As posted on the Over the Rhine Forum – The Orchard
Ok, so if you know Teleguy Steve and Ghostwriter John at all, you probably know that we write and perform our own music. You may also know that we run a songwriting blog (http://songwritingapples.wordpress.com/). AND, you may also know that Steve has a new CD out called We Will All Be Lifted. Get it.
What you may NOT know, is that Steve has traveled to Michigan and John had mercy on him and took his stray butt in for a couple days. I met Steve at the airport Friday at 11:30am and it was GAME ON! Here’s how it went…
Steven Wesley Guiles and John Natiw
11:30am – John picks up Steve from the airport. Conversation ensues.
1:00pm – Arrival at the JTV television studios for an in-studio live performance. John’s duo partner, Rochelle, also arrives.
1:15pm – Steve breaks his E string. John buys some bottled water and a muffin.
1:25pm – John breaks his E string right as he utters the words “I hope I don’t break a str…SNAP”
1:45pm – Steve rocks it out on the Bart Hawley show. John and Rochelle applaud wildly.
1:55pm – John and Rochelle pwn on the Bart Hawley show. Steve applauds wildly.
2:15pm – The three music warriors walk down the street to check out the venue for the evening. Get distracted by the sign for “turtle races” at the Crazy Cowboy next door. The trio begin to entertain the thought of checking out said “turtle races” after their show, but then decide that they would probably need to be a six-pack in to really “get” turtle racing.
Steven Wesley Guiles, Rochelle Clark, John Natiw and James Humphries
3:00pm – John and Steve say goodbye to Rochelle for the moment and drive back to John’s place. They begin to write a song called “Zombies Taste Like Chicken” as they drive.
3:30pm – Lunch. Subway. Don’t tell me I don’t know how to entertain a guest.
5:00pm – Load up the sound equipment. Begin the drive out to Jackson for the evening’s show.
5:15pm – Explain to Steve that we really don’t have any traffic here in Michigan.
5:16pm – Spend the next 30 minutes stuck in construction traffic.
6:30pm – Arrive at the venue. Unload the equipment. Steve takes all the light stuff because he has only gotten up to level 2 on Wii Fit.
6:55pm – Steve realizes he forgot all his CD’s. John graciously calls his daughter, who has not left for the show yet and has NOT YET MET STEVE. John hands the phone to Steve and he asks her to go through his luggage (underwear and all) to retrieve said CD’s.
7:05pm – Steve begins his amazing one hour set. Plays many tunes off the new CD, but also a few from Pushstart Wagon. The crowd goes wild.
7:15pm – Steve, knowing that the CD’s have not arrived yet, begins to try to sell the ONE COPY he has with him for $50. No takers.
7:55pm – John is asked to join Steve on stage. The two appleheads play together on stage for the very first time.
8:15pm – John and Rochelle begin their two hour set. They are joined off and on by harmonica man James Humphries and also Steve.
8:30pm – Lindsay arrives with the CD’s. After an awkward moment between Lindsay and him, Steve wisely lowers the price of his CD’s back to $10.
9:45pm – John and Rochelle with their usual song, When We’re Gone, Long Gone (Keiran Kane cover) and turn the stage over to Steve again to take us home. He does an amazing little medley of tunes, ending with Bridge Over Troubled Water.
10:00pm – Show. OVER. Socializing. Steve selling merch. Autographing CD’s.
10:30pm – Load up the equipment. Steve takes the light stuff again. Fortunately, Rochelle has a huge friend named Rick there. He shleps some heavy stuff.
11:00pm – Goodbye’s. Steve and John drive back to John’s place.
12:00pm – Hungry. Wendy’s.
12:30am – Man-Cave. Steve and John chat about recording whilst listening to various songs.
1:00am – Bed. Steve has been up for over 24 hours.
7:45am – John rousts Steve. Out the door in 30.
8:15am – OJ, muffin and bagel at the gas station.
