The Bass Geek

Radio Radio has a huge weekend planned - Born Again Floozies release their CD “Street Songs” with a celebration tonight, while Bigger Than Elvis and the Randy King Five take the stage tomorrow.

Sam’s Saloon features Al and the Black Cats, Art Adams and Save The Radio tonight. Tomorrow is Revival!, “a 60s Soul/Psych/Garage/Punk Dance Party.” Please enjoy thoroughly.

Big Car Gallery opens their First Friday exhibit early tonight, and there’s additional music from Joe Molinaro, Wee Giant and Beyond Things.

Deano’s Vino has Andy DeCarlo & The Travelin’ Hillbillies tonight and Josh Oldham tomorrow. There might be some music at the Brass Ring Lounge, too.

Sunday, of course, is the first Steelers game of the season. Please maintain respectable radio silence between 1pm and approximately 4pm that day. I probably won’t be able to communicate beyond a series of grunts and shouts.

The new IMN podcast is up - download it here or listen at Indianapolismusic.net.

WFYI has solidified our time slot on their HD2 channel as well.  We’re on Thursdays at 4pm, just in time to head home and plot your social schedule.

Now I’m starting to get all kinds of gear acquisition urges again.  ‘Cause, you know, better mics on a Logic rig through some really nice preamps would make the podcast sound so much better.  Because it’s on the RADIO now, right.  It’s necessary!

For once, I’m using more effects pedals than the lead instrument, and it seems to be working out well.  Last weekend’s gig demanded a more lo-fi setup than I normally run (no PA means no computer), so I broke out everything but the Digitech Whammy for the show.  The octaver and Q-Tron worked fairly well in simulating the synth tones I normally use, and it was fun having the distortion to kick in for emphasis.

There’s also the aesthetic value - I’ve heard more than one comment about how the laptop seems a little out-of-place with the retro-lounge vibe of the group.  Not the sounds, mind you - just the look of the technology.  I can accept that (although the geek in me seethes a bit), so I’m now thinking of what I can do to mask the laptop’s inherent laptopiness onstage.  Ideas that spring to mind are a drink menu, a bamboo screen, or some kind of grass skirt.

I never thought I’d consider a grass skirt for a laptop.

One cancelled show was bad enough.  Even with short notice, a promise that you’d reschedule your James Brown Tribute tour dates was good enough.  I’d even readied myself to travel great distances to see this show.  It is, after all, the reunited JB’s paying tribute to one of the greatest funk masters of all time.

And true to your word, there was a rescheduled date!  At a wonderful venue even closer to my home than the previous location!  Two VIP tickets were promptly purchased, and October 9th became an eagerly anticipated date.

But once again, the tour has been postponed.  Until further notice.  And no word on when said further notice would be coming.

The show has already made its way through Europe, and the shows were great from what I’ve read.  What’s the hold-up in the states?

Please work through whatever is causing problems and make the third time the last.  I’m not sure I can stand the strain.

Sam’s Saloon has Schmegma, Evil 10 Submission, and Gash Hound on stage Saturday night for what promises to be loud and metallic entertainment. Charming names, boys.

Deano’s Vino has TenFoot Band tonight and the Last Drop Juggers tomorrow. Expect it to be quieter than Sam’s Saloon. That’s not a qualitative judgment, mind you - I merely speak in terms of decibels.