Shhh/Peaceful

RIP Odetta

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 16:07:00 +0000

December 31 1930 - December 2 2008

Big Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 04:43:00 +0000

Record is coming together quickly. I'd say it's about 95% done with the 80% I expected to be done by now to be 100% done by December 31st. What Does This Mean?

The whole process has been patient, easy and comfortable, but where the preparation for the record and the start of the actual recording process began is anybody's guess. Back in December of '07, we started to fiddle with new tracks as a band, but in reality as you can peruse back to the tracks found on this blog, DEMO DAYS started far earlier, ending before I was married in May of 2007. Then-Beasts of Burden Brian Slagle worked with me on the demos, and many of those songs ended up the songs on this current record...but not as many as you'd think. In fact, a lot of the material worked on during DEMO DAYS was redirected to the Slagle/Vasas e-project that has yet to be completed.

As mentioned a few "idea sessions" had been done before Slagle left the band in January, including a few with Matt Mepham before he joined the group...and if I remember correctly...even before Eric Bredin left the group in '07.

So fast forward to the beginning of '08 as we prepared new material through improv sessions and "idea sessions" throughout the whole Palace of Auburn Hills performance-prep and through the spring and into summer. The whole time we were getting comfortable with a recording device Matt bought that allowed us to multi-track record our sessions/rehearsals for clear listening after the fact, and in the process setup and developed our recording/rehearsal space in Brian's house.

The whole time songs rose from the ashes of jam sessions, chord experiments and lunch breaks at Harper Creek and before we knew it we had about 25 or so major contenders for the record. During this time we were also shifting and adjusting the equipment so that we could (without us really knowing it) jump right in to the recording of the album officially. When that started I have no idea. The earliest take that is currently on the record goes back to August....but most are from September and October.

Matt and I have had many sessions in Lansing working on song parts, although much of the work had been done because we had been generating ideas on many of these songs since January or whenever the songs were birthed. For instance, Occupation came forward in the early summer and we had played it so much that it took only a few takes to generate all the parts that are on the final version.

Recently, Matt has been recording tracks on his computer in Westland and sending the files to me to drop into the tracks as they get recorded. A simple process allows him to track things as if he was in the room with me and then I just drop them in.

So that leads me back to my first comment. We ARE about 95% done with the 80% I expected to be done by the end of Thanksgiving weekend. The drums are recorded, basically all of my instrumental tracks are done, many of matt's guitar parts are done, a lot of the general mixing is finished on songs...

To do? Bass guitar on all tracks. Final vocals & backing vocals on all tracks, additional percussion, band backing vocals

Then The Final Mix

Then The Master

Still lookin' good for being done by December 31st. We will be careful in the mixing stage, which may push it back a month. Either way the record should be IN THE CAN with a few minor adjustments by New Years. Then it's off to secure distribution, set a release date and get our promote on. Before it gets released, you'll see the record on mikevasas.com for free preview. TELL YOUR FRIENDS. IT'S COMING. MWAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Also....in 2010 a special internet gift from me to you will happen. It's a gift that'll keep on giving all year round. Some of you won't believe it. Some of you will find it absurd. Many of you won't know what to do with it. Some of you will grasp it with open arms. It doesn't matter what you do with this gift...it's yours. More details as 2009 happens.

RIP Mitch Mitchell

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 12:54:00 +0000

Mitch Mitchell, drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience died yesterday, apparently of natural causes...kind of early at 61, but an autopsy is in the works, supposedly. He held a reliable creative relationship with Hendrix, and according to many sources, he often was the only member of the group in the studio with Hendrix when he was working out ideas.

Les Loken - WWII Vet

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 22:40:00 +0000

My grandfather's stories are similar to this vet who was filmed talking about the war before he died...Grandpa Schley has a detailed memory and certainly the stories mean a lot to me, personally, but it's still great to see and hear everybody talk about the war...whether it's Les or anybody else.

A bright spark might corner the market in this year's girl.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:20:00 +0000

I've recently been listening again to Elvis Costello's This Year's Model and been thinking...

Best Pop-Rock Record EVER. Period.

Common Courtesy RANT

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 20:23:00 +0000

Today on the freeway I was cutoff [and subsequently flipped off] by a dude in a clunker that ended up going SLOWER than me after he passed me. The stupo actually sped up to like 85 mph and then as soon as he was in front of me, he slowed to like 60 mph! So I passed him and went on my way and he continued to go about 60 mph. Not sure what that was about. I had thought maybe he was getting off on an exit or something, but nope, stayed in the lane for a long while. I had thought he went slower just to be a jerk, but the guy wasn't around me for long, he just came up and then passed me to go 60!

