222
Since January 2008 there have been 222 homicides in LA county. I’m not sure what to do about it, but I can’t stop thinking about it. It started when I came across the LA times Homicide Report (blog). For over a year reporter Jill Leovy and Rueben Vives had a simple and horrendous task, to [...]
carne asada is not a crime
Dear Supervisor Molina, I am writing to express serious concern regarding the actions you have taken against the taco trucks in our neighborhoods. As a member of the Eastside community, I greatly value our local street vendors–for their food, service, and especially culture. Taco trucks fill many voids left by traditional restaurants, whether it is [...]
shame
its a shame that alan rich was pushed out as the la weekly’s classical music critic this week. this is another reason to not read the exceedingly corporate LA Weekly. first they get rid of any real “alternative” political reporting and now this. even when i didn’t agree with his conclusions, i appreciate mr. rich’s clear and pointed reviews and the context he brings to any concert he attends. his institutional memory of the los angeles music scene cannot be replaced.
what gets me really upset is the way he is being treated, i have seen too many examples of colleagues and friends who have given their live for their “job” being pushed aside and into retirement by the whims of management. by observing how most employers treat their “mature” staff its easy to get an idea of what is in store for us. i think any professional that has put in the years supporting and building the organizations that make up our community should be able to pick the way they want to go out (within reason). i think while many view retirement as a time to play play golf, drink beer and play cards, if Mr. Rich wants to keep writing in his “golden years”, then more power to him.
I suggest that if the LA Times can rethink the “forced buyout” of the esteemed Al Martinez, then LA Weekly should consider the same for Mr. Rich.
btw… how did we get to a point that a majority of our print media is being dictated by bean counters in chicago and phoenix? at least southland publishing is getting it done.
learning a new instrument
this spring continues to be a steady progression of ups and downs. the flu was a 5 week body blow to start the year and this past week (welcome spring!) allergies have been kicking my ass. that all being said, i’m finally back to my routine of transcribing, writing and arranging except this time (instead [...]
thanks
“Whatever institution you as an individual commit to will somehow find a way to betray you… Unless of course you’re willing to play the game without regard to the effect on others or society as a whole, in which case you might be a judge or the state police superintendent or governor one day….” Or, [...]
take two
today (03/05/08)4pm (pacific)radio interview with martin perlichrebroadcast thursday evening at 6:30pmKCSN-FMARTS & ROOTS RADIOlisten online next thursday (03/13/08)lloyd rodgers groupcsuf recital hall, 8pmprogram:discourse on the measurement of tones, books I, II, and IIIAll the counterpoint you can stand for $10 picutre above(l-r) matt menaged, pb, ryan nunes, bruce gallego, john mahr, scott mcintosh Be the [...]
the sausage factory
as you can see on the right side of my blog i have decided to start twittering my new project. so far i’m about 2 weeks into getting my chops back after spending the last 8 months editing, recording, and promotion of my retrace our steps EP and life’s too short CD. the whole process [...]
the pbe is we!
pbe l-r (matt menaged, pb, ryan nunes, bruce gallego, john mahr, scott mcintosh) is was a year since we played at mr. t’s and was really happy to see many of the “regulars” again. no new shows to announce right now, but for the next few months i’m going to be editing and mixing on [...]
i'd offer you a mint
my apologies for those who turned in to listen to the radio interview today. unfortunately mr. perlich became ill and was not able to conduct our interview. once we reschedule i’ll be sure to post the new time and date. thanks for concerned calls and emails i was happy to hear there was so much [...]
duck
“If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands.” -douglas adams todayradio interview with martin perlichtoday 4pm (pacific)rebroadcast thursday evening at 6:30pmKCSN-FMARTS & ROOTS RADIOlisten online tomorrowpbe with unpopablemr. t’s bowl9pm [...]
fake old new world
just listened to the kpcc (los angeles) zocalo podcast that featured uber architect thom mayne. like most discussions the interesting quotes start in the last five minutes (about 46:38). enjoy… we are living in a time where the majority of people (maybe even some of you) prefer to live in fake french provincial or tudor [...]
upcoming radio interview and show
wednesday, february 27th
pbe with upopable and friends
mr. t’s bowl
10pm (free)
5621 1/2 figueroa blvd.
highland park 90042
(between ave 56 and ave 57; parking and entrance in back)
also as an added bonus i’ll be on the radio with martin perlich (kscn 88.5) next tuesday, february 26th from 4:00pm-4:30pm. we are going to talk about the retrace our steps ep and graphic libretto.
we cannot not change
my apologies up front for posting a political blog. you know i’m not the type to get “the sky is falling”. i have had enough of being cynical about our political system. if you were like me and 8 years ago thought that politics didn’t matter then this post might be for you. as you [...]
