Albums you want to look for this spring

The Taking
Duff McKagan's Loaded

The former bassist of legendary rock bands Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver puts away his bass for the second time during the hiatus of Velvet Revolver and picks up the guitar and mic to rock out old school style. I won't blame you if you haven't heard of this band because they're on an independent label and that means a lot less exposure. Nevertheless, Duff proves once again how important his songwriting role was in Guns.

Drama y Luz 
Maná

The latin rock  band from Mexico took a while to release their follow up to "Amar es Combatir," still, They've managed to please their loyal fan base with songs written by drummer Alex that sound like their earlier punk songs. This album will probably appeal more to an adult audience than previous one due to the soft and easy listening nature of the record. Don't be fooled by the lack of constant distorted guitars; Singer Fher's voice is a sight for sore eyes. Now translate that metaphor in order to fit with ears. The album has aso done exceptionally well, landing a number two spot in the Billboard 200.

Wasting Light
Foo Fighters

As I mentioned yesterday, this is probably the best album of 2011. The emotions translate almost too easily through the screeching voice and guitars of Dave Grohl. This is the album that is going to kick the Foo Fighters to super stardom. Dave Grohl will finally get the credit he deserves for his long career as one of the most creative musicians.

The new suburbs doesn't waste light

If there is one rock album that you are going to buy this year, make sure it's "Wasting Light" of the Foo Fighters. Dave Grohl finally released an album that includes emotions that he has held back since Kurt Cobain of Nirvana - Grohl's original band - killed himself almost two decades ago.

What's sweet about this album is how it was all recorded on analog equipment in Daves Grohl's garage. Ditching Pro Tools and all the computers worked great, not only for fans of the band, but to any person that appreciates quality music because you can't find music that sounds as natural in today's music industry. Slicing and pasting tape apparently has become to tedious and time-consuming, but the hard work pays off. Raw guitars and crystal clear drums with a warm and thumping bass take over the album that deals with rage and sadness.

Producer, Butch Vig, and Nirvana bassist, Krist Novoselic appeared in this album. They were both involved in Nirvana's smash album hit, "Nevermind." Their presence is easily noted in the track "I Should Have Known," which is a plead of regret to the unfortunate events that lead to the demise of Cobain and Nirvana. The exaggerated chorus effect and reverb pay tribute to the king of grunge.


Additionally, there are hard ballads like "Walk" that show how Grohl is drowning in his cries. Without a doubt, the signature sound of the Foo Fighters comes in "Rope." The fast-paced drums and crunchy guitars compliments Grohl's screaming (but definitely not screamo) vocal sound. "White Limo" is the song that makes Grohl say that this is their heaviest album yet. 


Last year Arcade Fire won it all with their masterpiece, "The Suburbs." Mark my words when I say that "Wasting Light" is going to win it all this year and the next. 

The Best Music Covers of All Time

Some of these songs have been re-engineered and remixed far beyond their original form, but the artists that covered them made them their own. These next five songs show musical proficiency on behalf of the cover artist, making them stand out and be admired more than their original counterparts.

5. It's My Life

No Doubt (2003)

Talk Talk wrote this pop hit in the early 80s, but when No Doubt covered this song to promote their greatest hits album, they elevated its potential as a rock song. The bassline doesn't change simply because it's the heart of the song.

4. Hallelujah

Jeff Buckley (1994)

This song didn't become popular until the singer-songwriter that covered Leonard Cohen's 80s song tragically died. This a song that is almost guaranteed to make you cry at the end. It's almost as if it has Buckley's dying breath.

3. Hurt

Johnny Cash (2002)

Originally written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, The legendary "Man in Black" broke down the song to it's most intimate form. Away goes the industrial effects, in come the soul.

2. Knocking on Heaven's Door

Guns N' Roses (1991)

Most people born in the 90s didn't realize that the song was an actual folk song written by Bob Dylan. Many artists have attempted to make those three chords their own, but only Guns N' Roses made it truly theirs with the flaming and passionate solos.

1. Feeling Good

Muse (2001)

Originally a jazz song written for a musical in the 60s. Muse doesn't even need a guitar to bring out the rocking sound of this song. A distorted bass, drums, piano, and megaphone are enough to elevate Muse's cult hit as the best cover song in the world.

A Lehigh Theatre Production Like No Other

I wish I had written this blog post last week as soon as I finished watching the second run of "gEner8-tion Txt" here at Lehigh so that all of you would have rushed to see it Sunday afternoon, or this mid-week. It's still running. It closes Saturday night so make sure you go check it out.


I had to get that off my chest because this production is truly breath-taking. I have never seen anything like it before; not here at Lehigh, not anywhere. To put it in the words of cast member David Quiñones, "It's revolutionary." 


The beauty of it: it's written by cast members and director Kashi Johsnon.


While it doesn't follow your traditional story plot like most plays (it doesn't have one, to put it at that), it does send a message deep into your skin about what today's generation really is all about. Texting, tweeting, emails, youtube, etc. all the social media is explored and presented in a comical, but at times very dramatic ways to evoke the emotions today's youth feels.

There's dancing, there's singing and rapping, but it's not a musical. Far from it. This show is a confession: told from today's generation to the world in order to try and explain that they are mere victims of the age of information and technology, and that they simply use it to express themselves, whether it's in 140 characters or less.

