tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55442094042775684482024-02-22T11:55:37.466-08:00Band Practice/Party PresentsBand Practice/Partyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05958996334967453204noreply@blogger.comBlogger95125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-45742451856304979112010-08-29T08:40:00.000-07:002010-09-01T16:33:55.314-07:00Space Age Band Reunion<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gAc78kV4uQz3JoElV27gmSoCpeo0PK2oPDy33g4VCytDy1Jw95_ExUDQhQJoryovDnbplF_qlYsRJLA4KDiZ7VgN5ewmnHgeFYQRabRpQ5qZvdRM9oOLsUc7XSeZoLZrabU_DtWu2QEr/s1600/Space+Age+BPP.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0gAc78kV4uQz3JoElV27gmSoCpeo0PK2oPDy33g4VCytDy1Jw95_ExUDQhQJoryovDnbplF_qlYsRJLA4KDiZ7VgN5ewmnHgeFYQRabRpQ5qZvdRM9oOLsUc7XSeZoLZrabU_DtWu2QEr/s400/Space+Age+BPP.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512092274633345154" /></a>myrkur ljoshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04165206403074334861noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-82525939539933410022010-05-31T17:32:00.000-07:002010-05-31T17:43:35.286-07:00A music video for "Frankenstein"Here's our music video for "<a href="http://bandpracticeparty.blogspot.com/2009/07/frankenstein.html">Frankenstein</a>" filmed at the <a href="http://www.makerfaire.com/">Maker Faire</a> last weekend. It seemed particularly appropriate since Frankenstein's monster might be considered a prototypical DIY project, and would fit right in with the robots and devices made of junk. Enjoy.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="244"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/kYmLbnXJQ6A&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/kYmLbnXJQ6A&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="244"></embed></object>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-2439022215757601952009-11-30T21:11:00.000-08:002009-11-30T21:18:19.530-08:00"Picture Yourself" video<object width="400" height="244"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BFq9wih7wHY&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BFq9wih7wHY&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="244"></embed></object><br />Over the weekend, my cousin Kris and I filmed the music video for "Picture Yourself." We did this at my new place in San Jose----I wanted to get some footage of the place before I started moving everything in. I suppose it's appropriate because the song talks about future events, and this empty apartment is going to be filled with objects from the future.Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-49570520450628884912009-11-04T22:25:00.001-08:002009-11-04T22:29:53.266-08:00Freight & Salvage open micOn Tuesday night, Maya, Steven, Ciana and Kate played at the Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse's open mic. We went on stage at around 10:30, Maya delivered a great introduction for us, and we played "Picture Yourself" and "My Kind Idea." By the time we played, the audience was a lot smaller than when it opened, but we still got a decent applause. One guy came up to us afterward and told us that we were his "highlight" of the evening. We look forward to playing there again!Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-58591148635319809012009-10-31T23:17:00.001-07:002009-11-01T00:00:02.554-07:00Berkeley and Powell Street BART stations<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPT6yE7PAS4vqCStXQYN9MZbrppN0r5uCqwKpzTFvTI08xL-Qa4J-WKivmElfhjL7EkqwsBX9ASCzBLDq7HhshfC9OfJnOEKl0GjSByHbje2mF7BPoejxx8I6SAF5Ps9WNuPsiUTSmm8/s1600-h/BART+007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvPT6yE7PAS4vqCStXQYN9MZbrppN0r5uCqwKpzTFvTI08xL-Qa4J-WKivmElfhjL7EkqwsBX9ASCzBLDq7HhshfC9OfJnOEKl0GjSByHbje2mF7BPoejxx8I6SAF5Ps9WNuPsiUTSmm8/s400/BART+007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5399015643475177458" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Lisa, Kate and Maya at the Powell Street BART station.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">The last few weeks, we have been taking our show to the public. On the evening of the 11th, we went to the Berkeley BART station and played until we were too tired/hungry to continue. We learned that we should start playing our high-energy songs right when a BART train pulls into the station and brings us a large crowd. We got the best audience reaction from "Siki, Siki Baba."<br /><br />Tonight (Halloween night!), we played at the Powell Street station. At first, we played outside, where we were up against a "Thriller" dance number, the police and a fight between two homeless people. Then, we moved it indoors to the corridor between the two ticket machine areas (there were other musicians at the prime locations). We ran through our set list a couple times, and played a few songs we hadn't played for a long time, including "Jambalaya" and "The Sound of Silence." A fellow busking group stopped by and listened to "Scenic World" and "Pompeii," calling the former a "refreshing" song and the latter "a blend of pop, rock and even a little bit of soul."<br /></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-20033272096966109092009-09-28T23:58:00.000-07:002009-09-29T00:01:06.643-07:00Live Oak ParkOn Sunday, it was Kate, Lisa, Steven, Ciana, Russ and Devin. We played our set. Somebody gave us chips and cookies. And we had a little debate about whether to invoke "Twist and Shout" at the end of the "Dead Parents" bridge.Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-74106044470263433482009-09-21T20:54:00.000-07:002009-09-21T20:57:37.616-07:00Dolores ParkWe played at Dolores Park on Sunday to celebrate Maya's birthday. Russ, Ciana, Steven, Lisa and Maya were there. In addition to our regular set, we worked on "Night Life," "Parish," and a cover of "Eleanor Rigby."Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-5198590113887014942009-09-15T23:22:00.000-07:002009-09-15T23:51:18.606-07:00How to mic our bandHere's something to consider about regarding our live sound: <a href="http://www.prosoundweb.com/article/to_match_or_not_to_match_paying_attention_to_impedance/">using a single condenser mic</a> for vocals and multiple instruments. The linked article says,<br /><blockquote>This “old fashioned” technique has made a comeback; for example, many bluegrass and folk bands utilize the one-mic method with surprisingly good result, typically using a large diaphragm cardioid condenser . . .