The Bass Geek

The new IMN podcast is up – download it or listen at the site or on WFYI HD2, Thursdays at 4pm.

Also, there’s a Playboy Psychonauts gig at the Upper Room in Broad Ripple this very evening, starting around 10pm or so. It will be exceptionally cold, I understand. For that, we are providing new material and access to fine coffee drinks in exchange for currency. That last transaction will be handled by bartender extraordinaire Jeff Sample. We’ll handle the musical transactions. Enjoy and stay warm.

Also, we have to work on scheduling gigs around Steelers games. Feh.

At Radio Radio this weekend, the electronic rock act F.U.Z.Z. reunites in their hometown this very evening. Tomorrow, you can catch Hoots and Hellmouth and Annie and the Beekeepers. Actual bees will not be present.

The Vollrath Tavern has Maravich, Bulletwolf and Secrets Between Sailors tonight. Tomorrow, the tavern presents Ill Ease, Lines of Nazca and Lasercrust. While it is being presented as the 48th birthday party of Wick (drummer for LON), records show he is at least 7 years younger than the show indicates.

For the jazz fans, there’s Swing Night tonight at the Fountain Square Theater, and you can see a smaller combo Friday and Saturday nights at Maria’s Pizza. Toss in acoustic music at Deano’s Vino all weekend, and you’re pretty much set.

Thanks to all that visited the Upper Room last night for the Playboy Psychonauts show. It was quite entertaining to manage the Steelers game and the setlist at the same time, but I pulled through splendidly, if I do say so myself. Toss in an overtime win, and all is right with the world. Thank you, and good night.

The new IMN podcast is up – download it, or listen at the site or on WFYI HD2 Thursdays at 4pm.

The Playboy Psychonauts return to the Upper Room in Broad Ripple this evening, too. Two sets, kicking off around 10pm. The late start agrees with me this particular evening, as the Steelers kick off the NFL season earlier and I want to catch as much of the game as possible before the set begins. This means:

• Earlier than normal arrival
• Quick setup
• Perch by flatscreen immediately afterwards
• Try to stifle (non-music-related) ecstatic screams or anguished cries during playing

Should be an interesting exercise all around. Hope to see you there!

The new IMN podcast is up – download it here or listen at the site or on WFYI HD2 Thursdays at 4pm.

And it was great to see the rookies make their case in the Steelers’ first preseason game. Some of them will go on, some of them will not. That’s the magic of the preseason, really – so many players, so few chances. It’s unpredictable and a little bland, but you don’t just jump to the main course in a fine dinner. These are the appetizers of fall, if you will. And they’re probably the only games my dog will be able to sleep through. The real screaming doesn’t begin until after Labor Day.

In all of the excitement over the Steelers 6th Super Bowl victory Sunday, I forgot to take note of one impression that hit me during the halftime show.  Well, two impressions.  First, I’m glad that I never became a cameraman and therefore avoided any traumatic collision with Bruce Springsteen’s groin.  Second, Garry Tallent has a great gig, and what a wonderful thing that is to have.  He’s not the most celebrated member of the E Street Band, but he’s always played a vital and driving role in the music with some fantastic bass lines.  Live or in the studio, it always fits in so well, and the best songs feature his work prominently at some point.  What a ride to take.  Even without the success that comes along with it, I think that his work is something any bassist would aspire to.  Nice work, Garry.

I’ve seen the Steelers win Super Bowls.  I’ve seen them lose one.  I much prefer the former.  And that’s why last night went pretty well, barring the heart-stopping, last-minute heroics.  Perhaps it was the anticipation, perhaps it was the extraordinarily spicy chili.  There really isn’t any way to be sure.  Nevertheless, this makes the long, boring off-season that much easier to tolerate.

Also, a quick tip: replacing the slow-blow fuse in a combo amp can make a huge difference in an amp’s function.  The challenge is trying to match the fuse without documentation or manuals.  My particular Trace Elliot combo is no longer in production, and the company isn’t even the same company.  Fun stuff.  I finally found one that worked, and my amp was back up to the normal “Don’t-turn-it-beyond-2-if-you-want-your-house-to-live” volume.

Finally, I started a full-time writing job today, so I’m looking forward to spending that much more time in front of the keyboard.

The new IMN podcast is up – download it here or listen at the site or on WFYI.

Otherwise, I’ve been buried by snow and some extraordinary flu-like symptoms.  I’d been hoping to record some tracks for a project this week, but I spent the snow day incapacitated and unable to do so.  It’s also definitely not the way to make the run up to the Steelers’ 7th appearance in the Super Bowl.  I can only hope to be in form for the game and associated chili-based activities.

And I suppose that’s both good and bad. I managed to finish my share of the new Google Small Business All-In-One For Dummies book today (on deadline!), so I’m moving from the writing phase to the review phase. It’s not as easy to schedule, but I can usually make it through revisions without too much problem or frustration. I hope I can say the same for the editors.

I’m also finding a lot of free time in my schedule due to the reorganization at the American Cabaret Theater. These cuts not only mean that some talented people are out of work, but also that the production we were supposed to start rehearsing Sunday won’t be getting off the ground. It’s too bad, ’cause the song list looked great and there were some extremely good singers on board. I’m definitely going to miss playing at the theater, even if I did manage to break a piece of gear every time I played there. It was a great place, and I always worked with wonderful performers.

The only bright light to come out of this is that I don’t have to worry about getting done in time to watch the Steelers in the Super Bowl. I think I’d like the chance to make the mad dash, though. Go Steelers!