Musical Monstrosity No More!

I am writing to inform the millions of apoplectic readers of The Musical Monstrosity that this weblog will most likely be retired by the next full moon.

Before they reach for their millions of filthy, snot-covered handkerchiefs, I suppose I should tell them that this is because a new, bigger and better "blog" will take it's place.

This new weblog will be the main internet outlet and hub for all things produced by me (Mr. Festhalten), Mr. Miller, Ms. Taberna, and Mr. S, as well as little Bunny Prole: collectively "Burning City Studios." The name of this new endeavour is to be announced as soon as Ms. Taberna gets it sorted (which shouldn't take long as she is oh so clever.)

That is all, I should think, for now. Except Bunny would like for me to show them all this not very amusing image of what appears to be a squirrel playing a banjo.

Good day!
-Mr. Festhalten

[source: http://www.rabblerousetheworld.com/submission-guidelines/]

[Mr. Festhalten is an intern and general tool at the Studios. He is really of very little consequence but, as I am required to attempt to make him seem important here, I will say the following.]

Mr. Festhalten is an indispensable member of the Burning City Studios staff and actually does most of what he is asked, except when he doesn't.

New Mr. S Song On BandCamp, (I Played A Monkey On) Faces Of Death

Wanna rock out but don't want to hear any stupid old-fashioned guitars?
Wanna rock lo-fi?
Wanna hear the distorted yelling of an over-excited alien?

"(I Played A Monkey On) Faces Of Death" is definitely for you!



Like the cover art work? No? Buy it as a poster or print on RedBubble!

Also, you can "watch" the "video" on Youtube!

(Song originally produced circa 2002. Copyright Oh The Glamour Music. Artwork adapted from "Distorted Self-Perception" by Keith Miller. Originally produced circa 2002. Copyright Burning City Studios.)

Czech Out Mah Neu Szong!! I Give You "Grey Sunshine!"

"Grey Sunshine" by Mr. S.

New Drawing #3: Beginnings

Progress! I have two more drawings started. I started really working on the one tentatively known as "#3."  And here's a photo timeline so far.

FIRST! You must play this while reading:

Step 1: Stare at blank page until eyeballs turn red and pop out of skull. It seems this is a very real problem for lots of budding artists; no ideas. I seem to have too many, a problem that, while being a problem, is a much better problem to have. I need a team of college art-student interns.

[Nota bene: The process I'm showing here starts after all the setting up lights, photographing, posing, rethinking, photographing, putting the lights back up that fell for the third time, posing, photographing, importing, looking, black-and-whitelizing, cropping, looking, comparing, re-cropping, level adjusting, editing, looking again, flipping, re-comparing, deciding that I picked the wrong photo completely and starting over.... Which leads to the following.]

Step 2: Printing. And then reprinting because the printer I bought for thirty dollars is a piece of crap. Damn you Canon! You always do me right, except with printers.

Step 3:

 Step 4: Start with the parts of the drawing that are completely black and big.

Detail showing tracing.Yes, I said tracing.

Detail showing earliest defined areas and a bit of.... tracing.

Step 5: More dark areas, some less so.

Detail of Step 5

Detail of Step 5

Detail of Step 5

Detail of Step 5

We'll pick up with step 6, I think.

Czech out more of my art at Burning City Studios Facebook page!

Burning City, Art, and Stuff...

I realized not long after deciding to wrangle all these internet tools into doing my bidding that I was missing a big part of it. I wasn't missing any internet tools, but part of my creative work; namely, my artwork. I decided it was essential that I try to promote both at the same time, somehow. Since I started this endeavor thinking only of music, of course everything is named for that; Mr. S this, Oh The Glamour Music that. The whole time forgetting my long-standing idea of my umbrella company which is Burning City Studios.

Burning City as a name has it's start with a drawing I did in high school art class, using up all my art teacher's personal oil pastels. It was of a stylized semi-destroyed city similar to the one in my Facebook cover image above. [That, by the way is an edited photo of a large painting in oil and oil pastels.]

Burning City seemed like, and still does seem like, the perfect name for my projects' goals. And, I'm sure, many other people would think the same thing about their projects; 'set this city on fire.' Figuratively, of course.

[So, just talking about this made me realize that I need to make some changes, possibly. New Twitter account as BCS, new email, etc, so I went abroad for a few.]

**We now return you to our regularly scheduled program.....**

Burning City Studios is the name of the 'parent' company. Underneath that would be: Burning City Records, Burning City Graphics, Burning City Lightworks, Burning City Photography, Burning City Chinese Adoption Services, etc.

