Category: helloMike

RPM Challenge 2009: The Song Graveyard

In the last week I’ve refreshed some interest in a few song ideas I had either started and aborted or just had rattling around but never committed to working on. Here is a progress report on what I’ve got so far:

This Is A Fire (v2d) — This song still needs major refinement of lyrics and better melodies, but I think I like where it’s vaguely pointing to: simple electronic background music and sequenced drums and not much else.

“This Is A Fire” v2d by Mike Katzif
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/hellomusic_mike/ThisIsAFire_v2d.mp3]

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Yellow Matter (v3a) — Sunday night I did write some lyrics for this song and track an attempt at a melody and vocal harmonies here, but really found it loathsome to listen to after the fact. So back to the drawing board, yet with some lessons learned and ideas on how to fix later on. Otherwise I really like the music to this, with an amazing assist on the great cello arrangements by my friend and fellow NPR type, Thomas Pierce.

“Yellow Matter” v3a by Mike Katzif
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/hellomusic_mike/YellowMatter_v3a_novox.mp3]

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Half Awake (v3b) — This is a song that I started a couple days before February but including here still. Not much progress here in terms of those elusive 2nd and 3rd verses. But its getting there and ready to move on once those are tracked.

“Half Awake” v3b by Mike Katzif
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/hellomusic_mike/HalfAwake_v3b.mp3]

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White Walls v2a — Here is an instrumental thing I started on that basically repeats over and over again, but could be fodder for some lyrics. Now with drums by Aryn.

“White Walls” v2a by Mike Katzif
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/hellomusic_mike/WhiteWalls_v2a.mp3]

That’s all for now… stay tuned.

How To Win a Grammy in Five Easy Steps

In light of last night’s entirely bland, though harmless Grammy telecast, I think now is as good a time as any to post this helpful guide. I call this “The Santana Model” (although also applies to MANY other formerly great artists):

1) Become exciting young musician or band well ahead of your time and release a promising debut record everyone loves.

2) Beat the hype: The next string of 2-3 albums should be better than the first; Critics and fans alike will deem classic, but your artistic success is largely ignored by mainstream.

3) Release a succession of albums to diminishing returns that lower the bar each time out. This music will always be compared to your early work.

4) Bottom out with an ill-conceived stinker intended to grab the mainstream’s attention; have everyone write you off as a has-been, sell out or out of touch.

5) After a few years of exile, make a safe and mostly enjoyable album that hardly captures the spirit of original artistic peak, but sturdy enough to not be terrible. These usually include duets or collaborations with newer artists or a top line producer to ensure relevancy to younger generation. People will consider this a genuine comeback and award your return with the Grammy award you deserved the first time around when the voters snubbed you.

RINSE, REPEAT…

TV Watching: Steve Martin on SNL

Steve Martin’s recent hosting on Saturday Night Live this past Saturday was had many strong bright spots: he was part of quite a few great sketches including a new installment of Laser Cats, and this piece below — a spoof of NFL Films documentaries.

This is one of the more original and hilariously brilliant SNL pieces I’ve seen in quite awhile. So great.

RPM Challenge 2009: Half Awake

Back in 2007, Hello Come In (Aryn, Greg and I) took part in the RPM Challenge which asks people to spend the month of February (28 days) writing and recording an entire album of music — 10 songs or 35 minutes of music whichever comes first. That album also served as the second EP in our year-long project to record a short EP of original music each and every month.

After laying low musically for nearly all of 2008, I’ve decided to undertake the challenge again this year. Today was the first day of the official challenge. To commemorate day one, I offer a song that I actually began writing last week or so, but hadn’t finished.

Here is where I am right now:

“Half Awake v3a” by Mike Katzif
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/hellomusic_mike/Half Awake v3a.mp3]

I’m not totally thrilled with the mix (much to muddy for my taste), and I plan to add verses 2 and 3 once I finalize the vocals, but otherwise, happy with how it’s coming together. Stay tuned for the next 27 days for more updates and songs to hear.

NPR Song Of The Day: Crystal Stilts, ‘The Dazzled’

Crystal Stilts, Alight Of Night
Crystal Stilts, Alight Of Night

There’s another Song of the Day essay: Crystal Stilts’ songs “The Dazzled” from Alight Of Night. Faithful readers might remember my post awhile back about lesser known 1960s group The Seeds, who I discovered while researching another band. This was the group. To read the full review and hear the song click here!

Continue reading NPR Song Of The Day: Crystal Stilts, ‘The Dazzled’

‘We Are One’ Concert at Lincoln Memorial

Standing at the Lincoln Memorial waiting for the big concert to start. Quite crowded already.

645pm: Just got back from the all-day concert event. I was hoping to update this more in real time, but my phone was jammed pretty much all day — no texts, no internet, no calls — due to the amount of people I’d guess.

