New Korg Keyboard in the House

A number of bands have asked us about a keyboard option so we are excited to welcome this new Korg to the family.

She is available to rent for $10 per session (on top of regular room rates). Here is some PR from the Korg website.

Introducing the Korg SP-250

Korg brings a heightened level of realism and feel to its line of portable digital stage pianos with the new SP-250. The Korg SP-250 provides an expanded range of expression and performance with an outstanding new stereo piano sound, which is matched to a third-generation RH3 graded action keyboard. The SP-250 Digital Piano is the perfect answer for any pianist looking for rich piano sounds and the convenience of a lightweight, portable instrument.

You can read tons more about the keyboad on the Korg website.

Friday, July 2 – Fast and Loose – A Selection of Local Rock ‘n’ Roll Photography

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Friday, July 2
Artist Reception 6-9 PM
118 Coral Street

Santa Cruz Rehearsal Studios (118 Coral Street) will host a reception from 6-9 PM for our latest show entitled “Fast and Loose – A Selection of Local Rock N’ Roll Photography.”

The show features the work of local photographers Tim Cattera, Brian Crabtree, Cat Johnson, Vanessa Lucas and Peter Saporito. Each photographer will display some of their favorite band shots from Santa Cruz and Bay Area venues throughout the years.

These diverse collections of images, captured in the moment, document the raw energy and controlled chaos which is always part of the shows. The lens is sometimes directed towards the stage, individual band members or on the audience and their interaction with the experience. If this show does not inspire you to go out and experience live music, I’m not sure anything will.

About the artists:

Tim Cattera
Starting out with success in surf photography, including his work published in Surfer Magazine, Tim evolved into stills, family portraits, fashion and live music. You can find him locally, anywhere from on top of a bar at the Crepe Place trying to get the perfect angle on the drummer, to roaming the wharf shooting hot rods in the sun. http://www.timcattera.com/

 
Brain Crabtree
Brian was just another college kid with a camera until he began an internship with Santa Cruz based Your Music Magazine. Since then, Brian has become the magazine’s main photographer capturing shows and experiencing the Santa Cruz underground music scene on a near daily basis.  http://yourmusicmagazine.com/photos.html

Cat Johnson
A renaissance woman, Cat is a blogger, freelance writer, web and graphic design buff, long-time record store nerd/employee and musician, as well as a photography enthusiast. Behind the counter at Streetlight Records Cat is uniquely positioned to capture candid moments from the mundane to the insane.  
http://houseofcat.net/

Vanessa Lucas
With a fascination for the absurd and a ravenous hunger to see the truth behind “The Scenes” Vanessa Lucas entertains and provokes the visual world of the underground. Her work strives to capture the souls of all those who dare to go outside the norm.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Just-For-Thee-Taste-Photography/199324136279   

Peter Saporito
The past 15 years Peter has been looking through a lens to capture light. Light that comes in countless forms – live music, a secluded ferris wheel, a random bathroom or a portrait of a friend. Peter has been voted Best Photographer and Best Visual Artist in both Santa Cruz Weekly and Good Times. http://www.peterangelosaporito.com

Jazz Society of Santa Cruz County

The Jazz Society of Santa Cruz County has a lot of great thing happening every month.

Jam Sessions:
They hosts a 4 hour jam session every Sunday from 3.30-7.30 pm at Bocci’s Cellar (140 Encinal St. Santa Cruz.)
House band 3.30-4
Open jam 4-6.30
Invitational jam 6.30-7.30
Adm. Free, Full bar, special $8 meals, dance floor.
Friendly, supportive, non-competitive atmosphere.

Jazz Workshops:
Every Tuesday from 7.30-9.30 pm
West Side Santa Cruz
Play/sing jazz standards in friendly workshop.
All levels. Requires ability to play an instrument, and preferably read lead sheets.
More info call 831 427 2792

They also produce an annual compilation CD with tracks by the many local jazz groups in our area.
Check out their website for all things Jazz in Santa Cruz
http://www.santacruzjazz.org/index.php

GigsWiz Free Beta

Just checking out a new artist service called GigsWiz (which I learned about on Hypebot). The service is still in beta but it’s free for all artists. You open an account and GigsWiz creates your code for a free fan request widget. You can place the widget on your artist website, MySpace and Facebook.

The widget prompts your fans to request you play in their city. GigsWiz stores the requests and then lets you check out all the stats.

I set one up to check it out and looks pretty cool (I attached the picture). I think this could work really well for bands that don’t have their own artist website and mailing list yet (this at least would give you some stats about where your fans actually live). Let me know if anyone ends up using it and if it works for you….

Father’s Day Special

If you forgot that Sunday is Father’s Day and just realized you need to figure out a gift, we might just be better than cologne.

From now until Sunday, buy a gift certificate for 2 hours of rehearsal time and get 1 free. In other words, 3 hours of rehearsal time for the price of 2 (offer good for gift certificate purchases only).

We will admit it is not a groundbreaking deal, but a deal it is.

Gift Certificates can be purchased in person (118 Coral Street) or via phone/credit card (831.425.7277) until end of day Sunday, June 16.

Band Booklist

 

If you are a musician, are in a band, or play an instrument Santa Cruz Public Libraries wants to know what book(s) influenced you in your craft. They are compiling a booklist for the young musicians in the Santa Cruz area for our 2nd Annual Teen Battle of the Bands on July 24 (deadline to enter is June 17). 

We have a sign up sheet at the studio or please leave a comment with your suggestion and your band name (not required but nice to have).

