I'm excited. Every year at NAMM you get to jam in the booth for 4 days but this year I actually have a time slot at a small concert that Friday night. I have to tame myself a little because I like to stretch the boundaries a bit and I don't want to go beyond what is manageable given perhaps little to NO rehearsal time.
But, I thought a thread with some updates might be of interest and then after I will hopefully have some video or audio clips to play for you if you're interested.
I'll tell you more as it develops. As of now though I will be playing Sonik Synth 2 and SampleTank 2 from my Haken Continuum Fingerboard and Motif ES8.
Tentatively, we have Jon Anderson from Yes joining us for a couple tunes... probably slightly altered versions of some Yes songs but maybe even an odd suprise I had in mind because I am a little crazy.
We'll be doing something from the early 70's though for sure. Probably "Long Distance Runaround" but I am going to mess with it a little. I'm going to use STRETCH to do some weird cool stuff. This is fun! It'll be like a musical excercise. Of course, I just made a lot more work for myself. I do that sometimes. But, in this case? It'll be worth it.
Jordan Rudess is also playing at this gig in a different time slot. In fact, a lot of muso favorites will be there. I don't know the whole line up yet but I will let you know as it gets closer. Anyone in Southern California should try to make it to this.
Putting together a gig for NAMM
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Last edited by Squids on Tue Jan 04, 2005 5:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 711 posts since 16 Mar, 2002 from Mostly in planes and hotels. Terra Firma: Seattle, WA
Omigosh
You have to be kidding. MUST SNEAK IN
. You on the Haaken will be worth the trip. I got to see Jordan when I visited the SR booth a couple of years ago. I wonder if Jordan is going to be playing a Kurz (if Kurz is even there)? Or is he doing Korg these days?
You have to be kidding. MUST SNEAK IN
. You on the Haaken will be worth the trip. I got to see Jordan when I visited the SR booth a couple of years ago. I wonder if Jordan is going to be playing a Kurz (if Kurz is even there)? Or is he doing Korg these days?-
- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
No problem. I want a video for myself too. This is a cool opportunity. I'm a Yes fan and I've never played with Jon Anderson before. He loves Sonik Synth 2. The funny thing is that there are some Yes-like vocal textures in there and I am going to do some interesting live vocal playing (maybe some SampleTank Stretch stuff with the continuum... which will be WILD!). So, from the keys I can sound like the whole group singing! (to a certain extent anyway).
I am still trying to figure out the exact instrumentation on this. Who is going to play what and how many musicians on stage really (drum kit or not etc. - maybe V-Drums playing SR samples). Guitars through AmpliTube of course. But, I am still working on the line up. I emailed Nick D'Virgilio from Spock's Beard who I used to play with. I don't know if he'll be around though. He's on tour off and on.
I am still trying to figure out the exact instrumentation on this. Who is going to play what and how many musicians on stage really (drum kit or not etc. - maybe V-Drums playing SR samples). Guitars through AmpliTube of course. But, I am still working on the line up. I emailed Nick D'Virgilio from Spock's Beard who I used to play with. I don't know if he'll be around though. He's on tour off and on.
Last edited by Squids on Wed Jan 05, 2005 6:07 am, edited 1 time in total.
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- KVRian
- 711 posts since 16 Mar, 2002 from Mostly in planes and hotels. Terra Firma: Seattle, WA
That would be a great gig. V-drums with your drum samples would really rock.
Will you be using just a drummer and a singer. I say add another keyboard player, playing your stuff. You can do the bass then
Will you be using just a drummer and a singer. I say add another keyboard player, playing your stuff. You can do the bass then
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
There's a bass player and a guitar player already too. So, maybe a second keys and drummer is all that is needed really. But, I was going to do drums from the keys a bit as well (just because I never get to).progfusion74 wrote:That would be a great gig. V-drums with your drum samples would really rock.
Will you be using just a drummer and a singer. I say add another keyboard player, playing your stuff. You can do the bass then
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
That's not a bad idea. I could ask Roger. I was going to play with him at last NAMM but it didn't happen because we didn't have the right venue for it. I was also thinking about Lyle Workman who is a good friend of mine and also played with Roger in both Jellyfish and Beck. But, this gig is already getting out of hand. Your friendly neighborhood Squids is getting BOLD here but this is how I am. If something is anywhere near me as an opportunity I take it if it sounds cool. That's how you have to be in the music business by the way. Sometimes you get opportunities that you have to go for it and make it happen without hesitation or you'll totally miss it.