The show is not all about texting or technology. There are personal stories or "truths" that the cast members show through different mediums. Allie Linn breaks into an intese dance with vocal overdubs that projects desperations and rage, similar to the hate song in "Billy Elliot." Other members of the cast sing, rap, talk and shout their most personal stories with such honesty and comfort (and sometimes discomfort), and that's what makes this production stand out from others.

There is no BS here. What you see is what you get.

And what you get is damn good.

Wiz Rocks Sundaze

Interview with The Kale

Spanish singer-songwriter and musician, The Kale, on learning instruments, breaking the language barrier and his upcoming album

1. When did you learn to play your first instrument? Describe your learning process with music.

There was a piano at home when I was born, a very cheap one that my father bought when he was young. I remember myself always playing the keys. I took lessons a short period of time but it was a straightjacket system so I quit going. Then I learned to play guitar on my own, then the bass and drums. I always try to play and create, not just practice.

2. How come english is your choice for lyrics?

It was a sum of circs. First of all I've always listened to music in english so it was natural to me. I also had not a very powerful voice so short words you usually find in english were more comfortable for me to sing. Finally it was the way the older people around me didn't know what I was saying…

3. If you could perform with any musician for one night, who would it be? Why?

If I could I would play with Sir Paul McCartney. He represents exactly what a great musician is to me. There's a personality underneath all and he has reached the higher peaks of musical creativity. I would not mind playing just the tambourine in a darkest corner of the stage…

4. What is your one regret in terms of music?

Overall I'm satisfied with my current situation, but there's a big difference between living for music, living of music and living with music. I wish I had started recording albums just five or six years earlier, when I was in my mid-20s. I consider it's not a matter of age but a matter of time and dedication. 

5. How is your upcoming album going to differ from your past recordings?

I tend to be a little bit raw so I tried and calmed myself down to make a more flat, elegant and cool album. At the end I think it is not… all that rawness is trying to get out all the time. A fascinating way to discover your own style is to put your trends on the ropes and let them strike back. So then my next album is going to be really crude…

G-Txt opening this Friday!

It's that time of the semester again when theatre takes over Zoellner for two weeks. "GEner8-tion Txt" is opening this Friday at the Diamond Theatre in Zoellner. Below is an article about the show that I wrote for the Brown and White a while back. Cast members and production staff share their thoughts on what this show means to them.

HomeLifestyle

Gener8-tion-txt

By Adrian Velazquez

Issue date: 2/25/11 Section: Lifestyle

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Media Credit: Abigial Harris-Shea

What is your personal truth? What is our generation called? 

These are the questions that "GEner8-tion Txt," a play created and written by Lehigh students and directed by Kashi Johnson, associate professor of theatre, will attempt to showcase and answer when it opens on April 8.

"'GEner8-tion Txt' is truly a one-of-a-kind show," said cast member David Quinones, '12. "I don't think anything like this has ever been done before. It's basically all original material. Everything you see is written and produced by local artists and cast members. It's something completely brand new."

"This is a story about today's generation spoken by today's generation," Johnson said. "I think it's a self-empowerment piece."

The play also emphasizes the role of technology as a way of self-expression in today's generation.

"There's a concept that goes throughout the whole show of technology," Quinones said. "The show is called 'GEner8-tion Txt.' We are the generation of texting."

The production took stage after Johnson taught a hip-hop acting class.

"Given the fact that I had done the 'Act Like You Know' class for four years (not consecutively), it made sense that this might be the next progression," Johnson said. "All those classes culminated in a final live show showcasing the work of the class. So, this [show] is a more full experience.

Casting for 'G-Txt' took place during mid-fall last year, well in advance of opening night. Most plays at Lehigh are cast about two months beforehand, but since the cast wrote the script, they had to devote an entire half semester to that. 

The audition process was also different and unique compared to most. 

With no script at hand to read from or prepare for, Johnson required aspiring cast members to each prepare and present an original piece of material.

Johnson said she was looking for fearlessness and trust in her performers. 

"I really wanted people who were willing to express themselves and [who were] open to the journey that they were going to go on with me," she said. "They could trust the fact that even though I didn't have the answers, we were going to end some place really great."

"It had to be about ourselves," said cast member Allison Linn, '11. "I created a piece that was both movement, because I'm a dancer, and text, which I performed simultaneously."

After casting the show, work on the script began right away. 

First, the cast focused on "ensemble building," writing some pieces and getting to know each other, Quinones said. 

"Soon after that, we started banging out more and more original material. Kashi would give us topics to write about," he said.

"It took some time," Johnson said. "My writing assignments were very task-oriented. 

"We sat down, and we just started brainstorming things that made sense to us," Linn said. "Kashi told us an idea that she had for where she thought maybe we could go with the show. We had 15 people writing different things."

The cast used an online cloud computing site called AirSet.com to share files with fellow cast members and submit them to the director. 

When the cast returned from winter break, it finally had a rough script. It has continued to be changed until recently.

"Since I came on board, we've had three or four copies of the script," said stage manager Vanessa Arvidson, '14.

Now that rehearsals are underway, the cast and crew's stamina is beginning to be tested. 

