The Last Days of Judas Iscariot update

We've been rehearsing and working hard for the past three weeks. We now have less than two weeks until opening night, and even though there is still a lot of work to be done, the show is finally picking up its form. We've only had two full runs and while they've been reassuring in terms of showing the director and the cast members where we are, we haven't been able to have a complete run with the entire cast. There is always a sickness or an issue that prevents a cast member from showing up to the Friday runs.

Luckily, we have an amazing stage manager (Lucas Ingram) who has filled in some tough shoes by walking through the parts of the missing cast members, all while at the same time fulfilling his duties as stage manager and helping out the cast with lines.

At this moment, the stage is still being built. The basic ground work has already been set. The lower floor is neatly slanted, which gives a different perspective to the audience: It makes them feel like they're in the show. After all, they're supposed to be spectators in a court so this is a very neat way to incorporate them. The platforms where I'll basically be stationed in a catatonic stupor are expected to join the set by the end of next week. Then, we're off to tech rehearsals Sunday the 12, and then, it's opening night. Not a whole lot of time left to work, but we'll make it.

Almost everyone is pretty much off-book by now. The lawyers, who undoubtedly have the hardest work, are almost there, but at least they feel comfortable portraying their characters instead of thinking and worrying about their lines. As for me, playing a catatonic is not as easy as I'd imagined. I can pull it off fine until the second act. A leg will get numb every now and then or my nose or eye will start to itch. I've been trying to hold still as much as possible, but there are times when I just have to break character and pull myself together. Again, it might be easier to play the role once my lair is built with the appropriate padding and cushioning to allow me to be comfortable in the same position for two hours.

This coming week we'll be running the two acts separately and working problems. The lights will also go up this week. I'll keep you guys updated when we start tech rehearsals

When will Aerosmith finally release a new album?

It's what everyone is asking. And now that their legendary singer is making big bucks as a judge for "American Idol," it really seems that a legitimate reunion for Aerosmith is less than likely.

The fab 5 from Boston haven't released an original record since 2001's "Just Push Play". It wasn't even their best album so it wasn't like they stopped when they hit their creative peak, which is actually understandable in some cases. These guys just don't have it going for them. Steven Tyler has fallen off stage way too many times, gone too rehab way too many times and been trying to change his image way too many times.

What's wrong with brand Tyler? Everyone loves him for being able to scream melodically louder and more powerful than what is considered humanly possible. I understand these guys are into their 60s now and that  they just don't have the energy they once had. That's the price you pay when you plan to live fast and die young by the "sex drugs & rock n' roll" motto, but don't actually die. Instead, they started to wrinkle up and just let time pass by.

Joe Perry has at least kept busy with his solo blues projects. But come on, who really wants to here Joe Perry sing and play 12-bar blues? As for the rest of the gang, it seems Brad Whitford, Tom Hamilton and Joey Kramer are just spectators in the duel between Tyler and Perry. They more often side with Perry, even reaching the point where they were threatening to find a new singer if Tyler didn't get his act together. Tyler and the gang responded to the ultimatum by posting the cheesiest tour promo clip on the web.

Whatever their internal issues are, they have got to work it out fast. They've been through this before in their career as a band spanning over 30 years. Early 80s ring a bell? Why should today be any different? The Rock N' Rollercoaster in Disney is going to end up a being a memorial to the death of this band if they don't start recording soon. Enough with the shows: They only end up injuring Tyler, and there is nothing more distasteful than a band who tours on their hits. Stop sleeping in the laurels and get it together guys. And don't even think about doing another cover record. "Honkin' on Bobo" belonged to an amateur band.

Tyler: Enough with the American Idol thing. Go back to being the Screamin' Demon.

Everyone in Aerosmith except Tyler: As much as you all hate to face it, you need Tyler, so make peace with the guy (start answering his calls instead of just texting him) and think of the fans who made you guys millions of dollars, and go make a record!

The Most Underrated Guitarists of All Time

Rolling Stone magazine pretty much hit the spot when they published their list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time. The list is mostly comprised of mainstream acts as you would expect from RS. Hendrix, Clapton, Page and Richards were obviously listed as the top 10. And while there were some nice surprises in the list such as Joe Perry from Aerosmith, Edge from U2 and Joan Jett, the fact that they left out the two greatest guitarists of our time didn't sit easy with me.


I'm talking about the legendary Slash and the virtuoso Matthew Bellamy.


The introduction of the list in Rolling Stone reads, "They built their own guitars, stabbed speaker cones with pencils, shattered instruments and eardrums — all in search of new ways to make the guitar cry, scream, whisper, shout and moan. And when that wasn't enough, they turned up the volume. They are the 100 greatest guitarists, and these are their sounds and stories."


Slash may have not been famous for building his own guitars, but he definitely created a new sound from his Les Pauls that ended up saving Rock n' Roll in an age when it was commandeered by make-up-masqueraded glam queens. He welcomed us to the jungle and he took us to paradise city, and he didn't even make the top 100. What a shame.


