ten minutes to embark. Small passenger count. Ahh. Get to stretch out and listen to music. But wait. Ipod out of juice. Oh well. Sit back and watch the Arizona landscape pass by. Definitey the victim.
Here's an interesting study about the negative coverage of
the presidential candidates. Wonder who they want to win?!?!
Experts say that this election is going to be decided by the "undecided voters," the seven percent of voters, who after two years of this campaign, are still undecided.
Scary to think that the future of this country is going to be decided by people who just can't make up their mind. Is this wise?
I read a post this morning that surprised me. A couple of influential church leaders have endorsed Barack Obama for president. Through a political action committee under the guise of a ministry, they call for social change to bring about Christ's call to take care of the least of these.
While a noble and compelling goal, last time I checked, He didn't call for the government to do this. This is our call as Christians. The church is responsible. And the 'least of these' needs to include the unborn children. The hypocrisy of wanting one thing, but not to include another is blinding. I would love for the government to help out, but not at the expense of adding to our already huge welfare state. Change those rules to help instead of hinder.
I want my church leader to be politicaly involved, but I think it is wrong for this leader to publicly endorse any political candidate. I believe it is absolutely their responsibility to teach their congregation the importance of participating in the election process. As one of the commentors put it, "I think we should spend a lot more time helping people shape their political beliefs from the context of their faith."
When we do this, we enable people to think about what is important to us. To the church. To the betterment of our society. To a friend of mine, social justice is his immediate issue. To another, the rights of unborn babies. Because of these positions, they will vote for the opposite parties. Both are right in their convictions. The most important thing, is to not make it a one issue choice.
I have always wanted to get into photography. I bought a Nikon D40 earlier this year, and have enjoyed every snapshot. Getting to be creative, and try different things with it. So this photo is of my son. We headed to the park thinking the sunset was going to be spectacular. It wasn't, so I took a bunch of pictures of him instead.
So, just watching the last hour of the VH1 Rock Honors for The Who. I missed it the first night they showed. On vacation and all. I have to admit, growing up I did not listen to rock music. I still can't figure out why or how I missed it. So, missed out on the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Stones, old school rock. My first album I bought when I was twelve, was Jackson Browne, Running on Empty.
When I started mixing sound, I grew to appreciate what those bands contributed to the genre. I took a trip to England in 1998 , and actually made it to Liverpool. The guys I was with were fanatics of the Beatles, so we did all the tours and such. After that I really started to listen to them, and other bands from the 60's and early 70's and found I liked it. Very much. I had deprived my music soul of some very essential music.
The best part of music, is making sure my son has a chance to listen to the greats.
So needless to say, I can be somewhat of a music snob, but I do try to listen, and give every genre its chance.
Listening to the Who has been great. Pearl Jam's songs rocked. Flaming Lips were amazing as usual, and of course Foo Fighters brought it.
Emminence Front and Behind Blue Eyes have to be my fav Who songs.
So there you go. A post on music this sound guy likes.
So as I sit here in the dark...trying to figure out life's questions...at 2:30am, I am joined by my son (who should be sleeping) and we are discussing those tough questions in life. Latte or machiato, basketball playoffs, or hockey playoffs. Both of these are good for me, because the Red Wings and the Pistons are in the playoffs. We'll see if the Pistons can pull it together or not. We also discussed out doubts. How hard it is sometimes to believe. Came across a quote from another blogger somewhere, who said, we need to have doubt to have faith. Makes sense.
So as we try to go back to sleep, (good thing school is out), we can dream of eating ribs and a good ol #9 at the Golden Pride, with our good friend Colin in a few hours. So till then, zzzzzz.
So, I Just read Seth Godin's post on how the media likes to drive what we see and hear. It is something I've felt for a long time, just didn't know to how to describe it. He does a pretty good job. So let's get the "actual" news.
