"Jam ---> Roadhouse Blues"

[Blooby]

I figure I'll get the ball rolling in the BR1600 forum with something I had lying about.

This recording is still from the first night this particular group of musicians played together (first post was a shuffle at https://songcrafters.org/community/index.php?topic=1958.0).  I think the discussion before this particular tune was, "Let's noodle a bit before going into 'Roadhouse Blues.'"  It fades out because just as we were going to telepathically transition through all fours sides of Tales From Topographic Oceans, my hard drive filled up.  Oh well, use your imagination.  It still kills me as I listen back that the bass player was trying to bait me into "Third Stone From the Sun," and I didn't follow.  Argh!

Recorded live through a BR-1600: two guitarists, bassist, keyboardist/vocalist, drums were programmed after the fact on the BR.

Peace.

Blooby

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The story...

My work life as an assistant principal is pretty busy, so about a year ago, I started to envision jams at my house, cutting out the moving of gear (twice) and travel time.  Sam Ash had a 20% off & 18 month/same as cash Halloween sale, and I rationalized an electronic drum set (I'm a guitarist) in an effort to keep jams at neighborhood-friendly volumes (rationalization is a talent really).  I already had some other gear lying about, which would help get the ball rolling.

Over the winter holidays, I started checking gig boards and local web sites in an effort to find like-minded, good-natured people who check their egos at the door, and who like to play music.  Since the goal was not to play out, everybody has tended to focus on the positive instead of yelling at each other for coming in late on the chorus...or whatever.  The plan is obviously to do more playing together, but things got complicated when my mother fell ill.  Things should be back to normal (whatever that is) in a couple weeks.  By the way, I have christened our revolving cast of musicians "The Museum of Oddities."

[Pedro]

This sounds pretty good! I like the beggining jam.

I have some technical questions:
I wonder how you recorded the tracks. Did you use microphones on amps? Or did you go directly on the recorder? And if yes, what did you use to monitor?

[Blooby]

Thank you for your kind words.  Like I said in the description, it was the first time we played together, and the singer (who had no interest in singing) didn't even know all the words.  Spontaneous yet fun.

I have some technical questions: Did you use microphones on amps? Or did you go directly on the recorder? And if yes, what did you use to monitor?

I know the following description may sound like overkill for informal jams, but the volume is low, and people literally take out their drumsticks, bass, or guitar and are ready to play upon plugging in.

The ultimate goal was to keep things controllable and at decent volumes (I live in a neighborhood with plenty of toddlers).  No amps were used, but everything was amplified through two Tapco monitors, coming out of the BR.  I was considering getting a headphone distribution amp down the road, but volume hasn't been an issue other than the vocals. 

I ran the bass through a Pocket POD, one guitar through a Behrniger V-Amp Pro, another guitar through an M-Audio Black Box, two microphones for vocals, one keyboard in stereo, and another synth in mono.

The last time we played, I added an electronic drum set, so that got a bit more complex:  bass through a micro POD, one guitar through a Behrniger V-Amp Pro, another guitar through an M-Audio Black Box, one track for lead vocals, two tracks for stereo drums.  Then I ran two keyboards through a cheapo Yamaha mixer (with a super cheapo Lexicon unit used for reverb in the effects send) and pan them hard right.  The right ouput of the mixer goes to one of the remaining tracks on the BR.  I also run 3 microphones into the mixer and pan them hard left.  The left output of the mixer then feeds into the 8th and remaining track on the BR.

The only thing that I recall modifying after-the-fact was adding the reverb and delay to the vocals.

Peace.

Blooby

[Pedro]

Interesting! It must be very fun to watch you play, I assume it would be pretty quiet.

That gave me an idea, what about a mini-concert where the musicians would play like you've recorded, directly in the mixer or recorder without amplifiers and people would just listen to the mix from the recorder or the mixer through headphones! One could use something that multiplied the signal for, lets say 20 headphones. It would be a very quiet concert. 

[Satchwood]

Cool jam!  It sounds like everyone had a blast - your band's got some cool sounds and nice variety - a very cool rendition of the Door's tune - cool bluezy guitar lead with some neat licks!

[Bro]

Cool blues jam, great job! A Really tight recording!

[Geir]

I somehow missed out on this one !!! Really cool jam with lots of interesting parts

Geir

[Bosko Schwartz]

Hey Blooby, I am finally getting a chance to listen to this post.  I have listened to the song 3 times so far, and I must say, awesome blues jam!  I really liked the beginning half more than the ending half.  The very, very beginning (the fade-in), when your keyboardist was using a piano sound, had some nice low-key moments with kind of "dissonant," ominous sounds, which were very Doors-y (I'm a huge Doors fan!).  Good keyboard and guitar work there.  I also liked when the keyboardist switched to a synthesizer sound.  I'm a big fan of synth, and this made the song really different from the original.  There are some nice melodic guitar solos in there, too.  I would have loved to hear a live drummer on this one.  Not a big fan of the singing style here, but I already gave your keyboardist much love, so hopefully that evens it out.  I wish I knew which of the two guitars you played so I could comment specifically, but both sounded fantastic.

I loved the reference to Tales from Topographic Oceans.  That is one you can't throw out just anywhere, but many musicians will get it.  Yes is probably my 3rd favorite band, after The Beatles and The Zombies, so I especially appreciated it.  Would have loved to hear that actually happen, but what an undertaking that would have been!  You probably would have needed a lot more Guinness.

What's up with your avatar?  Is that, like, some weird voodoo doll of yourself?  Or is it a drawing of you done by a wee little one?  Just curious.

[64Guitars]

Hey Blooby,

What's up with your avatar?  Is that, like, some weird voodoo doll of yourself?  Or is it a drawing of you done by a wee little one?  Just curious.

I'm not sure why, but it reminds me of Weird Al Yankovic.

[Blooby]

I loved the reference to Tales from Topographic Oceans.  That is one you can't throw out just anywhere, but many musicians will get it.  Would have loved to hear that actually happen.

What's up with your avatar?  Is that, like, some weird voodoo doll of yourself? 

Thank you for your very specific comments.  Greatly appreciated.  The thought of this motley assortment of players tackling "Tales..." is more than enough to make me chuckle. 

To answer you next question: why yes, yes that is a voodoo doll of myself.  I taught in a middle school for a while and the librarian...sorry...media specialist...presented the two-foot high effigy complete with metal brads sticking out of it and tape over the mouth.  Luckily, I have my wombat mojo to ward of such conjuring.

Peace.

Blooby