The BoormanBlog

So I never told anyone about the Red Embers reunion (sort of) gig on May 9! I’d have to say things went pretty darn well. I arrived at the Avon, CT Starbucks (late as usual) in the pouring rain, parked as close as I could (read: far away ) and proceeded to unload my ample gear. Acoustic guitar, electric bass my “little green monster amp” (actually, a Carvin practice amp that I love to death). Some music stands and a spaghetti factory of cables, power strips and extention cords that, despite our best efforts to prevent, always become entangled. So I wheeled in all my stuff to the corner. Bill S. was waiting, and already setting up our Zoo TV multimedia presentaion!! Actually, it was a cool projector hooked up to a laptop showing different animated powerpoint slides for each song. Bill hung a bedsheet behind us as a lo fi video screen.

Our ringers (ahem, “special guests”), Bob on guitar and Nate on violin & bass arrived shortly after and we were well on our way to setting up. Bill helped my untangle some cables and extension cords out of the pasta pile on the floor like some deranged re-enactment of that scene in ‘Lady and the Tramp’.

Finally, after endless hunting for power outlets, testing mikes, tuning up, checking volume and doing a few sound checks, we were ready to go. Well before our 8PM start time!

We sounded great, if I say so myself. We went through most of the Red Embers “hits” like “June”, “Pressing On”, “Invisible Arms” and “Road Trip”. Of course, there were the requisite covers Dylan’s “Gotta Serve Somebody”, U2’s “Kite”, and Coldplay’s “Message”.

We even taped the show. Unfortunately, I’m not in it ;). We couldn’t get the camera far away enough, so I’m chopped off of the side. Oh well. I hope to have some clips on Youtube soon.

So here we are. Back again. A few members short, a different sound, but still standing. Celebrating our 8th year together.

Stay tuned…

Hey everyone! Check out local musician Joe Smith (yes that is his real name)!

http://www.myspace.com/joesmithrealname

I always have a heart for talented folk who write and sing their own material . I just saw him perform tonight for the first time in years at Peaberry’s Cafe in Simsbury, CT.

You’ve got to check this guy out. Also give him lots of money. Don’t worry, P Diddy won’t miss that extra couple of bucks if you support local music

Singer Bill and I will be playing at a local Starbucks on March 28th. Can’t wait! I’ll also be playing in the worship band with Drummer Bill on Easter Night earlier that week. Looks like things are (finally) going to start getting busy again for Red Embers.

Don’t know when we’ll play together as a foursome again, but for now, it’s good to be on the stage again.

So Red Embers is still around, in one form or another. Woody Allen said it best. “You want to make God laugh? Tell him your future plans.” Singer Bill and I are still making music together. We’re rehearsing as an acoustic duo. We’re going to start hitting all the local Starbucks and start making some regular coin! Woo-hoo!

Drummer Bill formed a worship band at his church and invited me to join. I jumped at the chance! We’re called Faith Plus Two. That should be good for a chuckle for all you South Park fans! The only thing that sucks about it is that I’m the oldest one in the group

It looks like after a 2 year drought, I’ll be out playing live more than ever! It will be good to get out there and play again! The road. She is a cruel mistress

So today we looked at the footage we shot at the junkyard over the weekend. It look FANTASTIC! We’ve (read: Chris R. and Bill S.) have some work to do to get the video footage edited and synced with the audio we recorded on my still-in-mint-condition Tascam 424 Mk III. We’re going to post the video on YouTube in conjunction with our submission. It’s the same song as our previous video (”How It Ends”), but it’s a live version, so it’s a little different. American Idol here we come!!

So Bill S. wants to enter Red Embers in an American Idol type contest for rock bands. Today we went to an auto junkyard and filmed a video for “How It Ends”. Yes, it’s the same song we filmed a video for last year. However, the entry rules say that it has to be a live performance, no overdubs. So this was a LIVE version of How It Ends. I haven’t seen the footage from Friday, but Bill has, and he says it’s very good. Sounds promising!

Stay tuned…

So this Saturday, Red Embers will be at a local junkyard filming a live performance video for our yet-to-be-released-gem “How It Ends”. We filmed a concept video a few years back, but we’re filming a live performance for a reality show a la “American Idol”. Filming at a junkyard should be a total blast!!

So Red Embers met at the Buttercup Dungeon last night (that’s our name for our rehearsal space; long story). We started work on a new song that Bill S. came up with. Just a bare outline of the verse & chorus at this point. The lyrics are pretty much done. We just have to put it to music. The hits just keep on coming!

I’d still love to get to recording at my home using my computer and this expensive sound card. But as with all other things, time is an issue. Maybe once I’ve set up shop in my new digs and “things settle down” (yeah, right), I’ll get to it.

Just got back from playing bass at a worship service. Yep, a worship service. I don’t even go that church! But they asked me, and I agreed. It’s at least an opportunity to get out and play, while Red Embers waits to get rekindled.  Admitedly, it’s a very different group of people and very different music than what I’m used to playing. But hey, a gig is a gig.

Got to love church in New England, where the motto is “God loves you! So we don’t have to.” They don’t even know I’m childfree! They probably wouldn’t ask me to play again if they did

One important lesson I’ve had to learn is: Don’t confuse the church with God. After expanding my horizons a little, I’m surprised how women outside of church appreciate me more than the oh so pious Christian women. It’s not their fault, really. That’s how they were raised, just like their parents and grandparents and so on.

I haven’t slammed the door on church entirely, though. If a church was willing to help me when I ask for help, and treat me right, I’ll gladly be there every Sunday, with a nice monthly check for them to boot. Until then, I’ll be content to pray on my own, read my bible when I please, and watch ‘Give Me An Answer’ on Sunday mornings in my PJ’s eating waffles.

God be praised.

Yep. We tried to sell this video on DVD, but there were very few takers.

“Sometimes no one wants what you got

Sometimes you can’t give it away” - Bob Dylan

Well, we’re sure going to try to give it away!

Behold, our first music video, completed two years for our gem of a song “How It Ends”