The Art of Improvisation

Hey Folks,

When we go in to the studio, we like to improvise a little.  Often is it something done to get the creative juices going, to get “in the zone”, or really in the hopes of creating some magic.  Here is a song that we recorded in the studio that we believe to be magic.  At least evidence that fairies were in the studio and dropped pixie dust on us.

Everything you hear is improvised: the lyrics, the progressions, the bridge, the solo (obviously).  We have since tried to recreate the magic of the song and it has never worked.  We will most definitely go back in the studio and redo parts and share that with you as we increase the “kick ass” factor of this song.  But first, it was important you get an example of the rawness.

Allow me to take you through the song with a little commentary.  First, go to the song here:

http://soundcloud.com/on-the-beat-and-path/improvised-studio-jam

Start Song:

0:00 – The songs starts with Erik soundchecking his drums.  With the mics already ignited, I just decided to play around with his beat.  Just following the beat and embarrassingly find myself scatting to an old Kid N Play song.  For this, I apologize.  Not because it’s Kid N Play, but because I forgot the words.

0:17 – Erik recognizes that I am entering a zone and obliges with a welcoming drum roll.  I instinctively start singing gibberish taking my vocal chords on a little journey.   Still looking for the theme and flow at this point though.

0:45 – David Ross recognizes that a song is about to be born and quickly finishes tuning his guitar and instantly adds a riff to what is slowly evolving to be “something”.

0:58 – with Dave’s new guitar riff, I am inspired to start a song that will have me half singing as one dude and have talking as another dude.  Still unsure what direction the song will go in though.

1:15 – first evidence of spontaneity as we go through a well felt chord change.  The theme is starting to unravel a little bit and Dave, Erik and I are feeling it.  Can’t remember where Gary is at this point.  Most likely on his back stretching, crying that he can’t be involved.

(L - R) Steve, Dave, Erik

1:26 – Friend, Matt Sheflin joined us in the studio and without even really knowing if he has a sister, I took the opportunity to let him know what I thought would happen if she was there.

1:32 – song’s “2nd verse” kicks in and the emotion picks up as improvised lyrics start to kick ass specifically at 1:45.

1:59 – Public Service Announcement

2:00 – JD, studio engineer of 21:05 Studio recognizes that the song requires a bass so he gets off his “ENGINEER CHAIR” and picks up the bass guitar.  JD rarely ever behaves in such a manner and at 2:09 we are glad he does.

JD @ 21:05 Studios (KL, Malaysia)

2:30 – a fun little run of words that ends with the undeniable sentence “I am just a Steve”.

2:49 – first real evidence of the theme and feeling of the song.  From here, it just becomes more evident.

3:15 – first use of “bad” word.  Had to happen eventually in a freestyle rhyme.  Nevermind that the song is 6 minutes long.  Impressive.  This will not be the last time a bad word is used.  At least a different bad word is used.  But philosophically...what’s bad?

3:27 – This is the part where there should have been an epic, soaring guitar solo.  And there will be. However, as Erik’s drumming foreshadowed what could have been the greatest moment in improvised rock history, what you are given is a the musical equivalent of two teenagers in a moment of sexual uncertainty and sweaty palms in the back of a El Camino.

3:45 – Now that that is finished, the song continues it’s “Act 3” with a fictional account of my family circle and a dream that concludes with an indecipherable line at 4:06.

4:25 – The Message

4:42 - The beginning of what is no doubt the greatest rhyming couplet in the history of improvised studio rock and roll.  You’re welcome.

4:58 – The introduction of the 2nd “bad word”.  It then gets repeated.  Sorry?

5:22 – Song’s Outro.  That’s the thing with improvised jam.  When do you stop when no one wants to stop?

5:40 – The obligatory talking in to the microphone with self-satisfying pats on the back.

5:45 – David still figuring out what went wrong with his solo.  For the record, he’s a kick ass guitar player that would make your grandmother weep for joy.

Please share.

