For a while now (while in Australia at least), I've been working in the world of corporate AV to fill my days. It's always been something that has been relatively easy and convenient and it's possible to make a great living doing it. The problem is, to make a great living means working crazy hours, never saying no to a shift, basically having not much of a life outside work. As soon as you turn down a shift, you are moved ever so slightly down the rungs of their crewing ladder to a point where they don't call at all anymore. I'm not quite at that point yet but I'm feeling myself getting close. Another downside of this job is that most of the work comes in the week of or 2 days out or even the day before so I spend my time stressing that, "it's going to be another quiet week, hopefully the pay from my 1 show will be enough to tide me over.".
I'm getting a little tired of this constant cycle of uncertainty and working nights all the time. I get jealous of my friends with their 9-5's and their "weekends" and "public holidays". I don't think I've received any kind of penalty rate in my field for about 6 years.
My focus right now is shifting to the new band, The Union Pacific. It's early days right now but we're young and we've got time to hone our craft. It's coming together very nicely. Problem is, when I'm working nights all the time, when do we jam? When do we play shows? Work is constantly getting in the way. Work has always been getting in the way when it comes to bands. I see myself as a musician right now and I want to structure my life as such. Spend more time playing, writing and rehearsing and that means re-structuring my working life to something that accommodates a musicians lifestyle.
Maybe this all sounds super dramatic and I'm over reacting to a simple problem but I want a day job and now's the time to start looking.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
OFWGKTA - Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All
Somehow managed to only hear these guys for the first time yesterday. My first glimpse of their work being Tyler the Creators video for Yonkers.
Kanye West has already called it the best video of 2011, not someone who's opinion I would usually endorse BUT it is a huge compliment from probably the most opinionated and picky dude on the planet.
The crew are all teenagers. Tyler, the oldest is 19 and has already proved his depth of talent by producing a huge amount of stuff for himself and everyone in Odd Future (for anyone wondering who he often doesn't appear in the credits for their other releases, he also goes by the name Wolf Haley).
The backstory of these dudes is well documented on their (blog), dig through until just August 2010 and you'll see much of the rise to fame these guys have had so far. They've been kicking around for longer than that but it's clear to see through the blog at which points they started to garner some real attention.
Just as punk rock was stepped up a notch in the early 80's by a bunch of pissed off teenagers in the form of Black Flag, Minor Threat, Descendents and the whole American Hardcore movement, these dudes are taking hold of hip hop and reinventing it with energy it has never seen.
Keep an eye on them, there's a lot to come. Tyler the Creators second LP "Goblin" is out in April, this time on XL records instead of just being uploaded directly to the blog.
Swag.
Kanye West has already called it the best video of 2011, not someone who's opinion I would usually endorse BUT it is a huge compliment from probably the most opinionated and picky dude on the planet.
The crew are all teenagers. Tyler, the oldest is 19 and has already proved his depth of talent by producing a huge amount of stuff for himself and everyone in Odd Future (for anyone wondering who he often doesn't appear in the credits for their other releases, he also goes by the name Wolf Haley).
The backstory of these dudes is well documented on their (blog), dig through until just August 2010 and you'll see much of the rise to fame these guys have had so far. They've been kicking around for longer than that but it's clear to see through the blog at which points they started to garner some real attention.
Just as punk rock was stepped up a notch in the early 80's by a bunch of pissed off teenagers in the form of Black Flag, Minor Threat, Descendents and the whole American Hardcore movement, these dudes are taking hold of hip hop and reinventing it with energy it has never seen.
Keep an eye on them, there's a lot to come. Tyler the Creators second LP "Goblin" is out in April, this time on XL records instead of just being uploaded directly to the blog.
Swag.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Done it again
So I've managed to do what I promised myself I would not do. That is, forget about this blog for a long stretch.
Life is a busy thing. Since my last post I've spent some time living in a backpackers hostel, picked pumpkins, went on a 3 day boat trip around the Whitsundays, flown to the USA via 4 airports, seen some incredible bands at the worlds coolest music festival (The FEST in Gainesville, FL) AND somehow managed to settle back in to normal life like nothing ever happened.
