and now were back.....

As some of you may or may not know, I shut this blog down a few years ago and,by and large,  haven't said "Boo" since...

Theres a MUCH longer story as to why it's been on hiatus for so long,and and even longer story on how this this got started in the first place, but much of it is just a bit too personal to share...  So ill try to condense it with  the coles notes version:

Here Goes....
-  Had a Really Good Day Job, 12 plus years experience, decent work/life balance, and some healthy Hobbys...
- I Was in a fairly serious car accident, which lead to some health issues.. Nothing "life-threatening"  but certainly "life-Changing"  (predominantly Back Pain and Stress, the later proving to be the most challenging)
- At doctors recommendation, I Took some time off work to focus on health.. But ultimately doctors recommended a complete career change..  Industry, Style, Demands, and stress levels... 
- I went back to school to retrain for a new career as an Audio Engineer... 


I started this blog back in 2006, and at the time, I couldnt tell you WHY I started blogging,  I certainly never thought anyone would actually really read it besides mom (and I think she only skimmed it),  but at the time,  I was in the middle of all the "post-accident" drama, but as things got a little hectic with the time off work and the career change, a bunch of crap happened that led to me shutting this down..
(a) I just wasn't feeling all that creative and
(b) there wasn't a whole bunch of interesting stuff going on worth talking about, and much of what was going on was, well... private...
(c) I simply needed to retreat, maybe get some private time


So Its been a few years now since that shut down, and a lot has changed since then...

I Started Working Full Time In Audio Production for Radio in Sept of 2011, (still work there now) and the homestudio is, for the most part, shut down as a going concern... I simply lack the time to activly pursue clients... I'm still technically "available" but I upped my rates to, arguably, where the minimum should be for a trained & equipped Audio Engineer (which weeds out the riff-raff). I'm still, however, still building on it, slowly, and working on the odd personal project.. but for fun and not necessarily for commerce.

and then more recently, I signed on to sell Microphones..

I bought some gear from this guy in Vancouver, who makes clones of significantly more expensive gear... Anyway.. A recent attempt at haggling over price led to me buying one of everything, and now I'm an authorized retailer.. 

What I like about, aside from it being a product I beleive in, is that its a riskless proposition for me as, worst case scenario, Im stuck with an inventory I'd have wanted to buy anyway.. but at Wholesale prices...   Best Case Scenario, I sell enough to pay for my own... and some extra cash..

No Prospecting, no proactive sales calls, no quota's... Just Kijiji and facebook adds... for the most part, the product speaks for itself, and clients are pretty well informed.. I just have to be accessible...

But anyway... Thats a "relatively" short post to cover almost 6 years of "backstory" but, like I said, much of it is private.. but I opted to make this public again.. and maybe start dropping a line or two, here and there, as the mood strikes me...

We'll see what comes of it... if anything...

I'd doubt I'll blog often again, at least not now... but thought I'd fire this up again.. and get it running in case the mood strikes me...


Peace!

An Actual Bedtime Conversation between myself and my 7year old lil gurl….

Lil One:  Daddy, you know commercials?

Myself: yeah?

Lil One:  Don’t you think its mean how their all like “if you wanna be cool you should Buy THIS!... Only 10-99!!!” 

Myself:   Ummm, yeah…. Ah, why?

Lil One:   well, what if you can’t afford it? Then it’ll make you feel bad!!!  

Myself:  yes.. your right, that can mean… umm… You do know that daddys job is Making Commercials for the Radio Right???

Lil One:  (without skipping a beat) Yes, I just meant on Television.. Not Radio…

Myself: (desperately seeking her approval) But I did make some really cool commercials yesterday about Bullying… and how its wrong and people shouldn’t do it…

Lil One: (as if sensing my thoughts) Oh that’s Great Daddy! I’m so proud of you!.... 

 -was the Highlight of my entire day!

Just because its funny

Eagles Soared... but left a sour taste, sort of...

We'll, we just got back from our Eagles Concert trip... and, without a doubt, they sounded fantastic... Absolutely flawless... but if I had to be totally honest, part of the experience left me slightly disappointed..

I Like Sam Roberts, had'nt really heard to much of the other lady who opened, but I'm HUGE fan of John Forgety... And having already seen the Eagles in 2005 I was looking forward to Forgety every bit as much, if not more then the Eagles...

Anyway... flash forward to the Eagles.. their sound was, well... Immaculate... You could hear every note, every instrument, every breath, every instrument... just like a Great CD or DVD recording... And it stands to reason... I mean they are one of the Greatest Bands in the World, Certainly in my top 5 of all time favorites... so I'd assume they have the best gear, and the best road crew and sound techs....

So, Sam Roberts was good.... but a little loose... First song had no bottom end, but by the time the 2nd song was 2 bars in, they found it.. and it got better... but I have to believe he'd sound better if he was headlining... then the lady got up... and her sound was a little better.. and even though I got caught napping through some of her set, I did enjoy it (hey, I was heavily medicated with pain killers, so cut me some slack)

But when Forgety got up, and I saw Kenny Aronoff take the stage... I stood up...

Now, I'll preface my comments by saying, first off, that John didn't play well for a man in his 60's, no not at all... He Played, Sang and Moved so F-king FANTASTIC that he'd put most men in their 20's to shame... he was just unbelievably GREAT... but (and here it comes) the sound mix lost the bass guitar completely, intermitantly left out some of the harmonies, and 2ndary instruments, and on occasion, something was too loud, other stuff too low... The latter of which I could forgive, but leaving the bass completely out of the mix is unforgivable...

Now, before you say.. "Rob, your just being nit picky"... No, I'm not.. it was gone... So i thought... "shit happens" give it a song or two.. they'll trace it down to a bad cable, d.i., or bad channel, swap it out, and get er running within a song or two..... but it didn't happen... ok. maybe its the amp??? ok... well with all that gear and technology, and arguably the best road crew in the world, you can swamp an AMP, Cables, DI and Channel within the space of 2 songs.... so I waited for the rescue... but it never came...

