Tuesday, May 23, 2000

Name: The Mutual Admiration Society
Date: 5/24/00
Time: 11:50:25 AM

Comments

We are currently recruiting new members, so if you're interested in getting off on the music and making it as good as possible apply in person next Tuesday nite.

Name: KEVIN
Date: 5/24/00
Time: 5:14:51 PM

Comments

Last nite was a classic Deadstein evening in every sense, except for the absence of Freakboy (or maybe even more so because of it). The readings on the Freak-O-Meter were off the scale; it was skoppy. There were plenty of guests and old friends to help us get the most out of our precious one-nite-a-week. TheGind brought his carpet-contingent, who seemed very happy to be there. They even got some playing time in. God bless them. No one is really sure where the Wharf Rat kid came from, but he got to strap-on and step-up as well. Rabbi Elkins is back (yea) and ready to get Glatt-Freaky with us. And, of course, our greatest benefactor, Michael was there (late) to shine his lovelight on us, UltraFreak-Style. The beauty of the whole things is, that even within the chaos of our freaky-frailich, we rocked large. L.L.Brent must be sporting wood after the dynamic-heavy tunage we laid down last nite. The contrast of the ‘Hard To Handle’ (which, upon reflection from the tape, sounded like a C-47 transport plane revving it’s engines on the runway) to the delicate, soulful ‘Stella Blue’ (big L.L.Brent vocals) was intense. This seems to me, to be a perfect illustration of what L.L.Brent has been whining about for weeks --- lace woven out of barbed wire. Yoink. Personally, I had a great nite of playing. It felt effortless while it was happening even as my eyes were rolled back in my head. The tape sounds phenomenal. Everything is clear, strong and sweet. The keyboards are sounding quite pleasing, Brotpen’s purchase was well worth it. Trister’s Telecaster was ‘da bomb. My brother had some dope, def freestyle freak goin’ on. I’m glad he’s in our posse. TheGind would have been thoroughly brilliant last nite if he just would’ve stopped falling down. Scott did a pretty good job of staying awake, although from time to time I would turn around and see a different kid playing his kit. He did do a great job leading the ‘Picasso’ with the CarpetKid on the other kit, that was not easy. Dave, Dave, Dave, he’s a smoker, a joker, he’s a midnite rambler. Who knew that snapperhead could handle a butt like The Dice Man. I guess you can’t take the Bergen Beach out of the Freak. The countdown for next week begins now.

Name: scott
Date: 5/24/00
Time: 9:23:20 PM

Comments

Now I know why freak boy hangs upstairs during jam. As carpet boy was given the thumbs up to play my kit, Ken and I found two nice Obus Forme leather chairs and caught up on the last few weeks. ALL OF A SUDDEN.... I was being awoken by LL Brent and Ken. I guess I was really snoring heavy. Sorry Kev, At least it wasn't while we were playing this time. I'm surprised theres no post about last nights Ringo show / date. Maybe a quick listen to a nice 71 midnight hour would help clear things up a bit. I could say that about many gd tunes we do actually but I'm sooooo tired. Good Night Irene!!!!!!

Name: dave s
Date: 5/24/00
Time: 10:33:21 PM

Comments

i dont care break it down as much as kev...but from where i was sitting.......shit was slammin' yo, know what i'm saying!----it was critical, know what i'm saying!---hey kev, you represent, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE FUCK I AM SAYING?

Name: Larry G
Remote Name: 216.164.38.41
Date: 24 May 2000
Time: 23:58:38

Comments

Andy, How is that 5 string?

Name: Alan Wikler
Remote Name: 205.188.192.54
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 00:39:38

Comments

"Thank you for a real good time"

And now for my totally unsolicited comments...

A very positive experience. If this night was not different from all other nights, I'd say its a pretty happening scene. Musically, I was impressed. Having jammed before with Larry B., Scott and of course Rich, I was very impressed with the others I have not heard much of before. The drums were powerful, creating and maintaining great grooves. The bass counter-melody were awesome, particulary on "Stella". And I was inspired by the guitars, vowing to avoid the obvious chords and riffs when I get back to August west. And when Rich was able to find an empty space, like towards the end of "Fooolish Heart", sounded great. Also, I don't know if you guys have noticed, but Larry B.'s voice is a dead ringer for Phil's. As I told Scott, think about being a Phil and friends tribute band (Philstein...Philesteins?).

