Wrote this song for CFOT
 

Since then I've decided that I have zero interest in interacting with them. This thread went well - but overall, the sheer negativity there is not something I need.

I post here because I know you will like the T&A

Oddly, if I post up my art (music) I'm bragging. However, this rule doesn't apply to anyone else. I was feeling charitable when I made this video but the double standard was getting old.

I have a feeling some of the folks who were assholes are frustrated guitar players. What am I supposed to do? Shitty work? **** them.

One douche bag actually got so butt hurt he said "You aren't that good" - which is funny since when someone asks me "Are you any good?" I say "I'm adequate." And that is an honest answer. (It didn't bother me although I continue to jerk his chain - I would never say that to anyone who practices their art. What kind of dick says that?)

The funny thing is - I've never claimed to be particularly good on guitar or vocals. My skills are in leading a band, booking great shows and packing the room. I can hold my own, but holy shit, down here you wouldn't believe the level of talent.

Lucky for me, there are very few leaders.

How much compression you have on your sound here?

Not only are you that good, but you built the axe you used to record the tune!
Glad to see you have the Defenestrator fully tuned and singing sweet!

:dance:

Too much? I did all of that in 2 hours. From writing the lyrics to shooting, recording and edit. Good ear. I used the crap compressor in FinalCut. I don’t really have decent recording tools. I rent a studio.

Well, there is that. Good eye. Nobody notices the name. I have to say, I have some really nice custom guitars (all of them except my LP are custom made) but that one is the best playing and sounding.

Pickups are Fishman a Greg Koch Gristletone Fluence system. It has a USB rechargeable lithium battery. Absolutely zero noise. I can roll off the volume and lose zero highs - sounds exactly the same, except quieter!

I was too lazy to bring my Deluxe up the stairs for that quick recording. (That’s a 95 Blues Jr.) but paired with that Tele, the 64 Deluxe is absolutely fierce.

Kudos to Greg and Fishman for hooking me up. That system is $$$! :dance:

That is the first song I have ever written. Although not very original. I do like the line “doing the backseat boogie in the parking lot”

Nope. Not too much at all but it’s definitely there. Think earlier Robert Cray.

And Greg Koch is INCREDIBLE. OMG can that guy play. Holy hell.

Some of it is probably the guitar and amp. But I did compress it. The levels were all over the place. Thank god I know some real engineers. I ain’t one of ‘em.

Some time I’ll record my real amp amd show off the real Robery Cray sound. He is a massive influence for me.

Yes, Greg is a freak of nature. Going on thirty years of friendship. We used to play together all the time. Talk about intimidating. They guy is also like seven feet tall. Last year I produced a couple shows for him in Austin. Sold them both out wall to wall.

For those unaware

Sounds great, Pete! :thumbs::thumbs:

:cheers:

I could roll down the street rocking that tune. :yesnod: Thanks. :cert:

I just want to know when there will be another all request performance. It's been too long since I've been made fun of for requesting that Freebird be played. Hell, the younger generation doesn't even understand the joke.

That is very true! And sad.

I do have a way of broadcasting live and putting it on the forum. But then y’all would know how much I suck. I still can’t play Sweet Home Alabama. Oddly, I used to kill that tune when I was a kid.

Plus I actually know very few popular songs. All my shit is from the 30’s and 40’s

:seasix::cert:

You’re that good, Pete.

Shortly after I got married to the most beautiful woman I had ever met, my ex was on facebook saying my wife “wasn’t as pretty as everyone says”. Really? :lol:

That solo isn't nearly as difficult as it sounds if you really give it a listen. It's primarily a series of repeated triplets. (Snik will understand this) That, and there are two people, Allen Collins and Gary Rossington wailing away.

Solo starts @ 4:55

Play Freebird!!!!!

:leaving:

Uh, at a 4:55, and through the remainder of the song, I heard all the instruments... :shrug:

:leaving:

Sounds good to me, OP. :seasix:

Great job Snake!! :seasix: :cert:

dude; like... what did you expect?

Makes no sense to write a good song about CFOT, post it there, then be surprised about all the negativity flung your direction, then to complain about it over here.

Suggestion;
*make songs about places/forums that are friendly... and post it there.
*mention common things about the forum that you appreciate... that others can relate to.

More relateable content.... and posted on the friendlier venue. :thumbs:

That thread was fine. I was speaking generally. But I agree. I’ve been doing a lot lately to cut negativity out of my life. I stayed away from here too since many of the trolls came here. I expect them to show up in this thread eventually.

It is my hope that harassment won’t be tolerated here except for that one guy.

I can break balls with the best of them. But when every thread one posts turns into a contest to argue and belittle, it gets old.

I don’t get the fascination with people attempting to get someone to melt down. One must have a pretty pathetic life to get off on that. Luckily I’ve been around long enough to understand the game.