Which leaves me to question... "Why?" there are only one of two possible options as to why....

A) the sound crew sucks ass... and just didn't know, or were incapable of fixing it...
or
B) that the mix was deliberately sabotaged....

Now... I've heard stories about being "the opening act" and have always hoped they were Myths.. but sadly, not always.. Gowan did it to the Spoons in the 80's, (at least thats my opinion) and I believe the Eagles did it to Forgety on Saturday night?? which begs the question... Why???

Were they afraid of being upstaged by Forgety? I mean.. insofar as Stage presence and Energy.... the guy could play through a ghetto blaster and STILL get the crowd on their feet... and, yes, some Eagles music is "easy listening" but as a fan of both, for me... it cause me to loose some respect for the Eagles as musicians...

Now don't get me wrong, I'm still a fan... they are all f--king musical geniouses (yes, I know I can't spell) and they've built one of the most if not THE most successful musical franchises in History... For me, my top 10 are (not in order) Pink Floyd, Eagles, Forgety, Alman Bros, Boston, Journey, Bob Seger, and, ok.. maybe I have a rotating top 20 thats hard to nail down.... so forget the rest for now... But my point is that, if I think the Eagles are great, and 90% of everyone on the planet feels the same way... and they have top billing, what could they possibly have to gain from deliberately making the sound crew hold back on their abilities for Forgety and the other acts??? vanity? fear? I mean come of it?? Your the f--king Eagles, NO one can one up that... but there it was.... ...

So, had I only heard the Eagles, and not the proceeding acts... again, truly masterfull.. a sur-real almost religious audio experience.... But that calibre of tone should not have been held exclusively for them.. They should have shared the limelight, and alloud the sound crew to give their "best" with the other acts as well... you know, be TEAM PLAYERs... ... As I'm 110% sure the sound crew could have done better, but were likely handcuffed....

Oh well.. Who really knows what happened.. thats just my best guess... but there it is...

I will say this, however... As good as it was.... I think Joe Walsh Stole the show (he tends to do that) while not the most dynamic singer int he group, he's got this niche voice that I just love, and someone else said that he's like a puppy thats so ugly he's cute and ya just want to take him home..... so theres that (I think the technical term is Fugly, lol, sorry Joe) But yeah... Joe's appeal is undeniable... and people love to love him.. so to their credit, Don and Glenn gave him time to shine... they did, however, hold Timothy back. letting him sing only one (maybe two) of the songs he sings lead on... (we got to hear more of him on the 05 tour)

that being said... And I'll take heat for this again I'm sure... I will say this..

My opinion, of the best Concert ever (limited to those that I have seen personally) still goes to Bon Jovi, in Montreal, outdoors 2 summers ago.... Now, bear in mind while I Like Bon Jovi, I'm not as big a fan of his music then I am of Floyd, Eagles, etc.... And I've seen Floyd and the Eagles as well.. But Bon Jovi put on a better stage show, not just in terms of sound, Big Screens and effects, but also audience interaction, and the build up.. the opening acts ALL sounded 100% great.. nothing held back... And NICKLEBACK was one of the openers....

so... my top concerts? in order?
1> Bon Jovi
2> Eagles: Farewell 1 tour
3> Pink Floyd, Momentary Lapse of Reason (87)
4> James Brown (Halifax, the year before he died.. it was bare bones, but he KICKED ASS)
5> U2 (06 i think, also Montreal)
6>Elton John (07, Montreal)
7> Australian Pink Floyd (would be higher insofar as sound and quality, but for the fact they are a cover band)
8> Eagles, Moncton, last night
9> Sarah MacLaughlin, Rebecca Cohn, 93
10> Jan Arden (3 concerts so far, truly phenominal talent and gifted songwriter)
11> Bryan Adams
12> Hip
I could go on, but you get the point...

anyway... I'll get off my soap box... sorry.. it still was a great concert.. no mistake.. I was just a little miffed about, well.. no need to for me to be redundant....

I should say though, that Monton puts on a WAY better show then Halifax could ever do at the Commons.. Now, as a Halifax resident... that sucks.... as I means I gotto go back to Moncton, and pay for Hotel as well as the concert.. but its a Fact... the waiting was very tolerable, and totally within reason, the washrooms, bars, food, all decent quality and reasonably speedy.. and the Hill itself is just great... the weather could have been a little better, but that's the risk of outdoor stuff... but the Venue it self, just great... Thumbs up to Moncton, and Donald Tarlton.. the "Concert Experience" was first rate!!!

I think if halifax ever wants to compete, they need to forget the commons, and go somewheres else... Maybe sackville, Maybe dartmouth somewhere with a HILL they can build around... but there I go, up on yet another soap box.... sigh...


moving right along..

I Had a different band in the studio tonight, recording a little 5 song demo for a "Hire this band" cd and also for their myspace page... The Drummer I've heard before, as he fills in for Quntin in DaRock sometimes, but this is his regular band, and I gotta say... wow... these guys were really good!!! it was a lot of fun recording them.

But you won't get any spoilers here... But keep checking their Myspace page... Hopefully, they'll have the finished tunes up there in no more then a week.. Assuming, that is, the Studio doesnt get lazy and procrastinate the mix down...

Overall, a great weekend... a temporary reprieve from all the stress of late.... shit.. there I go reminding myself of all that again.. oh well.. albeit a short term break from reality.. it was a good one.. One day left tomorrow (Natal day) with the Family.. then its back to the trenches... well, sort of.. but thats a story for another day...

Cheers for now..

Un-intended benefits

Ok... So if you had told me a year ago that I could ever be one of those people that "go to the gym" i'd have laughed my ass off.....