Then there is the band as a whole: There were interesting arrangements with good dynamics on the slow songs ("She Belongs to me", "Stella Blue"). The jams generally worked well. With the emphasis on melody versus rhythm, you achieved that "psychedelic Dixieland" sound as someone onced described the Dead. It sounded different from August West. "Feel Like a Stranger" was for me the hands down highlight. Your attempts at challenging material like "Hell in a Bucket" were admirable though hard to keep airborne.

Although it is frustrating for me to be listening when I enjoy playing, it does gives me the opportunity to listen to the whole band and zero in on other instruments, like going home and listening to the tape at the end of a rehersal or gig, I find you can't tell how the whole band sounds when half your attention is on playing your part.

The non-musical part of the experience was fun too. A very cool scene and delicious if not exotic munchies.

Thanks for letting me listen and sit in. I'd love to come back and hang again some time, and keep me in mind if you find yourself short on guitarists!

I just re-read this comment and realized I need to get a life.

AW

Name: Trister
Remote Name: 208.249.55.66
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 09:54:02

Comments

What can I say that hasn't been said already? It was a big night in many ways; guests, food, music and Michael; not necissarily in that order.

First I would like to thank Alan for his comments, it's really rare for us to get an objective review. Are you kidding, we're lucky if we get Danish gigilos cruising for chicks on our guest page. Thanks, Alan.

Gind, thae banjo is cool but I think your second string, if not all of them, needs replacement. Should that be tuned to a C or D, I get conflicting info in the books. Anyway I only fucked around with it for about a half hour last night but it was fun. What the hell do you mean my Tele was weak in stature??

I resemble that remark.

Name: dave s
Remote Name: 152.163.197.72
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 10:47:40

Comments

gee----i guess i'd have to say thanks alan as well

PS---i'm officially placing myself in charge of food for the impending anniversery jam--last time i was i charge it was katz's

Name: Larry G.
Remote Name: 216.107.140.8
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 11:10:23

Comments

I also thank Alan for his kind words and critique. He plays with a bunch of Freaks like us and probably has as good of a perspective on what is going on as anyone can have, I assume.

With respect to the old five string for Andy, it is stringed G D G B D. The first G string, that starts about the 5th fret is a high G, equivellent, or tuned to, the 5th fret of the high D string. I think I gave you a blue instructional book by Pete Seger that shows tuning in C which is wrong for my purposes. I avoided using that book. As a tip, always have your ring finger and pinky anchored to the snare drum head, your middle finger will only play the bottom high D string and then you use your thumb and index finger to play the remaining four strings. Keeping this in your mind simplifies you entire process of learning that 5 stringer. Check out http://www.banjo.com.

What I meant about the Tele being weak in stature was that it sounded a bit thinner and brighter than your strat and I think it probably took a bit of adjustment to fatten it up bit, which was accomplished by the end of the night. It was in no way bad, just slightly different. It had a brighter, thinner sound and more agile. It was like comparing the bodies of Marcus Camby to Anthony Mason, where the strat was more like Mason. It was good to have a different sound in the room.

Name: Trister
Remote Name: 208.249.55.66
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 11:33:32

Comments

Thanks Gind. I was tuning that string to C and it was driving me crazy. I thught the Telecaster did fatten up also and I'm going to keep using it. It's nice to break up the Strat Triad.

Hey Larry Brent, what did you think of this week?

Name: Larry G.
Remote Name: 216.107.140.8
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 12:00:28

Comments

Yippie, Strati and Telehoie. One for all and one for one, unfortunately. As a reminder, my birthday comes up on June 23rd and I will be calling for another acoustic set. I have total trust that Andy will be a full-fledged five stinger by then. If I could have confidence in anyone to achieve proficiency on a new instrument it would be in Andy

Name: Weenz
Remote Name: 208.144.252.120
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 12:38:48

Comments

Trister bring that 5 string with you baby!!!!

Name: Trister
Remote Name: 208.249.55.66
Date: 25 May 2000
Time: 14:01:48

Comments

The pressure is on.

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