Preparing to record my first EP with Brian Maw

Brian Maw is going into the studio in Idaho Falls this weekend to record some tunes for a new EP. I’m waiting for the mp3s so I can lay down the harmonica tracks in my home studio.

One of the first couple of songs will be “So Sweet,” the very rough live recording of which I posted to this site not long ago. I will almost certainly use the same approach I used on the live recording, i.e. the same yearning, bluesy motifs played through
my CHAMPB patch from the new v16 Huntersounds patch set for the Digitech RP 250/255/350/355.

I also have the luxury of being able to try other approaches, too, if I want to, and I suppose I do, even though I think that ultimately it’s most important to put down something that shows people what the band really sounds like. In other words, I guess I want to make sure that whatever I put on this track can be played live, which of course would not exclude changing the sounds I’m running on the RP355 at any given point in the song.

Recording is so much fun (when it’s not a giant problem)! I’m really looking forward to this stuff. We plan to have the EP available for sale in May 2013, so stay tuned to this blog!

The dog ate my homework and other Idaho tales

Winter Storm Euclid wrecked my plans for a double gig on Dec. 28 in Alta and Jackson, WY. I got out of bed at 2 AM on Dec. 27 to drive to the airport, but alas–my flight was cancelled, and no other way to get from Connecticut to Idaho in a day.

I made it out to Idaho yesterday, Dec. 29, and all systems are go for my New Year’s Eve gig with The Maw Band from 10 PM to 1 AM at the Sandpiper in Pocatello, ID. If you’re not too bummed out from missing me at the Trap Bar and the Tavern Square Bar on Dec. 28, come by and party with us into 2013.

Back to Idaho for gigs in December

I’m heading back to Idaho after Christmas for gigs with The Maw Band. So far we’re booked to play the Trap Bar at Grand Targhee on the afternoon of Dec. 28, followed by a gig at the Town Square Tavern Bar in Jackson starting at 10 PM that night. For New Year’s Eve, we’ll be at the Bridge Restaurant in Pocatello, ID, a very enjoyable venue (as you can see from the picture–you do see the picture, right?). See you at all three locations, I’m sure, given that Idaho is so conveniently located for post-Christmas partying (if you’re in Idaho to start, that is)…

Last minute gig TONIGHT Nov. 15 in Victor, ID

I just found out that I’m playing tonight from 7-9 PM at Graffenberg Gallery and Tattoo, LLC in Victor, Idaho. See you there, I hope. This gig is with Brian Maw and Eli Preston, so there will be plenty of rockin’ and rollin’. I’ll be using my RP355 rig (of course!). Later,baby…

Three Performances in Idaho with Brian Maw Nov. 16-18!

I’m going out to Idaho this week to play three gigs with Brian Maw on Nov. 16, 17, and 18. I’m really looking forward to these gigs; I’ll be performing with Brian on guitars and vocals, Eli Preston on percussion, and Bernie McBurnski on bass, with Grant Hendren on sax at the Timberline gig on Nov. 16.

The details are as follows:

Timberline Bar & Grill
Victor, ID, US
9:00pm FRI NOV 16

The Bridge Restaurant
Pocatello, ID, US
6:30pm SAT NOV 17

D’railed
Idaho Falls, ID, US
5:00pm SUN NOV 18

I’ll see you there.

Plenty of Performances in the Teton Valley this summer

I’m doing a lot of gigs with Brian Maw in Idaho’s Teton Valley this summer. I’m really glad to be working with Brian, who’s a fine songwriter and singer as well as a strong, versatile guitarist. I’m using the full range of sounds I’ve developed for the Digitech RP to fill out the sound of this duo, and there’s a lot of jamming too. I expect to do a lot of stuff with this guy going forward. If you’re in the Teton Valley this summer, check out our performance schedule.

My seminar at SPAH has been scheduled for Saturday 18 August at 8:30 AM

I’ve been advised that I’ll be doing my seminar on FX and looping at SPAH on Saturday morning, August 18, at 8:30 AM. I’m looking forward to seeing lots of folks there, as well as to attending a few other seminars, like Brandon Bailey’s and Brendan Powers’s seminars on looping. Prospective attendees for the Saturday AM session should try NOT to stay up ’til 4 in the morning on Friday night jamming, listening to other people jam, thinking about jamming, remembering the previous night’s jam, etc. Really. There will be a quiz…

16 June 2012: Here’s a sample or two of what I’ll be doing at SPAH

I’m doing a seminar at SPAH this year on the topic of layering your loops with FX. it’s going to be a lot of fun. I wish, of course, that I could tell you what day and time this seminar will be conducted at SPAH, but as usual for SPAH the schedule is unavailable (and as per my blog posts from 2007 and 2009 on this topic, perenially so).

Anyway, the short pieces included in this post are samples of what I’ll talk about at SPAH. They’re recorded live in mono from my Audix Fireball V into my Digitech RP355 into my Digitech JamMan Stereo looper, with exactly one harmonica per loop. On some of my performance loops I start with a pre-recorded drum track; not these. It’s all harp.

When you listen, check out how the layers and FX work together to fill out the sonic spectrum. This is not minimalist harp looping, like Son of Dave; this is maximalist.

Dig, and come to SPAH to find out how it was done. I’m looking forward to seeing Brandon Bailey and Brendan Powers’s seminars at SPAH, too, for different perspectives on looping.

Of course, this material is copyright 2012 Richard Hunter, all rights reserved.

The stroll

Hevy Hevy Harp

Performances

Photo by Chiara Meatelli

2011

2010