Issue # 3 Mar 09
Metaverse Live Music Publication
All Matters Of Music Because All Music Matters
Open Mic Directory
Silas Scarborough An inside look
Too Many Tears Wildfires ignite compassion world wide RPM Challenge 09 Do it. Just because you can, Soundman: Optimize Your Broadcast Sound
Editor's Note A great many thanks to our readers for the amazing response to our in world music publication. We’ve seen that the need and interest is here, and so we aspire to keep raising the bar, bringing you more interesting stories, active resources, and big news in the developments of live music in the metaverse. As the magazine is developing to maturity, we excitedly invite you to send us email suggestions, comments, or to become involved in Music Matters magazine production. - Editor
Impressum Publisher Pat Insoo Editor Andrew Hellershanks Art Layout & Design Kaela Kilara Contributors Angharad Catteneo Bibi Ballinger Boondoggle Gruppman Skye Rudolf Taff Nouvelle Distribution Reslez Steeplechase
Table of Contents Too Many Tears
A story of international compassion. Inspired SL artists come together, creating a classic song of hope and humanity.
Pess Releases
Video Release “Remember the Boy”, Sphere Quan CD Release Debut Album “Out Of The Blue,” Xander Nichting.
The Matthew Show - february
Matthew Perreault’s new pop release, an intropective and entertaining look at living longer.
Hall of Fame RPM Challenge 09
Putting your notes to the wheel, recording your creativity. What else are you doing in February? Independant artists, SL and world wide, take the Challenge.
Due accolade for artists in the metaverse. Just Bringiton, she delivers.
Silas speaks Erie Isle
Interview with three year veteran metaverse stage live performer Silas Scarborough.
Dinner and a concert make you smile? Add a dash of mystery and intrigue with an evening at Erie Isle.
The Soundman
Tweaky, tweaky little Star. You want to shine bright as you are.
Kourosh Eusibo - Mind over music
Music transcends language, generations, and its almost tangible spirit communicates with our psyche. Deliberately, Kourosh journeys with us, to explore this anomoly.
Open Mic Directory
Where to go. Breaking the Ice in this new medium.
Mariposa Upshaw
Experiment Rhode
Bright Oh
Too Many Tears By Angharad Catteneo
As millions watched the tragedy of the Australian bushfires unfold on their screens, the world seemed a smaller place. Collective waves of compassion and a feeling of hopelessness was felt across the continents. The song “Too Many Tears” was born in SL among the ashes when two Australians and an American worked together to try to put the words to feelings; to bring a community together; to write a song
about compassion and of being united citizens of the world. Now, if you were expecting a sad song you’d be wrong. While this is a song that tells a horrific tale, it also sings of hope for the future. The piece captures and exults in the indomitable Australian spirit and that of mankind in general. The overwhelming message is that of optimism and love.
Too Many Tears Lyrics by Mariposa Upshaw and Experiment Rhode Music composed and performed by Bright Oh A random spark, from the devil‘s hand Brought destruction on our beautiful land No time to escape the smoke filled skies Hundreds of lives in the blink of an eye No stars in the sky, an orange moon Looks down on the townships now barren and doomed Acres of vineyards for miles around Now acres of memories burned to the ground
Too many tears to heal all the pain If only if only these tears would fall like rain Upon meeting with the two lyricists towards the end of February, I was immediately struck by their sincerity and humility. Mariposa Upshaw (Mari) is better known as the curator of the Angel Dorei Museum, and the Museum of SL Photography. Mari is a writer, musician and self-confessed all around girl of the arts from Houston, Texas, with a vivacious and dynamic personality. Mari’s philosophy is that Art, whether it be music, dance or visual, can change the world. She is passionate about music
and appreciates musicians of any style whose music comes from within. She feels that far more important than expert technique, is the ability to transport the listener on a musical journey through song. This philosophy is certainly shared by her co-writer, Experiment Rhode. Ex is the keyboard player in the Somerset, Oh and Rhode trio, who are currently making the transition from RL to SL. Ex is a musician, author and journalist from Sydney, a shy
If only the wind had been quiet that day No angels no angels would take them all away
Why does the wind blow Why does the sky glow I don‘t know I don‘t know I don‘t know I don‘t know Why does my heartache Why do I hate to wake I don‘t know I don‘t know I don‘t know I don‘t know
The Art of Australia exhibit is a colossal display of the works of 15 artists from all over the world's most unique continent, proudly displayed through Australia Day, January 26th. Just about a week later, on February 7, the city of Victoria, went up in flames. and unassuming character who obviously choice of chords and cleverly pared shares a close artistic bond with his down accompaniment. fellow writer. The song had its debut at the Angel The couple met just last Boxing Day, Dorei Museum, which hosted the and this is their very first song. It was Bushfire Benefit on Sunday, February inspired, composed, and recorded 15th. Mari and Ex were gratefully overwithin three days. Having finished 90% of the lyrics, they shared the work with Bright Oh, of Somerset, Oh and Rhode. Bright’s polishing contribution was to add the music and the middle 8. The collaboration complete, Too Many Tears, already a classic, was born.
whelmed by the relief funds raised that night.