Funny how things change..... as Just the other week... I found myself with an hour to kill and thought "Hey, I can get an hour in a the gym" and did just that...

I miss a day herer and there.... If I'm making up for it with biking, walking, or other manual labor, but for the most part... I go every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.... And I'm now at a point where I actually like it..
I find I'm pushing my self, and I'm even getting a rush from it on occassion... I got my locker lock, water, and my whole rotation all worked out... and its going well...

one down side, however, is as I can't afford a home set up, I have to share the facilities with other patrons... The majority of whom are of the opposite sex... That said, however, I'm very pleased to report that it appears that spandex appears to be coming back in style... and with a vengance...

thats right... Spandex! that revealing, yet leaves more then enough to ones imagination, wonder material that every man privately loves to see the ladies in! ... While there are a few remote occasions when its comparable to a car wreck (your drawn to look, even though it may gross you out) for the most part, it makes the whole gym experience all the more enjoyable.. the biggest challenge is trying not to stare.... oh my.. life is tough..


In other news... I caught THE DARK KNIGHT tonight, with my litle brother... perhaps the best movie I've seen in a long long time.. Highly recommend it..

A day with a Rock and Roll Hero!

While he may not be as well known as Mick Jagger or even Matt Minglewood, Richard Boudreau, aka Sam Moon, has long been one of my musical hero's... And I got to sit down with him recently, to interview him about his musical travels for the Documentary Project..

I'd first met Sam, in person, a few years back at a Matt Minglewood CD Release party... I'd met him again at the ECMA's in Halifax in 2007... and again in Fredricton in 2008...

Not only did he always remember me, but he also remembers my dad, and always tells me to say hello...

During this recent visit, I had the honor of hearing Sams story from the beginning.. From singing in the choir as a kid, to his first band... then the PowerHouse Rock band that could have taken over the world "Moon Minglewood and the Universal Power, right up to today... I also got to hear a lot of the side stories and back stories and while I'd burned through almost 3 hours of tape, it seemed like 10 minutes... I could have stayed there all day and listend... The man has led an extraodinary life...

His musical resume is as impressive as any... He's shared stages with the likes of Steppenwolf, Heart, "THE BAND" and more, but is so down to earth, that he'll get up and jam with just about anyone who asks... I myself was blessed with the pleasure just a few months ago at Bearlys, (while I was sitting in with Matchstick Mike and the Chain Smoking Altar boys)... A real highlight for my own musical resume.

Anyway, theres LOADS of stuff I would love to talk about, but I'm afraid you'll just have to wait for the documentary to be finished to get all the details..

But, I will say this..... Mr. Moon is certainly one of those extremely talanted musicians that, in a perfect world, Should have made the big time... Certainly a perfect candidate for the "Almost Famous" project.. but that said, I still very much consider Sam a success. He's done and seen more then most musicians only dream of, and has also influenced far more musicians and singers then I think he realizes... Moreover, my interrpretation, is that Sam really could have made it further up the musical food chain... but like in many career paths.. there comes a point when one has to decide... How far do you really want to go, and what price are you Willing to pay for it... I believe Sam could have done anything he wanted to musically, the potential, talent and momentum certainly was there... , but I believe he simply "Chose" to come back to Nova Scotia and build a life... (my words, not Sams) And for that, I both admire and respect the man and I'm proud to call him a friend..

Anyway... like I said.. Loads more stories from this visit, but you'll just have to wait... But I believe it will be worth it... trust me!!!

What, me Crazy?

Some times its the simple things that get ya...

When we first moved in here, it was just me... no band... so I spread "my shit" out all over the room I'd claimed for my studio... Then the band fell together... and i quickly realized that the space wasn't working... so we shuffled things around.. and it worked space wise, but it sounded horrible... So we had a Sound guy... (I mean a real one, with real creditials and experience (i.e. he helped BUILD the CBC's studio) come in and give me some good practical advice... and to his credit it worked... We could jam, hear everything, no feedback.. and still low enough volume that your ears dont ring after...

So why mess with it? well... I had all my stuff crammed into a little alcove, some stuff put away, and i had to crane my neck over when ever I wanted to sing in order to reach the mike... So then I thought... "pete Sits to play drums.. why not put him in the alcove" So for the past TWO days.. I've been shuffling gear back and forth.. and I tell you.. its a LOT of work... But I'm really happy with the result.. and while I was able to get some stuff back out in the open that was previously put away... I think I actually also have MORE space??? anyway... We'll have to "sound check" it again next rehearsal.. and I still have some more wiring to as well.. but I'm some excited! .I even put up my acoustic foam... I'd not done it before as I have to paint the room.. But I figure that I have a LONG list of "to-do's" before I get to the painting of this room, so I figured... I can always take it down and put it back after painting....... But anyway...but Im like a little kid in a candy store. I keep coming back up stairs, turning on the light and just looking around.... sigh... simple joys! I'm so uncomplicated.. to bad I couldn't make a living doing something like this... But I guess Im pretty luck to have it as a hobby... So I'll dare not complain..

Speaking of which... Im off to NB this weekend to do Sound with Da Rock! I've opted to stay at Chucks place as opposed to crashing with the band at the "band house" I've been at "band house partys" before... and be it the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's or now... the music may change.. the partys the same... and to quote Danny Glover... I'm getting to old for this sh-t!" ha ha...

well.. its late.. I should go get some sleep..

The Milk Run

Foresight, it seems, is not something I posses any measurable quantity... at least not lately...

ever the dutiful spouse, I volunteered to drop off my wifes car at the dealership.this morning, and more importantly, our daughter at daycare...

I knew full well that the shuttle couldnt get me back home.. but thouhgt I could at least get a ride to the bus depot, and catch the next bus... it never dawned on me that the bus stops running to Tantallon at 8am ish.. and doesnt start again until noon...

