My New Quest: To Play Summerfest in MIlwaukee, WI

It's time...

I've been quite delinquent blogging about my own band, more so because I've been busy promoting it via Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace. But here you are: I present, The Eastern Gate.

I'm actually quite surprised @ the success of the project. We recorded, produced, designed the artwork, and promoted it ourselves, starting last spring. The album was finally released early January, and we shot to the #200 spot on Amazon.com for Top Albums sold and the #1 spot for Movers and Shakers. We've had newspapers write about us, blogs post about us, and people demanding shows. I'm pretty pretty proud of it. Check it out :)

Two Amazing New Bands

White Winter Hymnal from Grandchildren on Vimeo.

Also, check out Yeasayer.

I missed Fleet Foxes' show because I found out who they were last night and only heard them tonight, while they're playing a sold out show at 7th Street Entry.a

Yeasayer is playing on July 30th at Urban Outfitters in Uptown. I'm not going to miss it.

Michael Gulezian

The first, and only, time thus far that I have had the fortunate chance of seeing Michael Gulezian play live, I was absolutely floored by his both his virtuosic capabilities as a guitarist and a performer, and secondly by his humility and graciousness as a human being on stage. I actually stumbled on his performance by accident. I had seen fliers advertising his upcoming show at the student center of my college, and had no interest in attending. It wasn't until the night of the performance, when I was walking through the student center, that I saw a huge crowd gathered and a man with a guitar sitting on a stage smiling and thanking everyone for their applause after his previous number. Since I didn't have anything else to do that night, I decided I would stop in and listen, soon putting two and two together that this was the man that had been advertised on all of the orange fliers that covered the campus walls. I was hooked.

In between each song, he would say a little introduction about the piece, or he would talk to the audience in general, as well as teach us the mechanics of how his guitar was made. He had several microphones and guitar pickups in order to capture every audible nuance of the guitar, in turn, projecting a more full and vibrant sound. I was amazed at how much sound he was able to produce out of one guitar, and when you close your eyes, it's a sound bigger than the man and the guitar.

After the performance I went over the shake his hand, bought both cd's that he was selling with all of the cash that I had in my wallet at the time, "Language of the Flame," and "Concert at St. Olaf College," and spoke with him for a few minutes about his music. Since then, even if I have not been able to make it to his performances I have encouraged anyone who is able to attend.

Check out his myspace. You will not be disappointed. There are very few musicians these days that create music that speaks to the soul in the way that his man's music does. To see what I mean, check out his rendition of the familiar folk song, "Oh Suzannah." Also, listen to his piece, "Michael Hedges Goes to Heaven." The experience is other-worldly.

(Photo courtesy of FrettedFriends.com)

"The Making-of "House of Cards" Video"

This video gave me a new appreciation for the song, "House of Cards," off of Radiohead's "In Rainbows" release.

Video courtesy of radiohead

Presenting Joe Cocker, courtesy of Michael Gulezian

So I was chatting with amazing folk guitarist Michael Gulezian on Facebook tonight, and he showed me this YouTube video. You'll know the song, but the hysterics are in the video itself. Enjoy!

I think I'm going to do my next music review on Michael Gulezian. Until then, check out his myspace, friend him on Facebook, and whatever you do, fall in love with his music.

Just One More Reason...

...why Radiohead is so cool.

Some NIN fans side with Trent Reznor's criticisms and get upset that after Radiohead practically gave away their 2007 release, In Rainbows, they went on to distribute it through retail outlets.

The way I see it, both bands want to create music and are looking for new ways to get it to the consumer. One wants to make money off of it still, and the other doesn't really care.

Whether you side with Reznor or not, you have to admit that the Oxford band did a great service to the music industry by marketing it the way they did. For that, they will go down in music history as one of the most dominant creative musical forces of the early 21st century, as well as for their innovation and business saavy by working with the consumer instead of trying to sue him. Does anybody remember what Metallica did to Napster? Yeah...about that.

(Photo courtesy of fnxradio.com)