It’s not that I get butthurt. (I don’t) but it’s stupid. :seasix:

#1 starts #2.:yesnod:

I am not musically talented so I have no good opinion to give but your skills sound good to me. :yesnod:

I bust your chops,
but...

I've never criticized your musical chops....or anybody else's for that matter.

I can't carry a tune in a bucket, so who am I to criticize anyone's musical talent, or lack thereof. :shrug:

Not even Kanye? I think he has a lot of talent, but he’s crazy as a loon, and his recent stuff is not as good as his early stuff IMHO. He is one hell of a producer and collaborator.

If I ever see Kanye play an actual instrument .... no. :island14:

He is more of a producer/writer than a musician. I believe he has chops with keyboard instruments. He might be crazy but he’s no dummy. Just look at his Wikipedia page.

****'em. It's unlikely that any of them would do as well.

Snik ain't no Kanye West.

And that's a good thing.:seasix:

Who here is criticizing ?? Good tuneage Pete !! :seasix:

Nobody yet. But I don’t mind criticizing. What gets old is people just looking for problems. Then doing it on every post one makes. I’ve been in the music business 40 years. I’ve been slammed every which way but loose. Hell I’ve had shot glasses thrown at me. :issues: my Les Paul bears the scars.

My producer is like Simon friggin Cowell. It truly doesn’t bother me. He makes me better. One doesn’t produce an album like my last one without being pushed and with honest criticism.

But I have to wonder about the moral character of someone who would be so derogatory. Even if I was terrible, it’s not something you should say about someone’s passion and art.

I did consider challenging said douche to an online head cutting contest. But I’m not competitive. (Any more. We used to have weekly head cutting sessions in Milwaukee. Absolutely brutal and in front of a live audience. You got judged by applause after the duel. Anyone could walk off the street and challenge the week’s king. So much pointless fun. I got smoked a few times by a guitarist nobody had heard of. Some kid named Kenny Wayne Sheperd.

:dance:

Sounds good and I like your style.:cert:

Excellent Snick. I only find one type of music that I can't find you playing- Bluegrass. An art form that never has gotten the overall praise it should get. Next time you play here humor me and throw in a little old, timey music. I'll be here "buck dancing" until the cows come home. Sing along it it also. I know that you can do it. Hell, if I can sound reasonable playing G - C- D- Am you would be the bomb and perhaps get you started on a new career. :)

Qusetions about your sonic settings aren't criticisms, just curiosity on your settings.
I find that half the fun of figuring out someone else's song is nailing the sonics.
I'd challenge anyone who criticizes your music to bring it on and throw one down to see how their song is.
That being said, criticizing ones art just comes with the territory. You gotta have thick skin because what's good for one person, may be the opposite for another.
Kinda like politics. :leaving:

I've probably spent more time watching live music in small venues than most people have. While constructive criticism can be a good thing if honestly given and taken, my policy is I will always applaud for any one who just gets on a stage and gives it a try. And if I get a chance, at the end of the show I will personally thank them for making music, because it's a very big and important part of my life, even if I don't have the skill to play it.

:rofl:sExactly. You learn this early in Art School. If you don’t, you will never survive it. Particularly for commercial art. Until you learn to separate yourself from your art, the corporate world Will earth your ducking lunch. I’ve fired a hell of a lot of prima Donna artists that took things personally.

That’s why I’m absolutely bullet proof. I literally feel nothing if someone criticizes my work (visual, audio, film, design, whatever). Although it’s entertaining when some douch hole is criticizing when they can’t even stand on the same stage with you.

I’ve performed with seven different Grammy winners. (There I said it.) Said douche hole known as MagRedCorvette doesn’t qualify to even suck my dick.

Try working at that level. Talk about harsh assholes. Even the roadies are dicks. :rofl: and some of them can play their asses off. I had a guitar tech that smoked my ass when I was with James Cotton.

I used to teach Graphic Design and Advanced Photography at the University of Wisconsin. The Dean told me my greatest strength was my (his words) “search and destroy” critiques. :) I spared no feelings because I ran an ad agency and Fortune 100 clients would chew us up and spit us out daily. I wanted to prepare those students for the real world. Most thought I was the biggest asshole that lived. A few “got it”. I usually hired them.

Ha! A couple years ago I was invited to a private wedding of a major artist. He had two weddings, one public and one private. Of course the room was full of astounding players from all over the world. We jammed together in random groups until the wee hours. Then the acoustics came out and it was all bluegrass. My god it was fun.

I whipped off some lad fills and some chick with fluorescent hair from Hollywood said “holy shit, you can play that thing!” That felt good. Although she was pretty wasted. I surprised myself. When the feeling is right, it’s so easy to scorch.

One dude in a wheel chair started singing. Good lord! Unbelievable voice! Humbling for sure.

I don’t own an acoustic. But in seventh grade, my science teacher used to come in with his brother who played banjo. He played guitar and they would burn the bluegrass. I remember a song called “Mountain Dew”

My brother Bill runs a still on the hill
Where he turns out a gallon or two
And the buzzards in the sky get so drunk they can not fly
Just from sniffing that good old mountain dew.

