Here at the PW Blogsite, there’s I hear alot of talk talk talk about back to music of various kinds (drag, queen, the assortment decade styles). Okay. All is well and good. But! What we need more of is talk ABOUT the music, the nuts and bolts of it.
What you didn’t know porbably about me is can be summed up thusly: I, Witheld, am a music guy. I eat music for breakfast, lunch and dinner, midnight snack. If was English I would drink it for tea. I breath music in through my nostrils, and I sweat it from my glands. Yeah, right, I’m real sure, whatever I can probably hear you saying yourself. Okay, let me inlighten you. Just a few couple of fun Witheld music factoids:
1. I was one of the first guys to NOT like Dave Matthews. I heard him do a cover of Bob Marley “Redemption Songs (Is All I Ever Had)” once time at Free Pizza Night in the early EARLY 90’s and my reaction was like “ehhh” (the not impressed noise). Now that people are all like “Dave Who?” I’m like “Exactly.” What I was trying to say way back then. (Should of listend to me.)
2. One time I was backstage sparking a little Sacajawea, and coughed a little by an accident, causing to pop up out of the pipe and fall dangerously into the folds of poofy shirt which it promtly caught on fire. Whoomph! I was lit up light Ohio Blue Tip in a sandpaper factory. Who should it be? But noone other than Trey Anastasio (the Phish guy) tackled me and rolled me to the ground saving my life. Not alot of people can claim that. (Don’t do drugs, kids, BWT. The mistakes I made.)
Now that my bonefides are all laid out here is what I have come to say. Production values is what missing from todays society (of music).
Back in my days, we had them. And you what is the problem? Spoiled with fancy stereos. In the old days the way if your record was any good was you listened to it— not on iPod, not on a fancy stereo— but the least common deneminator you could of found.
For example, we used to take the rough mixes and run them through a Mr. Microphone (“Hey, good-lookin’. I’ll be back later to pick you up.”). Then we’d tune into to a shower radio, actually get the band in the shower (we kept on bathing suits, not a gay sex thing), turn on the water up to a high blast, and just listen with are ears. Does it sound good with the water? How’s the mix? Can you hear enough bass? That is what your aiming for. (This was a fun to unwind after a day in the studio too. 
Lots of giggles.)
Another one is to listen while your eating something crunchy. M&M’s are a good for this. (Not so much for me since South Beach, but almonds make a good sustitute if your watching your carbs.)
Another is, does it sound good if its not in your car, but in someone’s else’s car, beside you in the stoplight. Because think about it. Your object is to sell records/tapes. If its in your car, then its a fate accomplie, congraduations and cash that royalties check. But the real selling factor is when you hear it through the open window of the other car, and you think, “What is that great sound. I want that in my car.” So you would send the drummer in his car the the rough mixes tape, (bonus points if it was a gravle road), pull up along beside him at the red light, and just…. listen. Okay, take a mouthful of funyuns, and listen again. Honk the horn. Sometimes it was spot on, and sometimes it was back to the old drawning board. But at least you tried.
You don’t see that kind of dedication in today’s day in age. That’s what I’m talking about.
God, you are the best!
You haven’t lived until you’ve recorded in the shower with your buddies – with (gay) or without (relly gay) bathing suits!
Aslo, the acoustics in a subway tunnel are incredible. (Ears ringing.)
The real lesson is “don’t wear flammable poofy shirts”. Or, really, “don’t wear clothes that catch fire real easily”.
As Hunter Thompson said, “There’s no room in the drug world for amateurs.”
Some replys:
Sweetie, reading comprehentions much? Not recording in the shower. Just listening back to the rough mixes. (Its a technical thing which not being a musician you probably don’t under it. No biggie. Also, its not gay, its just dedication.)
Um, hello, Sigvald? Did I not enunciate the mention the fact of “backstage”? What if Trey Anastasi passes you some a smouldering bowl of the Owl, your supposed to say, “Thanks but no thanks, Tey. I’m got my puffy shirt on for going on stage later for my jams, so I’m have to pass this time. Saftey first and all.” LORLLROFLLROL! Maybe your that big of nerd. But me? I don’t think so.
And, ahem, thanks for the encourage. Subway tunnel is also a good for doowopping.
We all make mistakes, man. Not everyone is big enough to own up to them the way you do.
You’re an example to us all, Witheld.
Brilliant. If our records weren’t all out of print I would be pushing for a remix right now. I think bands today should apply it to iPods, also. Put some headphones on your drummer and stand beside him and listen to the mix, use the drummer because you might have to turn it up really loud to hear it, and it won’t matter if you fuck up the his hearing so much.
I was one of the second guys to hate Dave Matthews by the way, would of been one of the first but it took him a little while to get to Athens.
Witheld! Or? Not sure. Is that are Witheld?
I like the post some what. Ok, ALOT. (But had to shower in here with all the dhinger’s in here.
I liked the part about from the other car alot, it made me think of “Get out of my Dream’s and into my car” by Billy which I can’t tell you how many time’s I played that on my stereo. (I’m not Mr. Music like you but I know what I like and to me music is all about Billy Ocean.) Plus those car’s that boom over to you. Even when your in your house (!!!). What are those. (Sorry in avance if it’s not music but only there car is loud).
One more question, Mr. Music Witheld what’s your favorite.
Witheld,
As of this moment, you are my write-in candidate for Senator in New York. I’m also going to write-in Jim (relly rell one not dhinger) as your Vice-Senator. I hope you don’t mind.