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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
 Posted - 03/09/2006 : 10:03:33 AM
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What a night!
The place was packed, all tables were filled and they had to bring in a bunch of chairs and scatter them around.
Even then, some folks ended up standing most of the night. (so we achieved SRO status)
Good energy too, all the peformances were great fun, including an amazing peformance by PearlCityBoy's sons on Hawaiian Roller Coaster with some hot kazoo licks!
(Hmmm... maybe licks isn't the right word)
It was the best night yet for the South Bay Hawaiian Open Mic.
Also thanks to RJS to getting the whole thing started now that he is "slipping into retirement".
Hope that does not mean he will not show up and play for us too.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/09/2006 10:59:21 AM |
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`Ilio Nui
`Olu`olu
USA
826 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 3:46:30 PM
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Lawerence,
I couldn't agree with you more. What a great night of music. I hope Raymond is as proud as we are of him. Mahalo.
Also, malalo nuis to you for jumping in and taking care of the engineering. You were put through your paces last night and it came off without a hitch.
To everyone who was there, Great Job. I will start a post in a couple days regarding next month's Open Mic. So far, we'll still be at EG through the transition to a new owner. I will be talking to him very soon.
What a wonderful `ohana
Dave |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 6:13:36 PM
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Absolutely fantastic event.
Damn, we're getting good.
I especially like the fact that we are getting more and more "audience members" not affiliated with taropatch. We had about 40 audience in addition to the performers by my count, at the peak.
Lawrence, you've done a marvelous job at the sound board, and you handled yesterdays "crowd scenes" with grace and skill. (For those who weren't there, at one point we had 3 guitars, bass and steel, and vocal. I think that's right. And since each perform,er/group had 15 min for set-up and playing, it was quite an accomplishment to get those guys up and running. (Even if I did give them some extra time)
And Dave, thanks for stepping up to coordinate. My original intent was to get things off the ground and stabile, probably about a year, and let someone else take over. Seems like a good time right now, even if i little early. Dave, I know you'll continue to "shephard" the event.
Lawrence, to address your remark. There are some things happening in my life that a putting me into overload now. Also, there are three things I want to do on guitar that will take time and are not directly slack related. (1. I'm beginning some concentrated work with a classical guitarist to concentrate on mechanics and tone production. Lots of time with excercises and the like - at least we're going to use some more interesting excercises written by Brouwer than the usual Sor and Guiliani stuff. 2. I'm preparing a cd for my mom's 85 th birthday in May - Polish music and 3) I'm working on a Suite inspired by George Rouault's graphic series "Miserere." For a guy who says he's overloaded - that's a crazy workload. I'm just not going to have the time or energy it takes to prepare even 1 piece a month for performance for a few months. Also for sure I'll miss May 'cause I'll be in Chicago. So for a while, I get to enjoy being "audience," and I am looking forward to that.
Dave,
Proud wasn't the word for it. South Bay Open Mic is turning out to be so much more ythan I ever imagined. And that's because of the quality of performance and the atmosphere of aloha. |
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Kiwini
Lokahi
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/09/2006 : 9:05:39 PM
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Raymond, I have learned an immense amount ever since I started attending and participating. I still have to learn how to apply it all but I am further down the road than I would have been had it not been for your commitment. Please accept my heartfelt mahalo's. I'll always have the last raffle by RJS to commemorate the end of a great ride. And for all of your hard work, you can bask in the knowledge that you have contributed to the perpetuation of an art, symbolized by a wonderful performance by Dougs keikis, Pono and Brandon.
Thanks Lawrence for making us all sound good. I pray you aren't going to stop doing what you do so well. You are as reliable as the sun and the moon and I hope I speak for all when I say "Thanks a million".
Dave, Thanks for stepping in. I know the program will continue to be in good hands and I look forward to being a part of that. I'll support you in any way that I can.
Thanks to the Espresso Gardens for all of your support. Thanks to all my fellow o'hana, for sharing your talents, thanks to the ever growing audience that comes out every month to listen to us, and thanks to Auntie Magdalena, Bobby, Jesse and the whole Sun Jose O'hana for your support as well.
Mahalo Nui Loa,
Steve |
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 08:15:57 AM
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Steve, thanks.
