Loving JabbaWockeeZ

Alright, I admit, when my brother and wife introduced me to Randy Jackson Presents America's Best Dance Crew I went in with a little pessimism. I must say, I think I'm pretty hooked. My brother told me to keep an eye out for a group called the JabbaWockeeZ. Sure enough, I'm backing these guys to the bank. Not only can these guys dance but they dance well as a unit. The philosophy behind this masked dance crew is uncanny when you think about it. Individually, each person is a great dancer, but with the anonymity that the masks bring, it creates this adhesion that makes the group reach new heights. No individual is more important than the sum of all the parts. In addition, they are extremely creative when tasks are presented to them and it seems they have a lot of fun when they perform. On top of all that, they're freakin' awesome.



http://youtube.com/watch?v=M9L7exvltPg&feature=PlayList&p=19A8B0219816359B&index=6

Quote of the Week

I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult.
- EB White
I get up every morning thinking about pancakes.
-BassBassDude
Man is a clever animal who behaves like an imbecile.
- Albert Schweitzer
I am looking for a lot of men who have an infinite capacity to not know what can't be done.
- Henry Ford

Quote of the Week

We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing. Action always generates inspiration. Inspiration seldom generates action.
- Frank Tibolt

Get off the couch
- BassBassDude

New Home Announcement

Well,

It's done (pending inspection). I am now a full-fledged home-owner. As exciting as this is right now, this is just the beginning to being in debt for a very long time. Anyway, here's hoping things continue to go well. Here's hoping I keep my mistakes to a minimum when dealing with all things with my new home. Here's to trying to pay off my mortgage.

Cheers.

Quotes of the Week

I am certain there is too much certainty in the world.
- Michael Crichton
No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other.
- Jascha Heifetz
Criticism is prejudice made plausible.
- HL Mencken
No Comment
- BassBassDude

VGL lookback

My brother and I headed out to Video Games Live hosted by Tommy Tallarico of Video Game fame last Saturday night so here's a little insight into my experience.

Clearly, this was an event that understands its audience and delivered in a way in which the experienced video gamer would greatly enjoy. This was a great chance for old gamers like myself to take a trip down video game memory lane and reminisce a time when quarters were the only known currency; two dimes and a nickel would never cut it back then and a working change machine that took your wrinkled dollar bills was a god-send.

Video Games Live (VGL) is a video game production that takes a highly skilled orchestra and pits them into playing a vast number of memorable video game musical compositions while having it synced perfectly to a huge multi-media screen display of video games. Live orchestra playing to video games... live (hence the title). Classic title games that pioneered video gaming (such as Pong and Donkey Kong)to games of the near-future (Starcraft II and Metal Gear Solid 4) plus established franchises of the present (Super Mario Bros, Legend of Zelda, and Final Fantasy) all had its moments to bask in the sun and celebrate the creativity and efforts of all the people that had worked on these games. I'm not one to write a full play-by-play of the performance because I'm sure that there are a lot of videos of these concerts that can be found on youtube. Trust me when I state this, trying to watch any of these videos will give no justice to what a live show can bring. That is to say, the amount of tension, energy and release from live events that keeps an audience on the edge of their seats cannot be contained on a tiny recording device. Although, I have to admit, watching these videos does help reminisce what one was feeling at that time and it also adds a different perspective to where someone else was sitting.

As for those who are video game fringe fans or fell in the category of parent/girlfriend/boyfriend that were dragged out, probably had a relatively pleasant time. Objectively, this was a show that seemed to have had packed in a lot of bells and whistles including a lot of lighting effects and stage "gimmicks" that seemed to be thrown in to try to make the show more appealing. From this perspective, there was no connection to what was being presented and that is why I can see why the enjoyment level was paper-thin. It's hard for any non-gamer to connect to any of this because there is no emotional attachment to a good number of these games. A true gamer that has invested a lot of time and energy into playing these games and discovering these stories and creating emotional attachments to these characters and the universe that they reside, can make that connection and understand what VGL is trying to portray.

As an experienced gamer that was on hiatus for quite some time now, I found VGL to being something that helped me take a bit of time to reflect on my childhood and remember a time where my two biggest worries were where my next save point was or if I would find just one more 1up. But more importantly, it made me remember times with my family and hanging out with them; just being a kid and having fun.

It's funny how music can help make such strong emotional connections even if the music of the time was produced on an 8-bit console. My greatest disappointment of the evening was that I was not able to be one of the double bass players. I had payed close attention to this section as well as to the conductor, Jack Wall. I guess that can be a goal for something down the road. As for my highlight, Martin Leung is a 20-year old pianist that put together medley arrangements for Super Mario Bros, Final Fantasy and a game that I wish I had the pleasure of playing based on the music, Chrono Cross.

Enjoy.

Martin Leung: Chrono Cross


youtube.com/watch?v=hQ4fUhot1bI


Final Fantasy Theme by Martin Leung (Toronto 2008)


www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKKjQn5hSiA&feature=user

Video Games Live

Call it luck, but it looks like I'll be heading to Video Games Live at Massey Hall this Saturday. I may have ruined the complete experience by watching a ton of these videos on-line, but that's okay. I'm sure it will still be fun to watch. I think it would be more fun for me if I were to be part of the orchestra. I await that chance but in the mean time, I'll keep on practicing.



