#drums | MidiMike

Posts Tagged ‘#drums’

Music for “The Next Step”

Posted: July 13, 2020 in My Tunes, Poetry
Tags: #bandLab, #DAW, #drums, #guitar, #Ibanez, #michaelskennedy, #Midi, #mididrums, #midimike.com, #original songs, #poetry, #singer song-writer, #sonar, #song, #songwriter, #vocalist, #voice

Earlier I posted a poem (although poems and lyrics are often interchangeable with me) called “The Next Step”: https://midimike.com/2020/06/22/the-next-step/

This shuffle will take a while to get used to. Really, there is no groove here. No comedic relief either, but I do like the strangeness of it. How about that for an intro?!!

The recording was simple and there is a lot of open space in this one that makes most listeners a little uncomfortable. I played my Ibanez 6 string electric guitar and used effects from my PC after the recording to get the delay and chorus effects. I created the MIDI drums to match the odd beat in the guitar strums. After laying down a simple bass guitar track using computer plug-ins and the song is almost done.

The Next Step by MSK

Euphoria Before The Chase

Posted: May 13, 2020 in Live Sound Reinforcement Series, MUSIC, Video
Tags: #bass guitar, #black Crows, #Cincinnati, #coverband, #drummer, #drums, #Euphoria, #guitar, #journey, #keyboard, #keyboardplayers, #KinksX, #Liveband, #livesoundreinforement, #michaelskennedy, #microphone, #midimike, #midimike.com, #mixing board, #Night Ranger, #Pink Floyd, #Queensryche, #Robin Trower, #Shooting Star, #The Chase, #The Who, #venue, #video, #vintage recordings

I just posted another vintage video to YouTube. This is a live recording of Euphoria in my early days with the band. We are playing live at Hollies in Springfield OH. for some of this post. This was a transition period as members of Euphoria took time off and a new band formed later to be called The Chase. I did use some video from the events but compared to hi definition available today, it just looks dated, because it is! Enjoy at night at home and some great live music:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAW_cJVFFog

Euphoria and The Chase Live

The Chase Live

Posted: March 17, 2020 in Live Sound Reinforcement Series, Photography, projects, Video
Tags: #audio, #bass guitar, #Cassette, #Cincinnati, #drinking, #drummer, #drums, #guitar, #keyboard, #keyboardplayers, #Liveband, #livesoundreinforement, #localbands, #recording, #Reel, #vocalist, Black Crows, Black Friday, Cincinnati bands, Kenny Wayne Shepard, live audience, Live performance, live recording, local bands, Nakamichi, Steely Dan, The beatles, The Break Room

Thank you for your continued friendship. The story of friends and talented musicians, artists of all kinds was fun in the telling. Followers will know the names and projects I have been thrilled to be involved with. Sacrifices. Heart break. Overwhelming joy.

I have told the story but I also have my archives to share. I started recording with a reel-to-reel tape deck when I was 14. I recorded everything. Everyone. Everywhere (once I had portable recorders lol!)

The medium has changed many times over. Some of the video, for example, was amazing on a small tube television. It just does not stand up to the quality of large screens with high resolution. I did not include the ancient videos on this post because it just looks bad/old.

For some reason I did not take a lot of photographs in this time frame. Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of the lead vocalist in this recording….. Shoeless Shawn was not with The Chase long before we stopped playing out. So I collected more recent pictures I had taken of group shots of friends, family and fans we have known over the years.

With a little free time on my hands, I have been going through my archives. This is an old recording from my Nakamichi stereo cassette player! I think it is straight off the board. I did not run sound for this recording. Our friend Dave Houston was at the helm.

Everyone stay healthy, and with social distancing, stay at home, grab a drink, and put up your feet. Press play and listen to some live music!

