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Happy Birthday Bob
Posted by on May 23, 2011
So tomorrow is Bob Dylan’s 70th birthday.   I don’t know if you are a fan of  his, but I guarantee he impacted and changed music so much that there is no American music that you can listen to that doesn’t have some trace of his influence.   What is more remarkable is how very young he was when he began this courageous journey of following his own muse.     At a time when most of us, would… (read more)
Tips From Nick Nowell of The Famine
Posted by on May 19, 2011
I found this on the internet yesterday and I think it's great stuff for us all.   I haven't heard back from  Nick as yet, but I suspect he'd want you all to read this and you can check him out at the links below. 2011-05-10 16:15:37 ·                                 ·                                 CEO/Founder  ·                                … (read more)
On Line Music Sites, etc
Posted by on May 17, 2011
I was given a link to a company called Tunescore today.   This might be the fiftieth on line site that wants me to put my music up there.    This one wanted me to pay $49 per cd per year and they would do all the stuff that CD Baby does for a one time fee of $39.   So today I want to talk about these sites.     Unless you have some kind of profile, no one is going to seek you out on these… (read more)
Some Insights Into Performing
Posted by on May 10, 2011
Played a show Backstage At The Coffee Gallery Sunday night.  We had a good crowd and a good time.    My friend Carol Hunter, former guitar player for Neil Diamond, came to the show and she mentioned that she thought that John and I were generous to each other on stage, and I thought I’d talk a little bit about that today.   When you are on stage with someone else, if they are singing the lead,… (read more)
ASCAP, BMI, SESAC - Should I Join?
Posted by on May 6, 2011
A few days ago, a friend of mine emailed me with questions about which PRO to join (Performance Rights Organization such as ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC or Sound Exchange for the internet).    These are the organizations that collect monies on behalf of songwriters, writers, and publishers.     Whenever someone uses a song that you created in a broadcast or reuse in a film, tv show, on stage, etc, then… (read more)
Flying With A Guitar
Posted by on May 2, 2011
Flying with a guitar is one of the most tedious things a player can do.   You are always wondering if they are going to hassle you; if they are going to take the guitar away from you and throw it into baggage under the plane; if they are going to break it; and finally, if you are like me, you just don’t enjoy the confrontation.     So here’s what I do to make it easier:   1.   I carry… (read more)
When God Gives You the Stink Eye
Posted by on April 27, 2011
Do you ever feel  like you were a toy, devised by God, for the amusement of Him  and  his Crew?      You get in your car, check that you have everything, put in your blue tooth, set up your ipod and all the while, not one car comes by.   But the moment that you go to back out of the driveway,  a car comes out of nowhere and you have to slam on the brakes to keep from dying.     Your Bluetooth,… (read more)
Take A Break, Dammit
Posted by on April 19, 2011
Just got back from a week long decompression chamber that’s the wilds of the pacific northwest.   Upon coming into the studio and booting up, the first thing I realized was that I forgot to post the “I’ll be gone for ten days and there will be no posts” post.   Too many hats and not enough head.   Please accept my apologies and now,  I am back.   One of the things I discovered out there… (read more)
Hostile Audiences - Dealing With Them
Posted by on April 6, 2011
Performing in front of a hostile audience is sometimes the best school you can go to.   Provided you figure out how to reach them.   I remember doing a show with Blood Sweat and Tears in Madison Wisconsin years ago.    The DJ emceeing the show spent five minutes driving the crowd into a frenzy talking about BS&T and then said, “but first, here’s a folk singer from California”   I walked… (read more)
Caren Armstrong Weighs In on the Life of a Song
Posted by on April 5, 2011
My bay area friend Caren Armstrong, who is doing a show at Freight and Salvage this weekend in Berkley (information on the show at the end of the post), sent me this rumination on how, where and why songs are born.   We both thought that you would enjoy it.   It seems you have to always be open to the possibility.   THE LIFE OF A SONG LEAVING LINCOLN COUNTY Summer 2000 Driving across Eastern Washington… (read more)
Another Backstage at the Resurrection Review and the first All Wood and Doors Review
Posted by on April 2, 2011
The esteemed Lee Zimmerman just posted these reviews at the No Depression site.   I love it when this happens.   James Lee StanleyBackstage at the Resurrection(Beachwood Recordings)   James Lee Stanley and Cliff EberhardtAll Wood and Doors(Beachwood Recordings)   Despite the fact he’s already considered one of the standard bearers of today’s singer/songwriter and neo-folk movements, James… (read more)
Backstage at the Resurrection Review 1 April 2011
Posted by on April 1, 2011
Hey kids, this just in from the San Diego Troubadour...   OF NOTE #5 James Lee Stanley By Backstage at the Resurrectionby Frank Kocher    “Eclectic” is a word that gets used a lot in music reviews these days. For an artist like James Lee Stanley, there just isn’t a way to avoid the label. He is a veteran performer whose songs range from California-sound country rock to soul/funk, with stops… (read more)
Ten Things To Learn From Japan
Posted by on March 30, 2011
1. THE CALM  Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.  2. THE DIGNITY  Disciplined queues for water & groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.  3. THE ABILITY  The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.  4. THE GRACE  People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.  5.… (read more)
Mail Order Tips
Posted by on March 28, 2011
I have been doing a lot of mail order these last few weeks, what with my new solo CD, Backstage at the Resurrection (www.jamesleestanley.com/backstage.html)  and the duet CD with Cliff Eberhardt, All Wood and Doors (www.allwoodanddoors.com) .   That CD isn’t even officially out yet, but we are filling mail order on it for those in the know.   In any event, I realized that one of the main things… (read more)
On Being A Wordsmith
Posted by on March 24, 2011
I just finished re reading Bob Dylan's Chronicles.   He has such a gift for putting words together and even tho some of it felt contrived I still enjoyed the wordplay.   As song writers, we must not only enjoy, but employ words in original and engaging ways.    My guitarist, singer/songwriter pal, Lance Wakely, who now lives in Europe, sent this to me and it delighted me so much I decided to… (read more)
Create A Space For Your Creativity
Posted by on March 22, 2011
Creating a space for yourself to be your creative self is a good idea.   If you have  a room that you can go to that is no one else’s this will help.     For myself it’s my studio.   I have all kinds of things in there from every phase of my life.    Touring memento’s, conferences, children’s toys, artwork, instruments,  photographs, equipment, 24 trk tape, 8 trk tape, cassettes,… (read more)
First All Wood and Doors Mini Tour Ends - Ruminations
Posted by on March 18, 2011
Sunday night as the last night Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.net) and I played here in the southeast.   The attendance was unpredictable, some laces lots of folks, some places ann intimate crowd, but all the shows went well.   Eberhardt is the consummate professional and never delivered less than a great show.   I hope that the same can be said of me.    That’s the thing about performing.  … (read more)
All Wood and Doors Tour Day Two
Posted by on March 11, 2011
Last night Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.net) and I performed in the cultural hub of Tarboro, North Carolina for our All Wood and Doors Tour (www.allwoodanddoors.com).   The venue was an old chapel that had been turned into a community space.    We pulled up to this chapel in the middle of a field in, seemingly, the middle of nowhere.   There was a portapotty with the door swinging open… (read more)
Tips From The Road - Day One of the All Wood and Doors Tour
Posted by on March 10, 2011
Today I arose at 4:20 am, showered, shaved and drove to the airport for a 6:30 am flight to Atlanta, where I picked up a car and drove to Charlotte, NC for a series of dates with Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.net) promoting our upcoming CD release, All Wood and Doors (www.allwoodsanddoors).   I thought that I would keep you in the loop regarding the tour.   First of all, rent a green car,… (read more)
Sense of Entitlement? Lose It, It's a BAD Look
Posted by on March 1, 2011
I just had the most singular experience  at the post office.    Sometimes I feel like I am from another planet.   This may not seem like it applies to music or musicianship, but I think it does.  I’ll show you…   I stood in line at the postage machine and when my turn came, took my fifteen packages (cd’s) and proceeded to weigh and stamp each one.     In a few moments, an attractive… (read more)
Good As Your Word?
