The Bass Geek

The tech editing for the third edition of Home Recording For Dummies is completed. Since it’s already been through two generations, the basic stuff (principles that home recordists have followed for years) still applies and gets good results. Most of the work revolved around updated software and plug-ins (and that’s a never-ending chase), which made me want more software. And that’s not pretty. At least with physical gear, you’re holding something. It feels real. Purchasing software is a nebulous thrill, because you’re never quite sure what you’re getting into when you install it. There’s a visceral thrill in playing a new instrument or stomping on a new pedal. Not so much with the start of a program.

Otherwise, the weekend was spent either at the ACT, various and sundry First Friday activities (including a visit to the Brass Ring Lounge and an exhibition of the old artifacts salvaged from the previous tenants), or in front of the TV investing way too much time in Soul Caliber IV. It’s time for twelve steps.

Radio Radio is packed to the gills tonight with Ten Out Of Tenn - ten touring artists from Nashville (that blessedly sound nothing like Toby Keith - stop giving beer to your horses, jackass) touring and backing each other for a couple of songs each night. Tomorrow night is Bigger Than Elvis’s monthly visit to the stage.

If you can’t wait for Saturday night’s rockabilly show at Radio Radio, consider Friday night’s show at Sam’s Saloon, where Rockabilly Hall of Famer Art Adams and BJ Rogers Murder, Inc. will be doing their thing.

Deano’s Vino has Andy DeCarlo & The Travelin’ Hillbillies tonight and D. Mark Conway tomorrow. Tonight is also First Friday, which means it’s a great time to travel amongst the galleries of Fountain Square and see some wonderful art. Of particular note is Gnosis Gallery in the Murphy Building, featuring the art of Derek Walker. Anybody that puts Jim Kelly on my wife’s purse is a genius.

Finally, “The Wiz” has three more weeks left in its run at the American Cabaret Theater. You won’t be able to see me, as I’m hiding in the box seats somewhere. I have been told, however, that you can hear the bass from anywhere in the theater. Which is a good thing, I think.

The Fountain Square neighborhood is getting a new place to congregate and enjoy food and beverage.  The choice who you you congregate with remains up to you, however.  Welcome to The Brass Ring Lounge.

The lounge takes the place of the old Fountain Tavern, an establishment I never quite made it into.  And, judging by the photos on the site, there wasn’t much to be missed.  Can’t speak for the regulars, though.  If there were regulars.  Perhaps that’s why it went away in the first place.

Grand opening is July 30th . . . right, that’s today.

Radio Radio has the Vulgar Boatmen and Gentleman Caller tonight, and it brings in Cellofourte on Sunday.

(Incidentally, the aforementioned Boatmen and Caller are further proof of my time-tested hypothesis that Indianapolis bands never really break up, they just take longer between reunion shows. I don’t know if there’s some sort of karmic linkage, whether the town is just incestuous enough that everybody ends up working together again, or if Brownian motion simply forces their particles back together when exposed to a stage and musical instruments. It just is.)

Sam’s Saloon has Necropharmacon, Sleepbringer, Pyrenchymv, and Nidus. All are heavy, all are loud.

Deano’s Vino features the Shirtless Biddles tonight and Jude’s Juggers tomorrow. Neither are heavy nor loud. And it’s Swing Night at the Fountain Square Theater. As far as I know, the band may be loud but is not heavy and has never broken up.

And remember “Bare” plays through Sunday at the Wheeler Arts Building.

Just a quick reminder that Fountain Square’s Wheeler Art Center is the location for this weekend’s production of “Bare.”  Check out the site for ticket info, times and a rehearsal vlog.

It’s also a pretty good excuse to drag me out of the house - I’m noticing large chunks of time are missing courtesy of my Xbox.  At least I hope it’s the Xbox.