Listening to Bright performing the piece, with its poignant lyrics and haunting melody, I was struck by the simple beauty of the sentiment behind the words which were highlighted by the
Huddled forever in the dark of a room Hearing the sound of the devil’s monsoon Destroying all things that lie in its way So many good people were taken that day
Frightened no longer away from all harm All now embraced in gods open arms So many were lost and taken away
Never forgotten, in our hearts they will stay Landscapes so vibrant now turned into dust Consumed in the nightmare of flames so unjust
And through this wasteland we will find a way To rebuild our lives from this terrible day And out of the darkness comes a flicker of light For the human spirit is still shining bright With hearts united rebuilding the old
A great thanks to the help of Joaquin Gustav, Jubal Enyo, Mash Rhode, Russell Eponym, MichelleD Ecksol, Charles Somerset, Quinton Whitman, Jessy Sommer and Jackdog Snook, who freely shared of their time and talent in support. All the proceeds have been delivered to Red Cross Australia.
The future will rise from the ashes now cold
The 2009 -RPM Challenge Interview with participating musician, Rene Bechard By Boondoggle Gruppman
invited to hear this new music during listening parties in select cities around the world, private living rooms, and thanks to RPM Challenge, in cooperation with the FCMC and Red Rock, this completely independent music event can be experienced in Second Life. This year, the third annual RPM Each year, on February 1st, particiChallenge Listening Party in Second pants begin their creative process Life will culminate on March 29th, to produce original and very diverse 3am-9pm PDT, in a celebratory music up to the end-of-month deadlistening party at the Canyon Stage, line on the 28th. At that time, RPM Red Rock, in the Native Lands sim of Challenge organizers must receive Second Life. Many of the SL artists the final 10 songs or 35 minutes of who met the challenge, and a few each artist’s efforts. Cataloging takes veteran RPM’ers, will take to stage a few weeks, then the public is to present their works live. The RPM Challenge is a February long, song writing and recording event. The challenge, which is pointedly not a competition, is to record an album in 28 days, just because you can. The RPM Challenge invites all types of musicians to participate and hundreds upon hundreds do.
Listen to the 2009 submissions and find out more about the RPM Chall-enge. Click the info tab and link to the website at rpmchallenge.com
Recently, Red Rock owner Boondoggle Gruppman, chatted with musician Rene Bechard, fresh off her creative rush with the 2009-RPM Challenge…
s r ’e M P R e m o lc e w SL Artist’s Sat March 28 1 pm - 11 pm ty r a P g in n e t is L 9 0 e g n RPM Challe Sun March 29 3 am - 9 pm ls a in ig r O d e d r o c e Live & R All times PDT
for details fo in k c li c e g a t S n Red Rock- Canyo
Boondoggle Gruppman: How long have you been creating your own music and what style(s) or mode do you feel allows you to express your creative spirit? Rene Bechard: I started playing guitar at 13 or 14 and writing since I was 17. I like to be alone and my surroundings quiet. I try to quiet my mind and feel myself. (sounds so corny – lol) Then I start creating music, and then the words come… Boondoggle Gruppman: How many songs did you create for the challenge, and which one do you hope the world will hear and why? Rene Bechard: I wrote 10 songs, which is more than I have written in the past 10 years! On The Ocean is the song I think would be best for me because it illustrates getting away from the pressures and madness of the world, and finding serenity… which I believe is the state most of us are reaching for. Rene Bechard - UNO Boondoggle Gruppman: When and where did you first encounter the RPM Challenge, and how did this lead to you being inspired to do this year‘s challenge? Rene Bechard: My hubby and his friend have participated in this challenge a few times in the past. They both encouraged me to take it on this year since in the past I was reluctant, afraid to do so… So, I bit in and I am so glad that I did! Boondoggle Gruppman: In your creative process, what inspires you to write a song, and how do you sculpt that initial inspiration into its final form as a song? Rene Bechard: For me, it most always begins with music – sometimes even a drum beat. I will start to play a melody and most times, immediately, a melody and words magically appear in my mind!
