« May 2004 | Main | July 2004 »
Not that it matters a whole "hill of beans" but I find it fascinating that I share a birthday with the following folks:
Movie producer Robert Evans
Actor Gary Busey
Musician Ian Paice (Deep Purple)
Rock singer Colin Hay (Men at Work)
Musician D-J Shadow
Don Dokken (Dokken)
Happy Birthday Guys!
And I quote (from his blog):
..."Steve Cannella yesterday pointed out the absurdity of using Golden Brown, a song about heroin, to sell fries. That reminds me of There She Goes, a bouncy little number by The La's that was covered by Sixpence None the Richer and then used in a birth control ad. It, too, is about heroin. I want whoever pitched that ad campaign to negotiate my salary, because if you can get your bosses to bite on, "Let's have a Christian rock group sing a song about smack and use it to promote birth control," I think you can get my bosses to give me a few extra bucks a month. ..."
Some thoughts on the subject by Cory Doctorow (Microsoft Research DRM talk
Cory Doctorow June 17, 2004) - thanks to Bob Lefsetz for the link...
Here are the main points:
That DRM systems don't work
That DRM systems are bad for society
That DRM systems are bad for business
That DRM systems are bad for artists
That DRM is a bad business-move for MSFT
Read the whole document here
I'll be playing once again with the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers next week. The text of the official email announcement is below in the extended entry.
Show details:
Tuesday, June 22 9:00pm
Go! Studios, Carrboro NC
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers
Silent Cinema
Greg Sherrif
Hope to see you there!
Here's what I've been up to in the Studio:
June 1 - Demo for Katherine Knudtsen at Osceola Studios (Raleigh) with Dick Hodgins producing.
June 13 - 3 song ep for Coty Rivers at Osceola Studios (Raleigh) with Dick Hodgins producing.
June 20 - 3 songs for Karl Ruch at the Second Story (Durham) with Wade Baynham and Mark Williams producing.
Well, they told me yesterday morning that we'd be back up (hopefully) by 6:30pm. Unacceptable! Some of the people here in the office needed to attend an online seminar and it looked like they wouldn't be able to do it.
So, I took a look at our connection and changed our router settings (from Static to Dynamic) and voila! It worked. We were back online and able to check email.
Verizon had said they would call me when our "work ticket" was resolved, yet I still haven't heard anything and its almost the end of the day. Verizon, ugh...bad customer service, bad
Worst customer service in the industry: Verizon
Best case for eliminating computers completely: Verizon
Worst case of managment: Verizon
at least that's been my experience with them since Friday with the DSL connection at work. Can you hear me now? I know they can hear me, but it doesn't seem they can do much more than that...listen and then pawn me off to the next tech support/ sales/ billing etc person. I know I sound crazy, but I swear dealing with Verizon has made me this way. Thank God Verizon isn't the postal service...there would be many more stories of people going "postal"...
Why can't they assign one person to your work ticket and have that person be your advocate as the work ticket goes through the system? I probably talked to 12 different people since Friday ( most of those people being today) and each time I had to recount my story and fend attempts by them to follow their scripts and walk me through something I'd already been walked through by the previous tech support person. Ugh. And they probably wonder on their end why all their callers are a little perturbed.
Man, I love messing with web design...but, ooh...the messes I can make...case in point: my new home page...bloated with code and pictures...no where near being all within the approved specifications...but AT LEAST it's up. And that feels good.
Just to accomplish something...I'm sure at some point it will change again as I keep tweaking and learning, but it feels good to at least have a minor victory (that being learning the skills - basic though they may be in comparison to the "real deal" web designers out there - to get a new site designed and implemened).
So in the next few days/ weeks I'll be updating the remainder of the site and hopefully it will all start looking coherent again...
Since yesterday, I've changed the design somewhat as well...I think it looks alot better and loads in a cool way...anyway...enough of this rambling!
Well, I've finally toyed with the design long enough and now it's up for all the world to see...let's see what time is it? 5:07am...And now that the site is up, I'm not sure I'm digging the design...but since I'm learning as I go, I'm not to worried about it...I'm sure I'll keep tweaking it through the next couple of days.