So I take the milk run around metro, browse a few shops, and eventually.. just wait at the depot...

The ride home was equally slow... literally taking the "long cut"... As it turns out, it was actually the very first time since moving to NS in 1992 that i was ever on the bus, except for a pub crawl in my 2nd year at MSVU... but that doesnt count..

Anyway.. on any other day, id have just got a cab.. but being off, with no particular agenda or schedule... it wasn't half bad a day at all... I'd over done it yesterday, so I felt I'd earned a slow motion day today... all in all.. not bad.. but I doubt I'll choose to try it again... at least not anytime soon... times to valuable to waste...

My studio session int he afternoon got canned, so I took it as an opportunity to reorganize the studio lay out..
You wouldnt think it would be hard shuffling stuff from here to there, but with all the cables and sh-t, after starting at about 2pm today, some 12 hours later, Im still no done.. but then again, Im not that efficient at this hour... so I'd best be calling it a night..

And the Band Played on!

Well... it took over 2 months of un-coordinated schedules.. but we finally had our first Full rehearsal on July 2nd with EVERYONE in attendance... ... and it was magic!!!

Not perfect, I mean... were human, we have day jobs and familys... and we were Rusty.. but its like pure adrenallin... just intoxicating..

I was actually up until 4am mixing down the recording.. and while not perfect, lots of mistakes.. especially by me.. But still, i've listened to it at least 20 times over since... Im actually listening to it still now...

If you want to hear it.. add me to face book (ROB Crewe) and its all on my profile page... theres pics of the band in there to.. in my photos..

anyway.. Im too wired to sleep.. but to tired to think clearly.. so I'll call it a night... I promise a more interesting post next time...

MacGiver Eat your heart out

How to install a window airconditioner in a Roll out Window....

or maybe it should be.. how not to...


So it gets really fucking hot up here in the ol band room... REALLY hot... unbearable...

After the last jam on the 2nd... I was so drenched in sweat, I got approval from management (aka da wife) to get an air conditioner for the window...

Problem.... those units are designed for windows that slide up and down... not the freaking role out ones...

I took the Window out on saturday.... but the rest, I had to think on.. and tackle when I had time...
Problem to... time flies around here...

So its 4:30... the guys are due over at 7ish... and its at least 28 degrees up there... easy...

I gotta get this done..


So i grab a scrap piece of plywood, and give it a try... I'd thought the whole thing threw previously, but never sketched it out like I normally do... you know, measure twice cut once....

I get it close, but trutch be told, I have to re-cut that last f--king piece like 7 times.... (trial and error)

Anyway... with a lot of help from the guys in the band... we gott-er installed.. and while practice is long over...  its really starting to cool down now... (hey... it had to come down a long way... thats a lot of degree's to drop)

whew...

Well worth the effort..I even got to use 3 of my 4 power tools...  Yes.. I know have four... hmm actually . I've added a recip saw and wet saw to my small, but well used arsenal.... too bad my wrist hurts from all the screwing.. (the screwdriver... get your mind out of the gutter) so with that, and the calluses on my hands from moving rocks today.. but thats another story...

Im in hard shape... even got a cramp when playing bass on a tune tonight... but i dare not complain

funny thing is I should be passed out.. but band practice seems to give me soo much energy, I end up awake for hours... piddling away at stuff..

Guess I should go clean up the mess of sawdust..


later!

Miscellaneous Parafenalia

So I guess the sayings true... Procrastination's like Masturbation... Feels good at the time, but when you get right down to it.. your just screwing yourself... ha ha ha... My point, (and I do have one) is that Theres actually been a ton of stuff thats happened while on hiatus those 6 months or so that Id like to blog about , but its such a long list its intimidating... so I just procrastinate... avoid, and the list gets longer... and to be honest, the longer time goes on, the less details i can recall, and the less relevant it seems... so if I have a random brain fart I may inject a blast from the past, but I've pretty much decided to just wash trhat clean.. and just post on stuff from hear forward...



Anyway.. I doubt I'll ever blog with the same frequency as I did before...but we'll see...

So.... where to start..
but just as a short short recapp....

ECMA's Check.. did that.. well, at least the highlights...
Documentary??? hmmmm Im gonna hold those cards close for now.. but suffice to say.. nothings "really" materialized... nor would I go writing any post dated cheques... but some stuff has been unfolding that has renewed my enthusiasm for the project... but for now.. it remains in "pipe dream" status...
Band: yeah, I think i covered that... Its actually been really fun.. Slow, but fun.. one of the things I'm happiest about over this past year...
House: I've left a lot of that out...projects, progress, drama.. etc... the whole Frank experience has me still a little gunshy... but not to completely cut it out, I just diverted a lot of my "exhibitionist" attention grabbing picture posting efforts to that new craze... known as "Facebook" but I'm not as invested in it as some..... its just a forum... reality is, those guys who run that site, or this site, or anyother for that matter, can go bankrupt and dissappear in a flash... its happened... So thats why I own my name as a domain, and some others.. my own little pieces of web realestate... for now, set aside for future development... lol
Work: I'd love to rant about that... but, so does everyone... But I think to publicly talk about that stuff... good or bad, could be a career limiting venture... so I'll keep that stuff in "draft mode" and maybe someday I'll be in a position to post without fear of circumstance...


hmmmm i'm feeling repetitive... sorry.. its late.. and Im too wired to sleep..

I just finished a book.. Daniel Silva's "the Secret Servant" Its one of a series of books... and I think its among the best series I've ever read... Better then the Bourne Series, Better then Dan Brown... (his "fomula" gets painfully obvious as you read more of his work) and pretty close to Harry Potter (that will likely remain my favorite for a while) but this Silva guys a close 2nd.. I'd highly recommend it..

anyway..Im not sure whats worst... me blogging about such boring tedium, or someone reading it... I think the former... as one doing the latter can at least point and laugh... ha ha...