I look forward to fleshing out all these thoughts but for now, I have to save the world.
Keep it unreal.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Brain Training
Today I got stuck in this little game for quite a while. It's called Lost in Migration and it's about ducks.
Keep it unreal.
Sean
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
The beginning of Led Zeppelin
In 1968 the #1 artists included Diana Ross & The Supremes, Herb Alpert, Simon and Garfunkel and of course The Beatles. In January 1969 the #1 single for that month was Marvin Gaye - Heard it through the grape vine. Also in January 1969, Led Zeppelin released their first self titled LP. It a tough thing to put into perspective but this video gives a good idea of the worlds introduction to Led Zeppelin.
It seems almost absurd to see the audience so placid while watching this. At the time, this must have been the heaviest thing they've ever heard and they don't even know how to react. Check out how intense John Bonham plays near the start of the song, that kind of playing has barely been matched since.
It seems almost absurd to see the audience so placid while watching this. At the time, this must have been the heaviest thing they've ever heard and they don't even know how to react. Check out how intense John Bonham plays near the start of the song, that kind of playing has barely been matched since.
Also notice that this was obviously filmed before Jimmy Page bought his signature '59 Les Paul Standard. Here he is sporting a psychedelic Telecaster he received as a gift from Jeff Beck to say thanks for recommending him to the Yardbirds, securing him the spot over Eric Clapton (a spot he would later lose to Clapton only to start The Jeff Beck Group).
This whole show can be found on this here DVD along with a whole whack of other amazing gear.
Keep it unreal!
How to be in the baddest band on earth
Step 1
I found this on a routine trip to the Music Swop Shop yesterday, tucked away in one of the many nooks and/or crannies. This baby is a circa '74 Australian made Strauss "Lancer" 100 watt valve head (marked as a PA head rather than a guitar head) sitting atop 2 (!) vertical 4x12 cabinets! Madness! That thing would make some serious noise.
As for becoming the baddest band on earth, I guess once you own this amp, someone will ask you to join their band, who are already the baddest band on earth?....what am I a doctor?
Buy this amplifier.
I found this on a routine trip to the Music Swop Shop yesterday, tucked away in one of the many nooks and/or crannies. This baby is a circa '74 Australian made Strauss "Lancer" 100 watt valve head (marked as a PA head rather than a guitar head) sitting atop 2 (!) vertical 4x12 cabinets! Madness! That thing would make some serious noise.
As for becoming the baddest band on earth, I guess once you own this amp, someone will ask you to join their band, who are already the baddest band on earth?....what am I a doctor?
Some other highlights at the Swoppy at the moment are:
Canora Flying V
Don't be put off by the non Gibbo status of this guy. I'm a big believer in the lawsuit era Japanese stuff of the early and mid 70's. This is a great example, a nicely scuffed, almost identical copy of a 67 Flying V. Relatively light, great neck, great feel AND comes with a case.
A steal for $599
Fernandes Jazzmaster
I have quite a soft spot for Jazzmasters and I have been listening to a bit of Dinosaur Jr lately, that could explain my fondness for this guy. I don't know a huge amount about Fernandes as a brand, I just know this guitar looks rad a plays super nice for a $400 guitar. Definitely not your typical Jazzmaster, this guy has a hot humbucker in the bridge and a single at the neck, none of those wacky switches and a sweet paint job.
Fender "Contemporary" Stratocaster
Yep! You read that right, this is a legit Fender, well...a Japanese Fender, but don't let that put you off. When the Japanese Fender factory opened, the early guitars they were producing were serious rivals to the ones coming out of the USA. This is from that era, circa '85 the time of the shred kings. It's got the whole floyd system with locking nut, a hot humbucker in the bridge and a metallic pink paint job. The action in set super low right now but it feels super solid and super quick. Electrik Dynamite I'm looking at you...
Desperately in need of a setup but a great deal at $899
