Week number two at Pete’s Candy Store in our nine week bid to record a live record. We all felt more relaxed and a little more comfortable with the sound. There were more people this time as well. Just about full. Hopefully it will continue to grow. That depends on you. Come on down! Here’s a picture of the room. Notice how lonely it looks cause you’re not there yet!
The theme of the week was group vocals and every tune featured everyone singing together at some point. The acoustics there are just great for what we do and I think week three on should show us that we’ve mastered where and how to place the right microphone in there to get a result.
Some other observations on the night. The cornet and the trumpet sound kind of similar in the park when we play out doors but at Pete’s they sounded very, very different. The cornet really sounded darker, and more mellow. Last week I complained of having a hard time making the naked trumpet sound good in there. It was too present. The cornet mitigates the situation nicely. As do the mutes. Clifton brought down two of his new mute purchases. He is amassing quite a collection. The tune available in this post features the Mellow-Wah mute. It’s got a great sound. At one point it reminded my of David Gilmore’s guitar through a vocoder like he uses on the “Animals” album. He also had the Buzz-Wow mute and from the recording of this show I feel that either I don’t know how to get the most out of it yet or it is out of production for a reason. Nonetheless, long live the Mellow-Wah! More research is required. Thirdly, vocals always win. When you get a bunch of people singing in harmony it does something to the brain that equals inclusion, fascination, inspiration and joy. Even when its not perfect it still kinda works. Maybe more-so. It feels like our lives. Fun, but a little chaotic and rough-hewn for all the joy it expresses.
Here’s my pick from last night’s show: Gambler’s Blues. Press the arrow button to listen. (If you are seeing this blog in syndication on facebook or elsewhere – please go to the tinpanband.com website to see the flash player.)
Gambler’s Blues
Roll me slowly like loaded dice
Spin me round easy and it feels so nice
Lyin’, Cheatin’, Sleepin’ in the bed all day
Hear me talkin’
I gambled my life away
Round and round and round she goes
Where she stops well her man don’t even know
Lyin’, Cheatin’, Stretched out by the pool all day
Hear me talkin’
I gambled my life away
Roll me slowly like those loaded dice
You take your chances when you take a wife
Lyin’, Cheatin’, sleepin’ in the street all day
Hear me talkin’
I gambled my life away
Next week’s theme: Tin Pan orignals!!