Check it out and enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVHGy9XEF9I

Quote of the Week

The only function of economic forecasting is to make astrology look respectable.
- John Kenneth Galbraith
The only function of long-range weather forecasting is to make people think they need to invest in a snow-blower.
- BassBassDude
Yesterday I was a dog. Today I'm a dog. Tomorrow I'll probably still be a dog. Sigh! There's so little hope for advancement.
- Charles M. Schulz

House Hunting for a bass.

I've come to a point where it is in my best interest to buy a house. This is a big step in a person's financial life. Now, I've been doing a little research here and there to see what's best for me, but it always seems that I keep coming back to one requirement... where will the music room be? Yes, I'm concerned about many other elements of the house (the foundation, the roof, moisture problems, gutters, the basement, number of bedrooms, condition of the bathrooms and kitchen, et al.) but I still would like one room committed to music. It would be nice to have one place away from bedrooms where I can practice without waking the kids; a room where I can practice and create and also invite others to play as well. I guess I'll need to research sound proofing as well.

Powerthirst

While watching Diggnation, I was presented with a commercial that brought me close to tears. Enjoy.



http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qRuNxHqwazs


Pretty extreme stuff.

Quote of the Week

Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend
- Martin Luther King Jr.

You have to love practicing. For the most part, you put in a lot of time and intesity into something that can be extremely frustrating with minimal reward and results. But there will always be that one moment where you achieve an epiphany that makes all that practicing worth while. Keep practicing.
- BassBassDude

Quote of the Week

Illegal aliens have always been a problem in the United States. Ask any Indian.
- Robert Orben
There are two things that will be believed of any man whatsoever, and one of them is that he has taken to drink.
- Booth Tarkington
I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it.
- Mae West
I'm tempted to listen to the Temptations... and other old Motown groups.
- BassBassDude

Flight Of The Conchords

If you ever get a chance, check out...

Flight of the Conchords.



These guys are great and hilarious and have their own show on HBO.

visit:

conchords.co.nz
hbo.com

It's True

There's a saying.

"Where there's smoke, there's fire".

Well in my case, all talks are true, I will be a father once again. Child number 3 is on the way. Me, I'm extremely excited and hopefully, another child that loves music.


Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

A little under the weather... Chrono Trigger

Still sick, and it looks like I'll be like this for a while.

Anyway, during this time of "ailment", I've found a bit of time re-connecting with my video game "roots". Mostly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit systems. I never realized how "catchy" some of the themes were. Anyway, I'm not sure if I ever mentioned this, but in 2006, my bass instructor said that he was going to be in Play! A Video Game Symphony. I found a few clips of the performance and one of the games that was being featured was Chrono Trigger. I can't say that I played this game (although my cousin was a huge fan)but based on the music, I wish I had picked up this label. Anyway, enjoy.



I hope to some day be a part of something similar to Play! or VGL. It's something that I've thought long and hard about since I was in high school (12 years since graduation). More on those thoughts later.

Recap: Scarborough Choral Society

This past weekend was a lot of fun. Many thanks to Judy Scott-Jacobs and the Scarborough Choral Society for having me be a part of the "Sounds Of Christmas 2007" concert. It was a blast playing with many wonderful musicians and I hope to be a part of this concert next year. It's one thing to be a part of an orchestra with good players, but it's icing on the cake when those good players are good people.

Thanks to all who came out to watch.

Please visit www.actco.ca/scarboroughchoral to learn more about the Scarborough Choral Society.

Quote of the Week

So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.
- Peter Drucker

Self-management usually has a co-relation with Self-Control and Reason. In times of sitting in rush-hour traffic, most people, like myself, tend to be lacking in all these categories.
- BassBassDude

Rehearsal

I never realized how much I enjoyed playing in an orchestra.

Last night I had a chance to rehearse with the Scarborough Choral Society in preparation for the Sounds Of Christmas Concert scheduled up at Markham Theatre this Saturday December 8th and Sunday December 9th.

Everything seemed to go pretty well. Like any rehearsal where an orchestra first meets with a choir, there are a few wrinkles that need to be ironed out. Whether it be cues, notes, or entries, come show-time this weekend, everything should be ready to go. Friday's rehearsal up at the theater will help pull everything together; it will also give everyone involved a better feel on what the sound will be.

Here are the details:
Scarborough Choral Society - Sounds Of Christmas Concert
Markham Theatre For The Performing Arts
171 Town Centre Blvd.
Markham, ON, L3R 8G5

Saturday December 8th 3:00 PM
Saturday December 8th 8:00 PM
Sunday December 9th 2:30 PM

Please visit www.markhamtheatre.ca for more info

Hope to see you there.

My Mistake

This will be brief...

I thought I had a rehearsal last night for Judy's Christmas Concert for December 8th & 9th. With that, I hauled me and my bass out to said rehearsal. It turns out, the rehearsal was for the choir; the orchestra rehearsal was the night before. To sum up, in front of a 20-strong choir, I picked up my 6-foot bass and headed home with my chin up and my tail in between my legs. At least there will be another rehearsal before the concert. Hopefully, I won't embarass myself a second time.

Chalk it all up to experience.

Quote of the Week

If men could only know each other, they would neither idolize nor hate.
- Elbert Hubbard
To predict the behavior of ordinary people in advance, you only have to assume that they will always try to escape a disagreeable situation with the smallest possible expenditure of intelligence.
- Friedrich Nietzsche
The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
- Alan Kay
Which came first: Procrastination or the person who invented procrastination. Theoretically, it hasn't been created yet.
- BassBassDude