<br /><br />One obvious advantage of the single-mic technique is that the stage looks cleaner. Gone is the forest of mic stands, booms and cables.<br /><br />Instead, you have a low-tech, old-fashioned look that fits in well with the music. Setup is much quicker as well: just place the mic, plug it in, adjust position, and you’re done.</blockquote>So I'm thinking it might be worth getting <a href="http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/MXL-V-900-Stage-Studio-Condenser-Microphone?sku=273174">this vintage-looking condenser mic</a>. I'm guessing we should have two of these shared mics during our performances; three of us can huddle around one mic. I already have one condenser mic and a dynamic mic (less sensitive) that we can use, too. If we figure out a setup, then we can go confidently into any venue and just plug in and play, just making sure that the speakers are placed in front of us, so we don't feed back.Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-22158819754840783802009-09-15T12:00:00.001-07:002009-09-15T12:01:27.221-07:00Bird NoisesBP/P is now on twitter. We'll use it to keep you informed about when, where and how awesome our practice/parties are. That way you can come and listen!<br /><br />Find us at: @swarthynoise<br /><br /><a href="http://twitter.com/swarthynoise">http://twitter.com/swarthynoise</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09492432829917082459noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-65238381299968259702009-09-07T20:24:00.001-07:002009-09-07T20:39:39.150-07:00Pictures from the Vasona gig<div align="left">As reported in <a href="http://bandpracticeparty.blogspot.com/2009/08/vasona-park.html">an earlier post</a>, we played a show at Steven's company picnic at the Vasona Park. Here are the pictures from that event: </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewmKCrLVMBNmxA5Qr-2zsppU6mg4NgxiQ57ybbPh7PRsn6zHJ611VRZ51JSGNVnYV6rafnUcFgztTaQQEmn87FiU9wHI315wHUlSBLt1FKJVu2TdIl5G1W5jBR8NPc4Y0lTrzIeC7L2k/s1600-h/IMG_9781.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378934655224267970" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiewmKCrLVMBNmxA5Qr-2zsppU6mg4NgxiQ57ybbPh7PRsn6zHJ611VRZ51JSGNVnYV6rafnUcFgztTaQQEmn87FiU9wHI315wHUlSBLt1FKJVu2TdIl5G1W5jBR8NPc4Y0lTrzIeC7L2k/s400/IMG_9781.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Warming up before the show.<br /></span></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRxSVsZO-eL_0KZF64A0XwWbKrh22kD-7cMUYLVr2ZEZXeXezlr_mRTcAikTLwIdfR6kNh7xvJbPP0xC5DEcc_91MAMdZPdlC6p4vGoYHsXJThkIeUhDnYdXUlUdUAs9Cc8UDJtJl0z8/s1600-h/IMG_9924.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378932480043908578" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRxSVsZO-eL_0KZF64A0XwWbKrh22kD-7cMUYLVr2ZEZXeXezlr_mRTcAikTLwIdfR6kNh7xvJbPP0xC5DEcc_91MAMdZPdlC6p4vGoYHsXJThkIeUhDnYdXUlUdUAs9Cc8UDJtJl0z8/s400/IMG_9924.JPG" border="0" /></a><p align="center"><span style="font-size:85%;">This gentle slope worked quite nicely for our first step towards the Greek Theatre.</span></p><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikag_6RTG-vvUybJxeuiVKgyFD6XRiqvSpqqEAJQ4tUd_Odf3BSvqz_2CKXhq_L2rH_XYrk4S46epFsb1k2TFWYc2uBaPNyMjZAYL-rAuNo5QXDBk8NjedEKLgPsYZHNLVTcFqSlMYmJM/s1600-h/IMG_1584.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378934113354793858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikag_6RTG-vvUybJxeuiVKgyFD6XRiqvSpqqEAJQ4tUd_Odf3BSvqz_2CKXhq_L2rH_XYrk4S46epFsb1k2TFWYc2uBaPNyMjZAYL-rAuNo5QXDBk8NjedEKLgPsYZHNLVTcFqSlMYmJM/s400/IMG_1584.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> We need to get Devin a keyboard stand!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm804pF4M87X6hEMRc4YcYpG65sul2ohjaHLidRXU7banY8sdeiZIkNxMwcN-bdtGZXj_Q47EDjjW527JwsP5qc4Bxc2BdDcdb3VqROnXyEuDJfln4LkLj5oCjK4Im2XnfbzfcjiouGjQ/s1600-h/IMG_9889.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378935296805140866" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 300px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm804pF4M87X6hEMRc4YcYpG65sul2ohjaHLidRXU7banY8sdeiZIkNxMwcN-bdtGZXj_Q47EDjjW527JwsP5qc4Bxc2BdDcdb3VqROnXyEuDJfln4LkLj5oCjK4Im2XnfbzfcjiouGjQ/s400/IMG_9889.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">This is from our performance of "Nightclub Desperado." Devin's holding the sheet music because it wouldn't stay on the music stand.</span></p>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-54696582392213868382009-09-07T19:47:00.000-07:002009-09-07T19:55:04.990-07:00Lisa's Garden Party<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuJIgSJWbRuHS_d-1vXPpRvjUg2-1AxFoAYZixwb3wD7oQuU0la1-rxhL0URk-4PxkGLHR4fk_LKQHRGrz4yRiUvI__iK4f6brGx40cq3x-DAw-9pntK6qlzgNlLKPAiHrlxJXUdwpVA/s1600-h/garden+party+001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 395px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuuJIgSJWbRuHS_d-1vXPpRvjUg2-1AxFoAYZixwb3wD7oQuU0la1-rxhL0URk-4PxkGLHR4fk_LKQHRGrz4yRiUvI__iK4f6brGx40cq3x-DAw-9pntK6qlzgNlLKPAiHrlxJXUdwpVA/s400/garden+party+001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378923267471878322" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">Russ and Ciana are back!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Today, we attended Lisa's Garden Party at Mosswood Park. Lisa, Russ, Ciana, Steven, Tani and Maya were present. We played through our usual set and resurrected some old tunes from Russ. Our friends were there to cheer us along. And there was a lot of food.<br /></div></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-80004861775964616652009-09-03T21:12:00.000-07:002009-09-04T23:49:25.098-07:00"Twenty-Five" video: a little thought bubbleInside this bubble our bicycle rider will be thinking about 25 and all that it means...<br /><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TNH8Wf5ZMgE&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TNH8Wf5ZMgE&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Updated 9/4/2009: Added a speed limit sign to the beginning.