Posted by on February 27, 2011
I had an interesting experience at the FAI conference last week and I want to share it with you.   For the uninitiated, the FAI conference bring together a couple of thousand people who are music lovers, musicians, singers, songwriters, venue owners, house concert presenters, managers, and agents for four days of intense workshops and live music.     Every musician wants to have a full house for… (read more)
Folk Alliance International Music Conference 2011
Posted by on February 22, 2011
Once again, the Folk Alliance International Conference (www.folkalliance.org)  in Memphis, Tennessee this past weekend was an inspiration.   2500 hundred people descended on the Downtown Marriott Hotel for five days of music, music, music.   There was live music in the lobby, the mezzanine, in the dozen halls that were set up with state of the art sound systems and savvy sound man, who handled… (read more)
Rehearsing A New CD for Performance
Posted by on February 17, 2011
Rehearsing with Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.net) for  our upcoming shows of the All Wood and Doors (www.allwoodanddoors.com), our acoustic celebration of Doors music.   It has been interesting to play these songs after months of working on them in the studio with the other musicians.     Initially, Cliff came out to California in May for a week and then another week in July, where we… (read more)
House Guesting - More On the Art of It
Posted by on February 9, 2011
We had a house guest the other night.   Someone I’ve known for  years though we don’t have much contact anymore.   When I am in his state I always call him and we get together for a meal.    He  comes out here to California on occasion and frequently calls in advance to ask if it is okay to stay with us.   We always say yes.   And he frequently took us out for breakfast or dinner… (read more)
Performance and Meditation - There Is A Link
Posted by on February 7, 2011
Yesterday I did  a three hour concert in Dania Beach, Florida, as part of the Chamber of Commerce Concerts On The Green Series.    I arrived early and did everything I could to help get everything set up exactly the way I like it for a concert.   About two hours later I was back.   I checked to make certain that everything was in working order on stage and then I went into the dressing room… (read more)
Free Tickets - When Do I Ask For Them?
Posted by on February 1, 2011
I had an interesting thing happen at a house concert a little while ago.    It was a town in which I have many friends, and several of the friends wanted to know if there was a guest list and were they on it.    One friend not only wanted to get he and his fiance in free, but he wanted me to sing for free at his upcoming wedding.   So let us talk about this "friends getting in free" thing.… (read more)
House Concerts - The Presenters Responsibilities
Posted by on January 24, 2011
There are more and more folks wanting to share the music they love with their friends by putting on a house concert and there are some things you all, as presenters,  should know.   From several savvy presenters I have received a list of what they all think a performer should do and I have put up that list of what the performers should know here at Datamusicata.    Now here are some things that… (read more)
Take Nothing For Granted
Posted by on January 19, 2011
Take nothing for granted.      Six months ago, I was invited to participate in a reunion of a local club in which I performed years ago.      The person who put it together and who invited me told me delightedly that I was the first person to say yes and to agree to perform.     As the time grew closer, I got more posts from her thanking me for participating and letting me know how it was… (read more)
Another Cold, Another Show
Posted by on January 14, 2011
I am in Texas and am doing a concert tonight at the Athens Country Club. And I have been dealing with some Eurotrash cold. So here’s what I did. Went to bed at 11 o’clock last night, slept til ten a.m. this morning, had some fruit, practiced guitar, broke my two most important nails and drove off to a beauty parlor where a beautician put two acrylic powder nails on and it is amazing. I’ve used… (read more)
Conference Tips Part 1
Posted by on January 12, 2011
The Folk Alliance International Conference is coming up in February (www.folkalliance.org) and there are many things one should know to make the whole process easier and more rewarding for you as an artist.   As we get closer, I will put up some of the things that my pal, Paul Barker, has written that are invaluable, but today, just a short list of things that a presenter friend of mine, Cindy, has… (read more)
Don't Fight the Program -- Dump It!
Posted by on January 11, 2011
I have been having quite a challenging time of it with an incredible run of strange bad luck.  I can only assume this is the bad dress rehearsal before the fabulous opening night.   In a nutshell, since my return from Europe, none of my Sonic Foundry FX are working.  Even though I paid for them and registered them and used them for over a month before I left, they have reverted to demo status and… (read more)
Guitar Straps - A Few Tips
Posted by on June 25, 2010
I played a set at Arnie’s Café (www.arniescafe.com) in Tujunga last night.   Mark “Pocket” Goldberg (www.myspace.com/pocketgoldberg) has put together a songwriter’s evening there and it is always a good hang.  The band includes the estimable Debra Dobkin (www.debradobkin.com) on percussion and  Nick (lost his last name in the cafe cacaphony), who was wonderful on lead guitar.   I apologize… (read more)
A New Way To Network
Posted by on June 23, 2010
Yesterday I  had the unique experience of performing for a group of people who had gathered together to network and to expose their work and themselves to other’s work in a monthly meeting called Women Who Write organized and maintained by Vicki Abelson (http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/vickiabelson).       If  you are a Santa Barbara to Orange County resident, you might consider checking… (read more)
Criticism - When Is It Called For?
Posted by on June 18, 2010
Discouragement can come from any quarter.   It most often comes from well meaning people who think that they have your best interests at heart when they tell you that what you are in the process of doing happens to suck.   They don’t see or hear the finished product like you do, they only see what is before them and they criticize that.    It doesn’t engender a wild desire to please that… (read more)
When Do You Prepare For A Gig--How Far In Advance
Posted by on June 14, 2010
I performed in Tehachapi this weekend and had an interesting reminder of why I have made the choices I’ve made with regard to what I consider professionalism.   I was doing a two hour concert at Fiddler’s Crossing, a new venue that is just starting up.     If I may digress for a moment, I discovered when I was twenty one that  I was really fond of martinis.  So fond, in fact, I decided to… (read more)
Artists, Food For Thought
Posted by on June 11, 2010
My pal, Bob Lefsetz, writes a column at least once a day called the Lefsetz Letter and I’ve been subscribing to it for years.   He always writes from an interesting perspective and what he had to say the other day was just too important to us all to not be read.   And if you’d like to subscribe to his letter, the details are at the bottom of the article.   Read on:     1. Are you willing… (read more)
Are We Merely Toys of God?
