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| News |
With no show last week or this, it's something of a slow news day. So here's a little travelogue from my honeymoon last week in Florida:  I haven't spent much time in the Sunshine State since graduating from the University of Miami School of Law in 1991, but my parents winter in Jupiter, and my wife has never seen Disneyworld. Although spending the majority of my life in Times Square is enough Magic Kingdom for me, I relented knowing that we'd be doing the tourist thing mid-week and before Spring Break, thus avoiding the crowds. Orlando and its environs have enough attractions to fill a week or two, so we settled on a day at Universal Studios, another at Epcot Center, and a few at the beach. Epcot's Tomorrowland was mildly stimulating (save for the Mission: SPACE adventure, which left me nauseous), as we stuck more to rides than educational exhibits - who wants to learn stuff when they're on vacation? Epcot's other half, the World Pavilion, is probably great if you live in the sticks. Manhattanites already have access to exotic goods and foodstuffs from all over the planet - and ours are cheaper and tastier. Still, it was fun to sample so many cultures in a relatively short stroll, and the mock architecture is charming. "Morocco" in particular made me long to visit - or at at least re-watch portions of the Jimmy Page/Robert Plant Unledded DVD. I found the newer Universal Studios to be more consistently entertaining, with a 3D Terminator show (my personal favorite) as well as a live Fear Factor contest (highlight: two idiots competing in a cricket/worm/curdled milk eating contest, the winner of which took home a plastic Fear Factor mug). We stayed on the Universal grounds at the Hard Rock Hotel, which I expected to be cheesy, but turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The amenities (including a well-heated pool with a very long water slide) were great, and the comfy rooms had a number of Beatles and Stones photos that I'd never seen before. Staying on the grounds got us a Speedpass to cut the lines, and we were a short walk from both the park and the more nightlife-focused Citywalk, where we took in some Jamaican cuisine and live music at a fully-licensed Bob Marley restaurant. Who knew? All in all, I suppose we'll do it again when we the kids are old enough, but that's a ways off. I think next year we'll head to the Keys for some scuba diving. |
| Nightlife |
We finally return to showcase action next Thursday (3/1), with a visit to the Red Lion for a night featuring the highly-anticipated debuts of Toast (Rob Diamond, Eric Gonchar, Beth Hoff, Kevin Pfieffer, Evan Sanyo) and Moodswings (Lou Clark, Diane O'Connell, Tom Rupolo, Larry Waite), plus return engagements by Princess Rainbow & The Crown Victorians (pictured), Sand Storm, No Mersey, and The Rolling Bones.
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| Education |
It's been said that knowing the "number system" (i.e. E-A-B = I-IV-V in the key of E) is useful for yelling out the chords in a loud jam session where "A", "C", "D", "E", and "G" all sound much the same. But knowing the numeral system can do much more for those in the know. You don't have to learn thousands of songs to start picking up the difference between a I-IV and a I-V progression. And you may not know that a keyboardist is playing an Em simply by hearing it, but in the context of a song in G that shifts out of a major chord progression, it's very likely to be either a VI (Em) or II (Am) chord. In fact, knowing the I, II, IV, V, and VI chords in a given key will probably allow you to play more than 80% of popular songs (add the III and VII chords, and you're probably be over the 90% mark). And when you notice, for example, that someone is playing a VI-V-IV progression, it becomes easier not only to jam, but to transcribe and write music. A little music theory goes a long way.
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| Weather |
Monday (2/19): Newbie Jam with Patty Murray from 6:00 to 8:30 pm at The Jam. Join us for a professionally-facilitated open jam session specifically geared toward newcomers - but where all are welcome. $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
Friday (2/23): Open Blues & Rock Jam from 6 to 10 pm at The Jam (701 7th Ave., 7W). $15 for Jam members, $25 for everyone else, all gear included.
Saturday (2/24): Open Rock Jam at The Jam (701 7th Ave., 7W), 4 to 8 pm. $15 for Jam members, $25 for non-members, all gear included. |
| Personals |
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Original pop/rock outfit [in the pissed-off pop vein of Alanis] seeks keyboard player who can also sing harmonies. Song samples available upon request.
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| Postscript |
"There's nothing like tearing up a good club now and then." -Jerry Lee Lewis, 71
Jam Master G
a/k/a Gregg Raybin | |
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2007 Jammys!
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While I try to emphasize that the Jammys Awards should be about fun and friendly competition, it's hard to ignore that alot of great prizes will also be handed out. This year's Best Drummer will take home a Zildjian cymbal - specifically a K Dark Crash Medium Thin. The K Zildjian line has long been associated with jazz, but it's warm and washy tone is equally at home in pop, rock, and blues settings. While it's difficult to put into words, there's just something particularly musical about Zildjian Ks. Our friends at Zildjian will also be providing 2007's runner-up Best Drummer with a cool backpack-style Cymbal Gig Bag (below).
Join us Friday, April 13, at Knitting Factory, for the 2007 Jammy Awards, featuring Both Hands, Cropduster, Dave Sasscer & The Mojo Conga Jam, Gremmie's Noisebucket, Limelight, Newspaper Taxis, The Orchid Thieves, Pink Flawd, The Rolling Bones, Sandstorm, and Square Feeet.
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