This past winter and early spring found me on the road a lot. In the air mostly. Layovers in Dallas Ft Worth, Houston, and even Cincinnati. I was road managing for Jeremy Riddle and his band. I had a lot of fun, but plenty of lack of sleep to help contribute to me feeling like I aged some more.
Part of good times was hanging with B McCoy. A great guy. A great drummer. A great point of view, that makes you think. I had think of a lot of rebuttals, but made me think none the less. He possesses a sharp mind that makes you think he is older than he is. But he also has a naivety that I wish I could have back.
After finding his rants and raves online, it has given me the jolt to make my voice heard (seen). If only to get things off my chest. If only I am the only one who sees this. If I am the only one.
So as this next chapter opens up, grab a pint of Smithwicks, get out the darts, let's ramble on.
Ok, so the Tigers got off to a very bad start. 0-7. But they have come to life of late. Now they are flirting with going .500. But, that one will have to wait. Minnesota is kicking their collective butts. Oh well. 3rd highest salary payroll, and the payoff is yet to come.
I don't watch baseball too much. I usually save up for the series. Most like the other sports. I'll watch some of the Red Wings games, especially if they go to the finals. I'll try to catch an occasional Tigers game on TV. Mostly, though I will watch football. While I root for the Lions, the team I like is the Broncos. The AFC west, until last year, was the toughest league to play in. We'll see how it plays out this year.
So that covers baseball, hockey, and football. Politics will come later.
So for now, try not to get victimized. Go Tigers!
This year has taken me to many places I haven't been to yet.
Cleveland OH
went to Cleveland Heights Guitar Shop. Held a 1948 Martin.
Cincinnati OH
ate at the Budakhan downtown. Great Pad Thai
Pensacola FL
Hattiesburg MS
The Keg and Barrell. Black Castle.
Boston MA
Do I need to say more? Majestic Theater was home for a week.
Spartanburg SC
Delany's Pub, Smithwicks, and darts.
Memphis TN
Lake Charles, LA
Two tornadoes touched down right before we got to town
Grand Rapid, MI
Andy Warhol at GRAM
And revisited some places I have already been.
Orlando
Atlanta
Charlotte
Nashville
Houston
Dallas
Chicago
so with the Student Life Tour at an end, and nary a sound gig in sight at least until June....(yeah right), I can now turn my attentions to.....hmmmm. I don't know what to do.
I could try to find more audio gigs. I could try to put my camera investment to work. I could just find a hobby. To much thinking.
So as end of tour present, Matt the audio guy, "accidentally" saved his settings over mine. So the video timer is ending, the lights come up for Jeremy, Drew (the tech director) is wondering loudly why the playback music is still up, and I am scrambling trying to get a ProTools recording going. All the while Matt is asking me if I can use his settings to start. So up goes Jeremy's fader, the music goes down, and the show starts. Takes two songs to get it close. None of the effects setting were right. The verb I stored was an amp simulator in Matt's world. Jeremy sure sounded good with his voice running through a Fender Twin or something like that. At least I had all the channels, and monitor world wasn't on my shoulders. I probably would have skulked out the back door and disappeared into the wet chilly Tennessee night.
So I accepted Matt's apology, and went on with the show. What a way to have the last night go.
All right, I have spent the last 3 months of my life on an airplane. I know my way intimately around DFW. I probably been at DFW more than I have been home. I walk into my house and ask why housekeeping hasn't put fresh towels in or made up my bed. (Can you sense the victimization here?)
I have been on tour with Jeremy Riddle and his band since the end of January. Visiting locales in the south east region of our fine country with Student Life. Mostly churches with a few civic center thrown in. Mixing on the M7CL. Matt and Ross providing the system and mons. Making my life easy. Be sure to check out Spur 58. These guys are a class act.
I also have provided FOH and Road duties for Fernando Ortega. Going to the Chicago area a couple of times, and visiting Prestonwood in Dallas. Nothing like a 7500 seat church auditorium to make you ask....why?
So I have one more weekend out with Jeremy, and then I get back to a little sanity of being home for a while. That way I can get Colin his Dominicans.
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