Mal Yo (Entrevista)

Posted on August 17, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

(Click here for the English version of this post)

Finalmente encontramos un momento con los muchachos de Mal Yo para hacer una entrevista, la banda ha empezado a tocar con más frecuencia en los boliches de Montevideo y me alegro mucho por ellos. ¡A ver si para el próximo toque no estoy engripado! ; )

Mal Yo

Información de la Banda

Nombre: Mal Yo

Género: Rock Pop

Miembros de la banda: Diego da Silva (guitarra y voz), Rodrigo Camejo (Bajo) y Sergio Alastra (Batería y coros)

Fecha de nacimiento: Fecha del primer toque de ésta formación 21/11/09

Lo más cercano que han estado de la fama hasta ahora: Fuimos Nº 1 del ranking de Cadena de la Costa FM 102.1 de La Paloma

Algunas Preguntas

¿De dónde surge el nombre de la banda?

Surge de la cabeza de Sergio, que ante la ausencia de ideas (cosa normal) aportó este nombre aplicando la filosofía de pedir disculpas de antemano por lo que se va a escuchar.

¿Cómo harán para dejar su huella en la historia de la música Uruguaya? ¿Piensan en ello, o dejarán que el tiempo determine el papel que jugó Mal Yo?

Tocamos para divertirnos, porque nos gusta la música y no nos cuestionamos el “dejar una huella”, si viene… bárbaro, pero pensándolo bien… no nos consideramos muy aptos para tal desafío.

¿Qué es lo primero que va a pensar un extranjero que escuche sus canciones?

Estuvimos viendo que en nuestra página hubo bastantes visitas del exterior pero no han sido muy duraderas, por lo que sacamos en conclusión que deben de haber pensado algo así como que somos una porquería, una bosta o algo así.

¿En qué sentido estar radicados en Uruguay les da una ventaja sobre músicos en otras partes del mundo? ¿Y en qué sentido los limita?

La verdad que no creemos que haya muchas ventajas por estar radicados acá, es un mercado pequeño, difícil por esta misma característica y donde no es fácil tocar en boliches ni hacer movidas para tocar por cuenta propia. Generalmente los músicos vivimos de otras cosas que no son la música y no podemos dedicarle el tiempo que quisiéramos a la ella… aunque en nuestro caso sería caer en un saco roto… por propias ineptitudes claro está.

¿Cómo están utilizando herramientas sociales (Twitter, MySpace, Facebook…) para promocionar la banda? ¿Qué tan efectivo ha sido todo ello hasta ahora? ¿Dirían que esos servicios han redefinido cómo una banda interactúa con el público? ¿O nada se compara con una cara a cara con la audiencia?

Usamos las tres pero la que mas usamos es Facebook, nos han conocido muchas personas por este medio, amigos de amigos y cosas así. Publicitamos los toques, las actualizaciones de nuestra web, subimos fotos, videos y hacemos comentarios. Nuestra meta es comunicarnos con la gente, y de hecho se está dando no sólo por facebook sino también en vivo, tenemos una buena química con el público, después de los toques nos quedamos a hablar con la gente, nos sacamos fotos, las subimos a la página, se ha formado un grupo de amigos muy lindo que nos siguen a todos lados y eso no tiene precio… por eso les pagamos lo que sea para que nos vayan a ver. Continue reading →

A Rap Video By Orelsan & The Toxic Avenger That Brings Facebook To Life

Posted on August 15, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

“N’importe Comment” is the newest video by French rappers Orelsan and The Toxic Avenger. It pokes fun at all the artifacts of Internet culture – “liking” and “befriending” others, LOLcats… even ChatRoulette is referenced at the end, during the “DanceRoulette” section.

What do you think? Would you have done this video differently? Would you have mentioned anything else? Or does it give anybody a substantial pop culture fix as it is?

Thomas Veitch (The Melody Master) – Interview (Part 2)

Posted on August 14, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

This is the second part of the conversation I had with Thomas Veitch from The Melody Master. In case you haven’t done so already, read the first part here.

PART II

MUSIC & YOU

When did you become interested in music? What was the first album or single you ever purchased?

Growing up in Manchester in the Madchester early 90s era, I got really into bands like Happy Mondays, Stone Roses, The Charlatans, Inspiral Carpets. My first purchase though was when I was a kid, and that was Ghostbusers.

