SHEEP ENTERTAINMENT : UKULELE CHORDFINDER
In a display of unwarranted generosity, Brother Gene presented each of his fellow Elderly Brothers with a ukulele for Christmas. I can't speak for the other guys, but I've been having a great time with mine. While searching out ukulele resources online I stumbled onto this one, from Sheep Entertainment, which is, as near as I can tell, a record label located in the Netherlands. The other pages on the site aren't in English, so I'm guessing.
The Ukulele Chordfinder site features chords for D- and C-tuned soprano ukes, and for tenor and baritone models. But rather than list a bunch of chords on one chart, the site uses an interactive display of a uke and a series of buttons in a kind of typewriter keyboard arrangement. To see, for example, a C7 chord laid out on the uke's neck, you click the C key, then the 7 key. Dots then appear on the uke's fingerboard to indicate the fingering. In this manner a broad spectrum of chords can be displayed.
The site also features a pitchpipe for each tuning and uke model. Select a tuning/model, then click one of the four pipes to hear the tuning tone.
An ingenius song section uses MP3 quality recordings of an unidentifed acoustic band playing a selection of standard folk songs. As the song plays, the chords and lyrics scroll across the screen, and the fingerings appear on the uke image at the top of the page. Fast-forward and reverse buttons allow you to go back over trickier sections.
Friday, December 24, 2004
Monday, September 27, 2004
Thinning the herd
Apparently one of the various chapters of the Elderly Brothers has decided to abandon the name in favor of Prairie Underground. We wish them a lot of luck.
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
OK, This is Scary
Tribute: A Rockumentary
I caught the last 20 or 30 minutes of this film last night on the Independent Film Channel. My feelings about the idea of tribute bands range from annoyed to amused, and they were certainly reinforced by what I saw in this film. The effect is similar to that of watching a particularly juicy COPS episode, one with lots of slurring, stumbling drunk guys and the women who alternately love them and hit them with jack handles.
It's bad enough that someone would want to play in a tribute band, but why, why, why would anyone pay to see one? This phenomenon should be struck solidly on the back of the head and left in a ditch to die.
I caught the last 20 or 30 minutes of this film last night on the Independent Film Channel. My feelings about the idea of tribute bands range from annoyed to amused, and they were certainly reinforced by what I saw in this film. The effect is similar to that of watching a particularly juicy COPS episode, one with lots of slurring, stumbling drunk guys and the women who alternately love them and hit them with jack handles.
It's bad enough that someone would want to play in a tribute band, but why, why, why would anyone pay to see one? This phenomenon should be struck solidly on the back of the head and left in a ditch to die.
After the Deluge
Rescheduled Memphis Drive-in Gig
Last Saturday's rained-out Elderly Brothers show has been rescheduled for this Saturday, September 4, 2004. The music starts at 7:30, followed by a double feature of whatever Hollywood has to offer this week.
Last Saturday's rained-out Elderly Brothers show has been rescheduled for this Saturday, September 4, 2004. The music starts at 7:30, followed by a double feature of whatever Hollywood has to offer this week.
Sunday, August 29, 2004
E Bros get rained out!
Questionably Historic Gig at the Memphis Triple Drive-in Theater to be Rescheduled.
Exhibiting the business smarts the got them where they are today, The Elderly Brothers decided that, as career moves go, playing outdoors on an uncovered stage during a thunderstorm in front of an absent audience was not the best idea. Negotiations are underway to reschedule this gig, possibly for Sunday September 5th. That's the night before Labor Day, so it ain't a school night.
Exhibiting the business smarts the got them where they are today, The Elderly Brothers decided that, as career moves go, playing outdoors on an uncovered stage during a thunderstorm in front of an absent audience was not the best idea. Negotiations are underway to reschedule this gig, possibly for Sunday September 5th. That's the night before Labor Day, so it ain't a school night.
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Steve Earle Interview
The Onion A.V. Club: Interview with Steve Earle
Great interview with one of my favorite songwriters. Earle's take on the current state of the music business is particularly interesting.
Great interview with one of my favorite songwriters. Earle's take on the current state of the music business is particularly interesting.
Colin Dussault's CD Release Party
This past Saturday the Elderly Brothers opened for Colin Dussault's Blues Project at the Savannah in Westlake, Ohio. We had a great time!
Colin drew a capacity crowd, which turned out to be the largest audience ever for the Elderly Brothers. The folks were friendly, receptive, applauded when they were supposed to, and didn't throw anything. After our set complete strangers told us we done good. Booze has that effect on people.
Colin and his band put on an amazing show. Any Blues/R & B band that does a number that features a Theremin solo is OK in my book. The show included Cleveland-area gospel singers the Prayer Warriors, a smokin' three-piece horn section, and some very tasty licks from a steel guitar player -- a member of Hillbilly Idol, according to Brother George.
This gig was the CD release party for Colin's latest, Not Tonight, I've Got The Blues, and the Blues Project's set consisted almost entirely of tunes from that CD. Great stuff. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy.
Colin drew a capacity crowd, which turned out to be the largest audience ever for the Elderly Brothers. The folks were friendly, receptive, applauded when they were supposed to, and didn't throw anything. After our set complete strangers told us we done good. Booze has that effect on people.
Colin and his band put on an amazing show. Any Blues/R & B band that does a number that features a Theremin solo is OK in my book. The show included Cleveland-area gospel singers the Prayer Warriors, a smokin' three-piece horn section, and some very tasty licks from a steel guitar player -- a member of Hillbilly Idol, according to Brother George.
This gig was the CD release party for Colin's latest, Not Tonight, I've Got The Blues, and the Blues Project's set consisted almost entirely of tunes from that CD. Great stuff. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy.
Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Old Crow Medicine Show
Old Crow Medicine Show
I hadn't heard of these guys until I saw them on Conan last night. What a great sound! Bare bones, back porch stuff. Hope they hit the Beachland soon. The website offers three free MP3s.
I hadn't heard of these guys until I saw them on Conan last night. What a great sound! Bare bones, back porch stuff. Hope they hit the Beachland soon. The website offers three free MP3s.
Saturday, August 07, 2004
The Covers Project
The Covers Project
An interesting idea. Perhaps the Elderly Brothers should consider participating...?
An interesting idea. Perhaps the Elderly Brothers should consider participating...?
![dog
and pony show](mce_src="http://www.musicmenagerie.net/dogandponyshow/banner.jpg")