What's black and white and BEN all over? Today's newspaper! Specifically, the Des Moines Register Datebook features a glimpse of our very own Ben Williams, available here , and shows the heart of the one we think of as a "gentleman of jam" and "lovable hippie guru". Seriously, we're super-proud of our friend's talents and accomplishments, and hereby proclaim this as the official kickoff weekend for "The Year of Ben", not only with Kaleidoscope & Lady Blue, but especially Truth Be Told, his jam band that is rapidly rising to the top of the hippie heap.
I can't begin to tell you how much the friendship of Ben, his wife Lori, and their sons JB and Jeremy, means to us personally. (Trivia--Ben actually officiated the wedding ceremony of Brandon and me 1-1-05, and our first concert event together was with Ben and Lori to see Gov't Mule in Omaha 9-16-04--we've come a long way since that infamous car ride, haven't we!) Suffice it to say, their support in ways big and small has continually revolutionized our music and our lives. What a miracle to experience more of our dreams bobbing and weaving their way into "kaleidoscopic" reality every day. So as our tribute song, "The Gospel of Ben" says:
On this golden road of devotion
I want men of passion in my band
And in this world of lukewarm locomotion
I have faith in the faith of our faithful friend
I believe, I believe, I believe in The Gospel of Ben...
24 April 2008
17 April 2008
Paving the Way
My name is Taylor Kinney, I'm 18 years of age, and I've been touched by the people at Kaleidoscope Sonic Lab and their boundless quest for music and friendship. I am an emerging musician, and as such, I have neither the knowledge nor experience to guide myself along the practical path of music, that is to say I will be noticed.
Upon first meeting with Tina and Brandon, I immediately sensed that all too familiar altruism when dealing with true musicians. What followed was an in depth conversation about me and my musical aspirations, both professionally and otherwise. They explained everything I would ever need to know about advancement on both the local level and, hopefully, a career in the industry. I couldn't have been more comfortable or conducive to their introductory process. Even in their seemingly endless "to do" list and schedule, they found time to come and watch one of my performances at the Iowa State Fair.
I also recorded my first demo CD at the lab, and couldn't have had a more fruitful experience. Every song was professional, clear, and exactly what I heard in my head (a difficult thing to accomplish with many musicians). Mr. Joe Koelling was a true technician, working like the master he is around the board and making every accommodation so that the finished product was more than satisfying.
I have been truly moved by not only the kindness from these wonderful musicians, but the professional and organized manner with which they conduct this new light on the music scene, and a business that Iowa, and the rest of the country for that matter, will be seeing much more of in the years to come.
Upon first meeting with Tina and Brandon, I immediately sensed that all too familiar altruism when dealing with true musicians. What followed was an in depth conversation about me and my musical aspirations, both professionally and otherwise. They explained everything I would ever need to know about advancement on both the local level and, hopefully, a career in the industry. I couldn't have been more comfortable or conducive to their introductory process. Even in their seemingly endless "to do" list and schedule, they found time to come and watch one of my performances at the Iowa State Fair.
I also recorded my first demo CD at the lab, and couldn't have had a more fruitful experience. Every song was professional, clear, and exactly what I heard in my head (a difficult thing to accomplish with many musicians). Mr. Joe Koelling was a true technician, working like the master he is around the board and making every accommodation so that the finished product was more than satisfying.
I have been truly moved by not only the kindness from these wonderful musicians, but the professional and organized manner with which they conduct this new light on the music scene, and a business that Iowa, and the rest of the country for that matter, will be seeing much more of in the years to come.
15 April 2008
Under The Dashboard--an ongoing series
Since the car is such a frequent listening location for tunes, here are some "soundful thoughts about thoughtful sounds" (don't know if that really worked, but even the best wordsmiths have off days). Anyway, since the studio came into our lives, we sometimes listen to music much differently, with our "record producer mojo" working overtime in analytical frenzy. Consider these recent bits of under-the-dashboard ear candy:
David Gilmour, "On An Island"
Recorded in the plushest of studio settings, on Gilmour's luxury boat studio, this project's sonic mood is crystalline in its clarity, yet lush in its atmospheric textures. Simply put, it's just beautiful.
Blue Floyd, "Begins"
This just-released all-star project features 3 of our favorites, Marc Ford/guitar, Matt Abts/drums, and the late great Allen Woody/bass, among other luminaries. The tunes are mostly from several-years-old live performances, and its sonic mood is jammy live experimentation. You can just ease on down the road with this one, bobbing your head and swaying (but keep your eyes on the wheel).
Rolling Stones, "Beggars' Banquet"
From the first strains of track 1, the classic "Sympathy For The Devil", this project has a down-home feel to it, like Mick and the guys were on your back porch doin' it just for you.
Learning from more deeply examining "sonic moods" of numerous and diverse recordings brings an even better perspective on the importance of engineering, mixing, and mastering choices made in studio; in other words, the soundness of sound choices (hey, that was a little bit better, wasn't it?) . In future posts, we'll examine even more recordings with more sonic insights.
