I’m hosting the Harmony Bar’s first Shecase Showdown on Thursday, May 26th. The Shecase is a female musicians in the round event that features some of Madison’s favorite singer/songwriter talent. The event starts at 7:30pm and is FREE. This round features Annelies Howell (German Art Students), Roz Greiert (the Heavy Looks), Mackenzie Moore and yours truly! We’ve got some good stuff planned that may include a sing along, if y’all will play along. Come on down to the Harmony Bar and get a load of what’s goin’ on ..read more

Photo Credit: Kirk Swenson Well, that was a ton of fun. After a couple of decades of playing in Madison, I finally had the honor of playing WORT’s big shoooo! The event used to be called the WORT Block Party. But, after a big apartment complex went up near their studio and the new neighbors started complaining about the noise, they had to move the event. First, to the capitol and now at Warner Park. They rebranded as WORTStock but, I still think of it as the coolest little block party in Madison. Hey WORT…You ROCK ..read more

It seems like we’re gaining some traction with a lot of people getting vaccinated. We’ve got a long way to go and I sure hope the US starts to lead the way toward getting vaccine supply to the rest of the world. But, I’m hopeful that we can start socializing, in person, with more ease. The good news in my neck of the woods is that all band members of BingBong are fully vaxxed and we’ll begin indoor rehearsals starting next week. We did adapt to playing outside (socially distanced) during the pandemic. However, one can only play so loud in one’s backyard before the neighbors have ha enough. And ..read more

BingBong has released a video performance of Bouncing Ball from the from their live show at the Dojo Recording Studio. The show was for a select few fans from their fan list. Check it out here ..read more

I’ve missed you too! But there’s big new to tell. BingBong is releasing a new single this Friday. We’re celebrating with a gig at the Atwood (2116 Atwood Ave). It’s a free show and we’ll be giving away 20 free downloads of our new single, Bouncing Ball. If you aren’t able to make it to the show, you can go to Bandcamp or CDBaby and download it. I’m super excited about how this tune turned out ..read more

This post is accompanied by a vlog on YouTube. You can view it here: Get yourself organized! Before you contact a venue are you ready to answer their questions? Do you have a demo? You need either an audio recording or a live video performance you can link to. It should be uploaded to a site with an easy link (your webpage, Bandcamp, Soundcloud, YouTube). Do not make anyone have to download something in order to hear or view it. They won’t take the time. Have you done your research? Which venues book in your genre? (bars, art spaces, community centers, coffee shops, festivals) Check out th ..read more

This blog has an accompanying vlog: Funky is generally a good thing in music. But, when it comes to cleanliness of you microphone, funky can by bad…very bad! Vocal microphones can get particularly bad. When singing into a mic, vocalists end up spitting and sweating all over the microphone grille. Don’t even get me started about lip gloss, make-up, Cheetos and chips! But hey, that’s why microphones have a grille protecting the capsule from damage, whether it be shock from dropping it, plosives, moisture or debris. Debris and condensation can turn your microphone grille into a teeming playgroun ..read more

Yes, we all know I’m a bit of a nerd when it comes to creating albums with the vibe of “yester-year.” In 2017, one of my dreams came true with my band BingBong. We recorded a full length album on magnetic tape, keeping it analog throughout the entire process from recording to mixing to pressing. No punching in a screwed up part during recording. No transfer to digital for mastering or adding “bells and whistles.” What we got out of the recording is largely, what we sound like, warts and all! So, when I see a video like the one I’ve linked to below, I’m simply fascinated. This method of recordi ..read more

This blog has an accompanying vlog here: https://youtu.be/2bpDcyOeXgc To answer this question, you have to know what the subtle differences between the SM58 and the Beta58a.  Both are rugged built microphones by a trusted company.  For that reason, you’ve probably noticed that most of your local venues providing PA systems are outfitted with the SM58 (the less expensive model).  So which microphone should you purchase?  Let’s look at the differences: 1. Polar pattern 2. Frequency response 3. Output level 4. Handling noise 5. The grille Once you understand these difference ..read more

This blog has an accompanying YouTube vlog here: Carrying your gear around town to rehearsals and performances can be quite a challenge sometimes. Depending on how much gear you have, you might still be able to get there greener. If you live in a large enough town, public transportation is an option. But, bus service/schedule in mid-size US towns can be limited. In my hometown (Madison WI) you could get to a gig using the metro bus system but service often shuts down before you gig is over. What about your trusty bike? If you’re an acoustic guitar player heading to a venue that provides a ful ..read more