tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59230782008-08-21T18:40:16.092-05:00Jimmy Bear's Indie Music BlogJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comBlogger132125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-76022794045015262082008-08-21T11:26:00.003-05:002008-08-21T11:35:00.206-05:00Elvin Bishop joins up at MOG!
Elvin Bishop has joined up as a member of mog.com:
http://mog.com/elvinbishop
Awesome!
If you don't know much about Elvin and wonder why I'm glad he joined, look at these links to find out more about him:
http://www.elvinbishopmusic.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvin_BishopJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-84896695577952534172008-01-09T14:16:00.000-05:002008-01-09T23:35:31.219-05:00The death of High Fidelity?I don't think High Fidelity is dead. I think music (and recordings in general) have been "Walmartized" a fair bit.
Every artist I know cares about the end result of their music in recordings. Every music engineer and technician I've ever met cares very deeply about how well the end product sounds.
Yes, we have lots of folks "aiming down" for best-fit to digital devices, quicker download times, Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-55672652582586244512008-01-07T11:30:00.000-05:002008-01-07T11:33:41.958-05:00I miss themI miss minds and souls like Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
I am, however, glad that there are so many independents out there making their music and sharing it with the world.
Right now, it seems as though Disco is returning (not literally, but effectively - with the resurgence of paid-for-pop).
Listen to people that aren't played 100 times an hour on pop radio. Listen to alternative Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-33431103740774299962007-12-05T13:53:00.001-05:002008-01-02T13:31:25.619-05:00Derek Trucks, The Slide, and LifeDerek Trucks (and his awesome spouse and bandmates) is absolutely awesome.
I've never met a more humble, sincere, likeable person - who makes such fundamentally wonderful and creative sounds.
I don't go and buy CDs every day. Although I listen to myriad types of music each day, I don't often get to drop in sounds that are profoundly "favorite set" altering.
I've got two Derek Trucks Band CDs Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-17072968935029816892007-11-30T12:42:00.000-05:002007-11-30T13:01:30.915-05:00While I'm ranting about perfection... ;-)It costs WAY over $100K (a minimum, really) to produce a well-produced album.
That's a BARGAIN, considering the skills, time, equipment, and effort required to do a great set of recordings and mastering.
But, that's a huge barrier to amateurs. But, surprisingly, so many have found ways to make really good recordings - with help, some good low-cost equipment, and lots of trial-and-error.
Don't Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-33019141718388840892007-11-15T10:22:00.000-05:002007-11-15T10:28:51.639-05:00It takes a community (and a lot of money)It takes a league of people, machines, time, expertise, and money - to make a professionally-cut album.
Bob Dylan and Sir Elton John both think that today's music is over-processed, over-polished. Many other musicians say they can't compete without hugely-edited music (to the tune of a minimum of $125K). Musicians who don't have the name- and brand-punch of Dylan and John don't seem to have muchJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-89843115014655297372007-11-05T08:23:00.000-05:002007-11-05T08:37:22.158-05:00Inspiring the next guitar legendWe've had Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, David Gilmour, B.B. King, Robert Johnson, Steve Vai, and so many others (how do you make a list like that short?). Thanks to these folks, we've got a wide and diverse library of sounds and musical emotions from which to choose.
Can we afford to sit and enjoy the ones we have and let it go at that?
No.
Inspire your kids and neighbors' kids to play. Let themJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-12093814053698337702007-10-24T16:22:00.000-05:002007-10-24T16:29:15.940-05:00Rest In Peace, MOGger CrashPryorIf you didn't know about Chris Pryor, you should. Read his thoughts from his MOG, it's worth the time and the thoughts.
http://mog.com/CrashPryor.
Goodbye Crash. Thanks.Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-1776135433746250812007-10-17T10:19:00.000-05:002007-10-17T10:40:30.767-05:00Yet another reason why Carlos Santana is awesomeI've always liked the music and personality of Carlos Santana. He's always had something to share and something to say. He's given us tons of great, memorable sounds.
