Saturday, July 16, 2011
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Thanks and props to Vater Percussion
A little over a year ago I put a video up on my YouTube channel that I shot when the band I was in at the time, The Rust, was still trying out bass players.
While we were practicing that day, I broke a brand new pair of Vater XD-5B sticks about 20 minutes into practice, so I talked about in the video. About a month ago I got a message from Vater saying they had seen my video and wanted to apologize for what was surely a fluke pair of sticks, and asking if I would try them again if they sent me some new sticks. I agreed.
This week I got a package in the mail from one of my new favorite people, Chad Brandolini at Vater.
He sent me not just one pair of replacements, but two. He also sent me a pair of XD-Rock, a pair of plain 2Bs and signature sticks from both Chris McHugh and Chris Pennie.
As if 6 new pair of sticks wasn't enough, he also sent two pages of Vater decals, two Mike Johnston speed charts and a few pages of information about new models for 2011. The last item in the box was a copy of the Vater full color catalog, which is actually more like a "who's who" yearbook full of badass drummers.
After playing music for 27 years, this is definitely the coolest I've ever been treated by any company. I almost feel like a sponsored musician.
Many thanks to Chad Brandolini and everyone else at Vater Percussion.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
A little nostalgia
I've spent the majority of this evening transferring audio from old VHS tapes to a digital format. It's been a fun trip back to 1996-1998.
Most of the tapes were from my band from those years. I wish someone had recorded anything from those Florida trips. Or rather, I wish someone hadn't conveniently "lost" the footage we shot during our two weeks in Panama City.
Just like all the other recordings I've been going through, we weren't as good I remembered us being, but we were way better than than I expected us to be. I really didn't know what to expect today as I cracked open boxes that had been in storage for years. The result is better than I was originally predicting though. Another plus is that while searching for some of these tapes, I found some old CDs and books I thought I'd lost.
At the moment I'm writing this entry as my old friend Kevin Napier, via our "Endless Texas" documentary, recites a ridiculously story about David Hasselhoff — borrowing pretty liberally from "The Wizard of Oz" — as an Isuzu Rodeo crammed for of 4 guys, 4 bikes and tons of camping equipment makes its way from Tyler State Park to Cedar Hill.
I miss the shit out of those times ... sometimes.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
I quit ... at least for right now
I was finally being productive and going through all my old hard drives and CDRs. I was making progress. The plan was to upload my entire musical catalog from 1997 through present day on my website. Most of this hasn't been released before, but after listening to hours of old recordings, I've concluded that whatever reason I had at the time for locking these tapes away was retarded. These should have been put out for a while now.
It's not the best ever. It's not the worst. But what it is, is 13 years of music I've enjoyed playing and mixing.
This all came to a screeching halt in the middle of a live record from 2004 when my web host informed me that I wasn't signed up for the baller — flood the internet with audio files — version of their service. So for the moment you can see all the album covers, but you'll still have to wait to get your hands on about half of what I was trying to upload. When it's done, just consider this the box set I've been joking about for years.
For now, I'm logging off, taking melatonin & kava extract, finding the premier of No Reservations on my Tivo and drifting off.
It's not the best ever. It's not the worst. But what it is, is 13 years of music I've enjoyed playing and mixing.
This all came to a screeching halt in the middle of a live record from 2004 when my web host informed me that I wasn't signed up for the baller — flood the internet with audio files — version of their service. So for the moment you can see all the album covers, but you'll still have to wait to get your hands on about half of what I was trying to upload. When it's done, just consider this the box set I've been joking about for years.
For now, I'm logging off, taking melatonin & kava extract, finding the premier of No Reservations on my Tivo and drifting off.
Monday, July 11, 2011
I have a blog ... who knew
I'm sure it would seem ridiculous to any onlookers for someone as self-absorbed as myself to ever forget something that has anything to do with the greatness that is Adam Lamar. I mean come on, I've even got a Google alert set to let me know when anything new about me appears online. Although lately it's all been about some baseball player in Alabama. To steal ... er ... uhm ... borrow, a line or two from Kubrick: My name is Adam Lamar, there are many like me on the internet, but this one is the real one.
The point is, I completely forgot that this blog existed.
I started this back in 2007 when I was taking a photojournalism class and needed a place to post pictures online. After the class I quit posting. Then every so often I would make an attempt to revive the feed, but it was always short lived.
I was only reminded of this page's existence because it's tied to my Google account and even though Google + was making me enter a bunch of other information that it already knew about me, it did already have stored a vaguely familiar title of something I almost remembered writing.
Long story short: I've connected this blog to my Google + profile AND adamlamar.com in hopes that I'll post a bit more frequently giving all the people who aren't subscribed to my RSS feed something else to not read.
Until next time (which hopefully won't be a year from now),
The point is, I completely forgot that this blog existed.
I started this back in 2007 when I was taking a photojournalism class and needed a place to post pictures online. After the class I quit posting. Then every so often I would make an attempt to revive the feed, but it was always short lived.
I was only reminded of this page's existence because it's tied to my Google account and even though Google + was making me enter a bunch of other information that it already knew about me, it did already have stored a vaguely familiar title of something I almost remembered writing.
Long story short: I've connected this blog to my Google + profile AND adamlamar.com in hopes that I'll post a bit more frequently giving all the people who aren't subscribed to my RSS feed something else to not read.
Until next time (which hopefully won't be a year from now),
Thursday, February 25, 2010
No shortage of stuff to see
Southwest Airlines might want Kevin Smith to slim down, but he’s hoping to fatten his wallet this weekend.