Posted by on June 9, 2010
Yesterday afternoon I stepped out on to  my porch, turned, locked the door, walked down the walk  way to the drive way, took the cover off my car, unlocked  the car, got in, started it up and all the while not one single car passed by my house.   I put the car in reverse and started to back out of the driveway and a car came out of nowhere.  I hit the brakes as the car went past my driveway. … (read more)
An Artist's Responsibility
Posted by on June 7, 2010
Back in the seventies, I went to the Troubadour to see a new songwriter I had heard a lot about.   The songs were good.  Country songs, with basic chord progressions and good lyrics, but the writer was a really bad singer and could barely play the guitar and he had no stage presence whatsoever.     Still, I liked the songs, though I didn’t enjoy the performance.       Sunday Morning Coming… (read more)
The Boy Scouts Were Right - Be Prepared
Posted by on June 2, 2010
I hope that you all had a grand Memorial Day weekend.   Three day holidays are especially nice as we are so accustomed to the two day break that a three day break seems like a lot more time than it is.   We stayed home and worked on our home and had the obligatory barbeque.   I simply LOVE hot dogs, but that’s not what I want to talk about today.     I recently heard someone referring to… (read more)
Mixing - Some Basic Tips
Posted by on May 28, 2010
Tuesday evening I finished up recording the bass and basic percussion for the All Wood and Doors project and Wednesday could finally return to my solo project, Backstage At the Resurrection.   I am  in the final mixing stages and I wanted to talk a little bit about mixing.   This is such a complex topic, so deep and so varied that I’m just going to give you a couple of things that I do to make… (read more)
Recording Bass and Drums
Posted by on May 27, 2010
Today I have the bass player Chad Watson (www.chadwatson.com)  and the percussionist Scott Breadman (www.scottbreadman.com)  coming in to  record their parts for All Wood and Doors (www.thedoors.com).   Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.com) and I have laid down the basic guitar tracks and have made certain that their time is rock solid so that the other musicians can just concentrate on the… (read more)
Take Nothing For Granted
Posted by on May 24, 2010
This past weekend I took part in the first annual Acoustic Instrument Expo.  It was held at the Airtel in Van Nuys, next to the Van Nuys Airport.   All the major acoustic instrument makers were there, as well as several of the local acoustic instrument entrepreneurs.   I ran into all the local acoustic musicians, and also met some new friends.       I had been invited to perform and I, in turn,… (read more)
Dylanfest at Kulak's May 20th, 2010
Posted by on May 21, 2010
Last night I played at the Dylanfest that Paul Zollo put together.   I think he’s done it about ten times now and I was delighted to be included.   It is an evening of all  Bob Dylan songs done by a number of artists.     It was held at Kulak’s Woodshed, the acoustic room that Paul Kulak is keeping open because he loves acoustic music.   It is funded by donations only and it would serve… (read more)
Incompetence and Attitude - The Cosmic Connection
Posted by on May 20, 2010
Those of you who’ve been following Datamusicata probably noticed that it disappeared for a week.   I can explain.   When Cliff Eberhardt came here to do the All Wood And Doors project, he came here from Texas, where he thought he’d gotten food poisoning.   He got over it within a day or two, however on the day he left both my wife and I came down with…you guessed it…food poisoning.   … (read more)
Day Four Cliff Eberhardt and James Lee Stanley All Wood and Doors Recording Project
Posted by on May 14, 2010
When you consider that Cliff Eberhardt and I didn’t really know each other well when we started this project; that he had never seen me play, it was a bold move on his part.   I had seen him perform in Altadena at Bob Stane’s club, Backstage At The Coffee Gallery and had written a review of Cliff’s show (see Datamusicata Search – Cliff Eberhardt) so I at least knew what I was getting into.… (read more)
Day Three Eberhardt Stanley All Wood and Doors Project
Posted by on May 13, 2010
A great day yesterday, we arranged and recorded basic guitars for four more songs.   We started with Touch Me, which we figured was going to be a challenge to turn into an acoustic tune, but Cliff zero’d in on a spin on it and away we went.    It is amazing how much fun it is to rearrange these tunes.   Cliff and I start playing and then something clicks and we have an entre into the song.   We… (read more)
Day Two of the Eberhardt / Stanley All Wood and Doors CD
Posted by on May 12, 2010
We had a very productive day today.   Getting in here by 10:30 and working like Trojans, we  took on Soul Kitchen and created a rocking guitar track.   We’re doing a lot of two guitar interplay syncopation that may need nothing else but bass and percussion.     We’ll start playing something and there will be (from one of us, a little less enthusiasm for where it’s going.   Like ESP,… (read more)
Eberhardt / Stanley Recording - Day One
Posted by on May 11, 2010
On Datamusicata I will be keeping a blog of the current recording project:  an acoustic duet CD by Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.com)  and me (www.jamesleestanley.com).    The songs are all songs written by the Doors (www.thedoors.com) and in keeping with my original idea for All Wood and Stones (www.allwoodandstones.com), which was all Rolling Stones songs done on acoustic instruments… (read more)
Cliff Eberhardt / James Lee Stanley Duet Project Recording Journal
Posted by on May 10, 2010
    Today Cliff Eberhardt (www.cliffeberhardt.com) and I are beginning a duet CD together.  We’re going to work day and night for the next five days and see what we can come up with as a follow up to the All Wood and Stones (www.allwoodandstones.com) project I recorded with my pal, John Batdorf (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com).    For those of you unfamiliar with All Wood and Stones, it is an acoustic… (read more)
John Batdorf Weighs in on Releasing and Promoting a New CD
Posted by on May 8, 2010
I've known John Batdorf and his music since 1970 and have been a fan and a friend ever since.  He recorded in the seventies on Atlantic, Geffen and Arista records with Mark Rodney in the band Batdorf&Rodney and also with the band, Silver.    Further, he did music several TV shows culminating in Touched By An Angel for five years, as well as enumerable studio vocal sessions for everyone you… (read more)
Cheese It! The Fuzz!
Posted by on May 4, 2010
Driving back from the Monterey Bay yesterday afternoon, my wife remarked that we were very lucky that no police caught me as I was driving at a higher rate of speed than as legally suggested.        I told her that years of being on the road had caused me to develop certain habits in order to minimize my interaction with the local gendarmerie.  I just don’t enjoy the interchange and it always… (read more)
De plan, Boss, De plan
Posted by on April 30, 2010
So today is my birthday.   I’m sixty four and I’ve been playing the guitar for  fifty years today.    Needless to say, I have been doing some ruminating on this path I’ve taken and the choices I’ve made.   One thing stands out to me as I sift through five decades of making music.   This job has no days off, no benefits, and no guarantees.   The fact of the matter is, if you do take… (read more)
Master Limiters - Should You Use Them?