On the whole, students are able to earn up to six credits for this production. Two of them were from last semester and were optional, and this semester, the performance credit of any theatre production is also two credits. 

There is also an additional studio class where some members of the production work on the finishing touches of the script.

"We meet twice in the week for two hours," Johnson said. "And we have rehearsals every night. The purpose of the studio is to iron out the kinks."

"It's rehearsal outside rehearsal," Linn said.

"Right now, my job isn't as difficult as it will be," said Arvidson, who takes charge of the entire production once technical rehearsals begin. "It's going to be a very hands-on show. It's going to be intense. It's going to be great."

Johnson is also involved with "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot," the production right before "GEner8-tion Txt." 

It has been challenging for her stamina, but Judas has a flexible director, Gus Ripa, who coordinated well with her in advance, she said.

The ethnically diverse group of cast members is excited to show the Lehigh community the result of months of hard work and sacrifice.

"This play shows what we, as a generation, want to say," Linn said. "It's very personal. There is going to be a lot to take-in and focus."

Quinones said the show is very real, and he expects all the emotions of the audience members to be tapped. 

"I will not hesitate to call this show anything less than generation-defining and revolutionary," he said. "GEner8-tion Txt" will be performed in the Diamond Theater in Zoellner Arts Center on April 8, 9, 13, 14, 15 and 16 at 8 p.m. A matinee performance will be held on April 10 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $5 for students and$11 for faculty, staff and seniors.

Do you really need a music teacher?

Say you want to learn to play an instrument just for the fun of it. Say you don't have the time, resources or commitment to receive music lessons. What are you going to do?

TEACH YOUR OWN SELF!

That's what I did, and that's what hundreds of professional musicians out there do too. Where there's a will, there's a way; and with today's internet and vast resources, it's so easy to teach yourself by going into sites like songsterr or ultimate guitar. These sites are literally idiot-proof. Add a bit of common sense and research on the web, as well as maybe buying a few books like "Guitar For Dummies" or "Music Theory For Dummies" and you'll be on your way to learning the fundamentals of an instrument.

Now, say you want to perform in a professional orchestra, or teach; then that's where lessons really payoff because you learn details you would otherwise miss. And these days, to participate in an orchestra (at least a decent or prestigious one), you have to be classically trained. The trick here is knowing how to read music. That's something that you would be surprised how many mainstream artists out there don't know how to do.

The musicians in rock bands are usually self-taught (unless you're a session-musician) and they only know how to read chords or tablature. Pop artists usually don't even write their own songs, let alone play an instrument. And don't even get me started on hip/hop or rap.

Pros. of teaching yourself:
1. Your way, your pace.
2. Stress-free.
3. Cheaper.
4. Looks better with everyone except music directors when you say you taught yourself.


Cons:
1. Takes more time.
2. You don't follow a rigorous schedule.
3. Harder to get a job at an orchestra or as a session musician.
4. You rarely learn how to read music.

The Man Who Went Around the World... Of Music

In his more than 50 years in the music industry, Gene Perla has done it all, according to him, by the stroke of luck. He’s performed alongside some of the most prominent jazz musicians in history, founded his own record and publishing companies, and has even allowed a little time to give back and teach.

            Born in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey in 1940, during the prominence of jazz music, Perla, 70, knew from a young age he was destined to play music. He learned piano at the age of five. An only child with parents who didn’t get along, he turned to music to get through his early years. “I grew up kind of alone,” said Perla. “My mother was very supportive of my music. She paid for my piano lessons.”

            At age 24, after struggling to master the piano, Perla switched gears and learned to play bass. He had found his niche. He would become one of the most influential and proficient jazz bass players of the ‘60s. “The bass was perfect for me because it played organically,” said Perla.

            He then moved to New York to become a professional musician. “The doors opened immediately, he said. “It was thrilling to have the opportunity of doing what one dreamed about. I even got to play with the greatest singer of all time (Frank Sinatra) simply through all the connections and opportunities at the time.”

            A tall, skinny, white-haired man who hasn’t seemed to age past 50, Perla credits his career shifts and business ventures to flukes. “I landed a gig with a famous drummer called Elvin Jones who was asking me for songs to record,” Perla said. “So with the help and advice of friends and lawyers, I set up my own publishing company and copyrighted and sold my own songs.”

            Perla Music Records was even more spontaneous. “A friend of mine who was a saxophonist was complaining about not having any success,” Perla said. “I listened to it and I liked it. So with the help of my attorney, Bill Krasilovsky, I set up my own record company.”  

            Regardless of all the constant career moves, performing has always been Perla’s passion. “I love to play and produce music, he said. “Performing has brought me the success of inner happiness. It gave me something to focus on, explore feelings, become educated and travel the world.”

            His most vivid and cherished memory was performing with Nina Simone in Holland. “The music and environment was soft and delicate,” he said. “It was like full hours of quiet where you feel the sensation of hearing droplets of rain. The intensity was so great that I felt that consciousness escaped physical being.”

            Perla’s transition to teaching came from orders above him. “My first wife wanted me to settle down, so she basically gave me an ultimatum. It’s ironic how that works out right?” His first wife divorced him after 10 years of marriage.

