Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Rehearsals and Home Recording
(1 hour)
On Thursday 27th November I had a rehearsal with Anna and Marcella which was very productive - we learned several new cover versions. This included Beyonce's "If I Were a Boy" where I did guitar accompaniment for the other two, Opeth's "Coil" where I did the main vocal and Marcella sung the ending part, The Raconteurs' "Many Shades of Black" where me and Marcella exchanged verse parts and Audioslave's "Like a Stone", which we intend do with all of us singing different verses.
We intend to use this material for Anna's next acoustic gig at the Brewery Tap on the 15th December, which with any luck I should have some footage of.
(2 hours)
This weekend I visited home and whilst I was there I took the chance to record my new acoustic song "This Infectious Mood" (previously titled "Over the Edge"). I may use this as the title track for my next demo CD to sell at gigs and open mic nights. It will soon be available for listening at www.myspace.com/martinjacksonacoustic
(3 hours)
Unfortunately due to my weekends away at home and at Bath and Nottingham I have missed out on rehearsals with the new band - I intend to contact Ragnar about a practice this Sunday.
Additionally, the band I intended to start with my housemates has not yet got off the ground. This is due mainly to the initial electric drumkit we were going to use not working. Simon has now brought his acoustic kit but in an unfortunate twist of fate Ryan broke his finger and so was unable to play guitar. I await when we can be ready to play!
total: 6 hours
Friday, 21 November 2008
Trip to Bath and Second Acoustic Gig
(2 hours)
Later on we went to the studio suite and listened to the mix that Chris had prepared. I was very happy with the sound quality of the instruments, especially since it was recorded in a home. However, I did have some issues with the levels - for example I felt the guitars were dominating the mix a little, the other parts slightly obscured particularly the vocals which I thought were way to quiet. Also the reverb that he had applied to the vocals was a good warm-sounding effect but I suggested adding more pre-delay to bring out the original sound more.
(1 hour 30 mins)
We discussed our plan to have a vast number of copies of a three-track demo of songs taken from this album and to distribute it around our respective universities for free in order to spread our word around more. At some point before the year is out I shall invite the other two band members to Derby so that we may make use of the superior music facilities here. There are samples of our music at www.myspace.com/thefallingashes
Monday was my next acoustic gig at The Brewery Tap which had a payout of £30 because not enough turned up for me to obtain the full £50. However, the venue want me back to do the first student night back from the Xmas holidays, which should be rewarding.
(2 hours)
I should have videos from the gig uploaded soon - in the mean time, here is the setlist:
(songs are my originals unless otherwise stated)
SET1: Red Rain (Peter Gabriel), Long Road to Ruin (Foo Fighters), Over The Edge, 7:45, Heartbeat (King Crimson), Patriarch, Midnight Musings, Betray, Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin)
SET2: Top Yourself (The Raconteurs), Too Close for Comfort, Over The Edge [again!], Cockney Medley (Bill Bailey), Family Snapshot (Peter Gabriel), Would? (Alice in Chains), The New Tricks, Time is Running Out (Muse)
ENCORES: Bliss (Muse), Blood Brothers (Iron Maiden), Rock n' Roll Nerd (Tim Minchin), Business Time (Flight of the Conchords)
Update: link to gig video of Too Close for Comfort and The New Tricks - http://fb.esnips.com/doc/ed22ab86-51f8-4da2-af5d-42026ae17610/acoustic-gig-2
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
Learning other peoples songs!
(3 hours)
Anna says she has found a venue who want us to play a gig in December, so this provides us with an aim with which to focus our efforts.
The Sunday I spent rehearsing with the band with Ragnar, Peter and Dominic. Daniel was not present due to being away on a trip. We focussed on learning the parts to a song Ragnar had written. Although this took up most of the time, we ended up with a full composition complemented by my creative suggestions including guitar harmonies and a stylistic change in the final chorus. It is now my job to produce some lyrics and a tune for it, which I will try to have done for the week after this. Here is a video of us playing the song - http://www.esnips.com/doc/281880a3-f7d4-4d5b-8cb6-0ee9953ded7d/ragnars-song_0001
(2 hours 30mins)
I have another acoustic gig next Monday which I can use to showcase my lastest acoustic song "Over the Edge", as well as the prospect of a decent payout. I will be uploading a video compilation as with last time.
