Grateful Dead Music Forum

Made another stab at recording...it was a small crowd and just felt tough to get going...but I think the sound is getting a bit better...any critique would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
http://www.archive.org/details/UnchartedWaters12_18_09

I just listened to 1/2 of The Weight, and all of After Midnite. Sounds really good. Pretty mellow evening. Nice mix I thought.

Sounds really nice!

Thanks guys...Vic your sound is phenomenal and your playing sounds so effortless. Relistening to mine...it always sounds so stilted and forced...And being just a trio I find myself trapped in playing either rhythm or lead and the transitions between the two are so abrupt. I don't think I transition well and the resolution of my leads just seems to be a crap shoot...they only resolve when I get lucky. I know no theory..I'm just shootin' from the hip. I can never seem to add any little lines like Garcia (and Vic) is constantly doing during any song...they seem forced and not smooth.
I am getting happier with the sound quality. I'm just moving the mic around and hoping for the best. I need to record the next one at a lower level. I can always boost the volume later but on this...at times the recording volume is too high.

Nice job! I listened to most of your set and it was nice. Your voice is good and your playing is also. Why are you a trio? Some keys or another guitar would really fill out your sound and take some of the pressure off of you.

Thanks...I was playing solo for quite a while using a looper. The drummer has a recording studio in town and asked me about playing together. Just the two of us wasn't working so we got the bass player to join in. We've all know eachother for quite a while and it's really getting to be fun. Neither of them are DeadHeads but they knew what they were getting into with me. We play really small places and I think they're liking the idea of a trio and want to keep it that way. More people=more compilcations. I'm really enjoying it too and wouldn't want to screw it up by insisting on additional players. Keys or a rhythm player would be nice...we don't have too much to chose from here...but I'd like to try to make it work in this format. It gives me lots to work on but I do remain a bit frustrated. I think we're getting close to being an OK band...if I could just smooth things out a bit. Thanks again for listening.

I went back and listened to "Last Time"-great solo work there, real concrete. Solid.
Sugaree was the standard fare. As expected.