Bob Jr: News

The songs from the RPM Challenge are up on the Music page for your enjoyment.

Come hear what the blogs were all about.

The moment you've been waiting for is near (and somewhat here).

The site update is in the works, be sure to check out upcoming shows, photos and sounds. That's right, the RPM Songs are being loaded. If you can't wait to hear them from here go to our myspace page and get a taste of the new sounds. www.myspace.com/martinigardeners

I'm not sure where to begin with the end of this project. It sure was a challenge right to the very end. We finally got a system that works to record. We had to let go of the typical musician perfectionism to get the recording done and settle for our demo quality. This was not a bad deal though as our main goal was the songs and to create.

This definitely put me in a space I like to be creatively. I do have a bit of a let down as the pressure is now off to achieve the goal. Now I just hope we can keep creating and ride the momentum.

Our last moments of the challenger really sum up the whole project for us. Mixdown from 8pm until 10am with a short nap. Out to dig out from yet another snowstorm. Drive through said snowstorm to the post office in case we don't make it to Portsmouth in time. Made it to the post office 1 minute before closing, got locked in the post office. Our satisfaction would not be realized until we handied the CD over in person. So.... through the snow storm once again for the journey to the main office. People were still there and we handed over the copy of the CD.

So we made it. All of the late nights/early mornings. Driving under crazy conditions, keeping up with the day jobs and we have....... some songs on a couple of CDs we don't have copies of because we turned them into the RPM challenge. Guess i need to go make some copies.

Thanks for the challenge Dave.

So, the technology gods were pretty upset with me the past few days. You can tell from the last entry that things weren't going well. I have a useless paper weight sitting in my studio from Sonica Computers. It's a specially built computer for audio recording that has not worked since it arrived. Sent back 3 times, replaced once, still useless. Went to the home computer, that died. (still need to figure that one out) Went to set up a laptop, but it had no firewire port to hook up the firewire interface..........

Ended up rigging a Tascam Portastudio to do the job. We were able to lay down the grooves of the tunes in a 4 hour session (and we drove through a storm and ate dinner too) Turned out pretty well but now the daunting task of overdubs and bouncing tracks and realizing why we use the expensive, useless computer sitting on the floor of the studio.

Then, when all was bleak, Mom and Dad Chick singer pulled through with a working (that's right, 100% functional) computer. So we lost half a day moving files into the recording software but manged to easily do some of the rhythm guitar overdubs and get the rest of the sessions set up.

What a crazy 2 days we have ahead of us. Thanks Mom and Dad, you're the best:-)

This can also be titled "Technology Really Sucks"

Anyway, the songs are written. We even got the full band together for the first time to put together the final touches and set up the recording sessions for the final week. What a crazy schedule it is going to be. It's difficult trying to fit the pieces together and still keep life going.



So now for the really hard parts. The technology gods seem to be angry with me lately. I have recording software, even a computer that is supposed to be designed for the said recording software, yet none of it works. So, instead of being creative, I get to work on upgrades, updates and trying to figure out how in the hell to record all of this.

To top it all off guess what is coming this week......... you got it, another snow storm. I guess potentially we can get snowed in and forced to record while we hope to keep power on, but then again, that would require the technology gods to work with us instead of against us. Ugh, guess that's why it's called a challenge. The next 4 days will be interesting to say the least.

And on the 5th day we sleep (unless of course there is more snow to shovel)

This is probably something we shouldn't have to contemplate with only 11 days to go but I guess life still has to happen.

So , here it is day 17 and a session had to be cancelled. We had a great session 2 days ago, tightened up what we've been working on and finished another song. Our focus this challenge is getting the songs written we'll spend the last week sleepless recording a half-ass quality demo that we hope to go in and re-record at some point in the future.

We've had to deal with family issues, kid issues, "real job" issues, and, if you haven't noticed, the weather has really sucked here in NH. I wish snow days could be better spent rather than clearing snow. So, with stuck cars, stuck families, stuck "real jobs" and stuck kids we still somehow manage to get things done. Maybe all of the life issues give material to write about. (although we've stayed away from writing about snow, "real jobs" and kids so far)

So go ahead life, get in the way, I'll just write about you for the rest of the world to know.

So, I haven't had time to keep updated on this blog as I have had to spend any spare time dealing with snow.

Anyway, we had a good session on Tuesday. We're beginning to feel the effects of keeping up with this schedule but are aso acknowledging the work that is being done and the rewards it is giving us. Then again, we had to deal with the snow (will it ever stop?) I had a great plan to take the snow day and finish the ideas that are in my head and have them ready for Friday's session but shoveling ice and water took the priority.

We have the songs we have been working on pretty tight at this point but I guess we need more of them. It seems we are coming down the stretch and need to sprint in to get things done. Now is the time to get out of the way of creativity, let life issues run their course and just keep working. I think I will take a long nap on March 1 around 2pm.

As you can tell from the last blog, this is turning out to be a fun process. maybe it's the late nights/early mornings, maybe life is catching up to us (someone forget to mention that the rest of the world keeps happening) but I think the challenge is forcing progress at a much higher rate.