Posted by on April 29, 2010
I mentioned the other day that almost everyone who writes songs that I know of has some sort of recording set up.   And one of the devices or plug ins (a plug in is a computer program that emulates the device) that many folks have is a limiter and or a compressor and everyone has EQ of some sort.    The compressor/limiters are wonderful devices that keep you from overloading the signal that you… (read more)
Fine Tuning Your Work
Posted by on April 26, 2010
I am nearing the end of the creation of my 27th CD, Backstage At The Resurrection, so I’ve been mixing, remixing, rerecording, listening and doing it all over again for a couple of months now.   My wife cannot believe that I can listen to a song for six hours, making subtle changes that probably only matter to me.    But I am the artist, I am the engineer, the musician, the composer and I own… (read more)
Booking - More On Putting A Tour Together
Posted by on April 21, 2010
How do you put a tour together?    That’s a question that I hear over and over again.    It’s tricky because of all the variables.     Let’s look at some dates I have coming up in September in North Carolina.    I have a wonderful house concert series date at Betty’s Place in Asheville, NC.         I called a friend of mine who manages a concert gallery space about a hundred… (read more)
New Keys For Old Songs - Try It, You'll Like It
Posted by on April 19, 2010
A week or so ago, I had the extreme pleasure of seeing Paul McCartney do a concert at the Hollywood Bowl.   He had a five piece band and he was tight, rehearsed, prepared…in a word, professional.      He delivered the goods just as you would expect.   And from his enormous catalog, he sang songs that spanned five decades, and every song was familiar.   Quite an amazing feat.   He played… (read more)
Affirmation - Here's One to Use
Posted by on April 16, 2010
My mother was a firm believer in moving in faith.  When she prayed, she didn’t ask for things or help.  She thanked her creator for blessing her and giving what was needed.  She did this as though it had already happened and she thanked Him accordingly.   She always thought that rather than wait til everything lined up, she would move as though things were already falling into place.   Now… (read more)
Nastassja Kinski and Me - Naked / Another Opportunity Knocks Tale
Posted by on April 14, 2010
Thought you might enjoy another story of opportunity missed.  This one  involved me rolling around naked on the big screen with Nastassja Kinski  (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nastassja_Kinski)  while my very own music played in the background.   Here are the hairy details.   Years  ago, I was up in the  Colorado Rockies doing some fly fishing and when I came in from the great outdoors, there was… (read more)
EQ - More On Using It
Posted by on April 12, 2010
The other day I was talking about using parametric EQ and I realized that there were a couple of simple techniques I should have included.   One is to always consider recording it as best you can.  Start by getting the best signal sound you can.   Caca in equals caca out.    Start there.   If it doesn’t sound right, try different positions on the mic, different settings, different mics… (read more)
Parametric EQ - Simplified Use Of...
Posted by on April 5, 2010
My sister Pamala (www.pamalastanley.com)  and I were talking about mastering and premastering and she was telling me how she had to go thru an entire stereo master track and take down the kick drum every place in over modulated.   I asked her why she didn’t just use a parametric eq and dial in the offending frequency and then diminish that by a db or two.     She told me that she didn’t really… (read more)
Rage - Handling Your Own
Posted by on March 30, 2010
To continue, I was talking the other day about some of the life lessons that I learned from living in an apartment.   One was handling people’s rage and the other is handling your rage; what your attitude can bring to the table.  They are almost the same thing, but applied slightly differently.       By was of example, I came off the road and had only two days home before I had to drive to… (read more)
Rage - Handling Someone Else's
Posted by on March 25, 2010
I have only lived in one apartment  building in my life.   It was a four unit Spanish adobe affair at 2266 North Beachwood Drive in Los Angeles.   And while I was there I learned a lot about living that can be applied to the artist’s experience.   One is to not buy into another person’s rage.   It sounds easy and somehow for me, there, it was.   Though I have found it very difficult… (read more)
Support the Art That You Believe IN
Posted by on March 22, 2010
Last night as I was watching a film called Benjamin Button, and  enjoying it immensely, I began to wonder why such a an intriguing and well done film was not a hit.   There were some simple things that might explain the initial resistance it experienced at the box office, to wit:   it’s length, nearly three hours; it’s star, Brad Pitt (www.bradpitt.com),  who is essentially known as a box… (read more)
Organization--I'll Do It Tomorrow
Posted by on March 20, 2010
I know a  woman who keeps her dish towels across the entire kitchen from  the sink, so that after you’ve washed your hands, you must cross the entire kitchen, dripping water as you go, to reach the towel to dry your hands.   Her daughter keeps her paper towels ten feet away from the sink so that one must do the same dripping thing to get to a towel to dry your hands.   And she has the terra… (read more)
Serve the Song, Part Two
Posted by on March 17, 2010
Today I am finishing up my taxes and can get back to my new solo recording, Backstage At The Resurrection.   And one of my goals when I return to it, after not hearing it for almost a week, is to see what I can take out; what I can do to simplify the recording and still leave it happening.     What I mean is, I may have  a favorite lick that I played, but it might be over a lyric, or it might… (read more)
Neil Young Tribute Night
Posted by on March 15, 2010
Last night I took part in a wonderful celebration of the work of Neil Young, at Molly Malone’s in Hollywood, California.   It was everything that these things are supposed to be.  And as performers, songwriters, presenters, or simply fans, you should attend these kinds of events. By showtime, Molly Malone's was packed to the rafters with well wishers, friends and fans of Neil's music.   … (read more)
Major Labels Shooting Themselves in the Foot
Posted by on March 11, 2010
Here's an interesting post that i received from a good friend of mine regarding what major labels are doing to hasten their demise.   Read on:   By DAMIAN KULASH Jr. Published: February 19, 2010 Melbourne, Australia MY band is famous for music videos. We direct them ourselves or with the help of friends, we shoot them on shoestring budgets and, like our songs, albums and concerts, we see them as… (read more)
Rich Warren Weighs In On Sending CD's Vs Digital Downloading
Posted by on March 9, 2010
Rich Warren / WFMT has been a well regarded DJ on the scene for quite a while.  He weighs in on sending CD's to radio stations vs using services such as Airplay Direct (a service that I use and endorse).   I thought it would be valuable to us all to consider his points.   Here is what he has to say:   I posted these two posts on the FolkDJ-L listserve and it wassuggested I post them here… (read more)
Serve The Song
Posted by on March 5, 2010
One of my oldest friends is a wonderful singer/songwriter named Stephen Bishop (www.stephenbishop.com).  I met him through a mutual friend, John Jarvis, a fabulous keyboard player, with whom we were coincidentally  writing for the same publisher, William H Morris, and we were both signed to them by Steve Morris.   So we had to connect, you see?   And what we use to do when we were coming up,… (read more)
Spontaneous Performance Vs Rehearsed Show
Posted by on March 3, 2010
Before the National Folk Alliance Conference, I was on the road for ten days in the Midwest.   Starting at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks for two nights, then a house concert for Jamie O’Reilly, followed by Shank Hall in Milwaukee and finally a Charlotte’s Web Presents concert at Katie’s Cup.   For the first set, I did the show that I have been working on.  All the songs from the Eternal… (read more)
Don't Fight the Program
Posted by on March 1, 2010
Had an interesting problem in a session the other day.   I am using a wonderful program called Reaper (www.cockos.com) that my pal, Kenny Lyon turned me on to.   It’s been great and completely bug free.   In any event, after recording for ten hours, we went to make mixes (all within the computer).   The process is called rendering in Reaper, but it is simply the mix down, that we all know.… (read more)
Follow Up After A Conference
Posted by on February 24, 2010
Back from the Folk Alliance (www.folkalliance.org), and I am beginning my follow up, based upon the goals I set for myself.    One of which was to go and sit through sets by people who are successful in one way or another but don’t reach me.   I decided to watch them and figure out what it was that they were doing and why it was receiving the response it was, given that I didn’t get them at… (read more)
Folk Alliance International, Memphis February 2010
Posted by on February 22, 2010
I just came back from the best Folk Alliance International Conference I’ve ever been to.    If you haven’t investigated this organization, www.folkalliance.org, and  you play music, you are missing out.   We met in Memphis, all 2000 of us, and traded songs and stories, beers and business cards, info and compliments for four days.   There is a very strong sense of community there and it was… (read more)
Folk Alliance February 2010
Posted by on February 17, 2010
It’s Tuesday, February 16, 2010, and I’m in LAX waiting on a plane to Memphis for the Folk Alliance International Conference which begins tomorrow.   I have board meetings the next three days but will still try to give you a daily report on the doings and how they might benefit you.     I have one formal showcase in the round with two other writers and three informal showcases, one each night… (read more)
Crazy Heart Musings
Posted by on February 12, 2010
I saw Crazy Heart (www.imdb.com/title/tt1263670/)  the other night.   The Jeff Bridges (www.jeffbridges.com)  film about the aging country singer.  There are many many scenes of him drinking, drunk, or essentially wasting his time and feeling sorry for himself.   Don’t misunderstand, I enjoyed the film and Jeff Bridges truly is one of the more under appreciated actors around.    Not so… (read more)
The Spotlight - The Power and Responsibility That Comes With It
Posted by on February 10, 2010
I was talking to a friend of mine last night and we got on to being in the spotlight and what kind of responsibility comes with that.    Here at Datamusicata, we’ve already talked about the responsibility of being prepared but this was something else entirely.   When you are in the spotlight, you have a “bully pulpit” as Teddy Roosevelt described it.    You get to say and do and support… (read more)
The System - Work With It or Against It?
