Evita is off and running!

Hello,

Evita

We're 2ish? weeks into Evita. The show is locking in and is a blast. I'm subbing out of 2 more dates to play Slams. They are: March 29th and April 19th, I've lined up Chris Damman to sub in for me.

Link to a listing of Reviews

Thus far, the show has been a blast.

The bass book is the most challenging that I've played....there are parts of it that I've simplified that I'll be working on for another few weeks. I feel that simple works pretty well in this context. The book is actually a doubling book-the show is scored for a huge orchestra. There are places where the double bass and harp double each other [well-sorta], places where the double bass is with brass. So-with some editing by Ryan Brewster [music director of Evita]-we've made it work with just electric bass. A lot of the times where I'd be functioning as string section, I'm either just rolling a low note or I'm laying out. I feel like it lets the music take on a more intimate sound where it's just piano & voice, when Kevin [drummer] & I come in-the music takes on a very different texture. It has this inherent drive-i dig it.

Gear for Evita

I recently did some work on my StingRay5. Work = refinished the neck and restrung it. If you're reading this, more than likely you're either related to me or a gear junkie...or i work for you. The necks of StingRay & Sterling basses are gunstock oil and wax.

So, to refinish it, I used a scour pad [the back side of a sponge] to get some of the dirt and gunk off. I used a little bit of rubbing alcohol to get more of the gunk out. This DOES dry out the wood a lot. Once i went over the neck and fingerboard with the scour pad + alcohol, I made sure it was dry. I used Birchwood Casey Truoil for the neck finish. I did 4 coats of oil. I waited 30mins between coats #1 & #2, 15mins between #2 & #3, 15mins between #3 & #4. I waited 30mins before applying wax. This is a much shorter wait time than what the package suggests. I put it by a window wrapped in paper towel while i was waiting. I then put several coats of wax on the neck. I used brown paper bags to rub it out after I had applied it. Now? The neck feels good and is much cleaner.

String-I had been playing on the same set of PowerSlinkys for about a year. It was time for some new strings. The store didn't have Power Slinky's in 5 string, so I got Regular Slinkys 5 [45-130]. Holy hell, new strings made a huge difference in sound. I sound like the recordings again.

It's extremely gear wise for Evita. StingRay5 + SWR WorkingMan's 12. I set my EQ once and I leave it. The treble is barely boosted, mids barely boosted, bass up to about 7/8 of full. 99% of the show is just variations on finger style playing [closer to neck vs. bridge, etc]. On one song {Peron's Latest Flame}-I palm mute.

Well, i need to do some homework before Evita tonight.

all the best.

Damn Yankees Closes, 2 new gigs begin

Hello everyone,

Damn Yankees has it's final performance this Saturday November 1st at 7PM. 2 for 1 tickets are available through the box office. This production has been a blast. I thank the cast and crew for the time they've put in.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes starts rehearsals a week later, Nov 8th is our tentative sitzprobe rehearsal. It shall be fun. From what the music director has said, I'll be reading chord charts for the show-so I get to make up my own walking lines. GPB is running at the Cirlce Theatre in Forest Park.

New Gig House Band for the Uptown Poetry Slam at The Green Mill

Thanks to Bonnie Shadrake for letting me sub in with The Weird Sisters, I have landed a gig leading the House Band for The Slam! I'm stoked. We're confirmed to play Nov 2nd, 9th, and 16th. The fun starts around 6:45PM with some preshow music, the open mic at 7PM, and the Slam itself at 8PM. The cover is only $6! The Green Mill is located just off of the Lawrence Red Line stop.

I've got Ryan Brewster playing piano and Scott Hirtenstein playing drums. Ryan is the band director/pianist for 'Damn Yankees' and Scott is the drummer for The Weird Sisters. This will be my debut as a band leader. Pending an uber long 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' and Marc's decision, this will become a regular Sunday night gig.

Gear for all the above-I'm playing my New Standard Cleveland. I just added a bib from David Gage. No more shiny shirts!

all the best.