But that brings me to my general post. What's the deal with courtesy on the road? It doesn't seem like anybody pulls into the other lane when there are emergency/enforcement vehicles on the shoulder. Do these people honestly have no idea what it's like to do the shoulder thing? I've only done it a few times when my car has broken down, but imagine if you do this on a regular basis. Get some class, people!! But common courtesy isn't just an issue on the road.

Plus, the whole cell-phone thing at the counter in a gas station!! What is that?!?

Other common beefs of courtesy...the parking lot issue. Take an xtra 20 seconds and realigned your vehicle! And stuff like recently...you're sitting near a cooler, you reach down to get a bottle of drink, and a person shows up and says, "yea, can I have that please." THE LAST ONE! WTH?

People are so unapologetically un-peaceful to each other, to their own neighbors and community members, it's no shock we have wars. We wage war locally all the time...even to our friends and loved ones...to the faultless guys driving cars on the freeway.

I know my life could be a lot worse, but these are the kind of little things that start to drive a typically courteous person to angry passive aggressive rants on the internet. NEH.

I'm supposed to just MAN UP, right? Whatever. I don't wanna end up like all those guys on the way to becoming Bill Foster.

The Obama Years

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 16:14:00 +0000

Although for many this may be considered fact-lessly speculative, and some may even consider it naive-ly premature, I believe today marks the first day of the next phase of American social reality. My hope is that Tuesday, November 4 will be the historical moment that historians will note as when 20th century views of American society became the 21st century views of American society.

It is with all my hopes and prayers that this is the entrance into a new era of American history and one we will look back on as historically significant as the Gettysburg Address, the passing of the 19th Amendment, the New Deal, D-Day, the signing of the Civil Rights Act and later Americans with Disabilities Act. Many of us have long hoped for certain social realities to change, but I have faith that this will become the tipping point.

Of course we have a long way to go to make America as great as it can be, but like president-elect Obama stated in his speech...

"For that is the true genius of America - that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow."

If I can do it...the blog returns!

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 03:47:00 +0000

I've made a decision to get back into the random fun I used to have here on this blog. I'm going to put my web-activity on the spot and try to update this site with personal comments. WWHY NOTT? So first goofy comment? If you have roughly $900,000 [as of 11 pm EST on Monday] to spare, check out this CAVE that is for sale on ebay. That's right a cave. Here's their website.

--

The record is getting there. Lots of drum tracks and finished forms to fish through as we get closer to putting the finishing iron hammer on the thing. Not sure yet as of how it's going to turn out. Busy with lots of other stuff like the ELECTION and parent teacher conferences and playing my NEW GUITAR, and watching Iron Man. Soon, it'll be scrubbing day and before you know it, it'll be time to live on the seas and do what we please. Awesome...but still kinda weird

Obama/Democrat Rally = First Show since The Palace.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Tue, 28 Oct 2008 00:55:00 +0000

From my family and friends to yours. Vote for change this election. And, come to our first show since playing @ The Palace of Auburn Hills, this Saturday. It is our first show at the recently opened NEW Small Planet in East Lansing. We play right at 9 pm.

Saturday November 1, 9 pm.
The Small Planet
16800 Chandler Road
East Lansing, MI

Mason Proper
The Pantones
The Smith Brothers
Huckleberry Groove
The Darts
Mike Vasas & The Beasts of Burden

Bono...the king of Ireland.

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 18:22:00 +0000

The real interview is still far funnier.

RIP Paul Newman

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 15:36:00 +0000

Actor and humanitarian, Paul Newman, died Friday at the age of 83. He is photographed here with actor/writer Ned Dowd in their movie Slapshot.

RIP Norman Whitfield

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 10:10:00 +0000

Co-writing and/or producing some of Motown's most incredible singles, songwriter and Motown "quality control" department worker Norman Whitfield has died at 67.

"Papa Was a Rolling Stone," "You're My Everything," "I Wish it Would Rain," "Ain't Too Proud to Beg," "I Heard it Through the Grapevine," "That's the Way Love is," "Cloud Nine," "Runaway Child (Running Wild)," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)," "War," "Smiling Faces," "Ball of Confusion (That's what the World Is Today)," "Too Busy Thinking About my Baby," "Beauty is only Skin Deep," "Car Wash," "I Know, I'm Losing You," "Pride and Joy," and "Psychedelic Shack" are just some of his CHARTING songs, never mind the ones that weren't singles.

Looking at that list, it makes one heck of a playlist.