I would estimate there were a few hundred thousand people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial, down the length of the Reflecting Pool, and all the way up past the WWII Memorial and to the Washington Monument… but hard to judge and get the scope of it all when you’re a tiny speck in a sea of people. It was cold, but not overly freezing when packed in relatively tightly near all those people and when you’re rocking a sweet pair of Marmot capiline long underwear.

All in all, it was a pretty well run, show full of celebrity readings and rock stars playing well known songs. Quite mainstream acts for sure, but hard to deny the power of seeing U2 or Stevie Wonder or Bruce Springsteen or even Beyonce. There were also a lot of interesting pairings: Betty LaVette with Jon Bon Jovi, Herbie Hancock with will.i.am. and Sheryl Crow; Wonder with Usher and Shakira; Springsteen with Pete Seeger. Other acts included John Mellencamp, John Legend, James Taylor, Mary J. Blige.

Anyway, it was a cool thing to be a part of — to say one day ‘I was there;’ doesn’t happen very often. And then long after all the celebrities did their readings, President (elect) Obama came out do do a concise but moving speech. After all this time in the last few years of hearing him speak on television, there is something incredible about being there in person to hear him.

On a day filled with honoring Martin Luther King Jr., Abraham Lincoln and Rosa Parks, aned especially in those historical surroundings where MLKJr. delivered his most memorable speech and in the shadow of Lincoln, it was hard not to get caught up in the epic moment.

Tuesday looks to have even more crazy crowds, cold weather and long lines, but if Obama’s official Inaugural Address is anything like today’s speech, it should be well worth it.

I will be adding some more (crapy) photos I took today on our Flickr page, but until then here are a few places to find more:

Read a fuller description on NYTimes and see a photo gallery.

More from NYTimes’ Caucus blog. And another about the crazy Obama market that opened up all along 17th street.

See a photo gallery from NPR.

See the PIC Flickr photo stream and live blog.

HBO looks like it might be offering chances to stream the event on their site.

Embracing The Chaos: Inauguration Edition

In a few days this area around the Capitol Building, and the many miles right in front, lining the National Mall will be jam packed with freakshows trying to catch a glimpse of something resembling a transcendent moment of hope.
In a few days this area around the Capitol Building, and the many miles right in front, lining the National Mall will be jam packed with freakshows trying to catch a glimpse of something resembling a transcendent moment of hope.

This weekend and early next week here in DC are going to be chock full of celebrities, politicians, media folks and musicians all celebrating the historic inauguration of Barack Obama. Nearly EVERY entity in the world it seems has written all about the insane crowds pouring in, the impending sub-human cold weather expected, what events and balls (official and unofficial) are going down, who will be here, and how to cash in on the chaos*.

*Me? I’ve decided to sell my Special Limited Edition Inauguration Commemorative Collector’s Item “O”-shaped Doughnuts… for ONLY $29.99! Or $34.99 with ‘Hope Jelly.’

Unfortunately I find myself without official tickets to the event itself or any of the surrounding balls, which the more I think about it, is cool with me. I myself have really two plans for the long weekend: attempt to mosey up to the free We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration (and webcast on NPR) concert Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial (though with the crowds, it’s basically at the National Mall wherever you can find a spot), and fighting the other freakshows who on Tuesday who decided to brave the cold to watch the Inauguration on giant screens outside.

The PIC website confirms the lineup for the Sunday concert as the following:

Musical performers scheduled for the event include Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, Bono, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, and Stevie Wonder. Among those reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington.

While full of heavy hitters of the music industry, this list is a pretty mainstream offering of artists, likely intended to please everyone…Though it might be cool to catch a few songs from Bono or Springsteen or Stevie Wonder — they are legends afterall. At least want to shoot a few photographs.

So beyond that, it will be a weekend filled with some random parties, get-togethers, walking in the cold and wondering what else is going on that I’m missing (involving Jay Z, Beyonce or Oprah likely):

For some of the music events going on check here at DCist.

For a break down at various other balls and such check here on NYTimes’ Caucus blog.

I will be trying to shoot photos and use my iPhone to upload and live blog photos here as they come in and when the event warrants such a hope-filled time capsule. Stay tuned citizens…

Best Song I’ve Heard All Day: Wintery But Warm Edition

Papercuts

(part 512 in a 1001 part series)

This morning while walking to work, a particularly dreary and cold day in Washington, a great new song by Papercuts caught my ear — “You Can Have What You Want” from the upcoming album of the same name. This new record was recorded with no computers and with all analog gear and you can hear it in the warm retro atmosphere. It’s a bit mopey, but quite nice for a wintery album.

2009 already has quite a few great albums out, so this is a nice addition. You can read what I thought of the previous Papercuts album here.

“You Can Have What You Want” by Papercuts
[audio:https://hellocomein.com/soundbox/HelloShuffle/bestsongallday/Papercuts_YouCanHaveWhatYouWant.mp3]