Posted by on February 5, 2010
Sitting in the airport in Los Angeles, after an hour and ten minutes to go through security, gives you plenty of time to think.    You now must arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes before your flight at a minimum.   I always arrive two hours early.  That way there is no stress for me.   No matter how long it takes for baggage check, security, etc, I have time.     I even have time… (read more)
Credit Where Credit's Due Vs Your Word
Posted by on February 1, 2010
Here’s an interesting conundrum.    A friend of mine, a few years ago, wrote a song that he thought was pretty good.   He demo’d it.   Then a few days later, ran into another one of his friends who had been a recording artist and songwriter but was not just working for a messenger service, and not doing any writing at all.     Feeling bad for his friends change of fortune, he encouraged… (read more)
Happy? How Can I BE Happy?
Posted by on January 29, 2010
How happy are you?   How does one be happy?   Is it possible to change and be happy?   Let’s talk about it today, because it impacts your music, your performance and, of course, your life.   A friend of mine was feeling really down a few days ago and I tried to help her.   She said that it was easy for me to handle stuff because I was happy all the time, while she had to deal with this… (read more)
The Gift To Give To Your Favorite Artist
Posted by on January 25, 2010
This is a difficult post to write because I don’t want it to be taken wrong or be misconstrued so I sound like I am not grateful for the gifts that my patrons often bring to me.   Yes, I am touched by it, humbled by it and truly love the thought, but…   I am a traveling musician in a time when the airlines are charging me for each bag and then charging me for any weight overages on those bags,… (read more)
Opportunity Knocks - And You Don't Answer
Posted by on January 20, 2010
Years ago, I became acquainted with a remarkable talented and delightful person who wrote a national comic strip.   She came to my shows and was enormously supportive.   She told me that if she ever had an opportunity to help me, she would.     Needless to say, we’ve all heard that before but this time was different.  She was as good as her word, and hired me to score her Prime Time CBS… (read more)
Tuning Up--As Necessary in Life As In Guitar Playing
Posted by on January 18, 2010
Restringing and tuning my guitar the other day (something that I don’t do as often as I once had to thanks to the Elixir Strings (www.elixirstrings.com) and was struck by the similarities between that humble  activity and the business of living.   Putting on new strings is like starting a brand new life.   Every dead note, unwinding buzz is now gone.   Washed clean, just like a sunny morning… (read more)
Your Artistic Community
Posted by on January 15, 2010
Last night I performed at Lisa Nemzo’s (www.lisanemzo.com)  birthday party and peace benefit at Kulak’s Woodshed (www.kulakswoodshed.com) in North Hollywood, California.   She invited a pile of her favorite singer songwriters to come and perform and celebrate her birthday with her.     The room was packed and the audience was made up of music lovers and musicians, composers and dogs.    … (read more)
Who We Are and Where We Are In Life - The Connection
Posted by on January 14, 2010
I had quite a heated argument with a dear friend of mine a while back.   She was angry and felt, justifiably, that she had been treated badly.   As I listened to her as she unloaded her burden, I realized that there was a universal theme showing up in every situation she described.      We are in the only place we could be given who we are.     And I realized that we are right where we… (read more)
Booking - When To Do It?
Posted by on January 8, 2010
You’d think after decades of booking myself, I would have this down, but I am evidently an even slower learner than I have suspected.   For instance, last winter, almost a year ago, I played in the south.    The shows were all successful and the promoters were effusive in their praise and their insistence that they had never seen such a professional show.    Two of the promoters gave me quotes… (read more)
Patter Between Songs
Posted by on January 6, 2010
Patter Between Songs   A couple of weeks ago I was at a show and noticed how unengaging the between song patter was from the fellow on stage.    Fortunately, he had a self deprecating sense of humor that got him out before it actually got boring, but it made me realize that as an artist, you need to pay as much attention to what you are saying between songs as you do to the songs themselves.  … (read more)
Tempo, Time and Groove, They Are One, Grasshopper
Posted by on January 4, 2010
Last night my pal, John Batdorf and I did one of our combo solo/All Wood and Stones shows in Fallbrook, CA (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com  and www.allwoodandstones.com)   and as we hadn’t played together in a while, did a little warm up before the show.        We talked about how some of the songs tend to rush and for us both to keep an eye on the tempo.   It brought to mind what an old musician… (read more)
Happy Holidays, Datamusicata Will Be Back January 4th, 2010
Posted by on December 28, 2009
Hey kids, have a grand holiday season.   We'll be taking off until the new year.   Thanks for being with me this whole year.   We've had more than 600,000 hits and that is thrilling to me. You can take this time that we're not posting to catch up on any of the postings you missed.   There is a search box that will call up any article that you want, just by typing in a word or two of what you… (read more)
Attitude and the Zen of Doing
Posted by on December 18, 2009
I am down here in San Diego.  I did a show last night with Joe Rathburn (www.joerathburn.com) and stayed with my pal, Jimmy Duke, (www.darkthirty.com) where I had a wonderful house concert experience in October.   He is another fellow who simply knows how to do it.  Every base is covered and the artist only has to focus on doing the best show that they can.     In any event, we came back from… (read more)
House Concert - Critique of the Presenter
Posted by on December 14, 2009
I did a house concert last week (www.musicadelrio.org) and it came off without a hitch.  Everything just worked perfectly.   Not just from my end, but from the end of the concert producers as well.   After the show, the producer told me that he wanted me to give them a truthful critique of their house concert and what they could do to make it better, as they thought I would be brutally honest… (read more)
Social Obligations or A Great Show -- You Choose
Posted by on December 10, 2009
I recently did a series of concerts in areas where I have dear friends.    They were as gracious and accommodating as they could be, and they wanted to spend as much time with me as they could.    Friends do make you feel good, don’t they?   And that’s what I want to talk about today.   I was in the area to do concerts.   That’s why I was there and I had no days off, as I had to travel… (read more)
Your Guitar Can Save Your Life
Posted by on December 7, 2009
As this past fifteen days for me has been hospice for my father, his funeral and also the thanksgiving weekend, for which I am always the shopper and the cook, I didn’t practice my guitar very much.   Nothing like the daily routine that always recommend to everybody, but still, as a rule, I practice because I want to be able to do what ever I want on that guitar.     And I sing everyday because… (read more)
Who Puts the Bomp in Your Swagbag?
