#locally sourced banjo music

[school-of-banjo]

🪕🎶☀️ Banjo enjoyers plz interact 🌾🧷🪕

Informal bardic school of all things banjo. Tags will likely change to reflect the varieties of banjoposting, and at present are merely suggestions. Will update pinned later.

[ohc-and-the-music-tapes-archive]

Note in Flagpole., 4 February 1998, about Neutral Milk Hotel’s show, with of Montreal and the Music Tapes. [source]

transcript:

Neutral Milk Hotel / Music Tapes / Of Montreal

40 Watt Club

This week will be your last chance to catch Neutral Milk Hotel for a great long while, as they are heading out of town for months to tour the world and elsewhere with the likes of Superchunk, Elf Power arid The Gerbils. Go catch Jeff Mangum and the lads before they either get jailed or make it big. Look for their new album 'In The Aeroplane Over The Sea’ on Autotonic.

On stage first this evening is local band Of Montreal, the vocal-oriented skiffle group that recently released an EP titled The Bird Who Ate The Rabbit's Flower (Kindercore). According to Dottie Alexander of Summer Hymns, Bryan Helium has officially left the band to serve his Elf Powers. Expect a brand-new set list.

Stuck in the middle are the mysterious Music Tapes, an experimental side project featuring banjo/accordion player Julian Koster and drummer Jeremy Barnes (both of Neutral Milk Hotel) and lord knows who else. They've made plans to bang on luggage, on stringed and wind(ed) instruments, and each other. Watch out for a possible “static television” play-along thingy with a film from Jeremy Ayers. Watch out. Watch out. (BL)

[banjofilia]

Boucher Five-String Fretless Banjo

source: Smithsonian, National Museum of American History

This banjo was made by William Boucher, Jr. in Baltimore, Maryland in 1846. It is a Five-String Fretless Banjo, with a wood shell, red painted metal hoop, 6 brackets, and friction pegs. Stamped on back of the neck:

W.BOUCHER.JR BALTIMORE

William Boucher was a drum maker and musical instrument dealer in Baltimore, Maryland. He became the first commercial maker of banjos, perhaps through his association with the celebrated minstrel banjoist Joel Walker Sweeney.

His instruments were important in standardizing the form of the banjo in its transition from a homemade rural instrument to urban commercial manufacture. The basic shape and string arrangement has changed little up to the present day. Boucher’s design copied important features of earlier home-made African American instruments: the skin head, short thumb string and fretless neck. He added a scrolled peghead similar to those used by guitar makers W. Stauffer and C. F. Martin, and replaced the traditional gourd body with a thin, bentwood rim construction with screw-tightening brackets similar to that used for drumheads. Boucher’s innovations were well-adapted to commercial mass-production and urban musical tastes and played a large part in the subsequent worldwide enthusiasm for the banjo.

These commercial “improvements” were never adopted by many traditional rural musicians, who continued to make good sounding instruments that were entirely adequate for their musical needs from locally available materials, at little or no expense.

[unitedstatesofworld]

Wayne Newton Net Worth: A Legendary Career That Built a Fortune

When you think of Las Vegas, a few iconic names come to mind, and one of them is undeniably Wayne Newton. Known as “Mr. Las Vegas,” Newton has been a staple in the entertainment industry for decades. But beyond the glitz and glamor of his performances, fans often wonder about the numbers behind the man. What exactly is Wayne Newton's net worth? How did this legendary entertainer build such an empire? Buckle up as we dive into the life, career, and fortune of Wayne Newton!

Wayne Newton’s Humble Beginnings

Wayne Newton's story begins far from the bright lights of Las Vegas. Born in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1942, Newton developed a love for music at an early age. He learned to play a variety of instruments, including the guitar, piano, and banjo. By the time he was in his teens, he was already performing at local fairs and clubs, alongside his brother Jerry. Their talent didn’t go unnoticed, and soon, the two siblings found themselves performing on national television shows.

Breaking into Vegas

In the late 1950s, Wayne Newton took his first big step toward stardom when he landed a gig in Las Vegas. At just 15 years old, he wowed audiences with his charm, voice, and instrumental prowess. His residency in Vegas quickly became the cornerstone of his career, and as time passed, Newton’s presence on the strip solidified his status as an entertainment icon.

The Rise of Wayne Newton’s Career

Dominating the Las Vegas Scene

Wayne Newton’s name became synonymous with Las Vegas. His performances at various venues, including the famous Stardust Resort and Casino, kept audiences coming back for more. Known for his smooth voice, charisma, and ability to engage the crowd, Newton became an unstoppable force in the entertainment capital of the world.

Over 30,000 live performances: Newton has performed thousands of shows over the span of his career, earning him the title of “Mr. Las Vegas.”

Singing in multiple languages: Newton’s repertoire wasn’t limited to English. He sang in different languages, captivating diverse audiences.

Record-breaking performances: At one point, he was performing up to 40 weeks a year, an intense schedule for any performer.

Music Hits and Popular Songs

Although Newton is best known for his Vegas performances, he has also had several hit songs, with "Danke Schoen" becoming one of his most recognizable tunes. The song was a sensation in the 1960s and remains an essential part of his legacy. Thanks to the song's enduring popularity, Newton has maintained a significant fan base for decades.

Other notable hits include:

“Daddy, Don’t You Walk So Fast”

“Red Roses for a Blue Lady”

“Years”

These songs didn’t just bring him fame—they contributed significantly to his wealth.

Wayne Newton Net Worth: How Much is He Worth?

Now, the burning question: What’s Wayne Newton’s net worth? Over the years, Newton’s career has seen ups and downs, but his dedication to the entertainment industry has kept his wealth fairly robust.

As of 2024, Wayne Newton’s estimated net worth stands at around $50 million. Let’s break down how he amassed this fortune:

Sources of Wealth

Music and Performances:

Newton’s Las Vegas residencies were a major cash cow. With a regular schedule of sold-out shows, his income from performances alone significantly boosted his earnings.

Real Estate:

Newton has made some smart investments in real estate over the years. At one point, he owned the opulent Casa de Shenandoah, a sprawling estate in Las Vegas, which was later opened to the public as a museum. Though he no longer owns the property, it was a vital part of his portfolio for years.

Television Appearances and Endorsements:

Aside from his musical career, Wayne Newton has made countless appearances on television shows and in films, contributing to his financial success. His name became a brand, and endorsements followed, helping to supplement his primary income.

Merchandising:

Like many entertainers, Newton took advantage of merchandise sales during his tours and performances. From CDs to memorabilia, fans were eager to own a piece of “Mr. Las Vegas.”

Financial Challenges

Of course, no career comes without its challenges. Despite his success, Newton has faced financial difficulties, including a highly publicized bankruptcy in the early 1990s. The bankruptcy was linked to a series of poor business decisions and legal battles, but Newton’s resilience pulled him through. His return to the stage and wise investments helped rebuild his fortune.

Wayne Newton’s Legacy and Continued Success

Despite nearing his 80s, Wayne Newton continues to perform and maintain his legendary status in Las Vegas. His long-standing residency at the Flamingo Las Vegas is proof that the public’s love for him hasn’t waned. He is celebrated not only for his voice and charm but also for his relentless work ethic.

Philanthropy and Giving Back

Beyond his career, Wayne Newton has also made a name for himself through philanthropy. He’s been involved in various charitable endeavors, particularly those supporting veterans. Newton’s contributions have earned him recognition as a generous and community-minded individual.

