“Hey Bro’, I’ve got these tracks laid down. The song is finished, just need to pull it all together and do post-production. Can you help me?” I cough up the usual excuses; not interested in working on someone else’s recording, not enough time for myself, too many irons in the fire… “It’s all done, shouldn’t […]
Author Archives: mackncheeze
Picking Low Fruit
Some days I find it hard to be inspired. When I reach a point of nothing, which can be alcohol induced, I usually plop down in front of the TV and enter a state of, “Since it’s TV time I should be eating.” This condition usually shows up about midnight. My basic understanding of Circadian […]
Get A Clue
As a drummer, my most important function is to keep time. In the 80’s I learned how to play live with sequences, time delay, arpeggiators and click tracks. In another band, we were recording an album, with out click, and I could not get past the fourth song. I was second guessing every beat and […]
The Third Place
There’s your family, there’s your job. In your life, where is the Third place you derive your sense of community? It used to be church, or civic clubs, some sort of lodge, maybe the library. Nowadays, Starbucks has laid claim to being a place of gathering. All I see there are people with coffee and […]
Steve Smith and The Seattle Drum School: Part Three
Artist Focus Steve is an intellectual heavy weight; a modern renaissance individual. Look for Steve’s upcoming book, Keys To The City. https://seattledrumschool.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA4Y7yBRB8EiwADV1hacJP6X-VNbOAh-Xd08qO269OQv8IqjU_gPWFF3ApOSXSiFRL-NntORoCyr4QAvD_BwE Part 3 of 3 Mackncheeze: What inspired you to become an audio engineer? Steve: I love listening to music, that’s what got it started. When I was going to Central I didn’t have […]
Steve Smith and The Seattle Drum School: Part Two
Artist Focus Steve is an intellectual heavy weight; a modern renaissance individual. Look for Steve’s upcoming book, Keys To The City. https://seattledrumschool.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA4Y7yBRB8EiwADV1hacJP6X-VNbOAh-Xd08qO269OQv8IqjU_gPWFF3ApOSXSiFRL-NntORoCyr4QAvD_BwE Part 2 of 3 Mackncheeze: With all that background, how did you come up with your Physics Analogies applied to your teaching methods? Steve: It’s more of an intuitive understanding that I represent […]
Steve Smith and The Seattle Drum School: Part One
Artist Focus Steve is an intellectual heavy weight; a modern renaissance individual. Look for Steve’s upcoming book, Keys To The City. https://seattledrumschool.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiA4Y7yBRB8EiwADV1hacJP6X-VNbOAh-Xd08qO269OQv8IqjU_gPWFF3ApOSXSiFRL-NntORoCyr4QAvD_BwE Part 1 of 3 Mackncheeze: Who are you? Steve: I’m Steve Smith. My lot in life is that 34 years ago I started the Seattle Drum School. Most people know me by that […]
Absurdity
The times are changing. It seems so much moves so quickly that is getting harder to keep up. Maybe it’s my age, maybe it’s my look of perceptive skills, probably, it’s the alcohol. Looking for my sunglasses while I’m wearing them. Another pointless meeting at the job. One more cancelled studio date because people don’t […]
Happy Valentine’s Day
My girl friend and I had broken up at the beginning of February. As The 14 th. approached, I grew ever more nostalgic of our relationship. I suppose I missed close proximity with a woman I had spent a couple of years with. Having Einstein like qualities in my thought process, I decided I would […]
Driving By Braille
Why not drive without head lights? Isn’t that what curbs and side walks were made for? Just kind of feel your way down the street risking flat tires. For a time it seemed to partially work. Example Number One: I spent a year traveling with a band that disregarded our booking agents parameters. The only […]
Life Is Precious
Back in the day, when gigs were booked by the week, we played a one month stint in small coastal town. Four live music venues, tons of bars, and some pretty good restaurants. The local industry survived on fishing. Quite a prosperous place. In a town such as this, it was quite natural to develop […]
Hula Hoops
I can control only one area in my life. It’s diameter is that of a Hula Hoop. When Life is annoying, which is about every hour, I remind myself of the simple fact, MY LIFE CIRCLE IS A HULA HOOP! Don’t forget it, Meat. Hey! Back off! You’re in my Hula Hoop! No, No, No! […]