Originally my plan was to get all CSS'ed up and Web Standards compliant, but all that was making my head hurt and keeping me from just getting SOMETHING done...so I thought I'd go ahead and throw something up there and see how it feels for the next couple of days, check it on some browsers and such.
What else...the index page is done...all the links work except for the "lessons" which I will need to get up soon...plus, I've got to redesign all the old pages to look like they belong with the new site...
This stuff is fun...I just wish I knew more! But I feel like I know more than I did last year at this time, so I'll keep plugging away at the web design stuff and hopefully I'll get the hang of CSS and all that other stuff sooner or later...
Well, thanks for reading and hanging out on my site...it's appreciated...
Good Morning and Good night....
dale
Once again, courtesy of the Vine, I found out about this tidbit of news and since I played drums and percussion on the original versions of both these songs, I thought it was fitting to pass the info along:
Jun 3 AT&T Launches Sixpence Ring Tones!
AT&T Wireless has just launched Sixpence ringers within their service. The ringers currently available are polyphonic only. (keyboard simulations) There will be true tone ringers (the actual artist singing/song) available on these songs within the next month. Please check out AT&T's wireless website for more details:
http://ringtones.mobile.att.net/AwsPreview
(Upon arriving at the page, click on "Tones" in the upper right hand corner, and then on then Search by artist - type in Sixpence - and both Kiss Me and Breathe Your Name should pop up for you to select...)
These same ringers will launch in Sprint, Verizon, TMobile, Cingular, etc. within the next month.
Here is a list of the current Sixpence None the Richer polyphonic ringers available....
Sixpence - Kiss Me
Sixpence - Breathe Your Name
"The Wing Nut and You"!!
We won the Audience Choice award (the only awards given) for the War category at the DADA>WARP festival. (We actually beat out about 10 other films!). So that now makes me an Award Winning Composer as well! (For those of you not keeping up with my blog ramblings, I recorded and composed the soundtrack to the short film mentioned above along with help from my good friend Wade Baynham.)
You can send your congratulatory remarks and gifts to me courtesy of www.dalebakerdrummer.com. :-)
Producers I record with in North Carolina:
Wade Baynham
Mark Williams
Rob Seals
Dick Hodgins (Osceola Studios)
Bands & Artists I've played and recorded with:
Bryan Field
Kris Hixon (Raleigh, NC)
Mali (Chapel Hill, NC)
Nat Stine (Chapel Hill, NC)
Karl Ruch (Chapel Hill, NC)
The Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers (Durham, NC)
The Basics (California and North Carolina)
Mark Williams (North Carolina)
Claire Holley (Los Angeles)
Spencer-Acuff (Chapel Hill, NC)
Rob Seals (Los Angeles)
Judd and Maggie (Maryland)
Chi Strings (United Kingdom)
Dave Potts (Alabama)
Drew Kennedy (Texas)
Steven Jackson (Nashville, TN)
Kim Taylor (Cinncinati, Ohio)
Over the Rhine (Cinncinati, Ohio)
Jack Henderson (Scotland)
Sixpence None the Richer (Austin, TX and Nashville, TN)- yes, that's me on their hits, "Kiss Me," "There She Goes," and "Breathe Your Name" among others (check my discography for a more complete list...) I played with Sixpence from 1993 until 2001 and am on most of their recorded work.
Check out my discography and bio for additional info about who I've played and recorded with...
Equipment I use and endorse:
Premier Drums
Vic Firth Sticks and Mallets
Remo Drumheads and Percussion
Equipment I use and recommend:
Zildjian Cymbals
Real Feel Practice Pads
Recording Studios I recommend:
The Second Story, Durham NC
One of the best sounding rooms I've ever recorded in...
Verge Music Works, Dallas TX
my friend Martin Baird's studio (where the original Sixpence Demos were recorded way back when...)
The Kitchen, Carrboro NC
The South-East's premier mastering facility...
Favorite Online Radio Station:
KEXP, Seattle
specifically, I like to listen to "John in the Morning..."