            He landed his gig as a professor at Lehigh through his infatuation of making connections. “I went to the music department where I was introduced to Bill Warfield (director of the jazz band) after they told me they needed a bass teacher,” he said. “I’ll never forget the words Bill said, ‘Gene Perla? Are you that famous bass player?’ Things like that reminded me that I was cool.”

            Perla got the job and eventually created Lehigh’s music business classes where he uses his experience and knowledge to instill the ever-changing concepts of the music industry to his students. “He incorporates stories and experiences he has had to clarify certain topics we learn, or just to share funny anecdotes about things that go on within the industry,” said Michael Langsner, a former student.

            “I admire the fact that Perla knew exactly what he wanted to do and worked hard enough to make a successful living doing it,” said Eric Schwartz, a former student too.

            Perla’s philosophy for success is to go with the flow. That’s how he made it through the maze of the music business and how he recommends others to follow. “You have to attack life,” said Perla. “I like to accomplish things no matter how difficult they are.”

First Podcast Interview

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Guitar player, 80s rock lover and Lehigh student; Ramiro Alfaro; talks about music in his life.

College Bands Rock The House No Thanks To The PA

On my latest article for the Brown and White I covered Lehigh's Battle of the Bands. When the judges announced Scott Pine & the Conifers as the winners the crowd turned silent, with the exception of a few claps out of respect. Everyone was starstruck at the fact that the Peeled Labels, the famous Lehigh 8-person band that includes oboes and violins, didn't win after clearly sounding better than the other bands.

The judges did their job, though. They weren't deceived by the horrible PA speaker system that sank the performances of the heavier rock acts. The Peeled Labels used their live performing experience and took a soft, almost acoustic approach to their set. The result: Clear sound tranceding through peoples' ears.

I'll be honest, no one was in shock more than me at the fact the Scott Pine won. I thought they didn't have a chance, not because they weren't good, but because of their lack of stage presence. The distorted guitar gave me a headache. It was so bad that I had to go outside and order something to eat from Hawk's Nest while they finished their set. The speakers just weren't picking up the high frequencies. And that applied to high pitched vocals as well. I later heard their songs online and realized how good they truly are. On Saturday the guitars sounded crushed and distorted (not in the good way, but in the annoying way) and the vocals of such band like Spitting Images, Roth and The Down Low sounded like a cheap megaphone was being used as a mic. Only Matt Bellamy from Muse can pull that off.

I was expecting The Peeled Labels to win. Hands down they had the best set and also sounded the best. But I can easily understand why the judges didn't pick them. They're not the type of band you would imagine opening for rapper Wiz Khalifa. They'd make a great opening act for Dave Matthews Band or Jack Johnson, mainly softer acts.

Regardless, many bands showed promising talent and I hope they exploit it to the fullest.

Lehigh University Battle of The Bands

Tomorrow night, Lehigh's best bands will take the stage in Lamberton Hall in a competition to select the opening act for Wiz Khalifa during Sundaze 2011.

Sixteen bands submitted demos. Only seven got picked, and tomorrow they will show the Lehigh community what band is worth opening for the hip-hop rookie of the year.

The show begins tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. inside Lamberton Hall in Lehigh University.

This event, co-sponsored by UP and Music Box, is a chance for  college musicians to play live in front of a respectable audience. Previous shows this semester sponsored by the former and latter have included playing at the same Lamberton Hall and the Godfrey Daniels Coffee House.

There is no doubt competition will be fierce, and each band will give it their all. Opening for a mainstream artist like Wiz Khalifa is a great way to gain exposure, plus almost every Lehigh student attends the spring outdoor concert.

Great Musicals Adapted to the Silver Screen

Adapting a musical, in today's age where they've lost a considerable audience compared to decades ago, is no easy task. Many fail ("The Producers" among some), but others hit the mark spot on. Below is a list of some of my favorite musicals that have adequatley made the transition from Broadway to Hollywood.


Mamma Mia!
This feel-good musical didn't need much rewriting to appeal to the big screen. The energy is easily tranceded to the average movie-goer because of the popularity of ABBA to the older generation. Even if you weren't alive for the 70s and 80s pop movement, the long lasting legacy of the Swedish pop giants can make any child to get up and dance along with the choregrophy and music even if this musical about love isn't performed live. The producers had it easy, neverthless, they delivered.


The Phantom of the Opera
The most popular musical of all time, the masterpiece of Andrew Lloyd Webber took a long time to finally make the transition to the big screen. Though the movie flopped in theatres, the long-lasting fanbase of Phantom was enough to have the movie version, directed by Joel Shumacher, be treasured in their living rooms. Not much could be done to alter the theater version to be adapted for the screen. The casting was spot on and the acting talents (not singing) of the cast, fit perfectly with the raw energy that Webber always intended Phantom to have.

Evita!
I might get a lot of criticm for this choice, especially with the poor casting choice of Madona as the title role. But put the pop star aside, Antonio Banderas stole the show as Che, the average Argentinan citizen. For anybody that has expereinced social and political injustice in a third world country, the movie portrayed their feelings to the letter. For citizens of a first world country, it educated them. Another musical by the great Andrew Lloyd Webber, the movie version was enough for me to long for the live musical that I was sadly was never able to watch.