Now for Matthew Bellamy, the successor of Hendrix, who plays with the British alternative rock band, Muse, his omission comes as less of a surprise. The American press has always been hard on him and his band. Everywhere else except in America, Muse are considered gods. Their shows are considered the best. All the musicians are considered the best at what they do, and for good reason. Bellamy has created a new sound for the guitar through a combinations of effects similar to Tom Morello, but he still plays with a skill that easily matches Jimi Hendrix.


It's no surprise then that the international press actually acknowledges his accomplishments. Total Guitar magazine ranked him #29 in their list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time and NME magazine ranked him #14 Greatest Rock 'N' Roll Hero of All Time. He placed ahead of Bob Dyaln and John Lennon. Think of what that says of the man.


What more do these guys have to do before they can be properly recognized in America?

How to set up and affordable recording home studio

College is a time of creative experimentation for many musicians. What better way to capture and record those ideas than in the comfort of your own recording studio?

You'll need to invest a few hundred dollars in equipment, but then again, that beats paying thousands of dollars worth of studio time.

You will need:
1. A computer
2. Recording software (Logic and ProTools are better but more expensive than standard software like GarageBand).
3. An audio Interface (firewire or USB) to be able to digitalize the signal of your instruments.
4. Cables
5. Microphones and stands
6. High quality monitor speakers or headphones

Don't forget about your instruments as well. Since you'll probably be living in a dorm or in a house that is poorly sound reinforced, don't worry about mixing and recording with headphones. Just make sure they're high quality, and also make sure to rest your ears every 15 minutes.

To make the small room more acoustically friendly, place furniture about six to eight inches away from the walls. If you're like me, plug your guitar or bass direct so that you don't have to worry about noise leakage. This works well for recording distorted guitars especially with the hundreds of digital plug-ins available in Logic.

You can't replace high-end studios, but you can always start slow in places like these.

Should You Rehearse When You're Sick?

There really is no way to do this. You can't expect to rehearse for a play or gig when your vocal range has dropped two octaves and you're struggling to stay conscious.

I picked up the flu on Tuesday and these last three days I've been struggling just to get out of bed and forcing myself to eat at least a yoplait. Then there's my commitment to "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot". It's not fair for my fellow actors and the director to have to work around my absence, but then again, I can't really be of much help if I'm barely able to breathe.

Gus Ripa, our director, is very lenient on sickness issues. He always says we should leave if we have to but deep down inside, almost every actor that's been getting sick is saying, "The show must go on."

It's a good thing I got sick on a relatively early stage of rehearsals because if it had been two weeks from now, we'd be in some serious trouble.

So what's more important? Getting well for the long run of the show or learning a few notes that you won't even be able to remember because your fever-ingested head can't even process how the heck you got out of bed today?

Superbowl Halftime Show, for real?

It's that time of year again. Fans are getting their wings ready for the Superbowl. I've rarely missed one, that is the halftime show of course. That and the 30-second million dollar commercials are more culturally representative of America than actual American Football.

I have nothing against football, I wasn't raised in the U.S. so naturally I'm the type of guy that's always complaining about why they call actual football soccer, here in the States.

What I find so interesting about the largest viewed television event of the year is the craftiness implemented in the commercials. It's what's happening now, what people want to see and buy. The same is true for the half time show. It's what's "hip".

Sadly, The Black Eyed Peas is what's on the top of America today. Historically, the main performers of the Halftime Show were marching bands. During the 80s and 90s the music superstars of the world took the stage for the 12-minute set list. The peak was U2 in 2002 as they paid an emotional tribute to the victims of 9/11 performing "Beautiful Day," "MLK," and "Where the Streets Have No Name."

In the past decade we've seen a decent Paul McCartney playing Beatle tunes (he could've at least invited Ringo), a Rolling Stones that were way too old to perform, Prince (enough said) and Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey Posing as The Who (How could you guys?).

Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers pretty much symbolize America so that was fine. But the fact that a newly turned techno pop group who have a smash hit are considered "the best" is just not cool by me. That's right, The Black Eyed Peas should stay where they belong: either doing club gigs or indoor venues. There is no way they can hold up to a massive arena crowd even if it's just for 12 minutes. Maybe that's why the Prairie View A&M University Marching Storm is joining them.

Disappointment. I don't have the halftime show to look forward to now, but at least I've got the ads. Although the fact that Justin Bieber is teaming up with Ozzy Osbourne for a Best Buy ad isn't getting me excited at all.

Start-Up Venues

What are the best venues to start out playing live in the Bethlehem area?

There's only one I've been to: Godfrey Daniel's. This coffeehouse-themed venue sits about a little less than a hundred people and makes for a good intimate set. It has won numerous open-mic awards, pertaining specifically to the sound quality. It would appear "The Dan" lends itself most to country music and bluegrass, but anyone can play there. Just sign up.

Then next door you have the indie-underground more hard rock "Fun House". While I haven't been there yet, I've heard the name of the venue suits itself.

Lastly, you have the Wildflower Cafe. This peace and love tea and coffeehouse belongs to the sixties, but contemporary music is always welcome.

I'd say these three venues are a good start for any up & coming musician. Guess I'll try them out soon enough.