by Mike Errico | Nov 10, 2011 | So Good
This new Web-toy “automatically generates the perfect* cocktail recipe to accompany any music. * May not actually be perfect.” Hm. 12 oz of vodka and “1000 Miles”… I’m not going to say it hasn’t been done. And I’m not going to say it was wrong. OK. I’m off to have a “The Misfits.”...
by Mike Errico | Nov 9, 2011 | Free, Press, Video
Interesting day, today. I’ll be speaking at a conference, and you can watch it live. My topic: “The Humanization of the Hit Song,” in which I’ll try to explain the relationship between mythology in music and the open-source environment of the Web. It’s a short speech, but I’m always a little edgy when the guitar isn’t in my hand. Here’s the info: Starting today at 9:00 AM EST / 1500 CET the second BrandsConf will be broadcast LIVE from the 92nd Street Y in New York City. Today we will be spending the day exploring “The Humanization of Brands” This event can be seen on UStream over at: http://www.ustream.tv/nyc140conf (subscribe to get notified when we are broadcasting) Hours: BrandsConf will be broadcast from 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST today. This year we have 60+ speakers joining us in New York City at the conference. The hashtag for this conference is: #BrandsConf. I hope you can join in the online discussion about the event. You can track the BrandsConf schedule over at:...
by Mike Errico | Nov 8, 2011 | audio, Free, live shows, Podcast, Wander Away
“Wander Away” producer Ken Rich talks record making, Russian prostitutes, happy marriages, and bad props in one of my all-time favorite films, “Contact.” Also: A spontaneous “You Shook Me All Night Long” with Justin Trawick, Andy Zipf, Sierra Noble, Adam Levy, Matt Simons, Jesse Ruben, John Schmitt, and Christine Hoberg (City Winery, NYC, 10/17/11). Download it for free on iTunes or...
by Mike Errico | Nov 7, 2011 | Video
Still a favorite. “Packing My Bags” from 2007’s ALL IN on Tallboy 7 records. The video is set to “Road Dreams,” directed by Dan Carey. Editing by Brian...
by Mike Errico | Nov 3, 2011 | Press, Wander Away
Multi-instrumentalist/songwriter Matt Beck is the man I have to thank for some amazing moments on “Wander Away.” [Check out my conversation with him on Episode Three of The Mike Errico Podcast]. Beck’s signature guitar tones are culled from years of audio experimentation. “I have somewhere in the realm of 500 guitar pedals. I took over one of my wife’s bookcases with them,” he explains with an unapologetic smile. “Some are very esoteric.” But which pedals are must-haves? And which ones suck? Beck broke down his library of stomp boxes into easy-to-swallow categories: the ones you need, the ones to avoid, the ones that need a lo-o-o-ong break — and the ones to watch. PEDALS YOU NEED 1) Ibanez TS-9 Tube Screamer: #1, top of the line. I have a bunch, some of which are modified by Robert Keeley, who takes out the insides and replaces the capacitors and resistors and … I don’t really understand it, but it sounds fuller. I also use an original TS-808, which is the original Tube Screamer with the much heralded Germanium chip. The original 808 was green, and has the small square button in the middle, but the originals have a hyphen between the “TS” and the “808,” so that’s how you know what you’re looking at. Just a little tidbit. Even if you don’t use it a lot, this pedal is one that you can’t really live without. Classic Recorded Example: Stevie Ray Vaughan — who I think used the TS-9’s — something like “Couldn’t Stand the Weather.” They work great with single coils, and of course, Stevie Ray was a single...
