Musical Week in Review, 1/26

There's a lot going on, and most of it doesn't seem substantial enough for a blog post of its own, but maybe I'll try to do a "week in review" post with random thoughts and tidbits every Sunday. Seems worth a try, right? So here goes.

* I did an open mic at the Bally Hotel with Rosewood on Wed. night. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing - Sandy had a friend in town who wanted to see us play, so we found a place to play. We played some new songs and had fun. The guy running the open mic liked us, and it sounds like we'll have a Friday night gig in April, and an appearance on his local radio show. Yes, really. Stay tuned.

* One of the new songs we're doing is Carole King's "It's Too Late", which is a gorgeous song. The Am7/D6 progression that starts the song is haunting. Oh, and I'm taking the piano riff "da da da da da-da-da" (you know that one I mean - the signature riff), which is fun.

* After taking most of January off, Rosewood rehearsals will now ramp up, as our next gig is less than three weeks away.

* Darling Wife had an exciting day yesterday. She joined the West Chester Community Chorus in the fall, and their first concert was yesterday. She had a full cheering section in attendance, and it was a fun afternoon. Thankfully, her fear of toppling off the stage into the orchestra pit didn't happen. We're all looking forward to the next concert in May.

* "Hotel California" is an amazing song. I love the studio version, love the 70's live version, love the acoustic live version from "Hell Freezes Over", and love Don Felder's YouTube guitar lesson. I finger-pick the song very day, just because it's so beautiful and pleases me so much to play it.

* Staying on a California theme, I'm also kinda obsessed with Led Zeppelin's "Going to California." The 1975 live version is definitive for me. I love the mandolin line, and love the finger-picking guitar. I've kept an acoustic tuned to double drop-D for the past week or so, just so I can work on it. Again, it just pleases me to play.

* I've been hearing a version of the Everly Brothers' "Long Time Gone" by Billie Joe Armstrong (of Green Day) and Norah Jones, and it's fantastic.

* The soundtrack to "Inside Llewyn Davis" is a must-have.

* Acoustic jam meetup was this afternoon, and the song selection was especially great. I played mostly mandolin. But that gets its own post.

Gear Turnover

My old man loved to bargain as much as an Arab trader. And he was twice as shrewd.

That line from "A Christmas Story" is getting some play in my house these days, as I've started another gear turnover. It's not quite "Crazy Dave's Everything Must Go!!!"...but there's also not much that's sacred.

I'll give the full details when the dust has settled. I'm not unhappy with anything...but I'd also like to try some new things, and if I can get a fair price for some things I have, I'll use that cash on some other things.

I put a few ads on CL on Sunday, and I sold one instrument yesterday and another today. So I now have some cash in my pocket, which assuredly won't sit unused for long.

If you're thinking that I enjoy change for change's sake, you're probably not too far off.

Stay tuned.

Eastman Mandolin

By the look of things, I was a very good boy this past year and Santa took note. Either that, or I spent part of my year-end bonus on a toy for myself. Whatever the case, there was an Eastman mandolin under the tree on Christmas morning.

It looks gorgeous and sounds gorgeous. Based on the 85 hours I've played it since Christmas (a rough and non-scientific estimate), she's a keeper.

There was universal joy and acclamation throughout the house that I'd gotten such a nice instrument (expressed via muttering and eye rolls.... :-))

Now, do I keep the entry-level Kentucky mandolin I got in the spring? It's a great instrument for what it is. I could keep it and use it as a "festival" mando (i.e., one that I could take without worry to an outdoor festival.) There's no such thing as too many instruments...is there? (No, of course there isn't!) Or should I see what it will bring on CL? Hmmmm....