Christmas Presents and Gifts For Musicians

You can find the perfect Christmas gift and present for the musician in your life with these simple tips.

   It’s Christmas shopping season again and if you’re like me, you have a lot of live musicians to buy presents for. I like to purchase as many things online as possible because I don’t like going out shopping. The online music retailers are really starting to push sales early this year with deep discounts and free shipping. Musician’s Friend has some great ideas in their Musician’s Gift Center. Just click the banner below and you’ll find some great gift ideas for presents to all your musician friends.   Continue reading “Christmas Presents and Gifts For Musicians”

Cakewalk UM-2G 2×2 USB MIDI Interface For Mac And PC

The Cakewalk UM-2G MIDI interface allows you to plug your MIDI devices into your Mac or PC computer.

Cakewalk UM-2G 2X2 Midi Interface
Cakewalk UM-2G 2X2 Midi Interface

   When I’m not out playing in my live band I’m usually working on writing and recording music in my home studio. I use a lot of MIDI equipment and several computers so I’m always looking out for convenient MIDI interfaces. Today I’m going to tell you about the Cakewalk UM-2G 2×2 USB MIDI interface for the Mac and PC computer.   Continue reading “Cakewalk UM-2G 2×2 USB MIDI Interface For Mac And PC”

Linkin Park – A Thousand Suns Album Review

Review of the Linkin Park album A Thousand Suns release date September 2010.

Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns
Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns

   I was never a fan of Linkin Park’s early records. I’ve always hated Chester Bennington’s distorted screeching that ruins almost every song he’s used that irritating vocal style on. That being said, the bands last album Minutes To Midnight was a turning point in the bands style and creative flow. The songs were suddenly better, the screeching vocals less prominent with actual singing taking it’s place. I became a big fan of the band after listening to Minutes To Midnight over and over again. (Although I did have to edit out Bennington’s screeching, scratchy, distorted, awful vocal in one section of the song Given Up.)    Continue reading “Linkin Park – A Thousand Suns Album Review”

Fender Slow To Ship 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster

Fender has had a very hard time filling orders in a timely manner for the 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster.

Fender American Deluxe Ash Strat Wine Transparent
2010 Fender American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster - Wine Transparent

   I’ve been doing some asking around and have had many reports of people waiting months to get ahold of the new 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster. There are certain colors available right now but some colors and options are out of stock and have been for months. I ordered a Wine Transparent American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster on April 2, 2010 and it just came in on September 22, 2010. It was almost a 6 month wait. Needless to say, I did not pick it up or pay for it and told the store they can keep it. It’s ridiculous to wait that long for a guitar and I will not play that game. Now that doesn’t mean I won’t get one. I will still be getting my 2010 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster, just not right now. Since Fender forced me to wait for 6 months for a new one, I’ve lost that “must have it now!” attitude and will patiently shop for a used one. It may take me another year to get it, but I’m sure I’ll save some money and in the meantime I’m $1649 richer.    Continue reading “Fender Slow To Ship 2010 American Deluxe Stratocaster”

Drummer Mike Portnoy Leaves Dream Theater

Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy officially announces he’s quitting the band.

Mike Portnoy's Purple Drumset
Mike Will Only Need A Few Of These Drums Now

   Every live band has a life cycle and many ups and downs along the way. Even one of my personal favorite bands, Dream Theater, has to deal with personnel changes. It’s never fun to lose a band member. Especially one so important to the band. I was extremely surprised and bummed out to learn the Mike Portnoy, drummer and founding member of Dream Theater, has quit the band. 

   It’s a sad day for all Dream Theater fans to lose Mike Portnoy from the Dream Theater family. Mike was a founding member of the band and his father contributed the name Dream Theater to the band’s legacy. But as always, having a member leave gives the band a chance to grow. It seems like every time a member has left Dream Theater the band has come back stronger than before. Maybe they will find a drummer that will just make Mike a distant memory. I hope that Dream Theater continues to write, record and perform because the combination of John Myung, John Petrucci and Jordan Rudess is truly fantastic. James Labrie has grown into a very good singer as well. So here’s to the hope the Dream Theater continues on stronger than ever!    Continue reading “Drummer Mike Portnoy Leaves Dream Theater”

Finding Roadies For Your Band

How to find roadies to help you move equipment and make your live show happen for your live band.

Bonne Nuit Doing Sound Check
Bonne Nuit Does Soundcheck On Stage Set Up By Roadies

   Every musician dreams of having their own team of roadies for their live band. I’m here to tell you that roadies are out there and that you can have your very own roadies hauling and setting up your live band’s equipment. The best thing is that most of these roadies will work for very little money or even for free dinner and admission to your shows. I’ve been using roadies for all my summer gigs this year and I’m telling you it’s been fantastic having some guys to haul my equipment around and set it up.    Continue reading “Finding Roadies For Your Band”

Rush Time Machine Tour At USANA Amphitheatre Concert Review

A review of the Rush Time Machine Tour concert at USANA Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City on August 10, 2010. With Set List.

Alex Lifeson Time Machine Guitar Amplifiers
Alex Lifeson's Time Machine Guitar Amplifiers

   Rush, one of the greatest live bands of all time, is on tour this summer. The tour is called the “Time Machine” tour and I got the chance to catch their show at USANA Amphitheatre in Salt Lake City on August 5, 2010. I really hate the traffic and parking situation at USANA Amphitheatre and I avoid going to any concerts there because of that. It takes a special band like Rush to get me to brave the traffic nightmare of USANA Amphitheatre.      Continue reading “Rush Time Machine Tour At USANA Amphitheatre Concert Review”

Sunday Funnies – Bohemian Rhapsody Performed By Hayseed Dixie

A funny video spoof of the Queen song Bohemian Rhapsody as performed by Hayseed Dixie.

   Hayseed Dixie is always good for a laugh with their bluegrass renditions of popular rock songs. The reason they’re making the Live Musician Central Sunday Funnies is because their video for the cover of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody is truly hilarious. If you’ve ever seen the Queen video for Bohemian Rhapsody then you’ll get a kick out of all the great imagery in the Hayseed Dixie cover version. I hope you enjoy this week’s Sunday Funnies!

Hayseed Dixie – Bohemian Rhapsody


Musician’s Friend Anniversary Sale!

TuneCore Resources For Music Distribution

Get your music distributed on iTunes, AmazonMP3, Rock Band the video game and many other places using TuneCore.

   The top online music retailer is Apple’s iTunes but others such as Amazon.com MP3 service are rapidly catching up. In today’s music industry the old channels of music distribution are quickly being replaced by these digital distribution services. The good thing for us as independent musicians is that it’s easier than ever to get our music out there for sale with more of the profits going directly to us.

   It’s pretty easy to become a content provider for iTunes and other digital distribution services. You usually just have to fill out an application and wait to be accepted into the program. But it can be a challenge to manage all your sales avenues. That’s why I’m recommending you give TuneCore a try for your music distribution.   Continue reading “TuneCore Resources For Music Distribution”

Sunday Funnies – Steve Martin King Tut

Steve Martin performs his original song King Tut on Saturday Night Live.

   For today’s Sunday Funnies I’m posting up a classic Saturday Night Live clip of Steve Martin singing his song King Tut. This is one of the great musical comedy moments on SNL and it’s still pretty funny even today. I remember back in High School, my live band learned this song and dressed up  in toga’s to perform this song at an assembly. It got a great reaction and even made it into the yearbook. I hope you enjoy revisiting Steve Martin performing King Tut!

Steve Martin – King Tut

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