       |
Come listen to some great new music!
Woo hoo!!!
Yes, I know. Captain Squeegee and the Soap Suds. What a junior high band name, right? It’s about 1 in the morning and I just got back from their latest CD release show. The REAL bar isn’t really the greatest venue to play in (partly because it gets so f-ing hot in there) but these guys did a great job. They played some of their old school music (not so good) and some of their new stuff (f-ing good). 
My boy, Danny, here writes most of their new songs. If there was ever anybody who deserved an E! True Hollywood story special, it’s him. Off the record, Danny is the most passionate and brilliant musical mind I have ever known. Whether it’s writing kick-ass songs like Ignite It or Wendy (my favorite bridge ever!) to just arranging Fuck Her Gently by Tenacious D for his trumpet section in marching band, Danny’s music always puts out.
He is a good source of my inspiration most of the time I write.
The rest of band was awesome, too, especially their drummer, Matt. Without him, I’m sure the group wouldn’t be as tight as it is. Downey was nice enough to put me on the guest list for the show and get me a free CD! After all, I did let them use my Motif in the studio (which you can hear on tracks 2 and 3!).
Also, if any of you are free and in Paradise Valley this Tuesday night, go check out Karl Schindler’s work, Ghost Voices: Songs from a Cemetery. Karl’s piece is about a 30 - 35 minute collection of songs based on Edgar Lee Masters’s Spoon River Anthology. Each song is sung from the perspective of the people of the fictional town of Spoon River and from beyond the grave. Karl’s orchestrations and use of the voice will definitely leave a haunting impression. Also on the concert is the world premiere of Kendra D’Ercole’s work, Long German Name. Well, look at the poster for more info on that. Kendra is a good friend of Karl’s and has written some wonderful work in the past that I have had the pleasure of hearing. A few select faculty members from ASU will be featured in her work (which is rare!) so it’s sure to be phenominal! Come check it out~
Take this quiz!
| Make A Quiz | More Quizzes | Grab Code
Once again, ASU wants to screw me up the ass (maybe they read my essay). Now they want to fine me $75 for a book I turned in MONTHS ago. This isn’t the first time, either. Seems like everytime I checked out multiple items from the music library and turned ALL OF THEM back in, one forgets to get properly scanned and I end up getting the stupid notice in the mail. So, I go to the music library (which is now out of my way since I’m not in the music buildings any more) and tell them “blah blah blah it’s on the shelf blah blah blah you guys are stupid etc”. I did this TWICE already. This third one I figured was EXACTLY the same. Now I have to go into the library, find the book on the shelf, show it to them, have them go “duh. why didn’t you come in earlier?” and I’ll say “Because you guys are dumbasses” and that will be that (sorry Ryan, I know you want to apply for a job there—just don’t be a dumbass). I am going to get MEGA pissed if I have to pay this fine. MEGA.
A couple of days ago, a new friend of mine, Vincent Oppido (recent winner of the National Band Association’s Young Composer Mentorship Project), told me about this cool seminar thing sponsored by The Film Music Institute. The course focuses on “The Art and Craft of Orchestration for Film & TV” and is instructed by Hollywood orchestrator, Steven Scott Smalley. You may know Scott’s work from such films as “Robocop,” “Joe Dirt,” and who could forget “The Rugrats Movie.” No, but seriously, he has also orchestrated the original “Batman” movie, “Mission Impossible,” and that catchy little score to… “Tommy Boy.” Alright, but still, this guy’s done a lot of movies. So I said, “What the hell!” and signed up with him and I’ll book my flight this weekend. Best thing is, Vinny has family in New York (did I mention this is in New York?) and they are cool enough to let me stay with them for the weekend. Should be a great time! I need to be more spontaneous like this. If only money would spontaneously show up in my bank account, too.