Conclusion

Wayne Newton's journey to a $50 million net worth is nothing short of remarkable. From his humble beginnings in Virginia to his iconic status as “Mr. Las Vegas,” Newton has built a legacy that will continue to inspire generations. His wealth isn’t just a reflection of his success but of his resilience, passion, and ability to adapt in an ever-changing entertainment world. Whether it's his timeless performances or his philanthropic efforts, Wayne Newton’s impact will be felt for years to come.

[banjowarehouse]

Banjos for Sale – A Guide for Finding Your Match

In the world of stringed instruments, few can match the distinctive, soulful sound of a banjo. Finding the right banjo to match your style and preferences is essential when looking for banjo to buy. Whether you're a seasoned player or a novice looking to explore the world of folk and bluegrass music, you’ll need the perfect instrument for your musical journey.

Understanding the Basics

Before exploring the vast array of available banjos, you must understand the basics. Banjos come in 4-string, 5-string, and 6-string models. Each type has its own distinct sound used for different genres. Consider your musical preferences and the style you want to pursue before buying a banjo.

Choosing the Right Type of Banjo

There are three basic banjo types:

4-String Banjos

Ideal for jazz and Dixieland music.

Has a crisp, bright sound.

5-String Banjos

The most common banjo is popular in bluegrass and folk music.

A versatile banjo with a distinct twang.

A great choice for beginners and experienced players.

6-String Banjos

The tuning and playability are much like a guitar.

Perfect for guitarists wanting to discover the banjo's sound.

Where to Find Banjos for Sale

Here’s you can find the best banjos for sale:

Local Music Stores

Visit local music shops to test and feel banjos.

Ask knowledgeable staff for advice.

Online Retailers

Explore reputable online retailers with a wide range of banjos.

Read customer reviews to explore the quality and customer service of the supplier.

Secondhand Markets

Consider buying used banjos from reliable sources. 

Attend music instrument fairs, auctions, or browse online marketplaces for potential deals.

Tips for a Wise Purchase

Here are some tips

Set a Budget: Decide on how much you want to spend before starting your search. Make sure to balance quality and cost.

Playability and Comfort: Test the playability and comfort of the banjo. The neck and strings must suit your playing style.

Brand Reputation: Research reputable banjo brands. Established brands often provide quality instruments with reliable craftsmanship.

Choosing the Best Banjo

Find the perfect banjo for sale can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Still, it is essential that you understand the basics and do your research.

[baliportalnews]

Single Terbaru Bertajuk "Miles Away" Resmi Dirilis Dialog Dini Hari

BALIPORTALNEWS.COM, DENPASAR - Band indie beraliran folk dari Indonesia, Dialog Dini Hari, kembali merilis single terbaru mereka berjudul ‘Miles Away’ dengan konsep aransemen yang lebih ceria, menjadi persembahan terbaru mereka kepada pecinta musik tanah air tahun 2023 ini, Sabtu (15/9/2023). Seperti yang diketahui, Terbentuk sejak 2008, Dialog Dini Hari merupakan band yang muncul dari ide Dadang Pranoto (Navicula), serta Ian Joshua Stevenson dan Mark Liepmann (Kaimsasikun), dalam persiapannya merilis single berbahasa inggris tersebut bekerja sama dengan kolaborator berbakat, termasuk Kristian Dharma yang memainkan bass, Aweng Himawan yang memainkan banjo, dan back vocal dari Jascha Riri, Lyta Lautner, dan Rico Mahesi. “Yang paling menarik adalah petualangan pencarian sound design, proses sketch sudah ada sejak awal, kita lebih fokus ke arranging. Itu saking eksperimen soundnya sampe pake panci segala," ujar Kristian Dharma. Dikenal dengan gaya beraliran blues, folk, dan ballad, mereka telah merilis beberapa album sukses seperti ‘Beranda Taman Hati’ (2009), EP ‘Dialog Dini Hari’ (2010), ‘Tentang Rumahku’ (2014), ‘Parahidup’ (2019) dan terus mempertahankan dedikasi mereka terhadap musik folk mendalam dan bermakna. Menurut mereka, single ‘Miles Away’ adalah pengingat akan pentingnya memulai langkah kecil untuk mencapai tujuan yang jauh lebih besar dan lagu ini yang akan menjadi bagian dari album terbaru, sangat penuh petualangan, dengan talenta-talenta baru yang terlibat. “Ya bisa dibilang ini lagu membuka gerbang pengalaman-pengalaman baru petualangan kami sebagai musisi. Sekaligus membuka jaringan-jaringan baru untuk bekerja sama lebih lanjut kedepan, apapun itu," kata Dadang SH Pranoto. Menjadi sorotan dalam single ini, adalah kolaborasi istimewa dengan Danny Reisch, drummer band Other Lives yang juga telah menjadi mixing engineer untuk artis-artis terkenal seperti Local Natives dan Barns Courtney. Danny memiliki hampir 2 dekade pengalaman production/engineering musik, telah mengikuti lebih dari selusin tur dunia bermain drum untuk Shearwater dan Other Lives dan memegang gelar Bachelor of Music dari Texas State University. Good Danny's adalah ruang kreatif dan studio produser miliknya. “Wow, I like the source file you guys gave me," komentar Danny Reisch atas materi single yang dipersiankan oleh Dialog Dini Hari. Proses rekaman dilakukan di Studio Uma Pohon di Denpasar pada bulan Juni 2023, studio baru yang dibangun oleh Pohon Tua dibantu oleh rekan-rekannya. Kemudian dilanjutkan dengan mixing oleh Danny Reisch di Electric Ear Studio, Los Angeles, CA, dan mastering oleh Max Lorenzen di Rare Ear Studio, Lockhart, TX. Single ini dirilis di bawah label rekaman Rain Dogs Records. (aar/bpn) Read the full article

[weemsbotts]

Britches or Breeches: Scottish Fiddle Tunes

By: Lisa Timmerman, Executive Director

“Leather breeches full of stitches, Old shoes and stockings on-- My wife she kicked me out of bed Because I had my breeches on.”

When the Scottish and Scots-Irish arrived in Virginia, they spread across the state attracted to the different environments and landscapes. While Dumfries certainly experienced an influx of Scottish, immigrants also went to the Appalachian frontier. What excites us is how the immigrants weaved their heritage, experiences, and memories of their homelands into our state. One way we can see the influence is by listening to folk music.

While Parson Weems famously fiddled, he was not the only Scotsman with the taste for this instrument. The fiddle arrived in North America during the 17th century and quickly became popular due to the lightweight and portable nature of the instrument along with its’ versatile tunes. The fiddle provided the perfect atmosphere for joviality, especially among those who faced long and arduous days laboring for basic daily needs, such as food, and the chance to participate in the local economy. Virginia even held fiddle contests in the early 18th century, colonial Americans even seeking experienced indentured and enslaved persons for their performances. Of course, fiddling evolved into its’ own unique style in different Virginia regions, incorporating cultural elements from free black persons, enslaved persons, Italian immigrants, and German immigrants to name a few. Dancing quickly became a part of the fiddle performance along with the banjo, the two instruments gaining popularity in the late 19th century.

