Band Dynamics PERFORMANCE PREP - NEVAH Crunch Time - Part 8

Okay NEVAH fans and new acquaintances (wow spelled it correctly) - As you know we've got an upcoming gig "Cabin Fevah Relievah 2 at the Next Generation Theatre in Brewer Maine, on January 26th" and we're adding a bunch of new material … and … going back over older material to get it ready for the show in three + weeks. Normally I'd be in panic mode because three weeks is not a lot of time and I want NEVAH to be really good-ish!

NEVAH Maine Bluegrass - rehearsing

However, we have implemented a number of procedures/techniques/organizational routines to increase our rehearsal productivity and efficiency:

Larry and Richard from NEVAH Maine's Bluegrass, Newgrass band

Phil, Larry and Richard from NEVAH a-practicin'

1) We recorded the NEW songs we're adding and everyone in the group has received them so we've been able to practice on our own which helps tremendously.

2) We've doubled up on our rehearsal schedule - practice makes "better" (actually a good coordinated practice makes you better.)

Ed the NEVAH Progressive Newgrass Flutah

3) We've selected our songs for this show from our NEVAH song list of over 44 tunes.

4) We've added all the NEVAH originals to the Show (8 total) - our plan is to eventually have enough original material at our disposal to do an entire evening of NEVAH doing NEVAH - if we want.

Triple D - Dick Da Drummer from NEVAH Maine's Newgrass, Country Band

5) We've already gone over all the preliminary selected tunes at yesterdays two and a half hour rehearsal  - with only a small break. Not too shabby a rehearsal.

6) We've given everyone in the group a copy of the tunes and asked to put them in a "show order" - only to see what the general consensus is.

Richard and the Man in the Mirror from NEVAH Maine's Bluegrass Band

7) We will have the show order fully sorted out/selected at our next rehearsal.

8) We will go over the show from start to finish at each up coming rehearsal at least once - most likely twice. And that's with only a short break in between sets. It's hard to drink a beer without a break.

NEVAH takin' a break during rehearsal for their upcoming gig at the Cabin Fevah Releivah at the NEXT Generation Theatre in Brewer Maine

We've implemented this formula before and it has provided some very nice concerts which appear to flow smoothly from song to song. At least the audience seems to appreciate our efforts. With the addition of digitally recording the songs at rehearsal I think we've made a major leap forward. And since we are adding more an more originals it will hopefully separate us from other bands.

Okay, which instrument am I supposed to play on this song? Hal the NEVAH band Banjo Guy

Next Blog: Band Dynamics - Sticking to the plan as we get closer to show time - is it working?

Band Dynamics - PERFORMANCE PREP - NEVAH PART 7.5

I am sooooo excited that I just had to get another Band Dynamics - performance prep in. Not number 8 - but a 7.5!

Why you ask …?  

Maine Bluegrass band NEVAH 

I just had a wonderful 45 minute practice with the BAND (you know - NEVAH Maine's Bluegrass, Newgrass, Country - ish, Prograssabilly band) and I did't have to leave my office. And as much as I prefer a practice with everyone there … I was alone.

As I mentioned in the last blog we taped the new songs with a Roland Edirol Digital Recorder and I received mine (via email) two days ago from Larry (NEVAH's Guitar Guy). The recordings were down and dirty, but perfect for me to play and sing along with, working on my parts. Stopping and starting where I want … going over and over each tune as many times as I wish.

Like I said, I prefer to practice with the band … but this definitely works wonders and let's me attempt to perfect our new material 24/7 if I wish (and I do need to practice).

NEVAH Maine's Bluegrass, Newgrass, Country-ish Prograssabilly Band

I prefer to play the MP3 files through quick time on my Apple 27" Core i5 Imac. The sound coming through my desktop Altec speakers is clear and quick time is a simple mouse click to start, stop, resume or replay.

Ahhhhhh … what a day!

Sorry I have to stop ranting for now and get back to practicing.

Monday or Tuesday I will continue with: Band Dynamics PERFORMANCE PREP - Upcoming Gig = Crunch Time.

Band Dynamics - Performance Prep - NEVAH - Part 7

Hey there, NEVAH fans … sorry I digressed for a couple O' weeks from my Band DYNAMICs blogs (hopefully you missed them - maybe not). Ahhh - the holidays! 

