Pneumonia

Pneumonia, Pneumonia, Pneumonia

How To Create MP3s

Here is a link to a presentation from a workshop I gave to the members of the Songwriter's Association of Washington a couple of times on how to create mp3 files.

The Russek Band, Turkish Band, and Belly Dancers

Hello (or Merhaba as they might say in Turkey),

I am very excited to tell you about the show we have planned this week. First off, the show is Thursday, September 23rd, at Zigs at 10PM. Zigs is located at 4531 Duke Street; phone (703) 823-2777. Cover charge is $10.

Joining The Russek Band trio for this show will be several members of The Turkish Band--and it is so VERY COOL. In addition to the musicians, several BELLY DANCERS will also be there. That is also VERY COOL.

This has been an interesting show to put together. For one, Turkish and Middle Eastern music has more tones (notes) that western music. Whereas, western music has 12 tones to the chromatic scale they have 24. It’s very interesting to see how they interpret our music and how we get around the problem of playing their scales on our instruments.

From the Turkish Band, Altan will be playing the saz. This instrument looks like a two foot egg with a broom handle sticking out of it. It has 7 strings and movable frets. It is an instrument that I have wanted to learn to play for many years. One of my favorite guitar players, Lu Edmunds, plays saz in western music. My mother gave me one a few weeks ago for my birthday. Altan also plays the long neck cumbus. The combus will remind you of a banjo.

Husnu has been a professional musician in Turkey appearing on Turkish TV for 30 plus years. He plays a kemence, which is a violin like instrument that sits on the floor like a cello. He is an incredible musician.

Brad and Eyrq play dubeks. These are very expressive hand drums. I don't think there are any other drums that have such a bright clear tone. These drums help push the unusual time signatures and rhythms along.

The show will start off as a traditional Russek Band show. We’ll try a new instrumental tune for you. As we add musicians and dancers the flavor of the music will change. During rehearsal on Saturday I was stuck by how different our songs sounded after hearing the different scales.

The dancers for the evening will be Lucy, Zareen and Cheryl. They are each going to do a different style of dance. You can find out more about Lucy here: www.lucy-dances.com

On Saturday, we will be shooting the first episode of the our new public access TV show, Music Jam. The first show is, as you might guess, The Belly Dance Show. Each month we will put together a show with a new theme and showcase other area musicians and bands.

Kind Regards,
Erich
www.russek.com
www.cdbaby.com/all/russek

If you would like to know more about Arabic Scales you might enjoy this link: www.maqamworld.com/maqamat.html
More Information about Lu Edmunds. www.mekons.de/lu.htm
I finally met Lu this year when he came through town playing with the Mekons.

T-shirts

I ordered 28 Russek Band T-shirts from artapart.com today.

CD Release Party, June 26 @ Jammin' Java, Vienna, VA

We are having a CD release party at Jammin' Java on Saturday, June 26. The show starts at 8PM with the band Brainfang. The Russek Band will start at 9PM.

The new CD, "What Are You Afraid Of?," will be on sale for $10 on this night only. You can also order it online.

The CD features an amazing team of musicians: Grammy-nominated and Wammie (Washington Area Music Awards) Hall of Fame guitar legend, Bill Kirchen; multi-Grammy winner and Wammie Hall of Famer, Jon Carroll; Wammie winners Nicki Gonzalez, Johnny Castle, and Jack O'Dell; DC music theater artist Jenna Sokolowski and Songwriters Showcases of America (SSA) multi-award winner and acclaimed sideman Dan Walters (LFO, Art Garfunkel,).

The Russek Band is Erich Russek (guitar, vocals), Gene Moore (bass, vocals) and Chad Sokolowski (drums, vocals). Special guests for the night include Dan Walters (keys); former Poets In Heat Dave Kline (violin) and Pierre President (guitar); Jenna Sokolowski (vocals); and others.

You can find directions and a map at www.russek.com/tour

Please tell your friends.

Kind Regards,
Erich

Jammin' Java
227 Maple Avenue E.
Vienna, VA 22180
(703)255-1566

The Russek Band
www.russek.com
703-623-3500
www.russek.com
mp3.washingtonpost.com/bands/the_russek_band.shtml

Nickelback

My friend, Nicki Gonzalez, sent me an email with this mp3 link yesterday.

http://www.sleeplessnight.net/media/nickelbacksucks.mp3

On the left channels you hear Nickelback’s hit song “Someday”. On the right chanel you hear Nickelback’s hit song, “How You Remind Me”. Notice how now only are the verses and choruses very similar but the places where the song builds are the same.

