#music | MidiMike

Posts Tagged ‘#music’

The Story Has Been Told

Posted: November 8, 2019 in Photography, Uncategorized
Tags: #bands, #Midi, #midimike, #music, #poem, #poetry, #story, #video, Fall colors, lake, MIDI Mike, monuments, MSK, musical video, musicians, Nikon camera, retirement, Spring Grove Cemetery, Story ends

I began this blog to share stories of people and events I have been lucky enough to be involved with over the last five decades. Along with my poetry and original music I also enjoyed sharing my pictures and personal observations.

While I am sure there will also be beautiful and exciting things to share in my future, I also want to chill. I need to make life simpler from here on.

I have enjoyed this community and those willing to share everything with total strangers. There were many times when this was the hi-light of my day. I could go on posting my views and thoughts on politics, religion, money and other hot topics but there are too many of us doing that these days. So this is a good time to phase out MIDI Mike.

While the site remains live, feel free to take a look at the topics on the top of the page to find something that might interest you.

I may throw in a post from time to time just to surprise myself. In my usual style, let me show you a few recent pictures I took at a favorite place of mine: Spring Grove Cemetery. We had a heavy rain days before these pictures with hi winds. Before that the fall colors were really starting to jump out. Unfortunately the rain hit a bit early and dropped most of the leaves, but I managed to get some good pictures.

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

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!

Stella Blue Cover

Posted: March 12, 2019 in Cover Tune Tuesdays
Tags: #acoustic, #audio, #guitar, #music, #musicequiptment, #recordingstudio, #vocalist, #vocals, acoustic guitar, AKG, AKG C214, audio recording, Bandlab, Cakewalk, cover tune, Grateful Dead, lonely streets, Martin Guitars, multi track recording, musicians, Ovation 12 String Guitar, Robert Hunter, Sonar, strings, Universal Audio

As part of My Cover Tune Tuesdays, I wanted to do an acoustic version of one of my favorite Grateful Dead songs. The story I heard about this song is that Stella Blue refers to an old cheap guitar Jerry Garcia played when he was much younger. I tried to look up references but nothing conclusive so I stopped. I am not a reporter, after all.

In either case, this song has been an inspiration for me in many ways. As I get older, though, the message is much closer to home. I hope I will be able to dust off the strings for years to come, but I still find each moment I have to make and play music precious. Without it I would be insane, lost or dead (but not grateful)!

So I got out the Martin 6 string acoustic/electric guitar I got from my older brother and changed the strings. It was not enough to dust them off! Then I pulled out my Ovation 12 string acoustic/electric guitar and dusted off those strings. The Martin I ran a guitar cable to the Universal Audio Solo 610 mic pre-amp. After recording the main guitar track in Sonar by Cakewalk/Bandlab I used the Ovation 12 String guitar for a light/filler guitar track. I used a AKG C214 microphone plugged into the Solo 610 for recording the Ovation. Vocals used the same microphone and pre-amp set-up so it was a quick session.

All the years combine
They melt into a dream
A broken angel sings
From a guitar.
In the end there's just a song
Comes crying up the night
Through all the broken dreams
And vanished years.
 
Stella Blue         Stella Blue
I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel
Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings just
One more time
Gonna make them shine. 

When all the cards are down
There's nothing left to see
There's just the pavement left
And broken dreams.
In the end there's still that song
Comes crying like the wind
Down every lonely street
That's ever been.
 
Stella Blue         Stella Blue 
I've stayed in every blue-light cheap hotel
Can't win for trying
Dust off those rusty strings just
One more time
Gonna make them shine.

It all rolls into one
And nothing comes for free
There's nothing you can hold
For very long.
And when you hear that song
Come crying like the wind
It seems like all this life 
Was just a dream.
 
To Stella Blue         Stella Blue

Songwriters: Jerome J. Garcia / Robert C. Hunter
Stella Blue lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Cover Tune Tuesdays

Posted: January 22, 2019 in Cover Tune Tuesdays
Tags: #bass guitar, #computer, #family, #guitar, #lyrics, #music, #recordingstudio, #song, #songwriter, #writing, multi track recording, originals, relationships

Over the last few years I have focused on recording and releasing songs I have written. Among these songs are a few co-authored works where portions of the music, lyrics or arrangement were inspired by friends in a core group of writers.

On my new Cover Tune Tuesdays series, I wanted to record songs that were written by people in that core group. (A lot of these songs also benefited from a little help from our friends, LOL) The first in this series is a song written by my brother David. He has been referenced here a number of times. This is a song of his called “The Magic Goes Away”

I played his Martin six string guitar for this one. It is a delight to play and sounds great. I sing my harmony parts so the melody will be in the ear of the author! I added drum loops and used the computer for the bass guitar and strings sounds.

“The Magic Goes Away”

Though the feeling’s here to stay. The Magic Goes Away. As the method in our madness is exposed. Still there’s newness in the air. A warmth, a certain flair. And the knowledge that our hearts will not be closed.

We can’t say that it won’t end. It’s not in us to pretend. But at last the masquerades have all been played. There’s a quiet, hopeful sound. In the way that our hearts pound. It’s you and I, at last we’re on our way.

