• The Monthlies – Come on Eileen

    20Apr
    Categories: For Musicians, H.O.T. News, Industry news, Mastering, Mixing, Music Marketing, Music Reviews View Comments

    For about two years now I’ve been working with a fantastic LA based indie/pop band named The Monthlies. Over the past few weeks we’ve been putting the finishing touches on their upcoming EP titled “Horror Flick“, which will include a very cool version of Dexys Midnight Runner’s ‘Come on Eileen’. If you search YouTube for this song you will see that several groups have covered it, but most versions are similar to the original. Not this one!

    The Monthlies, in doing what they do best, have put their own unique spin on this 80’s pop standard. I won’t say much about what you’re going to hear other than if you are expecting an updated rehashing of the Dexys version you’re in for a big surprise. We hope you enjoy The Monthlies version of ‘Come on Eileen‘ and please leave a comment below if you’d like to share your thoughts with the band.

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    The Monthlies are…
    Wes O’lee – Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
    Jana Bonderman – Lead Guitar
    Chris Hall – Bass, Backing Vocals
    Nick Miller – Drums

    If you like what you hear check out their MySpace page for more songs and a video of their last single, Hip Girl.

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  • PXL-2000 Ghetto Tripod Mount

    28Mar
    Categories: For Musicians, Other stuff, Trusted Contributor View Comments

    Recently,  I needed a tripod mount for my PXL-2000 while working on a project.  And since this product doesn’t exist , and the PXL-2000 doesn’t have a 1/4 inch receptor on the bottom like every other camcorder on the planet, I decided to make my very own PXL-2000 GHETTO TRIPOD MOUNT!!  Now I’m sure there are better ways to do this but I needed this to happen quickly and I didn’t have time to discuss this solution with my team of MIT research engineers!

    All you need is a standard tripod that has the 1/4 inch camera mounting screw, and the following items: (approx $8.00)

    1/4 inch Nut  (for mounting to the tripod receptor)

    1/4 inch X 1″1/2  U Bolt

    Metal Conduit Clamp 1″ EMT  (2″ long, top to bottom and also comes with a 1/4 inch X 1 ” Bolt / Nut)  - this is for the actual tripod mount.

    Strap – N- Tie , Hook and Loop Cinch Straps  -  (these are for security reasons only, just in case the mount fails the camcorder won’t fall to the ground.)

    *Make sure that you line the inner wall of the Conduit clamp with something (an adhesive velcro) so you don’t stratch the plastic on the PXL-2000.

    This was so easy to make that I won’t explain it step by step.  Just look at the pictures and you should be able to figure it out quickly. Just make sure that you have an extra 1/4 inch bolt to use for the actual mounting to your tripod receptor.  Notice the conduit clamp (which is what mounts to the tripod) has a hole in it, which you use with your  1/4 bolt for mounting to the tripod.

    Enjoy, VisualMantra

    Conduit Clamp with 1/4 inch X 1" Bolt/Nut 1/4 inch X 1"1/2 U Bolt 1/4 inch Nut mounts to the tripod receptor
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  • Jack White “why do I care”?

    17Mar
    Categories: For Musicians, Other stuff, Trusted Contributor View Comments

    Ok, get this, recently a friend of mine asked me,  ”who is this guy, Jack White and why do I care?”   I answered, “BECAUSE,  he is a bad ass!”  Well I’m not really sure that’s exactly what I said, but I personally think that this guy is one of the best guitar players in recent history.

    For whatever reason, most guitar players are fixated on having some amazing digital rig that can make their guitar sound like a violin, a jet plane, pond frog, or any other number of sounds, you know what I mean…  This type of “guitar player” needs a full time guitar technician setting up his rig because he can’t keep track of all the effects that he has.   Jack, on the other hand, just uses a guitar, a guitar cord and an amp.   Jack sometimes uses the Big Muff distortion box or some other analog effect but, really this guy plays a simple guitar rig, and plays it well.  I had the pleasure of seeing the White Stripes in concert at the Greek in Berkeley California a few years ago and this was one of the best performances that I had ever seen!  I have a great deal of respect for someone who plays with such passion and creativity.  I think he has made it clear that you don’t have to spend a fortune on effects and still sound great!  So plug your guitar straight into your amp sometime and hear what you really sound like for a change.  You might be surprised to find that you like the raw sound of your guitar better than your $20,000 guitar rig!!!  Thanks Jack!

    jackwhite

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  • The World’s First Album Cover – Alex Steinweiss’ Greatest Hit

    27Oct
    Categories: For Musicians, Industry news, Music Marketing, Other stuff View Comments

    From Undependent.com

    World's First Album Cover

    While there is no shortage of interest in the album cover medium, there’s no obvious web page out dedicated to the world’s first record cover. I’m apparently I’m not the only one looking for it (See: “Anyone have a scan?“) I’ve seen scattered images from articles about Steinweiss but I’ve not found anything resembling a Shrine.

    Such a noteworthy artifact in the history of mass media screams for its own page. Google returns 300+ results for the phrase “Sgt Pepper’s Album Cover” but nothing definitive for the phrase “First Album Cover.” Here’s my humble stab at such a page.

    For the complete history of the album cover and its creator, just hit Wikipedia or pick up a copy of “For the Record.” Alex Steinwess, a then 23 years old designer, convinced Columbia’s suits to create the first true album cover. Until then, 78s were sold in generic sleeves.Recently, I came across an apparently original edition of this album and was able to pick it up for almost nothing. Someone unwittingly dumped it onto eBay for chump change. I mean, if they’d known what they had, I would’ve at least expected the auction to include “World’s First Album Cover!” and a reserve price of $100, $500, who knows? Instead, I picked it up for less than $30.

    I have been eager to get it posted for all the graphic designers, media theorists and vinyl enthusiasts out there googling “steinweiss +first album cover.” I wanted to get these images out into the world for broader circulation.

    Read the entire article and see more shots of this album cover at undependent.com

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  • To Plek or not to Plek?

    21Jul
    Categories: For Musicians, Other stuff, Trusted Contributor View Comments

    A few years back, I decided to pay a visit to my favorite guitar shop on the planet, “Real Guitars” in San Francisco. This little “hole in the wall” guitar shop is filled with vintage gear and it looks just like the guitar shops I used to frequent in my youth back in New Jersey.  The co-owner, “Gary Brawer” is best known for being the guitar tech for SF’s own Joe Satriani.  Gary and his staff are amazing and their knowledge of guitars is second to none.  While I was asking about lowering the action on one of my telecasters, Gary told me about the Plek machine he used in his shop.  Here is a definition of the Plek.

    dsc07513The PLEK device is a spectacularly accurate machine for smoothing and shaping frets on a guitar. Whether electric or acoustic, six-string, twelve-string or a bass guitar of four, five or more strings, this Northern European invention (straight outta Berlin!) sharply reduces the amount of time required to bring a guitar up to its all around best possible playability with a greater accuracy possible than even the most experienced technician can approach. Like any tool, it’s usefulness is explicitly defined by the user.

    So, to answer the question, To Plek or not to Plek?  PLEK!!

    The telecaster’s action is now outstanding and the tone has never been better.  So do yourself a favor and give Gary a visit sometime and check out the Plek machine!  You might even run into JS while you’re there! FYI, Much to his credit, Gary and his staff are incredibly mellow and treat everyone the same, including rockstars, local musicians, and posers…   :)

    VMS

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