The Procrastinating Musician

The best thing about doing this podcast is meeting some very interesting musicians. I'm so glad that Joshua Emitt and Drew Scott found their way to my studio. They recently re-located to Baltimore by way of Ft Myers, Florida and have begun making the circuit around the local venues. The two of them are the heart and soul of Something CompleX. Their humble beginnings consisted of sharing a small room with a water heater and a Korg Triton. I can certainly respect that as my "studio" took on many shapes and sizes through the years. The most memorable being a sewing closet at one point. Great music can be created anywhere with the most minimal of gear and Something CompleX certainly gets the job done with between 60 - 70 tracks to their name. Something CompleX gets inspiration from both ends of the spectrum.  Drew draws from his Hip-Hop and Underground influences while Josh weaves his Metal bass and guitar skills into the mix. Although not to be narrowed into one specific genre, you can pick out hints of The Beastie  Boys (R.I.P MCA) and Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails. I was honored that they brought some props and performed a few of their songs live in my studio. I asked what their target demographic was and Drew's answer was classic. Take a listen!! These are great guys so be sure to check them out if you're out and about in the Baltimore area. Website: http://www.somethingcomplex.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somethingcomplex Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/somethincomplex YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/nsight iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/something-complex/id378443978 Photography by Angelic Designs and Photography | http://angelicaleal.com In this episode I announce my new iPhone app. Podcast Box: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/podcast-box/id419361759?mt=8 The proceeds I raise with the new iPhone app will go the Semper Fi Fund. Listen to the podcast to hear why I decided to do this. Semper Fi Fund: http://www.semperfifund.org/

There are a handful of defining moments in our lives. One of those moments could be when your first child was born, or when you married your high school sweetheart, or in Dave's case, when you were laid off from your job. Dave seized this moment and transitioned himself from a hum-drum corporate suit into a self-proclaimed full-time musician and has never looked back. 11 years later, it's fair to say that Dave is a professional bass player and is doing exactly what most musicians aspire to do. The internet has profoundly changed the way musicians work and Dave has certainly taken advantage of what it has to offer. Session musicians back in the day would get a call from the studio engineer requesting their talents and the musician would travel to the studio to perform their parts. These days, musicians can collaborate across the internet and record their parts in the comfort of their own home studio. Dave offers his talents at YourSessionBassist.com. His website includes samples of his playing styles and a full discography of the many albums he's had the opportunity to perform on. With an impressive list of gear, Dave is more than capable of playing and engineering a great performance for his clients and he makes the process as easy as possible. Dave's talents has him playing genres from country to metal to rap and hip-hop. When I asked him what style of music he is a fan of, he gave me what was probably THE best answer to that question. I enjoyed my conversation with Dave and I learned a great deal from him in this unprecedented 1hour and 30min podcast. ENJOY!! Your Session Bassist: http://www.yoursessionbassist.com The Dave DeMarco Band: http://www.davedemarcoband.com Maryland Bass Lessons: http://www.marylandbasslessons.com Dave DeMarco: http://www.davedemarco.com Crack The Sky Band: http://www.crackthesky.com/ Peabody Institute: http://peabody.jhu.edu/ Sheffield Institute: http://www.sheffieldav.com/ Cue Recording Studios: http://www.cuerecording.com/ Marc Norgaard Session Drums: http://www.marcnorgaard.com/ Paul Reed Smith: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Reed_Smith

One of the reasons I do this podcast is to continue to improve my recording skills. I jumped at the chance to record this episode's group because it would be my first opportunity to record real stringed instruments. Machines on Vacation is made of of Ethan Balis (vocals, guitars, and computers), Amanda (cello), Kellie (viola), Theresa (violin), Melanie (violin, vocals), and Rochelle (violin) Ethan and the lovely ladies of the group's string quartet are from the Washington DC area and make appearances playing live as well as working as session musicians around the area. The sound is a combination of electronic music, guitar folk and orchestral arranging. If you've never heard Nintendo-related electronic music being supported by the multiple harmonics of violins and the cello then you are in for a real treat. The group's songwriter, Ethan, composes and arranges on his MacBook using Garageband and Pro Tools. He then hands off his ideas to the ladies who then transform Ethan's arrangement into a reality. He completes the arrangement with backing tracks comprised of drums, synth arpeggios and bass along with some backing vocal tracks. The Macbook and his Digi002 are the centerpiece of his rig which can send a feed to any venue's sound guy and an isolated click track to each performer through an in-ear monitoring setup Ethan has devised. Familiar... is the word that comes to mind when I was listening to MOV's music. Not familiar in the sense that I've heard this before but familiar in a way that's comforting and nostalgic. I personally enjoyed listening to them and I know you will too. As of this writing, they will be performing live at this year's Forward Festival on April 25th. Facbook: http://www.facebook.com/machinesonvacation MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/machinesonvacation