</span>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-25323020787867445452009-08-26T23:08:00.000-07:002009-08-26T23:20:10.704-07:00"Twenty-Five" video progressCheck this out, I built a light box using a cookie tin box, a piece of glass from a picture frame, some duct tape, a ruler, and a portable fluorescent light! This device is going to help me with tracing the animation for the "Twenty-Five" video. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qYoowCXyHKhMwerpEa2_-T5G8QksaIrSC0ttzzfLsdjMM6OZNXGZLciwoLrXP6BjHj8K6hibzwStfsOCNLNXf3Cb0u2FlLHFQiP0ZC5hrgTM0Sz1O9Bgd9I-PAy2XG_L7nGRtovq4tY/s1600-h/art+004.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qYoowCXyHKhMwerpEa2_-T5G8QksaIrSC0ttzzfLsdjMM6OZNXGZLciwoLrXP6BjHj8K6hibzwStfsOCNLNXf3Cb0u2FlLHFQiP0ZC5hrgTM0Sz1O9Bgd9I-PAy2XG_L7nGRtovq4tY/s400/art+004.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374522838156284354" border="0" /></a><br />And here are the first seven seconds of the video:<br /><br /><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/6bQ3FqvuSM0&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/6bQ3FqvuSM0&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-11372211062545617562009-08-15T16:44:00.000-07:002009-08-15T16:56:22.478-07:00Vasona ParkToday, Vijay, Devin and I played at my company's picnic at <a href="http://www.sccgov.org/portal/site/parks/parksarticle?path=%252Fv7%252FParks%2520and%2520Recreation%252C%2520Department%2520of%2520%2528DEP%2529&contentId=54a698ba77784010VgnVCM10000048dc4a92____&cpsextcurrchannel=1">Vasona Park</a> in Los Gatos. Didn't bring my camera because it was having a technical issue this morning, but I'll try to get some photos from my coworkers and post them here.<br /><br />Great fun was had by all. Our audience was constantly changing, but during some songs there were about 30 people who watched us. Highlight has to be the "audience participation" portion when we handed out all our percussion instruments and had the audience members play or clap their hands to "Scenic World" and "Siki, Siki Baba."<br /><br />The set list: 1. Picture Yourself, 2. Airplanes, 3. Pompeii, 4. Twenty-Five, 5. Marcher, 6. Nightclub Desperado, 7. Idea, 8. The Unqualified Opinion (The Auditing Song), 9. Scenic World, 10. Siki, Siki Baba. Encore: The Unqualified Opinion.<br /><br />After the show, Devin and I went for a ride on Vasona Park's <a href="http://www.bjwrr.org/">Billy Jones Wildcat Railroad</a>. That was a blast.<br /><br />This was Vijay's last band practice/party with us before heading back to school. Thanks for playing with us and we hope to see you again soon!Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-79998618051641356172009-08-09T14:06:00.000-07:002009-08-09T14:27:59.656-07:00"Sylvia" music videoHere's our official music video for "Sylvia", using NASA footage from the latest <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts127/main/index.html">space shuttle mission</a>.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="243"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GnDNh_mc7-U&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GnDNh_mc7-U&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="243"></embed></object>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-10793926942283157472009-08-02T21:58:00.001-07:002009-08-02T22:50:36.089-07:00San Jose Municipal Rose Garden<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzhgj3I2-nOeXaNHSjNw8J_Csybrebi82u1-dCWJqxCOMWlNObdanIQr5jsne-C8GcMmzY-4bxXcpWeDXTuNOpSWWnZgMhda-jxCSFOQLD18yq9huR88WANF2EAjzV92anXsYmdwBvag/s1600-h/rose+garden+003.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYzhgj3I2-nOeXaNHSjNw8J_Csybrebi82u1-dCWJqxCOMWlNObdanIQr5jsne-C8GcMmzY-4bxXcpWeDXTuNOpSWWnZgMhda-jxCSFOQLD18yq9huR88WANF2EAjzV92anXsYmdwBvag/s400/rose+garden+003.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365598879097679314" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>A view of the fountain at the center of the Rose Garden.</span></span><br /></div><br />This was our first practice at <a href="http://www.friendssjrosegarden.org/">San Jose Municipal Rose Garden</a>, and by some happy coincidence, we ran into a meeting of the <a href="http://www.scvfa.org/">Santa Clara Valley Fiddlers Association</a>, an organization best described as Band Practice/Party with several dozen older musicians.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoBwyw7ZWE8gLtrh4VbQoZeZzMx54noPi26XV69oukZmhDxn_m8wyhN5t5xX5A46bjRBKxc9k6dweaGckA-e809w6m0ABa1X2db2C7TlHVoTG2By2D7-JuxWxMsTi9y05NZN9Lj0Ako0/s1600-h/rose+garden+012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisoBwyw7ZWE8gLtrh4VbQoZeZzMx54noPi26XV69oukZmhDxn_m8wyhN5t5xX5A46bjRBKxc9k6dweaGckA-e809w6m0ABa1X2db2C7TlHVoTG2By2D7-JuxWxMsTi9y05NZN9Lj0Ako0/s400/rose+garden+012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365598858780212642" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>What BP/P might look like in 30 years.</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We took over a picnic table off to the side of the SCVFA meeting, but soon attracted the attention of folks who might not be used to seeing a group of twenty-somethings rocking out on a variety of acoustic instruments.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGTKg-0m9SHtyPm2K72lsMBJYmcVTPZlmeasTKkV8RMbIScz_N82qVj9FUDlgGWevFP9ozoYJJBlBXukJL5UE3DYp2r1crexHc7WyKv3QIBl_haIHb3RJF-ZoJcmX7Mb3NGaaEd9t8BE/s1600-h/rose+garden+014.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHGTKg-0m9SHtyPm2K72lsMBJYmcVTPZlmeasTKkV8RMbIScz_N82qVj9FUDlgGWevFP9ozoYJJBlBXukJL5UE3DYp2r1crexHc7WyKv3QIBl_haIHb3RJF-ZoJcmX7Mb3NGaaEd9t8BE/s400/rose+garden+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365598872871684098" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>This guy is seriously rockin' out on the recorder.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6jRkwctKVXy1b5HQB8FVTP8GLpNVtjThCCTzPGdsdF40qta97li0WR5SISJqe5zx8Q0NHyy972BQOWurRnaS8ITy4ykMxPbPJQT1AhEBHDX2Mfxwr2zlz48NfzbGrkcb5biznHJCvgU/s1600-h/rose+garden+020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh6jRkwctKVXy1b5HQB8FVTP8GLpNVtjThCCTzPGdsdF40qta97li0WR5SISJqe5zx8Q0NHyy972BQOWurRnaS8ITy4ykMxPbPJQT1AhEBHDX2Mfxwr2zlz48NfzbGrkcb5biznHJCvgU/s400/rose+garden+020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365608412152905890" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>Vijay and our guest fiddler.