Apple and Music and -- listening again

A major victory in the campaign to eliminate DRM -- Apple, the last major retailer of DRM-encumbered music has announced, live at MacWorld, that iTunes music will be going DRM-free.

Of course, what this really makes clear is that this was never about the record companies withholding DRM-free music from Apple, but rather that Apple was unwilling to concede a tiered pricing structure to the recording companies. In the end, anti-DRM activists -- including yourself -- were able to educate the public enough to pressure Apple to give in.

http://digg.com/tech_news/Help_Apple_is_holding_me_ransom_for_0_30_per_song

* Read the full story:

Will you stand

In other cultures, it is the common way to "stand" for public office. Here, we "run" for office -- sadly. There is little that makes me more upset than seeing a bozo politician run around seeking votes, like a chicken with his or her head cut off.

Song by Amy Carol Webb, a Florida friend who has played gigs for us in Pittsburgh. We expect and hope to see here in January.

Pagent

Click To Play

Same 20-minutes but on Viddler:

The Collected Notes of Secret Agent Ska: Why City Council is not Millennial-friendly

The Collected Notes of Secret Agent Ska: Why City Council is not Millennial-friendly: "Why City Council is not Millennial-friendly"

Right on Agent Ska.

This boils down to "philosophy." That's an age old area of thought. They don't need the same philosophy -- they just need to be aware of thought and process that gives reason of it being grounded in a philosophy.

They act without logic.

Where they are coming from and where they are going is not tied to a greater picture of the landscape of Pittsburgh at this millennial-time.



Dave N is a friend. His brother's movie is now out of DVD too.

PS: Agent Ska, (in here blog post that I point to above) did NOT mean prothonatary, however. The word should be "Controller" (Michael Lamb). Lamb, who is not friendly to the cause as is city council, used to have that job with Allegheny County until it was removed with row-office reform.

Making Music on Grant Street

From violin-gang

Erik and his school mates were making music on Grant Street at the home of the Allegheny County seat of government -- last week.

Today, the same building is closed.

Song: Twist to the 12 Days of Christmas

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS
On his twelfth day in office
Ron Paul could’ve given me
A restored Constitution,
Second amendment,
All of my earnings,
Non-intervention,
Choice in my healthcare,
Border protection,
Property rights,
Restored pri-va-cy!!!
US sovereignty,
Sound money,
Real integrity,
And renewed faith in liberty!

More fuel for the calling of The Zombie as a new mascot for new Pgh Public High School

The Zombies -- now taking the field -- with its own initial theme song as well.



Pointers

Zombie Nation PSU blog. A blog for PSU (Penn State) calls itself the Zombie Nation PSU.

Always point to Wikipedia for insights:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zombie_Nation_(band)

The first Zombie Nation five track EP was released in the spring of 1999 on DJ Hell's label, International DeeJay Gigolo Records. A remix of the song Kernkraft 400 on this debut release landed in high chart-positions all over the world.

Since 2001, Florian Senfter has released tracks on different labels under Zombie Nation and his other pseudonym John Starlight. In 2002 he did not renew his contract with International DeeJay Gigolo Records and started his own label, Dekathlon Records, where he released the second Album "Absorber" in 2003. In early 2005, the new sublabel UKW Records was launched with John Starlight's John's Addiction Part 1 followed by Paeng Paeng 12" by Zombie Nation which was recorded a few months later. Sven Väth realized the potential of that song at first glance and licensed it for his Cocoon Recordings imprint. The the 3rd Album "Black Toys" which was released in 2006 on UKW Records Zombie Nation is a bass dominated soundscape [1] from tech-hop [2] to funk-laden house[2] . In 2007 Zombie Nation collaborated with Tiga under the pseudonym ZZT on the recording "Lower State of Consciousness".

Zombie Nation is also known today as electronic music liveact. Different from a DJ he uses musical hardware on stage to create sounds. The main instrument is an Akai MPC 4000[3] Music sequencer which he uses in combination with a mixing console and several effects units to do a live arrangement and Mix of his music.

