Today is the first day of Super Discount Day at Barnes & Noble (for employees, unfortunately) so I celebrated by purchasing. Bought Anchor Drops by Umphrey's McGee, Bruce Dickinson's new one and “The Quintet” (aka, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, Max Roach & Charlie Mingus) with Jazz at Massey Hall. I'm only into track 5 of Umphrey's, but this is freakin sweet. I saw them back in March and they blew my butt off. I'm really digging this.
Last night Julie and I went with out to The Theatah to see a play. Our friend Dave is one of the actors and last night was the preview show so it was free! We'd never seen Dave act, always in the position of directing or doing lighting. He was great, and so was the play. The theater (http://www.runwaytheatre.com/Runwayhome.h
This thought came to me last Sunday when I was doing the cassette transfers on the Flat Mass stuff, but it was reiterated again last night while doing their unreleased 2nd album of how great they are and how important they were AND are to me as a musician. I 've figured it out…basically, what I'm aiming for musically is what they were doing. Obviously throw in other influences and my own flavor, but in a general sense, that's exactly it. So many of my songs have Flat Mass prints all over them, and yeah I've always sited them as an “influence”, but it's never been so <BOOM> wide open to me that I really want to do *that* music. That vibe, those ideas. Especially in their later stuff…longer songs, improv minimal but good lyrics (at least “interesting” when not always “good”) and a trio situation where the guitar and bass are equal contributors to the music. This isn't an ordinary Trio. They're not like Rush, or Cream or somebody where the bassists (however awesome they are) are still somewhat in traditional roles. Exaggerated traditionality, but still the anchor in a way. Playing all over the neck and doing amazing stuff kinda anchor, but still. Point is, the music that those guys made some 7-13 years ago resonates in me with power and meaning that few groups can muster. I've said this all along, but Flat Mass were THE BEST “small time” band I've ever heard. And that's what I really hear myself doing. Of course, I have to “do” without copying since copying is boring. But I think my material is left-field enough that I can still be me while staying with the spirit (carrying the torch) of that music.
I'm done with my Flat Mass transfers and Dahveed is next. That'll be great stuff to hear on CD.
Umphrey's McGee f'n rocks. Great stuff.
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