</span></span><br /></div><br />Steven, Vijay, Kate and Devin practiced our set for the show at Steven's company picnic on August 15. We also played "Siki, Siki Baba" in response to a request for mariachi music. (I guess we figured that Balkan brass band music is close enough...)<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg1DbSWJRaoXvpVDt2GHEBWQ0-O_zI8tlla-u_oulVFJS5211B0jl3xaYuRxpYANWvSufeCgtjZd7SAM8-_6xkO9DFQKN1Si865Whsv-ZDcPkcCs6idCWDNkxkfX3vHlkRiq8Iosi1FQ/s1600-h/rose+garden+025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg1DbSWJRaoXvpVDt2GHEBWQ0-O_zI8tlla-u_oulVFJS5211B0jl3xaYuRxpYANWvSufeCgtjZd7SAM8-_6xkO9DFQKN1Si865Whsv-ZDcPkcCs6idCWDNkxkfX3vHlkRiq8Iosi1FQ/s400/rose+garden+025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365598866025456434" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>A familiar sight at a Band Practice/Party. That ukulele belongs to Kate.</span></span><br /></div><br />We had a jam session with a guy who played some pretty intense violin solos in the key of D. Then, Devin and Steven got sidetracked into a jam of The Who's <span style="font-style: italic;">Tommy</span>. Kate played and sang a couple of folk songs on her ukulele. Finally, we found ourselves playing Beatles tunes, including "I Feel Fine" and "We Can Work It Out."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6T78yw638T3JyoURVCAJLunZnOHACSiYUH92_HsteUpdznh5T2lVjrf-Zoc31g8zWaASuBkXIzeCltrnPMmCNewl9ozjM80P0ZhT_d-b8csQjomWNaWO3PPTSs2QYYdVxrmVUgmaNWw/s1600-h/rose+garden+022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH6T78yw638T3JyoURVCAJLunZnOHACSiYUH92_HsteUpdznh5T2lVjrf-Zoc31g8zWaASuBkXIzeCltrnPMmCNewl9ozjM80P0ZhT_d-b8csQjomWNaWO3PPTSs2QYYdVxrmVUgmaNWw/s400/rose+garden+022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365598865862687138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span>That's Devin with his harmonium.</span></span><br /></div>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-74636793372305077672009-08-01T16:20:00.000-07:002009-08-01T17:26:06.230-07:00"Airplane"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Steven_Chow_-_Airplane.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />We've been playing "Airplane" for a while, so I thought I'd post a recording of it. For some reason, I felt like going all out with this particular arrangement. This recording uses different sounds from my keyboard and synthesizer, tons of echo, double-tracked lead vocals and three-part harmonies.<br /><br />When we play it live, Lisa plays the three-note figure at the end of each line on her banjo, Devin and Maya play the long notes, and I play the guitar.<br /><br />The melody to "Airplane" came to me in May when I was at home building a replica of Damien Hirst's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Physical_Impossibility_of_Death_in_the_Mind_of_Someone_Living">"The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living."</a> Funny where you get your inspiration from. As I recall, the lyrics came soon afterwards and weren't difficult to write. I've been wanting to write songs that didn't have a particular message, but just painted a picture. I decided to make this one about an overnight, probably international, flight. Possibly going to, or coming back from, a honeymoon.<br /><br />Kate pointed out during a recent band practice that "Airplane" uses the same chord progression as Sixpence None The Richer's 1997 hit, "Kiss Me." I'm okay with that, because I happen to be a big fan of that song. In fact, I think we should play the two songs back-to-back.<br /><br /><div><object width="400" height="244"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x3vk71_sixpence-none-the-richer-kiss-me_music&related=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/x3vk71_sixpence-none-the-richer-kiss-me_music&related=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="244" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object></div><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /><br />You and I<br />Oh my<br />An airplane<br />Red eye<br />A glass of<br />Cabernet<br />A glass of<br />Champagne<br /><br />The outside<br />Late night<br />A plastic<br />Spotlight<br />The cabin<br />A cradle<br />The engines<br />White noise<br /><br />(instrumental)<br /><br />You and me<br />So sweet<br />In soft clouds<br />In dreams<br />Your head on<br />My shoulder<br />My head on<br />Yours<br /><br />(instrumental)Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-72863370866604732612009-07-26T21:18:00.001-07:002009-07-26T21:25:56.573-07:00Kite Festival<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyX0g4qyzYQ1M0BAOdSsWs_RLGtKSapNxSowEu2xdZRtEaz3JyU3orU13pt7vT64emGDqA9f8Hk_1CC7_t2OXrEpEawKG9QW8Ni75B_RWGcyxdyr-mavofKTbxBHAudwWMnG9zAWQtSU/s1600-h/kite+festival+011.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyX0g4qyzYQ1M0BAOdSsWs_RLGtKSapNxSowEu2xdZRtEaz3JyU3orU13pt7vT64emGDqA9f8Hk_1CC7_t2OXrEpEawKG9QW8Ni75B_RWGcyxdyr-mavofKTbxBHAudwWMnG9zAWQtSU/s400/kite+festival+011.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362991231634685234" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FGHtestPV6-3z0PKA9_8E0xdtN-WR6sGBAqiUWNlde_IhvHpSMUK1TiNj_-gNcRPeiqIU4Do0P_5hD9VErp_m9tUeyG1uB65jpaz2HMvgSX8gJJaac7H_sC87ppbV3XRLlqy7lW7hrE/s1600-h/kite+festival+009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FGHtestPV6-3z0PKA9_8E0xdtN-WR6sGBAqiUWNlde_IhvHpSMUK1TiNj_-gNcRPeiqIU4Do0P_5hD9VErp_m9tUeyG1uB65jpaz2HMvgSX8gJJaac7H_sC87ppbV3XRLlqy7lW7hrE/s400/kite+festival+009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362990933487416370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CLbsqyGWXm6aS4Ww2Z-RRMda7dxVXRsGZA2-mY3KLRLXgZnvbzR2W6SdPI3ft4Gkc2kEHkPEcKRVG8JjiG2sG9uzsKWvp6dBVRrFVvCVuNtQQkGkxqhd0X6l-JW8SjbGcEQfaVEAHWM/s1600-h/kite+festival+008.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-CLbsqyGWXm6aS4Ww2Z-RRMda7dxVXRsGZA2-mY3KLRLXgZnvbzR2W6SdPI3ft4Gkc2kEHkPEcKRVG8JjiG2sG9uzsKWvp6dBVRrFVvCVuNtQQkGkxqhd0X6l-JW8SjbGcEQfaVEAHWM/s400/kite+festival+008.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5362990819815899746" border="0" /></a>Steven, Maya, Vijay and Kate played at the Cesar Chavez Park today during the Berkeley Kite Festival. Played through our set and started working on a cover of "I Feel Fine" by the Beatles.