Feel free to share your own insights on the "sonic moods" of these and other projects...
David Gilmour, "On An Island"
Recorded in the plushest of studio settings, on Gilmour's luxury boat studio, this project's sonic mood is crystalline in its clarity, yet lush in its atmospheric textures. Simply put, it's just beautiful.
Blue Floyd, "Begins"
This just-released all-star project features 3 of our favorites, Marc Ford/guitar, Matt Abts/drums, and the late great Allen Woody/bass, among other luminaries. The tunes are mostly from several-years-old live performances, and its sonic mood is jammy live experimentation. You can just ease on down the road with this one, bobbing your head and swaying (but keep your eyes on the wheel).
Rolling Stones, "Beggars' Banquet"
From the first strains of track 1, the classic "Sympathy For The Devil", this project has a down-home feel to it, like Mick and the guys were on your back porch doin' it just for you.
Learning from more deeply examining "sonic moods" of numerous and diverse recordings brings an even better perspective on the importance of engineering, mixing, and mastering choices made in studio; in other words, the soundness of sound choices (hey, that was a little bit better, wasn't it?) . In future posts, we'll examine even more recordings with more sonic insights.
Feel free to share your own insights on the "sonic moods" of these and other projects...
07 April 2008
KALEIDOSCOPE the song--verse 2
Verse 2:
Change is always a wondrous thing
As the faith of old becomes a brand new sight
And life overflows with the music of love
As the color overtakes the black and white
This is of utmost encouragement today. Facing small business challenges, especially financial, as well as just trying to be the juggler you have to be in order to make it all work, and cover all the bases of an entrepreneurial venture, as excruciating as it seems, CHANGE = LIFE. In fact, that's really the medical definition of physical life and death. Death, in doctor's terms, equals "a body that does not change." So no matter what the change, it symbolizes aliveness, growth, a force at work taking the venture (sometimes kicking and screaming) from where you are to where you need to be. In the book "The Dance of Change", author Peter Senge says wisely, "there is no movement without constraint." That's the dance, and as hard as it seems to be thankful for constraints, they inevitably provoke the very best kinds of change. And that's when "the color overtakes the black and white."
Change is always a wondrous thing
As the faith of old becomes a brand new sight
And life overflows with the music of love
As the color overtakes the black and white
This is of utmost encouragement today. Facing small business challenges, especially financial, as well as just trying to be the juggler you have to be in order to make it all work, and cover all the bases of an entrepreneurial venture, as excruciating as it seems, CHANGE = LIFE. In fact, that's really the medical definition of physical life and death. Death, in doctor's terms, equals "a body that does not change." So no matter what the change, it symbolizes aliveness, growth, a force at work taking the venture (sometimes kicking and screaming) from where you are to where you need to be. In the book "The Dance of Change", author Peter Senge says wisely, "there is no movement without constraint." That's the dance, and as hard as it seems to be thankful for constraints, they inevitably provoke the very best kinds of change. And that's when "the color overtakes the black and white."
01 April 2008
Paul, Ringo, Yoko, Olivia...and You?
The other night I caught a repeat of "Larry King Live" backstage on the set of the Cirque Du Soleil show called "LOVE", a presentation based on Beatles' classics, and best described as...you know I'm going there...kaleidoscopic! The teaser throughout the show was "coming up--Paul, Ringo, Yoko, and Olivia...together again." So of course at the very very end of the hour, for less than 5 minutes, yes the world gets a glimpse of this foursome, and all the warm fuzzies of memory that automatically come with this look at the 2 remaining Beatles and the spouses of the 2 who've passed.
Paul made a fascinating comment about how "Winston Churchill's old papers are crinkled up and yellow, yet our music, through the wonders of technology, just keeps getting brighter and lighter." I couldn't help but think of the amazing gift "the wonder of recording technology" has given us, to be able to preserve all our special musical inspirations, both famous and not-so-famous, for posterity. That's what I believe people sense when they walk into our "LIVE" room, the vibes of all the artists past who've lived through their moments of what I'll refer to as "inspiration preservation". When you get to do it too, you literally join the honor roll of all those who've ever shared in such a magic moment; just like Paul, Ringo, John, and George, doing their thing in settings remarkably similar to our very own here at KALEIDOSCOPE.
transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0803/29/lkl.02.html
Care to comment...?
Paul made a fascinating comment about how "Winston Churchill's old papers are crinkled up and yellow, yet our music, through the wonders of technology, just keeps getting brighter and lighter." I couldn't help but think of the amazing gift "the wonder of recording technology" has given us, to be able to preserve all our special musical inspirations, both famous and not-so-famous, for posterity. That's what I believe people sense when they walk into our "LIVE" room, the vibes of all the artists past who've lived through their moments of what I'll refer to as "inspiration preservation". When you get to do it too, you literally join the honor roll of all those who've ever shared in such a magic moment; just like Paul, Ringo, John, and George, doing their thing in settings remarkably similar to our very own here at KALEIDOSCOPE.
transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0803/29/lkl.02.html
Care to comment...?
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