Boondoggle Gruppman: The RPM Challenge guidelines give you February to create and record. What day did you begin? Did you follow a daily songwriting ritual? What day was your final submission? Rene Bechard: I began on February 1st and wrote and recorded every moment I had free. I would write a song and then record it and then move on to the next. I mailed my CD on February 28th, which incidentally was the day I wrote and recorded my final song. This challenge was very hard for me, but very rewarding! Boondoggle Gruppman: Did you have to learn any new technical skills or adapt your creative process to complete the RPM Challenge? If so, how did this affect the overall process and your music? Rene Bechard: My engineering skills are pretty much non-existent. I had to do my best trying to balance the sound going in and then in mixing the tracks.
Boondoggle Gruppman: What has been the most rewarding and challenging aspect(s) of the challenge? Rene Bechard: Writing and Recording 10 songs in 28 days! This challenge was very hard for me…. And I am thrilled that I completed it! Yeah! Boondoggle Gruppman: If you could have dinner with three musicians, who would they be and what would you hope to learn from each? Rene Bechard: Beethoven – My favorite composer! To learn whom he was, how he felt about life and music and then how he manifested his orchestral brilliance. Sinéad O’Connor – Love Her! – To learn how to carry on creating – putting yourself out there and how to remain brave in the midst of intense negativity. Trent Reznor – Love Him! – To learn about layering and to encourage him to write a symphony! Boondoggle Gruppman: What would you say to someone to inspire them to create and share what they create with others? Rene Bechard: Artistic creativity is a divine experience and a wonderful communicator. When you create and share your creativity, you set in motion a ripple that will hopefully bring happiness, beauty, and/or a message into someone’s life. Boondoggle Gruppman: What are you hoping you and others will gain from the live listening party at Red Rock, in Second Life? Rene Bechard: Well, I guess for one, we can all be Red Rock rockstars! And I also hope everyone realizes that we all have something worthy to offer, and yes, we are worth listening to!
10/10/10: Ten questions for ten answers in ten words or less: rd
R
echa B e n e
1. Unfinished February song I wish I‘d finished in time... A Blues song – untitled 2. Favorite RPM Challenge artist & song... Can’t remember RPM Challenge Name – Song = Blind In One Eye The RPM Challenge Artists name is Gumbo. 3. Favorite Second Life live musician or band... Monte Montgomery 4. Favorite place to write songs ... In the bedroom/studio 5. A song everyone should listen to is... Pathétique Movement - Beethoven 6. In my music, the thing I struggle the most with is... Playing instruments 7. In my music, the thing I excel in is... Singing 8. The first thing I did when my last RPM Challenge song was done was... Open a bottle of Chardonnay! 9. When I encounter „writer‘s block,“ my remedy is... To watch South Park 10. I feel a song coming to me and it‘s about... My cat, Memphis Bean
Terror and mystery show By Bibi Ballinger
A role playing musical event
There is definitely something amiss at Erie Isle. It’s not the name of the place, as heaven knows SecondLife is full of strange names. There is something in the air, a funny smell, an eerie light. We are near the sea but there’s no sunshine, no refreshing ocean breezes. Someone told me the sun never shines
here and I believe it. I heard another reporter disappeared, hmmm. I was under the impression this was going to be dinner and a show but had no idea the menu included the star, Winston Ackland, being served up on a silver platter with the infamous side of fava beans and a good Chianti.
Erie Isle is a small, sparsely populated island off the east coast. It was once home to wealthy entrepreneur Frederik Muircastle and his family who settled there in 1907. Mrs. Muricastle became a social leader, organizing events and festivals to bring the islands folk together. The town grew and became a popular tourist attraction. Then something terrible happened. In August of 1914, Frederik’s beloved wife Eleanor was found murdered in the bedroom of Muircastle Manor. Frederik was devastated. He wanted to turn back the clock and have his lovely Eleanor alive, caring for the home, children and himself again. He began to pursue ways to raise her from the dead. He spent a fortune on rare books and searched around the world for people who might be able to achieve such a task. He experimented. Spirited away to the mainland to live with relatives, the children were too young to realize what had happened,
save one. Gaston was the oldest son and at 8 years of age, witnessed strange events that would haunt him all his life. He returned to Erie Isle after ten years to claim his birthright, Muircastle Manor. Gaston came with enthusiasm and worked to reinvigorate the island by having social events as his mother had. He married and had five children and for several years peace and prosperity ruled Erie Isle. Then depression and war killed tourism. Weather wreaked havoc on the land and without the financial means to return the island to its former glory, bleakness took over. Gaston no longer found joy in ownership of his family home. Spending more and more time inside the Manor, he became depressed and wandered the many rooms again and again.
