Gossip, Inspiration, and Slander

Playing in Goodlettsville

2009-09-23T07:46:00.001-07:00

playing in goodlettsville on thursday @ Dougie Ray's.
C'mon out and see us.

2009-07-25T20:25:00.000-07:00

went to Summer NAMM here in Nashville and picked up a new Collings I-35 deluxe (the one in the middle). This one is really special and I'll post more pics later. Right now i'm to busy going back and forth from Bach violin partitas and hexatonic scales over altered dominant chords....what can i say, i love it all.

always great to see Steve, Bill, & Alex. thanks guys for hang.

Also great to see Mary Faith and Todd at John Pearse as well as Dana and Bonni over at Bourgeois.

Come on out to the Show and have a great time!

2009-06-02T11:08:00.001-07:00

New TV interview

2009-06-01T10:01:00.001-07:00

Inside Music Row has the new episode available for streaming! MY interview is about 70% of the way through.

stream it here:
http://www.cjmproductions.com/CJM/Inside%20Music%20Row.html

Mix Nashville coming up! It should be fun!

2009-05-10T05:24:00.001-07:00

http://mixonline.com/ms/nashville/

If you haven't been before, you should GO! very informative and fun!

in search of...

2009-04-24T04:40:00.001-07:00

Can't afford a vintage neumann km84? there are several aternatives with huge differences in price. the two that keep coming up are: Rode NT5 vs. Neumann km184. ok obviously we're trying to get as close as possible to the original km84 sound. prices for pairs: Rode $400, Neumann $1600. Everyone always complain about the brightness of the KM184 and the lack of detail on the NT5. I actually would prefer the NT5 I think they are slightly closer to the km84 and they are 1/4 of the cost! If i need "detail" I'll use the mojave MA100. This will have to work until I can afford to buy a pair of km84s.

The greatest Soundtrack ever!

2009-04-18T19:58:00.001-07:00

I think this is still the greatest soundtrack ever recorded. a perfect marriage between film and music.

New review in the Alternate Root Magazine!

2009-04-02T21:15:00.001-07:00

for those of us who LOVED "No Depression" magazine..this one more than fills the void!
They said some wonderful things about the CD! check it out! pages 24 -25.

http://www.thealternateroot.com

my podcast "who cares of you listen" is BACK!

2009-03-25T08:42:00.001-07:00

go on by the iTunes store and checkout all 38 episodes of "Who care's if you listen" - it's FREE. We've re-vamped it and this week I reviewed the new Britney Spears CD "Circus".

NASHVILLE CITY PAPER review

2009-02-20T07:23:00.001-08:00

Guitarist launches ambitious acoustic, electric project

By: Ron Wynn, rwynn@nashvillecitypaper.com

Posted: Friday, February 20, 2009 12:00 am

Bryan Clark’s stellar playing and singing combine influences from numerous musical aspects. As a soloist, he’s equally soulful and ambitious, able to execute complex progressions or edgy chord flurries with the same care and dexterity he brings to sweet, soothing ballads.

Clark’s new double CD Gossip, Inspiration and Slander has both an electric and acoustic side, and has him displaying his fluency in bluegrass flatpicking, jazz and blues tunes, and his proficiency operating as either a leader or a rhythm contributor.

Clark, who’ll appear in a special acoustic concert Sunday at Artisan Guitars (The Factory) in Franklin, loves both the acoustic and electric, and says that each one poses special challenges for guitarists.

“On the acoustic, you can’t rely on anything other than your own voice and talent,” Clark said. “You don’t have the pedals or the amp or the effects or any of those other things that you can use on the electric to embellish your lines. But there’s a real beauty to improvising on the acoustic. I’ve been doing a lot of playing on acoustic with my fingers and it’s especially great for bluegrass and country songs.”

Because the electric does allow so much freedom as well as the chance to utilize all these extras, it requires real selectivity in your approach, he said.

“You can get so overwhelmed and in love with the technology that you sometimes ignore the song and get seduced by the extras,” Clark said. “Still, if you use them well, there are many wonderful things that can be created on the electric. They really are two very different instruments, and I enjoy playing them both. But I do a lot of writing on the acoustic, then kind of decide if I want to do some extra things with the guitar. I designed the songs on the CD so that anything that was played on electric could also fit the acoustic.”

Gossip, Inspiration & Slander features Clark working with many fabulous musicians on the acoustic portion, all of them handpicked for particular songs by both Clark and producer Erick Jaskowiak. The select list includes fiddler Casey Driessen, Chris Pandolfi on banjo, Matt Flinner on mandolin and acoustic bassist Bryn Bright among others.

