Jay should really look into metal legs. A risky procedure, but worth it. In all seriousness, Jay is my favorite guitar player since 1985 and this is a major bummer. I hope there is somewhere we can contribute eventually stood up, ideally something Jay can organize via the myspace or his other site. I know I would put something in the pot.

Man I am so jealous of you Chicagoans!!

I only just started carrying a "pocket pick" in my wallet about two years ago but man I end up using that sucker a lot, I do highly recommend just sliding one into whichever side of yer wallet you use least. I think for me it's noticeably cooler to have my own pick b/c I'm a touch picky about picks (yuk-yuk). Nowadays I'm madly in love with these ones:

Acoustic, I almost always start up playing open chords and hammering on (largely just to warm up my finger and hand muscles). Musicwise I am mostly a songwriter so I'm almost always working on a song on acoustic guitar, so I often pick up the guitar with that song in my head already and go straight to work. Electric, for the first 5 years I was playing guitar or so, I'd play that opening lick from Pearl Jam's "Yellow Ledbetter" almost every time I grabbed the electric, just love the Hendrixy vibe to that riff. Nowadays it varies a ton depending on my mood. On keys / piano I have this o

Nooo! Haha sorry. I'd just be careful in deciding whether or not to do the TAXI thing. It's kind of a lot of money for an apparently-small potential return. I looked at it pretty-seriously about a year ago b/c I have a TON of songs just sitting around, a few of which are pretty good. I ended up with the impression that if you don't have pro-level demos for most of the songs you want to submit, it is probably not a great investment (as the only people who ever "win" the bids have very high-quality-sounding recordings). Also I didn't like the fact that you also have to pay each time

Is it something like Taxi?

REM, Automatic for the People

I agree with this 100% and it's why I prefer Bucky Baxter to many other pedal steel musicians. He's toured with Dylan and all that but I really dig his work with Ryan Adams and Steve Earle best, so subtle and mature. Also I'll definitely check out These United States a few of my friends play shows with them too, appreciate the recommendation.

Totally agree about mic'ing as stated above. However, this is one more vote for a Fishman system.

I think on this one and Bob Dylan's Beard you can also look at it like some notes are hit like it's a strum, but he's really only playing one or two strings of the chord for that "strum" if that makes sense. Said another way: you move your hand back and forth like you're strumming fast but just sort of lift up the notes you want instead of the whole chord, to string together the little counter-melody.

There's just no way that any American administration can back away from IP issues, particularly since it's such a GIGANTIC trade issue with China in particular.

I've mentioned them on here before, but I really really dig American Aquarium out of Raleigh, NC. I just saw them again last night, they were playing songs off their new CD (to be released in late April). GREAT STUFF! myspace for American Aquarium

No the lights are smaller gauge throughout the set. What you're describing is why I like the "bluegrass" strings I talked about above. They have medium-gauge for the bottom 3 or 4 strings, but light gauge on the higher pitched ones.

I go back and forth on newness. Generally I find that I prefer fresh strings when I'm playing acoustically (meaning unmic'ed, no system -- usually at my or someone else's house) but honestly get better results with a little bit of wear when recording or playing through a PA. I definitely WRITE songs differently with fresh/bright strings vice dull ones. I find I prefer fresher strings when writing, never really thought about it before but shooting from the hip I'd guess it's because some strings are more prominent fresh than worn (if that makes any sense). Also let me add on to the "welco

I'm personally a big fan of these strings, however I do NOT like the coated / xp type ones nearly as well as those actually get duller, quicker than the uncoated ones: martin / d'addario bluegrass strings (d'addario makes the martin ones i think)

I have a Fishman Aura system on-board in my Martin but I am pretty sure they sell them as offboard modelers as well. I think rowboat has covered this somewhere else explaining crap to me, but the gist is that they are meant to emulate playing into a high-end microphone in a quiet studio. Obviously they end up far from that ideal, but they really do a MUCH better job in live situations than just a pickup, in my personal experience. I followed one of my songwriting mentors at an open mic on Wednesday and my set came off better, just because he was using a much-crappier pickup. To expand

O-man you are nothing but an awesome dude. But this is a funny-ass thing to put on a forum amigo! hahahaha

I prefer music that comes from an intense emotional place -- depression, falling in love, anger, exuberation/jubilation, whatever I just don't enjoy "relaxed" music if that makes any sense. So in my experience as a writer, I find my best work comes out when I'm feeling intense emotions. I definitely got back into writing a lot when I was depressed, and I find depressive bouts push me more into art than when I'm happier. However I have also found that I can do a damn fine job writing from a happy / calm place so long as I focus on something intense in that vein. My most recent song opens,

Lots of rather pedestrian reruns this season.

If you were coming to DC the 23rd, I'd point out I'm playing a show that night at the Red and the Black, opening for the fantastic Raleigh band American Aquarium.

Wow! The first minute had me skeptical, but then they really put it into kickass gear in the second half of the track.

"greet me brother with your faithless kiss" really resonated for me in that song. (with the switched line from the New Testament) He has sooo many great lines though. I think a lot of songs from "Tracks" are underrated, these are from "Man at the Top" Man at the top says it's lonely up there If it is man, I don't care From the big white house to the parking lot Everybody wants to be the man at the top

Thanks for the ideas!

Sorry for necro'ing this old thread about this old album.... But almost a year later, April finally clicks for me. Lost Verses is probably the first 9:00+ song that I have ever really, truly, 100%, liked (sorry, Shine On You Crazy Diamond and everything live by the Dead). Do you guys have any good starting points for Red House Painters albums? I've poked at a couple songs here and there but none of them really grabbed me.