Think I'll try a chapter of another book and see if it can put me to sleep..

peace out!

Diary of a Sound Man...

So... I've never really had any formal training on any of this shit... I mean, I know some stuff.. and I'm a quick study... but Im really a novice... What I know, I've learned from either trial and error.. and/or hanging with others who know more (of which there are many) and picking their brains... watching, observing, etc...

So, as much as I LOVE playing live music.. I've always wanted to try my hand and both Studio Production, and live Sound... I even applied, and was accepted to both the Ontario Institute of Audio Technology (then, a rarity, now one of many) and St. Fx's music program, and was even gonna apply to Berkley... but obviously, I did neither... But I've often wondered, "what might have happened if"

anyway, that preamble was just to prove the point that when some good friends of mine asked me to do sound for them.... I jumped at the opportunity..

They are an upwardly mobile band in HRM, but still in that "growth/learning" phase... Not just in the music sense, but in the business end of it, and I gotta say... they're doing one helluva job on all fronts... In just the last two years alone, they've come, in my opinion, LEAPS and Bounds... improving the quality of their sound, stage show, gear, and venues...

Anyway.. I'd like to think its been a mutually beneficial, albeit part time for me, experience... They get a sound man whos sincerely interested and concerned in their success, and eager to learn.. and I get to "ply my trade" as they say, or Trial by fire, might be another way to put it...

Each gigs been different, and I'd like to think I'm getting better and better each time round.. In both getting to know the band better, the gear, but also what to do when shit needs to get done.. be it effects settings, wiring the gear up, eq, compression, and so on... I mean I think I got a good ear and all, but there is a learning curve to a lot of this stuff... Like how to eq a room, you can read VOLUMES on Compressor and/or gate settings alone... and so on and so on... But I love it.. I could read the manual for an eq and be as excited and "interested" and engaged in the reading, and the specs as some are for sports or porn!

its also good for my back: unlike when I play and have to lug my keyboard and/or guitar around... with these guys I just show up... I lift nothing.. so thats luxury fer sure....

So tonight was a key gig for them.. I mean they're booked steady, but there's some prestige that comes with playing Down Town... and Im proud to say... They Kicked ASS!!!!! They played well, they sounded great, and the crowd loved it!!! Im sure they'll be back... and I couldnt help but feel a sincere sense of Pride for them! They're mostly (but not all) a little or a lot younger then me, and all but one of them are single... (or at least, unmarried) so, well... you know the rest of that story... but as an "old married fart" I get to watch from a safe distance, somewhat sheltered from the circus, and in a small way, re-live some of my youth vicariously through them... which is also kind of fun...

But im all hyped up right now, cause this was a key gig, and Da Boys Kicked ass!!! I said that already, didn't I??? well. they did...

Mind you, its not my favorite Genre of music... but there's no denying its energy and drawing power.... and more specifically, "THEIR" drawing power.. They even have a group of fans that follow them from bar to bar... regardless of the distance... Da Boys are doing well, thats for sure...

in contrast, my own band doesnt share a single tune on the set lists... Mind you, were a collection of like minded "niche" musicians, playing mostly classic rock, and some B-Side stuff that no one else is doing, but that said, My god... it sure is fun sometimes to have a foot in both camps... its like having your cake and eating it too...

anyway, to get back on track... Tonight was a neat excercise. pun intended..

No snake... House pa, board in front of house... Yeah... you musicians know how hard that can be..

So Sound check! Wicked good.!!! I was so excited, I was giddy..

First song... Pure f--king MUDD!! All bottom, no top.. what the f--k ?? I was in shock.. running to the front, to change this/that.. running back to listen to its effect..

it took 3 songs for me to figure out that in the pre-set rush to find the light switch for the house par-64's, someone inadvertantly turned off the amp for the Mid-highs... so all the house was getting was the sub, and the wash from the stage monitors... ok, sure, pre-flight systems check could have avoided that, but who would have expected that??? anyway.. I fired up the amp, instant improvement, but it then takes me a good 3 or 4 more tunes, all the while RUNNING from front of house to the back to listen (did i mention there was no snake the board was on stage) fighjt the FULL HOUSE line up down the block to get in crowd... but then I get it.. and it was SWEET!!!! those little Bose speakers sound wicked, you could hear every string of the acoustic, every nuance of the each mic/instrument.. even the digital kit sounded wicked, with non of the low tom resonance I typical fight with by riding the levels by the 8th song, it was pure Butter!!!! or as Ted Templeton or Koko Goldstien might say "Smooooth!" (do a you tube search for "Yacht Rock" if you dont know who those names are..

Anyway... the rest of the night was just a slight tweak here and there... Normally, with a cable snake and back of house set up, I'd ride the levels.. Maxing the vocals during the songs... pulling them back in between to avoid feedback, giving the lead guitar a boost during solo's, riffs, cuting effects off during "talking" and back during singing, etc.. but for a stage mixed gig... you get the best "Compromise" sound you can get... mindfull of all the possible variables.. then you leave well enough alone! I left them on their own at the close of the 2nd set... quite confident they're well set up, and poised for a great weekend!!!

its a rush.. I mean, Im technically not "in the band" just a hired temp.. But they are all boys from home.. and I couldnt be any happier for their success...

Check them out at www.darock.ca and go see them live.. better yet, book them... They'll keep the bar flowing, and the dancefloor packed!!!

