Bryan at Mackncheeze

Author: mackncheeze

  • 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.…

  • Rhythmic 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

    Do you have a Dream? I dream and have dreams of success. 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. I thrust my…

  • Don’t Quit Your Day Job

    Don’t Quit Your Day Job

    Your day job might be the anchor you need. The 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…

  • 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

    We are always going to run into someone who is a prodigy. A Child Prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. 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…

  • Breakfast of Champions

    Rehearsal, 10 am. Hey I got time for breakfast. I’m heading over to the closest breakfast chain anticipating some great morning grub. I’m hoping to have a breakfast of champions. Man, I can taste those hash browns with my over easy eggs and some wheat toast with strawberry jelly. Lotsa coffee. I’m in Baby. 8:30…

  • Groundhog Day

  • It’s All About The Gravy

    Things I’ve Learned From Otis Trust Your Friends It’s all about the gravy. There are many different ways to enjoy it. Otis has good friends. Smokey comes to visit from down the street, leaping and bounding because he is so excited to see his buddy Otis. I have never seen two cats so comfortable with…

  • Caffeine, Its a Life Style

    What motivates me everyday?  One guess.  Coffee. Caffeine, it’s a lifestyle. The Daily Ritual Every morning I participate in the ritual. At least a pot down the gullet. Not to mention the daily Quad-Americano just to finish out the evening. What the caffeine does for me is to facilitate concentration.  My best and most productive…

  • The Brave New World and Corporate Technology

    The Brave New World and Corporate Technology

    It’s a brave new world out there. Corporate technology is at the forefront of the surveillance of citizens. Social media….. Everyone of us who participates willingly hands over every bit of information that our sign-up requests.  George Orwell thought it was going to be the state.  Actually, our government does not have to concern itself…

  • Hammond B3

    Want to talk Monster, Wall of Sound……Hammond B3 Organs powered by Leslie Speakers. The Hammond is an electric organ first manufactured in 1935.  The organ generates sound with a metal tone wheel near an electromagnetic pickup.  Recording these beasts, the mics reveal the the tone wheels firing.  Truly awesome. Traditionally, Leslie Speakers were used.  The…

  • Stop Bugging Me

    The Story This is a story of how I nuked some cockroaches in my hotel bed. They had to stop bugging me. The Trip In On the road and a plane flight later we arrive at the club.  Part of the contract stipulates accommodations, of which we are immensely grateful.  It always helpful to defer…

  • Tales From The Crypt

    On A Saturday Night Far, Far From Home This is my tale from the crypt. “Dude, Steve is lit. He put down a fifth and a half of Jack and is quitting the band.” Great. Thirty minutes before we’re supposed to go on and the keyboard player quits. Can it get worse? “I tried talking…