Terry Jones
Guest Blog By Todd Ainsworth I’m not dead yet! Unfortunately, that’s not quite true anymore for Terry Jones of Monty Python fame. We, who “got” the Monty Python humor ( and I remember many of my friends when I was younger didn’t ) were saddened on January 21st. by the news of his passing. Now, […]
Cognitive Dissonance
I’m stressed out. I believe I am the Cat’s Meow of players but the best of the best are not flocking to play with me. I don’t want to believe I am an average player but perhaps the proof lies in the pudding. Evidently I have an area of my brain that wants to avoid […]
With The Sea On The Horizon
And The Future In My Hands…. I’m not sure about you, but for me, I love looking out upon the ocean shores, looking at the expanse of the sea, peering into the horizon. My God, regardless of the weather, its so beautiful. And peaceful. I could just sit and watch and write and let it […]
Bad Gig
Outdoor venue, great PA, big stage, no covering on stage; open to the elements. Its the 80’s. Our keyboard players are running Roland and Oberheim gear. I’m running a hybrid: acoustic snare, Paiste cymbals, Pearl DRX 1 Analog Drum Kit with an Emulator sample package for the kick drum, and Roland 707 Drum Machine. We […]
Artist Focus – Jonny Durango
Audio Engineer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer, Arranger Mackncheeze: Who are you? Jonny: Oh, Man. I’m a human man. I’m a person who has always just loved music, it’s one of the things in this world that has made sense to me. As I grow older, I’m starting to see other things that are contributing to […]
Toxic People
We all know them. We all run in to them. They are everywhere. I say, “Don’t let the bastards get you down.” The socio-political landscape is full of them. My neighborhood is full of them. The grocery store is full of them. The streets are full of them. Then there is your job. The best […]
Rhythmic Harmony Part 2
Guest Blog by Finn Music Geek Stuff Today we will look at one of my favorite tools. The Baiou’ rhythm and its modes. Baiou’ is pronounced Bayonne (The spelling? Someone kept yelling ” I’ld like a vowel, Vanna”). You’ll need paper and pencil for this one. This is Linear Harmony as opposed to Vertical Harmony. […]
Rythmic Harmony
Guest Blog By Finn Music Geek Stuff Lets use the example of a bass drum and a kick drum part. Lets say I decide to match each note of the bass and the kick drum. This would be an example of Rhythmic Unison. Now lets say I decide to add kick drum only to those […]
Depression
The grim truth; many of my artist type friends have depression running in their gene pool. It is in my family as well; seemingly prevalent in the families of creative types. One study shows entrepreneur start up founders, who are extremely creative people, revealing 50% with mental conditions and a 30 % depression rate. The […]
Happy Holidays
Wishing all a great Holiday Season and a Big Shout Out for all Those Supporting Mackncheeze Music. Thank You!!!! What to Expect in the Coming Year. We are going to be focusing on creative folks of all types in a large variety of different endeavors; Photography, Filmography, Custom Instruments, Writers and, of course, Musicians. Super […]
Drama
Got that right; I love the whiners who whine about the whiners. How about taking a few seconds and listening to what it is you are actually whining about. I have found that those who complain the most are usually on the weaker part of the chain. The weakest link; Right? I get to decide […]
Michael Clune and Moondance
Artist Focus https://www.facebook.com/Moondance-Van-Morrison-Tribute-1851895661575428 Mackncheeze: Who are you? Michael: I am my friendships and relationships. I am very blessed that my friendships are from all over the world. My glass of water, I can honestly say, is half full or close to full. I work hard to keep it that way. Its music, or what I […]
Practice Safe Sound
Yeah, Baby. I want to keep my hearing. Entropy has decided to work against me, so I fight back. Every practice session, every rehearsal; ear plugs. Reviewing tracks; I listen at extremely low volumes, often times in mono, mixing off my IPhone, mixing off head phones set across the room, referencing Blue Tooth speakers in […]
Island Time
Have you ever lived on an Island? Is “Laid Back” a term you would use for island life? This mind set actually exists, having lived on an island and experiencing it myself. For many, regardless of ability, attainment, and professional accolades, this pattern is endemic. Why? I don’t get it. I can’t be late for […]