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrHweB5yNBD3zE3IHu8RQnErTbzGRCa6RUNfLs2It8A4PL3WpCiqmVm3SAMRlS35qGP47NVEMsyv4gClH8kx39ykiujodZZwmEv82p2T7Pw_zy3qCVzts0eS9f4RyXFPNxBQVbTbCwZA/s1600-h/kite+festival+012.JPG"><br /></a>Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-80560118432009876562009-07-19T09:42:00.000-07:002009-07-19T10:05:11.148-07:00"Dead Parents"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_03_-_Dead_Parents.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Russ offers his thoughts on "Dead Parents":<br /></span><br />Firstly, I have a terrible memory, so this is likely to be more storytelling than anything actually that happened. "Dead Parents" was a slog of a song. From the beginning, it was a combination of a poppy hook and hyperbolically depressing lyrics. A sob story love song. After the initial riff and some bits were written the band jammed around with the song on a number of occasions. Every time we played it we came up with some amazingly innovative way of juxtaposing poppy harmonies or 80s era hand claps with increasingly somber lyrics. And as many times we forgot or misremembered all the parts we had written. It was a jumble, a mangle, a song trying to find its adequate expression amidst a number of interested and differing parties. And with only shabby direction from the initial song writer.<br /><br />Even this recording is just one more version of the song. The this-time-recording. Now Devin's mandolin riff gets to rollick along with our young lovers in their depressing escapades. But the song would be nothing without the hand claps.<br /><br />The lyrics start us off in an unequivocally sad moment. Maybe there isn't a good reason for this, but there is certainly a power in hyperbole. What it occasions is an odd moment for two people to meet, a moment for the girl to assert radical independence, an independence that will be undercut but only on the terms of this newly emerging relationship. Otherwise the song is full of teenage, love-lorn longing. Midnights spent pacing streets alone when it feels like rain even when there hasn't been rain. Days spent next to phones and ringing phones that you can't pick up. Romance and obsession. In the end it is a look at hyperbole in love and the fragile, tenuous "out of sight" that can still manage to persist within it.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Who played on the recording?</span> Russ (lead vocals, guitar, mandolin); Steven (guitar, backing vocals, percussion, melodica, handclaps); Lisa (handclaps); Molly (backing vocals, handclaps); Maya (viola, handclaps); Devin (lead mandolin); Hilary (cello)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /> <br />I met you the day that both your parents had died<br />You leaned into me and told me that you’d never cry<br />That all that you’d ever needed you had inside<br />I am to admit, I certainly sounded like lies<br /><br />(Chorus)<br />All I needed to know<br />And all I had left to show<br />Was the look in your eyes<br />The dream in your mind<br />And I wanted to be<br />And I wanted to see<br />All you could be<br />All that you are<br />Wanted you more<br />Than I know you are<br />You are the heart<br />You are the land<br />The only girl<br />That I could stand<br /><br />I was lonely, on my own<br />You’re the only, one I phoned<br />Deep in my heart I was calling out for your love<br />So I wandered the streets until I had had enough.<br /> <br />(Chorus)<br /><br />You’re the one that got this right<br />All we have is one more night<br />You and me and the out of sight<br />All we have is one more night<br />To get it right.<br /><br />You were always, on your own<br />But when I called up, no one’s home<br />Nobody loves you like I said that I would<br />Nobody loves like that, nobody could.<br /><br />(Chorus)Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-90869008618232240122009-07-17T20:22:00.000-07:002009-07-19T10:29:44.741-07:00"The Drifter"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_08_-_The_Drifer.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />"The Drifter" is about somebody who wanders home the day after an extremely hard night of partying. This is not something I've experienced, so I can't say I really connect with the song. Also, I never really liked the way the music turned out. However, it is included on the album at the insistence of my bandmates who think this is a great song.<br /><br />I wrote the music near the end of March 2008. The yodeling part was inspired by <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPelZL954IY">"The Lonely Goatherd"</a> from <span style="font-style: italic;">The Sound of Music</span>. After I finished the music, I wrote some filler lyrics in five minutes, and recorded a demo for the band. At the time, Lisa had been raving to me about the remarkable life of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stede_Bonnet"><span>Stede Bonnet</span></a>, so I thought, maybe I could turn it into a pirate song. The song went like this:<br /><br />When I was in town<br />A rich and favored child<br />I was sentenced to be loved and forgotten<br />My stuffy civil life<br />With oh my nagging wife<br />I desired more of an adventure<br /><br />So I gathered up a crew and leased a boat<br />And then, we set sail from the coast<br />Towards Aruba, Martinique, and Kokomo<br />We're sure to put on quite a show<br /><br />[instrumental]<br /><br />This week we'll plunder five<br />In my matching suit and tie<br />We'll show them what nobility's made of<br /><br />We're the pirates from a new and fancy mold<br />With cannons plated in gold<br />If you work for me, ten coins I will bestow<br />On you, everyday we're afloat<br /><br />Yo-ho, lay-ee-oo...<br /><br />I've seventy hired men<br />I manage now and then<br />When I'm not below heating my kettle<br />Would they ever leave?<br />That's a silly inquiry.<br />They have got the brawns, but I've got the money<br /><br />So we sail into the waves of history<br />And we'll do this articulately<br />If they say I'm weak, well, fine, just let them say<br />But my friend, Blackbeard, will shut them away<br /><br />Yo-ho, lay-ee-oo...