(Reed, Henry, Bobbie Thompson, and Katherine B Olson. Henry Reed playing the fiddle, accompanied by Bobbie Thompson of the Hollow Rock String Band on guitar, at the Narrows Virginia Fiddlers Contest, summer. United States Narrows Virginia, 1967. Summer. Photograph. https://www.loc.gov/item/afcreedp.17/)

Famous Virginia fiddler Henry Reed (1884-1968), performed one musical piece that highlights the Scottish and American cultural influences. “Leather Britches” probably evolved from a late 16th century Scottish reel known as Lord MacDonald’s Reel, although Professor Samuel Bayard noted it was either related or connected to popular Irish tunes, such as “Breeches On (The)”, “Irish Lad (The),” “Irish Lad’s a Jolly Boy”, and “O the Breeches Full of Stitches.” Researcher and fiddler Lisa Ornstein collected scant evidence to support this citing a 1879 book referencing breeches and stitches. Once the tune arrived in America, it quickly spread into and past Virginia with interesting changes. First, the title. “Leather Breeches” could refer to the green snap beans dried in their pods. To dry them, people pierced the pod with a needle, stringing them to hang. The other possible meaning is the actual leather garment. Some musicians have noticed that playing the fiddle invokes a similar motion to sewing leather with a needle and thread. These different meanings have also influenced the different ballads. The following are examples of other verses, from both oral and print historical sources:

“Leather breeches, full of stitches, Mammy sewed the buttons on.”

“Leather Breeches full of stitches, Leather Breeches, Leather Breeches; Mammy cut 'em out an' M'daddy sewed an' sewed the stitches.”

Despite some ministers from the 18th century deeming the fiddle as a “devil’s box,” the fiddle and this tune remain popular to this day, especially in fiddling contests performed across America. As with folk tales and folklore, folk music helps retain collective memories and can document the shift in people’s ideologies and tastes. If you ever find yourself at a tavern with a fiddler, listen carefully to the words and melody as you enjoy the vibrant living lore of America.

Note: Ready for more folklore? Join our virtual Weems-Botts Bibliophiles in April where we read short Arthurian Legends and discuss the rich historic and literary history behind them! Click here for your ticket to Camelot.

(Sources: The Library of Congress: Digital Collections: Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier: The Henry Reed Collection: Articles and Essays: The Historical and Cultural Significance of Fiddle Tunes of the Old Frontier, https://www.loc.gov/collections/henry-reed-fiddle-tunes/articles-and-essays/the-historical-and-cultural-significance-of-fiddle-tunes-of-the-old-frontier/; Olson, Ted. 2017. Scottish Culture: Scottish and Scots-Irish Music. The Crooked Road's Mountains of Music Homecoming: The Official Homecoming Guide. 32. http://mtnsofmusic.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/MOMH_ProgramGuide_FINAL-lowres.pdf; The Traditional Tune Archive: The Semantic Index of North American, British, and Irish: Leather Britches, https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Leather_Britches; National Park Service: Blue Ridge: The Fiddle; Craft Revival: Shaping Westwern North Carolina Past and Present, (Project of Hunter Library Digital Initiatives at Western Carolina University, Velde, Patrick. Instruments: Fiddle, https://www.wcu.edu/library/DigitalCollections/CraftRevival/crafts/fiddle.html)

[desertdollranch]

Let’s hear it for the Dusty Mountain Dollies! Unmute to listen to them play.

These girls took the end of summer vacation out with a bang. Last night, they had the honor of performing an outdoor show as part of their town’s summer concert series. Since their debut at a Christmas concert, they’ve become a local favorite! They also have fans from all around the world who have seen and enjoyed their videos. 

Everyone agrees, they’re the best all-girl bluegrass band in town. As always that’s Leanne tearing it up on the fiddle, Sierra setting the banjo on fire, and Jillian giving the razzle dazzle on the guitar. 

Last night was extra special, because they kicked it up a notch by bringing in some guest musicians on a few songs.  

Their new friend Virginia played the bass. This instrument is plucked with the fingers to provide a very deep and low beat. 

And Fernanda played the mandolin, which is like a higher-pitched guitar. Both she and Virginia began learning their instruments after becoming fans of the Dusty Mountain Dollies, so being invited to perform with them was a dream come true for the two of them.

And as always, they brought their lovely singing voices and tight harmonies to each song, in the traditional bluegrass style. 

Congratulations, Dollies, on yet another successful show! 

If you’re new here and want to hear more from them, check out their tagged posts of past performances!

(music source)

[harryhawthorne]

HARRY HAWTHORNE IS → THE GOD PAN         GOD OF SHEPHERDS AND HUNTERS,                        OF MEADOWS AND FORESTS,       MOUNTAIN WILDS AND RUSTIC MUSIC

❋ FULL STATS. BIO. WANTED CONNECTIONS. ❋

❋ basic information

FULL NAME: Harold Oliver Hawthorne III

PREFERRED NAME: Harry, Hazza, Hey Asshole--anything but Harold

AGE + DOB: Thirty-three, November 27, 1988

GENDER + PRONOUNS: Cisgender man, He/Him/His

ORIENTATION: Pansexual, panromantic

HOMETOWN: London, England

CURRENT LOCATION: Magnetic Island

LIVING IN: Rock Rose Park, with roommate Eden Shore

OCCUPATION: Owner of The Golden Lyre

PETS: Stevie (Nicks), 3 year old Australian Shepherd; Dolly (Parton) and Joni (Mitchell), pygmy goats

❋ god of the wild

DEITY: Pan

GOD OF: The wild, shepherds, hunters, meadows, forests, mountain wilds, rustic music, impromptus

POWER TRAIT: An innate talent for picking up musical instruments, particularly woodwinds, and a knack for musical improvisation; a feeling of contentment in the presence of pine trees and a connection to goats and honeybees; slightly enhanced agility in wilderness; the unconscious ability to incite panic when in a strong negative emotional state.

FULL ABILITY: The ability to traverse the most rugged of wilderness landscapes with ease (hardcore parkour, goat boy); commune with and influence woodland & flock animals through music; influence the growth of woodland plants and trees, and induce feelings of panic. As yet unaccessible.

SACRED PLANTS: Pine trees, water reeds, mountain beech

SACRED ANIMALS: Goat, tortoise, honeybees

❋ quick facts

raised in the big city, but it never felt like home

son of an up-and-coming property developer

lost his mother at age nine

theatre kid, professional slacker, all around mischief maker

reluctant graduate of the University of London--just managed to scrape by the grades for a BSc in Business and Management at his father’s insistence, though he spent more time on fun electives

spent the next five years traveling, despite his father’s desire for him to begin working under him

refused to return home even when his father was diagnosed with cancer, because running away from grief is probably a valid life choice, right?

after his father’s death, harry spent the better part of a year dismantling his father’s company, protecting what undeveloped land he could

used his inheritance to move across the world to magnetic island and buy a home and a business

now the owner of The Golden Lyre

simultaneously the life of the party and that guy who keeps asking you if you meditate

plays several instruments

very friendly and open-minded unless you disrespect mother nature and then fuck you, you fucking fuck

always down to share his weed

can be found hiking, rock-climbing, foraging, playing the banjo from the branch of a tree he climbed

largely pescatarian, but will eat meat if he can guarantee it was locally and humanely sourced

[popculturebuffet]

Quick Thoughts: Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl Reveal Trailer and Initial Roster

Whelp I didn’t expect to be doing another one of these so soon but welcome to quick thoughts where I give well quick thoughts on stuff instead of the longer form reviews I usually do. 

So as longtime or even short time readers of this blog might know I love NIck. I don’t review shows from it as often as Disney or Cartoon Network, but it was still a beloved part of my childhood and still makes great shows today such as the Loud House, Harvey Beaks and Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It’s horribly mismanaged, which is why two of those shows are no longer with us and the last of them is weirdly missing from this game, and have a long and storied history of screwing things over.. and i’m not exagerating when Mr. Enter, no matter your opinon of him now, did a whole marathon of every nicktoon almost every entry included the fact the show had been screwed over in some way. 

