From: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org (mad-mission-digest) To: mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Subject: mad-mission-digest V3 #216 Reply-To: mad-mission@smoe.org Sender: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-mad-mission-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk * If you ever wish to unsubscribe, send an email to * mad-mission-digest-request@smoe.org * with ONLY the word unsubscribe in the body of the email * . * For the latest information on Patty's tour dates, go to: * http://www.spectra.net/~ducksoup/pattyg/patttyg.htm * OR * go to http://www.amrecords.com * then click "tour" and fill in the blanks :) * . * PLEASE :) when you reply to this digest to send a post TO the list, * change the subject to reflect what your post is about. A subject * of Re: mad-mission-digest V3 #xxx or the like gives readers no clue * as to what your message is about. mad-mission-digest Sunday, July 25 1999 Volume 03 : Number 216 Today's Subjects: ----------------- MM: RE: the band [Joe Sullivan ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 23 Jul 1999 22:08:46 -0700 From: Joe Sullivan Subject: MM: RE: the band Mimi, What's your problem with "regular" guys who are learning? I like what you have to say about controlling volume, playing with singers in the low registry, etc. but all this "I'm an exec from Austin, I should know" reminds me why virtuoso's piss me off. It's fallacious to locate your cred in your title, schooling, reputation, etc.--false authority. Maybe Mike Baker thinks you're arrogant and refuses to return calls on that basis. Thanks for good reasoning; I could care less about your resume. Peace, Socrates BTW, Props to the advocate who noted good band members are NOT necessarily virtuoso's. I know I'd rather play with people who are able to gel and who "play well with others" than proficiently execute scales. - -----Original Message----- From: Mooodeee@aol.com [mailto:Mooodeee@aol.com] Sent: Friday, July 23, 1999 7:08 AM To: Mad-mission@smoe.org Subject: MM: the band Dave, John et. al., I think the problem is the fact that her band members aren't virtuosos. They are raw talents, and young at that.... probably with a background in alternative or active rock. Very early on, when it was first announced that Patty would be getting a band, I made an effort to reccommend some players. I am based in Austin and so is she, so I thought it would be convenient. I talked to Troy about it and he suggested i call Mike Baker. So I contacted Mike Baker and he was a real brick wall. He never returned my calls. Given that i run a record label here in austin... (a Jazz and Rock label at that!)... i know some of the best players and virtuosos in the music industry, especially some new, rising talents that could play circles around most any non-jazz schooled player. I mean, talk about virtuosos...that's what my record label specializes in!! Well anyway, Baker didnt give me the time of day. So i automatically assumed that "wow, he must have gotten some incredible nashville players!" so you could imagine my level of expectation..... and then, even more my disappointment when i realized they were just regular guys. Well, i guess thats not necessarily a bad thing, because they are young and growing in experience, hungry and eager to please.... malleable. I guess it was just Mike Baker being rude. And that is unfortunate. When I first heard the band, I'm sorry, but to me they sounded like a Patty Griffin *cover band*.. striving to play exactly note-for-note like the record. I thought perhaps they decided on taking a more conservative approach, not taking any risks. After time, I began to realize they were just playing to the best of their individual abilities. >From what i have seen, they are at least good if not adequate, but every time I have seen them, they are missing out on one of the basic and fundamental principles of playing onstage with a vocalist... and that is, controlling the volume from the stage. Another is controlling volume while performing by using dynamics. And that is to be more mindful of the singer's register. When the singer is singing low register, lay back... except for the few little parts you want to emphasize... when she goes into higher, more powerful register... then build it up as high as she will let you go without passing her. She should be above all else. If they cant hear her in the monitors enough to follow that, then bring her up until they can. Reduce the stage volume. It's really that simple. As for Letterman and Conan... I know that at shows like Austin City Limits, once they have done video edits, they will let you come in and monitor the audio edits to make sure it meets with your approval. Does Letterman's crew let you stick around for the edits? Because on a finished product, you should always be able to work with the levels. Tell your promoter to put it in the contract. Evidently, it's an issue. ~Mimi in Austin ~Mimi in Austin ------------------------------ End of mad-mission-digest V3 #216 *********************************