RIP Rick Wright

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 17:47:00 +0000

The fantastic keyboardist (one of the most important in fact) of the rock era, Rick Wright has died at the age of 65 after a battle with cancer. Known for writing and singing plenty of the early and classic Pink Floyd numbers, his voice, singing in harmony with David Gilmour, created the classic beauty that draw most people to Pink Floyd. He also wrote many of my favorite Pink Floyd songs, including "Summer '68," "The Great Gig in the Sky" and "Us and Them."

It's worth checking out the Dark Side of the Moon "Classic Albums" DVD just to see Wright humbly but happily discuss his input on the album.

RIP Jerry Wexler

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 19:59:00 +0000

Famed Atlantic producer/executive Jerry Wexler recently died at the age of 91. Beyond being a fantastic producer, he was also an important critic who change the term "race record" to "rhythm and blues." His presence played HEAVILY into the fame of many important popular musicians--he is seen here with Aretha Franklin.

RIP Isaac Hayes

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 00:22:00 +0000

Rest In Peace, Mr. Hayes.

RIP ESTELLE GETTY

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 21:14:00 +0000

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estelle_Getty

Famous as Sophia Petrillo on GOLDEN GIRLS, Estelle Getty also starred in Stop or My Mom Will Shoot.

She will be missed.

Rock Monk Plays Rome

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Hey Jude, Bobby McAwesome, Vernadine's

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 01:18:00 +0000

The kid appears to be having a good time. I hope there's no whips and chains after the video stops.

Anyway, friends, siblings, students have all given me a link to this video, so I feel I have to put up it up.

Love Vernadine's in Old Town. Fantastic Soul Food. Will give far more detailed praise later.

Paul Simon

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 15:32:00 +0000

Itunes Biggest Music Retailer in USA

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:16:00 +0000

According to the Associated Press today, Apple's Itunes has surpassed Walmart as the number one retailer of music in the United States, as of January, 2008.

This comes from the market research firm NPD who looked in to the matter.

Personally, I am glad Walmart is no longer number one. For those of you who think of "the record" as never going away, this is a wakeup call, because even if it doesn't go away, it's being sold at Walmart.

Indie musicians like myself (and yourself?) need to consider where the industry is going to be in 20 years, even 10 years. Records as complete experiences may be on their way out, but that is just an issue of attention span of the listener, not medium. Concept record in mp3 format? hmm.

Really it's about the listener's willingness to overcome the medium's challenges. For instance, vinyl is supposedly well loved, but it is hard to take care of. Especially if you buy it second hand. With the ipod world happening in full force (just ask my fifth/sixth graders), the real issue is whether your average listener will take the time to overcome the challenges of the medium, namely the disconnect between "records" and what basically can be considered the unofficial single. Every track becomes the unofficial single from a band if the listener wants it on their mp3 device.

I could go on forever on this. Peace.

Ryan Malinich Article in LAView

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:59:00 +0000

Find this page online at: http://viewnewspapers.net/moxie/Scene/dryden-drummer-opens-for-.shtml

Dryden drummer opens for CCR

By Jessica Fish
Posted Thursday, April 3, 2008

DRYDEN — Ryan Malinich has played the drums since he was 5 years old. “It was like riding a bike,” he said. The drums just came naturally.

Mike Vasas and the Beasts of Burden, the band Malinich drums for, opened for Creedence Clearwater Revisited on Friday, March 28.

Malinich, a 1991 graduate of Dryden High School, first performed with his uncle’s band, drumming at weddings mostly. After high school, he went to Michigan State University, where he performed with the group Mama Pajama.

After school, Malinich and his friend Brian Richard posted an ad on Craigslist.org looking for a singer/ songwriter, and they found Mike Vasas.

Vasas, Richard, and Malinich, along with keyboardist Eric Bredin, came together to create Mike Vasas and the Beasts of Burden.

The band got a call at the end of February about the Creedence show, and received the confirmation in the middle of March. “It’s an opportunity to meet to members of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,” said Malinich before the show.

“It was a fantastic experience,” Malinich said after the show. “Being a band from Michigan, the crowd was very supportive.”

“(It was) definitely the most (people) the band has performed to.” The show was on a whole new scale for the band. “The scale of playing a building that large was, at first, nerve-wracking, but once we ran through sound check and got on stage, we got into a comfort zone.”
Creedence Clearwater Revisited, which consists of original CCR members Doug Clifford and Stu Cook along with new members John Tristao, Tal Morris and Steve Gunner, has become a hit band in its own right, releasing the album Recollection, which was certified as a gold record by the RIAA in 2002.

Malinich also had the chance to meet with Creedence Clearwater Revival drummer Clifford. “He is very down to earth and it was a pleasure to meet him,” Malinich said.