But as anyone who knows my history with Disney will tell you just because I don’t sugarcoat a brand I like’s fuckups dosen’t mean they aren’t near and dear to me at the same time. I”m a grown up: I can have complex emotions towards a chlidren’s tv network. So I love it’s varied shows some of whom (Avatar, Harvey beaks again, Danny Phantom, Hey Arnold) are among my all time faviorites. 

Now something readers of my blog probably WOUDLN’T know is I love Nintendo, they have their own fuckups like weird release strageies and never doing a remotely decent discount like the competition, but their still a company I love and since I only play handhelds most of the time are my primary source of good shit. So naturally Smash Bros is my faviorite franchise of theres. I love the idea of fighting games but often struggle with the combo heavy nature. So Smash Bros, having a roster of some of my faviorite characters ever, a plaformer style control scheme, and a deceptivley simple style that’s easy to learn and fun to master with the right character, is my shit. Sure I won’t rush out to buy every dlc character, but you better belivie I played the hell out of Ultimate, will likely go back to it again some day, and did buy Banjo and Kazooie because fuck yeah. 

So yeah I needed to talk about Nick making their own smash bros clone. When I heard the rumors I wasn’t sure, mostly because Rumors can be just that.. but nope this game is happening and i’m all on board for it. This isn’t Nick’s first crossover rodeo in recent memory either also making a pair of Kart Racing Games: one I KINDA wanted to play till I looked at the roster, had a good laugh and lost that i want, and the other I really want to play as it seems like the first game if it were you know an actual game with a decent track selection, a deep character roster and an actual love of it’s properties. 

So making their own Smash Bros was a logical step and one i’m here for. We haven’t had any of the big cartoon networks make one since well.. Cartoon Network, and Nick has just a deep a bench to pull from, one that will hopefully get CN to get their cast to throw hands once more. 

For now though the idea of the vast history of nick all throwing hands with each other is amazing. Look i’m honest with myself: this looks like a decent smash clone,functional but nothing specail, but with the expressive character animation and solid roster you need for a game like this. I know going in i’m not going ot get Smash Ultimate quality of brawler, but i’m probably going to have fun with it. 

The only downside I see so far is , like the Kart Racers, theyd idn’t seem to get ANY voice actors for this which smacks of laziness, especially since most of the voice actors for these characters are still active, and in some cases like Spongebob or Loud House are still working with you. So you have no real excuse for this, shame on you.

But yeah the game looks good.. despite the trailer being pretty bad. It’s just some generic music set to “LOOK WHO WE GOT”. And granted look who they got is really spiffy and i’ll be diving into that in a second, but it dosen’t give any of these characters a reall chance to show off how they play or how awesome they are. It’s just a bland montage of whose in the roster in the same 2 or 3 stages. And when you have 15 stages overall to show off that’s not excusable. Again i’m not expecting Smash level quality revelas, this game dosen’t have the marketing budget, but you have a really great concept and roster here, you coudl’ve revealed it better and this game better. The Kart Racers 2 Trailer was also mildly bland but it did show off the game better, showing off several tracks and how VASTLY improved the roster was, so you CAN make a good trailer you just didn’t. It felt like they thought the poitn of all the smash reveals trailers was here’s a character and missed all the style and substance to them. 

That being said while the trailer was weak.. it was boyed by the fact this roster is REALLY damn good. Let’s face it I woudln’t even be talking about this game if the roster wasn’t this minty but they clearly learned from Kart Racers not to half ass it and while they learned the long lessons from Smash in how to promote the fighters they have, they learned the right lessons in having a nice mix of crowd pleasing faviorites for kids and vetrans alike along with a few deep cuts for said longtime fans. And this is JUST the intitial reveal roster: Given the Box Art isn’t out yet, I feel there’s more to come, especially since despite being perfect for the game there’s no one from the Avatarverse yet, but I also feel that Nick is saving that for a second trailer to announce the release date. But I can and will go into who i’d LIKE on the roster in another one of these sometime soon. -

Spongebob, Patrick and Sandy (SpongeBob Squarepants): I’m getting these three out of the way as their essentially to this what Mario and Co were to smash: necessary and inevitible.  As for who was chosen.. it was as obvious as putting spongebob himself int he game. Sponebob is Nick’s mascot, Patrick is nearly as iconic and Sandy is well loved as well as the spongebob character most associated with buttkicking. Being an expert martial artist is both part of her character and a cerntral part of her character and relationship with Spongebob. So yeah not a lot ot say here: it was ineivible but I don’t mind at all having grown up with them and with my niece and nibling being huge fans. 

87 Leo and 87 Mikey (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles): This one i’m mixed on. Not on the turtles being here: i’m a MASSIVE TMNT fan and i’td be stupid to leave them out since Nick Owns them, made the last two series, and they fit this kind of game like a glove, even having had their OWN smash clone to themselves once. 

No my issue is obviously in the version choseN: The 87 turtles. Again I have no beef with the guys themselves, I haven’t seen much of 87 but I want to and they look really gorgeous and nicely cartoony. It’s just a REALLY weird choice. The 87 turtles have never been on a nick network due to rights issues, have never been associated with nick, and aren’t the ones most kids of EITHER DEMO would be familiar with: Grown up fans of nicktoons from the 90′s like myself would be more familiar with 2003, and kids and teens from more recent eras would be more familiar with 2012 and rise, which REALLY should’ve been the rep. I mean their weird shame of rise bothers me enough on a good day but not using EITHER show you actually made bothers me, it bothers me a lot. I’ll still probably play Mikey, i’m not made of stone and as I said I have no beef with the 87 turtles, I just wish nick had used the others or hell just gone all lin and used one turtle from each cartoon. I mean if your going to use stuff you’ve barely aired why not give me some 2003 nostalgia too huh? Though it could just be that since, unlike the rise and 2012 turrtles the 87 turtles have the same body type and colors it was easier to just do all 4 and just give each unique facial expressions. Who knows... I knows it was probably that. 

Lincoln and Lucy Loud (The Loud House, Duh): Another pretty obvious one as The Loud House is currrently nick’s co-flagship show with spongebob. Still waiting for my diffrent world spinoff with Bobby and Lori guys. So yeah Lincoln isn’t a suprise and Lucy is only minorly one as it was a matter of “which sister”... and Lucy is one of the most popular. Neither really fit a combat setting.. but given this is a fun crossover game, that really dosen’t matter and in fact is kind of the fun: taking just the most insane matcchups imaginable and mashing them together. I mean this is a game where Lincoln and Lucy can beat up Leo and Mikey, why wouldn’t I want that kind of crack on my nintendo switch? I am hoping for Luna to make her way to the stage next as she was absent from Kart Racer 2 and would be really fun to play. Plus having ANOTHER bi fighter in the mix if korra gets in there would be awesome, let alone letting the two beat up or punch each other’s face. But again I could and probably will mak ea whole article about other possible fighters i’d want. 

The Plesant Suprises: Nigel Thornberry , Oblina and Powdered Toast Man (Wild Thronberries, Ahhh! Real MOnsters1 and Ren and Stimpy) : Yeah while only one of these cartoons was a faviorite as a kid (Wild Thornberries)... I have nothing but respect for these choices. One of the funnest things about Smash is while you can see some roster members coming sometimes you get utter curveballs like Mr. Game and Watch, Pirana Plant and MInecraft Guy. They also go for more cult franchises like SNK or Earthbound (the latter of which is fucking awesome localize mother 3 already dammit) too among the big heavies, making it feel like a true tapestry of Nintendo’s history. 