The only place he had never dared go was the cellar which had been sealed off decades ago. One night Gaston tore off the seals to the cellar door and went inside. Whatever happened inside has never been known but when Gaston came out; he went upstairs and killed his wife and children. In a brief moment of clarity following the murders, Gaston
took his own life. Following the killings, the few remaining residents divided into two factions. Some went to the dark side in unspeakable ways and the rest banded together for protection and to try to make some semblance of life on the island. It’s the evening of Winston’s show. It’s hot and sticky and not a breath of air
anywhere. There’s no sound of crickets or frogs, just the incessant howling of a dog or wolf or whatever it was. There are a few people standing around outside the Phantom Theater. They are in small groups, talking in low tones, avoiding eye contact. Winston’s publicist, Jura Shepherd came and quickly went inside. Clearly, she was concerned.
had been taken by some oddly, unmusiclike people. Don’t get me wrong, music attracts all kinds of people but these folks were uncharacteristically quiet, seemingly here for something other than this popular musician.
sician, why would Winston choose to do this particular show if it required this kind of security?
lay a battered guitar case. He sang a mix of original and cover tunes that he and his fans enjoy. The audience was on their feet much of the time, dancing and having fun, well most of them anyway. There was still that bunch of oddly dark people in the first few rows who just sat and smirked, making occasional deroga-
As hot and uncomfortable as it was and with the air full of foreboding, Winston put on a wonderful show. He was the I waited outside for Winston’s arrival and vision of a true busker, a character in an was surprised to see a police escort with ill-fitting suit, wearing a steam engine sirens cutting the night air like screaming top hat that belched steam throughout banshees. This was not going to be any the show. His guitar appeared to be ordinary gig. A popular and busy mumade of cheap plywood and at his feet
I climbed the stairs to an empty balcony to watch the show. Winston’s family and friends, along with bodyguards stood between the stage and theater seats. It was a full house and the first few rows
tory comments. Among them was a provocative looking woman named Omen Valeska. I noticed her from the
Ninety minutes into the show, chaos struck. In a split second, several of those unworldly people were on the balcony when the light hit her metal stage, surrounding Winston who was bracelets. Knives adorned her bracelets now on his knees with a chain wrapped appearing to be more than decorative. around his neck.The startled audience I wondered how she got past security let out screams and some tried to get on and why no one was doing anything. stage but were quickly pushed away I learned later that she was a member and left to stand and watch in horror. of the Dreadshift faction, an otherworldly There was a brief skirmish between the element that makes Erie Isle its sanctuary.
attackers who seemed to be fighting over Winston, for what reason I don’t know. Omen Valeska assumed leadership and dared anyone to get in her way. She dragged Winston off the stage and they disappeared.
Winston??? A search of the lighthouse revealed nothing but the traces of blood and an oddly cryptic drawing on the floor.
After a quick search of the theater, people went outside to see what was happening. I followed a group running towards the lighthouse. People gathered at the bridge to the lighthouse only to be held back by the Dreadshift, who
After what seemed forever, the crowd broke up, some gathering clues at the scene; others were going back to the theater and around the island to search for Winston. I decided to leave. It was a long, curious evening with a terribly mysterious outcome. Winston has been seen since that night and is still
were now pointing their weapons at the growing crowd. There were shouts and pleas to Omen to not harm Winston and let him go. It wasn’t long before the Dreadshift lowered their weapons and disappeared. A few brave souls in the crowd made their way inside to save Winston but were horrified to find only fresh blood on the floor. Where was
performing but they say something is very different about him. I wonder if it is not really him but a stand in. If it is him, what does he say happened to him, and why is no one talking? It’s curious why he chose to do that particular show, knowing the risk. It’s all very strange but then again, it’s Erie Isle so why wouldn’t it be?
Kourosh Eusebio creating Legends Kourosh Eusebio, aka Kourosh Dini in RL, is re-releasing his acclaimed album Legends. After a year of its retirement, Kourosh has worked tirelessly in remastering the album to perfection.
