I am a Los Angeles-based twentysomething. I have a profession, and I have a secret life in music, and this blog isn't about any of that. I like Blogger because I can't read what you're thinking.
Thursday, December 9
>>THE THEREMIN IS A HIGHLY UNDERUTILIZED INSTRUMENT, AND AN UPDATE ON HOW TO LEAD A BAND
I can't think of a song that's come up more times on Rhapsody and Pandora more than The Spinto Band's "Oh Mandy." It's triggered whenever I put a playlist by Ben Folds, Architecture in Helsinki, Belle and Sebastian, and any other group that has given a KCRW employee a boner.
I love how broken the vocal is, that driving mandolin, and the sheer efficiency of their melodies. I don't feel insulted with its degree of "catchiness." I like that.
And why don't bands use theremins often? They're not that expensive, especially in relation to how much dweebs spend on guitars that are just as underutilized.
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So this happened the other day before rehearsal.
THE GUITARIST: No offense to you, or you guys, or your sound, but I'm going to quit.
HUGO: Okay ...why?
THE GUITARIST: It's just not my sound. It's changed from what I initially heard it to be.
HUGO: Okay. No hard feelings. Good luck!
THE GUITARIST: I think it should move towards a sound that's--
HUGO: ...No, that's fine. Good luck.
The moment you allow a crack into your exact vision, you've lost. I'm not letting that happen again, and I have before many times. The ground rules are simple: Take direction or leave. I'm open to hearing anything, but I've learned that things get VERY slow once you try to become the Bill Clinton diplomat, and, frankly, things are moving SUPER DUPER FAST because I haven't submitted to being all-ears. You can't try making everyone happy. Call it productive stubbornness. Your colleagues have to believe your judgment.
It's a good thing our bassist also knows how to play guitar well. Overdubs, I didn't wanna date, but ...it's cool now, I guess.