Oh man. You wouldn't believe what I am trying to pull off here. Not only is it the most unlikely combination of great musicians but there's barely any way to rehearse and the music isn't exactly easy! But, I think I found a new thing to do that would appeal to me musically. I've always been one to put unlikely things together. I'm like an MD/DJ/live band remixer or something. For instance, my band plays all kinds of tunes (my local cover band that I play in to keep up the chops and earn some dough for my gear buying problem) and for instance we do the song "Play That Funky Music". But, if I had to play that song plain I would be depressed. So, in the middle of the tune I play The Doors' "Riders on the Storm" keyboard solo. It's funny watching people dancing at a club and then thinking "Hey, wait a second. What is that? I know that." I mean, half of them don't know the difference but the ones that do look at me with a sort of "Thanks for breaking the rules!" vibe.
So, for this gig I am breaking some rules mixing hard rock, fusion, funk and progressive rock with some pretty heavy guests. I suppose I can let the cat(s) out of the bag (npi). So far it is looking like about half of Earth Wind and Fire plus Jon Anderson from Yes playing with me, Neil Zaza and his bass player and Larry Ortega (the cool dude who does ST2 and SS2 demos for IK and hangs around here as "lipro"). I haven't heard from Nick D but maybe he'll join us too (but like I said, you can see it is getting completely out of hand). What is really bold of me is that I am trying to get them both to play each other's tunes somehow or at least to get Jon to sing on an Earth Wind & Fire tune. Wouldn't that be WEIRD????? I already asked him and he seemed pretty open to it. YIKES! What have I done???? HELP!
You know what is cool though? These guys all dig IK software (AT, TR, ST2...) and they're so excited about Sonik Synth 2 because they are musicians and they use Logic or Cubase or ProTools and they've been waiting for a synth workstation plug-in like this. So, I have to tell you that it is very rewarding to see it so well received by musicians that I admire.
Anyway, rant over. Pretty wild huh? I'm definitely video taping it. Hope it's not a mess.
Oh man. You wouldn't believe what I am trying to pull off here. Not only is it the most unlikely combination of great musicians but there's barely any way to rehearse and the music isn't exactly easy! But, I think I found a new thing to do that would appeal to me musically. I've always been one to put unlikely things together. I'm like an MD/DJ/live band remixer or something. For instance, my band plays all kinds of tunes (my local cover band that I play in to keep up the chops and earn some dough for my gear buying problem) and for instance we do the song "Play That Funky Music". But, if I had to play that song plain I would be depressed. So, in the middle of the tune I play The Doors' "Riders on the Storm" keyboard solo. It's funny watching people dancing at a club and then thinking "Hey, wait a second. What is that? I know that." I mean, half of them don't know the difference but the ones that do look at me with a sort of "Thanks for breaking the rules!" vibe.
So, for this gig I am breaking some rules mixing hard rock, fusion, funk and progressive rock with some pretty heavy guests. I suppose I can let the cat(s) out of the bag (npi). So far it is looking like about half of Earth Wind and Fire plus Jon Anderson from Yes playing with me, Neil Zaza and his bass player and Larry Ortega (the cool dude who does ST2 and SS2 demos for IK and hangs around here as "lipro"). I haven't heard from Nick D but maybe he'll join us too (but like I said, you can see it is getting completely out of hand). What is really bold of me is that I am trying to get them both to play each other's tunes somehow or at least to get Jon to sing on an Earth Wind & Fire tune. Wouldn't that be WEIRD????? I already asked him and he seemed pretty open to it. YIKES! What have I done???? HELP!
You know what is cool though? These guys all dig IK software (AT, TR, ST2...) and they're so excited about Sonik Synth 2 because they are musicians and they use Logic or Cubase or ProTools and they've been waiting for a synth workstation plug-in like this. So, I have to tell you that it is very rewarding to see it so well received by musicians that I admire.
Anyway, rant over. Pretty wild huh? I'm definitely video taping it. Hope it's not a mess.
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- KVRAF
- 4692 posts since 28 Jan, 2003 from In these very interwebs
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
I was talking to one of the back line tech guys today about all of the gear we're using for this thing. It'll be a little crazy! I have one computer dedicated just to the Continuum (first time I'll be playing it live... bold? crazy? stupid? or I like to use the word "adventurous" 
). Anyway, the tech guy, Jimmy, apparently is a good singer. So I said, "You sing right?" and he just looked at me with this scared look. "uh, well, uh yeah". So I said "Well, I am a little worried that if we do 'Your Move' that we won't have enough back up vocals to pull it off so you want to join in?". He was just silent for about 3 minutes and then said "Well, YEAH that would be cool!". Here he thought he'd just be hooking up cables! 
Anyway, he probably won't be singing but I pretty much try to do everything I can to weazle my way out of singing. I can sing backup and do it all the time in my band but I am not as confident in that area. I don't know if I am going to be entirely comfortable harmonizing with these guys. Maybe a Martini will help. You have to NOT think too much if you are doing something like that or you'll freak. You have to tell yourself to think about it LATER and not while you are doing it otherwise you step outside yourself and make yourself nervous. I've done that before and it is scary. But, if you practice being in the "zone" (put the Fez on) then you can make it through. I had to do that on that Lamb tribute gig we did (this one http://www.sonicreality.com/squidscorne ... medley.mp3 ). There was one point where I was watching my hands move and I was thinking "I can't believe I am doing this. What if I mess up?" and then I quickly snapped out of that sort of thinking and everything was fine.