For the past while, Carlos has been making even more interesting music. He's not resting on his laurels, or sitting in ivory towers looking down on the vast landscape of amateurs below his stature (like so many artists at the top Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-67681178796127816792007-10-10T14:15:00.000-05:002007-10-10T14:27:30.837-05:00Radiohead - Awesome Pay-what-you-value New Release!Radiohead releases a new album, and does it with a twist...
Read about it here: http://www.radiohead.com/deadairspace/.
The group is allowing the listener to download the album, and lets the listener decide how much she/he thinks it is worth (is it $0 or is it $20?).
I honestly don't know how much they're going to take in on this. But I have this to say: GO FOR IT! What a wonderful thing to doJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-53798964048031536352007-09-14T13:34:00.000-05:002007-09-14T21:02:48.885-05:00To think again. Paint the story for your ears and mindSomething from my previous post.
Thinking.
Listening.
Going on a journey with music and the mind.
Listen to:
Blue Stream On Yellow Stone.
Think of this:
The water is clean, cold, blue, clear, sparkling.
The sky is a bright, deep cobalt blue - with small wispy white clouds.
The air is clean, sweet, crisp, and smells like heaven.
The river flows over yellow and tan rocks and boulders, falling Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-69812254383389204482007-09-13T21:54:00.000-05:002007-09-13T21:58:50.670-05:00Would Led Zeppelin, Yes, or Pink Floyd make it today?Imagine, just for a moment, Led Zeppelin, Yes, and Pink Floyd - as they were when they were just starting out.
Imagine, just for a moment that those many lads tried to get a contract with today's musical boardrooms and video producers.
Would they slam the world onto its ears, as they did so many years ago?
Think. Imagine. Wonder.
Listen to Indie and under-produced stuff.
You'll be glad you Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-63104726405404752012007-09-10T11:44:00.000-05:002007-09-10T11:52:35.957-05:00Let's talk about Britney Spears. Again.Britney Spears was part of the celebration at the MTV VMA ceremonies (I actually remember when MTV had MUSIC VIDEOS. How cool is that?)
(Here's a link to part of her involvement in the evening's festivities, opens a new window.)
Reading the news entries (about her performance) were just exactly what I expected. The news and media only talked about her fitness, her body shape, and whether or not Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-5739685058324355972007-09-04T09:23:00.000-05:002007-09-04T09:32:48.342-05:00Why Ringo Starr is a great role modelI watched an interview of Ringo Starr last evening.
He's affable, interesting, very smart, self-deprecating, funny, and seems like he's a nice guy all around.
And he makes good music.
And he writes interesting songs.
And he doesn't live in an ivory tower somewhere eschewing interviews - can you imagine answering the same questions over and over again for decades? He answers questions with Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-60176879202612564602007-08-31T11:10:00.000-05:002007-08-31T11:14:47.532-05:00Shameless Plug: Voiceover Voice Acting Spoken HereNow that I'm starting to exercise some vocal-recording chops, I thought I'd plug my work... All three of my readers will appreciate this:
Jimmy Bear Pearson/William Thomas Frederick Confesses to being a Mother Pheasant Plucker.
:-)Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-43484481767324193492007-08-29T15:24:00.000-05:002007-08-29T15:47:46.286-05:00Perfect is rarely musicalWhen MIDI and sampling appeared on the musical scene (separately, of course), there was great interest and there was great concern.
The people (and some musicians) thought, "Neat! That's wonderful!" Others thought, "NO ONE WILL EVER TAKE THE PLACE OF LIVE MUSICIANS!"
The truth is that sampling and MIDI are neat and wonderful. And there will never be a true replacement for the human touch in Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-59496196786050940542007-08-23T09:06:00.000-05:002007-08-29T15:21:31.403-05:00Dad Bands and Mom BandsThere has been a wonderful resurgence of garage bands.
But in an unexpected place.
Folks who chose to make a living via conventional means, raise kids, and have a stable lifestyle are getting financially OK enough to buy some gear, take some time, and play LOUD music, country music, bluegrass music, and so much more.
