On The Beat and Path: Music, Travel and more: October 2011

Tuesday 18 October 2011

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
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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

Thursday 13 October 2011

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