Posted by on December 3, 2009
Please forgive me being so remiss in my  datamusicata responsibilities.   I have been very much involved in my father’s death and reviewing my own life and nothing seemed very important compared to that.   So that’s what I want to talk about today.   What we do with what we have.   I was thinking a lot about life and what it’s for; what… (read more)
A Departure
Posted by on November 28, 2009
As a musician, I have been attempting to give you the benefit of every situation and experience that I have had.   Last Wednesday, I received a call from my sisters that my father had gone into the hospital and that the doctors were having difficulty raising the levels of his vital signs.   He had a quintuple by-pass operations ten years ago and was now 87.   They felt it… (read more)
Follow Your Muse or Be True To Your School
Posted by on November 25, 2009
I have roughs of nine of the songs that I am working on for my next CD release, Backstage At the Resurrection.  I brought them with me on the road so that I could listen to them critically and add or take away what I thought would make them better.   I am actually a proponent of the take away school.   Your rewrite should be 10 percent less that it was before the rewrite, according… (read more)
Commitment to Your Muse
Posted by on November 23, 2009
Flying back from the Northeast Region Folk Alliance (www.nerfa.org) I watched a film called Julia/Julie, starring Meryl Streep (www.merylstreep.com) as Julia Child, the famous chef.  (www.pbs.org/juliachild/ )     The story itself was wonderful as Child did not even take a French cooking lesson until she was 49, so she started late in this new career.   For those of you who… (read more)
Textures in Arrangement or the Lack Thereof
Posted by on November 18, 2009
I wrote this post last Friday, but didn’t get a chance to post it til today:   I am at the Northeast Regional Folk Alliance here in upstate New York and I have seen literally dozens of people perform.    All of them gave me something to write about, and one in particular gave me my idea for a column today.     A good songwriter with a true voice and interesting… (read more)
Stage Fright
Posted by on November 17, 2009
I am on a plane back to Los Angeles after attending the Northeast Folk Alliance Conference (http://www.nerfa.org/) , as many of you already know. At the conference I had the opportunity to perform on their mainstage.   The best thing about that is that nothing is competing with the attendees attention.   That’s the only thing scheduled.       Consequently,… (read more)
Song Entre - What Draws People Into Your Song?
Posted by on November 9, 2009
This past week end I heard many songwriters at the Far-West Folk Alliance Conference (www.far-west.org) and one of the things that stood out amongst the really great lyric writers there was the way the first line that they sang lured you into their songs.   I noticed this while I was listening to Chuck Pyle (www.chuckpyle.com) and then Dirk Hamilton (www.dirkhamilton.com), and the experience… (read more)
Practice Today?
Posted by on November 5, 2009
Tomorrow I am driving down to Irvine to the Far West Folk Alliance (www.far-west.org) , where I will be doing a premier showcase to try to convince people that I am worth of some work and some recognition. Since I began Datamusicata, I have been trying to think of everything that might help you and may have appeared like someone who had it completely together.  Nothing could be further from the… (read more)
Norton Buffalo Passes
Posted by on November 2, 2009
Year ago, I was on the road with Bonnie Raitt, doing some northern California dates and a harmonica player by the name of Norton Buffalo (www.norton-buffalo.com)  sat in.   He was brilliant, musical and a really fine fellow.   Even though I was a relative unknown, he treated me like a peer.  He was gracious, accessible and fun. Through the years our paths crossed at various… (read more)
Melodies - Experimentation With Chord Progressions
Posted by on October 27, 2009
Friday we talked about melodies and how the instrument that they are created on can restrict the melody.   Today we’re going to go the other way and hear how the instrument can expand the melody and it’s emotional impact.      (clipped from the newspaper and used by permission of Universal Syndicate) If you have a melody, written or borrowed., let’s start… (read more)
Melodies - And What Restricts Them
Posted by on October 23, 2009
Last night I saw a wonderful film entitled Songcatcher.   It is the story of a female musicologist who goes up into Appalachia in the first decade of the 20th century and discovers this treasure trove of Scottish and English ballads that have been unaltered by the progress of the late 19th and early 20th century.     Using a grammapone, she records these mountain people singing… (read more)
Young Songwriters Biggest Mistake?
Posted by on October 16, 2009
What do you think is the biggest misconception or mistake of young songwriters?   A question asked of Tom Russell, veteran songwriter:   (Laughs.) I could go on and on. At South By Southwest, I wasn't there, but Little Steven got up and made this speech. People asked me if I wrote it for him. He said: You people come from all over the world, and you're all trying to network your way… (read more)
Distance Yourself From Your Work
Posted by on October 14, 2009
As most of you know, I’ve been in Europe for the past three weeks, enjoying a well earned vacation with Eveline.   I spent several hours of each of the previous ten days sitting on the balony of the Spendour of the Seas as we cruised the Adriatic from Venice to Mykonos and back, playing my guitar and singing.   I had been working on my new CD, Backstage at the Resurrection all… (read more)
Travel Tips - Preparations For Going and Coming
Posted by on October 12, 2009
As you know, I just returned from a little over three weeks in Europe.   It was a fantastic time and we arrived home late Saturday night after traveling for twenty four hours from the port of Venice to Paris to Los Angeles.    When we got  home we were friend and simply went to bed without doing any unpacking or  preparing for the morning.    Consequently,… (read more)
Getting A Guitar on De Plane, Boss, De Plane!
Posted by on September 25, 2009
I am sitting in a beautiful garden here in the little village of Waalre, Holland, waiting for my wife to return by bicycle from Einhoven, the major city close by.   I don’t know how long I will have access to a computer so I wanted to write a post today while I had the chance.   I I brought a guitar with me, of course, so that I could keep my up my chops while I am on vacation.… (read more)
A Three Week Hiatus for Datamusicata
Posted by on September 21, 2009
Just wanted to let you all know that I will be wandering around Europe from Amsterdam to Athens and all points in between for the next three weeks.   I am not taking my laptop and will post when I can.   I've got Stephen taking care of things at Beachwood and some dear friends staying at the house so that everything is covered on the home front. I'll post from the continent, as… (read more)
A Road Book--What Is It?
Posted by on September 21, 2009
I am in North Carolina this weekend; one concert inland and then two more concerts on the weekend itself over in New Bern and Beaufort.   These two small coastal cities are beautiful and charming and the weather has been ideal. Prior to this I had been sent an email by the promoters giving me all the information.   I printed it out and put it in my suitcase (I thought).   … (read more)
Anxiety - How Do You Handle It, Part Two
Posted by on September 14, 2009
So I bought the house on the spot.    And because I was a veteran, I went to the government to get the G.I. Bill.  Never realizing what an incredible bureaucratic nightmare I was getting into.   The bank approved everything and though we were waiting for the G.I. Bill approval, the bank and the previous owners let me move in and just pay them rent until the loan cleared. I… (read more)
Anxiety - How Do You Handle It?