Hear the title track - Tune: http://www.last.fm/music/Zombie+Nation/_/Kernkraft+400?autostart



Steel mill and all!

Background:

As I've posted before, it would be great if the new sports mascot for the new Pgh Public Schools at the new Science and Technology school (combined with UPREP) would be called "The Zombies."

Jazz Violinist Billy Bang

If you are looking for something exotic to do on Saturday night Jazz Violinist Billy Bang will be at the Kelly Strayhorn Theater in East Liberty. Definitely interesting and unusual. Read the story on him and his film presentation to see if you are interested and it's appropriate at http://www.pittsburghcitypaper.ws/gyrobas/Content?oid=oid%3A54839

Billy Bang & The Aftermath Band. 8 p.m. Sat., Nov. 8. Kelly-Strayhorn Theater, 5941 Penn Ave., East Liberty. $25 ($30 day of show). 412-322-0292 or http://www.proartstickets.org

Song: They Lost My Vote!

Thanks to Ellen Bukstel!



Tune comes out of Florida, of course.

Ellen Bukstel, singer, songwritter, will be one of our Concert Hour acts this summer at SUUSI. Please watch her in this non-partisan break from the grueling campaign watch.

The Loyalist: Song from the past. History can repeat itself

Dave Nachmanoff, sings a song about the Loyalist!

In the time of the American Revolution, 1770s, there were many who were for King George.

The back-up voice is that of Al Stewart.

Today, could the loyalist be the ones who go blindly into a bailout of $700-billion, this month, for the corporate folks.

The wind is gone. Weather tune after being blown about.

Modern tune.

Men Are Good, despite what you have seen...

Here are two snips of an intro and tune by Joe Jencks, the performer slated for our House Concert on Wednesday. He is singing to the kids at Sunnyhill in this clip.

From Joe Jencks house concert

From Joe Jencks house concert

Only a few seats remain for the gig. Please RSVP. Call 412 298 3432 or email me, Mark @ Rauterkus . com.

Extreme Strings Orchestra gets ready for the 2008-09 season soon

The Extreme Strings Orchestra will kick off it's 3rd season on Saturday morning September 27 from 9-11 AM and you are invited. You can come to check us out or come and join - and we hope you do!

Here are all of the details you should know right now.

The XSO is an educational youth music program that specializes in the great American music styles of Fiddling , Jazz, and Rock.

We also play electronic instruments and work with pickups, wireless units, effects, amps and sound systems.

We are looking for middle, junior high, and high school students who play Violin, Viola, Cello, and Bass and are also open to Guitar and Mandolin players as well.

This program is open to ALL students from suburban schools, private schools, Pittsburgh Public Schools, and home-schooled students from all over the tri-state area.

We would prefer at least 2 years of experience playing the instrument but we can discuss that. Although we have some very fine advanced players this is not an elite group and we break the XSO into 2 or 3 groups most weeks and work with students at their own levels. However, it's most fun when we put the whole XSO together and we try to do that every week.

We meet at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High (CAPA for short) at the corner of 9th St. and Fort Duquesne Blvd. Downtown Pittsburgh as part of the Centers For The Musically Talented program.

We meet most Saturdays through the school year from 9-11 AM.

Tuition cost this year will be $450. There is a discount of $75 for full payment by 10/31/08. Also, families with more than one child in the program receive a discount of $100 per child.

There are full tuition grants available for up to 20 Pittsburgh Public School students.

Your tuition covers 24 educational sessions as well as performance opportunities through out the year. Last year we performed for the Three Rivers Arts Festival, in the Heinz Hall lobby as part of the "BOWFIRE" concert, the All City Arts Festiva, the "Saturday Light Brigade Radio Show" (twice) l and did workshops with students in the Norwin and West Mifflin School Districts and the Pulling String private music studio. We even had two of our students perform on stage with "BOWFIRE"

Our faculty includes myself, Sena Thompson as an instructor and arranger - the kids love her, Erin Snyder as low strings instructor, and Alex Van Laningham - a recent XSO grad - as well as outside professional instructors who will visit to do workshops in their specialty.

