Bro Scott asked me to join his weekly jam session this Friday. And so following a lovely dinner cooked to perfection by his lovely bride I headed off to St. Paul to make some noise.
I have plucked at the bass now and then over the years, but very rarely. I had not actually jammed, played live with another musician for probably at least five years. a little rust but not so much. I had really expect some timing issue, but it was actually pretty good. the message from my brain to my fingers didn't always make it's way to the fretboard but all in all I was quite happy.
I don't know what makes a musician a certain way. why one instrument fits so well while another not so well. You would think it'd flow nicely from one instrument to another. Music is music right? But no, I'm so comfortable and intuitive on the bass and always not quite sure of myself on guitar. And i watch people who are exactly the opposite of me, they can play guitar nicely but are a bit clunky on the fat strings.
Well following my existential plan I am taking the next step. To catch up, the coaching was to be my inspiration to make some changes and move in a direction a little better suited for me. The idea is to not create a path, but rather to take a step and then be prepared for the next step that follows, what ever that may be. So i had just started going to a local coffee shop to work through my coaching notes, and do some reading. that led to a talk with the owner about her business and her desire to add some music and try to expand the customer base a bit. And so i decided to help out and am trying to locate acts for her. No money in it for me, just the step that presented itself. it may be a dead end, may go no where but so far it has forced me to reconnect with folks I have been meaning to. it's a good thing.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
AI 8 recap
Well I had a track meet to coach on Tuesday and so did not get to watch the show. Tonight I watched the elimination and found the performances from Tuesday to catch up with. It's a tough night to pick a great performance. there were some very good ones but nothing stands out. Adam was spectacular as usual but I found the song rather boring. Alisson did a rather nice cover of Bonnie Raitt's song 'I can't make you love me'. And i liked Kris's performance. Both Danny and Matt did a nice job but Danny's was a little too contrived for my tastes and Matt just seems incapable of hitting a home run but constantly delivers. I guess all that time working as a piano man pays off. Lil is now officially in trouble. Artistry is the vogue, and she don't get it. i feel a bit bad for her, in past years she'd be so solid she'd fly through to at least four. she better step up her game or she may be gone next week.
Scott was himself and that made him not quite good enough. Finally the sentimental vote could not defeat reason. He went home. tonight.
My faves in order, tough to choose but I'll do it anyway.
Allison: for the first week takes the number one spot. She might be the only one that can pull off a karaoke version of a song and not get called on it, her voice is that unique. I think now that the sentimental vote is free since Scott is out I can see her and Danny picking up votes this week. i still think she has too much to prove to get to the top four, but I'm seeing weakness in all but Adam now, so maybe she can do better. top three and anything can happen.
Kris. He's gone from one of my least faves to moving up. he's delivering week to week, always a tad forgettable but gaining in confidence which is making his performance a little more attention grabbing. tonight I finally felt where he fits in. the horns behind him to add flare to his smooth as butter voice and provides what he lacks. It's a great career although short on fame and big money. I'd like to see him go for that. I don't even know what genre it'd be. white boy blues? maybe.
Well the first two stood out, next come the solid but not spectacular group.
Adam. And of course Adam gets the first seat here being the clear front runner, although I wouldn't put his performance ahead of Danny or Matt this week. The thing with Adam is that he knows if he performs well he's got a ticket to the finals. He can get away with showing his skill set and versatility off and not risk elimination. And really this was a great performance showing a different part of his vocal ability. It was just a little boring to watch. A judge pleasing performance if you will. Plus as long as the judges still have the 'save', he's safe. They'd never send him home, he's money.
Danny. I think this is the first week where i can see how he could be beat by someone other than Adam. He was not convincing, very contrived, very insisting on himself. I believe Simon would typically call that indulgent. Up until tonight it has seemed like he has pulled every performance out of his soul, this one seem to come out of his ass.
Matt. Well he's officially made himself a long shot. clearly a middle runner all the way through. Pretty soon the middle becomes the one waving goodbye. I don't think he has that special ability to connect that it takes. all entertainer and very good at it, but that's just not enough to win this thing. Especially not this year.
and the rest:
Anoop. i'll put him ahead of Lil tonight. But i think it's a bad situation when you kill a song and fail to impress. I think he's suffering Matt's fate without the solid performance and showmanship skills. this week or next for him barring a fall from the others.
Lil. My girl is on her way out. I thought she'd do well. but her inability to find relevance in this competition is showing her the door. she better kill in the next two shows or she's done. I thought she was final three fo' sho'. But isn't that how idol usually works.
Scott. See ya bud.
Scott was himself and that made him not quite good enough. Finally the sentimental vote could not defeat reason. He went home. tonight.
My faves in order, tough to choose but I'll do it anyway.
Allison: for the first week takes the number one spot. She might be the only one that can pull off a karaoke version of a song and not get called on it, her voice is that unique. I think now that the sentimental vote is free since Scott is out I can see her and Danny picking up votes this week. i still think she has too much to prove to get to the top four, but I'm seeing weakness in all but Adam now, so maybe she can do better. top three and anything can happen.
Kris. He's gone from one of my least faves to moving up. he's delivering week to week, always a tad forgettable but gaining in confidence which is making his performance a little more attention grabbing. tonight I finally felt where he fits in. the horns behind him to add flare to his smooth as butter voice and provides what he lacks. It's a great career although short on fame and big money. I'd like to see him go for that. I don't even know what genre it'd be. white boy blues? maybe.
Well the first two stood out, next come the solid but not spectacular group.
Adam. And of course Adam gets the first seat here being the clear front runner, although I wouldn't put his performance ahead of Danny or Matt this week. The thing with Adam is that he knows if he performs well he's got a ticket to the finals. He can get away with showing his skill set and versatility off and not risk elimination. And really this was a great performance showing a different part of his vocal ability. It was just a little boring to watch. A judge pleasing performance if you will. Plus as long as the judges still have the 'save', he's safe. They'd never send him home, he's money.
Danny. I think this is the first week where i can see how he could be beat by someone other than Adam. He was not convincing, very contrived, very insisting on himself. I believe Simon would typically call that indulgent. Up until tonight it has seemed like he has pulled every performance out of his soul, this one seem to come out of his ass.
Matt. Well he's officially made himself a long shot. clearly a middle runner all the way through. Pretty soon the middle becomes the one waving goodbye. I don't think he has that special ability to connect that it takes. all entertainer and very good at it, but that's just not enough to win this thing. Especially not this year.
and the rest:
Anoop. i'll put him ahead of Lil tonight. But i think it's a bad situation when you kill a song and fail to impress. I think he's suffering Matt's fate without the solid performance and showmanship skills. this week or next for him barring a fall from the others.
Lil. My girl is on her way out. I thought she'd do well. but her inability to find relevance in this competition is showing her the door. she better kill in the next two shows or she's done. I thought she was final three fo' sho'. But isn't that how idol usually works.
Scott. See ya bud.
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