<br /><br />Despite such great lines as "They have got the brawns, but I've got the money," we decided that the original set of lyrics were stronger. I tweaked them a bit to form a story, and then brought it to rehearsal. There was a bit of a group effort on the arrangement: Ciana and Russ figured out the "Egyptian" countermelody during the chorus, Devin wrote the trumpet lines at the beginning of the song, and Molly wrote her vocal harmonies.<br /><br />As fun as it was to play, "The Drifter" is really not my best songwriting, and I thought it was sometimes repetitive and boring. So, I decided to make it a little silly, and loaded it up with sound effects like the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine." I brought in my friend Hana to play a harp line to transition from the bridge back to the verse.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who played on the recording?</span> Steven (lead vocals, guitar, percussion, melodica); Molly (backing vocals); Maya (viola); Devin (trumpet); Hilary (cello); Hana (harp)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /><br />The night I wasn't home<br />I was a little stoned<br />I was tripping out to the beat of a disco<br />Whatever happened next<br />I bet it was complex<br />I woke up in the heart of San Francisco<br /><br />With me and you and everyone we know<br />From all of the places we've found<br />All the smiles and eyes and sparks from long ago<br />They spun like a merry-go-round<br /><br />I walked along the shore<br />I walked along some more<br />I found it hard to talk and hard to swallow<br /><br />With me and you, and people I don't know<br />We played on this big haunted ground<br />All the smiles and eyes and sparks from long ago<br />They spun like a merry-go-round<br /><br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br /><br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br /><br />So then I reached the park<br />As it was getting dark<br />I was introduced to a stomach in peril<br />My senses came to light<br />As the world sank out of sight<br />I found my rented home in a street oh-so-narrow<br /><br />Oh me and you and everyone we know<br />Flew out of the old lost and found<br />All the smiles and eyes and sparks from long ago<br />They spun like a merry-go-round<br /><br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee ooh<br /><br />Yodel lay, yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee, yodel lay ee ooh<br />Yodel lay ee, yodel lay ee oohStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-26608809529354863872009-07-16T21:06:00.001-07:002009-07-16T22:04:03.933-07:00"Frankenstein"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_07_-_Frankenstein.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />"Frankenstein" was the first original song for Band Practice/Party! Designed to be easy to play, the song uses only four chords: G, C, F, and D. Over and over again. I guess I was also being influenced by <a href="http://www.beirutband.com/">Beirut</a>, who uses a lot of simple chord progressions.<br /><br />The lyrics are based on Mary Shelley's horror novel <span style="font-style: italic;">Frankenstein</span>. In particular, I wanted to capture the moment that Frankenstein (the scientist) created the monster.<br /><blockquote>It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes, and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open...</blockquote>So that's the beginning of Volume I, Chapter IV, which our Verse 1 is based on. Frankenstein had just spent the last two years working hard at creating life, and this is the culmination of his labors. Right now, he's thinking,<br /><blockquote>How can I describe my emotions at this catastrophe, or how delineate the wretch whom with such infinite pains and care I had endeavoured to form?<br /></blockquote>Well, Frankenstein, you can pick up a guitar and start singing this song.<br /><br />I think it would be appropriate to film our music video at the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/culture/detail?blogid=3&entry_id=298">Albany Bulb</a>, a park that has a lot of artwork cobbled together from junk. I thought about doing it as a live performance (like <a href="http://www.blogotheque.net/spip.php?page=cae_all&lang=en">La Blogotheque</a>), but the strong winds would probably make that impossible.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who played on the recording?</span> Steven (lead vocals, guitar, percussion, toy piano); Russ (mandolin); Ciana (accordion); Lisa (banjulele); Molly (backing vocals, ukulele); Vijay (violin); Devin (trumpet)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /><br />A wintry day of dismal rain,<br />Falala, it falls against<br />The window panes, the withered stains,<br />Tralala, the spark of feeling anew!<br /><br />I have been waiting all this time to make you mine,<br />I have been waiting all this time.<br /><br />So young and fine, sublime, divine<br />Are the words I’d use to tell<br />About my pride, synthetic bride--<br />Weialala, a portrait of my mind!<br /><br />I have been waiting all this time to make your face come alive,<br />I have been waiting all this time as time goes by.<br /><br />Everyday I live to bring me closer to you,<br />And through the window nature looks so heavenly,<br />But nothing compares to the beauty of my dream.<br /><br />I have been waiting (all this time)<br />I have been waiting (all this time)<br />I have been waiting all this time. (I have been waiting.)<br />I have been waiting (all this time)<br />I have been waiting (all this time),<br />I have been waiting all this time to make you mine.Stevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-15387232077319986672009-07-15T20:53:00.000-07:002009-08-09T14:15:21.342-07:00"Sylvia"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_06_-_Sylvia.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />This is a lullaby for children of the future. "Sylvia" is named for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sylvia_Plath">Sylvia Plath</a>, one of my favorite writers.<br /><br />The music came to me while I was riding a bus to work one day in January 2008. I had to scramble to write it down after arriving at the office, before I forgot everything.