Best Rock Albums of 2010

Even though 2010 was the worst year for rock in terms of sales, there were some great records that didn't receive as much attention as they should hav. Kings of Leon's album flopped even though it had some great tracks, Slash finally released his true solo album and shocked the world, and Arcade Fire took home the most prestigious Grammy.

3. Slash (Slash)
The legendary former guitarist of Guns N' Roses pulled out his own guns by collaborating with over 10 different artists ranging from Black Eyed Peas singer, Fergie, to  former Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters singer, Dave Grohl. All of the songs in this album are simply great. They convey the agressive but soulful personality that Slash always brought to Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver.

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2. Kings of Leon (Come Around Sundown)
Easily the most underrated album of 2010. The followup to 2008's massive hit, "Only By The Night," failed to dominate radio stations and the charts without songs like "Use Somebody" and "Sex on Fire." But songs like "Radioactive" and "Pyro," show much the band has matured in only two years.



1. Arcade Fire (The Suburbs)
Easily the best act of 2010, Arcade Fire broke into mainstream music without sacrificing their indie roots. Songs like "Ready to Start," "The Suburbs," and "City With No Children" lead this massive album to the most prestigious music award.

Are magazines republishing?

In the past months I have read two Rolling Stone articles that take exclusive rights of the excerpts from the memoirs of Keith Richards and Sammy Hagar. While the microscopical sections of their memoirs included in the magazine are entertaining and almost serve as a larger than life nut graph to make you buy the actual book, I wonder if it's entirely ethical.

Choosing to include an excerpt might mean several things: the staff at RS might have been short of one article, the publisher of the memoir is paying RS to sort of advertise the book in their magazine, or RS genuinely feels that the writing is truly masterful and goes with the guidelines that they would require out of their writers.

I like to think that the third option is the correct one even if it makes me sound naive. But at the end of the day, isn't doing this plagiarism?
.
The material is already written and is going to be published. RS publishes the excerpt a few weeks in advance before the book is released. SInce the author and publisher of the memoirs are allowing the use of their memoir to be published, it obviously isn't considered plagiarism because RS is giving full credit to both the author and publisher. But isn't it ripping out the readers of RS?

A simple review would suffice to make me one to buy the book or not. Instead, they take up space from excellent profiles to stick in four to five pages of memoirs. I enjoyed Sammy Hagar's excerpt because it was short and condensed, and straight to the whole Van Halen issue. Richards', however, was a cover story, excessively long and unorganized.

At the end of the day it depends on what the readers like. Care to share?

Theatre in Venezuela

On my last night while I was on vacation in Venezuela for Spring Break I had an epiphany. As a young child I had always avoided the Venezuelan theater thinking that it was a joke compared to productions in Broadway and London. Shame on me.

I was standing in line at the movie theater with my girlfriend to buy tickets for "The King's Speech" when a young man carrying a radio headset approached us and kindly asked us if we were interested in watching the production that was playing just across the movie theater. We both looked at each other hesitantly (we both wanted to watch that movie very badly), but then he sweetened the deal when he said that the tickets were complimentary because the couple they were intended for didn't show, and they needed to get them off their hands. We were in.

We both strongly enjoy theater, hell, I'm studying it. But I didn't know what to expect. Could these guys really put up a show?

They certainly could. The play was called "Baraka," translated from "Cloaca," a play that opened in London in 2004 and was directed by Kevin Spacey. The show had rave reviews, so I sat down and enjoyed the show.

Everything was obviously scaled down to what I was used to. After seeing shows in grand theaters in  Broadway and the West End, this production was held in a small auditorium-like proscenium theater. The set was obviously not elaborate or stuck to the ground since several productions share the stage.

This wasn't an issue. The acting was unbelievable. Some of the best I have ever seen. And the script was translated so perfectly to fit the Venezuelan audience, but without sacrificing any of the artistic or dramatic purposes written by Dutch writer, Maria Goos.

The story follows four very different middle-aged men. A homosexual who works for the mayorship, a soon-to-be minister for the government, a theater director and a cocaine-addicted lawyer. Together they play out of each other the deepest emotions that the average Venezuelan is afraid to express.

Running a little over two hours, and with no intermission, the play did feel long, but was well worth it. It was an eye-opening experience that will now motivate me to attend to the theater in other places of the world beside english-speaking countries.

5 Biggest Musical Influences For Bass

I picked up this amazing and organic sounding instrument when I was only 12. The bass guitar was bigger than me, and I'm pretty sure it was also heavier. Nevertheless, I took the initiative to attempt to play it after my parents refused to let me take guitar lessons because of how small my hands were.

Some of the bassist listed are by no means the most technically acclaimed. They represent however, different stages of my musical ventures.

5. Mark Hoppus (Blink-182) The first songs I ever played were all the hits from "Enema of the State." Yeah, they were all tonic notes as you would expect in a punk band. He isn't a virtuoso or anything like that. But for beginners, he's a real source of inspiration because it gives people something to look forward to play.



4. Duff McKagan (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver) After surpassing my teen punk phase, I started getting musically cultured with older and more classical rock music. As a result, I stumbled into GNR. I wasn't hooked because of Axl's insane voice or Slash's melodic and powerful guitar, rather, it was Duff's blissful half-step-down tuned bass lines dipped in a signature chorus effect. His bass lines were unlike anything I had heard because they didn't rest on tonic notes. This was the first bassist I heard playing around with notes effectively.