Nigel is the only one of these three that’s really obvious. He’s a meme, he was the best part of his show.. but it’s still just uniquely batshit to put NIGEL THRONBERRY in a fighting game. You better belivie he’ll be one of my mains. 

Oblina is more a suprise because I thought they’d go with Icket, but instead went wtih the character who was more popular and had a really unqiue and cool design, so i’m pleased as punch to have her. Finally while I don’t have any real attachment to ren and stimply apart from Log, and really it’s hard to gain any now knowing i’ts creator was a pedophile piece of shit, the franchise is still a cornerstone of nick history, the rest oc the crew didn’t abuse power or not make deadlines or be a com plete piece of shit, and powerded toast man is genuinely great. I”d love to see Really Big Man too, clash of the weird superheroes, I love me a weird as hell superhero. This also speaks promisingly that w���ell get some real weird curveballs to come and i’m here for it. 

The Rest: Helga, Zim, Danny and Reptar. (Hey Arnold, Invader Zim, Danny Phantom and Rugrats! ): Note i’m not lumping these together because their bad: their all graet nostalgic picks from timeless shows and with the rugreboot currently running on Paramount+, it’d be weird not to represent them. 

And since I brought it up reptar is a fun chocie, another oddball but one more understandable as no one wants to beat the shit out of a toddler. Or rather no one playing the game would care you could because it’s a silly fighting game and a 12 and 8 year old are also beat upable, but someone would probably throw a fit somewhere. Plus again it’s a game where you can have danny phantom fight reptar. Shut up and take my money. 

The rest are all great choices if ones I’m not suprised by: Hey Arnold’s an all time classic and being tough is a lot of Helga’s character, and again I can have her throw hands with nigel thornberry, reptar and a ninja turtle in the same match. Zim is another fan faviorite and fits the game like a glove and Danny Phantom is the one out of Nick’s three suprehero classics it actually still cares about so my boy getting in there isn’t a shocker, though his attacks lookw eird. Hopefully they green them up before the final prduct. 

So yeah overall it looks really promsing and really fun and i’ll probably check this game out if I get enough money when it comes out or more likely put it on my christmas list. But I will get it somehow this i swear.. speaking of which put manny in the roster dammit. If you liked this.. thing consider joining my patreon for a buck a month fo exclsuvie reviews and ot help me review tuca and bertie, amphibia and more as part of my memebership drive. 

[terra-fatalis]

Talk about a coincidence!

(Previous post here)

Midgar Blues

It has been said and repeated to death: there's a song dedicated to the "promise" in the Remake, and this should be enough to claim the "coincidence" post and end it here with a good link to enjoy the song.

But this song received some criticisms, so I'd like to talk a bit more about it.

1. "There is no evidence that this song is about Cloud and Tifa" and "It's just a random song in Wall Market without specifical meaning".

I saw some people trying to debate about this matter so, here we are.

The text perfectly describes the scene of the promise and Cloud leaving Nibelheim to join SOLDIER. It talks about a man/boy who left his hometown for Midgar, leaving behind a girl. There's a reference to the Lifestream and to the starry night with falling stars. The lyrics - both English and Japanese - are posted below.

This song has old-time/banjo&harmonica sounds that fit the "old west" atmosphere of Nibelheim.

The "author" of the song says he had started his career 7 years ago, when Cloud and Tifa shared the promise, and he's wondering if "Midgar Blues" will be his greatest success. Get the metaphor.

From a storytelling perspective this is NOT a coincidence: no reasonable company invests money and resources to create this sort of content without a reason (and no reasonable company invests money and resources in a song submissively sang in a hidden location of the game, probably this piece will have more focus and importance in the next parts of Remake when the promise will be brought up again - who knows, maybe at Gold Saucer?).

2. The original Japanese lyrics are different from the English translation (hence: it's not about love)

(Source)

The English version is undoubtly romantic and includes the words "True love", while the Japanese version doesn't. I'd like to point out a couple of considerations:

Whether you take the English version or the Japanese one, they're both romantic. It really doesn't seem to me that the original version sounds like a man singing for his sister or his mother. The romantic subtext is in both songs, and it's no wonder: the fact that Cloud was in love with Tifa at the time of the promise is history, more likely the addition of the "True love" part could be made in order to convince the most relunctant part of the western fandom about this subject.

This is a "Enka" song, a popular Japanese music genre that bears some resemblance with blues (for this reason, "Midgar Blues"). This genre is a form of sentimental ballad: enka songs usually express strong emotions, especially love.

This is more a personal opinion about localization from the perspective of someone who's not a native english speaker. I've read many harsh comments about the English localization of the Remake. Especially when it comes to LTD I've seen people from both sides of the fence complaining the translators to be biased CA or CT fans. Fact is that if the complain comes from both sides probably they're not the first nor the second, they're just...translators. I'm not a translator but I speak many languages and it happenes to me to watch and rewatch movies both in English and in my native language. You'll never find a literal word-by-word translation, ESPECIALLY when it comes to songs. Because it wouldn't work. A good localization has to follow the pace of the lip-sync, has to create rhythm, rhymes and lyricism when it comes to poems and songs, it has to convey the right feeling before the right word, it has to take into account the cultural differences from the country of origin of the movie/song and the receiving audience (in this case Japanese people tend to be more descreet and less explicit than western people when talking about love), and much more. With this I'm not saying everyting in the localization is perfect, I don't speak a word of Japanese so I can't make a comparison myself, but just remember that the devs DO speak English. They speak it well enough to notice the difference between the two texts of the song and if they authorized it (I doubt nobody bothered to double check the international scripts of one of the most important products of this company)...it just means that they agree.

In conclusion, yes, it's a love song about the promise and no, it's NOT a coincidence.

[kingofthewilderwest]

It’s almost been one year since I was walking home, slipped on ice, nearly blacked out, and realized a week later I’d broken a rib (yes, it took me a week to realize it was more than “I have some sore muscles on my torso” because I’m a dumbass).

Instead of going to the doctor, I spent my money on a banjo (with some loving and thoughtful financial support from friends). I figured that spending several hundred dollars for a doctor to say, “Yup. It’s broken. Go rest.” was pointless, whereas buying a magical twangy noise machine would be a lifetime of happiness.

In these last eleven months, I have:

Inadvertently dragged my father into bluegrass music, and have spent afternoons in his home jamming together on guitar and banjo or watching streamed videos of local performers. It’s given us something huge to connect over again, especially since when I was growing up I used to play keyboards in his praise band he was worship pastor for (and I was a bit of a whiny butt about it sometimes... this is like... a second chance to bond together through music on a fresh, clean note).

Inadvertently dragged one of my best friends into the genre and gone together to several bluegrass performances and festivals, some great highlights to the end of 2019 and start of 2020 before COVID and quarantine hit. We’ve started a list of other concerts and groups we want to see once it’s safe again. It’s giving a sense of flavor, adventure, and new experiences into life.

Found HUGELY increased mental stability, energy, happiness, goals, motivation, and hope in life. I bought the banjo because I realized it cut through the constant mental fog and lag I had been suffering for years, and which had been preventing me from successfully doing work, thinking clearly, keeping my home organized, taking care of myself, etc. The banjo’s snapping tone cuts through like the fog doesn’t exist, and drills into my head energy and mental acuity I haven’t felt since, like, 2011 or 2012. Literally every aspect of my life, down to work productivity, has been positively impacted. Now I’m charging off to big life goals I thought were impossible but I believe may now be in reach.