Catch Us Live Somewhere On This Planet

Peace
Steve

www.onthebeatandpath.com
www.boredofdirectives.com

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath
Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath
CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html
Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com
gary@boredofdirectives.com

On The Beat and Path in Malaysia (Season Two)

On The Beat and Path Episode Blog (S2 E5)

Filmed: January  – May, 2011

Locations of Shoot: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East Malaysia

As Gary and I call Malaysia home, it is rather appropriate that we attempt to film as much musical silliness as we can.  Of course, our travel schedules don’t always allow us to be home at the best of times.  Plus, when we refer to Gary being at home it could very well mean he is between homes either living in Erik’s spare bedroom (Erik being one of our main sponsors and accommodation providers) or a bunker with other wayward global artists.  It isn’t always pretty being Gary but at least his cats have a place to stay.

Moving on.

Gary and I have our own musical and creative projects in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  We play in a band that has had difficulty in nailing down a suitable name.  We have gone under the monikers of “Fuzzy Handcuffs” and then in the name of efficiency, shortened it to “The Cuffs” and then we were “4 Dudes Named Gary, Steve, David and Erik Who Have No Name But Like to Rock”.  On October 14^th, we played in a bar in Sri Hartamas under the uber rock signature, ICE PUPPIES.  We stole this name from an 8 year old.  It doesn’t matter where genius comes from, as long as it just comes.

We used to be in a band called the BENCHMARX.  Gary played bass, I played guitar and sang and all was good.  Other players in the band include generation two lead guitarist David Ross, generation one drummer Erik Richardson (previously mentioned accommodation sponsor) and first generation guitarist and singer Kenny Peavy.  The BENCHMARX, after recording 2 full length albums, a glorious independent music award, and a pseudo-South East Asian Tour called it quits for reasons that aren’t always entire clear, public, or even worth sharing (it’s better for the rock and roll legend that way).

Some Benchmarx funzies: www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGywez4T3Do

So while Gary and I spent the better part of 2010 and 2011 traveling and collecting musical footage around the world, we didn’t play very much locally.  As such, the BENCHMARX ended.  We did manage to squeeze in a few shows around town but like I previously mentioned, under a new, as yet unnamed five some.  Erik and Dave are still around and we enlisted a horn player, Brian Morefield to join us to add a little oomph in all the right places.  These musicians helped us in our Malaysian filming.  More on this later.

So while On The Beat and Path kept us out of Malaysia, we still managed to film a few interesting moments.  My stand up comedy profile and involvement in the local music scene led to me being asked to host the WORLD FINALS of the Global Battle of the Bands.  17 countries around the world sent a winning band to compete for the title of “World’s Greatest New Band”.  I was also “lucky” enough to host two legs of the Malaysian Qualifying Rounds. 

I would like to pre-empt the next few segments by stating for the record that I love music.  I can’t be doing what I am doing if this isn’t the case.  But there is only so much heavy metal a man can take in one night.  And throughout these qualifying rounds, it was predominantly a cycle of metal bands that Malaysia was offering.  Amazingly, Malaysia sent as their GBOB representative, a young, fresh funk band, Bombers. 

When it came time to the GBOB FINALS, I found myself in for the longest night of music in my life.  Had beer been involved (and it was to a minor degree) the evening may have taken on a different flavour.  But hosting is “working” and I required my wits for the cutting and witty banter I had to provide between performances.  Now it needs to be said that every band in GBOB were great and honest to their genre.  I can’t imagine that Ryan Seacrest enjoys every moment of American Idol and I have been to festivals where some acts were head scratchers.  That’s opinion and that’s glorious.  But there appeared to be a disproportionately large segment of the world who sent Metal Bands to this competition.

Admittedly, I have a hard time listening to either Justin Bieber or Slipknot.  However, when you put them together?  It’s worth listening to.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=kspPE9E1yGM

Musical genres unrepresented at the WORLD FINALS include (but most definitely not limited to) Hip Hop, Country, Soul… There were only two female singers in the competition and one singer who wore hockey gloves.  While Metal and Hard Rock appeared to be the genre of choice, it was a Jamaican reggae band, DUBTONIC KRU that took home the GBOB trophy as winners. You can get a glimpse of the whole event here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDqxxJVkgfQ

Steve with DUBTONIC CREW (JAMAICA)

Because we had previously filmed in Malaysia (pre-season episode #2: www.onthebeatandpath.com/episode_kualalumpur.html) we really wanted to focus on delivering something new.  So we headed to Sabah and East Malaysia.  Here we were introduced to some members of the Hip Hop community in Kota Kinabalu.  In fact, we weren’t the only ones introduced to them, for the members of the U.G.M (Urban Gorrilaz Crew – not sure what the “M” means at this point?  I need to take better notes.  Or should I say, Randall needs to take better notes), the live show that we witnessed in K.K (Kota Kinabalu) was their first live show ever.