They call it that old Mountain Dew
And those who refuse it are few
So shut up yer mug and fill up my jug
Of that good ‘ol Mountain Dew

Etc. that’s all I can remember. I love that stuff.

That's what I'm talking about. His fingers move faster than his brain can think. No BS, just playing his @ss off.


Trigger warning: Billy Strings and Del McCoury.

I play at the guitar. Or used to. Haven't really fooled with it much in years. Do I think I was good? In all honesty, fair at best. Mostly rhythm, didn't want to make it cry or sing. (Some oldsters will get that.) I did enjoy it, though.
Waaaay back in high school and for a few years after that I was in a couple of bands. Dated the lead singer in the first one. Neither the relationship and the band lasted very long. Second one was really just a couple of friends and I jamming at our houses and every now and then for some friends getting together. No money earned, just alcohol, snacks, and pharmaceuticals (it was the eighties...). We did keep it going for a few years and could make some decent sounds. Mostly Southern rock and some heavy metal.
That being said I understand a little about the structure of music and how to break it down. Freebird. I love that damn song. One of my all time favorites. Especially the live versions. But like you said if one breaks it down it isn't that complicated. They do, however, make it sound great.
I've known some guys who were pretty talented. One friend actually toured with Humble Pie and Ted Nugent for a couple of years. Another guy is always on call as a sub drummer for local venues and got to play with the Beach Boys a couple of years ago.
As for your talents, sir, you are way better now than I was then or ever hoped to be. I always peep the videos you post. The Riviera Paradise one was the wife's fave as it is her favorite song. Loves SRV. The knowledge of being able to engineer and produce I am sure helps a lot in creating your sound in addition to being great skills to possess. And you should be commended for not being a "dick" to others with lesser skill. It's easy for those to criticize others about that they cannot do so themselves. They have no chance at failure.
Well done, sir. I like it!

Honestly I know zip about engineering. But I am lucky to have a very accomplished producer who introduced me to a Grammy winning engineer who recorded my last album. It is very true, they make you sound good. Particularly vocals. Although we don’t use Autotune, compression and EQ can totally change ones voice (a $5k mic helps too!). I hope someday I can make another. Likely not.

I hate that part. :Jeff '79: I'm not kidding. I don't have the patience to dig in and analyze ANYONE'S tone. I noticed Snik had some compression going but how much and what his settings were are of no interest to me. Those are his settings tuned to his ear. Even if I was able to duplicate them it wouldn't matter. I'd never sound like him anyway.

Not only that a lot of the commonly held beliefs; Heavy guitars = More sustain & Heavy strings + Big tone are huge generalizations that really don't hold up. Billy Gibbons uses 7's. Who has a bigger sound than that guy? "Corvettes are fast" says the guy with the '75; 165HP C3.

I hate all those damn knobs. :Jeff '79:

Just turn everything up to 11.

I’m very much the same way. I’ve learned some things over the years, for example, turning off all reverb in large clubs (reverb buries you in the mix unless you are using it for effect). I get good tone from using vintage amps, keeping them all original and matching them with guitars made to vintage (50’s) specs. From wiring, capacitors, pots, wood and finish. I hate buzzing so I’ve always used him canceling modern pickups, but I choose the lowest output, most vintage sounding I can get. With the exception of the Tele (those pickups are hot as shit).

I don’t generally use stomp boxes except for wah (which I almost never use), reverb (my amp has none) a tuner, and a handmade Koch Gristle King which is basically a clean boost. It has an overdrive channel, but I don’t use it. I like it because it doesn’t color the sound. Just makes it slightly louder for clean soloing.

Occasionally I use a tremolo pedal because my amp’s trem is pretty weak.

Hell, my amp doesn’t even have a mid control! Just treble and bass. I spent almost zero time fiddling with it. I may adjust it depending on the room, mostly turning the bass down.

I think 90% of tone comes from your fingers, vibrato, picking style. And 90% of audiences don’t notice anyway.

Derek Obrien has taught me a ton about tone. He plays original late 50’s Strats with mid fifties Deluxe Reverbs. His main guitar was given to him by Stevie 40 years ago. Derek was the guy Stevie begged to get on stage at Antones. Derek said “no” for years. Ultimately Stevie asked him to join Double Trouble but their manager said Hell No.

Stevie was worried about playing some of the new songs on In Step since he had trouble singing them and playing at the same time. You will notice he ultimately just didn’t play when he was singing.

I’m learning a lot about the history of that band since I know his manager, drummer, Stevie’s replacement, his guitar tech, his brother - it’s a bit strange but a great privilege. I don’t play any of his material any more because it seems very uncomfortable. Plus, I don’t even come close.

Great tune Snik. Glad to see you're still out there and vertical. :cert:
Scott