On the list so far:

•  Off the Rails: Aboard the Crazy Train in the Blizzard of Ozz
•  Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke
• Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk
• Playing in the Band: An Oral and Visual Portrait of the Grateful Dead
•  The Long Hard Road Out of Hell
• High Fidelity
• Smile, You’re Traveling (Black Coffee Blues Part 3)

S.C.U.M Fest 2010 * Free Metal Festival * Saturday, June 19

A Cursed /Grimpire/Morketiden Event

S.C.U.M. Fest 2010  (Santa Cruz Underground Metal)

First ever S.C.U.M. Fest in Watsonville, CA

Saturday, June 19th. 

11 am  – 11pm.

FREE

 142 smith rd Watsonville, CA 95076

the Santa Cruz County metal bands and some out-of-town guests will descend upon the “Cursed Stage” and the “Grimpire Stage” for the biggest metal party in this county’s history. 

 

Help support the show and the Santa Cruz metal scene by pledging by Sunday, June 6.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/435671053/santa-cruz-underground-metal-scum-bands-come-toget

 

 

The S.C.U.M. Fest Line-up (headliners listed first) are on

 

Grimpire Stage (Stage1)	Cursed Stage (Stage 2)
1. A Band of Orcs	1. Fiends at Feast
2. WarCorpse	2. The Blackest Covet
3. The Backup Razor	3. Yautlan
4. Sexciety	4. Teraton
5. Eviscerate	5. Zaticoy
6. Thirty9Fingers	6. Pride Subject
7. Kha’Nos	7. Counter Clockwise
8. Accion Terrorista	8. Wretched Remains
9. VX 36	9. Disengorified
10. Necrotic Avulsion	10. 3 Lunas
	11. Immoralizer

Bikers, Booze and Bands

Tips on How to book a show at Henflings Roadhouse Tavern
9450 Highway 9
Ben Lomond, CA 95005
(831) 336-9318

http://www.henflings.net/

Full text of this blog is available on the Good Times Making Noise blog.

21+

• Booking contact: Kim McFarland
• Preferred method of contact: email – henflingsmusic@gmail.com (make sure you include a MySpace or YouTube link so Kim can hear the music). You can also drop off a CD at the bar anytime (attention Kim). If you drop off a CD, make sure there is a sticker on it with your contact information.
• Timing: Currently booking August/September (about 2 months out)
• Days: Music or event 6 nights a week. Tuesday is only day no music (pool event). Wednesday is punk/metal. Thursday is more acoustic/blues/country – peppering in blues and rock. Friday harder rock. Saturday blues/rock something you can dance too. Sunday blues band you can dance to.
• Genres: Primarily blues and rock. No hip-hop, rap, techno, not a lot of reggae or jazz.
• Capacity: inside about 100 (more if you count outside deck areas).
• Payment:  Paid on a band by band basis.
• Equipment: Venue provides sound engineer and whole PA with mics – just bring in instruments.
• Typical show start time? 9:00 PM unless special events or larger bill / 1 band show 9-1ish but if 2 bands or bigger events, start earlier.
• What makes a successful show? Bring in people who drink. If the bar has 40-50 people drinking, you will be asked back. If you don’t have a local draw but your music is that good, Henflings will help and put you on a bill with a band that does.
• 99% of all Henflings shows are free (no cover).

Stand out show for Kim = French punk rock

Archer Auditioning Drummers

Santa Cruz based hard rock/metal trio Archer is auditioning drummers. As seen on Craig’s List.

Archer will be holding auditions in the coming weeks for a new drummer. Archer has already  taken part in several notable events/appearances including a 2009 U.S. and Canadian tour run with headliner Black Label Society, multiple European/Japan rock festivals, industry events (NAMM shows, label showcases, etc) and more. Primary goals currently include attending U.S. rock festivals that are already booked (Midwest Rockfest, etc.), and the completion of a new record that can be supported with extensive touring and promotion.

The immediate focus becomes filling the role of drums as quickly as possible but the big picture is to capitalize on opportunities already in place including touring (with national acts), record industry showcase options, and gear endorsements in order to reach the ultimate goal of being successful in this industry. Archer is looking for someone with solid musicianship, excellent stage presence, optional potential for backup vocals, a good metal look, and the dedication and desire for a career in music.
Check out http://archernation.com/& http://www.myspace.com/archer if interested. Please reply for a more specific response regarding audition details and future plans. Serious inquiries only please!

Reply to: comm-4jdqc-1772217405@craigslist.org

2nd Annual Santa Cruz Public Library Teen Battle Of The Bands

Where: Cruzio Parking Lot beside the Central Library, 224 Church Street, Downtown Santa Cruz

When: July 24, 2010 from 1-4pm

What: The 2nd Annual Santa Cruz Public Library Teen Battle Of The Bands is on for 2010.

Join us for an afternoon of music and fun as the next generation of young musicians takes to the stage. As always, this FREE, family friendly concert will definitely be rockin’. So come cheer on the bands as they “battle it out” for their choice of top prizes that have been donated by our awesome sponsors.

Audience members will also have the chance to win some fantastic prizes in our free raffle drawing.

The Battle of the Bands concert is an outdoor event, so remember to bring along your sunscreen and folding chairs. Don’t miss this opportunity to rock out with your favorite librarians and help support the future of the Santa Cruz music scene.

So come on down and get a library card, check out a book, and get ready to feel the power of rock n’ roll !

Official Rules
http://www.santacruzpl.org/media/pdf/teens/botb_rules.pdf

Entry Form
 http://www.santacruzpl.org/media/pdf/teens/botb_register.pdf

MySpace – http://www.myspace.com/469629899

BOOK LIST

If you are a musician, are in a band, or play an instrument we want to know what book(s) influenced you in your craft. We will be compiling a booklist for the young musicians in the Santa Cruz area for our 2nd Annual Teen Battle of the Bands on July 24. 

Please leave a comment with your book list suggestion. Thanks!