9:00am – John drops Steve at his next destination. They are both sad there is not more time to spend together, but agree that John will be coming to San Dimas in the very near future. They also agree to finish collaborating on “Zombies Taste Like Chicken” because that baby is gonna be a HIT!
Thanks to the Orchard for making this an amazing 24 hours.
Out.
John
My mind has been a bit overwhelmed lately. Being a part-time semi-professional musician, full-time dad, husband, and teacher is sometimes quite draining. I feel like I’m being pulled in 14 different directions.
Any of you other musicians ever feel that way?
I’m not quite at my mid-life crisis, but I think I may be having my pre-mid life crisis right now.
I recently read an issue of Tape Op (GREAT recording magazine that you can get FOR FREE) featuring Sufjan Stevens. If you haven’t heard any of his recordings you MUST. They are amazing and beautiful…and he did it with only a couple of cheap microphones and very basic recording set up. Now, it doesn’t hurt that he’s a musical genius and can play 40+ instruments (or something like that).
What I loved was that I had used many of the same pieces of recording gear as he had…in some of the same ways. Though he managed to be quite successful in the process, didn’t he?
It helps if you have one brother who can draw stuff really well and another who can sing and play guitar. Together they’re like, peanut butter and jelly, and chocolate.
This video was done taking pictures. Lots and lots of pictures. We are using stop motion animation. There are THOUSANDS of creative stop motion videos out there. We only had two hours, so we feel pretty good about how this came out. Enjoy!
Episode 1: Get Angry!
A Sixty Second Songwriting Starter
What are you angry about? Traffic? Taxes? Work? Girlfriend? Boyfriend? Lame friends? Ex-wife? Ex-wives? Bad drivers? Late fees? Incompetent cashiers? Bad food service?
Good. We have a starting point for a really good song.
Think of all the classic songs written from the perspective of an angry person:
EXAMPLES:
Alanis Morissete – You Oughta Know
3 Days Grace-I Hate Everything About You
Billy Joel – Angry Young Man
Bob Dylan – Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright
Rage Against the Machine - Killin’ in the Name Of
(Feel free to post comments of YOUR favorite angry songs–there are thousands of ‘em).
Start making a list of things in YOUR life that make you frustrated, upset, or really angry. Now, take the one that you feel strongest about and start writing a song. Whatever comes out write down. This is WAAAY cheaper than a therapist…(I’m not saying to quit seeing your therapist by the way. Use that emotion as a starting point for your song.
Other Classic Angry Songs:
Ray Charles – Hit The Road Jack
U2 – Sunday Bloody Sunday
System of a Down – Toxicity
Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
Welcome to the Sixty Second Songwriting Starter series!
I’m your host, Steven Wesley Guiles.
EPISODE 0: GET WRITING!
I. Introduction
II. Goal
III. Who Is This For Anyways?
IV. Just Write It!
V. Links
Links:
To get started with your songwriting why don’t you read a bit of what others have done to get started in the process. This blogs have all kinds of advice that will apply to newcomers, veterans, and everyone in between.
Indie artist Jeff Caylor will be releasing his second independent album in June. The artwork really caught my eye and caused me to do some investigation.
Here’s that cover:
The artist, Luke Flowers, has some truly excellent work. You can check it out at his website.
I like the fact that his previous album had similar artwork. I like the continuity..and the fact that it just looks so awesome.
Saw this video on Myspace today. Normally, I’ll see the previews and not even give them a second look or thought. This one was different. I think it has to do with Steve’s recent musings on “Image(s)”. First, the preview capture is cool (the one on Vimeo or Myspace, not YouTube). The lights on the snare just grabbed me. Then I watched the video. The atmosphere/image is captivating to me. It’s a combination of the light structure and the camera movement I think. Don’t get me wrong, the music is good too, but, honestly, if it were not for this video I would probably not have gone back a second (or fifth) time.