Cheers for now

The Birth of a band... (or maybe the afterbirth of several others... lol)

I keep forgetting that I’ve been on hiatus since last November… so Over time, I’ll try to fill in the gaps.. in addition to keeping this dribble current gong forward…

Here’s one of the gaps…

Some time ago, I had an idea… (the whole Bongwater concept)

Fed up with playing the same old cover tunes as everyone else, Wayne and I thought, a couple years back.. “Wouldn’t it be great to pick songs that WE LOVE, with no regard for how hard they are to play and/or dance to”

Problem with that, is that it limits your gig-ability… and as a result, fewer musicians want to be a part of that…

We tried a couple times.. but we had the wrong mix of guys each time.. (well, there were a couple bizarre experiences, but I’ll keep this out of the gutter and say that…) For the most part, good players and good people, but they just had, respectfully, different ideas and agenda’s, and, selfishly, we were sticking to our guns on this one.. with the mantra… “If its stops being fun… then we stop” plain and simple…

So We gave up on the concept for a while, and got together as a duo, writing some, recording.. mostly just trying to stay doing something musical.. I ended up getting recruited by a semi acoustic rock band to play bass… then Keys on Bernie Doucettes CD, and a few other projects, and that was fun…

The semi acoustic-rock gig was fun.. Good People and as we were without drummer, the bass was especially important ..and also allowed me to bring out the Gibson hollow-body.. (My Fav axe, but least used)…. Anyway.. We played the Casino, opened for Trooper, had some Studio time at Sonic, and all was going well… But it fell off the rails in July..

I’d just gotten the studio put together in the new place, was settled, and had talked to Wayne about re-starting our weekly pow-wow sessions… with intent to maybe make a CD and eventually, build a band around it.. As were typically slower then cold molasses, Id estimated a 2 to 3 year time line on the whole concept.. So as an act of good faith, and straight up-ness, I gave the semiacousticrock band’s leader, of sorts, and the other two members, a heads up that A) I was looking forward to getting into the swing of things with semi-acoustic rock band,(after a little break) and B) oh, by the… 3 years from now, I might have a 2nd gig on the go.. but I was in with them for the long haul, or at least as long as they wanted me, but if you ever feel that I can’t keep up, by all means, you can fire me, and no hard feelings…

Anyway… I thought I was being all Honorably, giving 3 years notice that I ‘MIGHT” have another gig competing for my time, maybe.. but at that, it was a long shot.. No one does that in music.. they should, but typically, you find out your “____” quit the day before a key gig…. It can be ugly.. Anyway… The other members thought… “Cool, see ya next rehearsal” but the band leader blew a gasket and just plain fired me, together with a good f—king chew-out. I was shocked and pissed, but not because I needed the gig, But because it was fun, they were good people, and his reaction was, just Bizare? Anyway.. I tore a strip off him, right back… and that was that… The other two members were blameless, and in as much shock as I was… and to their credit, kept respectfully out of the mud altogether…

Anyway.. I’ll spare the rest of the details… as it all came out in the wash.. At the end of the day, (well, a month or so later) The band leader came clean, that there was actually a hidden agenda on his part (and his alone), and he’d simply exploited the opportunity to make a line up change.. Which is unfortunate.. I mean, I know Im a half decent on the bass, but I’m also aware that I’m no pro… So if he’d simply said.. “Look Rob, we love you, but we want to advance to better gigs, and to do that we need….” Well, you know what I mean.. I would have been a little sad over it, as anyone would, But I would have understood, respected the call, and at the end of the day, supported him with it… But he didn’t play it that way, and I was pissed with him for it.. as more then “band mates” were were friends… and friends don’t do that shit.. ..I guess I was more disappointed really, as were the other two members… but, long story short, as much as he did do dirt to me, I have to give credit that it took a lot of balls to finally come clean, so we made nice, we all got over it.. hugged the shit out..as they say, and moved on..

I ended up hiring the guitarist to do ¾’s of my Kitchen reno (Great Carpenter.. wicked job) and gave a bunch of carpet to the key-player.. and the singer/leader came to my xmas party, and were bud’s again… which is cool.. but I think it all happened for a reason… and, the shocker, it was all worth it…. As Im very content.. very VERY f—king content, with what’s evolved since…

See, with every band I’ve ever been in over the last 10 years… I’ve subconsciously been “Somewhere’s else”

So I’m bandless, getting set to do the duo thing with Wayne when one day.. the guitarist from the band I’d just been turfed from said… “Hey, remember your idea for that band you had.. I think I know “THE” drummer for you”
Normally, if any ordinary joe said that, I’d say.. “Um, ok… yeah” But you also have to understand, that as a person, and musician, I have Tremendous respect and admiration for this guitarist… so for him to give that kind of endorsement… Carry’s a LOT of weight with me…. Needless to say.. It got my mind back on the original “bongwater project” maybe there’s hope afterall…..

Now, I’d already had a drummer I was gonna call, but he’d just started a new job, and I though he was considering a move to NewBrunswick, so I got connected with this “other drummer” and we pitched our ideas back and forth… Turns out, were on the same page…. Surprisingly soo…. So what next… ??? Build the band… find the line up…

Ok, Waynes a given… Drummer, Singer, Me (Keys and sometimes Bass) Done..

Next, Guitar
Ok, we GOTTA have Steve Furey… Dudes just too insane a shredder not to have on board.. Plus, we got history… Went to SWGC together, AND he’s just an all round cool guy… But we need a 2nd guitarist.. Ideally, a SoulFull, Clapton-esque LesPauller to Round out the blend….

I’d jammed with this dude, Steve Ashton back at the other drummers Jam party, a few years back and KNEW he’d be a fit.. We’d only jammed that night, but sometimes you can tell when it gels…

Anyway.. They were all in… at least for the test drive…. All we needed then was a singing bass player (for harmonies, and some relief for wayne, so he’d not have to sing EVERY song)

I knew lots of them.. but they were all busy with other projects..


