Tuesday, November 30, 1999

Feel Like a Stranger (Instrumental) Loser Cassidy Ramble On Rose So Many Roads Positively Fourth Street Little Red Rooster Birdsong Me and My Uncle --> Big River Lazy River Road Liberty There was no official second set but Andy, Rich and Dave serenaded us with a variety of songs as we munched. Playing next week is Monday

For the first time in a while the full compliment of Deadstein was present at the jam.  As Kevin described it, scoppyness was there that reminded him of the old classic Dennis days.  Andy brought Randi, always a pleasant surprise.   I'm still waiting to hear her sing.   Scott brought Andrew, also a pleasant surprise.  He had a friend of his show up during dinner and they split together, not that there is anything wrong with that.  Andrew played flute while he was there and had a few good leads, we should have done a Hunting Girl, a Hunting Girl.   Johnny was up and about, spinning round and round for a while, which is more than we can say about his gimpy friend Kevin who is still "tarselly" challenged.   I was still working on my new ART SGX2000 and gave up on the POD for now.  I'm still learning it so I didn't feel like I had too many good sounds coming from it, but there weren't too many bad one either.  At least I set up the foot switchable bypass on it so I could turn it off.  Next week I'll have my surf foot board for the things and we'll probably hear some pretty raunchy sounds out of it.  The best thing about the SGX2000 is the fact that I could set up a tuner for Andy on his (preset #179) and that way he doesn't have to disturb Kevin to ask him to borrow my tuner.

We played very big, way too big but things moved.  The Rooster, for instance, had a quick pace to it and never dragged.  Larry B. was not happy with the Bob song selection, being played and overdone, but they are Bob songs and that is what you get.  Andy sang a few of the Jerry songs he was practicing all weekend including the Liberty, So Many Roads and some other one I cannot remember.  The So Many Roads, for a cliche song was one of the highlights of the night, it had some of the sweeter moments from us. 

We pulled off our first instrumental of a song that has words, in accordance with the verbal memo distributed by Dave, and I think it needed words.  I did like the silence of the PA being turned off though, it definitely cleans up the air.

We had Deliciozo,and it was good,  Pizza was nice and burnt, a little too burnt but good.   Rice ball were big and buttery, baked ziti abound, salad was presoaked but they didn't let the tomatoes ripen.  Ices and back to the food.  It was late but scrumptious.

It was very cold outside but crisp and clean.  Surprisingly little traffic.   Knicks and Nets lost and these two make the Giant Jet game coming up this Sunday exciting, and both those teams suck.  We jam next Monday and it's going to be freaky and the festival of lighting up.   Till then.

Name: Steele
Date: 12/2/99
Time: 4:31:37 PM

Comments

Gotta love the scoppy! Keep twirling John - Shamu will be second fiddle soon enough! Although, Shamu's tail splashes are legendary!!! Steele - Deadstein Rocks!

Name: LB
Date: 12/2/99
Time: 9:37:05 PM

Comments

I was under the impression that we were all trying to conduct a spontaneous musical conversation ala the Good Ole Grateful Dead. I must tell you all that this week was like a shouting contest. I feel like I'm am involved in a screaming match with 6 other people and no one ever stops yelling long enough to take a breath. How can we have a conversation if everyone is always talking and no one is ever listening. Don't get me wrong, I don't want Deadstein to turn into some acoustic bluegrass thing but can't there be some balance between the loud and the soft. If everything is so loud how can there be any dynamic range. Am I alone in these perceptions ? Should I just shut up and wear ear plugs ?

Name: scott
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 8:47:49 AM

Comments

First, We are confirmed for Monday. Second, I agree with L.B. that we were incredibly LOUD on tuesday. It was almost scary how loud it was. This topic is almost getting played out and or ignored. If everyone is content with the volume than I guess L.B. is in need of some plugs. Maybe we need to re design the way we're positioned??? Like Spread Out!!! Let's address the situation a little more seriously.

Name: Trister
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 9:18:43 AM

Comments

Well maybe we should adopt an anti Spinal Tap philosophy. Wherin their amps were modified to an eleven setting, because eleven is louder than ten, perhaps we should have ours set to four. Adjust the pods, get a paper clip and jam it in there, whatever it takes. Until we all agree to something of that order (maybe Johnny could do a pre set amp inspection to ensure compliance) I am resigned to the fact that this band has absolutely no concept of volume control and in order to hear myself I will turn it up. If anyone notices, which I seriously doubt, I always start low and out of frustration bring it up. Amplifiers are not the only problem....two drummers can definately add to the problem if they both play loud, which they may be doing to hear themselves. Lets face it ..... it's never going to change so get those earplugs LB. I still had fun last week, I really like playing those new old dead tunes.

Name: Brotpen
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 12:10:10 PM

Comments

Perhaps we should explore the concept of acoustic baffles or some kind of foam or sound absorbing material that cover sections of wall, ceiling or flooring to damplen the ricochet of the sounds. Hey, Kevin, do you have any engineering expertise on this? It's probably a good idea to rethink our positioning also. LB is currently positioned in the center of everything and right in front of the PA speaker and therefore gets the full brunt of it all (which no human should be forced to withstand). In short, my suggestion to the problem would be a combination of 1. repositioning of people and speakers, 2. sound absorbtion material on reflective surfaces 3. baffles around certain speakers and drums, and then 4. we can begin to work with volume controls and dynamics of playing. Despite the volume, I liked many of the musical moments we created. Later.

Name: LB
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 12:35:36 PM

Comments

Maybe I shoud just move. I don't want to beat a dead horse here but I think we have the potential to be so much more than we currently are.

Name:
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 5:23:48 PM

Comments

In case anyone hasn't noticed theres eight musicians in this band, inluding johnny. How can't it be loud?

Name: LB
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 7:37:10 PM

Comments

It's not just about loud, it's an issue of overall dynamic levels, volume being just one, that are just too full throttle at all times. Some of these songs are meant to be slow, tender and quiet. Maybe we just shouldn't play those anymore.

Name: LB
Date: 12/3/99
Time: 9:40:34 PM

Comments

And I too did have fun this week as I always do but I think it can be more musically.

Name: scott
Date: 12/4/99
Time: 8:50:18 AM

Comments

I guess our situation could be a lot worse. We could all be fighting over the sale of the "Deadstein Vault" D.S.P. / D.S.M. Don't forget Monday is the board meeting.

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