So thanks to Shaun Inman, I’ve discovered this little gem: 8-Bit Jesus Christmas Album. Absolutely frickin’ awesome. Go check it out!
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Flickr Photos
Maria McNeil @ Café Luna
Dec 7, ’08
10:19 PM
Maria McNeil, the R&B/jazz songstress I play bass for, has the first of an ongoing monthly engagement at Café Luna this coming Saturday. Details can be found to the right in the sidebar, or at the facebook event. Hope to see lots of folks out there!
Boston Symphony Awesome
Nov 21, ’08
12:56 AM
So I just spotted this delightful nugget of joy on the BSO Facebook page:
Big News from the BSO!
We are pleased to announce that a generous donor has come forward to fund tickets for patrons under 40 years old to attend Boston Symphony Orchestra concerts at Symphony Hall on a regular basis. “I have been attending Boston Symphony concerts for years, and I want to make sure the next generation can attend the Symphony as often as they like. My support of this program will enable people under 40 to enjoy the thrill of a live concert at a relatively low cost.” Thanks to this donation, we will be able to offer people under 40 $20 tickets to Symphony Hall for the remainder of the BSO Season.
Tickets can be ordered online, by phone are in person at the Symphony Hall Box Office. All ticket categories are available, so individuals under 40 can purchase $20 tickets normally priced from $29 to $115. The discount can only be offered when seats are available, and now there are approximately 4000 tickets available to several different concerts. Patrons under 40 must show, send us or email us proof of age in order to be able to purchase the tickets at this $20 price. The offer is limited to two tickets per show per individual, but people may purchase 2 tickets to as many shows as are available.
During these challenging economic times, we are thrilled to be able to offer these very affordable ticket prices to build the audience of tomorrow.
Very cool. Definitely recommend snapping up some of these if you live in the Boston area, especially if you can score some orchestra seating.
Maria McNeil @ Café Luna
Jul 29, ’08
2:06 PM
Had a spectacular gig at La Luna Caffé this past Saturday with Maria McNeil. It’s a great little place just on the southern edge of Central Square, right on Mass Ave across from the firehouse. We got started around 9:30pm, played a great set, but after we finished up, one of the employees asked us to keep going. So Maria played a tune of hers solo, then Samad, Aaron & I ended up jamming for another 20-odd minutes. Haven’t done that in ages. Really refreshing to just play, y’know? Really encouraging for us was the tip jar at the end of our set, people were very generous.
One of Aaron’s friends took a few pictures, I’ll see about finding those & posting a few. Hope to see some of you out at my next show, this weekend at Tommy Doyle’s with Tony Brown & the Faithful!
Related show
Who remembers Mario Paint?
Jul 11, ’08
10:01 AM
Seriously, this is AWESOME: Mario Paint Composer. Mac & Windows versions available; if the Mac download link isn’t working, check the forums, the link is in there.
(Via Lifehacker)
Reblog: Flight of the Conchords ftw
May 28, ’08
11:12 PM
I meant to post this a few days ago, but here it is for your listening & viewing pleasure:
(Via Jared Moran)
Album Awesome – Jurassic 5’s Feedback
May 25, ’08
2:31 PM
So I stumbled across Jurassic 5’s 2006 album Feedback, and it is hott. Yes, that needs two t’s. I’m still in the middle of listening to it & I felt the need to blog about it. Most professional reviews of the album panned it, and while it is not as killin’ as Power in Numbers, it is an awesome album to be sure. It suffers primarily from the groups loss of DJ Cut Chemist, who left the group to pursue a solo career. But rappers Marc 7even, Chali 2na, Zaakir, and Akil, plus remaining producer DJ Nu-Mark. Added to the fold are two top-dollar producers, Scott Storch (famous for 50 Cent, T.I., Lil’ Kim, and the Roots) and Salaam Remi (Fugees, Nas, Ludacris, Joss Stone), and while they’re certainly good, they don’t quite capture the J5 feel.