“We wanted versatile, flexible players who were comfortable in any setting, including jazz and improvised numbers,” Clark said.

The songs often feature him doing traditional flat-picking pieces like “Blackberry Blossom,” plus other bluegrass and jazz-tinged pieces, while the electric set has material ranging from Texas swing to Motown. And, Clark displays smooth, mellow tenor voice on “Down In Flames” and “Bumper to Bumper.”

The varied material reflects the different things Clark has absorbed throughout his life. As a teen growing up in Dallas, he heard punk and new wave regularly while working in a mall record shop. Later would come a guitar camp at the famed Berklee College of Music in Boston, followed by years of study at the University of Southern California and University of Texas. Jazz, classical composition and electronic avant-garde sounds were just a few of the many areas he studied on his way to earning a bachelors, masters and doctorate. Yet, while studying all these other idioms, Clark was also fascinated by bluegrass, becoming a huge fan of Ricky Skaggs and eventually forming his own acoustic and bluegrass trio, Honeywagon, in 2002.

The three discs that Honeywagon cut included Green Day, Blue Grass, which peaked at No. 6 on Billboard’s Bluegrass charts in 2006.

That same year Clark tired of the pace in Los Angeles where he was living, so he relocated to Nashville, a decision he says helped re-energize him. Clark currently is an adjunct faculty member at Belmont University School of Music; he teaches jazz harmony, composition, and history of American song and arranging. He’s done five solo releases, performed behind artists from Bonnie Raitt to Larry Carlton and had songs placed on ESPN, VH1, Fox and Oxygen.

While generally upbeat on any subject, Clark admits to concern about some of what he sees and hears these days from some of his students.

“In terms of just sheer playing, they are phenomenal,” Clark said. “But what bothers me is the lack of historical knowledge and perspective — something that I think comes from the whole iPod culture. It’s a song of the moment thing, and they’re not into getting complete albums where you can read liner notes, see who played and wrote a song, or learn about where someone fits in a particular era.”

This lack of historical knowledge Clark sees in younger generations is not limited to one genre, he said.

“ I’ve had people interested in pop songwriting who don’t know about Tin Pan Alley or Cole Porter, jazz guitarists who haven’t heard of Les Paul or Wes Montgomery, rock players who haven’t heard of Eddie Van Halen,” Clark said. “I’m constantly telling them you’ve got to learn your craft and your history, because if you don’t, then you can’t really establish your own voice and sound. I hate to seem like the old guy berating the youth, but I don’t so much blame them as I do the general culture and the way things are today.

“It makes it a bit tougher for those of us in music education, but when you do introduce them to the classics in their field, they’re really appreciative and they do get into it and really learn it.”

IF YOU GO
What: Guitarist/composer Bryan Clark performs an acoustic show in celebration of his new CD Gossip, Inspiration and Slander
When: 2 p.m. Sunday
Where: Artisan Guitars, The Factory in Franklin, 230 Franklin Road, Suite 11-GG
Cost: $15
Info: 595-2544

the little red sweetheart

2009-01-17T21:54:00.000-08:00

This is the guitar that was used on "down in flames".

the dedicated Electric Slide Guitar

2008-12-07T10:04:00.001-08:00

This is a mutt-guitar I picked up from Guitar Center for $150. raised the action as high as I could, but some Baritone gauge strings on it and it sounds great. This is the guitar used on Midnight Kisses [electric CD obviously].

The pedalboard for the Electric CD

2008-12-07T10:01:00.001-08:00

Here's my pedalboard and the one used for the Electric CD.
The sub-expression pedal is for the Eventide Mod Factor [top left], and the Boss F5-SU is a dedicated tap tempo button for the Eventide Time Factor [center of the board]. That is by far the best delay I've ever used! I do like the TC Electronic Nova Delay [right next to the Time Factor], but the Eventide is better. The gold footpedal [bottom left] goes to the Bogner Shiva amp.

signal chain:
Ernie Ball volume pedal - Petersen Strobe Tuner - Fulltone Clyde Deluxe - Fulltone ultimate octave - Fulltone Full Drive - Fulltone OCD - Xotic effect AC Booster - Keeley Compressor - Fulltone Fat Boost2 - Fulltone deja vibe - Fulltone supa-trem - TC Nova Delay - Eventide Time Factor - Eventide Modfactor - to amp(s). Wired with George L cables.

the reason for Angelyne...