We had a late session going last night/this morning. Again the hard part is I had to finish a gig before our work could be done. So yesterday was truely a musician day. Show at 10am, take care of day to day business, show at 7pm, back to the home studio for some serious song work. We were able to reinforce 2 of the songs we worked on Tuesday and changed groove and feel for the third. The main tune we worked on last night was a great accomplishment as it was the first full collaboration becoming a reality.

The schedule isn't too bad though since you never know where inspiration is going to hit. As I was in warmups for my evening show I came up with a pretty soild idea for another song. Now I need some seclusion to get some lyrics together and polish things up. The addition of this idea puts us to 7 songs in the works. We still have 20 days to go:-)

Those of you who have read the first blog entry will understand this one a little bit more. Those of you who have to work with with stressed out singers who haven't been able to sing for a few weeks will also relate well to this. Those of you who know me and my thoughts on various musicians as well as the members of my band will just crack up.

Once I get things shifted from my portable recorder I will put the sound clip to this up here as well as you really need to hear this. Maybe this can be used as a track to the final CD of the project.

The background of the story is this; since this is a recording based project we ran a recorder during practice last night. It's generally a good way to hear how things are going and not lose ideas. The following rant took place before practicing one of our old songs:

"Are you recording this? We've never really gone through this.Why are you doing this? Ahhhhhhhh. you're soooo mean........... I hate you.... We've never even gone through this before.... maybe once like six weeks ago...."

On the plus side, we solidified 3 songs and 3 more are in the works.

So, there is a practical way to begin then there is the aristic approach. I like the second although a good mix might be the best approach for this project.

Contemplating 10 songs in 29 days is turning out to be the challenge. Then I remind myself that this is about jump starting the creative process and carrying it through for the rest of the year. I can accept the fact that some of the songs I write and record will turn out to be ones that are useable and I will like and the rest will be............ well, let's just say they will be the rest.

Going for the artistic approach I decided to spend the first day of February connecting with my muse. It has to be about inspiration. We can worry about the small details of schedules and hurdles we need to get over or we can dive in an immerse ourselves into the passion of inspiration and creativity. To the non-artist it may seem like a complete waste of time but out of the time playing with my muse 2 songs have begun and the lasting effects continue the process.

So sure, make the schedule, work the details but remember it is playing music and your muse may want some of that attention too.

So far we have 1 complete song written 2 that need refined and 3 that have begun. Not a bad start in 4 days.

Ok, so keeping up with the blog and day to day life will be part of the challenge. Here are our other issues:

Two weeks before the challenge begins, Christy goes in for surgery to have wisdom teeth removed. Normally not too big of a deal but hers were into the jaw bone which resulted in going under. As the tooth got pulled they were into her sinus cavity and did some damage to the soft tissue. So, no singing for her. Currently she is on a week to week standby on when.if she can sing. The next doctor appointent is Tuesday which also happens to be our practice day.

Everyone has issues with the day job. Mine ended up being a switch of semesters which means I had to write 3 new classes and grade finals from the previous semester. So again, just a glitch for the day job, I hate when work cuts into playtime.

Day job continued.......
So the major part of one of my day jobs gets to be as a performer. Yes, I make my living in music:-) So I took on a show that opened Feb 1, same time as the challenge begins. It runs for 2 weeks. Sort of cuts back on the amount of time we have now.

Then of course there is the whole life and family issues that get thrown in the mix and yes we do have quite the challenge ahead of us.

Due to the scheduling of the RPM Challenge and other life events, the Guitar Class scheduled to begin Feb 5 has been postponed until March 18th. There is now more time to sign up for the course.

Bob Jr will be playing in the pit band for "Fame the Musical" on Feb 1-10. Come support the Bell Center in their production. Visit the calendar page for moreinformation and links to the Bell Center.

Bob Jr & the Martini Gardeners have entered the RPM Challenge. Their goal is to create an acoustic EP with new songs to restart the band for live performances in Spring and Summer. Stay tuned for more details.

Bob Jr will be performing on Sat Jan 12 at 4pm with students at their recital.

There will also be a special performance from Bob and his new vocalist Christy Holmes. See the Calendar page for show details.

Bob Jr's Music Services now accepts credit card payments for all services and merchandise through Pay Pal.

Email bobjr@bobjrsmusic.com for information and invoices for lessons, tunings or to purchase CDs

Stay Tuned for direct urchases through the web site and gift certificate information.

Bob has become a Registered Guitar Tutor for the Registry of Guitar Tutor program.

The Registry of Guitar Tutors was established in 1992 with the aims of improving the status and profile of guitar teachers, and helping to ensure their professional recognition within the mainstream of music education, by the establishment of an accredited range of comprehensive and well structured teaching programmes.

For more information on the program visit:
http://www.registryofguitartutors.com/

or contact Bob for information and to begin the program offered at all of his studios.

Bob Jr & the Martini Gardeners will be on the streets of Portsmouth July 22, 2pm-3pm for a totally unplugged set. Come support the street performers of the seacoast. they'll be in Market Square in front of Drew Mortgage.

It's been a hectic start to the summer. The updated schedule of shows and events can be found on the Calendar page.
Hope to see you there.

Bob will once again be performing (and eating chocolate) at the annual Chocolate Lover's Fantasy held by the Care Givers of NH on June 3, 2007
See the info on the Calendar page for details.