Gestapo Tacticts Against Gibson, Drum Manufacturers Could Be Next

On August 31, 2011 · 0 Comments

Gibson has been raided by Federal authorities once again.  Previous raids were centered on Madagascar wood that was possibly illegal.  No one has been charged, so evidence must not have been sufficient.

These raids are centered around trade laws and ridiculous regulations that are presented as being environmental in nature but in fact do nothing to protect the environment.  Part of the problem here is that India’s laws have retroactively changed to make any non-indigenous working of the wood to be illegal.  Due to trade agreements we have signed on to, we are subject to India’s retroactive law changes.

Not that the laws are clear in any way.  Gibson’s chairman and CEO, Henry Juszkiewicz, said on The Alex Jones Show yesterday that he is not fully clear on what charges he faces.  He is actually suing just to be told what exactly he is under investigation for.

Piano manufacturers have also been targeted, drum manufacturers are probably next.  Barricade your doors, DW!

Here is one article on the Gibson matter.

Folks I suggest you take notice of the tyranny that is occurring everywhere around us.  This is just one example.  Go to infowars.com

Alex Van Halen Rocks

On April 28, 2011 · 0 Comments

Here is part of a 2008 article on Alex Van Halen.  I am posting this because of the author’s acknowledgement of John Bonham’s tremendous infuence on Van Halen. 

Van Halen is, in my opinion, one of the great rock drummers.  One of the reasons for this is a swagger, a swing, a thing in Van Halen’s drumming that is not present in most of today’s rock drummers.  I think it is partially the Bohham influence responsible for this positive aspect to Alex’s playing. 

Strangely the Bonham influence on Alex Van Halen is rarely discussed.  Perhaps it is too obvious to mention?  Enjoy.

http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001641/Alex%20Van%20Halen

 

   “Alex Van Halen never cited John Bonham as a pure influence, but the sound was always there. Perhaps more so than any drummer from the early 1980s to the present, Alex Van Halen inherited the Bonham mantle.

Van Halen’s drum work was, like Bonham, built from the ground up, with the deeply entrenched ability (his dad was a big band musician) to swing a rock groove like a tornado tearing down a city street.”

 

Vinnie Colaiuta | Interviews | Percussioner International, 1987

On August 12, 2010 · 0 Comments

This interview is with Vinnie is golden! From 1987, most of his wise words and assessments in this interview apply today. Those that don't are prophetic.

Particularly interesting is his discussion of electronic music, then still relatively new. He talks about the musical possibilities versus the potential for musical harm. Vinnie says, "Sound-wise, electronics opened a whole new area… But, what does it have to do with music and pure notes

? It's at a turning point and I am real interested to see which way it is going to go. If acoustic and electronic will be a successful marriage, or if one is going to tug too much away from the other side." Brilliant.

Often the "sonic coolness" side of things has won over actual good songwriting. In other words, for too many folks these days music is exciting only if it slaps them upside the head with electronic might. Contrast the integrity of songwriting between R&B hits of yesteryear and the hits of today…you get the point.

Click for source

Bluhm Blog: False confession stories on the web: Lebrew Jones and Claude McCollum

On August 3, 2010 · 0 Comments

This is tragic–not news, but tragic. It involves one of the sons of the late great drummer Rufus "Speedy" Jones, who played with Count Basie, Duke Ellington, and Lionel Hampton amongst others. Rufus Jones' son Lebrew has been in jail for years. He was wrongfully convicted of a murder that took place on a construction site he worked on.

Lebrew Jones had no blood anywhere on any clothing he possessed (which makes no sense at all given the mess of a crime scene), the timeline presented by the prosecution doesn't add up, and the mentally disabled Mr. Jones was easily led into making false statements by lazy, corrupt detectives.

I was sad to accidentally learn of this while researching Lebrew's father, and to see this happen to the son of such a great

and influential musician.

Click for source

Becky’s Wookiefoot Blog: Jam Bands: A History

On August 2, 2010 · 0 Comments

Here is an interesting article about so-called "jam bands". The author cites major players in the movement such as The Grateful Dead and Phish, as well as Aquarium Rescue Unit and others.

Most interestingly the correlation between jam band music and other forms of improvisation are briefly mentioned, as well as the fact that the term "jam band" can be credited to Coleman Hawkins.

Click for source

Testimonials From Just a Few of Our Happy Clients:
 

"Hey
Shay, this is Andrew. I just wanted to give you a call
and let you know everything worked out great with your
drum tracks.

And,
actually, the guy who mixed them even asked me who I got
to play on them and I told him about you.

He
said whoever engineered them did a great job recording them.
Just thought you’d like to know."