Enter Mr. Mac,

I knew he could play guitar and sing. And He was just bugging the Shit out of me to get in on the project and I thought? Hmm..screw it… worth a shot.. “How do you feel about trying the bass out”

Anyway.. flash forward 6 months.. and this new bands working out better then I ever expected… Where not out giging yet, which is way behind early estimates in that regard, but I could care less, as. More importantly, I really believe we finally have the right mix of guys for the intent…

Steve Mac’s become a far better bass player then I’d originally given him credit for… so much that I can almost see the “evolution” from month to month..

The two guitartist are just insane.. They Play very well together.. theres no showboating or competition… its all about the sound… Waynes, well, quietly simply the best singer I’ve ever known personally.. And This New Drummers just freaking incredible…

More over… While I’m an ok keyboardist/bassist.. musically, Ahston, Furey and Pete are quite sincerely, just on a level above me… and that’s cool…. But there’s no ego’s, no power trips… and we are able to get along, and learn from and with each other… Just last Tuesday Asthon helped me find the right phrasing on Hold the line, A song I’ve been playing “Close, but essentially, Wrong” for years now… And its just, well… magic….

More “special” and odd, is that we all seem to be reasonably on the same page with the intent/direction… even when it changes.. The initial “lesser known fav covers” are still a part of it, but we’ve also decided to work as a group to write and/or Finish existing originals and cut our own album…

About the only thing we can’t agree on is the band’s name..

Personally, Im still partial to “bongwater” but the potential negative associations are a legitimate concern to some of the guys.. .. Stilbit has been dropped, as it reads too much like “Still Bite” so “Stillwater”, “Stillwater Lake” and “The Stillwater Project” seem to be the final three options. But even without a name, its still working out great….

Even more exciting, is the evolution of the “intent”.. to be co-writing, and recording is just awesome.. Also, as all the guys have jobs, families… No one get all upset if someone can’t make practice due to work, or baby sitter, etc… Sure, we all look forward to jamming, and get down when it doesn’t happen, but last week it was your turn to bail, so everyone understands, and theres a neat "calmness" about it... … were all “in for the long haul” as they say…

In the meantime, I’ve picked up a few side gigs with a few other artists, keys here.. bass there, sound some times too..Not that I'm particularly into any of these side projects, but they are good experience and exposure, and the money coming in doesn't hurt... But, paycheck or not, I only do it to the extent that it doesn’t take away from this project.. I even backed out of some potentially lucrative/high profile stuff so’s not to spread myself to thin… Not that I couldnt do it, but I gotta have time with my family.. and I gotta make time to rehearse for this band a priority over any other music project... and thats just how I roll!!! lol...

So where will it go from here? Im not sure.. But Im confidently Content that it will be very Cool…. So keep an I out, and start saving up to shell out 20 bucks (or thereabouts) for the CD when its done.. Ideally by xmas... more realistically, next year this time...

Cheers for now..

Book Envy

So I’ve been reading Kevin Smiths new book, and its surprisingly good… I mean, I expected I’d like it.. I like all the guys movies, but a book is a different genre… but anyway.. I like it… And it kind of flows the way I’d always wished this blog could… Uncomfortably Candid… I mean he writes about everything… from smoking a dube with a friend, to afternoon delight with his wife, even taking a shit for half an hour with a Nintendo DS in hand…

Not that I’ve necessarily felt compelled to be “that public” about stuff… but theres been more then a few “entries” I’ve “Saved as draft” then later deleted… Not that they wouldn’t be funny or entertaining, its just that just couldn’t be that open… My day job won’t allow it.. Nor will it, until I am “my own boss” and unfortunately, that day may not come for a long time.. if ever…

Picture this, if you will…. The Vice President of any of my former jobs, hears about this Rob Crewe guy from out in Halifax, how he’s doing a good job, or did some volunteer work that got a mention in the paper, or his band was on TV….. that’s all positive stuff… But Now imagine that he/she wants to read more about it.. and In the absence of knowing where to look… does what we all do… Turns to GOOGLE…

the First hit, is my MySpace page.. and then theres a ton of random stuff.. Some of me, some of other “Rob Crewes” but sometimes it comes right to this blog (which was part of the reason I temporarily pulled it) and now picture that same vp reading the blog… I mean the name itself, is somewhat rebilious and non business-ish.. but the content…. And that’s the CENSORED stuff… If I really spoke my mind… Not that my opinions are controversial, they tend not to be… But the “after work” Me, is a little “less artsy, more fartsy” if I can quote Homer Simpson.. Yep… while I may clean up pretty good, … I can curse like a sailor, and Im just not that refined…

Not necessarily the type of image a corporation wants as a spokesperson…

So I practice a certain degree of self censor ship, and pour that excess creative energy into the documentary, and/or songwriting… and who knows… Maybe someday something might hook… Be it a song, or the documentary or something else, and then I might really be able to let-er loose like Mr. Smith does..…

Maybe I should right a book? “Diary of a frustrated banker?” .. and do just that.. be totally honest….. hmmmmm its an awfully vain idea??? It would be fun, but it could also come at a price.. less time blogging, less time doing other shit.. risky too.. as if it ever got published, you’d really wanna hope it sold as one could find themselves involuntarily unemployed pretty quickly… unless you made it quasi fictional? Hmmmmmm ….

Me and my pipe dreams… oh well.. Its lunch time..

Gotta jet… there’s a fries and Gravy calling out to me..

Thank Heavens its Monday.. Opps... Maybe not...

Wild weekend…

I had a GREAT weekend, very productive and fun on all fronts... and it was a welcomed end to a tough week... You see, our week didn’t start out to good.. The previous weekend, we set to work finishing the pad where we’d eventually put Sarah’s play set.. Over the course of a couple weekend, Trena and I had made a box, on the ground, of 6x6 ties, 24 x 21. It wasn’t on level ground, so it was challenging to make ti all work out, and also, we had some big holes to fill in the two back corners… But we took it as an opportunity to clean up the property of a lot of old ugly rocks, and what-not, and bury it… so we use that as fill, then had about 18 yards of Soil Deliverd First, Crushed Stone. To form the foundation, then crushed dust, which will pack to make a firm foundation for the play set will sit on, then peastone, for “cushion” and look… as she bounces off the slide….