Hip Hop in Borneo

 Canadian Hip Hop veteran and current Malaysian Hip Hop Godfather, Jason “Vandal” Schadt introduced me to the fellows during a magazine party and we spent some time getting to know the rhyming youngsters.  They were shy, denying us an opportunity to witness them freestyling live.  So I had to take the microphone and show them a little of what I got in the chamber:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZAevRzMG5s

The next day we toured a little of Sabah with Malaysian singer-songwriter and industry heavy weight Amir Yussof.  Amir is an accomplished singer songwriter who has received acclaim for his original music and has performed throughout the world. 

The Monsopiad Cultural Centre in Sabah invited us for a day of traditional Sabah life: Drinking rice wine, hunting birds, and of course dancing.   Their history contains examples of headhunting as territorial instincts were high and the Monsopiads use music and dance to share of their colourful history.  Now for no moment was I worried about losing my head, but a slow loris (small cute animal) did manage to find its way on to my shoulders (3:08 mark of video below) and lick away at my scalp.  It must be my lovely shampoo.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfjYDbblm-0

This is a Slow Loris.  He likes Hair Wax.

Finally, it was back to Kuala Lumpur to participate in a photo shoot for ESQUIRE Magazine.  This is normally not my cup of tea but when ESQUIRE calls, you answer.  The shoot was to celebrate the first issue of ESQUIRE to be published in Malaysia.  Because it was April, it just made sense to do an “April Fool’s” shoot with the top comedians in Kuala Lumpur.  I was teamed with Malay comic, Papi Zak.  Every photo captured an old school joke or vaudeville gag.  Ours consisted of the exploding cigar (in my face) and the squirting flower (in Papi’s face).  I got to wear a watch that cost more than my University education.  But then I had to give it back.  It’s not always about winning I suppose.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDMx8fQWzoY

Steve in ESQUIRE magazine

Next time we are in Canada and the United States of America.

Catch Us Live Somewhere On This Planet.

Peace

Steve

Official site: www.onthebeatandpath.com

Bored of Directives Productions: www.boredofdirectives.com

Follow Us On:

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/on-the-beat-and-path

TITS: www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS_index.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com

gary@boredofdirectives.com

Official VIMA 2011 Categories unveiled!

Official VIMA 2011 Categories unveiled!

Missed Planes and Burning Neckties :: August 31, 2011

Hey Folks

Last day of August.  Almost had a great meeting with Gary and almost set our direction for the coming year which includes post production of ON THE BEAT AND PATH for television, and post production for two, potentially three documentaries for submission in to film festivals in 2012. However, Gary is not in Malaysia.  He missed his flight from Macedonia and spent a night (or potentially two in Istanbul).

No there is every reason to believe that Gary missed his flight because of crazy traffic in Sofia.  No doubt.  Gary is a man of his word and I must take him at that.  But with a year of traveling under our belt (we’re talking 17 countries and over 25 cities here) it is safe to say, the man plays with fire when it comes to challenging planes’ ability to depart on time (with every passenger).  It takes two hands to count the close calls and long mornings.  Even Vanessa has been heard to drop a, “goddammit Gary” once in a while.  

Gary performing a self diagnosis test after an ill-fated motorcycle accident in Lake Toba, Indonesia

Gary should be arriving between sometime today and next week.  It just depends on how good the Turkish bath houses are. 