“…Kourosh has the ability to create an atmosphere, a feeling—a place of contentment with his music… ”
likely be released on his label Life in Music in March of 2009. (http://lifeinmusic.org/)
Kourosh performs dark wave ambient piano and electronica. His music is heard After 3 plus years as a musician in SL, regularly in Second Life. Kourosh is a Kourosh has honed his carefully crafted musician/artist working in the medium meditation music and has become a of piano and synthesizer. The music he staple in the SL music scene. creates has been described as relaxing and soothing, yet gripping and hypnotic. ”Legends was never quite what I wanted Performed in a state of concentration, of it. The sounds didn‘t quite have the Kourosh invites the listener to participate cohesive nature I wanted. Its story is now in a meditative mind-state to reflect upon more readily apparent. Now‚ Village Lost the nature of the mind’s natural ebbs and Legends‘ associates to the mythology flows. His studies began at five years of that develops in any community. Second age and progressed by way of individual Life is a community and develops its tutoring of the classical composers. Influown legends. This is a way of reflecting ences during this early period of musical similar notions.” Village Lost Legends will
development included Chopin, Bach, Beethoven, and Rachmaninoff. He would also listen to and improvise around the music of the Beatles, Metallica, and Mike Patton. Later influences included Phish, Tool, Simon Posford, Bill Laswell, Pete Namlook, James Bernard, among others. Kourosh is also a practicing psychiatrist. The pursuit of under-standing the mind, language, and communication by way of sounds, symbols and words is reflected in both his music as well as his psychiatric vocation. His medical degree and residency in adult psychiatry were obtained through the University of Illinois at Chicago. He pursued further studies in child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Chicago. Presently, he continues to work and learn at the Institute for Psychoanalysis, and maintains a private practice seeing clients in therapy and medication management. In April of 2008, he published a book describing the benefits and potential detriments of video games and virtual space called Video Game Play and Addiction: A Guide for Parents, silver winner of Mom‘s Choice Awards. Kourosh also maintains a blog (http://kouroshdini.com/) titled Mind,
Music, and Technology reflecting his thoughts of this unique intersection as he continues his path of artistry and healing through these media. He has done score for short films, both recorded and live and has collaborated on work presented at the 4Arts Gallery, Landmark Art Gallery, the Fast Forward Film Festival and Chicago Indymedia. Music video/machinima collaborations with SL’s Sitearm Madonna include the tracks “Beast” and “Impart.” Albums written and produced include, Turn of the Year EP (2008), Live at Red Rock (2007), Sky Lily (2007), Live at Bliss Garden (2007), Ontogeny (2005), Fidelio (2003), The Color of Tea in Sunlight (1999), and The Beckoning of Agora (1998).
Get a
free mp3
at http://lifeinmusic.org/
Remember the Boy Out of the Blue
CD Release Debut Album “Out Of The Blue,” Xander Nichting. On Saturday, April 4th, Xander Nichting will release his debut CD, “Out Of The Blue.” Café de Noot, Hamseweg 31, 3828 AA, Hoogland (Netherlands) (www.denoot.nl) Will host this exciting release party. The event begins at 8 PM, with the official unveiling at 9 PM.
Video Release “Remember the Boy”, Sphere Quan RL artist Hölli Vals, aka Sphere Quan in SL just released a new song on YouTube, called Remember The Boy. You can hear and view it here:
Xander will perform a few choice compositions from Out of the Blue
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ BqxnNFBNs
There will be opportunity to purchase the album; have a chat with Xander; have pictures taken with him, take pictures and have your copy of the album signed.
If you enjoy this valued production, and feel that the music of Hölli Vals should be heard more, by all means, do share this with everyone you know in SL and RL.
recorded at length and pored through extensively in the following months. In doing so, I found wisdom, humor, insight, and often very surprising realizations. We tackled the nature of hope, disappointment, and ugly truth, all in the spirit of adapting George Orwell‘s “power of facing unpleasant facts“ for the new millennium.
february - the album The new album february, by the artist known in SL as Matthew Perreault is now available on the venerable Wampus label.
The same sorts of thoughts were shaping my songwriting at the time, and as I began recording the new songs, I matched them with pieces of the aforementioned conversations. What emerged was a case study of five When I began this album in 2005, I wanted to create something truly new. people, each at critical points in their Inspired by documentary photographers lives, asking the old question: Is that like Walker Evans & Bill Brandt, as well as all there is? Accompanied by songs musicians with documentary tendencies exploring the same territory, the album is as much a documentary as it is a such as my friend Paul of Mocha Lab, I set about creating an album of what I like collection of pop songs. to call docu-pop. february is the result. You can buy, or stream february for free I sat down with five friends, all of whom here: http://februarythealbum.com/ were in the place of reflection that comes Thanks for your support, and I hope you with leaving your twenties behind, enjoy the new music. without quite knowing what to do with the unrealized dreams that accompanied them. The resulting dissonance was the subject of our conversations, which I
Raising awareness to live music was to be her way of showing gratitude.
