Brandon Cook's Shreds of Wisdom

Punctual Rock Everyone has times when getting places exactly on time is just a nightmare. You hit every red light, traffic and arrive 10 minutes late, even though you left an hour early to drive 10 miles. Everyone makes mistakes. The human in us makes it impossible to be perfect all the time. Some hold everyone to an impossible standard of perfection in regard to punctuality. But, I have some basic things you can do to keep your gigs and keep your reputation for being a prompt responsible musician. Call Ahead One thing no one will stand for, in this day of communications technology, is arriving late without a text, call or email letting everyone know you will be late. Even children have cell phones to let their parents know where they are, where they’ll be and when they’ll be home. Musicians have ›

Lisa Wells' Ask the Yogini June 21st, 2011

read more

Lisa Wells' Ask the Yogini June 21st, 2011

Dear Yogini: I sit in front of a computer all day long. My job is taking a toll on my neck and back. ›

Dirtstir June 7, 2011

Hello. It’s me. I’m back. The Central Scruuuuuutinizer (Zappa, Joe’s Garage). I dunno, where’d you think I went? Disclaimer...It has been suggested my opinions and stances on issues should be more formed and thought out, and that I should make concise points as to why I take the stances I do. It was suggested people sometimes can’t follow the steps I take concep ›

Lickspigot's O'Pining Pints May 24th, 2011

Still missing beer..... Journal date: May 17th 2011. Location: approximately 100 Kilometers South of Marseille. Rate of speed: 110 km/hr. Distance traveled: some 600 wines sampled (in 13 days). Dear Diary, I am seriously jones’n for a solid American pale ale or an ubber delish I.P.A. See, this “beer guy” has only had a handful of beers in two week ›

Lisa Wells' Ask the Yogini May 24th, 2011

Dear Yogini: I recently started taking yoga. I’ve been a long-term gym rat, lifting weights and working out with cardio machines. My doctor told me I needed to develop more flexibility and to reduce stress, so I started taking yoga classes. Why have my knees started to hurt? What can I do about it? ~Gym Rat Dear GR: Congratulations on making it to a yo ›

Brandon Cook's Shreds of Wisdom May 17th, 2011

Forget Perfect...Remember Excellence If you’ve been in the woodshed by yourself or practice space with your band for years and years, and it still never seems to sound exactly the way you want it to, you’ve probably got a case of the perfection blues. Luckily, the condition is reversible. First, practicing by yourself need not be an event of self-fla ›