Category: Music

Played a Little

I got some playing in tonight. I didn’t play well, but it wasn’t like gross or anything. I swapped out the clone of the racist overdrive pedal with the awful comic sans font for the Keeley Blues Driver clone that I can’t seem to connect with. Paired with the Klon KTR it sounded really good. Of course anything paired with the Klon sounds really good.

December Music: Promise Kept

When I wrote about the lack of progress on December Music earlier today I had two little bass riffs recorded and that was it. I promised myself I’d have more before I slept tonight.

Promise kept. I’ve got four songs worth of bass and drum parts down and ready for guitar. I feel a tiny bit better.

The plan for guitars this month was going to be Les Paul into Ryra into both 15 watt amps. I think instead I’m just going to swap out the higher gain pedal on my band board for different alternatives and see if anything catches my ear. I’m kinda not happy with how things sound right now and feel like mixing things up.

Speaking of mixing things up, when COVID is over and shopping is safe again, what about trying to trade my Strat and my Bassbreaker 18/30 for a Les Paul Junior and a 68 Deluxe Reverb? I’d have to chip in some cash too, but it could happen (probably not though).

No December Music Yet

We are into the second week of December and I have done almost nothing for the December Music. I did some work on the re-recordings in the last week, but nothing new. I need to buckle down and get my shit together and get some stuff done.

I just don’t know what to do yet. Nothing is coming to me. This month is going to sound more lame and forced than usual, which is saying something as it all sounds lame and forced.

Tonight, before I sleep, I will at least come up with a riff. I promise.

I’m a Thief

Okay, I just finished another song. As I was listening back to the final mix I brought up the original alonetone post from 2015 to see what I wrote about it back then. I had completely forgotten about this, but back then I wrote that as I was wrapping it up I realized it was brutally ripped off of a Throwing Muses song. Argh! Now I’ve ripped them off twice and didn’t even realize it either time!

Here’s my song, the thief that I am:

And here’s the song I ripped off:

What an asshole!

Number One

I finished the lead guitars on the third set of re-recordings tonight. I used my Les Paul. My number one proved why it’s my number one. Every dumb idea that popped into my tiny little brain came out through the guitar. It felt really good. That doesn’t happen often but it’s nice when it does.

Cautious Optimism

The United Kingdom has approved one of the Covid-19 vaccines (Pfizer’s? I think?). They are starting to work on actual distribution.

There is suddenly a very tiny pin prick of light at the end of this long, black coronavirus tunnel.

The United States isn’t there yet. I’m not sure what the FDA’s timeline is, or even if they have a timeline yet. I’m not sure what Pfizer and Moderna need to do to proceed. I’ve heard that first responders and elderly folks in homes will be the first Americans to receive the vaccine. I’m good with that. After that, I don’t know what the rumors are. I hope my step son and his immune deficiencies will be near the front of the line. My weight problem puts me at risk too, but I want him taken care of first.

It’s still going to take months for that tiny pin prick of light to grow into an opening big enough for us to walk through, and it is WAY too early to start making plans. Still, we have a high school graduation in the Spring. We are hoping to go back to Disney World in the Summer.

I’m spending my lunch break today listening to a podcast where two part time musicians are fantasizing about getting their bands back together in the Spring and what that’s going to be like. I don’t want to look that far ahead. I don’t want to get optimistic. I don’t want to start fantasizing. But… that first band practice is going to feel like a victory parade. We’re going to play like garbage and it’s going to be the most enjoyable rehearsal in the history of rehearsals. The first gig… when we can fill up a room with friends and family and music lovers and people from all walks of life… that is going to be a celebration like no other. That is going to be an amazing experience. I mean, yeah we’re just a silly cover band, but it’s going to be a wonderful thing.

Don’t get cocky, Robert. Cautious optimism is all you get for now. Maybe stop thinking about that tiny little point of light at the end of the tunnel. Try, at least.