The Rural Alberta Advantage

i saw these guys open for City and Colour back in feb 2010
and i enjoyed them so much, i've become a big fan.
I've just recently saw them play at the Biltmore on saturday night
and they were truly wonderful.
There are three of them.
They were full of energy and a vibrant life force for ears.
I loved that fact that the lead guy and the girl played a couple different instruments.
It kept it interesting to watch.
There were two keyboards, a variety of percussion instruments, shakers,
the girl also occasionally played a low tom and a glockenspiel
the drummer is quiet good as well.
I do enjoy his drumming style.
I was inspired and impressed that three people could produce such passionate full rich music.
it was great to watch.
Great Canadian band.
Check them out if you like
The Rural Alberta Advantage
Here's two of my favourite songs

music is fun. i like you.

As i continue on,
on this musical journey....
after two weeks of hiatus,
we are back on
and it feels great!!
Good practice jam tonight.
i feel rejuvenated!
So nice to be on the drums,
soul pounding.

On another note...
another ukeMinute, with ukeLoops!!!
come, please and enjoy...
i know i'm having fun!
(it's a combo of guitar, slide guitar, the uke and bass)

ukeLoopTrack7

more ukeLoops

really, i know.
more ukeLoops.
it's just that i'm having too much fun.
and now i've borrowed a friend's guitar to add to the mix.
which, by the way, i SUCK at guitar.
i used to play guitar.
or i tried.
i took lessons...
and well now.
there's so many damn strings!
and it's SO big...
well compared to little ole ukie.
i've got to make the most of this loop pedal.
the rental is up in ten days...
...hmm... maybe it's an idea to invest...

ukeLoops number3

The Ukesters

The Ukesters
A ukulele troop i am part of.
there are nine of us, and usually each song we do, we are divided into parts.
here we are from tonights practice, having a little fun with wipe out.
Daphne on the "skat" solo and myself on the uke solo.
Good fun!
Listen if you like :) ....
The Ukesters wipe out

uke loops two

So, i am having much fun with this loop pedal.
Still learning and needing to perfect and hone in on my ideas and the whole looping process.
Just a couple more rough drafts... to listen to if you may...
who know's where this may go.
will be interesting what it will be in the end.
i can see it
put your ear here..
ukeLoops track9
ukeLoops track8

Uke Loops

As we all know, i'm loving uking it. I have now, discovered something else just to get me even more consumed with my uke. I know, it can be trouble... BUT AWESOME!
I've now been using a loop pedal with my electric uke. I'm loving the idea of keeping the rhythms and the patterns simple, but yet layering to get your effect. Using a variety of things to produce the sound you need to achieve it. Yeah, i don't know, it could go all a rye, or maybe i've found a new obsession to love, to grow..who knows.. here's a rough i'm working on.

Check it..
Uke loop riff

broken social scene - commodore oct 13th. 2010

fucking KICK ass show!
My most FFfffavourite song of the evening..
KC Accidental


I loved all the instruments. watching all the people on stage in amazement on all their talents in what they do.
It would be so cool to play with that many people and be all together in a moment on stage.
Would also be cool to play in a group of people, interchanging instruments during the set...
Whoa! That gets my mind percolating.

i liked all the layers of sounds in the show.
i found it interesting to listen to each individual instrument and picking out their part and then move on to the next and then the next and then just listening to them all at once, together in how they all work as one... a great wall of noise smacking you in the face of intrigue.
It was great!
It got me moving.
I danced and
my mind was moved, into many thoughts and excitement.
And i danced some more..
That, my friend was a good show.

Pisces Dream...and one gemini

This is the band i play in, Pisces Dream. I play the drums. Nikkie ruud is the singer/writer/guitarist. Tobi higo is lead guitarist/vocals. Russell bonaguro is the bassist. These are an amazing group of people that are super talented and all around wonderful and always always full of smiles and laughs. I feel really lucky.

Please feel free to check us out and keep updated with myspace

http://www.myspace.com/apiscesdream

somewhere over the rainbow ukulele- 1000 views!!