By the way, I don't think I am the dog's bollocks or anything. I know I am in way over my head on this but... I am always up for a challenge!
). Anyway, the tech guy, Jimmy, apparently is a good singer. So I said, "You sing right?" and he just looked at me with this scared look. "uh, well, uh yeah". So I said "Well, I am a little worried that if we do 'Your Move' that we won't have enough back up vocals to pull it off so you want to join in?". He was just silent for about 3 minutes and then said "Well, YEAH that would be cool!". Here he thought he'd just be hooking up cables! Anyway, he probably won't be singing but I pretty much try to do everything I can to weazle my way out of singing. I can sing backup and do it all the time in my band but I am not as confident in that area. I don't know if I am going to be entirely comfortable harmonizing with these guys. Maybe a Martini will help. You have to NOT think too much if you are doing something like that or you'll freak. You have to tell yourself to think about it LATER and not while you are doing it otherwise you step outside yourself and make yourself nervous. I've done that before and it is scary. But, if you practice being in the "zone" (put the Fez on) then you can make it through. I had to do that on that Lamb tribute gig we did (this one http://www.sonicreality.com/squidscorne ... medley.mp3 ). There was one point where I was watching my hands move and I was thinking "I can't believe I am doing this. What if I mess up?" and then I quickly snapped out of that sort of thinking and everything was fine.
By the way, I don't think I am the dog's bollocks or anything. I know I am in way over my head on this but... I am always up for a challenge!
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Ohhh baby. I just talked to Sheldon Reynolds. It's on! Also a nice guy. I am starting to notice that most of the really talented musicians are really nice. It's the ones who are insecure about their talent that are unfriendly. I mean, a generalization there but I find it to be true from my experience. Ricky Lawson may also join in on drums. What have I done???? Maybe I shouldn't try to do the Continuum on this gig. Mine is completely fretless (no marks for which notes are which). I better start practicing! 
Is this fun for a company forum @ KVR documentation of the evolution of putting together a funky gig like this? I know it isn't everyone's style of music necessarily (but I know the SR forum has a few throwbacks like me that think this is really cool). Hopefully it is inspiring to read. It's MUSIC in action! Affirmative action. (no pun intended).
Also a nice guy. I am starting to notice that most of the really talented musicians are really nice. It's the ones who are insecure about their talent that are unfriendly. I mean, a generalization there but I find it to be true from my experience. Ricky Lawson may also join in on drums. What have I done???? Maybe I shouldn't try to do the Continuum on this gig. Mine is completely fretless (no marks for which notes are which). I better start practicing! Is this fun for a company forum @ KVR documentation of the evolution of putting together a funky gig like this? I know it isn't everyone's style of music necessarily (but I know the SR forum has a few throwbacks like me that think this is really cool). Hopefully it is inspiring to read. It's MUSIC in action! Affirmative action. (no pun intended).
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- KVRist
- 164 posts since 13 Mar, 2002 from New Zealand
It sounds amazing, and I'm sure it WILL sound amazing.
Ya gotta go for the continuum though, I imagine the novelty value will help get media attention (as well as all the big names of course!), so will be good for business. Just 'cause I want to see/hear it on the video, that's got nothing to do with it.
Ya gotta go for the continuum though, I imagine the novelty value will help get media attention (as well as all the big names of course!), so will be good for business. Just 'cause I want to see/hear it on the video, that's got nothing to do with it.
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- Sonic Reality Head Chef
- Topic Starter
- 8566 posts since 11 Mar, 2002 from Florida
Okay. It's just very dangerous to be trying out playing it live with THIS particular line up. I mean, I could have tried it with my local band first.Zoing wrote:It sounds amazing, and I'm sure it WILL sound amazing.
Ya gotta go for the continuum though, I imagine the novelty value will help get media attention (as well as all the big names of course!), so will be good for business. Just 'cause I want to see/hear it on the video, that's got nothing to do with it.
But, they are on vacation. Haken will go and bring a back up with him. He's got to love the exposure I give him (not that anyone can afford that thing though... when it IS affordable I think it is something EVERYONE should have... well, you know what I mean. You for example. 
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- KVRist
- 85 posts since 14 Oct, 2002
ok...so the vocalist on the Lamb stuff HAS to be Kevin Gilbert, right?
Who else on this were you lucky enugh to play with and what equipment were you using at the time - SSynth stuff or no?
Just curious.
Who else on this were you lucky enugh to play with and what equipment were you using at the time - SSynth stuff or no?
Just curious.