So does this prove that corporate music and radio sucks? Maybe, but it certainly adds to my belief that it is not innovative and offers the public very few choices.

As I was driving home yesterday, I thought lot about these two songs. I have spent a little time working at EMI, Capital and Island records and I have seen some of the power these company have.

But is this what the public wants? Just because they are practically the same song doesn’t mean I am ready to dismiss them. They are both huge hits. Maybe songs that sound like this are what people want. Or maybe, once you have sold the public on a particular song and sound they want more of that but just a little different. I know I like Maroon 5’s hit “This Love” because it reminds me of a song I used to love in the 80’s.

Nickelback is a band that I should like. Stretching your powers of description you might say Chad Kroeger and I sing and look similar. But I don’t focus on the music when these songs come on the radio. I ignore them. I can’t say I hate them. But they haven’t engaged me either.

Can you like one of these songs and not like the other? And if so, why? Is the magic formula to how to write a song that the public wants to hear? Is what we like about music more about familiarity than innovation? Would you want an entire album that sounds basically the same or each track completely different?

I’m afraid to answer these questions. One of my favorite new albums is Bob Dylan’s “Time Out Of Mind.” I’ve always had a problem remembering which song is which on the album.

Tampa Visit

I'm a master of airport security or so I thought when my wife and I went down to Tampa to show off our 9-month-old daughter to my family this Memorial Day weekend. We have two things going for us when it comes to travel. We are experienced travelers and we are fairly good planners.

That is why we divide into two teams to get through airport security. My daughter and I are Team One. We dress in clothing that can stay on without a belt. I don’t carry a wallet, keys, coins or anything metal. I carry only the precious “Bean.” A small pouch attached to a string around my neck holds my driver’s license and our tickets. I don’t wear shoes. I wear slippers and I breeze through airport security.

My wife, Team Two, carries her purse, the diaper bag, the stroller and any other necessities. She always gets snagged. While my wife works her way through the security officer’s questions and as they scrutinize our luggage, the “Bean” and I gather up whatever items airport security pass down the conveyer belt.

Everything went as planned on our way down to Tampa until we arrived and I searched for my real shoes in the luggage. And that is why I was at the Tampa Lightning Hockey game in my slippers.

New Album

The new album is coming. All the files are at the manufacturer. I sent the artwork back today. Shouldn’t be long.

Thanks

Big heartfelt thanks to everyone who made the gig last night. It was a blast.

Pierre sat in with us. It seems to set his guitar on fire when he plays. Notes fly off his fretboard with the sonic urgency of breaking glass and crackling wood.

There was a moment during the gig where I became a listener of the band instead of a performer. I knew then that the band was on the right track. Gene and Chad have found that sweet spot between swing and rock—The holly grail of groove.

Russek Band, This Saturday, Grog and Tankard

Hi,

The last time I performed my songs with a band in public was the summer of 2000. Not that I haven't been busy with music. I played bass and served as the music director of the Ester Goldberg Show for three years; I played keys for Disco Nap; I played bass and recorded an album with Flip Trixie; played piano and klezmer in San Diego; got a song in a couple of corporate videos; played some bluegrass; gave a couple of classes on music technology, and I recorded a new album.

But this Saturday, I am back with a new band and some old friends.

Gene Moore (bass), Chad Sokolowski (drums) and I are the core of the new band. I enjoyed playing with them for the first time in Disco Nap. Incidentally, Chad's sister, Jenna, is one of the singers on my new album.

Out front on lead guitar, will be my friend and former Poet In Heat, Pierre President. He burns up the fretboard like a cross between Hendrix and Clapton. Also joining us, will be Erica Hoffman. Erica was one of the backing singers from the Ester show and so funny she can make you fall down laughing.

We are one of four bands playing on Saturday at the Grog and Tankard. The Russek Band, Fragments, Irish Curse, and Hammersound and the lineup. It cost $7 to get in.

The Russek Band is the last band to go on and we start somewhere between 11:15 and 11:45 and will play for about an hour. (We'll play longer if you dance.) Make sure you mention that you are coming to see The Russek Band to the person at the door.

The Grog and Tankard is located at 2408 Wisconsin Ave, NW, Washington DC 20007.

A link to a map is located at the end of this email.

If you have the time, come and support us and local live music.

Kind Regards,
Erich

The Russek Band
Saturday, May 22
Grog and Tankard
2408 Wisconsin Ave, NW
Washington DC 20007
$7

http://www.grogandtankard.com/