Not much, really. Be forewarned: this is as coherent as it's gonna be from here on out.

Building a wee synthesizer on the kitchen table

Working on some more prepared piano, but since I only have two hands, this one will end up multitracked with some additional instrumentation.

Finishing touches an another new song that's more along the "usual lines", but anchored in real guitars instead of synths. Er...have to add some more keyboard parts...so much for abandoning that tack. Storyboarding and plotting to make a video for this one, since it really begs for it. Live action and animation, so that ought to be an interesting challenge.

Interesting challenges because I'm not exactly going to be around for the next month due to work. I heart self-employment.

Software synths are for pussies. There. I said it. Not entirely, but  *program the damn things!*  Everyone's using the same damn instruments that they pirated anyway, so at least get some credibility by creating your own pallette.

Everything sounds the same, and that sound is garbage. No variety, and the sonics just absolutely suck. Maybe it's the engineer in me, but for the love of Dog, everything does not have to be compressed into the gutter. When did it become uncool to actually be able to play your instrument? And if you're going to set up a wall of noise live, at least play instead of faking it.

Not that anyone cares, of course. If that's what the audience likes, why bother to raise the bar at all? It's all about looking cool and luring in the barely-dressed-barely-able-to-breathe-let-alone-think tail, right?

Eh.

Right.

The Eternal Struggle continues, and the Universe has it in for me, gigwise, it would seem. I'm fortunate enough that my chosen career is still not "Work" (I typoed "ewok" there, not that anyone cares)  and as such, when  I have to make these little sacrifices I don't feel too bad about trading one art for another. Considering the amount of money involved, it would have been stupid to refuse. When my income is disposable, it goes back into music anyway.
-
My new obsession is with building a hurdy gurdy. Electrified, of course. The idea of a hurdy gurdy run through a Pod just makes me tingly.

It's gonna start getting weirder from here on out, kiddies.
-
Back to my point: The show on October 31st.

It's up in Marietta at the Blackwell Playhouse. (relevant meta-info on show calendar) It's weird. The place used to be a "dollar" theater back in my youth, and now it's a theatre-theater. (not a typo, pedants) I'm on at eleven PM,sandwiched in between performances of "The Crucible". I'm not exactly sure of the details, but there's supposed to be some sort of split if all you want is the band and not the play. However, for the sheer weirdness of it, I'd tend to go for both.

I don't really consider myself all that "family-friendly" so I'm not sure how it'll all go over. Might be worth coming out just to watch me get lynched.

Distraction. Train of thought derailed.
That's all I got.

Really.

Upon closer inspection, that reads a lot harsher than intended.

I will say, though., that playing live *is* a pain in the ass, however much fun in might be on the receiving end. "Waste" is primarily the pile of specialized gear that does nothing unless it's on a stage.
It's a vicious cycle. This is an annoyance -> this bit of kit will solve it -> gotta get used to it in the mix -> too busy to play gigs -> now this is an annoyance -> etc.

And when you have to do all of it yourself, it's compounded.
No, that's never going to change.  It's all part of the Grand Experiment. Besides, if it's easy, there's no fun in it.

I went to see some friends play last night at a room in Marietta call the Three Bears Cafe. It's a great room, I mean, *great* room. Great bar staff, good food, reasonable drinks. The guys running it are as pro as they come, and it's a tight, tight, tight ship. Clear, unmuddied sound.

You city snobs are just going to have to venture OTP, because my next gig will likely be here. :P

I've got some recording to do...

I'm not playing on the 24th. As it so happens the only work I've got coming up all month is on the 20th and the 24th and it's absolute stupidity to give up money for something that's pretty much been a waste of the last eight years of my life.

So, I'm done.

Things just sorta wander away sometimes. It's a weird feeling. I decided quite some time back that I was just going to let things develop on their own, subconsciously, with little input from the main brain. But there's been such a flood lately that I'm loath to try and steer to much for fear of blocking. My brain is buzzing lately with music, and more importantly, lyrics, which had been difficult for quite some time.

If we keep persisting
We'll only do more damage.
I'd resist you, but restraint
Has never been my strong suit.
Razor fingernails
slash across my back, and I can
still taste you on my lips from
three nights ago.

We could dance like nobody's watching.
Let the music guide,
feel it flow through you.
Now we're pressed so close
that I can't tell
If I'm covered in your sweat or mine.
I could be your lover
If you'd only give me the time of day.
For you I'd tear the stars down
from the sky,
Scattered on a bed of roses
and we could shine.

I've got no idea what that's getting at, but it's what wants to come out. And, quite frankly, the vocal melody makes Follow sound like utter crap.

rant, rant, rant...

Four in the #%^#% morning. Lost track of when I went into the studio, I know I'd been down there for a long time when I came up to eat around 7pm, finally decided around 3am that I'd better just quit for the night.

Another damn song. So that's two in two weeks that have made it far enough that I've absolutely got to finish them out. Meanwhile, there are something like ten tracks that need to be sorted and re-recorded...hell,  finished for that matter.

However, these two are going to be intense when played live. Totally opposite ends of the spectrum, though. One slow, one relatively fast.

It's great when ideas are coming so easily, but this album needs to get put to bed.

And, come to think of it, so do I.

 

Robert Moog passed away August 21st after a struggle with brain cancer. Quite a lot of the music that I create would be impossible without the contributions he made.  I'm really at a loss for words at the moment.

The guest book is here-
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bobmoog

-Lifeline-


Another day in this old world begins -
And the air's so thick that I
can feel it on my skin.
Practically dripping down the walls.
Then you came and showed me
there could me more.
Something better, something greener.
Take my hand and pull me to the other side.

[Chorus] When I hold you in my arms
and pull you close to me,
Feel your heartbeat next to mine
everything will be all right.
It's never the end, I told you
You pull the weight of the world off my shoulders.
I could get lost in your eyes.

The night is drawing near,
but there is nothing I could ever
possibly be afraid of with you.
It seems that some divine design
Brought together you and I.
Draw close to me, my angel,
Spread your wings and fly me from this dying place.

[Chorus]

The earth slips away,
And I feel I'm falling down.
A fog around my eyes, I cannot see.
It's growing ever nearer, closer
pressing down - I cannot escape
(sweet captivity)
You're the only one I need.

[Chorus]

Lost again, drifting free -
I've got nowhere to turn
Your heart,
The only beacon guiding me.
Drowning in an endless sea,
Endless love would rescue me.
Flailing madly - reach out blind
Clinging tightly to you - my lifeline.

[Chorus]

In your eyes
There's nothing else I need
But to be
Held within your arms.
It's the end, I think, for me.
Wasted so much time...
And I've suffered for so long,
But I feel those days are gone
It's sublime...
...all the questions asked
(never mind)
the answers swallow time.
Deep within your eyes
Was the peace
That I could never find.

-----------
2005 c.camillo