Bringiton’s
Music Hall of Fame By Skye Rudolf
A month later Bringiton felt compelled to set up a benefit to raise money for Make-A-Wish Australia. With the support of many musicians and matching donations from the largest Australian supermarket chain, she There are music fans and there are music was able to donate over $100,000L. supporters and then there is Bringiton With the recent wildfires in Australia, Paine. You would think being a busy wife Bringiton stepped up again with and mother of three young children in another music benefit. Fundraising was Australia provides enough challenges successful and continues for the victims but not for her. Bringiton became a fan with pictures and links to news on one of the SL music community in 2007, but wall of the Hall. that wasn’t enough. She wanted to give Bringiton’s Hall of Fame is a beautifully something to the community in return for what it meant to her. In July 2008, she simple structure with several floors and built a multi-storied hall to showcase the an atrium in the center. The lobby area has music related items for sale and ad many musicians who perform in SL.
space is available for vendors. There are free Hall Of Fame t-shirts and a kiosk for Music Matters Magazine. You will also see an area dedicated to the artist of the month award. All the walls are covered with posters of over 350 SL performers. When you touch the artist’s profile picture, you see the musician’s bio, any promotional items they have available and have the opportunity to vote for them as artist of the month. Votes from fans are tabulated once a month and an award ceremony is planned for the artist accumulating the most votes. Friends and fans are invited and a few songs are played. Artists receiving awards to date are Artel Brando, Pepsi Moon, Ande Foggarty, Mar Biddle, Mats Milev, and Jackdog Snook.
On the first floor, there are trophy cases containing personal items of some of the musicians. The top floor has venue information and links to open mics. The Hall is clean, uncluttered and easy to get around. Posting information musicians and venues is free and is done by sending a picture and notecard to Bringiton. Not wanting to be in the venue business, she believes her niche is to simply provide a resource to the SL community and a place for honoring performers. Linden Lab has designated Bringiton’s Music Hall Of Fame as one of its music location showcases. As SL grows, so does the need for providing awareness of the music community. Linden Lab has been slow to recognize what a valuable resource the music community is and to
provide assistance. That may or may not be a good thing but it has allowed individuals like Bringiton to step up and find ways to help foster growth and creativity. Bringiton has been featured on Paisley Beebe’s Tonight Live. Perhaps weaving all these resources together in a more cohesive union will eventually happen but in the meantime, the music community is the big winner when it comes to enjoying the hard work and generosity of people like Bringiton Paine.
The Man with Fifty Fingers An interview with Silas Scarborough In a community that is saturated with acoustic music, Silas Scarborough continues to buck the trend by burning up the atmosphere as he defies the laws of gravity. Playing his Godin xtSA MIDI guitar within an inch of hellfire and annihilation, Silas bends and twists sounds into submission with a snake pit buttons, pedals and electronic wizardry. Equally at home playing loud, nuclear rock or romantic, lissome reveries, audiences are toyed with; launched into the stratosphere, transported on entrancing voyages or seduced into quiet peaceful moments. Many call him a Rock God, the Man With Fifty Fingers, irreverent, rebellious, phantasmic but what he is NOT is guitar flash or macho bluster. He cares for most, has disdain for some but his passion is for the music and his goddess is the Godin. 13
By Bibi Ballinger
I meet Silas at Eden, his home and venue he and longtime friend Telia Soyer built for the enjoyment of second lifers looking for a pretty environment to spend romantic or quiet time in a park setting. There is a hidden stage that Silas built to rise out of the ground on the rare times when he plays at home. More often than not, Silas performs around SL at venues where he feels comfortable being with audiences he knows will allow him the freedom to explore his music. Give us a little background on your music. It was many years before I’d join up with a band and The Freezebirds lasted the longest. I met and jammed with some incredible musicians back then. I built a
Given a network with the speed to support it, there will be real-time performances with multiple performers, much like Virtual Live Band has pioneered
studio in my garage based on my guitars, computers and MIDI-driven keyboards. It was wild fun, but there was a tragedy and I didn’t play with anyone again for years after that.
Second Life if not for her encouragement as my perception of SL wasn’t too good. Performing in SL has literally changed my real life and I’ll always be indebted for her help.
What do you hope to get out of playing your music in SL? Are you realizing that?
Do you believe SL can be a vehicle to RL success? If so, what are you doing to achieve that?