Though the feeling’s here to stay. The Magic Goes Away. As if we’d loved each other once before. Come and hold me once again. My lover, and my friend. As old magic gets replaced by something more.

It’s that newness in the air. A warmth, a certain flair. And the knowledge that our hearts will not be closed.

by Charles David Kennedy

Another Instrumental Doodle

Posted: January 15, 2019 in MUSIC
Tags: #Instrumental, #lyrics, #melody, #music, #recording, #recordingstudio, #songwriter, grooves, multi track recording, music production, originals

I have been playing around with some themes, grooves, melodies lately. I have written a number of instrumentals over the years that are destined to have no lyrics. Sometimes the pieces are simple riffs and other times they can be full blown productions. I have a few I would like to share with you in the near future. Here is one I am still working on but I like where it is going.

This one I call “Another Dimension”

“Another Dimension”

Deep Inside

Posted: October 8, 2018 in My Tunes
Tags: #audio, #blog, #conversation, #creativity, #friends, #inspiration, #life, #media, #music, #opinion, #people, #personal, #poetry, #truth, #writing

This song has taken a while to finalize the arrangement. It is only part of the song it started out as. Diced, sliced, edited and rewritten, I hope this first mix sounds like it belongs! Sometimes you are guided.

I will play other sections in the future.

Please enjoy “Deep Inside”

Deep Inside me, Deep inside the eye of the storm

Deep Inside you. Deep Inside the eye of the storm.

Deep Inside me, Deep Inside.

Sometimes you are guided

And sometimes you are not.

The road is long; it never ends

No matter what you thought.

The place you are standing

Was never meant to be.

Lost when your memories

Created what you see.

Pound after pound

Life gets laid upon you hard.

Sound after sound

As the dealer plays his cards.

Sometimes you are guided

And sometimes you are not.

The road is long; it never ends

No matter what you thought.

Deep Inside me, Deep Inside the eye of the storm

Deep Inside you. Deep Inside.

Cover Tunes from The Chase Part 3

Posted: July 16, 2018 in MUSIC
Tags: #audio, #blog, #creativity, #friends, #inspiration, #life, #media, #music, #opinion, #people, #personal, #photography, #tech, #work, #writing

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The songs in this session are simple two-channel recordings. These are not multi-tracks of isolated instruments to be mixed down later. This is down and dirty history. I enjoyed recording and listening to each of the gigs. The rest of the band were ok with it, but they were really into the performance and live audience vibe. As a result, I did not get much assistance or cooperation with my projects. We never did a sound check for recording levels. We did not set up differently or use additional gear. I usually taped separate mixes from their sound board or by using a combination of mono mix and single hi-quality microphone up on stage. See my LSR series for recording configurations.

Unlike the other players I have jammed with, I had not been playing in bands since I was a teenager. I did not start playing in front of a ‘real’ audience until I was probably 31 or older. I started playing keyboards (technically different than playing a piano or organ) when I was 30. Before that I wrote songs and played my 12 string guitar for parties and such but that was about it.

Lacking confidence and years to sharpen my skills, I tried to make up for it in other ways. I practiced a lot compared to the other players.

I helped in tech – light – sound – marketing. The recordings were for me, LOL!

This is a live recording of a medley we came up with. None of us really liked disco, but no rocket science to keeping guys in the club is to keep the girls on the dance floor! We smashed together popular dance songs and other select songs toward the end of the 2nd set. Enjoy.

Cover Tunes from The Chase Part 2

Posted: July 13, 2018 in live Sound Reinforcement
Tags: #audio, #inspiration, #media, #music, #personal, #photography, #tech, #thanks, #work, #writing

Here is another live recording from my band, The Chase. Those were good times. This is a cover tune from The Beatles – “She’s So Heavy”. I remember when I first heard this song on the radio. It absolutely blew me away. What fun to play this one out live.

Studio Way

Posted: July 9, 2018 in MUSIC
Tags: #audio, #blog, #brother, #creativity, #family, #friends, #life, #media, #music, #people, #personal, #photography, #poetry, #tech, #work, #writing

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Here is another song my brother David recorded at a studio years ago as part of his Studio Way project. My brother wrote the lyrics and is the vocalist on these tracks. Terry Boehm played keyboards. Tom Collier wrote the music and played guitar. This one is called, “Focus On Your Feet”. A fun toe-tapping song that sticks in your head!

The songs were being finalized in the studio as each came up to record. The rhythm tracks were recorded first, with lead instruments and vocals added later that day. A lot of people ‘freeze up’ their first time in a studio with the tape rolling (yes, this was back in the days when they used tape!) so recording can be very stressful – but with a bit of focus you can come out with great memories.

MidiMike

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

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Deep Inside

Posts Tagged ‘#music’

The Story Has Been Told

jjaR Project Two

Cover Tune Tuesdays

Stella Blue Cover

Cover Tune Tuesdays

Another Instrumental Doodle

Deep Inside

Cover Tunes from The Chase Part 3

Cover Tunes from The Chase Part 2

Studio Way

Archives

Available on iTunes and CD Baby

Social Media

Deep Inside

Posts Tagged ‘#music’

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