Found the joy in composing music again after five years of lagging, disinterest, and self-doubt. And I had my undergrad in Music Composition.

Tattooed a banjo on my foot as a message of hope to myself (gift from my sister).

Gotten back into regularly reading books, which has been a huge source of finding recreation and relaxation instead of constantly working. Gotten hyperfixated especially on learning about first generation country and bluegrass music. Like, I’ve never been so hungry to learn about a subject before in my life. I’m turning into a walking encyclopedia on shit like Flatt & Scruggs.

Gotten into other related hobbies to flavor up my life! Starting to get into collecting records! Have a bunch of museums, locations, etc. I want to adventure into, too, when it’s good to travel again.

Found rolemodels? Like I’ve almost never had a rolemodel in the music world before.

After nearly a decade of awkwardness, nervousness, or often outright avoidance...... I found a way to bond again with my grandparents, who are into old-time country music. This is especially meaningful as my grandpa will be turning 89 next month and has some health issues; we’re all uncomfortably aware that the time we spend with him now is limited and precious. And I want to make that time count but haven’t known how. Yesterday, I had the most in-depth and content-substantial conversation I’ve had with my grandparents since like... goodness, I don’t even know when.

Yeah. I’d say that buying this magical twangy noise machine has already been one of the best and happiest choices I’ve made.

[pmak2002]

Keith urban fun facts

1. He’s known as being an Australian country music singer, but Keith Urban was actually born in Whangarei, New Zealand. He grew up in Australia.

2. Keith Urban learned to play guitar as a child and began entering local music competitions at a young age, as well as acting in a local theater company. He started performing at country music festivals at age 10.

3. He has an older brother, Shane. As the baby of the family, growing up, Keith’s nickname was “Suburban”.

4. The singer dropped out of high school to pursue his music career at age 15. Today, he supports education and has endorsed the Music Makes Us program, which raises funds to buy musical instruments and other resources for public school music classes.

5. He met his wife of nine years, actress Nicole Kidman, at G’Day LA, an event in Hollywood that celebrates Australians. They started dating six months after meeting, and were married in June 2006 in Sydney, Australia.

6. The couple has two daughters: Sunday Rose and Faith Margaret.

7. Inspiration can come in many forms and can happen anywhere, and Keith Urban is a great example of this! According to sources, he likes writing songs in the shower, and when he needs an energy boost during writing, he likes to order fried pimento cheese sandwiches.

8. In addition to the guitar, he can play a slew of instruments including the bass, drums, piano, ganjo (a six-string banjo), and sitar.

9. Keith Urban is the first New Zealander to win the Country Music Association Male Vocalist of the Year award.

10. He earned $5 million for his stint as a judge on American Idol Season 13 – a paltry sum compared to Jennifer Lopez’s $17.5 million paycheck for the same gig!

[strahd-von-asthmavich]

The Dread Lands of Ravenloft - Mod Van Richten’s New England In-Table Campaign [Session 5]

Session Highlights

What a wonderful impression they’ve made! They’ve done quite a bit to establish themselves in town!

Side Note: Any art that I share of NPCs within these highlight posts is my (Mod Van Richten’s) original and fan art. Any art that I use for my players that wasn’t created by myself but by other artists is kept private and within our friend circle.

Abrascus Barbarian (4) Path of the Ancestral Guardian Race: Tortle Background: Haunted One

Direthorn Rogue (4) Swashbuckler Race: Drow Background: Urchin

Flopsy Barbarian (4) Path of Wild Magic Race: Rabbit Man Background: Experiment

Mangus Monk (4) Way of the Open Hand Race: Half Elf Background: Urchin

Neracahne Wizard (4) School of Evocation Race: Eladrin Background: Noble

Nyra Rogue (4) Phantom Race: Fairy Background: Noble

CW for sexual themes

The events of the day start under the cut.

Out of desperation, Direthorn ran off to try and get more pie. This is when the others decide that now is a good time for lunch. For that, they go to the Blue Water Inn at the center of town. They order food from the owner, and while they do, they meet an interesting individual.

Rudy is a half elf bard with an ornate pan flute around his neck, and he’s playing his lute when they all come into the inn. Flopsy takes interest in him, since he’s been thoroughly convinced that he’s a bard, as well. He insists that he should show Rudy his talent, and he does. Rudy’s reaction isn’t quite what Flopsy expected.

The bard tells him that there can be ways to improve the sound of his music. He can see that he really enjoys playing his banjo, so Rudy wants him to get better. He teaches Flopsy how to play the strings of his banjo using his nails as picks.

Rudy also takes a liking to Ismark, acting flirtatious with him. The feelings seem to be mutual, and Ismark decides to give Mangus another impromptu lesson. This lesson assures Mangus that love and romance doesn’t have to just be between a man and a woman. It can happen between two men, two women, or even people that aren’t necessarily men or women. With that, Ismark decides to talk it up with Rudy after that.

As they’re eating lunch, the group comes up with a game plan as to how they’re going to take care of the coffin shop investigation. Neracahne and Nyra decide that they’re going to go during the day first after lunch. Once they build a good rapport with the coffin maker and can get permission to investigate further, then they would be in great shape. They all agree that this is a great idea. The only one that doesn’t go with them in their group is Ismark, because he decides to stay behind to hang out with Rudy. The party teases him by saying he only wants to stay for the wine, but he’s defensive over that and insists that there’s another reason for him to stay behind.

Going to the coffin shop are Abrascus, Adelaide, Escher, Flopsy, Ireena, Mangus, Neracahne, and Nyra.

When the party gets to the coffin shop, Neracahne and Nyra tell everyone else to “distract the bunny,” because once Flopsy gets inside, their little ruse is over. Using this opportunity, the rest of the party does, indeed, distract Flopsy. Mangus brings up his confusion over the discussion he had with Ismark the night before, and he asks the group what he means by that.

Flopsy is more than happy to give him a more in depth lesson on “the birds and the bees.” Of course, this is from a man’s perspective, and he gets into so much detail that there are hand gestures. Escher is so horrified that he covers Adelaide’s ears so that she couldn’t hear what Flopsy was saying. However, Ireena gets to hear everything. Her response to this awkward talk is, “I don’t think that’s how that works.”

Adelaide looks up at Escher after the talk is over, and tries to ask about one of the gestures that Flopsy made. Her eyes weren’t also covered, after all. Flopsy tells her that he can show her, which hopefully was a bluff. In response, Escher is so furious that he glares at Flopsy. Unfortunately for Escher, he suddenly reveals to Flopsy that he has fangs in the process. Through what Flopsy knows about vampires, he comes to the conclusion that Escher is one.

Flopsy tells Escher that he knows, in a way that won’t rouse too much suspicion. Escher’s a little paranoid and doesn’t want him to tell anyone. There’s a little bit of blackmail involved, however. Flopsy tells Escher that he won’t tell, if he tells him how Flopsy can become a vampire, himself. They agree that they will talk further later on in the day.

Meanwhile…

Neracahne and Nyra are able to get a successful introduction with the coffin shop. Henrik van der Voort is the owner’s name. He has great slogans, such as, “Welcome to my coffin shop. Who died?” in a rather deadpanned voice. They tell him that they’re here to investigate and need to come back at night. Henrik looks a little nervous about that, but he agrees. They’re so nice to him that he complies. Besides, this investigation was initiated by Izek Strazni.