The Chase

jjaR Project Two

Posted: August 13, 2019 in projects
Tags: #bass guitar, #drummer, #drums, #guitar, #midimike, #music, #original songs, #recording, #recordingstudio, #vocals, #voice, ADAT, Alesis, Cincinnati bands, Cincinnati Scene II, female vocalist, fender guitars, gibson guitars, jjaR, lead guitar, Michael S Kennedy, MSK Studios, multi track recording, music production, musicians, original music, originals, songwriting, support local musicians, WEBN

I think we started recording Project Two in May of 1996. Project One was mixed by the end of March so we had a good feeling for the next project. I will eventually dig up archives for details as I am now relying on brief notes and scribbles of information. I do not have lyric sheets for these songs but I know most of the lyrics by heart.

As you know I am really bad with names. I know Annette Rogers was the lead vocalist and I believe she wrote most of the lyrics. My notes also mention Robert Downing with the band.

This was a band I wished I had kept in touch with. At the time in my life there were so many projects and I had my own music and bands I was involved with. All this and I worked a regular full-time job!

I have a brief video of the band setting up – somewhere. Who knows, maybe I will dig it up along with my track sheets and band info.

By the middle of September we had all the recording done and mixed Project Two. We did ten songs in all and I will share a few more with you today.

jjaR at MSK Studio – Butterside Down

jjaR at MSK Studio – Paralized

jjaR at MSK Studio – My Heart Tricks My Head

jjaR at MSK Studio – Overboard

jjaR

Posted: August 6, 2019 in projects
Tags: #audio, #bass, #bass guitar, #Cincinnati, #drummer, #drums, #foodchainoflove, #guitar, #michaelskennedy, #microphone, #Midi, #midimike, #original songs, #photo, #photography, #recording, #recordingstudio, #studio, #studioengineer, #vocalist, #vocals, 102.7FM, 1996, ADAT, Alesis, Annette Rogers, Cincinnati bands, Cincinnati Scene II, Deary Me presents, female vocalist, food chain of love, jjaR, Michael S Kennedy, MSK Studios, multi track recording, original music, originals, photographs, Top Cats, WEBN

Early in 1996 I was introduced to a Cincinnati band called “jjaR”. I met them while they were playing at a popular club called Top Cats. I was really impressed with the band and their original songs. Annette Rogers was the lead vocalist and she commanded the room with her emotional portrayal of each song. The band was intense and dynamic.

March 13th, 1996 we started recording in my home studio. They were troopers. I have a small space for recording with no isolation rooms for drums, vocals, etc. The band wanted a clean demo. They did not want a lot of processing and effects in the mix. A band after my own heart!

We did two separate sessions. The first session was mixed on March 26th, 1996. I was recording on the Alesis ADAT (Alesis Digital Audio Tape) machine for the first project. We only had 8 tracks to work with back then and no computer editing or effects. They were pros. They set up, got settled in and played their songs with obvious passion.

One of their tracks appeared in a collection of bands our local radio station WEBN (102.7FM) published on CD. They were featured on the second annual CD release. Deary Me Presents – Cincinnati Scene II included “Food Chain Of Love” on the 3rd track of the compilation CD. You can still find a copy or two on on-line.

Here are a few tunes from Project 1 for your enjoyment.

jjaR at MSK Studio – Food Chain Of Love

jjaR at MSK Studio – Super Size

jjaR at MSK Studio – Aliens

jjaR at MSK Studio – Misunderstood

What’s Left

Posted: July 30, 2019 in Cover Tune Tuesdays
Tags: #bass, #bass guitar, #drummer, #drums, #guitar, #Liveband, #livesoundreinforement, #midimike, #video, #videographer, #vocalist, #vocals, Dollar Bills, Ed Goen, Gary Jefferson, keyboards, lead guitar, live audience, Live performance, live recording, local bands, Michael S Kennedy, musical video, saxaphone, support local musicians, www.midimike.com

Last weekend I dropped in on some friends playing out. With camera in hand I caught a few minutes of “What’s Left” performing live. It reminded me how glad I am that I don’t play out any more. Performing for a live audience is fun and addictive but being my own roadie was killing me quickly! I always joked that we would play anywhere for free……. we just charge to move the equipment in and out!

This was just for fun and I appreciate the guys letting me point my camera at them for a while. I like their logo in the back.