So were got all this gravel in piles in our front yard, ready to roll, when someone suggests that we may be on top of our septic field and that that’s a big no-no…

Anyway, that sparked off a whole chain of events, and mass panic on the part of my better half… If that theory was right, we'd have tro dissassemble and rebuild the box, move all those rocks, again, and between that, and having to pay for the septic engineers fee's and all that, it would have been upwards of 1,000 bucks or more out of pocket... Not a good thing.. But, to my credit, I’d strongly suspected we were a-ok, (I even made a substantial bet on it*) but I had to get proof….

So after a barrage of calls to septic-folks… HRM, Dept of Environment, digging so many wholes in the back yard in search of our tank that it looked like a mass gravesite… a week later (and a week behind schedule) we find the tank and resolve that Yes… were A-OK…. And As we did all the work ourselves, EVEN hauling the gravel, it cost us nothing.....

But let me back up a step......... So its Saturday morning… I’d worked all day, then all night till well after 2am doing sound for Da-Rock.. And I’m up at 7:30… to start the day.. We call around, but no one has a bobcat/tractor available… so My Father in law and I set to work moving the gravel the old fashion way. Shovel, Wheel Barrell and Rake.. Around 11ish Trena’s back from Sarahs Dance Class, and she digs in as her mother takes care of Sarah.. Then Theresa, my sisterinlaw, arrives, followed by Steve Mac, (bassist In the new band) complete with his own rake, shovel, and wheellbarrell.. While Mac only had time for a few hours, it was amazing how fast it went.. By near 4:20ish, it was done.. (less the peastone which goes in after the structure is built)
So its bath and a quick nap for me.. then back to the bar for soundcheck..

The gig went well… I brought so of my own gear to get better control of EQ and effects vs. the stuff built into their board… I think it worked out well as I was able to squeeze a little more juice out of their system.. They need another sub, but it still worked out ok.. They played well, sounded good, and the crowd sure loved it..

The celtic/newfie/ and popular rock stuff is not my favorite genre…Bongwater was actually built partially on the premise of NEVER playing songs like Brown Eyed Girl and Sweet home Alabama, again.. I tend to be stuck on 70’s/80’s rock and to a certain extent, B-sides… but I got to give credit where credit is due… They run the band like business, the play a part, and the block the bars wherever they play.. They’ve built an impressive momentum over just a few years, and its only going to get better.. I’ve also noticed a dramatic improvement in their musical ability too….so its obvious, they practice.. and it makes a difference.. Its Saturday night, first night of the NHL playoffs, and I thought we’d get 20-30…. Boy, was I wrong.. it’s a full house, and the place is JUMPING! Wow…

Anyway.. another 3am crash landing… I think I fell asleep in my jeans and woke up around 5 or so to peel off a few layers… then drift off some more….. and 8am.. its back to work…

It takes me about 20 min to kick into 1st gear, but by 9am were deep into construction
And by 7:20ish, ,were not done, but were done for the day. The majority of the structure is up, and Richard’s got to head back to B-wtr…

But, no rest for the wicked.. I still have to mow the lawn, take out the garbage, put the tools away and tidy up…. By the time I hit the shower, its 9pm and Im one hurtin unit…. I fire up the hot water bottle, a pepsi, oh-henry and a big bowl of popcorn COVERED in butter…. And settle in to a few episodes of season 3 of Boston Legal… Part way through the 3rd episode, Im drifting.. so I shut it off, and Its probably the fastest I’ve fallen asleep in years… but Im out..

I actually got up before the alarm, (albeit by a few minutes) and for the first time in months, Im actually looking forward to work.. It was a Great weekend.. it had it all, Music, Family, Food, a good book (oh yeah, my Kevin Smith Book arrived, Hilarious, I was actually reading it at the bar during downtime) but Im exhausted and riding the desk will be a welcome change…

But the natural high is short-lived… back to work... blah... lol

I think I was riding high on the good news of our septic system being ok, (and not having to move and rebuilt the box) and the optimism of some other work related stuff...and the fun of hanging with my family, building a project, How excited Sarah’s getting…

in other news... Mom’s due in town today.. My family's bizarre… at least, I’m learning that they are… When you grow up a certain way, you think its normal.. but I’ve been told we’re not.. Or maybe we are, its just a Newfie vs mainlander thing..

Back home.. we drop in on people.. and people drop in on you.. Doesn’t matter if its supper time, if the house is a mess.. or whatever… that’s just how we roll… My house could look like a hurricane hit it.. You drop in on me, I’m cool with it.. I figure “hey, you’ve caught me offguard, so just act like the mess isn’t hear” that said, I’ve learned Mainlanders like notice… Typically, A few days notice for an overnight visit, and at least a few hours notice for a quick in/out visit.. Anyway.. My point, I found out last night via email (after trena had passed out) that mom’s gonna be at the house today around 5ish.. Not sure if she’s staying the night or not, and if her travelling buddy’s staying with her, but the house has been a construction site for 2 weeks now.. its not at its usual best… so When I sprung the news on the better half this am, her stress level peaked… I should’nt laugh.. but sometimes its just funny… oh well.. F—k it..My philosophy is “I’d apologize for the mess, but we live here… were messy… deal with it..” and that’s about all I have to say about that..

Anyway.. I should get back to work… its really hard getting in gear on Monday am… I’ve already had one meeting, which was fun and went well, but the rest of my day is administration….. oh joy, oh bliss….. someone hit me in the head with a f—king brick please!

ECMA Pics (some)

Extra Points if you can name everyone!!