Category: Uncategorized

Bruins: A New Era

It’s a new era for the Boston Bruins tonight. The first game in the Bruce Cassidy era. Do you have to refer to it as an “interim era”?

Claude Julien is a hero for what he did with the Bruins. Stanley Cup, anyone? Despite his triumphs, I agreed that it was time to go. Two playoff free seasons and this one really feeling like a third. It was time for a change. Let’s see how Cassidy does… although personally I don’t expect much difference. Personally, I feel the Bruins problems stem from higher up the management food chain. I’m looking at you, Donny Sweeney… and I’m looking at you out of the corner of my eye, Cam Neely.

Go Bruins

RPM Challenge Day 5/28 — #RPM2017

Where did I leave off? I don’t remember.

Here’s the status… Seven riffs or groups of riffs still in the idea stage. One of them has the rhythm guitars already recorded. It will take some big time copy and paste to bring it into a song, but it’s a start. One more song sketched out and ready to record rhythm guitars. Two more have guitars already and are ready for vocals.

So effectively, three and a half songs that are more than just ideas.

The really cool thing is that the amp I bought last week has a line out that includes a digital speaker simulation. That means you can use the tube amp, bypass the speaker, and record without annoying the hell out of the family on a Sunday afternoon. Much to my surprise, it actually sounds good! I never thought I’d live to see an amp with a line out that actually still sounds like the amp. I am pleased.

Happy Birthday

Today is my step son’s 14th birthday. Happy Birthday!

I was just telling my wife that I have a slightly selfish reason for being happy to wish him a happy 14th. You see, he was four years old when I first met him. That means this year is the 10th anniversary of our meeting. The actual day isn’t until September, but this is still a nice sign.

Again, Happy Birthday, dude! Love you!

RPM Challenge Day 3/28 — #RPM2017

Last night I put together a file on my iPad that has three eight bar phrases. That’s it. Not really a song form yet, but a start.

Today I did something totally different, for me at least. I bought a new amp and as I was putting it through it’s paces I had the iOS Music Memos app open. I put down four little licks or phrases. Most are sort of similar, but they all count as the start of an RPM song idea. There was also that video that I posted earlier today. That has another riff that seems useable.

That’s eight ideas so far. Only two are ready to start actually recording, and some of the music memos might be combined together into one song, but who cares. The ball is rolling. The ideas are coming. The game is on, brothers and sisters!

15 Watts of Yes, Please!

Picked up my new stay-at-home amplifier today. A Fender Bassbreaker 15. First impression? Yes, Mr Amplifier, may I have some more?

Here is a quick video of me noodling around each of the three gain stages. Honestly, I will probably keep it clean (although it doesn’t get all that clean) and use pedals for the dirt and fuzz, but I sure like what the dirtier settings have to offer.

(also, one of these little noodles is probably going to show up in my RPM music at some point. It is February after all)

RPM Challenge Day 1/28

It’s February, folks. It’s time for some RPM Challenge. I kicked off the season by noodling together one bass/drum part. Its a shade over three minutes, it’s generic as all hell, and its mine. More will come tomorrow!