2008-12-07T09:36:00.001-08:00

I've been asked lately: "who is Angelyne? Why write a song about her? is she real?"

the proof lies above. I can't tell you how many times I was forced to look at this sign crawling along in traffic on Sunset Blvd. note the phone number on the bottom left of the sign...hmmm..

here's a brief bio lifted from Wikipedia:

Angelyne drives a pink Corvette which bears the shortened name "ANGLYNE" on its license plate, and has a pink maltese named Buddha.^[1]
She began to gain local attention in the early 1980s when a series of
billboards popped up around the city featuring her in various poses.^[1] Around this time, she made her first appearance on national television as a guest on the late night talk show Thicke of the Night hosted by Alan Thicke, and featuring a young Arsenio Hall.

Although it has been claimed that billboard companies or a wealthy
husband pays for her billboards, Angelyne, who is single, credits
"investors" for financing the outdoor advertising.^[1]Barbie, stating that "Kids think I'm a Barbie doll"^[1] and, in one billboard, "Barbie wishes she were me."^[2] Angelyne has not given her age or birthdate in interviews, although the IMDB lists 1958 (in Idaho) without providing a source. Angelyne compares herself to

and here is my favorite one...ahh Los Angeles...

Angelyne was one of the candidates in the 2003 California recall election, finishing 28th in a field of 135 candidates (garnering 2,533 votes).^[1] Her slogan during the campaign was "We’ve had Gray, we’ve had Brown, now it’s time for some blond and pink."^[1] She was also a candidate for Hollywood city council in 2002 if it were to secede from Los Angeles.

here's the lyrics to "Angelyne"

Verse 1
Because you've got a new pink corvette
You tooling all around sunset
Like a renegade concubine with a
Big blonde bee-hive in overdrive

I can't believe
I can't even conceive
Of a billboard queen
In the driver's seat..
Angelyne

Verse 2
Because you barely fit inside a corset
You’re every sugar daddy's luncheonette
You feed them poses and do a routine like those
Glossy centerfolds in my closet magazines

Oh, come clean, Angelyne
You’re just a another wanna-be porn queen
With those Egyptian eyes
And your air-brushed thighs
Angelyne

Solo:

Verse 3
Never judge a cover by its book
But the pages on the inside can be overlooked
You're like a cartoon but too obscene
You'd make Malibu Barbie blush at the knees

Oh come clean
Angelyne
And let reality intervene
You’re just a billboard queen in the driver's seat
With those Egyptian eyes
And those air-brushed thighs
There you go again
Your name is up in lights...
Angelyne

Words and Music by Bryan Clark
© 2007 Rainfeather Music ASCAP

Here it is! the Cover of the CD!

2008-08-21T06:50:00.001-07:00

Here's the cover of the CD! Email me for reserving your copy - I'm taking pre-orders now. The CD will be out September 20th.

my main squeeze

2008-08-03T10:55:00.001-07:00

This is my first REAL guitar. It is my main electric guitar that is on all my CDs. It's a 1961 Fender Custom Esquire neck and a '61 re-issue tele body done sometime in the 80's. I bought it in 1988, used , back home in Dallas at Charley's Guitar Shop. The headstock had already been cracked from the 6th to the 1st string dead-center in the tuner holes. So the top part of the guitar had been snapped-off like a lego block. Every 5 or 6 years I have to have it reset. I had Rene Martinez (SRV's tech) put bass frets on it like Stevie and they have been on it ever since. It was gently used and had all of the paint on it and the full compliment of the double binding (my favorite!) - but over the years and a few radical gigs with lighter fluid, I burned the top right forearm part of the binding off and then spent a week sanding it and re coating it polyurethane. Now it's more comfortable than ever and I don't have a line running across my forearm anymore. Other tweaks: I put on black chrome knobs - stock ESP Guitar knobs they put on all their metal guitars. This required me to sand down the diameter of the pot posts by hand to get the new knobs to fit. I also put on the Danny Gatton Brass bridge [they slant] and this guitar plays absolutely intune. I have to remind myself not to compensate for it when I playing. I switched out the proper mint-green 3 ply pickguard (which I still have) for the black 'mother of toillet-seat' 3 ply guard. For some reason, it just looks better. I use 10-46 guage nickel wound strings.

the big 3

2008-07-29T05:39:00.001-07:00

These are the main guitars I used on the "Gossip" Acoustic CD (L to R):
Tooter Meredith resonator guitar, Collings D1A, Circa (John Slobod) D-28 Madagascar Rosewood (John Slobod). All the dobro tracks were done on the Meredith, and 98% of the guitar tracks were done on the D1A. I used the Circa guitar for "Nights Like These".

more guitars used on "Gossip..."