I am continuing to do stand up in the region and am headlining a show in Kuala Lumpur (well…a suburb anyway) on September 13^th.  The show is at Nero Fico and is a great spot to get a delicious feast in you before the show.  Local comic, Kavin is MC’ing the event with MACC comic Chi Ho opening with a few minutes.  The price is set at 20 rm and you can get more info on the FACEBOOK event page here:

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=237296552974901

Steve live at Nero Fico, September 13, 2011

As mentioned in Monday’s blog, I wanted to share the reason why we had Randall start a fire for us.  While in India back in April 2010, we wanted to perform a ceremony, some sort of celebration of the creative task we were about to start.  I thought it was rather appropriate to light a fire and burn some neckties.  So here is Erik, Gary and I on the beaches in Goa with nothing but a fire, some neckties, a few guitars and an improvised song.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWwkRpGrW5E

Rocking on the beaches of Goa just before the tie burning ceremony

Catch Us Live Somewhere On This Planet

Peace

Steve

www.onthebeatandpath.com

www.boredofdirectives.com

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html

Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html

Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com

gary@boredofdirectives.com

The Creative Process :: August 29th, 2011

Hey Folks

It’s been awhile, apologies.  I’ll keep this short. 

Gary gets back from a month of vacationing in American and filming his wife/dancer Paola (she made a performance piece in our Brazil episode - www.youtube.com/watch?v=8d0WMXlmCw8) in Macedonia.  She does some terrific work with a music festival over there and we’ll be excited to bring you some footage of that in due time.   So much more to come in the meantime.

We have been releasing bonus scenes, lost scenes, deleted scenes and summer content which includes clips from Toronto’s Fringe Festival, Singapore’s Rock & Roots Festival and Guelph’s Hillside Festival.  You can check out our YouTube Channel for episodes you may have missed.  Plus Gary will have everything available on our new updated website very soon.  Check out the cool things he has been doing at www.onthebeatandpath.com.  Not everything is active as of yet but stay tuned, there is so much more On The Beat and Path coming.

That said, we’ll release another bonus scene today.  For those that remember, or were with us during Season One, we paid a visit to Bali and joined a local Gamelon band at a recording studio run by the great DJ KAZZ.  Together and through the language of music, we created the season two theme song, the kick-ass, “Everything Matters”.

Here is the online Season One Bali segment:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5zk0Hzo0Ss

Here is the BEHIND THE SCENES segment of our recording the above segment:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7SBclhSaNs

Well, today we are happy to release footage of us in India when we first came up with the idea for this song. The footage is a little grainy, obviously the song wasn’t in it’s polished state but it gives you a glimpse of our creative process and reintroduces you to characters from Season One, Episode One in Goa, India.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tqS10lbNqM

From Left to Right: Gary on Guitar, Jungle Chris Horton on the nylon string, Erik is banging on the Cajon somewhere on the floor and I am on the right. 

The setting was perfect under the Banyon tree by the ocean.  It was difficult to leave.

All the while, Randall was trying to get a fire going.  It took him seven hours before we finally gave him a lighter.  He was not impressed.  On Wednesday, we will share with you what we did with the fire.

Coming soon:

We’re going to release a full 27-minute documentary from our time at the Hillside Music Festival in Canada with performances from Lights, Chali 2na, Sloan, Ganga Giri, Kim Churchill, Serena Ryder, Emmanuel Jal and so much more.  It’s probably better than anything you are watching on TV at the moment anyway (especially the 2011 MTV VMA’s – Does MTV still care about music these days?)

Serena Ryder at Hillside Music Festival Guelph, Canada 2011

Catch Us Live Somewhere On This Planet

Peace,

Steve

www.onthebeatandpath.com

www.boredofdirectives.com

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html

Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html

Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com

gary@boredofdirectives.com

Slam or Be Slammed

Hey Folks

We released another small “featurette” from our summer shoot at Hillside Festival in Canada.  This time, in an effort to perform at the festival, I signed up for the Sunday Poetry Slam, hosted by The Guelph Poets Society. 

I have never entered a Poetry Slam.  I find them cool in every sense of the word and while a dark bar and a groovy basslines would have seemed more appropriate accompaniment than a lake and birds, I had no fear.  

What was originally supposed to be an open mic (signed up for only by yours truly) turned in to an actual slam (performed by seasoned ‘slammers’).  It was random selection to see who got to go first.  As tragedy had it, I was picked to go last.  I think I held my own.  You can see first hand here:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=td9NKU_xQTg

Please comment on the YOUTUBE pages for our videos.  Much appreciated.

Coming Soon from On The Beat and Path:

Singapore Rock & Roots Festival (Michael Franti & Bob Dylan)

2011 Toronto Fringe Festival

2011 Hillside Music Festival (Chali 2na, Sloan, and 3 days of musical wonderfulness)

Episodes from Thailand, Myanmar, Dubai, Malaysia, Newfoundland and New York

Deleted Scenes from Season One & Two

Please, Catch Us Live Somewhere on this Planet.