Smith’s latest movie, “Cop Out” premieres in theaters across the country today. For years, Smith struggled to break the $30 million mark at the box office. He finally made it, just barely, with 2008’s “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” Now that he’s punched through, Smith definitely wants to keep moving forward.
Super stacking stars Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan and Seann William Scott for this buddy cop movie was a smart play on Smith’s part. How can you go wrong with John McClane, Tracy Jordan and Steve Stifler all in one movie?
Also coming out this weekend is the remake of George Romero’s cult classic “The Crazies.” Starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, movie-goers will take a voyeuristic look at small town going to heck and the military’s attempt to contain it.
While this is far from a new story idea, Romero is the godfather of this genre. And if recent remakes of past horror classics such as “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” are any indicators, this updated apocalypse will be sure to please.
Even more celluloid greatness and a few flops are set to see the light of day this year.
Michael Douglas returns to the silver screen as Gordon Gecko in March with the release of “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.”
He’s finally out of prison, and he’s the same old Gordon. Charlie Sheen, however, has been replaced by one Shia LaBeouf who plays Jacob Moore, the fiance of Gecko’s estranged daughter. Fans of the original may be happy to see Douglas reprise the role, but the jury’s still out on the film as a whole.
Director Tom DiCillo brings us a new look at The Doors this April with the documentary “When You’re Strange.” Narrated by Johnny Depp, the film has been receiving rave reviews at festivals.
The kiddos aren’t about to be left out either.
Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” comes to theaters next week. Critics already seem skeptical, but the visuals look amazing. Do yourself a favor and go watch this one in 3-D at the IMAX.
M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” hits the screen in July. Based on the first season of the animated TV series “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the film looks to be Shyamalan’s version of Crouching Tiger meets Lord of the Rings.
Kids young and old will see some familiar faces this June. Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back in “Toy Story 3.” And those interested in the minds behind animation classics like “Toy Story” can look behind the scenes at the re-birth of Disney animation in March with “Waking Sleeping Beauty.”
Fans of 2008’s “Fireproof” can expect a familiar warm fuzzy feeling in April with “Letters to God.”
Too serious? Just looking for some humourous escapism? Hollywood’s got that on deck as well.
You may have forgotten Sarah Marshal, but you can’t forget Russell Brand as British rocker Aldous Snow. Brand will bring the character back in this summer’s “Get Him to the Greek.” This buddy comedy also features Jonah Hill and P. Diddy himself, Sean Combs.
My personal favorite isn’t about to win any awards or bring any important message to the minds of the masses. John Cusak, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and newcomer Clark Duke all star in the multi-decade comedy “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
So get that oversized coat out of the closet, pick up some snacks at the convenience store and enjoy some movies this year.
Trailers for these upcoming releases can be viewed at http://trailers.apple.com.
Smith’s latest movie, “Cop Out” premieres in theaters across the country today. For years, Smith struggled to break the $30 million mark at the box office. He finally made it, just barely, with 2008’s “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.” Now that he’s punched through, Smith definitely wants to keep moving forward.
Super stacking stars Bruce Willis, Tracy Morgan and Seann William Scott for this buddy cop movie was a smart play on Smith’s part. How can you go wrong with John McClane, Tracy Jordan and Steve Stifler all in one movie?
Also coming out this weekend is the remake of George Romero’s cult classic “The Crazies.” Starring Timothy Olyphant and Radha Mitchell, movie-goers will take a voyeuristic look at small town going to heck and the military’s attempt to contain it.
While this is far from a new story idea, Romero is the godfather of this genre. And if recent remakes of past horror classics such as “Halloween,” “Friday the 13th” and “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” are any indicators, this updated apocalypse will be sure to please.
Even more celluloid greatness and a few flops are set to see the light of day this year.
Michael Douglas returns to the silver screen as Gordon Gecko in March with the release of “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps.”
He’s finally out of prison, and he’s the same old Gordon. Charlie Sheen, however, has been replaced by one Shia LaBeouf who plays Jacob Moore, the fiance of Gecko’s estranged daughter. Fans of the original may be happy to see Douglas reprise the role, but the jury’s still out on the film as a whole.
Director Tom DiCillo brings us a new look at The Doors this April with the documentary “When You’re Strange.” Narrated by Johnny Depp, the film has been receiving rave reviews at festivals.
The kiddos aren’t about to be left out either.
Tim Burton’s “Alice in Wonderland” comes to theaters next week. Critics already seem skeptical, but the visuals look amazing. Do yourself a favor and go watch this one in 3-D at the IMAX.
M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender” hits the screen in July. Based on the first season of the animated TV series “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” the film looks to be Shyamalan’s version of Crouching Tiger meets Lord of the Rings.
Kids young and old will see some familiar faces this June. Woody, Buzz and the whole gang are back in “Toy Story 3.” And those interested in the minds behind animation classics like “Toy Story” can look behind the scenes at the re-birth of Disney animation in March with “Waking Sleeping Beauty.”
Fans of 2008’s “Fireproof” can expect a familiar warm fuzzy feeling in April with “Letters to God.”
Too serious? Just looking for some humourous escapism? Hollywood’s got that on deck as well.
You may have forgotten Sarah Marshal, but you can’t forget Russell Brand as British rocker Aldous Snow. Brand will bring the character back in this summer’s “Get Him to the Greek.” This buddy comedy also features Jonah Hill and P. Diddy himself, Sean Combs.
My personal favorite isn’t about to win any awards or bring any important message to the minds of the masses. John Cusak, Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and newcomer Clark Duke all star in the multi-decade comedy “Hot Tub Time Machine.”
So get that oversized coat out of the closet, pick up some snacks at the convenience store and enjoy some movies this year.
Trailers for these upcoming releases can be viewed at http://trailers.apple.com.
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