Breakdown

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Sun, 23 Dec 2007 05:12:00 +0000

Friday morning, on the way to work, at about 6:30 AM, the escort I was driving died. It had been acting strange recently, and it obviously had something wrong, but I had to go in...after all it's my job...it's what I do. Plus it was the last day before break. I had candy for people, all sorts of good-cheer kind of activities planned. I had planned on giving the 8th graders a party of sorts. I had cards for some of the staff.

Instead I spent the morning walking along the shoulder of the freeway, calling tow trucks, waiting at the dealer. Call me crazy, but I didn't want to sit in my car in the middle of the dark...so I walked down about 2 miles or so to the exit. Luckily there was a QD there and I had some coffee made the calls, went back to the car and waited for the tow. The towing guy was nice. My dad came out to pick me up and take me back to lansing, and hopefully get things straightened out with the car. No word yet on what is the deal. It's too bad because the car runs fine normally and seems great. I'm glad he came out though.

Walking on the freeway in the dark is an odd experience, especially when you can't see the cars and trucks coming behind you. Walking towards traffic is a bit easier because at least you know what's coming. Needless to say it was a crappy day for me, and I'm sorry I didn't get to have that "day-before break" experience with the kids that they deserved.

Well, I'm in Dearborn now for a few days to celebrate Christmas, so maybe talk to blogosphere later?

VIDEO TIME

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 03:58:00 +0000

Prank Leaves 75 Gnomes Without Homes

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 22:03:00 +0000

It's not a house it's a gnome!

-------

SPRINGFIELD, Ore. (AP) - A number of gnomes have taken sanctuary at the Springfield police station. Somebody apparently collected 75 lawn ornaments from around town and then, on the night of Oct. 17, placed them meticulously on and around the lawn of one house.

Among the plastic and porcelain geese, deer and frogs are gnomes, such as a weather gnome outfitted with a rain gauge.

Police want to find the rightful owners.

"We need to get them out of here," Capt. Richard Harrison said. "Every time I leave my office they're sitting in my chair, working on my computer. I can't seem to get rid of the darn things."

There will be a public viewing Tuesday.

"If they come here and they can identify it," Harrison said, "we're more than happy to let the gnome go home."

After that the gnomes, and any other ornaments, will be sold at auction.

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Strange Beeping in Dumpster

noreply@blogger.com (Mike Vasas) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 12:53:00 +0000

Last night Amanda and I were in bed when we noticed what sounded like a beeping coming from above us, or to the north in one of the other apartments. It sounded like a smoke detector, but it was far less predictable a beeping to be coming from a fire-alarming smoke detector. I threw a long-sleeve on and wandered out into the hallway/lobby? of the apartment complex trying to pinpoint where it was coming from.

Of course, if it was a smoke-detector, and it was in one of the currently unoccupied apartments, then I was going to pinpoint where it was and call DTN. Nothing could be pinpointed from inside...I stepped outside and noticed it was far louder.

I came back in to the apartment and grabbed my keys and headed back out into the rain to see if I could get an exact placement of this strange beeping. I walked around the side of the building and the beeping was far more pronounced and I assumed maybe it was coming from an alarm going off in a transformer, or meter or something. As I got close, no...it was coming from INSIDE THE DUMPSTER. The dumpster's top was open, but the sliding panels were closed. As I headed for the door I saw another resident from our complex asking what that noise was and I told him I didn't know but I was going to call somebody.

I came back in and informed Amanda of my discovery and we immediately became far more suspicious then we already were. We decided the most logical thing to do would be to call the police, even if it ended up being nothing...a strange semi-consistent beeping coming from a dumpster could mean it was time to call the bomb squad. Of course, as adults, we knew it probably was nothing, and we would be wasting a police officer's time, but we couldn't bring ourselves to make that decision without the help of local law enforcement. I called LPD and they sent out an officer. By the time he arrived, which was only about 4-5 minutes, wouldn't you know it, the beeping had stopped.

I explained everything and took him outside to the dumpster, and we started looking around. Immediately I noticed that the sliding door panels were now open. On the ground outside of the giant green receptacle was a small personal fire-detector, like the kind you'd buy at Walmart or Kmart, and it was sitting rather painfully on the ground with no battery attached looking like somebody may have beaten it some.

Our guess is that some resident couldn't handle the beeping either and rummaged through the trash and either took the battery out or just smashed the thing on the sidewalk. I suppose it could've been the person who brought the detector out to the trash in the first place and upon hearing the beeping realized he/she hadn't taken out the battery. Either way, this discovery left me quite relieved, the officer too, who was very nice the entire time despite my goofy paranoia.

He was on his way and I went inside to relax. Amanda and I tried to laugh it off, and eventually we went to bed.

Another night in Lansing.