Last year we had about 25 students and many are returning. We hope you will join us. It's big fun.

Our new brochure will be ready later this week and we can send you one if you wish. It will definitely be on our site ASAP and we may attach it to a future email message.

Although we hope to do a complete update of the web site this week - which is overdue - there is some good information about our program including video and sound clips at http://www.extremestrings.com/Site/Home.html

Contact me if you need more information. Thank you for your consideration.

--

Steven Vance
Yamaha Certified String Educator
Executive Director
EXTREME STRINGS
2549 Penn Ave
Pittsburgh PA 15222
412-325-1211
http://www.extremestrings.com
stevenvance@extremestrings.com

Jazz, Rock and Fiddling
Teaching, Learning and Playing Great American Music

Flashback: Joe Jencks played a prior House Concert for us in Pittsburgh

A slide show of the first Joe Jencks house concert:



That gig was our 'first ever sold out performance.' We held it on the first floor and had just enough people to squeeze into the room. RSVPs are necessary so we can save you a seat.

Next week's house concert is going to be on the third floor, under our new roof. The room has a stage and we're very excited to have you attend. This will be our first concert in the 'newly re-done third floor space.'

We won't have any petitions for you to sign this year. I'm already on the ballot for the November 2008 election. I'm a candidate for the "electorial college."

For fun, I've put the event into a ticket system on the internet. No need to sign-up via that system. But, if you wish, you can check out Show Clix dot com. Direct Link.

House Concert slated for WED, Sept 17. You're invited. RSVPs now open

We've hosted a few different house concerts in the past few years. All have been a success, but this next one is going to be slightly different. It will be held in our third floor space, newly refurbished in our historic South Side home. a

We love to support the arts and make great music. The house concert is a particular form of musical experience.

Few in Pittsburgh are familiar with the concept of hosting or attending "house concerts." They are being done in some locations (Point Breeze included) locally and in different parts of the US (Florida, Wisconsin).

Some concert performers make a living doing these types of shows and even prefer these gigs in homes as they are more intimate than club settings where the music is often less important than the drinking.

The great advantage of the house concert from the performer's standpoint is that it cuts out the venue as middle man, with its associated overhead costs. House concert proceeds go straight to the performer. The "suggested artist donation" for the Joe Jencks concert on the 17th is $10.

Fewer people are needed for a draw for a performer to a particular location because the singer earns more per audience member. Sound guys, door men, bartenders and club expenses are bypassed.

These concerts are intimate in a way that venue concerts rarely are. Performers get a chance to socialize with audiences and vice-versa. There's something very old-fashioned and respectful about sharing music, original music, here. It's a modern version of nineteenth-century parlor concerts.

Photos from the other vacation have arrived

From violin-gang

See the photo captions in the Picasa album for more details.

Erik Rauterkus and Amy Carol Webb jam at SUUSI before hundreds and get a standing ovation.

FWIW, are not bringing nor buying violins in China on this trip.

Letter to Mark Rauterkus from Tim Westergren, Founder, Pandora

Got a nice letter and t-shirt as a thank you gift for the aid I've given to Pandora.

May 7, 2008

Pandora - radio from the Music Genome Proect

Hi Mark-

On behalf of myself and everyone here at Pandora, I want to give a hearty thanks for your wonderful support. I hope you know how much it means to us. For small companies like ours, it's everthing.

This journey is getting more and more exciting with each passing day. Wecreated Pandora and the Music Genome Project to help people discover and enjoy music they love - you should consider yourself very much a part of this adventure.

Please accept this Pandora gift as a token of our gratitude. Welcome to the team!

Sincerely,

Tim Westergren, Founder

[412] This weekend -- you gotta make time to see the Schenley High School Musical -- historic and fantastic!

[412] This weekend -- you gotta make time to see the Schenley High School Musical -- historic and fantastic!:

Find time this weekend, at 8 pm on May 1, 2 or 3 (Thurs, Fri or Sat) to go see the Schenley High School musical, "All Shook Up." It is fantastic.