Anyway I want to continue on my Dynamics series of blogs - this one a continuation of performance preparation. And a perfect example of Performance Preparation would be yesterdays rehearsal …

Nevah had an amazing practice last night. There was quite a lot of playing, discussing and "listening" - the key to the practice was the listening aspect. A lot of time was spent working on and polishing the NEW songs we are planning to perform on January 26th at the Next Generation Theatre - for the Cabin Fevah Relievah - 2 - …

NEVAH Stickers on Calton Cases

… and, because we are not always able to get together with every band member we recorded (down and dirty) our new arrangements to send via email to the band members who were not present at last nights rehearsal. It's also a wonderful tool for everyone to use to "remember" arrangements and for solo practicing - kind of like a portable digital practice band. It's hard to forget an arrangement if you record it.

A Roland Edirol Digital Recorder - 

Roland Edirol Recorder

The recorder was placed on a short stand and we all stood nearby playing. It's really for reference only, to listen to the overall arrangements, play along with, practice your rhythm and lead parts. However, because we will all have an audio copy of the arrangements we can spend our time perfecting our parts so when we get together we can concentrate on performance aspects.

That's it for the moment … hope all is well with the "NEVAH Fans". We look forward to seeing all of you. You might want to touch base with the Next Generation Theatre concerning tickets since seating is limited and we don't want you to miss out. Look below at one of the previous blogs for contact information.

Next Blog: Band Dynamics PERFORMANCE PREP - Upcoming Gig = Crunch Time.

Guitar Cracks due to Low Humidity in MAINE - NEVAH

Hey, Hal here, the banjo guy from NEVAH, Maine's Progressive Newgrass, Country, Prograssabilly band.
I live just outside Bangor. January 3rd was a lovely day, low temps just above zero degrees in the morning hours. I'm in my office sitting at my desk working on a 3D animation when all of a sudden I hear a very loud crack and then I hear the strings on my Martin D-42 vibrate. I froze, I instantly knew what it was and as I turned I could clearly see the "crack" on the face of the guitar from the bridge to the guitar edge. AHHHHHHHH!

Martin D-42 with long crack on face

I was totally upset and a bit freaked out so I called up Martin Guitar in Nazareth PA immediately. I reached customer service and I started to tell him about the sound when I heard him scream, "AHHHHHHHHH!" - He knew immediately what I was going to say. He gave me the name of their "certified" Martin repair guy in Maine. I called him up as soon as I got off the phone with Martin and within two seconds he knew exactly what had happened. LOW HUMIDITY! AHHHHHHHHHH!

I always keep my guitar out of the case so I can just pick it up and play at a moments notice. However,
I immediately grabbed my Kyser "Lifeguard" guitar humidifier, wet it, and placed it into the guitar sound hole then sealed it in my Calton Guitar Case - it's not likely to do much at this stage but at least I feel like I'm  helping the guitar … that is until I can get it repaired.

Kyser Lifeguard Guitar Humidifier

Kyser Lifeguard in Martin D-42 Soundhole

Calton Case, Kyser Guitar Humidifier in a Martin D-42 guitar

Anyway to make a long story short if you don't have enough humidity where you store your instruments then player be ware. It's a relatively easy fix for a qualified repair person, but who wants that. Not me, especially when NEVAH has an upcoming gig January 26th at the Next Generation Theatre (tiny show plug).

The closed Calton Case holding a Martin D-42 being humidified by a Kyser Lifeguard.

Hope you all can avoid this situation - AHHHHHH

Hal
Nevah Banjo & Guitar-ish guy

A SILVERY NEVAH NEW YEAR BLUEGRASS JAM

A terrific New Years celebration at the SILVER'S - about 25 folks in attendance total including about 3/4 of NEVAH - Maine's Prograssabilly Band (sounds like a commercial). And isn't it strange how we all thought to bring our instruments along - NOT! A well coordinated evening thanks to Richard (on Mandolin). I really enjoy a relaxing session … lots of laughs and folks singing a-long.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

We look forward to seeing you all real soon at the Next Gen - January 26th for our Cabin Fevah Relievah - 2 -.