Peace,

Steve

www.onthebeatandpath.com

www.boredofdirectives.com

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html

Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html

Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com

gary@boredofdirectives.com

Growing up Muslim in a Hyphenated World

“Growing up Muslim in a Hyphenated World”

It’s Friday, the first from our first week back.  Today we are releasing our third segment from the Toronto Fringe Festival.  Anyone growing up hyphenated in this multi-cultural world will relate to the adventures of Zed Headscarf.  Ch-Ch-Check it out here and spread the love during this Ramadan season:

Tons to see at Toronto Fringe

Please post comments on our YOUTUBE page if there is something you would like to share.

Had a great time at the comedy show last night with TimeOut Comedy Thursdays.  Mad respect to all the comedians who performed to inspire the 300+ strong crowd to giggle in to the night.  Kavin did his usual bang-up, smooth job MC’ing with strong, crowd-friendly polished material even if his “intros” were about 20 minutes in length each (he likes to make the comics sweat I suppose…all good).  All the way from Hong Kong, Gary Jackson hit the stage delighting the diverse crowd with some fresh material and perspective.  Always great having comics from different countries show up and do a few minutes.  He wasn’t the only one as Jinx (Singapore) started the show and had the challenging task of warming the audience up. 

Being a little jet-lagged, I requested (you know me...forever the diva) to go on in the first set and was awarded the nice cushy spot before the first break (thanks Mei).  I did about 15 minutes of new material I worked on over the summer (read: on the plane back from Canada), which is always a little risky.  Smart comedians will sprinkle some time-tested material in to their sets for some breathing room but I have never claimed to be a smart comedian (Just a comedian with what I believe to be smart material…or so I convince myself).  My material consisted of bits titled; “Penis’ & Politicians” “Airplanes & Pornography” “Side Effects” and “Mid Wifery”.  I don’t normally name my bits but last night I felt a need.  One of those “spur-of-the-moment-stage-things”.

Tragically, due to the aforementioned jet lag, I left as the 2^nd set began.  I am certain it was spectacular.  No disrespect intended to the comics who performed.

I will do a headlining show on Tuesday, September 13^th at Nero-Fico (that’s one of the fine Italian Nero eateries in KL and surrounding area).  I believe that Kavin will be MC’ing the event and there will be an opening comedian (I just don’t know who yet).  I’ll break out the guitar, some new approaches at storytelling and of course mix in some never before heard bits and hope for the best.  I will remind all when the date comes closer.

Coming Soon from On The Beat and Path:

• Singapore Rock & Roots Festival (Michael Franti & Bob Dylan)
• 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival
• 2011 Hillside Music Festival (Chali 2na, Sloan, and 3 days of musical wonderfulness)
• Episodes from Thailand, Myanmar, Dubai, Malaysia, Newfoundland and New York
• Deleted Scenes from Season One & Two

Gary & Steve at Hillside Festival (Canada)

Please, Catch Us Live Somewhere on this Planet.

Peace,

Steve

Sneak Preview of our New Site:

www.onthebeatandpath.com

www.boredofdirectives.com

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook ("like" us): www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html

Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html

Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com

gary@boredofdirectives.com

America's Least Favourite Country & Western Superstar

Hola Everyone,

While Gary plays scrabble with the genius, I am happy to continue releasing footage from our summer tour. 

Continuing with our 2011 Fringe Festival releases, here is The Billy Willy Show.  A name like that could bring with it many descriptions.  I will let America’s least favourite Country and Western superstar, Billy Willy explain.

If you are in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow night, I am performing as part of Time Out Comedy Thursday at Velvet Underground.  There are cheap tickets to be had if you follow the link.

I will be bringing new material from my summer ponderings and will be looking for the crowd to help me figure which material to scrap and which to build on.  It’s all a wonderful honest process.

Have you seen the new website that Gary has been building?  While not completely finished, you can get an idea of where we are going.  We are trying to ensure that you can find videos based on themes and topics easily.  Instead of finding episodes based on Country, you can now find clips based on themes such as markets, hunts, instrument building, live jams, etc.  Check it out here and check back often as we continue to build.