I started a new event called "New Music Saturdays" with my family. The way it works is on the first Saturday of each month, we make an effort to go out and support local bands by going to a show at any one of the hundreds of local music venues area in our area. Baltimore/DC is such a great area for new music. Drop Electric was one of the first bands I had the privilege to see on our first outing. I learned of DE by accident through a client of mine and from the moment I started listening to their music I have come to appreciate it and how it's evolved in such a short period of time. I went to The Black Cat in DC to see them a few weeks back and I was not disappointed. Through video imagery playing behind them on the wall, their music tells a story. But not a specific story nor does it contain a specific message. Their music encourages you to interpret your own message. The members, Ramtin, Neel, Sho, Kristina, Kevin and Patrick combine their individual influences and their music will transcend your own consciousness if you let it.  Close your eyes as you listen... let it take you wherever it wants to. Drop Electric was the most exciting podcast and the most challenging for me so far to date. It's the first time I got to record a full band for the podcast and it turned out really well. For having only 8 inputs on my Presonus Firestudio Project audio interface we made it work. DE's current album Finding Color in the Ashes is in my opinion one of the best albums in the area so visit the bandcamp site listed below and pick it up. It's worth it. They're working feverishly to release their follow up album sometime in the next few months so STAY TUNED!! Their story is such an interesting one, I encourage you to go to their website and check out their pictures, read about the band and watch the videos!! Website: http://www.dropelectric.com Email: dropelectric@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DropElectric Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/dropelectric Bandcamp: http://dropelectric.bandcamp.com/album/finding-color-in-the-ashes  

Have you ever had a song take you back to another time in your life? That's exactly what Michi's song "Mulberry Breakdown" did to me. Michiko Egger is an exceptionally talented songwriter. Her songs speak of love, heart-break, friends and relationships that you would think that she's lived a lifetime of experiences. So you'll be surprised when I tell you she's only 18. Her songwriting and guitar style can be compared to an early John Mayer. Her vocals are so sweet and filled with yearning that I immediately was taken back to an early time in my life. The resonance in her voice reminds me of a young Harriet Wheeler from The Sundays that I caught myself reminiscing of early days when my wife and I were first married and on our own. Michi, I thank you for that trip down memory lane. Playing the local scene with her band around Williamsport and nearby cities, she's making a name for herself. So much, that she's already signed with management and starting to branch out to larger audiences. Yes, it's safe to say, Michi's star is just beginning to rise. I was thrilled to have her play for the podcast. She treated me to four great songs and you can hear them exclusively on this podcast (count how many times I say "very cool" during the recording). Our conversation touches on songwriting and where her inspiration comes from. But please don't her compare her to one specific young country artist. Michi is unique in every sense of the word and I highly recommend you pick up her CD posted below. And if you catch her at a show, you just might be able to nab one of her early CDs. She has three!!! A big shout out to Sean Farley at Guitarley's for hosting the podcast!!! Website: http://www.musicbymichi.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicbymichi Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichikoEgger YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/michikoelisa iTunes:  http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/where-your-heart-is/id474563271 Manager: Cindy da Silva http://www.dasilvaartists.com