I love performing and entertaining people and I would probably stand on my head and wiggle my toes if it would get a smile out of someone. Musically, it’s validation that the stuff I create myself is something someone besides me would ever want to hear. The biggest reason I don’t do covers is that I want to survive or die on my own stuff. Another big thing I get out of performing in SL is the drive to create more tunes so I’m not just throwing the same playlist at you in every set. Practically everything I do is material I’ve worked up in the two years or so I’ve been in SL. Silas, what brought you to Second Life and why did you come? Slim Warrior kept badgering me to come! I might never have come to
I believe it can but I’m not convinced that it’s necessary. Regardless of what you believe about the future, it’s vitally important to focus on producing material for CDs. The reason is that it keeps you producing and in realistic ways. How you choose to distribute the CDs, if you even choose to do it, is simply a business decision and the important thing is to keep producing new material. What do you see as the future of music in SL? What will you do to influence that? The future is largely determined by the infrastructure to support it. One hopes that the focus will one day shift to rebuilding American infrastructure such as the power grid, Web network and,
just for grins, why not the air traffic control system. Given a network with the speed to support it, there will be real-time performances with multiple performers, much like Virtual Live Band has pioneered. The software infrastructure has to improve as well, as you can’t very well throw a major-league concert when the maximum attendance is about a hundred people, not and have it make any kind of sense to business. Ultimately it will happen but what performers of today need to ask is whether it’s something you really want. Say there are a thousand people in the online audience. You couldn’t sustain a one-to-one relationship with that many people in a reallife gig but it would be technically possible in a virtual world. There’s no doubt in my mind that things evolve farther and faster than people ever imagine so even our wildest dreams of a virtual future will likely fall short of the reality. I don’t think holodeck kind of stuff is all that far-fetched in which holograms of each of us interact within a virtual world. Other than obvious differences between performing in SL and RL, what do you see as the advantages and disadvantages to performing in SL? One immediate advantage is the intimacy. For most performers, getting 15
a crowd of twenty or thirty people is a good show and that’s probably the most you’ll have any chance of addressing individually during the course of the gig. It’s much more difficult doing that in a real-life gig as no one has come up with a device yet that will put people’s names in neon letters over their heads. The advantage of playing in RL is playing blow the walls down loud. There just ain’t no substitute for making the floor shake. Does any part of your SL experience influence your original music? It drives my original music. I’ve come up with more material since coming to SL than in quite a few years before that. It has influenced the music directly in that I was surprised to find how hard people want to rock in SL. I’d keep throwing it out harder and the audience kept saying more so there’s been a very direct influence on how I play. It’s not that SL is telling me how to play but rather it’s giving me the freedom to do things I didn’t think people would accept. How do you approach creating a piece of music? There is no process for me in making music. I’ll start playing the guitar or the synthesizer and something good may
emerge. I’ll play with it for a while to get a feel for it and will record a track if it doesn’t fall apart. That track will usually be guitar chords and that will serve as the foundation for the rest of the tune. There’s no particular pattern as I may consider a tune finished pretty fast or I may come back two years later and change something. The way I do it is like a kid playing with plasticine; sometimes it will result in some good sculpture but most times it just turns into an ashtray. Something that troubles many musicians, particularly in the early days, is whether dope will make you a better musician. The answer is that it won’t make you a better musician as nothing but putting in the hours will do that. Who is your favorite RL musician? Any favorite SL musicians? Hendrix with “Little Wing” gave us the most beautifully lyrical guitar playing I’ve ever heard, Genesis gave us theater rock of the finest kind in “Supper’s Ready”, and Andrew Lloyd Weber took rock theater to a fantastic extreme in “Phantom of the Opera.” Within SL, Kim Seifert and Grateful Stryker are my favorites for the lovely personalities they
bring to their shows and their continuing creativity. I particularly admire the way Kim pioneered many things for SL performers as she took enormous grief from some hateful swine who set out, literally, to torture her at every single gig and she stood right up to them. You’ve got to love that lady. What are your favorite venues to perform? Why? The Tropics was a favorite for quite some time. Brian Brewster and Gina Goff ran the place and they brought me in for two-hour gigs without any expectation I have to stop at the end of that time. It gave me a lot of freedom to kick out everything I’ve got plus they were also very generous in letting hexx Triskaidekaphobia of the Born Again Pagans do the fireworks show during the gig. It makes for a really spectacular event and the Lady of the Fire is really good at it. What do your RL friends and family think of you performing in SL? They think I’m a lunatic, that I should be investing in the stock market and
doing that sort of thing. Taking stock today, I see they lost their shirts and I still have my guitars so I’ll stick with being a lunatic. I suspect it’s a lot more fun being a broke lunatic than a rich golfer. What is your favorite song that you’ve written? Why? Is it your fan’s favorite? My favorite is the latest one I’ve written and it’s fascinating to see if it becomes a favorite with fans as well. The fan favorite is most likely “Too Much or Not Enough” and the most flattering thing anyone ever said was when a lady asked me who wrote it.