musicianship toolbox, part 1 building sightsinging fundamentals
musicianship toolbox part 1, building sightsinging fundamentals so you want to improve your ears? what to do? where to start? here is a simple exercise to get you started the first skill you to develop is the ability to sing all the diatonic intervals (2nds-8ths, ascending and descending) by being able to sing these intervals [...]
bird flu 1-bpb 0
its been a slow start to 2008, and i have been barely been able to do anything except teach (not so fun on the robitussin with codeine) and sleep. i think the worst is now over and hope to be entering the land of the living soon. Be the first to like. Like Unlike
leaderless fear?
the pbe hiatus is finally over. in rehearsal tonight we realized that 3 months was the longest break we have ever taken since we started in 2002. i’m glad to be back to it preparing for a club show at mr. t’s bowl (our favorite venue) on feb 20th. we are very fortunate to have john mahr covering keyboards during eric hendrikson’s personal leave.
reh went well tonight, we started in on quite a bit of music that we haven’t performed that much and ended up with quite a bit more music then we can use. so far the setlist is starting to look something like this:
chaconne, john brenner (great modular piece)
bonedance, lloyd rodgers
fearless leader, pb
life’s too short, pb (tentative, 2 of 3 singers confirmed…)
national anthem, radiohead (cover)
this spring we are also working on adding doug hein’s orlando and john brenner’s leaderless fear to our repertoire. one thing that i have noticed about programming is that a concert of 5 or more pieces by most any composer can be a real drag (especially mine). i try and not program more than 2-3 of my own pieces, and when planning this show it became clear that when you pick the top 1-2 pieces from a variety of composers it quickly can become a pretty exceptional show.
anyhow, its great to be back in the game and with last night’s great rehearsal i can get up to the mountains for a few days in much better state of mind. school starts in a week and our budget has been slashed 10%, so i sure hope i still have some classes to teach. (remember life’s meant to be endured not enjoyed)
so while i’m away please help yourself to any or all the following;
its new, it fun, and free!****
and its an secular oratorio based on texts gertrude stein, guy debord and jenny bitner. while i was making it, i decided that it would be much more interesting and informative to have a graphic libretto instead of program notes. it was such an obvious idea and was surprised to find that nobody else seems to be doing this. so check it out and let me know what you think.
retrace our steps, act 1
retrace our steps, act 2
retrace our steps, act 3
retrace our steps, act 4
assorted live performances from fall 07
life’s too short (092507)
fearless leader, lacc, 100207
11/25/05 (with real quiet, 102507)
11/25/05 (with real quiet, 102507)
you can also support the pbe by purchasing our first album; music from summerland (2002)
download full album ($5) google checkout or paypal
(****at least for you early adopters. i’m trying something new and going to give this one away until CD#3 comes out (life’s too short, fall 08). i think giving away the new stuff and selling the back catalog isn’t a bad idea. so try it out and if you like it, i bet you might like my previous CD music from summerland)
the composer's ear?
this week i was interested in reading marc grant’s newmusicbox article titled, How Good is Your Ear (part 1). grant uses as a starting point out gunther schuller’s seven skills necessary of a conductor’s ear: 1) harmony; 2) pitch and intonation; 3) dynamics; 4) timbre; 5) rhythm and articulation; 6) balance and orchestrational aspects; 7) [...]
crack is back
just watched the opening episode of the wire season 5. gotta say david simon and the writers are still at the top of their game. in the opening scene bunk owns two kids in an interrogation with nothing more than a mcdonald’s bag and a copy machine. its one of the small victories that we [...]
Life (We Cannot Retrace Our Steps)
my long life, my long life
RETRACE OUR STEPS is essentially a secular oratorio; a collection of thoughts, feelings, and opinions about modern life (consumerism, idealism, and alienation)
Traditionally oratorios functioned as a musical sermon, coordinated to biblical calendar to enhance the worship service. by setting these conflicting themes in a non-narrative format allows the contradictions and grey areas to become illuminated.
Instead of creating an “official” set of PROGRAM NOTES to accompany this recording (like the ones you are reading right now) I decided that a GRAPHIC LIBRETTO would far better bridge the gap between the trepidation many people feel today when listening to ART MUSIC (music meant for contemplation)
listen and download RETRACE OUR STEPS I-IV:
act 1
retrace our steps, act I
act 2
retrace our steps, act II
act 3
retrace our steps, act III
act 4
retrace our steps, act IV
download graphic libretto and retrace our steps mp3′s (66mb zip file)
do you know?
in my long life do you know because I tell you so, or do you know, do you know retrace our steps, act IV> Be the first to like. Like Unlike
not to what i won
I was a martyr all my life not to what i won but what was done Be the first to like. Like Unlike
in my long life
in my long life, in my long life, life is strife life is strife Be the first to like. Like Unlike
what made it live?
has it not gone, what made it live has it not gone because now it is had retrace our steps, act IV Be the first to like. Like Unlike
but do i want?
but do I wantwhat we have got? retrace our steps, act IVtext by guy debord Be the first to like. Like Unlike