Andrew Synoweic

 

"Shay
Godwin is an amazing drummer with an instinctual approach
to music rarely encountered today.
Every time I work with him in the studio I’m amazed at how quickly
he locks in, and how great his drum sounds are.
"

Ken Andrews:
songwriter/producer/mixer;
founding member of the groundbreaking group Failure;
producing/mixing credits include: Charlotte Martin,
A Perfect Circle,
Tenacious D,
Chris Cornell,
Nacho Libre Soundtrack,
Pete Yorn,
Jimmy Eat World

 

"Shay
is one of the most talented drummers I’ve ever had the pleasure
of working with. He is a real musician that plays with taste,
incredible feeling, and he is amazingly versatile in his
styles.
"

Charlotte Martin
founder, Dinosaur Fight Records

 

"Shay
is a true professional – He is solid, has great feel and
great tone – One need look no further."

Ty Stevens
Warner/Chappell staff songwriter;
wrote “Rock This World” and was Musical Director for Hillary
Duff (Hollywood Records);
M.D. for Jennifer Pena, Daniel Rene (Univision);
wrote music for Disney, Verve, Universal, artists Mindi Abair;
Musical Consultant for Aly & AJ (Hollywood Records);
guitarist for Mandy Moore, countless other credits

 

"Shay
Godwin is one of the top session drummers I’ve had the pleasure
of working with. He’s a one take wonder, which is great in
the studio because time is money. Shay was extremely professional,
and well prepared. He has killer sounding drums, and was
able to give me all kinds of snare tones to choose from.
We will be working together for many years.
"

Jay Ruston
Producer/Engineer/Mixer, credits include Brian Wilson, The
Donnas, Abandoned Pools, Dianna Ross, American Idol,
Morrissey, Polyphonic Spree, Meatloaf

 

"Shay
has an attention to detail while working on parts in a song
combined with keeping it simple and soulful. His vast knowledge
of musical styles and professionalism in getting the job
done in a timely manner is why I love to work with him.
"

Buck Johnson:
co-wrote the single “Just Feel Better” for Carlos Santana’s
album “All That I Am” featuring Steven Tyler of Aerosmith
;
keys/vocals/guitar with country act Whiskey Falls;
vocalist/keyboardist with the following artists: The Doobie
Brothers (backing vocals on “Rockin’ Down the Highway”-Live
CD-1996), Tal Bachman (backing vocals and Keys of Columbia
Records debut album -’99, Timothy B. Schmit (of The Eagles,
his solo CD 2000-backing vocals and keys), Matthew Sweet
(touring keys and backing vocals and “Best Of Matthew Sweet
CD), Shawn Mullins (touring -2000), and John Waite

 

"Hey
Shay, I wanted to say thanks again & great job in the studio
sessions for the BFD XFL. You really did a top job covering
the various brush strokes, and a lot of composers have told
me they’ve been featured in many TV shows and movies! All
the best!
"

Steve Duda:
creator of the BFD Premium Drum Module, credits include:
Nine Inch Nails – Fragile – Percussion, Violin, Programming,
Choir, Chorus;
Pitchshifter – Deviant – Programming, Editing;
Pitchshifter – Bootlegged Distorted Remixed Uploaded – Producer;
Rob Zombie – American Made Music to Strip By – Remix;
Methods of Mayhem – Methods of Mayhem – Programming; A Perfect
Circle – Thirteenth Step – Digital Engineer

 
 

"I
tried some other online drummers, you are by far the best.
"

Luke, Germany

 

"Your
process is great. The three takes is a perfect way to make
sure it works. Your tracks sound great. I was very happy
with the process.
You and Thai Long were awesome. Your professionalism and enthusiasm,
not to mention skill at your craft made this perfect.
"

Craig Campbell, Detroit, USA

 

"I
was totally blown away by the quality of the recording. By
comparison with other drum recordings I have heard (some
of them by other online drum recording services), your unprocessed
tracks are close to the processed tracks I have heard!
Your drumming during the chorus clearly sets it aside in terms
of energy from the verse parts, something that I find important.
Your playing supports the song and even inspires me with ideas
to improve it. Upright Bass, anyone?
"

Henrique Pataca, Portugal

 

"Shay,
just a quick email to let you know that I’m very happy with
the drums tracks! They’re well recorded and the performances
are great! A pleasure to mix! More to come for you soon.
"

Gyom, Alexandria, Virginia, USA

 

"Nice
fills and some cool grooves dude! Exactly what I was looking
for!!! All three takes sound great. I think my favourite
is track 2 but I might incorporate some bits of the other
takes into it as well.
"

Ramon McDrury, Sydney, Australia

 

"Hi
Shay, the takes are perfect, exactly what I was after and
played with real passion, thanks so much!
"

Owen Duff, London, UK

 

"I
can’t decide which version I like best, all three are great.
I think take 3 is again most powerful, straight but still
sophisticated, which I like cause I really want powerful,
driving bass and drums carrying the song but played intelligent.
"

Luke, Germany

 

"Shay!
You nailed it! Great work. You were right. I have ‘inevitable
glee’. You played exactly what I imagined! I’m sure putting
together a mix with your drums will be easy, but you make
it hard to decide which takes I want to use…

I just wanted to thank you both for spending the extra time to
nail down these tracks. You really nailed these tracks and inspire
me with your playing. I’m really honored to have you guys work
on this stuff and grateful.
"

Timothy Gillespie, New Jersey, USA

 

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