My son saw "Hairspray" when the professional production was in town this winter and he thinks the local high school kids presented a better show.

Furthermore, Schenley High School, as we know it, is GONE after this school year. This gives residents from around the region to see a top flight program in a classic, city setting. Suburban friends need to see this show too. I don't want to dwell on the politics of the school closure and how wrong that decision is because the message is all about the kids, the music, the teamwork and the fun you'll have watching them perform.

If you like Elvis music, live theater, poking fun at the mayor, wonderful singing, and a splendid community time -- go. Take your kids. Take a date. Go alone. We didn't need to reserve our seats, just show up at the door and plunk down seven bills.

See other blog postings and comments.

Poynter Online - Can a Reporter Trade a Newswriting Career for a Song?

Nice feature. Blends music and journalism.

Poynter Online - Can a Reporter Trade a Newswriting Career for a Song?: "Can a Reporter Trade a Newswriting Career for a Song?"

His MySpace has six songs for free listens. Creative.

Going Irish

Anne sent this. I also suggest you hook up with Johnsmith, singer of the tune, "Don't Put Me In a Box."

Happy St Patrick's Day!

I know that sometimes you're too busy to read the Fellow Travelers' Advisory from cover to cover. If you've missed this invitation in past newsletters, I hope that this St Pat's Day you'll take a second to learn about the three fabulous tours of Ireland that I'm organizing for this summer...

http://annefeeney.com/Pages/enchantedwaytours.html

If you found yourself somewhere this past weekend swilling green beer and listening to a band singing "McNamara's Band" you may be asking yourself if that was an authentic Irish experience.... How I'd love to show you what Ireland is REALLY about...

Music, culture, politics, poetry, history, scenery ... (not to mention Guinness Stout!) ... Ireland has it all... and I'd love to show it to you. And now, thanks to my wonderful Irish partner, Tom Pigott, of Enchanted Way Tours, I can...

I'm leading small tours to the west of Ireland this summer on:

June 10-19 (filling up fast!)
August 15-24 (only one seat left!)
September 30- October 9thhttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif

The $1750 cost of this tour includes ALL ground transportation, ALL accommodations, ALL breakfasts, THREE dinners AND admission to many many special events... making this an extraordinary value, not to mention WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too much fun!

Tom and I will show you the 'best of the west' -- the real Ireland. I really hope you can join us ... if not this year, then next...

Thanks for your interest in my music -- I hope your St Pat's
celebrations are lots of fun. I'll be wearin' the green today and
doing two shows in Ft Myers, FL (but I won't be singing McNamara's
Band...)

All the best

Anne

PS - For all three of these tours, I'd expect the weather to be San Francisco-like... warm in the sun, cool in the shade, chilly by the seaside... light layers, a fleece vest, a snuggy sweater, windbreaker & a pair of good walking shoes ... and you're packed! these trips will be casual, filled with wonderful adventures - and you'll travel with the coolest people in the world - activists from all over the US, Canada, Sweden & Denmark... I really hope you'll come along!

and if my dates don't work for you, take a look at Tom's website... other wonderful artists are leading similar tours all summer long...


April 15 - 24 - Chuck Brodsky
May 27 - June 5 - Dana Cooper
June 10 - June 19 - Anne Feeney
July 5 - July 14 - Brian Mallon
July 16 - July 25 - Johnsmith
July 29 - Aug 7 - Johnsmith
Aug 15 - Aug 24 - Anne Feeney
Aug 26 - Sept 4 - Kate Mc Donnell
Sept 6 - Sept 15 - Johnsmith
Sept 17 - Sept 26 - Johnsmith
Sept 30 - Oct 9 - Anne Feeney
Oct 14 - Oct 23 - Montgomery Delaney

Tom's website is full of great information about the tours as well..

http://www.enchantedwaytours.ie/?page_id=4

Hope to see you in Ireland!