Living the "rock star" life is a young man's game. So the gentlemen of All At Once are living that life to the fullest. Made Up Of Justin Santos/Lead Vocals, Zach Ludlow/Guitars, Trey Chaney/Bass Guitar, Eddie Eichelberger/Drums, All At Once, at one time, branded a pop band has finally captured a unique sound combining elements from Rock To Pop To Punk To Post-Hardcore. These guys range in age from 16 to 21 and they are loads of fun to talk to. We dive into their lives of school, employment and how to live and work in a castle. All At Once, hails from the Glen Burnie, MD area and are playing all of the popular venues including The Recher Theater in Towson. During our conversation they were gracious enough to entertain me with no less than 4 songs and Justin's voice hints at being similar to Fall Out Boy. By the time this episode airs, they have driven all the way to Ohio to record one of their tracks. So stay tuned and hopefully we'll hear more from them I have to admit that I'm a bit envious of these young men with loads of energy and enthusiasm.  It makes me pine for my younger days when I thought I had all the time in the world to accomplish what I was trying to do. Time is fleeting so chase those dreams while you still can and never give up. Enjoy the show!!! Email: eichelberger_eddie@yahoo.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllAtOnceOfficial Twitter: https://twitter.com/Allatoncemd ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/AllAtOnceOfficial YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/Allatonceband

I fell in love with synthesizers and keyboards early on in life. The fear of dating myself not withstanding, the likes of Nick Rhodes, Howard Jones and Thomas Dolby turned me on to world of infinite ambient pads, arpeggios and lead sounds. I read Keyboard magazine religiously from the late 80s through the 90s while living in Germany with the hopes to learn everything i can about keyboardists, the gear they use and how to create and sequence my own music. Christopher J Wray, a brilliant ambient electronic musician from the UK, has rekindled my love affair with the genre once again. His compositions grab your soul and take your mind on a unique journey through space and time. Close your eyes as you listen to his music and you'll find yourself in a sonically-induced mind trip. French composer, Jean Michel Jarre ignited the passion and his influence can be heard throughout Christopher's compositions. Playing live, his sets are essentially improvised and not knowing which direction a song is going to go or how it ends is exciting and the thrill of creating music for him. Recording into Cubase, Christopher and his multitude of synths along with some iPad apps are creating some awe-inspiring music. Visit his site, download, listen and enjoy!!! Website: http://www.cjwray.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/christopherjwraymusic Twitter: https://twitter.com/cjwray YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/solace2007 SoundCloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/christopherjwray iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/christopher-j-wray/id74443102 Featured Songs on the Podcast: Life Existence, Vortex Bell, Earth 2011 Ad, Bird of Sorrow, Ruby SecondLife: http://secondlife.com/ Jean Michel Jarre Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean_Michel_Jarre Jean Michel Jarre Website: http://www.jeanmicheljarre.com/ Tangerine Dream: http://www.tangerinedream-music.com Kaosillator: http://www.korg.com/KAOSSILATORPRO Animoog: http://moogmusic.com/products/apps/animoog Still Stream: http://stillstream.com/ Eva Moon & The Lunatics: http://evamoon.net/

Man, I'm finding that my hometown, Williamsport PA, has no shortage of great musicians and I'd like to introduce you to another one of them. Sean Farley is my guest on the podcast today and we talk music, moving, building and restoring guitars in his shop, Guitarley's.  I got to talk to Sean in the front room of his shop which has great acoustics and he was gracious enough to play a couple songs for me. Sean went to college at Lycoming College and took a deep interest in Philosophy so he's always quick to be the devil's advocate and pull you deep into the conversation. After working at the Bullfrog Brewery for 9 years he decided to go back into music and wound up packing up his belongings and headed west to learn how to build guitars. So in the spring of 2011 he became a certified luthier and a graduate of the prestigious Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery in Phoenix, AZ. The result is his guitar shop, Guitarley's and he focuses on guitar repair and restoration but also specializes in beautifully handcrafted, custom, one-of-a-kind guitars. You have to see and HEAR these masterpieces he has constructed. The guitar he's playing during our conversation is one of them and his baby. If you live in Williamsport PA,  I HIGHLY encourage you to visit his shop and take a moment to talk to him. "Like" him on his Facebook to see where's he playing and catch a show at any number of venues in the area including the Bullfrog or the Elk's Creek Cafe. Email: seanguitarley@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/seanrfarley SoundCloud: http://soundcloud.com/seanguitarley Guitarley's Website: http://www.guitarleys.com/ Guitarley's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/guitarleys Guitarley's Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/guitarleys Guitarley's YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Guitarleys/videos Mike Mizwinski https://www.facebook.com/mike.mizwinski Tyler Spooner  https://www.facebook.com/tspoonmusic Michiko Egger  https://www.facebook.com/michikoegger  