Posted by on September 10, 2009
Anxiety.   How do you handle it?     I got this question from a friend who has been on the fringes of the biz for years.   Took the big leap when he was young and got a major label deal, but then just lost his steam somehow.   We were talking about anxiety, stage fright, loss of confidence and it got me to thinking about the first (of only two, so maybe… (read more)
Grooves; What Makes A Good One?
Posted by on September 4, 2009
On Wednesday night, Eveline and I went downtown to the Nokia Theatre to hear Hall & Oates.    I’ve always thought that their recordings were infectious and in terms of grooves, just undeniable.    I’ve never heard You’re Making My Dreams Come True loud enough.     It just makes me happy to hear it and I can’t stop moving.  … (read more)
Preparing For A Showcase
Posted by on September 1, 2009
I’ve just been chosen to perform on the Mainstage Showcases at the North Eastern Regional Folk Alliance Conference (www.nerfa.org) and the Far West Folk Alliance (www.far-west.org) in November. In all my years being associated with the Folk Alliance, this is the first time I’ve been chosen for this and I’m thrilled. It happens thefirst and second weekends in November and I’m… (read more)
Writer's Block - How Do You Get Past It?
Posted by on August 26, 2009
A Facebook acquaintance asked me about writer’s block and so did another musician friend of mine, so I think that the universe is telling me to write about how I get through it.   Writer’s block can and does happen to everyone, but there are a variety of things that you can do to protect against it and to deal with it when it shows up.    First off, keep a notebook of ideas.… (read more)
Recording - Getting A Good Take
Posted by on August 25, 2009
For those of you who are following this epistle, you know that I have been recording a new CD, Backstage At The Resurrection, and last week and the week before, had guitar players coming in.   I’d like to talk about what I think is the best way to get the best out of your musicians. All musicians, like all people, don’t ask of themselves what others would ask of them. It’s human… (read more)
Songwriter Telesummit August 21st and 22, 1009
Posted by on August 21, 2009
This weekend I am taking part in a telesummit music conference for songwriters. A whole bunch of us folks who actually make our living with our music will be available for consultation. Go to http://www.artofthesong.org for details. I’ll be available at 4:30 to 5:30 pm PST on Saturday, August 21st, if you want to specifically talk to me.   This is a further extension of the whole lessons/learning/teaching… (read more)
Music Lessons - Should You Take Them, and When?
Posted by on August 20, 2009
Taking Lessons – Should You and When? Now into my second month of guitar lessons, I had an interesting realization regarding lessons and when to take them.   As I have been playing guitar for forty years, I have evolved my own style, my own approach, my own sound, if you will. Edge, the guitar player in U2 (www.U2.com), never had any lessons and his guitar playing is one of the two main… (read more)
Performing - What Went Right? What went Wrong?
Posted by on August 17, 2009
    The guests included the jazz singer, Mark Winkler (www.markwinklermusic.com), the jazz pianist Frank Zottoli (www.naxos.com/artistinfo/Frank_Zottoli/4765.htm) and the lovely Pattie Brooks (www.pattiebrooks.net/) as well as my bride, Mark’s partner and some close friends of Chris and Ben’s.   After the dinner, we retired to Chris’s studio and proceeded to perform… (read more)
Les Paul and I Play McCabes
Posted by on August 15, 2009
  In August of 1972, I recorded my first album as James Lee Stanley, recording artist. I had actually begun my recording career years earlier in high school, when Frank Guida of LeGrand Records (Gary U S Bonds, Daddy G and the Church Street Five) signed my sisters and I after seeing us on a TV Telethon. I remember that Jayne Mansfield was the celebrity that was there while I was there and I couldn’t… (read more)
The Perfect Recording - A Quest
Posted by on August 12, 2009
  When I was coming up, most popular artists recorded a single and then, if they got lucky, the cut went on Dick Clark’s American Bandstand (www.dickclark.com) and the kids voted on it. If it got a respectable score, then they started playing it. If they played it enough, then it became a hit, and the artist would get to come on the show and be interviewed by Dick himself.   Invariably… (read more)
Lyric Writing - A Look At Paul Simon's America
Posted by on August 10, 2009
  I did a column about writing lyrics and rhyming the words as they couple with the melody. I was talking about how the melody implies where something should rhyme and to ignore that means you have something either more brilliant up your sleeve ...or you’re an amateur songwriter and your audience can tell.   But there are no hard fast rules when it comes to creativity and sometimes… (read more)
Three Note Chords on Guitar
Posted by on August 8, 2009
  The guitar lesson that I had this week went over chord fingering for the guitar but this time, instead of playing the full chord, we concentrated on just using two or three strings.   By way of example, when you play a barred G chord, you have your index finger across all the strings on the third fret, and the three remaining fingers make what is a basic E configuration. But because it’s… (read more)
Bass - Developing A Compelling Bass Part
Posted by on August 4, 2009
  I want to talk about developing a bass part for a track today. One thing you have to remember is that for every rule that exists for these kinds of things there is an example of breaking that rule succeeding.  So consider this and then do what you feel.   Feel really is the most important thing and the bass and the kick drum working in tandem really help to achieve a feel that is… (read more)
Recording Tips - Before You Start
Posted by on July 31, 2009
  As I am in the middle of recording “backstage at the resurrection” it seemed appropriate to give you all some recording tips that you may not know.   When you begin make certain that you are already warmed up as a musician or vocalist, so that when the red light goes on you are ready.   For vocalists this means doing all that stuff that may seem silly but truly makes a… (read more)
Your CD - Who Did You Record It For?
Posted by on July 27, 2009
  I have been working all day on my new CD (with a break for the gym and a break for my ears). And as I worked, I started fooling around with some synthesizers again. Haven’t used any on my recordings for years, but I felt like hearing something different and it made me realize what I have been doing as a recording artist these past seven years or so.   Because I tour and perform solo,… (read more)
Booking Tips
Posted by on July 24, 2009
Received this post the other day and I thought we could all benenfit by considering the questions asked. Here’s the post:   How are you? I try to stay connected through your blogs and advice. Thank you for sharing the wisdom! I have a question...I've been working hard on stepping into the next level of performing. I managed a few festivals this year, I am working on breaking into house… (read more)
Chords and Inversions, Further Discussion
Posted by on July 22, 2009
  I was rehearsing with a wonderful guitar player the other day and as we were playing the song for the first time, I was calling out the chords. I played a standard E minor and then playing the simple D min finger configuration, played another inversion of the E minor on the third fret. (If you play a simple D minor and then, keeping the same fingering, slide it up two frets, you are now playing… (read more)
Lead Guitar Using Chord Fingering for Guidance
Posted by on July 17, 2009
  I had another guitar lesson on Wednesday and Chuck brought up an interesting way to structure leads.   Earlier I had suggested to you that you learn all the inversions of the chords on the neck of your guitar. Find every C chord, D chord, etc in every position on the neck. And you would find that the fingering for an F on the first fret becomes, on the fifth fret, an A.   Well, what… (read more)
Repetition and Practice - Necessary Hurdles
Posted by on July 13, 2009
I had my second guitar lesson last Wednesday. It was my intention to talk about how I took advantage of the lesson and came right home and went over the very things that I had learned.   But life took over. I came back to the house, there were little emergencies to take care of and when I finally got to look over the lesson, it was Saturday.   So my first recommendation today is that when… (read more)
Songwriting - Melodies and Rhyme schemes
Posted by on July 8, 2009
  A friend of mine and a good songwriter was having some trouble with a tune and we got to talking about it.   He had written the melody first and was applying the words to that melody and he had a rhyme scheme that he was intent on using, but for some reason it wasn’t working out.   As I listened to the tune, I realized that while he was following his lyric rhyme scheme faithfully,… (read more)
Criticism - How Do I Handle It and How Do I Use It?