<br /><br />Here's our official music video for "Sylvia", using NASA footage from the latest <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-127">space shuttle mission</a>.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="243"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GnDNh_mc7-U&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GnDNh_mc7-U&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="243"></embed></object><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who played on the recording?</span> Steven (lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion); Russ (mandolin); Hilary (cello); Lisa (banjo, glockenspiel); Molly (ukulele); Maya (viola); Devin (trumpet)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /><br />Smile, Sylvia<br />I don’t know when I’ll love again<br />But smile as you fly around the planet smile<br />As you count another year<br />Smile, Sylvia<br />The books I’ve read will come again<br />Alive, curious and waiting to be<br />Know your letters A to Z<br />Baby<br /><br />Life, Sylvia<br />Won’t be so bad, won’t be so sad<br />Life if you stop and play in the middle of strife<br />If you sing a song when something’s awry<br />Sing<br /><br />If they hurt you no matter how they try<br />If they push you there’s no need to comply<br />Turn the world upside down<br />And then you’ve found it<br />Go to sleep and<br /><br />Smile, Sylvia<br />I don’t know when I’ll love again<br />But smile as you fly around the planet smile<br />As you count another year<br />Smile, baby, smileStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-39714820481887804782009-07-14T22:35:00.000-07:002009-07-14T23:17:34.510-07:00"Marcher"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_05_-_Marcher.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />"Marcher" is based on the novella <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1093"><span style="font-style: italic;">The Beast in the Jungle</span></a><span> by Henry James</span>. I don't want to give away the story in case you want to read it, so I'll just talk about how the song came into being.<br /><br />It was the autumn of 2007 and Band Practice/Party needed more original songs. We already had "Frankenstein," but I wanted to write a song that everybody could play a unique part on. I was messing about with E and whatever the chord is that looks like an open E but is two frets higher. I was listening to Stereolab's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_of_the_Microbe_Hunters"><span style="font-style: italic;">The First of the Microbe Hunters</span></a> at the time, and I really liked the song "Intervals" because of its strange descending melody at the beginning. In fact, I've always been fascinated by descending melodies, including "Teardrop" by Massive Attack and "Weird Divide" by The Shins. So I wanted to write my own. The "bap bap" countermelody came afterwards, as I was trying to make it sound like Stereolab.<br /><br />I sent the instrumental over to Lisa, who said it sounded like two people sitting on a car by a beach. Somehow that got me thinking about this story that I had read for <a href="http://english.berkeley.edu/courses/undergradsp03.html">English 45C</a>. I remember reading <span style="font-style: italic;">The Beast in the Jungle</span> during lunch time one Wednesday afternoon in 2003, on a bench in front of Sproul Hall. I remember this, because I was so moved by this novella that it sealed the deal for me to be an English major. So, in a way, you have to thank <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Bishop/37102350513">John Bishop</a> for making this song possible. Anyway, I wrote the lyrics from the point of view of John Marcher, the protagonist of the story.<br /><br />The music video will feature Russ playing the role of Marcher. I'd like to have it so that Marcher is wandering around town. It would be nice to have it in Berkeley, so that some of us Cal alums can have this footage for nostalgic purposes later. There will also be a few seconds of us playing in the park. At the end of the video, Marcher reaches his destination, which turns out to be a cemetery. "May, now I feel you..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who played on the recording?</span> Steven (lead vocals, guitar, percussion); Russ (mandolin); Ciana (accordion); Lisa (bicycle bell); Molly (backing vocals, claves); Vijay (violin); Devin (trumpet)<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Lyrics:</span><br /><br />Drawn together young embraces<br />Sat like loveless seeds who perish<br />You remember, May, when we were young<br />Found us in the cool November sun<br /><br />I sensed something looming towards me<br />Vaguely, just beyond my arm’s reach<br />Oh, won’t you watch with me?<br />Oh, won’t you watch with me?<br />I drift like a ghost through a fate that I keep holding on<br /><br />Long nights we stayed up in sentry<br />Gazing, playing, side by side we<br />Saw the joy that passion could have brought<br />Lost the joy that passion would have sought<br />May, now I feel you, my tears fall in vain on your tombStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-83478519983791461872009-07-13T21:46:00.000-07:002009-07-13T22:39:57.328-07:00"My Kind Idea"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_04_-_My_Kind_Idea.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />"My Kind Idea" is a love song. I guess you could also call it my idea of a good time. The lyrics were easy to write, because they simply describe some of my favorite things: drinking tea, staying in, and wandering outside.<br /><br />Like many of my songs, the music came first, and the filler lyrics that went along with it were: "That old sun, lucky lucky lucky sun." (I wrote the music early February 2008, shortly after Brian Wilson debuted his new album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That_Lucky_Old_Sun_%28album%29">That Lucky Old Sun</a> in London.) The melody is strange and uses some difficult intervals, including a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tritone">tritone</a> during the "ooh" parts. It's definitely no nursery rhyme. And the chords are a bit chromatic----for example, the verses switch between A minor and G# major. I'm not sure what possessed me to write this kind of music.