3. Paul McCartney (The Beatles) A consistent presence in any list or ranking, Sir Paul opened my eyes to how important the instrument is to all the Beatles classics. Most, if not all of the songs are driven by his Hofner bass, and that's when I finally understood the crucial role of the bass guitar.



2. Flea (Red Hot Chili Peppers) I've never been a huge funk person. But Flea and his slapping and thumping style made me appreciate the bass more than I ever had before. He was the first bassist I heard my friends saying that he was truly the man of the band.



1. Chris Wolstenholme (MUSE) Presently, my biggest musical influence. His style is just crazy. I hated  bass effects until I heard Muse for the first time. He manages to find a unique sound for every song he records, and it always fits the emotion perfectly. He's definitely the most underrated bassist.

How to survive Venezuela during spring break

So it's a little off topic from what my posts usually are, but hey, why not just for the fun of it?

It's been almost two years since I last visited my home country. My parents basically begged me and almost bribed me into not going. "Please! Anywhere you want to go but there!" they said.

I have to go. Sure it's unsafer than ever before and inflation has more than quadrupled in the last year,  but I still miss those white sandy beaches, the 90 degree weather and the friends I've left behind.

So to calm my parents down, I basically give them a checklist I will abide by to be safe.

1.) Don't cause attention to yourself! Hide the iPhone before getting off the plane. (It's a good thing I don't have a BlackBerry because they snap those off your fingers like candy).

2.) Take off my watch and any visible jewelry or values and store them in my bag.

3.) Take all the credit cards, cash and passports and stow deep inside your bag.

4.) Leaving the airport and going to the car is the crucial part. Most muggings and express kidnappings take place on the 30-minute road connecting the airport to Caracas. Make sure the person who's picking you us is trustworthy. Don't ever just get in any cab, especially if you're a tourist. Do that, and bye. You'll be calling the embassy from the middle of nowhere wearing nothing but your underwear (if they were feeling nice).

5.) Avoid driving late at night. Traffic signs are not enforced and anyone can DUI without any consequences. It's better to stay over till sunrise wherever you're at rather than return late at night.

So this, along with common sense is going to keep me safe (hopefully). I was raised there. I know my way around. You just have to be smart, and well, have a little luck.

What's Next?

Now that I'm done with my acting quota for this semester, I now have the time and resources to devote my free time to write new songs, record them and play them live hopefully before the end of the semester.

When I was abroad in London last spring I started a music project (better known as a one-man-band) called AAVA. Between a short semester with relatively few classes and a lot of spare time on my hands, I decided to make the most of that experience by traveling around Europe and learning different cultures.

Those experiences served as the main source of inspiration for the first record I did. "The Bliss In Between," though raw and not perfect, it captures everything I went through from growing up as a child in a corrupt third-world country to missing my family and friends when I moved. Twice (Lehigh and then London).

I recorded that album in Tenerife, Spain with the help of talented musician Oscar Bennassar, better known by his stage name, The Kale.

In a matter of weeks, I showed up with basically only one song prerecorded from we could work on. The rest, we had to start from scratch. He exploited my songwriting and playing abilities to the fullest (as you would expect of the greatest music producers) of my potential and he was there to offer advice and offer a helping had in times of need.

For my sophomore record, I'll probably take a less technical and complex approach due to the fact that I will be producing the album by myself and don't have all the resources I had available to me in Spain.

It'll probably consist of six to eight tracks of acoustic material, though there may be some full-scale electric songs in there. What has always worried me is the lack of appeal my voice has. This is something I've been working on with a vocal coach this semester.

It's time to get serious. No more excuses. I spent the first two weeks of the fall semester building a home studio I practically haven't used yet. Acting for Judas was fun, but now it's over. It's time to take Adrian V (possible new stage name) in a new direction.

Synopsis of Judas Runs

A week after opening "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" at Lehigh University, the cast and I have been blessed to enjoy five completely different shows.

There have been large crowds, empty crowds, silent crowds and adult crowds, but each one of those audiences have allowed us to gain a different and fresh perspective every time we perform.

Friday's crowd was by all means, the largest one yet. This is expected since opening night always seems to appeal the most to all the theatre students, staff, family and friends. We all had an extra shot of adrenaline because it was our first show, but the crowd responded so positively to our performance that we never let our nerves hold us back. A few hick-ups here and there, but nobody could ever notice them.

Saturday's crowd was a little smaller and not as engaged as Friday's, but we were able to approach a more serious tone with this performance. The awkward moment of the night came when nobody clapped after the first act's blackout. Did they not like it? Or were they just not sure when to clap?

Sunday's crowd was a matinee. And though we were exhausted from the previous night's performance, we gave it are all to give our crowd their money's worth. Our most silent crowd yet (mainly older couples), this was probably our weakest performance. The audience and cast were not in sync. At least I wasn't. Maybe the play is too avant garde for older audiences.

On Wing Night Wednesday all I could think about was finishing the second act to get me some wings for my starving painful empty stomach. I'm pretty sure most of the audience that was there were students that went for that soul purpose. But according to our director, Wednesday was our best performance yet. We presented it exactly how he envisioned it to the letter. It was good to have two days off in order to start fresh just like we did on Friday.