Rock God or Old Guitar Bum, what’s the truth? Both. The virtual world is an amazing thing and is no less “true” to me than real life. That it’s expressed in pixels is trivial, the truth in it is not diminished. I don’t have a problem reconciling that both can be true at the same time. RL or SL? (where do you feel most comfortable?) I’m most comfortable onstage in RL or SL. It’s the only time I feel like I’m completely whatever I am. For better or worse, this is Silas. Hope you like the show! Any regrets? It’s a tie between smoking cigarettes and not going out to L.A. with my keyboardplaying friend, Ophir Shur. Those are, by far, the biggest mistakes I ever made.
I want to play better than the last gig, to have it be more expressive and more exciting than the last one. What is biggest influence on you as a person? Unfortunately, survival. I resent how much work can shape one’s life and I go to great lengths to keep that aspect of my life as far from me as possible. The biggest personal influence was my father as, above everything else, he was a showman and I learned his joie de vivre. We fought for years over my guitar-playing as I was supposed to be the Great Scientist and follow him but he finally came around to be one of the few who understood why I kept doing it.
Any RL heroes? Gandhi’s life has been tremendously inspirational to me as was that of Van Gogh. I’m a sucker for the fighting against incredible odds story. What is your greatest achievement? Each gig is my greatest achievement or at least that’s what I seek to make it.
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THE SOUNDMAN Dance clubs are getting fewer, and live music clubs are getting more popular again around the world. SL is a great training ground to hone your act for work in the real world, and just as in the real world, your sound is just as important as the music that you play. The old adage that if the show was great, the musician did a great job, and if it was bad, the sound engineer was rubbish, still holds true here, the difference being that YOU are your own sound engineer. It is always a good idea to talk to someone that knows how to set up a sound system to get the best out of your music. Get someone to listen to your stream and tell you what needs changing, usually more backing track and less vocal. You should remember that you are singing WITH a backing track, not against it.
The Soundman, a column dedicated to music production over the internet. If you have any questions or problems setting up equipment to play live music in SL, this is the place to ask for help.
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http://mattersofmusic.com/theforums
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Imagine that the backing is a band that you areplaying with, not just a track, and you should sound as if the band are in the same studio as you. It is well worth recording one of your shows from the SL stream, and listening to it later. There is a great little free utility that helps with this called SVrecorder; it records direct to MP3 on your hard drive so makes small, but high quality files that you can play back in media player. If you find that you need help in setting your sound up, send a comment, and we will see what can done to help.
Open Mic Directory Open Mic Venues listed by Day of the week. All times areSecond Life™ Time (SLT). This list is correct at time of printing and will be updated regularly. Contact us for sumissions, corrections, questions and for… Advertising!
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
Aquastar Lounge
Substance Ampitheatre
Time: 11:30 am -2:30 pm slt Genre: All Run by: Shellie Boucher, Pheobee Braveheart http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Mephit/169/147/63
Time: 12pm -2 pm Run by: Terese Latte http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Keuka/68/72/61
Arthur´s Tavern
MONDAY
TUESDAY
Aquastar Lounge
Aquastar Lounge
Time 12-4 pm SLT Genre: All Run by: Shellie Boucher, Pheobee Braveheart http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Mephit/169/147/63 Mediaculture Time: 1 pm- 3 pm Genre all Run by: AngleFireDagger http://slurl.com/secondlife/ mediaculture/157/26/22
Time: 5-7 pm SLT Genre: All Run by: Shellie Boucher, Pheobee Braveheart http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Mephit/169/147/63 Merry Prankster Time: 7:30 - 10 pm Genre All Run by: Creola Deledda, Zany Xevious
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Lil Slurgis
The Hummingbird cafe
U21 Global
Time: 4:00 - 6 pm Run by: Sabby Whiplash Genre: All http://slurl.com/secondlife/LIL% 20Sturgis%201/48/90/34
Time: 4 pm - 6 pm Run by: DimiVan Ludwig Genre: All http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Menorca/46/7/24 The
Time: 1 pm - 3pm Run by: Keko Heckroth Genre: All http://slurl.com/secondlife/ U21Global%20Campus/145/218/103
The Playpen Time: 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm Run by: Terese Latte Genre: All http://slurl.com/secondlife/Novgorod/171/115/604
Aquastar Lounge Open Mic Live Poetry Time: 7:30 pm- 8:30 Griffin Westland http://slurl.com/secondlife/We stland%20Point/164/86/33
Time: 10am-3pm slt Genre: All Run by: Shellie Boucher, Pheobee Braveheart http://slurl.com/secondlife/ Mephit/169/147/63
Mc Coy Time: 5 pm - 8 pm Run by: Laura Polke http://slurl.com/secondlife/McCoy
U21 Global