We have had a great summer building relationships throughout North American.  Please help spread the word of On The Beat and Path and invite music and travel lovers to join our FACEBOOK site.  While Gary is away, it will be the only place to get updates on new videos (and twitter of course: OnTheBeatNPath).

Update from Songs From The Mekong:

There are 6 videos to enjoy from our shoot.  We wanted to do daily blogs to give an insight to our creative process.  We managed to come away with 4 songs (studio recorded), a great live improvised jam at the local orphanage and countless riverside jams (including band favourite, God Dammit Gary).  The documentary is currently being worked on and will be released within the next twelve months.  Is that vague enough for you?

It appears that Randall, determined to be a better employee this next creative year, has purchased a pair of normal rubber shoes.  He has taken the hint that the wooden clogs he traditionally sports will never make hipster status and has hing them up.  We are doing everything in our power to get him to wear them again.  While annoying, it does provide us with entertainment when in public.  Vanessa is currently baiting him with sexual innuendo and flirtation in order to get the shoes on.  She deserves a raise.

Please, Catch Us Live Somewhere on this Planet.

Peace,

Steve

www.onthebeatandpath.com

www.boredofdirectives.com

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html

Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html

Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com

gary@boredofdirectives.com

On The Beat and Path at the 2011 Toronto Fringe Festival

Greetings Everyone,

Steve and Gary have had a pretty intense summer so far.  While Steve spent June in New York, Ottawa, Toronto and Newfoundland filming, Gary was tucked away in a dark lab in Malaysia working on the new ON THE BEAT AND PATH website.  It is just about finished and since we love you all so much, you can get a sneak preview of it here.

We will continue our release schedule of Season Two in October with Thailand & Myanmar.  Following will be Malaysia, New York (USA) and Newfoundland (CANADA).

In the meantime, we will be releasing unseen musician profiles, deleted scenes and unseen footage from Season One and Two.  Add us on FACEBOOK in order to get access to these great segments.

Now we would like to release our segments filmed in Toronto at the 2011 Fringe Festival.  First up is ELLAmentary:

Share it here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBK8GwoMHYI

Synopsis: Ella Salmon, vibrant Elementary School student growing up in the 90s, loves t-ball, Pogs and YM magazine. Her comedic coming of age adventure features a school dance, an ill-fated cereal mascot, a movie star and any awkward pre-teen moments. Ella interacts with the audience and sings up a storm as an observant and spunky youngster with a ginormous heart.

More to come from the Toronto Fringe Festival in the coming days.

So many shows, so little time (Steve @ Toronto Fringe 2011)

Catch Us Live Somewhere On This Planet.  Peace

Facebook: OnTheBeatandPath
Twitter: OnTheBeatNPath

SONGS FROM THE MEKONG - The First Teaser

a BORED OF DIRECTIVES production (www.boredofdirectives.com)

Beginning on June 4th, 2011, five musicians will venture to the jungles of Cambodia to embark on an ambitious creative feat. Armed with an arsenal of instruments and talent, Malaysian troubadour Azmyl Yunor, Malaysian hip hop songstress Nadhira, Canadian MC Vandal, Canadian comedian and songwriter Steve Northcott and American bass player Gary Blanton will commit to trying to write and record five songs in five days.

What makes this already challenging task even more daunting is the distracting scenery forever pulling us away from our creative venture: Gorgeous lakes, rivers, waterfalls, unique villages.

Follow our adventure as we update our site daily with video blogs and the written word.

Here is the first in a series of trailers using songs from each artist's library.

Azmyl Yunor.  One of Five Musicians involved with the Doc.

Song: Coming Home by Azmyl Yunor

Catch Us Live Somewhere on This Planet
Peace

Steve


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www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath
Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath
CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html
Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html
Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com
gary@boredofdirectives.com

Artist Sites:

Azmyl Yunor: www.facebook.com/azmylyunor, www.myspace.com/azmylyunor
Nadhira: www.facebook.com/nadhiramusic, @nadhiranishaa, www.nadhira.biz
Vandal: vandigital.blogspot.com/, themovemint.wordpress.com, www.myspace.com/vandigital

Countdown to the Jungle and Vanessa's "Pregnant"...Again.

