New Percussion Group, First Rehearsal

Well, despite a recent onslaught of new medical woes, I finally managed to get 4 folks here together to start rehearsing a new percussion group! Ethan Lindblom (one of my students) Nancy Love, and Alex Moeller came by and we set up a eclectic bunch of instruments in my extremely small space and played/conversed for about an hour and a half. (Alex's girlfriend Jamie came as well, and was immediately handed a couple of rattle sound-effects)

All good things! We played and jammed, talked about space, clarity and conversations and are trying to work out a regular rehearsal schedule.

THE Spike was cool being in the living room with us until the first rimshot, and then headed for the bedroom to find comfort and companionship with his sister, and my ever patient and amazing wife Kim.

I have some writing to do to give the songs I have in mind some structure and cohesion, and then I will hopefully have us playing at the Lyon College campus center sometime in September.

Physical Therapy for my leg starts tomorrow, so let's hope that helps with my mobility issues!

Cajon I get to know you better?

So....despite how badly the cajon Mark Dorr had me try in percussion ensemble sucked, I'm getting one anyway. One of my student's in Arkansas's dad made him a cajon, and it sounded better that the one I played at Grinnell.

I first looked at a new one coming out from LP the "Kevin Riccard" cajon (somebody I've never heard of that plays on American Idol)...but they wouldn't be in stock until the middle of August...and I hate waiting...

So, I looked further and found a "Fat Congas String Cajon" which actually has two different striking surfaces...one with the snare wires thingie, and one that's wood only. The thing is, by sitting correctly you can utilize both surfaces at once.

So my friend Cathy, of www.anydrum.com, who I highly recommend called the Fat Congas folk and I have one coming as of today. Even better, they are an american company, and haven't outsourced all their business to Thailand, like LP...(sorry LP, it's true)

Also...not sure if you can put web addresses in one of these blog dealies, but you should check out my site at ReverbNation http://www.reverbnation.com/randybrush and listen to "Steel Tongue Requiem #1"...featuring a new drum I found, a steel tongue drum.

That's all for now, Kim's doing staff training and me and Spike and Samantha are restless.

Miss you Grinnell... :/

I Self-Promoted!

It is worth noting that on this date I actually self-promoted the album "Spike's World Of Percussion" to approximately 3,424 people, 311 of those probably twice...

I am wracked with guilt :/

But I hope some of them buy the album!!!

Higgins: since you're the only person following this not me, Spike, or Kim. You have to pass the word at Grinnell. especially to the DRUMMERS!!!

lol

All rightie then!

Cool...the whole fan page deal is working out on Facebook...and my guilt is diminishing.

I have people asking me down here when my performing ensemble or solo performances will be ready, so that's good news...this is when it would be good to have physical copies of the album, but all the "do it yourself" kits don't seem right for it...may have to get over that though.

Maybe I'll just bring Spike with me to the shows!

Hopefully, the cajon I ordered a month ago will be off back-order soon and that will get here...

In all seriousness, I may be actually founding an alternative music scene down here. I'm not trying to be an arrogant jerk, but unless it changes dramatically when school starts up...it's all Southern Rock and country....nothing like Grinnell's open scene...

I would be happy to be proven wrong if anyone has evidence to the contrary!