Our boutique (small and intimate) run, Thursday's audience was one of the most engaged we have had during our run, and that's always what we're looking for.

We still have two more shows to go before closing. It seems only like yesterday we started rehearsing, but we've come a long way. I always love seeing how every cast member evolves during a production. Some serious emotions are getting nibbled. We expect nothing less.

Arcade Fire's Alter Ego?

Arcade Fire used to be the best kept secret for rock music lovers; that is until they won a Grammy for Album of the Year a few weeks ago.

The Suburbs is easily the smartest, most well-crafted, and artistic album of 2010. Songs like "The Suburbs," "Ready To Start," "City With No Children," and "Month Of May"garnered them mainstream attention without cutting their indie roots. But now with a Grammy on their holster, they can no longer return to being known as the "amazing unknown band." They're still amazing, but winning that Grammy seemed to me like the passing of the torch to another band. As if it was someone else's turn to lead the underground indie movement.

This torch isn't even leaving Quebec.

Metric are an indie rock band just like Arcade Fire, but more compact (only four members compared to Arcade Fire's "orchestra"). They also have a heavier sound, but at the same time, just as mysterious and pleasant as Arcade Fire.

Compare the videos below and judge for yourself.

10 Best Pre-Resistance Muse Songs Pt. 2

As promised, here is the second half of the 10 best Pre-Resistance Muse songs. Unlike the previous list, this one is more evenly spread out with the last two albums that were released before "The Resistance": "Absolution" and "Black Holes and Revelations".




Time is Running Out
Absolution 2005


This album was the start of Muse's musical direction into apocalyptic and protest themes. The music is amazing with a crunchy bass line leading it off with catchy falsettos during the bridges.



Hysteria
Absolution 2005


This is probably the first song, along with the previous one, that Americans first heard of Muse. Easily their signature song with again, the distorted bass lines leading off the entire song and with great guitar solos. Sadly, though, it's probably their worst music video.


Starlight
Black Holes and Revelations 2007


Embedding has been disabled for this music video, but make sure to still check out the link. Their catchiest and most poppy song, "Starlight" was the gateway to the everyday American teenager. And even though the song sticks to sad cliches and has a love theme, MUSE arem still able to make a great rock ballad out of it.




Assassin
Black Holes and Revelations 2007


This is their most underrated and underplayed song in their repertoire. It is a lot more heavy than the stuff they usually play, but their musical prowess is easily spotted with the non-human speed of the drums and riffs. This song was also featured in "Guitar Hero World Tour".

Knights of Cydonia
Black Holes and Revelations 2007


Their anthem. They will either open a show or end one with this song, guaranteed. A great upbeat song that makes you want to listen to this song while you're horseback riding into the unknown. Easily their best music video too.

"The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" Opens TONIGHT

Adrian V. as Judas Iscariot and Kashi J. as Saint Monica during Monday's rehearsal

If you have two and half hours to spare tonight, the best form of entertainment will be held at the Diamond Theatre in Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University.

After more than a month of rehearsals, the production is finally ready to be opened to the public. Everything is good to go. The cast and crew have been rehearsing rigorously until late at night to make sure this production is one of the most memorable in Lehigh Theatre history.

Sure, there is a small conflict of interest as I write this post, since I will be playing the titile character. But really, you can't miss a real-life court room drama based in purgatory with the testimonies of the likes of Mother Teresa, Sigmund Freud, Pontius Pilate and Satan!

The show starts at 8 p.m. and has a ten-minute intermission. Tickets can be purchased at the Zoellner Box office, by phone or online.

I've never been so proud to be in a production as I am on this one. The designers and cast have pushed the envelope far more than expected in order to bring an original and refreshing play to the Diamond Theatre. The show will run until Feb. 26. See you there!

10 Best Pre-Resistance Muse Songs Pt. 1

MUSE, the alternative rock trio from England won their first grammy ever on Sunday. It was also their first academy nomination in their 16+ years career. But why did it take so long for America to properly reward the musical prowess of these three virtuosos?

In a musical era that is dominated by commercial and marketable pop and hip-hop, MUSE have always held their ground and been true to their roots and influences (U2, Radiohead, Rage Against the Machine and Queen). Preferring to maintain their integrity, they've never altered their sound to appeal to America's mass audience, except that time when they provided songs to all of the Twilight Saga movies. As a fan I was embarrassed that my favorite band had been the source of inspiration of such ridiculous vampire drama.

"The Resistance" won Best Rock Album of the Year. But what about their previous works? "The Resistance" is a true masterpiece, but their earlier stuff should have topped academy nominations years ago. Below is the first half of a list of the 10 to best MUSE songs in order of release before "The Resistance".



Muscle Museum
Showbiz 1999


This was one of their first singles. From such a young age, their potential was already coming into fruition. An excellent combination of trippy-keyboards, jazzy bass lines and heavy drums with distorted guitars. Madonna's record label Maverick Records hated Matt's falsetto. I wonder what she thinks of it now.