Posted by on July 6, 2009
I received an interesting phone call this morning from a friend and veteran artist of dozens of recordings. He wanted to send me his new CD before it goes to manufacturing because he had been getting different feedback from everyone he’d played it for.I told him that everyone has an opinion, but that he must serve his vision of the recording, but he still felt a little confused and unsure of… (read more)
Lessons - Should I Take Them?
Posted by on July 4, 2009
This past Wednesday, I started taking guitar lessons. I wanted to learn some different scales and chord progressions, chordal relationships and how to write tablature, as many people are always asking me if there is tablature for my guitar work. Sometime in the future, there will be tablature for all of my solo guitar orchestrations.But the reason I bring it up is, I’ve been playing the guitar… (read more)
Tempos - How Do I Choose the Best One?
Posted by on July 1, 2009
I had a young songwriter ask me how to choose the best tempo for the song and I thought that was a good question and a good topic for today’s column.Choosing a tempo is critical to the success of the song in terms of listeners getting it. As a songwriter who writes primarily with the guitar, I frequently have a feel that sort of starts the process off and then I tend to keep the song at that… (read more)
A Songwriting Discussion of Titles
Posted by on June 29, 2009
I’d like to talk a little bit more about song writing today, as I did a show this weekend and talked to various folks about different aspects of the craft.People frequently ask, “what comes first, the music or the words?” and of course, there is no right answer. Sometimes the words, sometimes the music, sometimes all at once, sometimes just a musical or lyrical phrase that sticks… (read more)
Arranging For Solo Guitar, Continued
Posted by on June 26, 2009
  I am just taking a break practicing for tomorrow night’s concert at the Boney Mountain Concert Series in Newberry Park. I have been practicing every song from the Eternal Contradiction because I intend to do that album for the first set, and I’ve written a show around it. So I know what I will be saying when and what songs will come in what order. I have discovered that a structured… (read more)
A House Concert Presenter Weighs In
Posted by on June 24, 2009
As house concerts have become a bigger and bigger part of the acoustic musician experience, I have talked with several presenters and gotten their feedback on what they expect, and I have already written a piece on what they performer expects of the presenter, but here is what one house concert presenter sent to me:   “After 7-1/2 years of hosting house concerts in our home, we’ve… (read more)
Back It Up!
Posted by on June 22, 2009
Welcome to another Monday. I’ve spent the last five days wrestling with my laptop (new) trying to get whatever worm/virus/caca that got in there to leave and allow me to go back to just using it effortlessly. So far, I am screaming at the wind.   Which brings us to today’s post. No matter what you are doing. No matter how important or unimportant it is. No matter how little you change… (read more)
Where Do Melodies Come From?
Posted by on June 16, 2009
Got this post the other day from a friend and I thought it was worth addressing here on Datamusicata.“Not to change the subject...but I will anyway Though this might be more a Datamusicata thing.At work the other day we were talking about music and the writing of it and I was wondering HOW you (or anyone) writes music. I mean I know how to do notation, and I understand using words to describe… (read more)
The Audience Boos You. What Do You Do?
Posted by on June 15, 2009
So you walk out on stage as your name is announced and the crowd goes into wild rejection. Boos, “we hate you!” “F%#k you” and you haven’t played a not yet. What do you do?I know it sounds like a nightmare, but it has happened and will happen and in fact, has happened to me; actually more than once. Here’s the story:I walked on stage at a theater in the midwest.… (read more)
Guarantees, Getting Them; Living Up To Them
Posted by on June 11, 2009
Wow, you know you are wearing too many hats, when you write a blog post and then forget to post it. Sorry. Those two weeks of one nighters with John Batdorf (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com) really wore me out, I guess. Anyhow, someone asked me about guarantees and the ramifications and I thought that this might be helpful...What do you do when you have been given say, a thousand dollar guarantee, and you… (read more)
House Guest's Ten Most Important Things To Remember
Posted by on June 5, 2009
These are, I believe, the ten most important things for you to remember when you are a house guest. This especially includes when you are the performer at a house concert as well; because when you do a house concert you are frequently also a guest for the night.1. Keep the host in the loop. Call in advance, let them know when you are coming. If you are going to be late, or early, let them know. Don’t… (read more)
A Visit to CF Martin in Nazareth, Pennsylvania
Posted by on June 4, 2009
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of touring the CF Martin Guitar Factory in Nazareth, Pa with my pal, John Batdorf (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com)Anyone who plays acoustic guitar owes it to their self to make the journey to eastern Pennsylvania and experience this commitment to excellence. (www.martinguitar.com)I was lucky enough to go there with John, who has a life long admirer in Dick Boak, the Director… (read more)
Back Jack and Do It Again
Posted by on May 31, 2009
It’s been a week since I posted. I took Memorial Day off, because I’m a veteran and because I thought I could get away with it. Wednesday found John Batdorf (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com) and I driving like maniacs to Rockville, Maryland to play the Focus Series that Scott Moore puts on. Everyone there did a fantastic job (thanks David); good sound; good people/volunteers, good crowd.But we… (read more)
Rehearsal Preparation--Why It Is Necessary
Posted by on May 22, 2009
I am performing twice this coming weekend. Saturday I will be doing a solo show to support my New Traces of the Old Road CD and my Live in Tehachapi double CD release, and Friday I will be doing a show with my partner, John Batdorf (www.johnbatdorfmusic.com). We will be doing an All Wood and Stones benefit concert for the Boy Scouts (as well as a few tunes from each of us solo).Because John and I… (read more)
Authority and Attitude - How Far Can You Take It?
Posted by on May 20, 2009
Last night I turned on the TV to watch a comedian who is very hot right now. For those of you who don’t know it, I have toured with Steven Wright, Bill Cosby, and Robin Williams and do a considerable amount of comedy in my shows, so it is of interest to me what the latest comedy spin is.I watched a fellow named Dane Cook, for as long as I could stand it and finally had to surrender and turn… (read more)
Media Lists and Maintaining Contacts With Them
Posted by on May 19, 2009
I just finished ten days in the midwest. My schedule was to fly into Chicago on Friday, May 8th; pick up a rental car and be out of the airport by 2:30 pm for a ninety mile drive to Three Oaks, Michigan, where I was doing a concert at the Acorn Theater (www.acorntheater.com). They had arranged a live radio appearance on the local radio station to promote the concert on Saturday, May 9th.The radio… (read more)
What Do I Wear On Television?
Posted by on May 13, 2009
Today in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I was on the FOX-TV Morning Show with Mark Concannon. I had to be singing bel canto by 8:30 am. As I have only been out here in the midwest from Los Angeles, that would be 6:30 am my time. I don’t know about you, but I sound like geese farts at 6:30 am, so I got up at 3:30 am my time and took a shower (because the steam helps lubricate your singing pipes—and… (read more)