Today Was A Good day
I, for one, am happy to be alive. I have my health, my mind is somewhat right ( my friends may differ ), friends, a loving family, I am well fed, have a warm bed to sleep in, income ………the list goes on. I do suffer from a slough of first world problems. These challenges […]
Don’t Drink The Kool Aid
I should not make light of this, but the fact of the matter is if you aren’t all in, you’re not all in. Hence the purpose of this blog. It could be argued I’m not all in either, because most of my income is earned outside of music. Seriously looking to change that. All you […]
The Labor Is The Reward
Yeah, you got that right. It is the love of music which sustains me. The love of the people, the process and the execution. What God given talents I have been blessed with have only been the starting point; a flame that kindled. Continually feeding that fire is the process. More accomplishment, greater love, more […]
The Seasons Of My Life
Guest Blog by Marvin Manning ( My Uncle ) Written at age 94 As I move through the seasons of my life and summer turns to fall, I find that the Golden Years are not so golden after all. The junk food that I loved so much has been replaced with lettuce, celery, carrots and […]
I Have A Dream
I once dreamt I was a chicken. I am not sure what the underlying psychology of chicken dreams means in relationship to reality; but there it is. Cocking my head and eyeing the gravel, looking for that kernel of corn. Thrusting my beak towards that tidbit of seed, grabbing it and swallowing it down my […]
Don’t Quit Your Day Job
I love to play music, I love to record, and, to the best of my abilities, I love to produce music. But what I also love is a super cool job, health insurance and stability. Call me double minded. I have been a Sommelier with a restaurant group for the last 29 years, the last […]
Superpower
I have been reading a lot about tapping in to my super power. Most people who know me know that I am not super powerful, which is disappointing to myself since my own self expectations are so high. I wish I wasn’t prone to error. I wish I would not forget arrangements. I wish that […]
Ice-T At The RKCNDY, 1992
Guest Blog By Todd Ainsworth By the time I heard that Ice-T was going to play the RKCNDY, I had been listening to him since “Power”, which came out in 1989; along with Public Enemy, NWA and others. Some of my “Rock Only” friends looked at me sideways and wondered why. I knew I was […]
Distractions
A Normal Morning In My House Get out of bed, wander down to the coffee maker, get some Joe brewing, wander over to the lap top, fire it up, oops, my feet are cold, wander back up stairs, put on some socks. I got to pee, wander in to the bathroom, pick up the tooth […]
The Phantom
“Someone’s talking in the guitar solo.” “What?” “There is someone talking in the guitar solo.” I listened to the track over and over and could not hear the voice. I went through every single track. Nothing. During the guitar solo I muted every track that was inactive. Nothing. “Dude, the voice is still there.” “What? […]
Hyberbole, Standard Operating Procedure
Aggrandize, to increase the power or reputation of something. For me, it implies some sort of exaggeration. It is endemic in the world of music. Please understand, I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to past pretence. I see it in Facebook adds. I see it in band names. How […]
Habits
I have read the books. I have stood in front of the mirror yelling at myself. I have gone to the conferences. I have read the blogs. I have reaffirmed my affirmations. Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah. I have found out what habit is – its habit. The daily routine is what moves me forward. No […]
Somewhere, In The Very Early 90’s
By Todd Ainsworth Writing for a music blog hasn’t been on my radar, but music is one of my passions and an important part of my life. As my generation gets a little older ( I never expected to live to 50 when I was 18 ) and I start to look a little more […]
Prodigy
So I’m hanging in the lobby waiting for my lesson, listening to what I perceive as a high school student laying down a super congruent groove. I’m saying to myself, ‘Man, I wish I could have played like that when I was 17’. This goes on for another 5 minutes till the groove stops. Super […]