So, in an attempt to start the process of potentially making this idea more than a figment of my imagination, I have started a Facebook page:

Burning City Studios.

I have long-since abandoned all hope of recovering what I was going for with this post and will now submit to your button-clicking desires....

"The Story Of My Life" (Demography)

So, just now, I was watching John Linnell of They Might Be Giants, in an interview talking about how they changed from young friends, with an interest in recording, to what they are today. And I thought about how nothing I've ever recorded, on my own, my stuff, has really ever been put out as a chronological collection. There was a collection that I put together just for friends that I called "Demography," (Demo-Biography, I didn't know the term at the time) which I 'released' years ago, but it wasn't chronological, and it was put out when I thought I had a long history of writing music, but not in a time anywhere similar to now, when I have a really long history of writing.

So, I think it's time to have a real collection of my demos. I think it's time for a real 'Demography,' that's chronological (as far as I can remember) and all the earliest versions of songs I've written.

I was thinking of calling it, in a nod to Hal David and Burt Bacharach, "The Story of My Life," which seems really fitting because music is the only real thing I have done with my life. Therefore, "The Story of..."

But, "Demography" seems more appropriate. And I think, right now, that I will be going with that name. Or, maybe a compromise: "Demography (The Story of My Life.)"

Any opinions?

Didn't think so.

Regardless, maybe you will find yourself in possession of "Demography..." and I hope, for you, the absolute best! And, while you're at it, I hope a song may creep into your brain from that collection, and color a moment of your life.

So, thanks for the one-way psychiatric session. And thanks for helping me, not at all, decide the name of my whole 2013 life-work marker.

"What A Wonderful World."

...All Songs Considered...

Are all songs really considered, NPR?

Mapping Out FCB1010 Pt 2 (Duck Roll Call)

I've realized that it would be pointless to start programming the FCB1010 without figuring out all of the sounds that I need. So, I haven't touched the thing since yesterday and, instead, I've been mentally mapping out what I need with a few extras thrown in, in the utterly unheardof chance that the basics go really smoothly and fast. There is no chance so, pretty much, ignore anything that says "Sample," "maybe," or "try..."

Tuesday - None
                 Delay +Buzzy or Numan01 (Vol Right Pedal)

Student Loans - None

Chateau Nervoso - Ld +LowNuman01 (Vol Left Pedal) +Discovery Buzzy (V Right Pedal)
                               Ld +Dly +LowNuman01 (Vol Left Pedal) +Discovery Buzzy (V Right Pedal)

World of Douchebags - Dly
                                      Sample - Bck Vox on Chorus (both notes)
                                      Sample - Bck Vox Phrases (all three)

Souvenirs - None
                   Quiet
                   Chorus +Reverb (Level on Right Pedal?)
                   Sample - Delayed "solo"

Used Parts - Bit Crusher
                    Bit Crusher +Lead +Dly

Minimum Wage - None (or HiG)
                             None (or HiG) +Loud Dly (on Right Pedal, could that be a send? so the delays
                             continue after mute?)

Untouchable - Fuzz or HiGain (HiG)
                        HiG +Lead +Dly
                        HiG +GuitarRig3 "synthy effect"? (on Pedal)
                        or, HiG +Numan01 (or Pro-53 sound) with pitch control set on both pedals, i.e. Left
                        Pedal 0 to +12, Right Pedal 0 to an additional +12

Spome - HiG
               HiG +Lead
               HiG +Lead +Delay
               Sample - Sample of guitar intro hits
               Sample - Low "E"

It's Alright Now - None
                             Lead
                             Sample - Drum Noise

Sample - Create Mr. S Handclaps sample and trigger in 8th note pairs with a pedal? (Spome, Untouchable)

Here's a picture of a grasshopper eating. It reminds me of the pics I've taken for the official "Stuck Up" video.

Control VST's with a Guitar-type Pedalboard: Update

So, I've been spending a LOT of time the past two days googling my ass off. I finally got one thing to work yesterday. I got the FCB1010 to control Ableton.

Two things you should know if you want to control Ableton's interface with a FCB1010, both really simple but easy to overlook:

1. Make sure that in Prefs>MIDI/Sync>MIDI Ports you have the "Remote" enabled for your        MIDI input device. This very simple thing eluded me for hours.
2. Make sure you have your FCB1010 pedals set to use only CC#'s between 22-31 and 84-90.

Using these two bits of info, I finally got the FCB1010 to turn channels off and on and can control the volume of channels with the expression pedals. I was also able to control an effect rack chain with the expression pedals; both using the standard MIDI mapping function in Ableton.