NRSB 30 years ago

Posted: July 19, 2019 in Video
Tags: #30yearsago, #battleofthebands, #Cincinnati, #contest, #drummer, #drums, #harmonies, #harmony, #keyboard, #Liveband, #livesoundreinforement, #Midi, #midimike, #original songs, #vocalist, #vocals, 30 years ago, anniversary, battle of the bands, Bogart's, keyboard controller, keyboards, live audience, Live performance, live recording, Michael S Kennedy, MIDI controller, Nixon, NRSB, original music, originals, Reagan, Satan Buddha, vintage recording, vintage video

On the 30th anniversary of our performance with NRSB at Bogart’s in Cincinnati, I want to share a vintage video of that once and only performance. All original songs by members of this incredible band. I am so glad this was captured by hand-held camera out in the audience! Thanks DR.

Part I

Part II https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCv8NrHglpk&list=PL6nW06rbKPIo97mbrFsrAWed2OUaDvMkF&index=12&t=0s

We were just a bit ahead of our time.

CRASH LANDING Set 2

Posted: July 16, 2019 in Cover Tune Tuesdays
Tags: #acoustic guitars, #bass guitar, #coverband, #drummer, #drums, #guitar, #keyboard, #Liveband, #livesoundreinforement, #mixingboard, #stage, #venue, #video, #videographer, #vocalist, #vocals, audio recording, clubs, cover band, festival, keyboards, lead guitar, live audience, Live performance, live recording, local bands, LSR, Michael S Kennedy, musical video, support local musicians, vintage video

Building upon my earlier posts of a night out with Crash Landing, I continue with the first part of the second set.

CRASH LANDING live in 2002

In future posts I will detail mixing/recording process and Live Sound Reinforcement techniques. For now, enjoy a few songs from my old cover band.

Recordings From The Vault

Posted: June 25, 2019 in projects
Tags: #bass, #bass guitar, #Cincinnati, #demo, #digital, #drums, #effects, #guitar, #keyboard, #recording, #recordingstudio, #Soundengineer, #stories, #studio, #studioengineer, ADAT, Alesis, Chakrasrock, Cincinnati bands, demo tape, Digital Audio Tape, historical recording, keyboards, local bands, MSK, MSK Studios, multi track recording, Nikon camera, original music, originals, pictures, songwriting, violin

This is an early recording of a Cincinnati band “Chakras”. I recorded them back when I used the ADAT digital tape recorder. It does not have the ‘bling’ of modern recordings but I think you will enjoy the performance.

https://www.facebook.com/chakrasrock

Chakras MSK 2
Chakras MSK 3
Chakras MSK 1

Cover Tune Tuesdays

Posted: June 18, 2019 in Cover Tune Tuesdays
Tags: #bass, #bass guitar, #Cincinnati, #cover, #drummer, #drums, #guitar, #harmonies, #harmony, #keyboard, #Liveband, #livesoundreinforement, #midimike, #mixing board, #mixingboard, #music, #musicequiptment, #musician, #sing, #singer, #singing, #vocalist, #vocals, #Yamaha, cover band, cover tune, DW drums, fender guitars, Gary Jefferson, gibson guitars, keyboards, Korg, lead guitar, Live performance, live recording, LSR, Michael S Kennedy, multi track recording, music industry, music lovers, music production, musical video, musicians, support local musicians

I posted another you-tube segment of Crash Landing playing cover tunes at a gig in Cincinnati back in 2002. This is the last segment of the 1st set. I tried to break them up into chunks so they are not huge files.

I ran a straight line out from the mixing board. Few live recordings are perfect, and over the years I tried a number of ways to get a good mix. Keep in mind I record all the time so this was not a special occasion and I don’t even think I told the band members we were recording.

I am still collecting new photos from friends and relatives and will add them to future posts. So sit down and grab your favorite beverage and listen to a great live band!

MidiMike

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

MSK original Songs

Posts Tagged ‘#drums’

Music for “The Next Step”

Euphoria Before The Chase

The Chase Live

jjaR Project Two

jjaR

What’s Left

NRSB 30 years ago

CRASH LANDING Set 2

Recordings From The Vault

Cover Tune Tuesdays

Archives

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

MSK original Songs

Posts Tagged ‘#drums’

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