Hal, Richard, Eric, Phil, Larry & Ed from NEVAH
Maine's Bluegrass, Newgrass Band having a New Years Eve Jam

Maine's Bluegrass Band NEVAH in concert in 3D

NEVAH

Maine's Progressive Bluegrass Band in glorious 3D - sort of - will be in concert January 26th

For further information please contact us: nevahband@gmail.com

or contact the Next Generation Theatre: 207-989-7100

Bluegrass Band NEVAH Cabin Fevah Relievah 2

Maine's NEVAH Band in Concert

"Cabin FEVAH RELIEVAH 2" 

 – January 26th, 2013 at 7:30 PM –

Appearing at the 

NEXT GENERATION THEATRE

in Brewer, Maine

– See the poster below for further details or contact us: nevahband@gmail.com – 

Maine's Bluegrass, Newgrass, Country, Prograssabilly Band in Concert

NEVAH Bluegrass Happy Holidays

To all our Fans in NEVAHLAND … 

we wish you a very 

Happy and Healthy Holiday Season!

Here's a link to a NEVAH Holiday Animation … 

NEVAH BLUEGRASS
Good Things Come Gift Wrapped

Main Street Music Studios in Bangor Maine - NEVAH - Photos #2

NEVAH, Maine's Bluegrass, Newgrass,  Country, Prograssabilly band … has been to Main Street Music Studios for our second go round this last past Thursday - December 2oth. I've got a couple of new pictures to show you from Dicks handy Nikon camera taken that night.

NEVAH at Main Street Studios - (day 2)
Ed, Phil, Larry, Dick, Hal, Richard

We were very excited because Richard was able to lay down all of his tasty Mandolin lead, fill and chop tracks for each song while Ed recorded a couple of sweet flute lines to compliment some of the tunes. Then Richard gave us some of his deep bass vocals on a couple of tracks and Ed added a "special" vocal track to one of his songs. After listening to each tune to make sure everything worked … we were good to go.

Richard in Vocal Booth - Josh from Main Street Studios Adjusts the Microphone (day 2)

Ed in Sound Booth Main Street Music Studios (day 1)

Now comes the fun part … puttin' it all together. More on that as it happens.

Band Dynamics Performance Prep - Nevah - Part 6

All of NEVAH's rehearsing has really been paying off. It certainly showed in the studio. We didn't waste a lot of time trying to decide what to do. We had it planned and then went about our business laying down the tracks at Main Street Studio in Bangor, Maine … which made for a terrific first band recording experience. Now we'll see what comes of the "mixing/editing" sessions.

However, onto the next topic … performance prep. All of this practicing ultimately leads to our live performances. We've done a few shows in the last several months in very different venues - from a Wedding in a lovely old barn, to a large backyard wedding setting up outside on a stone patio, to the midway stage at the BlueHill Fair and even a small Bar/Restaurant Andy's Old Port Pub in Portland, Maine as well as some shows at bars and local theaters.

NEVAH setting up at a Back Yard Wedding in Winterport, Maine

A Wedding at a Beautiful Old Barn

NEVAH at Pellitiers Loggers Family Restaurant in Millinocket Maine

We like to call what we do –  concerts, performances. They aren't ridged with a complete script found in theatrical performances/plays - legit theatre. However, we have a set list of songs that Phil puts together. And I must admit he has a superb sense of "time" - every show hits the mark and I don't think we've been more than a couple of minutes past our "set" time allowance … ever. And that includes times where he jumps ahead to an alternate tune if he feels the mood of the audience warrants a deviation from our set list.

NEVAH at Andy's Pub in Portland, Maine

Why? It's because we actually rehearse our show, all the tunes in the order we're going to do them, without stopping. And we do this quite a bit. Sometimes running a show two times in a row at one rehearsal - with only a couple of minutes break in between. The only thing we don't rehearse in the same manner is some of our banter which seems to flow easily on-stage between all of the "NEVAH" musicians.

NEVAH at the Blue Hill Fair

We are trying to find a nearby venue to set-up all our equipment and do a full - all out - rehearsal so we can get to another level of performance. It's coming, but finding a place and getting everyone together is not an easy task. Plus we need a sound person to make this work 100%. Luckily we've had some super folks run our board over the last couple of years and it has helped us tremendously (A big thank you to the "sound guys" - you know who you are.)

I'm going to pause here because there is a lot more to discuss concerning performance preparation. 

NEXT BLOG: Performance preparation continued.

Band Dynamics Practicing - NEVAH BlueGrass - Part 5

Hello friends of NEVAH and NEVAH Band blog readers … I know I said the next blog in the series was going to focus on performance, however, at NEVAH's last  PRACTICE session we began to move our rehearsal in a whole new direction … for us.

