Some of you may know that Good Night, States is pretty big into DIY electronics.
For Example:
Steve built his own amp, pedals, and pedalboard.
Joe built a tweed pedal board and an off-board tremolo/reverb unit to go along with his trusty Pro Jr.
I (Trevor) have slowly, but surely been building my expertise in the way of analog electronics by crafting guitar/bass effects pedals. Most of them have been clones of classic pedals (EH Big Muff, EA tremolo, Maestro Brassmaster, etc).
So, last night, I made the jump into amp building and purchased a 5c1A (’53 Champ) kit from Weber Speakers. I’ve been pretty stoked to begin on the kit since I helped Joe out with his Tremolo/Reverb unit. I guess the main reason that I got the amp kit is because Megan & I recently purchased our first electric guitar. It’s a 1967 Kalamazoo, which was Gibson’s answer to the Fender Mustang/DuoSonic/Bronco. It sounds pretty good, but I’ve only been able to hear it through my bass amp. I’m looking forward to hearing it through the Weber amp.
In addition to the amp, I’ve been working on a BYOC Analog Delay pedal, which I will be turning into a table-top console for use at our upcoming album release of In The Impossible Tension. Really looking forward to the sound that a fully analog 1 second delay will bring to the live versions of the songs.
When I get everything finished, I’ll post pictures for those who are interested in how the projects turn out. As for how they sound, you’ll have to come to our In The Impossible Tension EP Release Show on September 11th.
Here’s to hoping that I don’t burn my fingers with the soldering iron!
Two weeks ago, Megan & I moved into a new house. You could call it an upgrade (I think our old place could fit into the kitchen of the new one). This weekend is the first time that Good Night, States will be rehearsing at “The Mansion.” Good Night, States is old enough now that it gets to have its own room, like the other big kids.
To celebrate the first rehearsal, Steve brought some new stage setups to test out for our live show (we named them alpha thru epsilon). They ranged from semi-traditional to really odd. After an hour and a half of trying each of the five setups, we decided that only two of the five would actually work for real. Here’s a picture of the five stage layout prototypes that are now hanging on the practice room wall.
My favorite blog, Boing Boing unearthed another gem last week. This video (see below) was posted on youtube recently and has quickly become a hit around the interwebs. After you watch it, you’ll realize why.
This blogger recently interviewed the lead singer and has more back story for you to read.
Check it out!
UPDATED: Apparently some people are questioning the authenticity of the video (below). Further information here and here.
Out of all of the Good Night, States members, I believe that it is safe to say that I spend the most time on the internet. Partly because I’m easily distracted by entertainment, partly because I have found a plethora of amazing blogs to read.
One of my favorite blogs is BoingBoing. BoingBoing’s tag line is “A Directory of Wonderful Things” and it is definitely true. You will find many strange and interesting things on BoingBoing that are happening both in the real world and on the net.
Recently, I came across a BoingBoing post that showcased a new video game that is coming out soon. It is called Guitar Praise - Solid Rock. “[Y]ou’ll soon be rockin’ with the best while praising the Lord!” (from the GP-SR website). My jaw hit the floor.
Frankly, I am appalled at the way the “Christian” marketing machine rips off what is popular in the name of having a “sanctified alternative.” Shouldn’t Christians be pressing ahead in creativity (since they claim to have a direct connection to the Creator) rather than reverse engineering products that are popular and marketing them to youth groups?
When you get down to it, is this game instilling any different values than Guitar Hero or Rock Band? Is Guitar Praise truly a “holier” option? Does anyone else have an opinion about this? Leave them in the comments section.
P.S. Look for more of these “Internet Curiosities” posts as I come across things in my internet travels
On Monday, I had the pleasure/duty/honor of selling our band van, Blanche, to a private individual, who will remain unnamed. It was a bittersweet moment in my life and the life of the band. It was sweet because Blanche liked to imbibe in la gasolina a bit too much. It was bitter because as much as we (or maybe just I) were afraid of the wheels flying off and causing a horrific accident, Blanche became more than a van to us.
It’s funny how bands anthropomorphize their vans. I’ve seen many bands do it. I guess that it comes from spending so much time in their respective vans and building a working history with them. The same was true of Blanche. She crossed the northeast so many times, I don’t even think I can remember or count them all.
Sadly, shortly after we bought her, Blanche developed cancer. It ate away at her fenders, wheel wells, and floorboards. She passed inspections before, but this year there was no possible way that she could pass, so we decided to put her to pasture.
So despite not having Blanche anymore, we now have much cheaper gasoline tabs. We are currently borrowing a vehicle in the interim until our next vehicle comes along. The one question that remains is, will the new vehicle be male or female?