Bored of Directives
Creative Studio Blog
Day 137, May 30th, 2011

With May coming to a close, we felt it was imperative to write about what we are doing, where we are going and why we haven’t written in a while.  We don’t want everyone to think we are doing nothing around here.

Currently we are in the process of putting together a 23-minute documentary for the BBC.  Which in itself is an exciting project even if 23 minutes doesn’t seem like a long time.  But when you are putting together the video, 23 minutes feels like forever.  We won’t know if BBC accepts our doc, we won’t know when it will be aired (or if), but rest assured, we will let everyone know when it goes down.

Because of this project and the potential television package we are working on, there hasn’t been a lot of new material released, for this we apologize.  Rest assured, there is new footage coming.  In the meantime, Gary has added a few new songs to the official site for you to enjoy.

1) Live Sitar/Guitar jam from Episode 1 (India)

This track is a 17-minute jam with Erik and I and a few Indian fellows (Vishu and Chandu) throwing down on the beach in Goa.  It’s worth a listen.  Or two.  It plays when you arrive on the ON THE BEAT AND PATH PAGE.  Because it is 17 minutes, give it a moment to load.

2) Fairwhether Friend or Fare Whether Friend or Fair Weather Friend

I think this track gets spelled differently every time we write it.  It’s a demo of us in the studio.  There are more layers to come on this song but you can enjoy it in it’s early stages.  It’s a reflection of the wonderful people you meet while traveling.  Become a close friend in two days and potentially will never see again but will always remain close.

This is a pretty wild week as we are prepping for a summer of action.  Firstly, if you have no plans this week and are around, I am performing stand up this Thursday for TIME OUT COMEDY THURSDAY in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  Official online invite is here:

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=104869016270510

The following night, Friday June 3rd, myself and the regular members of the ON THE BEAT AND PATH band will be playing some live music at Cavell’s in Sri Hartamas alongside local expat rockers Lif Bomba.  We’ll play some ON THE BEAT AND PATH originals, former BENCHMARX songs and we’ll toss in some spicy covers.  I think things get underway around 9:00.

5 Musicians, 5 days, 5 songs     www.boredofdirectives.com

Then at 4:00 am on Saturday morning, Gary and I are off to the airport to depart to Cambodia.  Along with three additional musicians: Azmyl Yunor, Vandal & Nadhira we will attempt to write as many songs as we can and record them in the jungles of Cambodia for five days.  We’ll write about our adventures and post them on our official site for all to see throughout the week.

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Not much time to do anything else around here but we are including to the list trying to sell a book and a sit-com.  If there are any lit agents out there, we’d love to show you a little of what we have in mind.

Randall has asked to go to Norway for the summer as he recently discovered there is an inheritance waiting for him.  Apparently it is Nordic tradition to go through a series of Brewster’s Millions-type challenges before he can collect his riches.  I imagine the next time we see Randall, he might be wearing an even shinier shirt.

Vanessa has called in sick.  3rd pregnancy scare of 2011.  That’s ridiculous.

We’ll continue the Rolling Stone Smackdown in the next blog.

Please, Catch Us Live Somewhere on this Planet.

Peace,
Steve

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath
Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath
CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path

OTHER BORED OF DIRECTIVES PROJECTS:

TITS (Totally Incorrect Travel Show): www.boredofdirectives.com/TITS.html
Window To The World: www.boredofdirectives.com/windows_to_the_world.html
Stand Up Comedy: www.boredofdirectives.com/northcott_comedy.html

steve@boredofdirectives.com
gary@boredofdirectives.com

Searching for Music in a Laos Hmong Village

Searching for music in Laos wasn't easy.  Not as developed as Bali or Saigon, access to Laos' music scene is still rather challenging.  On our last day we met some friends who introduced us to their village elders who happened to be musicians.  They performed for us, with us and explained to us what the music means.

Catch Us Live Somewhere On This Planet

Peace

www.boredofdirectives.com/OBPath_index.html

Twitter: twitter.com/#!/OnTheBeatNPath

Blogspot: onthebeatandpath.blogspot.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/OnTheBeatAndPath

CBC Radio 3 (Original Canadian Indie Music): radio3.cbc.ca/#/bands/On-The-Beat-and-Path