Yeahhh!!! ONE Thousand views. My first! A thousand people out there watched my somewhere over the rainbow. Cool!

wish you were here - ukulele cover pink floyd

This will destroy you

I've been listening a lot of this band lately.
I think they're great! I like the build ups, the explosions, the drumming is great, I would love to create music like this.
Check them out

THIS WILL DESTROY YOU

5ft2 and eyes of blue

A met a friend from japan and her name is Akiko.
She plays the ukulele as well,
and very well.
She leaves to go back in a couple days,
but tonight she came by and we had a little ukulele jam session.
It was a lot of fun!
I probably could have played the ukulele all night.

Anyways, Akiko taught me a few things, and i hope she learned a few tricks from me too.
She taught me a song called five foot two, eyes of blue.
The happiest little blues song.
I love the ukulele, such a happy little instrument.

Here is two recordings of us playing.
I had a good night.
Have a safe trip back to Japan Akiko.
I will see you in September, don't forget your ukulele.

insPired puSh

I know that last post was bland
I was feeling deflated after a horrible jam
the person i was playing music with wasn't horrible
quite the opposite.
i guess, just myself was horrible
i know i'm not that horrible
it was an off night
but none the less, besides my own self disappointment
i had fun,
i learned something,
and i got inspired to push myself
to learn more
to do more
to practice more
and get awesome
that i'm happy about
because it's these moments that keep the fire burning,
hard and fierce.

Elliott Brood Uking it

Jam and Jelly

Something in the air tonight
the soft breeze is a cozy swirl of a cool air with just the right combination of warm
and it smells like fruit, bubble gum and candy, with just a little bit of tart

Tonight was a great night for music.
Ahhh i miss this,
these moments when we're all on the same page,
every feeling
every note
every kick of the bass drum
every plink of the guitar string
and every pang of the bass guitar
A good and dear old friend and bandmate in for a night of jam.
this dynamic trio.
It wasn't always amazing
But it was always fun.
It's been over a year.
since the three of us have played together,
and it was, well,
I'm not going to lie to you...
Just AWESOME.
I won't fill you up with cheesy metaphors detailing how incredible i feel right now,
being able to play like this again
but,
it's like.. something in the air tonight...
amalgamation of electric warm fruit and bubble gum swirling like a mini tornado in the night..
and
phil colins.
..there's something in the air tonight......

la la la....

i feel so alive, excited and inspired when i play music.
i wish i had the energy and creativity and more of an expansive knowledge of music.
just so i could play all night long.
music, it keeps me going, wanting to know more,
play more,
learn more,
do more,
experience more,
hear more,
create more...

but, why?
why is it so hard to find the people,
that feel the same?
want the same.
at the same level.
same groove.
same wave.
having more to offer.
something to learn.
wanting to learn from each other.
inspire each other.
i know you're floating around out there.
somewhere.

maybe, i'm not ready yet.
i feel ready.
i will continue to practice and
do more
learn more
play more
create more
hear more....
and one day we will find each other.
And damn, will it be a fine day.

Iambic 9 poetry

great song from squarepusher.
drums are amazing!!!!
please listen.

City and Colour Vancouver Feb15 2thousand10

First off the band that opened at the Queen Elizabeth theatre for City and Colour were The Rural Alberta Advantage.
They were great! I enjoyed them very much. I thought they were amazing talented musicians that had a lot to offer for a three piece band. The drummer is insane and I definitely have to listen to more...just like that i'm hooked.

Their site: The Rural Alberta Advantage
Check out this song Don't Haunt this Place

City and Colour... great and wonderful as always. When Dallas and the bass player, Scott Remila, would sing together... wow, their voices blew me away. They harmonized so well together! Nothing hotter than men who can sing and sing well...well besides being super talented and creative and playing any kind of instrument, but i digress.

My most favourite moment was when he sang Grinning in your face, for the finale... too bad it was all over after that.

such great heights ukulele

okay here goes.....

The lost fingers - jazz band from Quebec

please go and listen....
http://www.myspace.com/thelostfingers