Drum Instruction:
Durham Drum Lessons
Progressive Percussion (Raleigh, Wake Forest)
DrumLab (Raleigh)
Educational Resources:
Kennan Wylie (author)
Mark Wessels (author)
Percussive Arts Society
University of North Texas (my alma mater)
Recommended Drum Instruction Books:
Stick Control by George Lawrence Stone
The New Breed by Gary Chester
Any of Gary Chaffees books...
Any of Ed Soph's books...
Any of Steve Houghton's books...
Yeah sure, it's self-indulgent...but we can dream right?
The WE fest this weekend in Wilmington was a blast. It was fun playing with the Prayers and Tears of Arthur Digby Sellers. I think it was our best show yet, and the crowd was out in force. Plus, anytime you play Wilmington, it's always great 'cause the beach is SO close, so it was fun lounging on the beach a bit on Saturday. All in all a nice, relaxing (and ROCKIN!) way to spend a holiday weekend.
In other news:
the film I did the soundtrack for "The Wing Nut and You"... will be shown as part of the W.A.R.P. Film Festival this coming weekend here in Durham. The film festival is a production of the Durham Arts Council. You can even
see a still photo from "Wing Nut" on their web site. (You'll have to scoll down a little, the pic is the second one from the top.)
The festival should be lots of fun. If you're in town, definitely make plans to see the film this weekend, June 3-6 at the Arts Council next to the Carolina theater in downtown Durham.
Sixpence None the Richer: This Beautiful Mess
The second CD Sixpence recorded was my first with the band. We tracked the rhythm tracks in 4 days at Omni Sound studios in Nashville. Armand John Petri produced and many fans say that this is their favorite Sixpence album.
Sixpence None The Richer: Sixpence None The Richer
The Grammy nominated, RIAA Certified Platinum selling album that featured the breakout hit, "Kiss Me." Produced by Steve Taylor and wonderfully engineered and mixed by Russ Long, with additional mixing by Bob Clearmountain. The follow-up hit, "There She Goes" was also later added to this album.
Sixpence None the Richer: The Best of Sixpence None the Richer
Includes the hits "Kiss Me," "There She Goes," and "Breathe Your Name" and many other of the songs I played on and helped promote during my 7+ years with the band.
Sixpence None the Richer: Tickets for a Prayer Wheel
Out-takes and B-Sides from Sixpence's "This Beautiful Mess" CD. There were some extended jams, a live track, some moody percussion and even a re-mix done by friend and former roommate, Sal Salvador. Not only does this CD feature my drumming, and vocals(!), but I make my producing debut on this album with an angst-filled vibey take on an old Patsy Cline song.
Sixpence None the Richer: Mega 3 Collection
Includes Sixpence's first 3 CD's. Of these 3 CD's my drumming only appears on the 2nd and 3rd disc. The first CD featured the drumming of Chris Dodds, one of my favorite people and drummers.
Sixpence None the Richer: There She Goes
CD single of the 11th hour addition to Sixpence's self-titled album which helped solidify Sixpence as a legitmate "Breakthrough Artist" according to R&R magazine. The song went on to become a Top 10 Single with an appealing video (featuring "Saving Private Ryan" star, Adam Goldberg), by director and good friend of the band, Brandon Dickerson.
Sixpence None the Richer: Breathe Your Name / Northern Lights
CD single of the Top 20 hit, Breathe Your Name w/ non-album track Northern Lights, from Sixpence's Divine Discontent record. Both songs feature my drumming.
Sixpence None the Richer: Collage: A Portrait of Their Best
A compilation of the best tracks from the band's REX years. And yes, that's me in the corner with the beard and glasses.
Sixpence None the Richer: Kiss Me
Imported Single of the most played song from the year 2000. This song features my drumming and went to the top of the charts in over 10 countries (US, UK, Canada, Israel, Japan, etc...). I also appeared in all the videos and TV appearances that helped promote this song. Interesting side note: this song was chosen by Britain's Royal Family to be played for over 200 Million viewers during Prince Edward's 1999 wedding.
Sixpence None the Richer: I Can't Catch You
Import Single of a song from the band's self-titled album. This was one of the songs Bob Clearmountain mixed and it was honor to have him work his magic on my drum tracks!