<br /><br />The recording is pretty amazing. Please listen to it.<br /><br />I would like the music video to portray the construction of a Lego set. Particularly <a href="http://shop.lego.com/ByCategory/Product.aspx?p=10187&cn=42&d=74">this one</a>. The idea is that building a Lego model is one of the coolest things you can do at home when you want to be away from the nightclubs, bars and disco lights.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who played on the recording?</span> Steven (lead vocals, guitar, percussion); Russ (mandolin); Hilary (cello); Molly (ukulele, backing vocals); Maya (viola); Devin (trumpet)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /><br />As we walk into a room of freezing cold<br />You laugh and say hello my friend<br />My fear my kind idea<br />And I brew a kettle drumming tea for you<br />Yellow foggy silver blue<br />I feel its sweet appeal<br />And you in the armchair all alone<br />Ooh, tell me something about the past decade<br />Of blue and the monochrome tube<br />We can swing and rock till<br />We both have had our fill<br />Of time and of space and of fun<br />But we know we will never be done<br /><br />The nightclubs and bars and disco lights<br />Ooh, don’t compel us<br />As much as our habit of<br />Staying up talking all night<br />As I fell into your arms<br />Fallen out of harm<br />The charm of a dream of mixed rhymes<br />And the fancied invention of lines<br /><br />Later on, the sun is in the room again<br />Chased away the moon again<br />The mirror is frosty dear<br />In a daze, gentle wind a warm embrace<br />And everything is in its place<br />So near come for me here<br />The Sunday review is on the lawn<br />Ooh, we should go out, see what it’s all about<br />The bricks in the old custom house<br />We can stop and wonder<br />In front of a window of a shop<br />That is closed for the day<br />And the sights that we’ll see on the wayStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5544209404277568448.post-58447442598997998812009-07-13T20:47:00.000-07:002009-07-23T22:12:49.268-07:00"Twenty-Five"<object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.popgothetonics.com/leisure/player.swf" id="audioplayer1" width="290" height="24"><br /><param name="movie" value="http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/player.swf"><br /><param name="FlashVars" value="playerID=1&soundFile=http://www.popgothetonics.com/bpp/Band_Practice_Party_-_02_-_Twenty_Five.mp3"><br /><param name="quality" value="high"><br /><param name="menu" value="false"><br /><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><br /></object><br />Superficially, "Twenty-Five" is a shameless imitation of the educational cartoon <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schoolhouse_Rock"><span style="font-style: italic;">Schoolhouse Rock!</span></a> I can even tell you specifically that I had the episode <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jeq5a8bBh8c">"Figure Eight"</a> in mind when I wrote it. Putting all that aside, "Twenty-Five" is a song that has a lot of meaning to me, and I think it stands very well on its own. Basically, what the lyrics are trying to say is that "age is just a number," and therefore we have the verses that say, "Well, 25 is just this and that, it's just 5 times 5, and so on." But then, you shift to the point of view of somebody who's just reached this milestone in life, is bewildered by adulthood, and still feels like a child.<br /><br />Based on the timestamps on my demo recordings, this song actually took two months to write. The music came to me about two weeks after my 25th birthday, but I only had filler lyrics that went, "Marigolds, here they come, la la la la..." It subsequently sat on the shelf while I entered a not-so-creative phase that resulted in "The Drifter," also known as "Yodel." When I went back to work on "Marigolds," I decided to make it like a girl-guy duet, kind of like <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW6WGxH4qr0">Blonde Redhead</a>, one of my favorite bands. Finally, something inspired me to write the lyrics that became "Twenty-Five."<br /><br />A lot of the arrangement was worked out in Molly's backyard during June 2008. Noah gets credit here for the "ooh" and doubling harmonies throughout the song. Molly's voice is perfect for this song, and she does a great job with it.<br /><br />If you ever catch us live, listen for a little surprise at the end.<br /><br />For the music video, I'd like to make a cartoon in the style of <span style="font-style: italic;">Schoolhouse Rock!</span> A few months back, I drew storyboards for this video, but haven't had time to do any more work. Anyone know of an animator who can help bring this video into reality?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Who played on the recording?</span> Steven (lead and backing vocals, guitar, percussion); Molly (lead and backing vocals, ukulele); Russ (mandolin); Hilary (cello); Maya (viola).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyrics:</span><br /><br />Twenty-five, or two and five<br />Spelled with two prime numbers<br />Twenty-five, or five times five<br />And sum of two square numbers<br />Twenty-five, la la la<br />Five more than a full score<br />If you count by fountain pen<br />Count five groups of tallies<br /><br />Suddenly I found myself beginning to sit still<br />Suddenly I found that I was picking up the bill<br />Yet my scribbles from so long ago still send me chills<br />Still send me chills<br /><br />Twenty-five is silver, please<br />When it's my anniversary<br />Twenty-five is manganese<br />If you're into chemistry<br />Twenty-five is a quarter of<br />The big old sum one hundred<br />Twenty-five is the quarter coin<br />The head of our first president<br /><br />Dusting off my old Nintendo really made me feel<br />Like those days I weren't in charge of making any deals<br />They assure me, son, you ain't seen half of what is fun<br />They say I'm still young<br /><br />Twenty-five golden rings<br />On five lucky hands they fit<br />And every year, many like<br />This day in DecemberStevenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02130224612897711252noreply@blogger.com0