2008-07-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

This Collings D2HA was used on the Acoustic CD.
I used it on the solo to "Midnight Kisses". This guitar is amazing - i would've liked to put it on more of the CD but it late coming from Collings. It is a custom build with: no headstock inlay, no fretboard inlay, herringbone with tortoise binding (a mix between the d1a and the d2ha). I love this one and its LOUD!

The "Gossip" about "Gossip" and Down in FLames

2008-06-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

I'm starting this thread to document aspects of the new CD "Gossip, Inspiration, and Slander".
I'll write about the equipment used, guitars, studios, helping hands, and other things that go into making a record.

this 3/4 size guitar is what I used on the track "Down in Flames" (on the electric CD), I used a Rode NT1-A, and the K2. Tuned to Open D with John Pearse Phosphor Bronze Medium Guage strings. Glass Slide.

Colorful Phrases Part II - some great posts!

2007-07-10T19:22:00.000-07:00

Ok. Here are some of my favorites from various friends and forum members from far and wide! Thanks everyone for the posts so far - some are really hilarious! That's what is so amazing about language - and they possibility for us to twist it to our liking.

from gizgrelmin [i want to be there for your next reunion!]:
1. My grandmother passed gas rather loudly once and my grandad said without missing a beat or looking up from his newspaper: "you shore sing better since ya had your teeth pulled"
2." every night i have a mouthful of hard liquor, I measured it once and my mouth holds a pint and a half".

3. "I'd probably jest kill ya if i jest had the time"
4. " what ya got on the stove, I aint ate nuthin since buck was a calf and he's a big bull now"
5. "boy. you dont know big wood from brush!"
6. "you dont want none of that naner puddin, it will get ALL in your mouth"
7. "her biscuits are so good they will make a puppy pull a freight train"
8. "he is dumb as a box of hair"
9."he is uglier than homemade sin" - my personal favorite giz!
10. "thats funnier than a football bat"

From BigMonFan:
1."her head looks like it's done wore out three bodies"
2. "ugly as a mud fence"
3. "so lazy he wouldn't say sooey if the hogs was eatin' him"

from BanjoHollow:
Daddy would always say "Don't do as I do, do as I say do." One I would always laugh at was when mom and dad would get in an argument and mom would say "Kiss my a**" and daddy would come back with "If I'd kiss you anywhere it would be your a**"

From RW:
1."With my kind of luck, if it was raining silver dollars, one would hit me in the head and kill me"
2."That nanner puddin' would make a rabbit hug a hound"

from StevenB:
1. Grandma giving us a report on the new Fuller Brush door to door salesman. "That man was smooth and a talker....he could've sold the Pope a double bed"
2. Why Wilson County men always throw away any instruction paperwork issued with a new product/purchase...."Them instructions is for people that don't know what they're doing"
3.they've brought back a "poke sack" full of memories.

Colorful sayings and quirks

2007-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

I'm always fascinated by regional descriptions for things. I though I'd post a few and start a thread going that maybe you would contribute to - think of all the crazy things that you uncle said, etc...

here's some from my family [I'm thinking of compiling them into a book].
from my Grandmother: "He was crazier than a sh*t house fly". ever seen outhouse flys - the move like they had a double expresso from starbucks.

my cousin: "she was 5 foot nothin". translation: she was exactly 5 feet tall.

my dad: "The devil is beating his wife". I've heard this since I was a wee lad. It describes the peculiar event having both sunshine and the rain at the same time.

post some of you own!

The one that got away....

2007-07-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago, my good friend Rodney let me borrow one of the many amazing guitars he has - this one was a 1995 Collings D2HA with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides.
I recorded 2 CDs on it, and wrote the song "Carefree Arizona" [from my new CD Nebraska House] on that guitar. I told him that if he ever decided to sell it, I wanted first dibs.

It was unique in many ways and didn't have a Collings logo on the headstock. It had a wonderful sound. 2 months ago, i went back out to LA to play at my alma mater USC and was looking forward to borrowing the guitar from Rodney again - but he gave me some bad news. He sold the guitar for around $11,500. Needless to say, that was out of my price range. So, a requiem for a guitar....the one that got away.

My grandfather always said: "there's more pretty girls than one". Thank God for that!