10 things I learned about music playing Rock Band

The gang has played Rock Band on Xbox the past two weekends in a row. Aside from it being a total rush, there's a lot it can teach about playing music in the real world.

1. Short songs are better than long songs. I always assumed that when a band droned on forever doing solo after solo (see "Green Grass and High Tides Forever" or "Foreplay/Long Time") that the musicians were having fun at the expense of the audience. I now assume they are paid by the note.
   
2. Even so-called simple songs can be deceptively complex. When you repeatedly hear, play and analyze a song like The Clash's "I Fought the Law," you realize that the thumping bass line or metronomic drum track is actually a pretty intricate piece of work.
   
3. Singers may have the most obviously glamorous role in a band, but it gets boring much quicker.
   
4. People are genetically coded to favor a certain instrument. A few people are Renaissance musicians, but most of us instinctively know our instrument when we first pick it up. I'm a bass player.
   
5. It's far more interesting to watch women rock out than men. Face it, they're just more attractive.
   
6. Classic rock songs are usually extended metaphors/similes/double-/single-entendres about sex. This may be obvious, but I haven't really listened to classic rock in years, and I was surprised at how consistent the song themes are. For more information, see "Mississippi Queen," "Trail Kept a-Rollin'," "Bang a Gong," etc.
   
7. Sting was a genius of minimalism before he left The Police. Let's just say he didn't wear out many strings on his bass back in the old days.
   
8. Heavy metal groups may rock, but they don't roll. Don't bother trying to find the groove for songs by Metallica, Coheed and Cambria, etc. -- there is none. It's just a pummeling rush of notes.
   
9. Repetition is the key to learning music. Even the hardest songs are ultimately conquerable if you just play them enough.
   
10. Musicians must embrace new technology. Somewhere out there is a group that turned down the license request by Rock Band's creators. And right now they're missing out on millions of downloads from genuine music fans who want to listen to and repeat their music. You never know where the next revenue stream will come from -- sheet music gave way to recorded music which is currently giving way to live performances and advertising. Video games could be the next gravy train, and the only way to find out is to give it a try.
    

Geek Fest 2007: Day 1

The entire first day can be summed up in a single video.



That and our cars were towed by the Mercedes dealership owner next door who thought they were left there by construction workers.

They say Prius owners are crazy for their cars

True dat.

Eric Dawson wedding update no. 2

As Mark might say: Holy shinola, what a day. The wedding ended a mere 2 hours ago, and it was possibly the best wedding of all time. It's no offense to all of us who had great weddings also, but Eric and Genevieve held one for the ages.

We started Saturday by sleeping in late after a long night of hitting clubs. Well, one club, and it didn't start to fill up until about 3:30 a.m. Apparently, San Sebastian parties late. And luckily there were no museum trips or nature hikes or squirrel pettings to get up for -- just the spa for massages. Lunch followed at 3, where Genevieve's gay friend Andy left the straight guys in the dust when it came to looking for naked boobs on the beach. Then a quick change of clothes and we were off to the wedding.

The cathedral where the wedding took place was the oldest building in San Sebastian, and the priest may have been its oldest person. Still, he held forth on the benefits of having 3, 4 and even 5 wives, or so we understood from his English. It was an amazing ceremony, and when we all left the cathedral, there were dozens of locals gathered around to cheer on the couple.

Then we were off to the reception, where people ate 6 courses of Spanish food and got absolutely crazy on the dance floor. Even 10-year-old Pablo shook his thing and took turns dancing with pretty much all of the hot women.

The braver among us are still out partying in the local clubs, but Mark and I have (wisely, I think) turned in for a good night's sleep. Genevieve's sister just now gave us a look of doom when it was clear we weren't going back out with them. We face the challenge of either altering or adapting to our early Monday morning flight, so we'll need all our rest to make it happen.

Stohler, out!

Eric Dawson wedding update no. 1

Mark an I are shacked up together in the so-so Hostal Bahia in middle of the amazingly gorgeous San Sebastian. We got in yesterday afternoon after a flawlessly executed trip that included two planes, a cab, a bus, and a lot of walking with nothing but a street address for a destination. And we did it all on a mishmash of half-remembered French, loud English and the single Spanish word "autobus."

After a quick nap yesterday, Eric and Genevieve took the whole wedding party out for drinks and tapas at possibly the coolest little restaurant int he world. We hung out with friends of theirs from high school and work, family from the Philippines and Norway, and even random people from Durham who happened to be walking down the street and heard English being spoken. But we're the lone Guilford reps here, to the shame of all the other Fighting Quakers Class of '92.

Today, the cultured ones in the wedding party got up early and went to the Guggenheim. Mark and I enjoyed non-interrupted sleep until noon, when we stumbled out of bed, toured the city and ate chocolate croissants. Eric's beloved "La Bomba" breakfast treat eluded us. Oh, and Mark bought two yards of pink ribbon.

Tonight is the rehearsal dinner and tomorrow the wedding. Until then, we're heading out to the beach to read books and maybe eat more croissants.

Yo, We Audi 5000

Outtie to San Sebastian, Spain, that is. 'Cause when a friend is getting married, even if it's on the other side of the world, there's only one thing to do: you go. Well, first maybe you say you can't go because of the family. Then you say you can made the bachelor party in Colorado. Then you can't make that, but you're coming to the wedding after all. 'Cause that's how we roll.

The worst part about using a site like airlineconsolidator.com to book your tickets is that they insist on showing you call the fairs you missed. So as you wait for your $1,300 ticket to show up, it runs through the $550, $725 and $910 tickets that you could have had at some point in space and time. And even the price they end up showing ain't the price because there's tax involved, sometimes as much as $275.

But it's all good. We'll be on that plane June 13 and back in the states by the 18th. And in the middle, with a little luck, we'll have had one of the best wedding experiences ever. If nothing else, it's guaranteed to beat Billiam's classic Southern-wedding-in-the-middle-of-summer ceremony. Shit.