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If you think the new Guns & Roses is getting too complicated, check out Paul Gilbert and Freddie Nelson’s United States album as it just rocks your pants off.

(yeah, I’m late).

About a week and a half ago, I was seeing Magma in concert for the second time. The first part was filled by L’Effet Défée which provided us with a strange mix of sounds: Vocals (and samples), Harp (yes, harp!), Bass (with a bow) and noise/hardcored drums (the guy lost a cymbal and broke a stick, it can’t be much hardcore). In the end, it gave a powerful and refreshing mix, with a kind of Björk-meets-Magma result.

Next came Magma. They played a powerful set, although I was a bit disappointed because compared to the previous performance I saw, I thought that the bass and guitar were less overwhelming in their sound and presence. I think the guitar was a bit low in the mix and there was only one real solo. But I still love watching Christian Vander play the drums with ease and at the same time a lot of power (he too lost a cymbal, that wasn’t the night for the drums techs).

This gives me goose bumps. I know anything goes, but I think 2010 might get interesting on this point.

I recently wanted to get a 7-strings, but it appears the ones I chose are out of my range (be it price-wise or stock-wise), so instead, I’ll go look for a new 6-strings (hey, Christmas is coming). The aim of the exercise would be to tune it lower (or more differently) than usual (either in Db/C# or even in NST). So far, my requirements would be:

• NOT a superstrat body (but best if this is not a plain Les Paul copy or a SG;
• lighter and smaller than a Les Paul (and I mean it: not just a Lite LP);
• dual humbuckers (coil splitting a bonus but not required);
• oil/wax neck finish (even though this could be done after);
• NOT inlined tuners (but bonus for locked tuners);
• right arm rest is an ultra-bonus;
• low-mid range price (aka: not cheap but not requiring me to sell my kidneys again);
• either really good looking (but I’m picky) or cheap looking (and it will suffer);
• fixed bridge;

• available from a local dealer.

Currently, my eyes would be on a Godin LG, but I haven’t tested the neck yet. Otherwise a ’72 tele might fit part of the bill, but that would not be exactly my current aim.

[ this is a geeky post, but geeky as guitar-geek, not computer-geek ]

I played the guitar for quite some time now and as a self-taught mostly rock guitar player, I used to play with a pick (or mediator, or plectrum) and unlike what some people may say (Hi Aurélien!), I think the quality of the pick has an influence, maybe on the sound but mostly on the way one plays. My first picks, as far as I remember were either noname ones or from Fender. And one day, about fifteen years ago, while visiting New York, I discovered the Dunlop Tortex picks. I bought some then and maybe a few more a few years later, but I think I haven’t bought any for 5 or 10 years.
My main picks for quite some time were the black (1.35mm) Dunlop Tortex Sharp and blue (1.0mm) Tortex. I tried the same in 1.50mm gauge but found them too heavy for my taste. Anyway, recently, I gave a try to different picks, to see if I should change. Here are my feelings and reviews for the few I have at hand: (more…)

I’m two weeks late telling about it, but I went to a metal concert recently. Once again, I felt that I’m getting old — not that I was tired or anything like this, but seeing how young those guys on stage look, it was a bit disturbing to me. The first band on stage was Amoral, which played good hard rock stuff with plenty of guitar licks. They were soon followed by Before The Dawn which played darker (and lower-tuned) metal. I was a bit afraid at first, because, as I often say, I’m not a great fan of grunt voices, but since they used a mix of voices between the guitar player and the bass player, it worked ok for me in the end.

Later on, Amorphis came on stage and I was a bit unimpressed. The way their music is, regarding the set, it is a bit more dull and soft following some heavier band like Before The Dawn. Furthermore, I was a bit non-plussed at times by the chord changes and the oriental-sounding guitar melodies that were used now and then.

Well, at least the first part was a good experience.

Coming to the place wasn’t a problem, but once there with Guillaume, we were that close to catastrophe, since the weather entered the place and it started raining. Hopefully, we were already at the external gates and covered. I don’t know how it happened, but those gates were already opened. I thought that the time on the ticket was the gate opening time, but apparently today it was the concert start. Anyway, we were on time, and we only had to run for 50m before reaching the Zénith main gates. Funny thing, once we were inside, one of the songs played before was from Amanda Palmer’s solo album, who I discovered with her bandmate of the Dresden Dolls, 4 years ago, opening for Nine Inch Nails, at the same place.

Speaking of opening, soon entered on stage Mew. And almost as usual, I guess, the first part was due to fail and when Trent Reznor says that they sound good live, I call the bullshit police, because the sound engineer butchered the whole thing (or so I hope). The voice was drowned by the synth and the drums were badly mic-ed. And what about those bongos triggering symbals? And I won’t even talk about the bass player and his wireless cowbell. But anyway, I’m not convinced, just by the voice of the singer. Does he use effects to sing higher? At least, that’s how it sounded (and it reminded of feared viking whatever metal). And they play Fender, which is almost as bad. But at times, I couldn’t figure out if the guitar player was changing his guitar in between songs of if it was one and only song. I tried to like it, but I wasn’t convinced there. They played a short set but they came back (unexpected and unwanted by some) for an encore with a long, nice and slow song.

And then… (more…)

Tracy Bonham’s Mother, Mother on voice and distorted cello only.

I usually only make mild comments on the various concerts I attend, but for this one, I’ll add a start-up conclusion: If you have the opportunity to see Danko Jones in a concert near you and if you have nothing against rock n’ roll, then you must go and see how good music looks like, and I mean it.

First and foremost, I also have to admit, that those guys have good taste in music. I mean, it all started with waiting music including Gn’R‘s It’s so Easy, so the night started in a very nice way. First part was assumed by Backyard Babies. I didn’t exactly know what to expect, in fact, but this is an experienced swedish rock band that does its job well: rocking. They look like rock, they sound like rock, so this is a good rock experience.

And then, Danko Jones. Not only the lyrics are often on some kind of good humored tone, but in fact, Danko Jones (the singing guitar player, not just the band) is quite an entertainer, and even though they often chain 2-3 songs one after the other, the guy talks a lot and plays with the crowd (and for the record, I did raise my hand, just not fast and high enough) and the crew. And as this was apparently the last night with the Backyard Babies, there were some pranks going (including air horns for 1-2 songs).

I thought maybe the music (at least the guitars) wasn’t loud enough for my taste, but it rocked all night long and it really was fun and enjoyable to be there.

First part by Candy Clash, a french 70/80’s sounding electro-rock band. Don’t turn away at the myspace sound, it felt much better live, groovy and all. Weird little thing I noted: seems like the bass player played his instrument like one would play the guitar (mostly the way he used and positioned his right hand, but I’m sure I saw him play chords with his left hand).

Next were Fujiya & Miyagi (which is an simple progressive electro-pop english band, as its name implies). Very nice sound, well played even though I wondered for the first songs why they had a drum set on stage while they were using simple drum machine patterns. It turns out that there was a drummer behind the set! But it sounded a bit dull. They played a short set (a bit more than 1 hour, methinks), about half of the songs from the late Lightbulbs album.

Candy Clash, Fujiya & Miyagi: good!
Public: between so-so and just plain bad (not that many people moving around!)

(and it was cold out there afterwards!)