Are you in a band yourself, or have you been in a band in the past? Is there a clip on YouTube or elsewhere we could watch?

I was in a band called Survival. It didn’t survive very long and didn’t make it out of the bedroom.

Musical likes and dislikes? Favorite artists?

I like any genre or type so long as it’s got energy and a cachy tune. Los de Abajo, Little Barrie, Fats Waller, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Arctic Monkeys, Profokiev.

I can’t stand wishy washy dreary music which makes you fall asleep. Continue reading →

Thomas Veitch (The Melody Master) – Interview (Part 1)

Posted on August 13, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

This is the first part of the interview I have had the pleasure of conducting with Thomas Veitch, the operator of The Melody
Master. This is where we talk about the site and the reception it has had.
And this is Part 2 (“Music & You”).

Full Name: Thomas Veitch
Age: 35
Site: The Melody Master
Position: Operator

PART I

THE SITE

Tell us a little about your site. Why did you create it? What was the original launch date?

I along with many musicians wish to be able to play an instrument by ear. You listen to a melody or riff and then wish to play it on the piano or guitar.

By providing some exercises, you can train your ear to do this. I’ve certainly improved my ability and I’ve noticed I’m starting to improvise now when playing the piano. I’d love to get to a level where I’m playing the same notes that I have in my head.

Are you happy with the way it has evolved so far, or do you think that there is still a lot to be added?

Yes, there’s always more exercises and games. The more exposure the site gets, the more feedback and requests we get from users which we aim to include.

What has been the feedback you have received? In which countries has The Melody Master been more successful?

Feedback has been positive. Users want us to put certain melodies in for them to learn. One user requested to be able to use the games entirely from the keyboard as it was easier for him. Another user requested to add a function to gradually make games harded by being able to control the intervals between the notes as in the Higher or Lower game. One user from Germany wanted a pitch memory game which we built.
The Melody Master has been popular in Europe and North America. Unexpectedly we’ve been quite popular in the Philippines. I think that’s because they have a lot of cover bands. Continue reading →

Jackie Evancho Becomes The Newest Online Singing Sensation

Posted on August 11, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Jackie Evancho

Jackie Evancho, a ten-year old soprano from Pittsburgh has become the newest online sensation after a recent performance at the YouTube edition of “America’s Got Talent”. This is the full clip.

What do you think – are we witnessing a new rising star of the caliber of Susan Boyle, or will it all be a passing fad?

Dream All Day (The Posies) – Compilation Album

Posted on August 9, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

“Dream All Day” Was The Posies’ First Anthology Ever. It Came In The Year 2000, And While It Included All Their Radio Hits It Bypassed Their Independent Years. This Is My Copy, Autographed By Ken Stringfellow When He Come To Uruguay. He Was A True Star And A Gentleman.

Not only did Seattle give us the best grunge music ever in the shape of Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, not only was it the birthplace of Jimi Hendrix, not only did it regale us with the talents of Bill Frisell, the city was actually the home to one of the best alt rock bands of the ‘90s: The Posies.

The band formed in 1986 and it has undergone several transformations and periods of inactivity (they are now about to release a new album – titled “Blood/Candy”, it’s coming out on Rykodisc at the end of September). Its core member have always been Ken Stringfellow and Jon Auer, and I had the immense pleasure (not to mention the honor) of meeting Ken face to face when he played in Uruguay in the summer of 2009. He was such a humble and engaging person that even to this day the friend who accompanied me to the gig can but tell me when we meet and there is a minute of silence “¡Fa! ¡Qué bueno que estuvo lo del Ken!” [¡Man! ¡Ken’s gig was the bee’s knees!].

That day, I was lucky to have him sign my copies of The Posies’ first anthology, “Dream All Day” and what was then his latest album: “Smoking Kills”.

Lindolfo

Smoking Kills

I’d like to tell you a little about “Dream All Day” now. The compilation was released in the year 2000, at a time in which the band was inactive. It did include tracks from their three major label albums (they were signed to DGC, an imprint of Geffen Records). These albums are “Dear 23” (1990), “Frosting On The Beater” (1993) and “Amazing Disgrace” (1996). No tracks were included for the independent albums “Failure” (1988) or “Success” (1998), and the live disc “Alive Before The Iceberg” was also bypassed by the compilers.