The Baron’s Dinner.

Next on their agenda is having dinner with the Baron. Only the player characters went to dinner, save for Direthorn. Direthorn will be given a sort of “to go” version of what the others had for their meal. There, they meet Vargas’ wife, Lady Lydia Petrovna, and his son, Baronet Victor Vallakovich.

Vargas seems very pleased to be ostentatious with his meal choices for them. They’re given a four-course meal, with the prized course being a uniquely crafted goulash. This stew was used with “locally sourced” venison. The Baron got a special treatment for his plate, for he also had a heart. It was his favorite part of the meal.

The only people that didn’t have the goulash were Victor and Flopsy, who instead had salad.

Flopsy has been sitting beside the Baron’s wife, who’s at the other end of the table. He notices that she’s acting strange, laughing at whatever her husband says and making small talk with the others. She doesn’t quite seem to be fully engaged. So, Flopsy talks to her through napkin notes, asking if she’s happy and if her husband is good to her. She answers “no” to both of those. Flopsy manages to successfully communicate with Neracahne about the situation, and he wants to try and see if he can help her while the Baron doesn’t notice. This will have to be something for a later time, though.

During this course, Abrascus is picking at the meat in his stew, taking it out but eating the rest of it. The Baron questions this, for if he didn’t want the meat then he should’ve just gotten the salad. Abrascus tells him that he didn’t want a salad and just wanted the stew. Vargas seems to be delighted when offering to eat the meat that he didn’t want. However, Abrascus takes this offer to throw the bits of meat at the Baron. Appalled and irritated over that response, Vargas looks like he’s showing restraint when he tells Abrascus, “I really don’t like you.”

Izek during dinner gives Vargas a letter, which seems to be notifying him of what the adventurers are about to investigate. He’s pleased by this, but he tells them that if they don’t figure out what’s disturbing the peace before the festival, then they will be arrested. There’s then a debate between him and Mangus over whether saying “retire” for resting was appropriate or not, and he leaves them with his son.

Now that they are alone, this is when Victor really talks to the adventurers about being from outside of Barovia. He tells them that he wants to leave, and he’s been trying to work on something to help him get out. The magic users (as well as Flopsy) are able to discern that he’s been working on a teleportation circle. Under the guise of wanting to see Lady Lydia, Flopsy agrees to stop by to help. Victor assures them that they will probably be more than welcome to join one of her tea parties, which she throws rather frequently. Victor also tells them that Lady Lydia is his stepmother, and he suspects that she’s unhappy, too. If his own brooding wasn’t anything to go by, the general consensus around the Baron is “not an okay dude.”

After dinner, the party goes back to the Von Holtz manor first. They grab Escher so that he can help them, and then they set out to the coffin shop. Direthorn still has not reunited with the group yet. Despite that, they all continue without them.

First, they debate over how they’re going to go inside the shop. Mangus asks Flopsy to throw him through one of the second-story windows. Flopsy refuses, thinking that Mangus will just hurt himself. Neracahne and Nyra are ready to go through the door. Since Henrik knew that they were coming, the door was unlocked. Abrascus tries to look around on the ground floor, but the search turns up nothing. There are no incriminating things on the ground floor. During this, they also mull over going upstairs.

Escher suddenly tells them all to be quiet, since he hears something. The only one that doesn’t quite hear the conversation is Mangus. They hear Henrik and another mystery voice conversing briefly. Paraphrasing, the conversation goes as follows:

Unknown: “You need to lie low.” Henrik: “Please. They’re onto me. I can’t keep this up!” Unknown: “Lie. Low. Three more days.”

Abrascus leads the way upstairs, blocking the entryway to the other rooms at the stairwell. He corners Henrik, who is startled at seeing him. He claims that there was no one else here with him. And, sure enough, there’s no one else in here with him. However, Flopsy was able to detect schools of magic from downstairs. He tries detecting it up here. He does find six very clear pings of necromancy from different areas of the second floor. Henrik tells them that he has no idea what necromancy even is, but he does look nervous.

The interrogation turns to Escher, for a brief moment. He’s a necromancer, after all. He’s even mentioned that he was in a previous investigation, though they didn’t find anything at that time. However, Escher immediately shuts that theory down. The last time he was here was twenty-two years ago, and a lot can change in twenty-two years. His reasoning takes a little too long for them to accept.

Flopsy has had enough of the meandering, so he decides to take action. He goes to the nearest crate that he sensed necromancy and yanks it open. When he does, out springs a very hungry vampire spawn. When one does, the other six do, as well. When they all come out, Henrik suddenly panics and tries to persuade the spawn. “Stop! It’s not time yet, it’s not time yet!” However, there’s no trying to persuade six hungry vampire spawn when there are many different food sources right in front of them.

[legobiwan]

I was going through your musician tags the other day and wondered which instruments you think The Lineage would possibly play? Let's make that the extended lineage, from Yoda to Ahsoka, including Rael.

Ohhhhh hahahahah first of all, I am so sorry anyone has to deal with my #musicianbullshit although the first thing about being a musician is bullshit, obviously. :D

I had a post a while back concerning my opinions on what instrument Dooku played, but I can’t seem to find it. Damn it, Tumblr!

Anyway, I’m going to assume non-gffa, real-life instruments because there are a lot of instruments in Wookieepedia and without knowing them, their mechanisms, their history, etc. intimately, I can’t make a sound value judgment (ha! that was a pun) as to how they would or would not fit with our favorite lineage.

Yoda: So the first thing we need to take into account with Yoda is his physical stature. He is not a large being, so he’s probably not going to play cello or any other instrument that requires wide breadth of motion. We need a small instrument, handheld and I think the perfect match for Yoda would be the mbira (sometimes referred to as a kalimba or a thumb-piano):

Hand-held, its range is limited, between an octave (8) and 23 tones. But within these limitations, the mbira can be re-tuned to different sonorities, or modes depending on the type affect one wants with the instrument and if one deals in microtones (not half and whole steps, which are the foundation for the Western classical canon but by no means the only tuning system out there), then the permutations get pretty exciting. In addition, using two hands, there are nearly limitless variations for polyrhythm, for instance, playing a duple with the left hand and triplet in the right. (A simple example.) And I think this fits Yoda perfectly because the instrument itself is so self-contained and yet has so many possibilities that belie its appearance, much like Yoda himself, and I think he would enjoy the challenge of creating new music within the physical limitations of the instrument.

Dooku: So I have no idea where that post went with my original Dooku idea, but what do we know about Dooku? A proud man with a strong connection to his Serennian ancestry and someone who is deeply interested in history. He’s a student of Yoda, so his instrument needs to connect in some way to him, but be distinct, aesthetic, and as non-tangible as possible. So in my mind, Dooku would play the hammered dulcimer.

The hammered dulcimer requires a deft hand, accuracy, and an awareness of the heft and location of each strike of the string. In this way, it resembles the finesse of the Makashi form, and I can’t imagine Dooku playing a “messy” instrument that would require him to use his fingers, hands, or even mouth (Force forbid). In this way, he can create, but keep a distance. In addition, the instruments themselves can be works of art, as shown above, which is in keeping with Dooku’s aristocratic bent and his appreciation for high aesthetics. The instrument itself is interesting, in that it is versatile, like Yoda’s mbira, in terms of the tuning and potential for polyrhythm, but with more strings come more possibilities, overwhelming possibilities, at times, and a traditionally Western-tuned dulcimer never quite encompasses the entire chromatic scale (the 12 notes spanning an octave), which somehow seems to fit Dooku. In addition, it’s an instrument with strong ties to folk traditions in Europe and Asia, but also has quite the reputation in Appalachia. This kind of fits with Serenno’s status in the GFFA, an Outer Rim world with strong traditions. The sound is quite haunting, quite beautiful, and I can imagine Dooku by himself in his large office, moon shining through tall transparisteel windows, playing an ancient Serennian folk tune.