NEVAH, Maine's BlueGrass, Newgrass, Country, Prograssabilly Band practices one to two times a week. From past blogs you know we are an eight piece band (not including our sound man). Our instrumentation is both acoustic and electric such as a Gibson Mandolin, Martin Guitars, Fender Bass, Pedal Steel, Dobro, Sax, Flute, Ludwig Drums and Percussion along with a modified Stelling Sunflower Banjo with a custom Black Kavanjo Banjo Head. Almost all of our instruments are either wireless or direct plug-ins to the board … with the exception of the drums/percussion, Sax, Flute and Penny Whistle. All of which add to our unique PROGRASSABILLY sound.

NEVAH Bluegrass / Country Music at the Blue Hill Fair

At our last practice we concentrated on just two songs. One an original by our own Ed Russell, "Slow Down Superman" and the other a Bob Dylan tune … "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight". In the past we have essentially assigned large parts, longer instrumental leads – the mandolin taking one break, then the guitar, then more singing, then the banjo lead … etc., however, we are now getting down to single measures of music. Short sweet - instrumental licks played by one or more instruments as a "taste". With two instruments we are arranging these measures to be played in harmony.

Now this might seem normal for some bands, but it has taken us a couple of years to get a basic sound we like and to hone our skills and band sensibilities reaching for a new performance level. We aren't at the point where we microscopically write/create, dissect and restructure a song to the Nth degree as our good friends the world renowned Kruger Brothers do … we simply aren't there yet. However, we are moving in the right direction, growing with each rehearsal. Listening closer, discussing openly, playing better and amazing as it may sound … we have eight musicians agreeing, and working towards a common musical goal.

One thing I believe helping us to be better is the short time we just spent in the studio which forces us to examine each individual instruments contribution to the "whole". And we realize if we take that same attention and apply it to our rehearsals and arrangements then we will produce a better product at our live performances.

Ahh … we have another rehearsal tonight and then on Thursday hit Main Street Music Studios in Bangor again to add Mandolin, some bass vocals and a few additional tracks that weren't recorded at the first go round.

Next NEVAH Dynamic Blog: Performance (For real - I promise)

Main Street Music Studios in Bangor Maine - NEVAH - Photos

As promised, here are some more photos from NEVAH's 1st-evah recording session at Bangor Maine's – Main Street Music Studios …

Ed, Larry, Phil, Dick, Hal, Jack (pre-recording)

Dick at the Drums - Kim photographing

Larry, Phil, Ed, Jack (in the back), Josh of Main Street Music Studios -at the board

Ed at the Vocal Booth

Larry, Andy (Owner /Operator) Main Street Music Studios in Bangor, ME

Eric on the snare, Jack on the cam

Keep an eye out for more photos from NEVAH's 1st-evah Album recording session

Band Dynamics Practicing - Nevah Bluegrass - prt 4

NEVAH, Maine's Bluegrass, Country, NewGrass, Prograssabilly Band practices quite a bit and it has really paid off, in more ways then one. We try to get together once a week and spend a good three to four hours practicing our tunes. Now, that may not sound like a lot of practicing, but when you have eight members in a band, to get 90% of them there each week is an amazing task we have been able to accomplish for almost two years now.

NEVAH (sans Eric)

We have a set routine we go through, usually a warm up song we jam on a bit which leads us to our arrangement of the Beatles - "I've Just Seen A Face", from there with instruments and voices warmed up we usually play one or two more familiar tunes then jump into something new.

If we are preparing for an upcoming concert/show, then we diligently work on any new material we wish to add, going over each arrangement numerous times to solidify the songs in our minds. We play a few more of our "current set" then go back to the new one's once more and finally end with either an acappella number that took us months to work out, or one of our solidly arranged vocal heavy pieces with numerous harmonies at the end.

NEVAH Wanted Men

A perfect example of our work effort paid off the other night at Main Street Music Studios of Bangor Maine. We spent three + weeks concentrating on the songs we were going to record, six originals. In nine hours were able to lay down most of the groundwork, lead vocals, harmonies and additional fill instruments. We were totally surprised, so were the studio engineers. However, we'd practiced all the parts for each song in rehearsal, and then played what we'd practiced.