That’s ok though, ’cause we still get some great tunes out of the mix. Stand out tracks include the first cut, “Back 4 U”, which is straight up J5, with Chali 2na makin’ it happen (he’s my favorite rapper of the group). “Brown Girl”, the third track, has a nice groove to it, featuring some nice vocalizings, with “Gotta Understand” following with a slight Kanye West flavor to it (complete with Curtis Mayfield sample). “In the House”, one of DJ Nu-Mark’s major contributions, is a straight homage to the Sugar Hill Gang, really bringing that old-school pocket back. Right after that, “Baby Please” hits, and while if you’re really observant you might hear some Neptunes influence, it really just feels like a hot live band backing the group. The horn– & guitar-led groove really keeps it going. The single, “Work It Out”, which features the Dave Matthews Band doesn’t quite work, but it’s a cool idea & kudos to DMB for broadening their horizons. “Get It Together” has a sort-of old blues feel to it, with the honky tonk piano & the tin can vocal hook, works well with the almost dub bass & pocket drums. “Canto de Ossanha”, an instrumental Latin flavored track, brings the album to a close without any rhymes at all, but it’s got a great pocket to it, and feels like a live group (which it may or may not be.)
All in all, a solid effort. Again, it doesn’t quite rise to the heights of Power in Numbers or Jurassic 5 LP, their debut, but definitely worth picking up.
You can snag it at iTunes or Amazon.com and help me out.
Reblog: Rats & Sinking Ships
May 21, ’08
4:26 PM
Fake Steve on the NBC-Zune Deal:
“It’s the first time I’ve seen rats swimming toward a sinking ship.”
(Via ★ Daring Fireball by way of Fake Steve Jobs.)
Reblog: Gruber on things us musicians have known for years
May 20, ’08
6:13 PM
John Gruber, one of my favorite writers, opines this in reference to this article by Saul Hansell, in a report for the NYT Bits Blog on current negotiations between Apple and the major music labels:
So let’s get this straight. The music labels think we should pay more for a song downloaded from a server that isn’t theirs, over a network that isn’t theirs, because, well, just because. One gets the feeling that, if given the chance, music executives would just hire thugs to mug anyone on the street wearing white earbuds.
Sadly, the music industry is still one of the most corrupt businesses around, seeking to do the most profitable thing in the short term, instead of investing in its customers or striving to create new business models. The looming threat of the truly independent musician to the old world order of the music label makes them grasp even tighter to hang on to what they can. I realize we’ve heard this all before, but when put so frankly like Gruber has, I cannot help but add my own two cents.
(Via ★ Daring Fireball)
Good Times™
May 10, ’08
12:44 PM
So the last week basically flew by; my sister’s graduation last weekend was awesome. Really great to see my family & since it was only the second time I’ve ever been to Salem, I finally got to meet all of my sister’s friends & hit the bar with all of them to celebrate. I’m really excited for my sis to move up to NYC though, it’ll be great to have her close by again for visiting & such.
Work is going as it should; my schedule remains the same which is absolutely amazing. Seriously, my boss is totally the coolest, always willing to work with me regarding hours & days off & such. So I continue to have Friday-Sunday off, the exceptions being weeks I needed Monday or Tuesday off (working on Friday those weeks.)
As for my social life, definitely a rockin’ weekend has already begun. Kicked things off Thursday night with the Video Game Music Club Band, hanging out here in my place drinking & enjoying each other’s company. Sadly, three of our members are leaving to head back to their home countries (Taiwan & Denmark) but we wished them well. Last night I hung with my new friend Emily, who is a totally awesome girl. And tonight I’m going to Lettuce with my buddy John Cooke. In case you don’t know, they’re probably the most ridiculously amazing horn funk band ever, right alongside Tower of Power. Sunday will be spent enjoying the great outdoors with a friend of a friend.
In case it’s not obvious, I’m trying to expand my circle of friends, as my closest ones moved away to pursue opportunities elsewhere. Still keep in touch with them, of course, but having friends here in town is vital.