I have very much enjoyed listening to you play. (And you certainly don't stick to just the "easy" pieces.) |
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ArtSap
Lokahi
USA
267 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 08:28:36 AM
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| Yet again another successful evening highlighted by wonderful music and singing by all the participants. This was the 5th or 6th time I've attended the SJ open mike and I just have to say it again, the individual performances just continue to get better and better and the talent pool deeper and deeper. This time around we were graced with the steel guitar stylings of Uncle Charlie St. Germain, a performance by the local groups "Na Leo Pumehana" and the "PearlCityBoyz + One" . Steve (Kiwini) touched on it when he said, "...my fellow ohana", and I'd like to say mahalo nui loa for allowing me to become a part of it. Looking forward for the SJ open mike to continue, hopefully at the Espresso Garden. Hana hou! |
Art
SF Bay Area, CA / Mililani, HI
"The real music comes from within you - not from the instrument" |
Edited by - ArtSap on 03/10/2006 10:57:29 AM |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 09:10:42 AM
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quote:
Lawrence, you've done a marvelous job at the sound board, and you handled yesterdays "crowd scenes" with grace and skill.
Thanks for the Thanks but Don't forget Paul!!... He handled the mixer for half the night and he was on the board when "the big band" needing nine channels went on. Even another D.I. box had to be dug out. Of course, I jumped in to help with the hookup and speed things up. quote:
I pray you aren't going to stop doing what you do so well.
This brings up another point, we need more than one or two people who can hook things up and run the board. I will not neccessarily be there every time and I will also want to take a vacation (and become an audience member) from time to time! Most of the musician's who show up (and this means you) are capable of running the mixer and hooking things up. You just need to be shown the unique characteristics of that particular system and you are ready to roll. We also need more self-gripping by the performers (i.e. - you should know how to plug yourself in and also how to adjust your mic stands).
So I need some volunteers to come forward for this before the next event (and who will show up a little early to be shown how the system works)!
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/10/2006 09:36:51 AM |
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Kiwini
Lokahi
USA
203 Posts |
Posted - 03/10/2006 : 3:50:41 PM
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Paul if your out there, Mahalo nui! Count me in El Lorenzo de Onda Sonora! I'd love to learn to run the mixer. The fact that it's one of the best seats in the house has nothing to do with my decision! What time shall I be there?
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Me Ke Aloha,
Steve |
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PearlCityBoy
Lokahi
USA
432 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2006 : 07:26:41 AM
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I totally agree with the above comments. Last Wednesday night was the best open mic yet—and I was only able to see half have of it. Boy was it packed. We arrived at 6:35P, 40 minutes before the first performance, and most of the tables were already filled.
Mahalo to all of you for welcoming my two boys, Brandon (5th grade) and Pono (1st grade), to the open mic. It was the first time our ohana performed together publicly, and we couldn’t have picked a better venue and audience. Bruddah Sil, thank you for backing us up in your F Wahine tuning and coming over to our house earlier in the day to learn our arrangements. Raymond and Dave, mahalo for graciously squeezing us in. Kiwini, thank you for acknowledging us in the middle of your set, as we had to leave early because of the school night. The boys were so pumped up by the applause that instead of sleeping on the way back, they were talking the whole way.
I debated whether to go to the open mic at all, since I knew I had to watch the boys and would have to bring them on a school night. Because Wednesday may have been our aloha night at Espresso Garden, due to the pending sale, I really wanted to go and give my support and aloha to everyone involved, especially Raymond. Thank you for spearheading everything this past year. I have learned a great deal and my confidence and playing have gotten much better because of the live experience. I still remember the first EG open mic, where I was one of four acts and there were only three or four folks in the audience, maybe seven if we counted the kitchen help. Based on the packed house and the full slate of talented performers, we sure have come a long way. It’s now The Place to go for backyard, ohana-style Hawaiian music.
I want to echo the others’ acknowledgement of Espresso Garden’s owners and staff, the folks at Sun Jose Hawaii who have graciously donated gift certificates every month, Lawrence and Paul for your awesome handling of the sound system, and Dave for carrying the torch from Raymond. Mahalo to all of you! I’m hoping we can continue at Espresso Garden, but if not, we had an excellent run and I’m grateful for the opportunity to perform there. Whatever the venue, let’s keep these open mics going.