Rael: Ohhh, Rael. Down home country-boy from Ringo-Vinda. I may be playing into some stereotypes here, but I really think Rael is suited towards the banjo.

Of course, many of us associate the banjo with the country, with folk music, which seems in keeping with Rael’s background on Ringo-Vinda and his whole “cowboy Jedi” aesthetic. What I also like about Rael and the banjo is that it is portable, it sticks in the string family in keeping with Dooku, and it is a much more complicated instrument than it is sometimes given credit for. The banjo can be an incredibly virtuosic instrument in the right hands, and I would have no doubt that an older Rael wouldn’t mind showing off to a few people in in the local cantina, all while keeping up his “image” as the displaced, country boy Jedi. 

Qui-gon: Qui-gon, on the other hand, doesn’t care about showing off. Because he is the second student of Dooku and had close contact with Rael, I can see him sticking in the string family, but with an instrument both more challenging and more esoteric. I feel like the Erhu would be a good fit for Qui-gon. 

Like Rael, Qui-gon would want to play something more visceral, more involved. The erhu is vaguely reminiscent of a violin or cello except that it has only two strings and a more mellow, almost human-voice than most western string instruments. Capable of great slides a wide range of emotions, the erhu easily flits from somber to gay, an all-encompassing disposition which fits well with Qui-gon’s preoccupation with the Unifying Force and all that lies within. 

Obi-wan: Unlike Qui-gon, Obi-wan has no desire to play a stringed instrument, likely because he once saw his Master with his erhu and decidedly immediately he needed to pick something else. In fact, a young Obi-wan may not have played anything at all. But we know from A Certain Point of View that Obi-wan does carpentry, so he is good with his hands and, I imagine, quite exacting in what he makes as that would seem to fit his personality. And because of this, I think he’d play some sort of flute (I know, I know, but I swear this isn’t self-indulgent nonsense, hang with me here a sec), as he could fashion one for himself easily from wood, or even bamboo. And I like the idea of Obi-wan playing (and making) a shakuhachi as a) it’s very difficult to make a good one and b) the damn instrument is hard to play well. 

There is a long history of breath-meditation in connection with the shakuhachi, not to mention its use by the wandering komusō (“priests of nothingness,” or “emptiness monks”) in Ashikaga Japan, which is very much in line with Obi-wan’s later exile on Tatooine. (Not to mention that some komuso were disguised former samurai and some sources said the bell of the shakuhachi was made thick and heavy enough to be used as a weapon. Again, this feels very much like Obi-wan on Tatooine and I can imagine him whittling away in the Dune Sea, creating some form of this instrument, doing breath meditation as he tries to heal, an outcast monk, now having nothing except his one duty to protect Luke.)

Anakin: Anakin, as we know, grew up a slave on Tatooine. While the cantinas boasted third-rate jizz bands (I will never be over that term), a little slave-boy is not going to have access to any kind of fancy instrument or training. But a little boy’s well-meaning mother might gift him with a small pendant, a piece of desert ceramic, perhaps, with small, weathered holes.

A small, unobtrusive ocarina, sweet little desert sounds for little fingers at the end of a long day. 

Ahsoka: And then finally Ahsoka. She’s an interesting case as she would probably have inherited the wind predilection from Obi-wan and Anakin, but a subset of Togruta were accomplished artisans, so I could see Ahsoka going for an instrument a little more complicated and technical than either Obi-wan or Anakin. And, to be honest, I could see Ahsoka having a “let’s start a band” phase at some point in the Temple. So because of this, I think she would play some iteration of melodica. 

Perhaps a melodica is starter instrument for the Togruta people, as it is in some countries in this galaxy. Easy to pick up, the melodica is at once strident and able to cross multiple musical boundaries, and I can very see Ahsoka accompanying some ribald vod drinking songs with the instrument, much to the delight of Rex and the others.  

[dustedmagazine]

Sam Amidon — S-T (Nonesuch)

Photo by Steve Gullick

The marvelous thing about Sam Amidon is how true he is to his source material, even as he turns it inside out. A scion of VT folk music royalty (if lefty organizations like Bread & Puppets can be said to have royalty), he’s been playing traditional music professionally since his teens. He’s mastered the old-time staples — fiddle, banjo and guitar — and can sing shape note music from the old notations, or he would if he didn’t already know all the songs by heart.

And yet, he’s no museum curator. His songs — which are always other people’s songs — morph in strange, loose, allusive ways, taking on shimmery textures and out-of-body-experience hues. They can sound like krautrock, pulsing towards some far distant, invisible horizon, or like free jazz dreaming between chords or like a radiant drone breakdown. They can sound like church music or a hoedown, too, but are always in the process of dancing loose from history, towards mystery and transcendence.  

Amidon has waited until nine or so albums in to declare one eponymous. It seems to signal that he sees this current collection of work as a full, mature expression of what he was trying to do all along. It is assisted, as the last couple have been, by the wonderful Shahzad Ismaily, who plays bass and a wide assortment of other instruments in a questing, restless, experimental way, but also in the quietest manner possible.

Amidon and Ismaily played a duo show near here a few years ago, setting up their mics in front of a Winnie the Pooh set at a local children’s theater (full disclosure: my son basically lived at this theater from age 11 to 17), and it became clear almost immediately how important Ismaily was. He plays a small number of notes for a maximum amount of impact, raising swathes and clouds of unearthly atmosphere around the forthright melodies that Amidon favors.

For this album, Amidon has also brought in Chris Vatalaro, who has honed polyrhythmic skills in Antibalas, on drums.  You can hear him best in the opening track, “Maggie,” which pulses and rockets along in a way that ought to sound agitated but somehow lands as extraordinarily serene and calm. Sam Gendel, whom you might remember from Tunng, turns up to blow some dreamy, haunted sax on “Spanish Merchant’s Daughter,” transforming its playful wordplay humor into something melancholy and spiritual. Amidon is married to Beth Orton, who sings in airy counterpoint on three songs.

And yet, having broken out all those collaborators, the main force is Amidon himself, who distills traditional music to its essence, then magics it into something else entirely. Consider “Cuckoo,” whose blues-droning melody has been covered a million times. Amidon jacks it up on a glitchy, tetchy rhythm, percolating with banjo and rattling with multilayered scratched and tonal percussion. It feels like Appalachia dancing to Tony Allen, deep country and blues in it, but also a strangeness.  

Amidon mostly plays traditional tunes, but one cover is more recent, the fog-drifting, night run of Taj Mahal’s “Light Rain Blues.” (You can play the video at the top of the page.) The banjo cadence is steady and undemonstrative, the sung lines drawn out like mournful train whistles, but there’s something wonderful building underneath, a surge of bubbling electronic sounds and guitar harmonics that lift this song out of its all-natural origins into revelation. This is not your parents’ contradance music or your cool older brother’s free improvisation or even your cousin’s slightly over-ripe New Weird Americana, but something else entirely.  Amidon learned the old tunes by heart so he could stretch and cut and distort and juxtapose the pieces to make music that resonates and expands.

Jennifer Kelly