Dad bands and Mom bands, with their thirty-, forty-, fifty-, and Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-54491940432214117392007-08-10T14:42:00.000-05:002007-08-10T14:47:51.631-05:00Pearl Jam, AT&T, Censorship, and Marguerite ReardonI won't re-argue the (many) valid points posted on Pearl Jam's bloggy comments here (opens new window), but I wanted to reinforce one thing. In the blog entry, Marguerite Reardon is quoted:
"Any provider that blocks access to content is inviting customers to find another provider." (Marguerite Reardon, Staff Writer, CNET News.com Published: March 21, 2006, 2:23 PM PST)."
Exactly. Censoring Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-71548602124758784992007-08-06T14:06:00.001-05:002007-08-06T14:07:44.830-05:00The Digital Music RevolutionThe Digital Music Revolution is not devolution.
It is evolution.
Analog is visceral.
Digital is accessible.
Analog is warm.
Digital is cool.
The Digital music revolution is not devolution, it is evolution.Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-85547965761668929462007-08-06T13:33:00.000-05:002007-08-06T13:48:50.195-05:00Sir Elton John - and Homespun Music - Why Less-Than-Perfect recordings matterI'm a massive and HUGE of Sir Elton John's music. I have enjoyed his music since the 70s, and will always have a place in my heart for the wonderful music gifts he has given us.
From "Friends" to the glory days, to the present, Sir Elton has been a consummate entertainer, arranger, and force in popular music. His impact on the musical landscape is inescapable, indelible, and truly wonderful. Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-83895983495518130332007-07-24T17:29:00.001-05:002007-07-25T12:45:45.667-05:00Back from vacation... and AmateursHad a nice and refreshing vacation last week... Enjoyed some time in the mountains...
Spent some time at the Woodlands BBQ place... We listened to a few folks singing their hearts out - singing cover songs with just a guitar or two. Those folks make live music special. I'm thankful that no-one is hunting them down for royalties on those cover songs.
---------------------------------
On another Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-63409835800919981502007-06-18T15:59:00.000-05:002007-06-18T16:05:02.029-05:00Rumors About The One Bear BandRumors are flying that the One Bear Band is plagued with in-fighting and artistic differences.
It is important to note that: although I do wish there were actually more of me (sometimes), I'd like to make it clear that I've been getting along with myself in (more or less) perfect harmony since I formed all four of me into a band in 2004. I have no desire to break up with myself any time soon.
Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-90318808603631995142007-06-12T14:48:00.000-05:002007-06-12T15:39:33.515-05:00The compounding interest of music(Off-topic: Sold TWO CDs Yesterday... Paint With Sound... Yay! It's one of my very favorites. )
On-topic:
In my very unscientific estimation, we have tens of thousands of people making music in the world. From shower singing to stage screaming to streetcorner strumming - on and on. People have made music for eons.
With the interposition of the "Internets Tubes", fairly affordable video/audio Jim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-37298851527713682662007-06-06T13:33:00.001-05:002007-06-06T14:16:02.648-05:00PRTQ, Community, and How Music UnitesThe Public Radio Talent Quest has been a very good thing. Lots of contestants spread their wings for the first time - and many experienced folks showed us newbies (particularly newbies such as myself) what talent and experience really sound like.
As with most things, I feel a strong need to relate my experience to music (surprised?).
I recently participated in a contest where contestants playedJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5923078.post-74286488428873576332007-06-06T13:13:00.000-05:002007-06-06T13:49:22.126-05:00A Public Radio Infusion Is Coming! Beary Cool!Hello folks! I wanted to share some thoughts about the Public Radio Talent Quest. This is the first of two posts - I want to keep the two rambles separate.
The first round of the Public Radio Talent Quest is finished and decided. Ten awesome, energetic, thoughtful, and very talented individuals have made it to the second round (including a couple of my absolute favorite entries!).
I suppose andJim Pearsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04204754590231846513noreply@blogger.com