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
Busy three days!
(3 hours)
The Sunday consisted of practicing with the band - and we went over all our cover songs again, this time with bass.
(2 hours)
We had to stop early because I was to host an open mic that night in the Polish Club bar, using a combination of my guitar amp and the mixing desk. It went quite well, the only problem that it needed greater publicising because the main acts consisted of myself, Anna, Marcella and the Czech guys we rehearsed with the previous day. However, me and Rangar did an acoustic version of Blood Brothers which went well. Everyone who attended said that they enjoyed it and would come next time. I was informed that should I host another, there was a possibility of being paid!
(2 hours)
Anna's gig yesterday went very well, consisting of two sets centred around her whilst myself, Marcella, Roman provided backing vocals and guitars for her on several songs. Each of us did do a couple of solo spots though, me and Marcella did our renditions of "Heartshaped Box" and "Sex on Fire". Many videos were taken, hopefully I can upload some of them soon.
Tuesday, 28 October 2008
Band rehearsal and Acoustic Collaboration
We also made a start on a song Ragnar had started writing composed of several riffs which I helped complement with appropriate harmonies. For next time, Ragnar said he would attempt to learn my song that I sent him a tab of. Also, I am enthusiastic to cover some Opeth, which would be challenging to learn and I feel would lead the band in a positive direction.
(4 hours)
Also, afterwards Anna had arranged an acoustic practice with me and her friend Marcelina. We rehearsed a list of songs they had prepared including "Heartshaped Box" by Nirvana, "Stop and Stare" by OneRepublic, "Sex on Fire" by Kings of Leon and "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol. You can view a video of this here: http://www.esnips.com/doc/70bbfaeb-d886-41ea-9b8d-7ece990562e2/Heartshapedbox.
(1 hour 30 mins)
We plan to play some of these at the Ryansbar open mic night on wednesday. I will also be doing a set of my own.
Wednesday, 22 October 2008
Stage Rehearsal and Acoustic Gig
After succesfully setting up all the amplifiers for the guitars, doing the vocals acoustically, we went over Phantom of the Opera again to try and nail the more difficult parts. This proved a little difficult without the drums, especially due to the transition into the first guitar solo.
We also began learning an interesting piece that Ragnar proposed we perform as an on-stage intro. We arranged it so that Peter (guitar) would begin with the simple accompaniment, then Ragnar (guitar) would enter with the main melody. After a cycle of this, I would provide an ambient guitar-swell counter melody. Dominic on bass would then enter, completing the arrangement. The piece has a gradual tempo increase near the end, and this required tremendous levels of concentration to get right. Here is a link to a video of us practicing it:http://www.esnips.com/doc/b2a65fc4-e54f-4479-83cf-ddd3a29d1b7f/Intro-Track
We also began learning the guitar parts to Iron Maiden's "The Wicker Man", which was not hard considering two of us knew it already. For this song, I would only be doing vocal duties, taking up guitar only for the solo in the middle. This was because firstly, there was only two guitar parts anyway and secondly it would give me a lot more freedom as a frontman.
(2 hours 30 mins)
The next day we would run through all this material again with the drummer at the Polish club venue. Initially there were a few technological errors - to start with we had difficulty finding the necessary cables to hook up the mixer amplifier to the PA. Also, due to the number of instruments involved, the noise pollution system would cut the power to the PA mixing desk. Eventually we resolved this problem by hooking the mixer to a different power outlet.
I have included a link to a video of our performance of the Wicker Man and Phantom of the Opera, recorded on a camera phone becuase the real camera I had brought had run out of memory space.
After we had sorted these songs, I began teaching Ragnar the first parts to a song I had written, although this not extend beyond the first couple of verses. We arranged that I send him the tabs for it as well as the demo recording of the actual song. As well as this, I was tasked with learning the lyrics and tune to Megadeth's "Symphony of Destruction" for next week since all other members of the band knew their respective parts for it already.