[Various Artists]: City on a Hill: Collection
I played on the first City on a Hill CD as well as a track or two on the second CD.
[Various Artists]: Return Of The Grievous Angel: Tribute To Gram Parsons
I played drums with the Rolling Creek Dippers, aka: Buddy and Julie Miller, Victoria Williams, Mark Olsen, Jim Lauderdale.
[Various Artists]: Roaring Lambs
I played drums with Sixpence None the Richer, Emmylou Harris, Steve Taylor and percussion with Burlap to Cashmere on this CD.
[Various Artists]: Exodus
I played with Sixpence None the Richer, Michael W. Smith, and Kenny Meeks on this CD.
Kim Taylor: So Black, So Bright
I played drums on this CD that was produced by Jack Henderson. This is one of my favorite projects to have played on. Some of the tracks feature Linford and Karin from Over the Rhine as well.
[Various Artists]: Making God Smile: An Artists' Tribute to the Songs of Beach Boy Brian Wilson
I played drums and percussion (timpani, chimes, beat box) on Jason Harrod's version of "In My Room" for this Brian Wilson tribute album.
Rebecca St. James: Transform
I played on a track produced by Matt Bronlewee, that featured the London Symphony Orchestra and some very "Bjork" sounding vocals by Rebecca. I think we did about 40 tracks of various percussion overdubs for this track too.
[Various Artists]: Never Say Dinosaur
My first time to work with producer Brent Bourgeois and one of my first times in the studio with Sixpence. I borrowed a whole bunch of percussion from Steve Hindalong and had a great time overdubbing frame drums, rattan shakers and the like. The track ended up sounding very Daniel Lanois-ish with some Peter Gabriel-esq type layers thrown in for good measure.
[various artists]: Here On Earth (2000 Film)
This Soundtrack album features two songs I did with Sixpence, one a cover of a Sam Phillips/ T-Bone Burnett song: "I Need Love" and the other, the opening track ("We Have Forgotten") from Sixpence's self-titled record.
[various artists]: Snow Day: Music From The Motion Picture
Sixpence's version of The La's tune, "There She Goes" is on this soundtrack album. And yes, I'm playing drums on that song...
[various artists]: Bounce: Music from and Inspired by the Miramax Motion Picture (2000 film)
Another song ("Love") I did with Sixpence from their self-titled album, appears on this soundtrack. Mark Nash and I played a drum duet of sorts to get the primal heavy-handed approach needed for this wonderful song.
[various artists]: Dick
One of my favorite tracks. Everytime I hear this song ("Dancing Queen"), I can't help but think of Alan Partridge.
Sixpence None the Richer: Divine Discontent
Even though I quit playing with the band in 2001, the bulk of this record was recorded in 2000, and so my playing is featured on more than half the tracks on this record. Produced by Paul Fox, beautifully engineered by Mark Chevalier and mixed by Tom Lord-Alge.
Sixpence None the Richer: The Early Years
New Sixpence compilation from the REX years. Includes songs and b-sides from the early work I recorded with Sixpence - pre "Kiss Me" era.
Steve Hindalong, et.al: City on a Hill: Reflections on Our Spiritual Journey (Ccm Book)
Okay, this is a book. But I wrote the first essay that appears in the book and took all the photos that appear as well. You can actually read my essay by clicking this link and "looking inside the book." Fun, huh?
Various Artists: Pointfolio 1.0
A radio station compilation featuring in-studio and concert live cuts.
Includes, Sixpence doing "Kiss Me"(with me on drums), and Fleming and John's "Ugly Girl", Dido, BareNaked Ladies, etc.
Plumb
Loops, fragments of songs and lots of percussion is what I remember from this session. Producer Dan Haseltine and Matt Bronlewee made this a fun and creative time in the studio. It was great to be a part of the debut album of such a phenomenal artist (am I gushing to much here?).
[various Artists] : Felicity: Senior Year (tv soundtrack)
Features "Melody of You" a beautiful song by Sixpence None the Richer that I played drums on and was featured on the series final episode (I think).
Dale Baker
919-402-8048
dalebakerdrummer {@} gmail {dot} com