NEVAH At Main Street Music Studios

Now, please don't get me wrong, I didn't say it was perfect, far from it. Several tunes were recorded, a couple of times each to relax the singers for better vocal quality. I am sure we will spend a good deal of time tweaking things and or re-recording/over dubbing certain tracks. However, we have a very strong musical foundation in which to build each tune and bring out the best sounds/moments from the session to make the songs shine. The Maine Street Music Studios recording session was an amazing experience, a pleasure, not only because the facility and owner/operator Andy, assisted byJosh, were amazing to work with … but because of NEVAH's rehearsal time.

Next NEVAH Dynamic Blog: Performance

Recording an Album in Bangor Maine - NEVAH's 1st

NEVAH, Maine's atypical Bluegrass, Country, NewGrass, Prograssabilly band went into Main Street Studios, in Bangor Maine on Saturday to record their first-evah album.

We had a terrific time, got a lot accomplished and are looking forward to getting back into the studio to add a few more tracks and tweak the one's already recorded.

Here are a few photos from our first nine hour session.

Jack on dobro

Eric a-shakin'

Josh - from Main Street Studios at the board

Ed and Phil - waiting to sing

Hal on Banjo - Larry on Guitar

Larry, Phil, Ed

Dick on Drums

Phil and Andy

 Stay tuned for more photos, more info and maybe a sneak peak or two of the actual recording.

Recording a Bluegrass / Newgrass NEVAH Album at Bangors Main Street Music Studio

I'm going to digress a little from the Bluegrass Band Dynamics series to make a special

 – NEVAH ANNOUNCEMENT –

It's finally happening … NEVAH, Maine's Bluegrass, NewGrass, Country - ish, Prograssabilly band is hitting the studio this weekend to start recording our very 1st album of original tunes. 

We are going to record at Bangor's own 

Main Street Music Studio

And we are "wicked" excited.

We've spent a good deal of time preparing for this moment, practicing each tune over and over, tightening our arrangements, modifying some of the tunes here and there, tweaking each song for maximum studio performance potential.

Less is More … less is more … less is more (it's either the key to success or our new Mantra or both)

Stay tuned as we post some photos and video of the recording sessions …

See ya soon …

Band Dynamics NEVAH - Maine Bluegrass - Getting Along prt3

Hello NEVAH friends, hope all is well as we approach the Happy Holidays, all the Happy Holidays! 

Nevah at Old Towns Riverfront Concert Series

I'd like to briefly talk about "getting along" in our band - Musically. You might think a local Maine NewGrass, BlueGrass, Country, okay PROGRASSABILLY band like NEVAH would lean towards a particular sound. Well, we are hard to define, and truth be-told we have a musical spectrum that ranges from hard Bluegrass-ish to Rock and Roll to 60's accapella, And of course, everything in between.

Therefore, the question is … how do we select our music, and agree to the choices. Especially with an eight piece band? It's easy, the Men O' Nevah, have extremely good taste. 

I'm only joking, however, in reality it's pretty accurate - the band members have been around a couple of years, played numerous songs and know a lot of songs, plus we have a lot of open minds, and hearts and are willing to listen to anyone in the band who has an idea for a song, be it an original or a well worn favorite for inclusion in our "Master Set List" -

Pedal Steel and Drums

Banjo and Mandolin

Once a song is suggested, and we know someone really wants to do a song when they bring in Chord Sheets for everyone to look at, they generally have a simple arrangement in mind. 

The Band tries to:

1) Listen to the song played through by the person who would like to include it. If it's the sax player of drummer we'll have the guitar player chord it the first time.
2) Add additional instruments on the second go round … listening and leaving space for leads and instrument flourishes. (On this second go-round good listening and strong eye contact are paramount, the key to "less is more")
3) Work out vocal harmony parts on the third run through. Stopping and starting, assigning parts and trying short passages.
4) Work out leads and lead exchanges. An ever changing process until it feels right (could be several weeks or months).
5) Play it through a few times to see how we like it.
6) Rest, put it aside, STOP playing it and move on to other tunes.
7) Come back to it at the end of the evening.

The following practice we will go over it a few times refining bits and pieces, polish it, perform it and then re-work the tune as needed.

Throughout this process if someone has a thought we throw it out to the group and 99.9% of the time we give a try. On occasion a simple discussion, taking in everyones opinions might negate us trying to over-tweak a song.

It really is that simple!

NEXT NEVAH BLOG: From Practice to Live Performance