Live Music

It’s Rehearsal Time in the Studio

Posted on by Bernie Landry

After months of construction delays, and dealing with non-musical issues, we are back to some version of normal.

The new home studio is starting to take shape.

Home studio for a Chapman Stick player
The home studio evolving – phase 1

The studio is being set up for rehearsing/practicing, as well as, experimenting with percussion instruments and feasibility of performing it.

You will notice in the upper right is my percussion kit for creating rhythm loops to accompany some of songs in the new repertoire.

I want to use the live looping only as is necessary for the purpose of creating some variety in my sets.

I have been going over my song list and working out:

  • Which ones can use a percussion loop?
  • Which ones need a key change to make singing less of a strain? Especially when performing several sets in a performance.
  • Which ones should be eliminated or shelved for the moment because of performance difficulty?

On the horizon I am composing and writing new material with the goal in mind of composing and recording an EP or LP. (Yes, old school mentality, but I hope to release some REAL Vinyl!

Oh and in closing here is my promo video… looking for gigs.

Striving To Be The Best One Man Band

Posted on by Bernie Landry

When you are striving to be the best one man band, you need to build on each performance. (This is also referring to the best one woman band)

one man band
Not exactly what we had in mind…

First you have to research just what a one man band is or what are people looking for when they hire a one man band.

Are they looking for ambiant music? Music to party? or some variation there of?

You will need the right gear to go it alone.

PA (sound system)- If you are just doing ambiant style, a smaller pa will probably do. If you are doing the party/dance style gig a bigger efficiently powerful enough amp will be required.

Music Amplifier – If you are using a guitar, keyboard and/or drum machine you may not want to put everything through your PA. I prefer this as I can adjust the volume and crunch of my Chapman Stick without effecting the vocal sound.

Microphone – A good unidirectional or cardiode mic is best… you get less feed back.

Your instrumnet(s) – I use a Chapman Stick, some percussion and a drum machine. I like to have easy to get to volume control for each instrument.

Optional Looper – I use a looper, not to layer several instruments, but to create a drum/percussion groove to play over.

Now once you have all the gear it is time to get to work…

Repertoire, song lists, learning the songs, rehearse with the gear and making useful arrangements.

But that will be the next time.