I go back to my hometown of Williamsport, PA a few times a year to visit family and friends. I'm happy to report that within the last few years Williamsport has had a resurgence and I'm starting to enjoy coming back into the area more and more. There are musicians galore and plenty of venues to house them so there is an abundance of live music to entertain the locals. Tyler is a singer/songwriter from this small town. Despite playing guitar for nearly a decade, he has only been writing and performing songs since late 2010. These songs are heavily influenced by personal experiences and moments in the lives of people close to him. Though you won't find him melting faces with heavy guitar licks, you will find him providing soothing rhythm, while leaving the solos up to his collaborators. His solo album "Forgetting to Remember" will be released January 21, 2012 and to celebrate he will be hosting a SOLD OUT CD release party on the same date at the Jeremiah Room above the Bull Frog Brewery. I certainly appreciate Tyler taking the time to talk and sing for me for what would be early for any singer. You should most definitely check out his pages below, listen to his other music and sign up for his newsletter to keep with his live performance schedule. Be sure to listen to the end of the podcast for a very special offer!! Website: http://www.tylerspooner.com Email: tylerspooner@gmail.com Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tspoonmusic Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tspoonmusic Soundcloud: http://www.soundcloud.com/tspoonmusic Reverbination: http://www.reverbnation.com/tylerspooner YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/tspoonmusic Green Valley Recording Around Town Williamsport, PA First Friday South Side High School Lycoming College Venues Bull Frog Brewery Barrel 135 Francos The Old Corner Kimballs Pub Smokey Jo's The Pigs Ear Interesting Instrument Melodica

Metal Core fans rejoice!! Going to high school can be a tough time for any teenager. Good friends that share the same interests are the key to getting through those 4 years of what is usually described as utter torture. A long... long... time ago when I was in high school I can't remember anybody who had a band and this was back in the day of the 80s big hair rock bands. Adahlia (pronounced Ah-Dah-lia) is made up of five guys (Zak, Cory, Sean, Vic, Dalton) who came together in school and have been working in earnest to get their music heard and appreciated. Their style is best described as Melodic Metal Core, a genre that consists of songs with tempos that ebb and flow from 90bpm - 230bpm. Adahlia rocks to the double kick drum hits and driving guitar riffs that get the heart racing, building tension until the band provides a welcome release of melodic and ambient guitar solos. The vocals are less than subtle but these guys describe  the lyrical message is based in Christianity and has religious overtones. Locking themselves in my studio for the past 3 days to complete their EP, they recorded, edited and mixed the entire project on their own which is very impressive. They've been playing the local circuit around their area and will be competing in the Anne Arundel County Battle of the High School Bands this month!! Adahlia's Facebook Page Anne Arundel County Battle of the Bands 2012 Sean Hun Accident Soultune Cymbals The Whiskey in Annapolis 9 Mile Roots Maryland Seafood Festival Haven in Exile Innovations Sunset (Sean Han)

Local Baltimore bands can be very unique. Female-fronted, Sweet Suicide is not your typical bar band from Charm City. Cindy (vocals), Mike (guitar), Jesse (guitar), Greg (bass) and Moses (drums) make up band. They are a family and a unit that seems to click with one another on just about every level. From kicking the crap out of each other to almost every member being seen naked, these are guys (and gal) are still a young group but the maturity in the way they view themselves and the music they are writing is certainly going to make some head turns. We talk about everything from how everyone came together from previous bands, to the Edgwater, MD mascot "Boogie" to Greg's tribute to his best feature. They even played the acoustic version of their new song "December" and an Offspring cover for us. Thanks for listening! SHOW LINKS Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/SweetSuicideMusic Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVUeTwYqLZk Volbeat: http://www.volbeat.dk/2/index.php Pantera: http://www.pantera.com/ Craigslist: http://www.craigslist.com  