I think using some undecided-upon, and seemingly complex, Ableton-FCB1010 setup, I will be able to control both my guitar's effects and the VSTi's I'll be controlling with my G2M. I definitely will still be working on this for days to come. But, I did find this post which was helpful for some things and, so far, is the only thing I've found helpful searching for "Ableton as live guitar effects."

Ableton as live guitar effects

I hope somebody will find this little bit of info useful. It's wasted hours of my time to try and find it on my own.

Here's a picture of a chicken that will kick your ass at Tic-Tac-Toe.

Stuff To Do, Feb. 25th, 2013

If anyone is ever wondering what I'm always saying I'm doing when I say I've got stuff to do or when it takes me forever to meet up with you. Or if you wonder what I'm talking about when I say something on FB or Twitter about "not enough time," here's a list of the biggest things I could think of that I want to get done in the near future. It would be longer but I just realized I have to go to the store before they close.... This is actually something I plan on posting every week or so just as an update kind of thing and also for me to keep moving with my plans.

1. Focus
2. Finish official video for "Stuck Up"
3. Storyboard official video for "Fix Me"
4. Finish video for "We Live Majique"
5. Make, test, edit, test, scrap, remake, test, edit and upload Twitter background while NOT being distracted by tweets
6. Decide on a "featured" list of songs to be on all artist sites and which songs will be exclusive to which sites
7. Figure out how the hell to use Facebook "page" and how much it can be customized
8. Do taxes
9. Write some blog posts that aren't lists of things for me to remember to do
10. Finish "Burning City" series of paintings
11. Decide if my artist i.e. "fine artist" name is going to be the VERY common Keith Miller (or KA Miller, etc) or Bunny Prole. Or, maybe, El Blanco?
12. Research and choose art portfolio website to upload art to
13. Design watermark that is tasteful, functional, and unobtrusive (possible?)
14. Write artist statement (where do I even begin?)
15. Make Slaptogether video for "It's Alright Now" or "Chateau Nervoso"
16. Brainstorm new "Light" drawings
17. Look into pricing for prints of existing "Light" drawings
18. Research and purchase a good new printer
19. Create a Facebook "page" for my "fine" art
20. Start making scheduled "update" videos and 6sec videos (Twitter) linked to here and Facebook
21. Finish writing "A Million Lifetimes"
22. Screw up every single sound (minus drums) on every single electronic track I have ever written
23. Make at least 3 new Slaptogether videos for Mr. S (Quiet Time, Rainbows, Mr. S Theme, Theme from "Rock!", Third Drink, Morning Time, etc)
24. Lay out a calendar with target finish dates for major projects
25. Take a damn break
26. Finish lyrics for "Back To Work"
27. Brainstorm projection video for Inner Party shows
28. Brainstorm ideas for and take new Inner Party pics
29. Make new designs for all IP web sites and implement
30. Scan all sketches of furniture designs
31. Design Mr. S shirts that can be made with Inkjet iron-ons and sell online, also posters
32. Design IP inkjet iron ons and print to sell at IP shows
33. Iron out all problems with Paypal so I can actually get paid for anything I might sell online
34. Find out if I can sell anything on that website Maryevelyn uses to sell stuff. Update: Found out and yes, I can. New #34: Scan Year of the Balloon Sketchbook and edit or create versions of all the sellable designs for shirts, phone cases (see #43), etc. Also, make account on that site....
35. Songza, Rhapsody, Tunecore, Playlist, last.fm
36. "Unclog" Soundcloud and straighten out all art there
37. Talk to Simon about possibly playing along with a drum machine. Update: Simon has never done this but is willing to give it a whirl. I need to make some files with some drum parts set up and set a time to go try it out with just me and him, see what happens
38. Get EVERYTHING registered on my ASCAP
39. Write a real Mr. S bio and distribute among music sites
40. Unify art design across all sites
41. Figure out how to cross-promote art-music-art
42. Scan ALL sketch books (weeks of work!)
43. Find anything in sketchbooks that can be used as-is for shirts, prints, etc
44. Digitize all old 4-track tapes and mine them for anything good
45. Get voice synthesizer sorted, start using heavily
46. Write new IP songs
47. Write new Mr. S songs
48. Take guitar amp to the shop and figure out how to pay for it's repairs Update: Amp goes to the shop tomorrow. I hope the guy at Blue Moon isn't backed up with repairs right now.
49. Clean my room Update: Done! Already dirty again...
50. Keep going to work every day to pay the bills and wear me out and keep me from being able to do number one on this list
51. Using voice synthesizer, make announcements/MC stuff for live show

And that's it for this To-Do, Feb. 25th, 2013

'Get This Show In The Tubes' and Mr. S Links

So, after months of letting it sit fallow, I've decided to start using this blog yet again. Since I've been trying to get my stuff on every single music outlet on the web and also started with the Twitter and the Facebookery, I figured I should start using this blog as well to hopefully tie it all together.

