Grunge As a teenager, I would sit in my room for hours listening to grunge-scene records I received in the mail from BMG, which offered, “10 CDs for the price of one!” (FYI, you might remember BMG’s competitor, Columbia House, which offered a much less-appetizing and math-riddled deal of “17 CDs for the price of… Continue reading The Strangeness That Is My Love Affair With Musicals
Category: Toby’s Posts
Toby’s postings to this blog
Recording The Corrupt Senators’ 1996 Release, Secret Bag Of Goodies
I remember being totally frustrated by the lack of support I was getting in my brother’s bedroom. I was blasting away on my Jackson guitar, playing it through my Princeton Chorus, I think. Although I could have been using one of my brothers’ amplifiers…I can’t remember. I was always using my brothers’ gear. I had… Continue reading Recording The Corrupt Senators’ 1996 Release, Secret Bag Of Goodies
Plugging
“Just keep plugging.” That’s what I keep telling myself. It was a grind on Saturday, but I am so pumped about what I am working on. In the past, I have posted everything as I have recorded it. This time I am taking inspiration from Charlie Van Stee‘s and LETRON‘s respective forthcoming albums in that… Continue reading Plugging
The Grind of Writing and Recording
Writing and recording music is one of those things, like reading an academic article or raising a child, that provides very few tangible benefits in the moment. But the outcomes can be wonderful and romantic. So it is that I have been writing all day, grinding out notes and lyrics and melodies and chords in… Continue reading The Grind of Writing and Recording
Randy Napoleon Secret Show Today!
For the last week or so, I have been planning a secret show starring nationally-reknowned jazz guitarist, Randy Napoleon. The invitations have already gone out, however I know that some of the invitations disappeared into the internets. If you are reading this and would like to attend, call me on my cell, and I will… Continue reading Randy Napoleon Secret Show Today!
Miladic Video Directed by Fifi 3PO
I just watched the new Miladic video. Wow! It was directed by the master of fancy names, Fifi 3PO, who also directed Run. Run! Run!!! RUN!!! RUNNNN!!!!
What inspires you?
An energy flows from my upper stomach and into my eyes and exits through my armhairs when I listen to “Every New Day” by Five Iron Frenzy. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFIMOJ46ofk Five Iron Frenzy is a now-defunct Christian ska band from the 1990’s. They were among the biggest bands on the Christian touring circuit for a while in… Continue reading What inspires you?
1% of the Time
Lisa has a hard time at my shows. Last night we had a talk about this. The songs I sing are not well-rounded pictures of situations. They are photographs of moments in time blown out to 2-5 minutes. None of my songs give people a well-rounded concept about anything. They are emotional and reactive and… Continue reading 1% of the Time
Crowd-Funding
I have always wondered what it would be like to have investors – folks who believe in me and my music so much that they would front me money for my next project. Basically, a record label. What if I had people demanding that I get in the studio to record, demanding that I make… Continue reading Crowd-Funding
Music to Swear By Preview #8 – Mason Jennings' "Nothing"
Head on over to Music to Swear By to listen to this weeks’ podcast featuring Ryan, John, and me. Over the course of the podcast we talk about our experiences playing in this band. I learned a lot about Ryan and John – things they never told me about life, love, the universe. Like yesterday,… Continue reading Music to Swear By Preview #8 – Mason Jennings' "Nothing"
Music to Swear By Preview #7 – "I Bombed Korea"
Unfortunately, arcane publishing rules that plague our creative community make publishing this recording a legal liability. So, if you really want to hear me play Cake’s “I Bombed Korea”, you will have to email me. Sorry about that. Stupid Congress. Stupid media conglomerates (Disney, I’m looking at you…). BUUUUT, you can listen to me play… Continue reading Music to Swear By Preview #7 – "I Bombed Korea"
Music to Swear By Preview #6 – "Let's get funky!"
This song, as you know, is about a song. The title of both songs is, “Let’s get funky!”. A few days ago, I stumbled across an old recording of the original song from 1997. While it has lost the rich horns and Bob’s voice that accompanied the original recording, I am pleased to say that… Continue reading Music to Swear By Preview #6 – "Let's get funky!"
Music to Swear By Preview #5 – "Monster"
“Monster” is mostly written by my sister, Liana, who is the most beautiful, charismatic, and wonderful human being on the planet. Listen to my band play it in Music to Swear By host, Tony’s, basement. And tune in to the Music to Swear By podcast featuring Cryns #3 next Wednesday! http://www.cryns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Monster.mp3Podcast: Play in new window… Continue reading Music to Swear By Preview #5 – "Monster"
Music to Swear By Preview #4 – "Run. Run! Run!!! RUN!!! RUNNNNN!!!!!"
RunnNNnnNNN!!! Here is a solo rendition of our hit music video’s soundtrack, as recorded for the Music to Swear By podcast. Check out the podcast next Wednesday! In fact, check out other Music to Swear By podcasts right now! It truly is an entertaining listen! http://www.cryns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/runrunrunrunrun.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Music to Swear By Preview #3 – "Tonight was a wonderful night!"
Check out this fabulous rendition of Cryns #3’s “Tonight was a wonderful night!”, performed by Cryns #3 on the Music to Swear By podcast! The full podcast will air next Wednesday. http://www.cryns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/tonight.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Music to Swear By Preview #2 – Duluth
In this recording from our session at the Music to Swear By podcast, the band plays, “Duluth”. Enjoy! The full podcast will air next Wednesday. http://www.cryns.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/Duluth.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Music to Swear By Preview #1 – "Kirsten Dunst"
I recently travelled to Shoreview, MN to record an episode of the Music to Swear By podcast with with co-hosts, Tony, Paul, and Dave. The guys were gentlemanly and smart despite their penchant for the F-word (or maybe because of it). Over the next 8 days, I will be releasing a series of 8 recordings… Continue reading Music to Swear By Preview #1 – "Kirsten Dunst"
Going Pro
Today I spent a couple of hours hanging with Charlie Van Stee in my apartment. Together, we listened to the demo tracks from his forthcoming release, “Tigers will eat you!” (You can listen to most/all of the tracks on Charlie’s Facebook page.) It is his most heartfelt effort to date, imho. Charlie wants to make… Continue reading Going Pro
Music to Swear By
If you haven’t checked out Music to Swear By‘s podcast series, you are missing out. It is a perfect mix of smart humor, satire, music, and fart jokes. Seriously. Last night, John, Ryan, and I had the pleasure of recording a soon-to-be-released “Music to Swear By” episode in the fancy basement recording studio of ringleader,… Continue reading Music to Swear By
Music To Swear By Recording Tonight!
Local podcaster, extra-ordinairre, Tony Fu, has invited John, Ryan, and me over for a recording of his “Music to Swear By” podcast. I am pumped! Tony likes music with swear words on it. He heard us play one night and liked our verbs. More to come as I have it!