It's called a monome. They run about $500, and the people that make them don't make a lot of them, so they're UBER hard to find. I'm saving up my nickels and dimes (not to mention crossing my fingers for berfday moneyz) to try to get one someday.
The only thing is, I'm afraid I'd get one and not have the skill to be able to make good use of it...
I know for certain though that Derek Webb has done some pretty cool stuff with a monome/midi controller. I have a very limited understanding of how electronic music works (although I'm trying like mad to change that), but I think given time and effort (and perhaps even someone to help me along), I could probably churn out some cool tunes.
A few more packages arrived in the mail this week. In preparation for our March 6th show, we've spent the week practicing with our new Electro-Harmonix Voice Box, a nifty little device with a fanTASTIC vocoder. We're using the vocoder setting in our cover of mewithoutYou's "Messes of Men," our awesome little show opener that will also feature Matthew on the trap set, and Alyssa on the omnichord. To listen to the original song, you can check it out here.
I also picked up a set of Johnson "Blues King" harmonicas (12 in all), with a case and everything, as well as a neck rack (the same kind Bill Mallonee has), so I can play the harmonica and guitar at the same time. Looks shnazzy. In the meantime, we're working like crazy to put on a hell of a show. I'm really excited with our unique blend of electric/electronic and acoustic folk, and can't wait to post the videos.
So, a few months ago I stumbled onto this band, Anathallo, and their song "The River" has become probably my second or third favorite song of all time. Posted here for you consideration is a live recording of the song, but please check out the studio version, as well. Also, read the lyrics--they're some of the most poetic lyrics of any piece I've ever heard.
"Feed the roots and honor the tongues of the animals":
I post this mainly because this is the sound and style Berlin Airlift (or, at least, me personally) is striving for. Unfortunately, good musicians are in unusually short supply in our tiny town of Cape Girardeau.
Also, I've been promising pictures for a while. We'll get there eventually. We're in the middle of setting up a small home recording studio in the basement of our building, and it's all pretty slow-going. Still working on getting speakers and a mixer board, and in the meantime working on our covers for our first big show on the 6th. We'll try to put some pics of the studio and all the goodies we've been getting via Amazon and local music stores lately, as well as a few promo pics when we get the chance. In the meantime, we appreciate your support and encouragement, and please, if you know anything about setting up a recording studio or expressing yourself through song, please contact us with your wisdom. Every little bit is appreciated.
This just in...we've managed to purchase a couple extra pieces of equipment. Check out the Electro-Harmonix Voice Box vocal effects pedal Matt and I bought to go with our TC Helicon VoiceLive. It does some cool stuff. You can see how it works in these really cool indie music videos:
We're practicing/slowly putting the band together in time for the show in March. From time to time I'll keep you folks updated--we're experimenting with different sounds, and in the coming weeks I'll try to post some sound clips of the work we're doing.
That's all for now. We'll be sure to keep everyone filled in an updated here, so keep checking for developments. This is an adventure, learning to be a band, and we hope that you stick with us, and maybe learn a thing or two, as well. We're just as inexperienced as the next amateur indie folk band, and we need all the support/coaching we can get.
In the meantime, enjoy this crizazy one-take video to Ok Go's latest single, "This Too Shall Pass":
We recently purchased a bunch of equipment and instruments, and we'll be posting pictures/sound clips periodically to update the blog as the packages come in the mail. For now, take a gander at our latest acquisition: a CAD GXL2200 vocal condenser mic (and a GXL 1200 instrument condenser mic, also).
The only drawback is that we don't have an interface yet, nor any of the proper cords to hook up the thing. But we've got a Tascam coming in the mail, and it should probably be here today.
Today, I received a small package in the mail (along with a larger package of wedding invitations--but that's another story). Wasn't really sure what it was, although I had just purchased a bunch of instruments/band paraphernalia via Amazon and ebay on Saturday (not the least of which is a TC Helicon Voicelive vocal effects processor--check this out to see what it does).
Turns out it was a jaw harp, or "Jew's harp," if you want to be less politically correct. Or, if you want to be a little more bland, some folks just call it a mouth harp.
It took me half an hour or so to get any sound out of this weird little instrument, but I think I've got the hang of it. It only hurts when you bounce the metal off of your teeth or gums. Otherwise, it gives off a nice--almost cliche--folksy sound. We're planning on using it in a Woody Guthrie tune we're covering at a live performance at Mississippi Mud House in Cape Girardeau on March 6. I'm not going to tell you which tune, though, just to maintain the element of surprise. If you're curious, but unable to make it to the show, I'll probably post some videos of the concert sometime shortly afterward.