New Born
Origin of Symmetry 2001


Probably my favorite album yet, New Born set the direction in which MUSE was going to go for the rest of their career. The heavy drums, guitars and distorted bass are all in perfect melodic synchronization with the simple, yet hypnotizing lyrics. "New Born" has the best guitar and bass riff out of all their songs. It's sad how America wasn't cultured with this album.



Bliss
Origin of Symmetry 2001


The title says it all. You get infused with so much adrenaline you just want to bang on anything you can get a hold of. Heavy presence of Rage Against the Machine in this long. Love the distorted bass line that guides the song.



Feeling Good
Origin of Symmetry 2001


Easily the best cover of all time. Not even Nina Simone's version can match Muse's cover of Antony Newley's and Leslie Bricusse's 1965 song. A perfect hybrid between jazz and rock. Also, a perfect example of the importance of bass. Great to hear live too.



Plug in Baby
Origin of Symmetry 2001


The fact that four out of the five songs in this list come from their sophomore album shows you how underrated the trio was at the start of the new millenium. The band has said in numerous occasions that their first two albums didn't count for the U.S. This song was featured, however, in Guitar Hero 5 with Matt Bellamy being a playable character. Did they finally give it justice? Note: It's a lot harder to play for real than on a plastic peripheral device.

Watch for second part of this list in the next few days.

Judas update

With less than a week left for opening night, things are looking really good for "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" in Lehigh University. Yesterday we had our final run of the whole play before entering into tech week tomorrow.

While most of the cast had a great run, there's this notion in my head that keeps telling me that yesterday was my worst performance ever. I was accidentally late to rehearsal and didn't warm up, and as a result, I skipped and forgot lines that I never had a problem with to begin with. The set is approximately 70% complete. I finally got my lair set with a rock, though it's the most uncomfortable piece of furniture I have ever sat in. I had to bring it to the attention of the stage manager because there is no humanly way possible a person can sit almost two hours straight in the same position in a hard, rough styrofoam boulder.

Tomorrow at noon we begin the dreadful tech week. It's the final stage of rehearsal where all the artistic designers join us and calibrate lights, sound effects etc. We're looking at a 9-hour rehearsal tomorrow. Most of it is going to include stopping for cues and transitions for the lighting designer. Then on Tuesday we're starting our first dress rehearsal with full costumes and make-up.

All signs indicate that it's going to be a great show. I'll blog one last update before the show opens. Don't forget to check it out Feb. 18-26.

Superbowl Halftime Show Review

So now that Superbowl fever is over, I figure it's the appropriate time for me to share my thoughts on the infamous and controversial show.

I was never glad or open to the idea of The Black Eyed Peas performing in front of millions of viewers. They're not at that level of super stardom, and the superbowl didn't help them get anywhere near it. If anything, it did the opposite. I was amazed with the amount of harsh words that were said both by critics and viewers about the Euro-Techno performance of the quartet from Los Angeles.

The problem with this show was that they didn't have a show to begin with. The Peas aren't musical virtuosos. They know how to produce commercial tracks that the world is going to love dancing and that's what they delivered. Fergie, if anything, has the best voice in the group, but she was the worst singer at the show. I'm talking about the part when Slash suddenly appeared from a trap door. That was the neatest surprise, but it only lasted five seconds. Then Fergie started belting out "Sweet Child O' Mine". She embarrassed the institution of Slash and the rest of Guns N' Roses. Shame on her, but even more on Slash for allowing himself to be put in the middle of that circus.

Most of the work and spectacle was carried out by the dancers (another move that I didn't like). Typically the field is rushed to by lucky fans who get to surround the elaborate stages. This year they were included in complicated routines that were worthy of praise, but not something that I felt like watching for a SuperBowl half time show performance.

then Usher cam down. What's up with that. My closest bet is that this show was a failed attempt to surpass the King of Pop. Again, failed attempt.

"...down came the critics and washed the spider out..."

I really feel bad for the guys at "Turn Off the Dark". They got hammered today pretty hard by all the major theater reviewers. Worst of all, the show hasn't officially opened. The producers of the spiderman musical that has cost more than $65 million (the most expensive ever) have postponed opening night six times so far due to virtually every problem that could go wrong in a production, from writing a new ending to acrobats falling and injuring themselves during the middle of a show. That was enough to infuriate the newspapers and have them review a show under circumstances they usually wouldn't. 


The reviews were published Monday, which was supposed to be the date it would upen until producers moved the date again to March 15. The reviewers felt a compelling obligation to the public. The New York Times defended itself saying, "The show had been running long enough to paying audiences for judgement to be rendered."


With all due respect to theater etiquette. I completely support the newspapers' decision to go ahead with the reviews. They do have a point. I mean, they've been in previews for 66 shows. Why should the second top-grossing show on Broadway ($1.3 million a week) escape the clutches of reviewers? I do hope they didn't trash it just because they've been waiting impatiently for more than a year to see the show, but rather because it's as bad as they say it is. 


I'm a fan of spectacle and U2. And even though the music is written by Bono and U2, and the reviews imply that no one should have to sit through the "most expensive and worst musical ever," I'll still go and  bore myself to death if the reviews are true, or hope for a miraculous save from the production crew when they finally do open, even though the general consensus seems to be that this show is "beyond repair."


I really do hope they get their act together and see today's press as a wake up call. A show this expensive has to live up to expectations.