Paul K

A bit tardy in getting my taxes done.....was waiting on a 1099div that never came. But. Done. So. Scotch in hand.

"The Scare Quotes"

Ha!

Fun gig last night w/ the alt-rock original band. Guitar player #2 didn't show up, so we were a trio. More space for more notes! It jived better anyway with the way the leader plays guitar--he plays sort of more as a soundscape than as a rhythm...not articulate, no attack, and with lots of weird color notes. Adding another guitar over that makes it mush. And there were people there! Lots of people! I'm playing the same venue next week with the solo gig. Hope those people are still there.

Ok, so I'm pleased with the solo act thing. Good tunes, good fun, good challenge. But holy crap, I've played to a whole lot of empty houses. I'm still getting paid, and the bar staff loves the music. But...empty houses. That, and I put the Beef-a-Roni song in my set as a goof. It did not go over well. Like...at all. So: Beff-a-Roni is a little to old of a reference.

the hoi polloi.

I've updated my Soundcloud page with a bunch of tunes I recorded at last month's show at Coltivare. It recorded nice since there weren't even any crickets to ruin the recordings. This set will be my new "get gigs disc". I've also just taken delivery on a JamMan unit. I'll be working this winter on the loop thing and on adding my own backing tracks. We'll see how that goes....

Ha! Great idea. Also about the gig: Dinner wasn't included. I'm OK with that since I can't sing and play on a full stomach, but they did seem miffed when I asked about it.

Here's something weird. I booked a gig for a night while I'm away on business. No electronic devices are allowed were I work, and I check in at 7:00. The gig contact shot me an e-mail at 8:00 canceling the gig due to cool upstate NY weather. I didn't get the message 'cause I had to scoot from the facility to the restaurant ASAP to make 5:00 downbeat. The gig contact wasn't at the venue, and the manager in charge didn't tell me anything. I set up, played my thee hours, got paid, went back to the hotel. That's when I got the e-mail. So. Either good on'em for honoring the verbal contract, or the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing. Let's see if I book that place again.....

The Statistics (As in "don't wanna be a...") The Digits

So it appears you are watching too much "Jeopardy!"

Thyroid Crisis

The Questionable Chicks

A Cream Vibe! Thanks. Someone once said I had a Jose Feliciano vibe. I honestly did not know how to take that. And, Phil W, some pretty slick jazz thing. Right on. I'm a big Joni fan, and here is my newest tune in the set list to prove it: https://soundcloud.com/paul-kempkes/free-man-in-paris-5-24-15

Thanks, JC. And you realize that your kind words are responsible for me taking that tune out of mothballs some time ago. Thanks for that.

So what does Justin Bieber have that I don't have? I mean, besides chlamydia. Don't be so snarky. I meant a video. But now I also have a video.

And that, ma'am, is what getting out of the house will do. Rock on!

The Stunt Babies

The Airtight Alibis

I re-recorded "Scenes From and Italian Restaurant" today. The guitar brain farts are gone, and the guitar has more swirly. I like swirly. https://soundcloud.com/paul-kempkes/scenes-from-an-italian-restaurant-4-4-15

The Tendencies

Here's what I did today. I'm pleased with the vocal performance, but there's some guitar brain farts that will make this take not quite a keeper. Don't click unless you're willing to commit to the whole 7 minutes. https://soundcloud.com/paul-kempkes/scenes-from-an-italian-restaurant-draft

Big week. I also had a dental implant on Friday. This doc also was freaked out about my pulse rate; so minimal sedation was used. I'm good with that 'cause you bounce back quicker. As such, I got a way lot more done than I expected; those charts are almost done and more important: My Taxes Are Done! Scotch is in hand!!! (Cue the brass band playing John Philip Souza marches)

So here's a little OT morsel. I had my colonoscopy today. Yes, it should have been done three years ago. Anyway, my low pulse freaked out the doctor and so she lobbied for me to do it without anesthesia. When the aliens come to abduct me, I'll be ready.

Option 50