Aloha,
Doug
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RJS
Ha`aha`a
1635 Posts |
Posted - 03/12/2006 : 09:24:27 AM
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Doug,
I just noted that I had not previously made mention of your sons singing. I thought you bringing the kids was tremendous - and really a big thing to travel so far on a school night. So much good energy. And ... we owe it to both the keiki and our music to foster the next generation. I'm so glad the kids were pumped up by the experience.
Mahalo nui |
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 07:36:43 AM
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Thanks for stepping up as a volunteer, Kiwini!
Now we need at least one more volunteer.
quote:
What time shall I be there?
If the thing starts at 7:15 (as before) then the whole sound system needs to be checked out at ready to go by 7:00. In order to be shown how the whole thing works you would need to show up another 1/2 hour sooner, 6:30 at the latest.
In order to prepare for the lesson, please read the following stuff (in the order given):
1) The Wikipedia introduction to mixing consoles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mixing_console
2) Download and read the Mackie CR1604VLZ users' manual (this is the most common small mixer encountered and one of the easiest to read manuals) Clicking on this link will directly download the manual (2.79 megabytes):
http://www.mackie.com/pdf/1604vlzpro_om.pdf
3) Download the and read the Manual for the Allen & Heath Mixer that Expresso has (this manual is not as well written and is somewhat confusing to read - but reading the previous material will help you understand it.) Got to this page:
http://www.allen-heath.com/US/DisplayProduct.asp?pview=49
scroll down and click on the link to download the user guide (4.4 Mb).
(It may take a while)
Don't worry about understanding every sentence in these manuals, just get as familiar with them as you can. Bring a copy of the A&H manual with you the next time we gather at Expresso (hopefully).
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/13/2006 08:22:52 AM |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 08:54:28 AM
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Kiwini -
You *will* be tested. And NO multiple choice questions either; just essays. That's what the extra half hour is for. Passing Grade is 75% with Style Points (the 1604vlzpro manual - the easiest - has Hookup, Signal Flow, Block and Gain Structure diagrams; reproducing them are what the Style Points are for). Neatness counts. Number 2 pencils only.
Sample Question:
Contrast and compare the Mute/Alt 3-4 signal routing with Main Out.
Extra credit: Who is Greg and why did he reason "Gee what a waste...why route into oblivion"?
Good Night and Good Luck,
Reid
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 10:02:40 AM
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Don't let Reid scare you, it is not as hard as it seems.
quote:
Contrast and compare the Mute/Alt 3-4 signal routing with Main Out.
Actually, I was thinking of asking: "Contrast and compare the Mute/Alt 3-4 signal with a Cretaceous Coelacanth." 
and for extra points: "On Raymonds last day as sound man, what knob did he mistakenly reach for?"
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/13/2006 10:05:39 AM |
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Reid
Ha`aha`a
Andorra
1526 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 11:11:47 AM
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No, no, no. I didn't mean to scare anyone.
The syllabus (and it is a syllabus) for learning that you gave, Lawrence, was precisely what anyone doing this would find useful, even essential. I wish I had the priviledge of being taught what Kiwini will learn from you.
The syllabus was presented in such a straight-forward, academic, deadpan manner that I just fell out laughing. I have written such assignments when I was a Teaching Fellow (and have seen the looks of dismay on the faces of my victims, the students).
I especially loved "Now we need at least one more volunteer." I instantly supposed it was a requirement for the moment when the first volunteer was overcome by the enormity of the task, expired, and a substitute was needed.
Just my warped view, I guess.
...Reid
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Lawrence
Ha`aha`a
USA
1597 Posts |
Posted - 03/13/2006 : 11:38:03 AM
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quote:
I especially loved "Now we need at least one more volunteer."
Well... that was in case Kiwini is shot by the band when he reaches for the same knob queried in the extra points question hereinabove.
I too, taught at university (UCLA) for a short time , where I taught audio technology to music school students. Any resemblance of this teaching to that of prior work is merely coincidental.
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Mahope Kākou...
...El Lorenzo de Ondas Sonoras |
Edited by - Lawrence on 03/13/2006 1:42:36 PM |
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