What remains is an anthology that has their major radio hits: “Dream All Day” (it hit #4 at the time of its release, when grunge was all the rage), the beautifully-harmonized “Suddenly Mary” and “Golden Blunders”. The latter was not a bondafide hit, but it was covered by Ringo Starr within weeks of being released as a single. Continue reading →

The Melody Master – Learn To Play The Piano By Ear

Posted on August 8, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

Name: The Melody Master
ULR: http://www.themelodymaster.com

There were only two instruments that I ever tried to learn in earnest in my life: the guitar and the piano. In both cases, my mind was made up because those were instruments we had at home. Had it been down to me, I would have gone either for the drums or the bass guitar. And I know it is not late to pick either now, but I no longer have the time and (what’s more important) such a starry-eyed outlook on music to go for it. And today I’m also aware that creating music is not my forte.

Could a site like this one have helped me when I tried to learn the piano? Well, the basic premise is letting you mastering how to play the instrument by ear. Back then, I was absolutely reliant on sheet music. And I think that was my problem. You took the sheet music from me, and that was it.

And I don’t know if this site could have worked out for me or not, but I can tell you for sure that (had it been available back then) I would have loved to at least check it out. It is full of online exercises and games that you can try out, and (on the whole) these will let you learn how to distinguish the intervals between notes, how to memorize the pitch, how different chords are constructed…

The site even includes a beginners game that consists in telling if a given note is higher or lower than the other. That is the first thing you must master when trying to play something by ear. To some (lucky) people, that comes naturally. Others have to work on it to make it grow. Well, this site will let them do it. And at no cost. Continue reading →

5 YouTube Video Channels You Are Sure To Like

Posted on August 7, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

1- La Blogotheque

A fan favorite, La Blogotheque showcases the works of filmmaker Vincent Moon. The Parisian director shoots clips of bands performing all over his hometown. Unusual settings are always favored: the back of cars, rooftops, the bathrooms of hotels… Very cool – check it out.

2- The Alternate Side

Based in New York, The Alternate Side highlights some of the best Indie talent. The station has a full studio where they can recreate their best music to the hilt.

3- SPIN

A bit like MTV’s unplugged, the video channel for SPIN magazine has artists performing in clean spaces. Although it mostly highlights newer bands, established acts are also featured.

Continue reading →

Thunderfingers: The Best Of John Entwistle

Posted on August 6, 2010 by Emilio Pérez Miguel

"Thunderfingers: The Best Of John Entwistle" Gathers Together The Standout Tracks From John's First Five Solo Albums. Special Emphasis Is Placed On "Smash Your Head Against The Wall" (1971) and "Whiste Rhymes" (1972).

Not many would guess it, but the first member of The Who to issue a solo album wasn’t Pete Townshend. It wasn’t even Roger Daltrey. It was no other than John Entwistle, the stolid Ox, the man who anchored the sound of the band onstage to a degree that surpassed anything ever did in the history or music before (or since, for that matter).

The fact that Entwistle was the first band member to put a solo record out is not that surprising if you begin digging into the story of the band. He was “discovered” as a songwriter at the time of the “A Quick One” sessions, when manager Kit Lambert signed everybody to Essex music to get a meaty advance. The terms of the contract necessitated every member of the band write two songs for the forthcoming album, and John came up with the enduring “Boris The Spider” and the hysterical “Whisky Man”. From that point onwards, he would continue honing his skills and providing one or two tracks for each subsequent Who album.

Yet, his songs could never dominate a Who record. His approach differed drastically from Townshend’s. Pete was more of a traditionalist, while John was an absurdist. Had he ever taken the major writing credit for a Who album, the shift in style would have been too abrupt. Only die-hards would have gotten it.

That is why his songs were mostly relegated to B-sides. And album filler. Only one Entwistle song was ever released as a Who A-side, and that was because the album was masterminded by John. The song “Postcard” was the lead single off “Odds & Sods”, The Who’s “official bootleg”. John was asked to compile it while the other members of the band were occupied by film and stage projects.

So, it could be said that his frustration at having his own material relegated time after time gave birth to his solo career. But Keith Moon once remarked something that had more than an inkling of truth: John did not want The Who to record many of his songs. He was afraid they would “ruin” them to some extent. Continue reading →

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