(5 hours)
Additionally, on Monday 20th this week I had an acoustic gig, which since my voice had recovered went very well, with a decent audience size and a payout of fifty pounds! I did end up having to play another half an hour for the money because I was three people short of the number I needed to bring.
Included here is a link to a video compilation of some of the moments my friend captured on digital camera: http://www.esnips.com/doc/613f7cc2-92c2-4023-9a4a-68e9a73368f6/20th-oct-gig-video_0001
(2 hours)
The songs shown in this video are: Drive (Incubus), Technically Alive (Exit Ten), Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin), Midnight Musings (me), Certain Shade of Green (Incubus) and Business Time (Flight of the Conchords).
The full setlist is as follows:
SET 1: Let it Die (Foo Fighters), Heartbeat (King Crimson), Losing the Gift (me) Solsbury Hill (Peter Gabriel) Drive (Incubus) Patriarch (me) Love Left Unspent (me)Starlight (Muse) Diary of Jane (Breaking Benjamin)
SET 2: Family Snapshot (Peter Gabriel) 7:45 (me) Message in a Bottle (The Police) Top Yourself (The Raconteurs) Midnight Musings (me) Betray (me) Would? (Alice in Chains) Leave My Heart (me) Time is Running Out (Muse)
SET 3: Old Enough (The Raconteurs) Technically Alive (Exit Ten) Too Close for Comfort (me), A Certain Shade of Green (Incubus), Rooster (Alice in Chains), Little by Little (Oasis), Business Time (Flight of the Conchords)
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Unexpected band rehearsal!
We spent most of the time working on the Iron Maiden epic "Phantom of the Opera" which required intense levels of concentration due to its complex musical structure and multiple instrumental parts. A lot of the riffs and themes I had to learn on the first day, as well as the vocal tune in the verses.
(3 hours)
In spite of this, by the end of the second day we were able to play the whole seven minutes of the song, albeit with a few mistakes. I have included a link to an audio file of one of the takes we played - http://www.esnips.com/doc/cb5bcb01-856c-4f2f-9f2f-7cd1ba1ea83b/Recording-(1). Only problem is that the vocals cannot be heard due to the position of the phone that recorded it. In addition, we jammed seceral other tunes such as "In Bloom" by Nirvana, "American Idiot" by Greenday, "Time" by Pink Floyd, "Rooster" by Alice In Chains and "Drive" by Incubus.
(4 hours)
It seems very likely that this activity will continue, as Ragnar tells me that he will attempt to book a studio that he knows for this weekend.
Unfortunately, my open mic activity is currently suspended due to my voice being out of action for singing. This is because of a combination of a throat infection and trying to sing at the mentioned rehearsal whilst I had it. On Monday 20th I have an acoustic gig at The Brewery Tap pub, so hopefully my voice will have recovered by then and a friend should be able to video the performance for this blog.
Tuesday, 14 October 2008
Activities Proposal
Upon realising I could also play drums to an extent, she invited me to play for an Iron Maiden tribute who would be playing at the show but were in need of a drummer. This would be the very first time I had played drums at a real live environment. I have a video file of this performance that was recorded on a phone - http://www.esnips.com/doc/253d129b-7cbd-4f40-a94a-15f1f15b57d5/04102008003.
Additionally, we had the idea for me to improvise an ambient guitar lead line over the intro song for the show sung by Anna with dancers. Although improvisation is something I have extensive experience, putting it in this particular context was something new.
I also provided a significant portion of the guitar rig, which one of the guitarists from the band would use. It has been discussed that there may be more of these shows to come, due to the hugely positive response it received, and it was a very valuable experience and took place within semester time. Due to this, I expect many musical opportunities to arise from the contacts I made, particularly through Anna and Ragnar, and I will be documenting these as part of my complementary studies weblog.


Additionally, I will be continuing my open mic and acoustic gigging in Derby and documenting my progress in obtaining more frequent paid performances. This will include the production of my home-made acoustic EP to the Derby audience. Please see www.myspace.com/martinjacksonacoustic for samples of this material. One of housemates may be able to gain me some live airtime on D:ONE radio as he did last year.
I have also been working on getting a band together with the people I am currently living with. This weblog will track our rehearsals and detail our efforts of managing this in a non-studio environment.