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Robert Brewer
Artist Focus Singer, DJ, Songwriter, Producer and Guitarist Part Two https://www.facebook.com/RobertBrewerSeattle/ Mackncheeze: When you were at the Art Institute, did you study vocals? How did you learn to sing the way you do? Rob: A mixture of church, singing by myself, with my quarter inch reel to reel, some vocal training; at the Art Institute…
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Robert Brewer
Artist Focus Singer, DJ, Songwriter, Producer and Guitarist Part One https://www.facebook.com/RobertBrewerSeattle/ Mackncheeze: Who Are you? I am Robert Brewer, son of Shirley Brewer, grandson of Lula Bell Brewer, from Seattle Washington, born and raised in West Seattle, at High Point. Back in World War Two, High Point was subsidized government housing for military personnel, all…
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Impatience
Pardon me, but I sometimes forget an ordinary human being is not interested in sitting down for hour upon hour trying to perfect an imperfection. Basic nature of artistic endeavor of any sort requires lots of time spent by one’s self, working out a path of accomplishment. Social Distancing. Wood Shedding, the old timers called…
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Tom Glase
Artist Focus Part One Wine Maker, Owner Of Beresan and Balboa Wineries This interview involved sharing a bottle of 1998 St. Innocent Pinot Noir from Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Mackncheeze: Tell me about the kids and playing music? Tom: They both grew up playing instruments. My son played trumpet for a year and didn’t really like…
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Wasting Time
I haven’t really talked about the Corona Virus outbreak. I thought maybe folks might be able to identify with a few of Memes. For the truly idle, there is danger from from Covid 15; fifteen pounds from a shuttered lifestyle. One of my friends, in two and a half weeks, has gone from ignoring Facebook…
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Marco Cortes
A Mackncheeze Music Artist Focus Featuring Marco Cortes. Marco Cortes has developed a unique take on building bass guitars guitars that sound as incredible as they feel. Artist Focus Mackncheeze: Who is Marco Cortes? Marco: ( Laughs ) Somebody crazy ( More Laughter ). Why was Jesus a carpenter? When God had the ark of…
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Things We’ve Lost
But Not Forever Guest Blog By Todd Ainsworth When I first started contributing to the Mackncheeze Music Blog, I thought I’d just give a few stories from the front lines of Seattle’s early 90’s heyday, or give a personal story of how music has affected my life. What I didn’t expect was that our lives…
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Drama, Don’t Leave Home Without It
I’m astounded at what a comfort zone drama can be. Personally, I try to minimize conditions which allow for its growth. Politics, avoid politics. Some folks crave ongoing bad news and having vitriol for public figures. Yes, it is deserved, but there are more interesting subjects that get my panties tied into a knot. I…
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John Passarelli
Artist Focus John Passarelli has been a local force in the Seattle area for decades. Mackncheeze: My first question-who are you? John: I have some cute answers. I consider myself to be, how do I put this, a positively charged rhythmic and melodic confluence of heart and mind. That’s my musical self, which is most…
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Revelation
My first real understanding of digital recording actually occurred when I purchased a Roland VS 1680. I didn’t understand crap; having spent weeks in front of my old PC, scratching my head, staring at a Cakewalk Software program I had down loaded from CD-Rom. I would execute commands and sigh in disbelief as nothing would…
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Remix
Let’s Remix The Tune Photograph Compliments of James Kovin “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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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.…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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?…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