Here's links to the sites I've got up so far.

Oh The Glamour Music (My ASCAP) on Youtube - Videos for Mr. S and The Inner Party

Mr. S on Twitter (User BunnyProle)

Mr. S on Facebook

Mr. S on ReverbNation

Mr. S on Bandcamp

Mr. S on SoundCloud

Mr. S on Grooveshark

That's about it for now, I'm still setting up other pages. And some of the above are only marginally set up. But there will definitely be more to come soon....

Mr. S - Untitled (Dog On A Pole)

Untitled (Dog On A Pole)

Another seeming instant bit that I wrote this week. It should be the theme song for the "It Gets Better" campaign because it starts out crappy and gets better. Then I want to hear it again, and it starts out better. Then I want to hear it again, and I like the way it starts. And again, I really like the way it starts. Now, I'm addicted.

Another one I need to finish very soon. Cheers!!!

Untitled (Dirty Glass) (2 Hours Work with Errors)

Mr. S - Untitled (Dirty Glass) (2 Hrs Work) by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

Untitled (Dirty Glass) (2 Hrs Work with Errors)

This is literally about two hours' work. I just started humming the simple little three note, five octave lead line and something about it told me to start programming. I have no idea what it was about it, it's really unremarkable. But with the rest, it becomes something more.

I can't wait to hear a finished version; which may never happen. And that, in the end, is probably for the best. Cheers!!!

R2D2 Tells A Scary Story

R2D2 Tells A Scary Story by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

Late at night, in your best friend's back yard, you're sitting in a tent. You and five other kids are listening to a truly riveting scary story. You gasp as each new twist unfolds. You shriek with a combination of fear and excitement. You cover your ears, you cover your eyes. But nothing you can do can withstand the horror that is--R2D2's scary story!!

Just a bit of fun, really. Enjoy!

The Pretty Girls Are Scaring Me

The Pretty Girls Are Scaring Me 07B by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

Sitting in a bar, you notice an attractive girl sitting across from you. You periodically look over at her and eventually catch her eye and she actually seems happy you're looking at her. For a little while, you engage in that weird, smiley, eye play and it seems promising. Do you A)get up and go over and talk to her or, B)stay in your comfortable little space with your friends and your drink, where there is no danger of utter embarrassment?

How many times is it 'B?' Once? Ten times?
Uncountable?
Welcome home!

(Photo: "Golden Girls" by Lomo-Cam on Flickr.
Used and edited under Creative Commons)

Coty Rides The Bus On A Tuesday Afternoon

Coty Rides The Bus On A Tuesday Afternoon by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

It's a bland rainy Tuesday afternoon and Coty doesn't have a car.
Staring out the raindrop running window of the bus, this is the music she hears as she passes the damp busy people with their umbrellas and raincoats, trying to get their days work done without getting soaked; all dreaming of a warm place in a warm chair with some warm tea or coffee and a warm friend...

Morning Time (First Version)

Morning Time (First Version) by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

I love noise and loud music but I HATE alarms. They nearly give me a heart attack in the morning. Some way to wake up.

This song, or a version very similar, is going to be the first track on my ‘Time’ album; all songs with time in the name a la ‘Nap Time,’ ‘Lunch Time.’ I’m attempting to make it thematically fall somewhere between an adult’s work day and a child’s school day with all the songs ordered chronologically from morning to night, kinda like that Moody Blues record.

Staplers On Kill (Rough Mix)

Staplers On Kill (Rough Mix) by Mr. S Musical Monstrosity

This is a jolly little dancy number, the theme song for the Secretaries Revolt. Scores of irate secretaries and other office staff attacking management and other upper level idiots with Swinglines, stapling ‘Kick Me’ notes written on manila folders to suits’ backs and yelling, “Alphabetize this!”

“Oh, I seem to have dropped my pen……”

This is the most recent song like thing I’ve written and so it’s my first post. It is mostly complete, it still needs some arrangement as I feel some parts get a little…. umm, hmm. Once finalized I’ll upload that thing then.

Now go build a snowman.

(Nota Bene: This is a repost from my first Mr. S blog "Mr. S's Musical Misadventures" with the original post date being early February of 2011.)