ROAD TRIP!! Lee and I headed to York, PA in search of the band, Endless Aftermath. Rob Hamrick, Ryan Bell and Chris Tissue greeted us with open arms and ready to play. Rob (vocals & guitar) and Ryan (guitar) started out as an acoustic duo over 3 years ago. Once they decided that the songs they were writing needed a bigger sound, they brought in Chris (bass) and his brother Alex (guitar) to help employ that huge sound and they are currently working to find a new drummer. But for our interview, they stripped it back down and played "unplugged" for us, MTV Style. We discuss how they band got started because of something hanging out of Ryan's ear, selling tickets for venues which I refer to as "pay to play",  and recording their latest single, Where Love Used to Grow. Be sure to check them out live on Dec 10 @ The Recher Theater in Towson, MD and Dec 22 @ Ram's Head Live in Baltimore, MD. Click here for more details. As an added bonus, Lee brought along some video equipment and he recorded, edit and produced the first video for the podcast and we couldn't be more excited to have Endless Aftermath as our debut video. So be sure to check the video below and subscribe to our YouTube channel. Facebook: www.facebook.com/endlessaftermath Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/endlessaftermath

Drunk Pedestrians is the brain child of musician Chris Scheidies. Growing up in the Midwest, and studying music production at Berklee College of Music gave DP a unique perspective on the human condition, something he pours into his work. DP has been producing music for over a decade and has worked with some huge names in the music business. Coming from a live musician background DP has a unique approach to production marrying both live and sampled instruments creating soundscapes unheard of to modern man. DP’s first solo LP is being billed as a new hip-hop classic. DP was also the driving force for bands like IN 3D and Ivory Hill. Currently DP is producing music for a variety of TV shows and Emcees. Contact him if you need something special. I encourage you to spend some time exploring DP’s music by clicking on the Discography link. BONUS!! Download two songs from the Drunk Pedestrians, I Am the Soundtrack album featured on the podcast for FREE. (Right or Control Click on the Link to download) Soft and Sweet (Feat. Jordan Santana) Summertime Jump Off (Feat. Spanish Harlem, Step Child, Aaron Hill of Ivory Hill) Here are some interesting links to items mentioned in the podcast. Sweetwater Joe Gilder - Home Studio Corner Yamaha QY10 Propellerheads Reason 6 Pro Tools NI Maschine Mic: Sennheiser MD 421 Korg Mono/Poly Reason ReFills RackFlip Pink Noise - Analog Monsters Pink Noise - Cybervox eXode - Massive Synthesis Jiggery-Pokery Refills Bitley - Fairlight Refill

The DC3, as I refer to them, is made up of Lee Gillenwater, Eddie Perry and Juan Carlos. The original three fellas that joined me on the pilot episode and the names you hear in the opening theme song. I brought us all back together for another fun-filled evening of discussions. We cover a wide gamut of topics from Lee's new video camera... THE RED SCARLET X... to my affection for the actress, Mary Steenburgen. We find out what happens to Eddie when he drinks too much Tequila. And we touch on the sad subject of me leaving the band I've been involved with for 3 years. We're glad Juan's feeling better and we're glad to find out IKEA's cafeteria is cheap. :) Marc Maron, the host of the WTF Podcast, is going to be at the Arlington Draft House on Dec 2 and Dec 3. Get tickets and bring baked goods!!!!

A multi-genre influenced duo who's eclectic fusion of Electronic Chill, Hip-hop and Soul along with Experimental Pop create such an interesting and infectious vibe that when I first listened to them I was excited to learn that they were from the Washington DC area. Zach Holmes and Coby Nida are the musicians that make up Race of Robots. Being weekend warriors has it's challenges as I know from my own experience but these guys are making it work from them by getting together religiously on the weekends to write and record. What impresses me the most is that being in their early 20s, "In Dreams" is their SECOND album this year so that shows me that they have the commitment and the drive to go far with their music. Mixing hip-hop beats with soul riffs, then adding a very chill guitar track topped off with Coby's shy but determined vocals these guys have a style that is so likeable that they've earned a place in my iPod rotation. Be sure to check out their Bandcamp site as they are offering both of their albums as FREE downloads. I'm enjoying their debut album "Race of Robots" just as much as their follow-up album called "In Dreams". Some stand outs for me are "Unlimited Love", "Getting High", "Angelude" and "Let's Go" Bandcamp: http://raceofrobots.bandcamp.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Race-of-Robots/312835389937 Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/race_of_robots Thank you guys for a great interview and some great music!!