Blanca’s Visions

Music

Ahead of the release of new EP Identity Theft, and having recently reviewed Baby Scream’s delicious Monsters EP, a simple and elegant lesson in melodic songwriting for guy-and-a-guitar types everywhere, Indie Suite decided to talk to the band’s founder and main driving force, Juan Pablo Mazzola, about the weird and wonderful experience of performing live.

Musician’s Rite of Passage: The Empty Gig

Where are your best memories of performing?

JM: Playing at the Subrosa bar in Dortmund, Germany with and for my friends, in particular doing a Big Star cover with my friend Pille. Also I remember touring Germany with The Cheeks, opening their set with an acoustic guitar. Magic moments.

Once in Argentina a few years ago we played a really funny gig. You see I used to complain that nobody cared about Baby Scream and people were always telling me that our lack of success was my fault, the same people that never came to one of my shows! Anyway, there was this one night, we were playing in a real dive of a venue and the audience consisted of only 2 or 3 guys, and there were 4 of us onstage! In Argentina the laws got really strict about start times for shows because of a concert tragedy where 200 kids died. So we did the soundcheck at 19:50 and started at 20:00, nobody turned up until 20:30, by which time the show was over and we were already out of there. In a way that was probably one of the greatest shows I ever did, we played to noone and we played like it was our last show. The day after the show I was frustrated as hell..…. and people still insisted that it was all my fault, [he laughs].

Stupid Little Ducks and Football Stadiums

What’s the strangest thing that’s ever happened to you while you’ve been performing?

JM: That definitely has to be playing in a football match in Bodoe, Norway, near the arctic pole in 2007. I played before the match and there were 5000 people, it was freezing and I was playing a song called “Slut”. In the song, there is a part in which I sing “Stupid little f**k”, they asked me not to say f**k because of the kids there. So I ended up singing: “I’m a slut, stupid little duck” and I remember thinking, “this is really weird, 5000 Norwegians near the arctic pole and I am doing a solo acoustic gig….singing that I am a stupid duck”. Yep, I thought I was losing it.

Muddy Stardust and Childhood Heroes

Who is the most inspiring person you have ever worked with?

JM: Muddy Stardust, I was introduced to him by my friend Ariel Belont. Muddy is a genius.

He plays everything, plus he was one of my heroes when I was a kid so meeting him and working with him was amazing. Also, Osvaldo Mollo, he was my guitar teacher in Argentina when I was 13 years old. Nowadays we play together, his sound reminds me of Jeff Beck / Gary Moore, bluesy and deep.

Baby Scream’s EP back catalogue is available to buy now. New EP Identity Theft is due for release before 2010.…

Music

The Spark for Folk Music

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

His name is Kristian Matsson. Born in Dalarna, Sweden, he is currently performing as a one-man act under the moniker The Tallest Man On Earth, which, like most folk music dating back to the 60s, creates its sound with simply a voice and some basic instruments. The Tallest Man On Earth, excluding rare piano appearance, generally contains just a guitar as a background. The simplicity was coveted, yet forgotten in recent years in favor of electric power chords that make up the majority of popular music today.

However, Matsson plans to change that soon. His previous album, entitled Shallow Graves, received positive reviews everywhere it was heard; people automatically began comparing his act to Bob Dylan. And rightfully so: his endearing vocals, soothing guitar melodies, and best of all indescribable voice attracts listeners of all tastes.

His newest release The Wild Hunt, set to hit the shelves on April 13th, 2010, is superior to his critically acclaimed Shallow Graves in every way. His sound is more refined, the quality is better produced, and the songwriting has improved vastly. The previous album, at times, strayed from a general idea to the song at hand and simply strummed and sang. This, while acceptable and even welcoming sometimes within the genre, is deserted in favor of masterful, remarkable songs that maintain coherence. Good thing, too, because all ten songs are composed so exceptionally well that any lapse in its forward movement would jeopardize the listener’s attention.

So besides the fact that Matsson’s voice is beautiful, eccentric, and homey, what makes this release so notable? Well, many folk fans, even those passionate to the genre, have been well aware of its deterioration since the 1970s. Folk used to contain such timeless themes and address such prevalent issues, all the while maintaining and unparalleled sense of personality and passion. What happened? When did it get ditched for hair metal and dub-step?

That doesn’t matter now, some would say, after listening to this record. It is sweet, tranquil, and impressionable, all of the vital qualities for this music. The only other recent folk phenomenon, Bon Iver, toured the country in 2007 after his succesful album For Emma, Forever Ago, and he took along with an unknown band that turned heads at the ticket line in confusion. Well, that band, The Tallest Man On Earth, made sure that all Bon Iver fans exiting the venues would eventually address the undeniable quality of the opening singer/songwriter they’d never heard of. Hopefully, they’d rave long enough to wish for his return. Well, he’s returned, with such an incredible album that is should re-popularize an entire genre. 10/10. Get this the day it comes out and not a moment before.

“Kids” gives you a feeling of being young and free like you are running around outside on a very warm Summer day and it makes you want to get up and do a little booty shakin dance. Its cute and innocent but really plays up the lighthearted nature of being a kid. I spontaneously laugh sometimes at myself as I hear this song.

“Electric Feel” has a retro feeling to it on top of it already being sheer genius. I heard this song and seriously felt like I was weird for liking it. I heard it again and didn’t care if I was weird for liking it I knew I just loved it. I think you will feel the same way. I assure you are not weird for liking this song, its just so quirky you can’t help but enjoy it.

My latest obsession has been with Indie Rock. Now those of you who do not listen to Indie Rock must know it either really sucks or its really great! With Indie rock (just like indie movies or indie anything) you are going to have the best of the worst or the best of the best.They master the “indie rock electronica” genre. It is pure Genius!

If there was not such a thing there certainly is now and it has been brought into the mainstream. If you haven’t hear these songs yet you probably will. I predict these to have maximum staying power. Watch out for these guys MGMT, you will be blown away. This is like nothing I have ever heard before and it is sweet in my ears. I hope that we can look forward to their innovative music well into the future. I predict international superstardom…remember this article because I’m just going to smile and say “see I told you so”.

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News

How To Buy Art Supplies in the Store or Online

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

Maybe buying art supplies can seem like a simple enough task, but there are advantages to educating yourself before going out to drop a bundle of cash on art supplies. Whether you are a professional artist or an art student, consider carefully where you and how you decide to buy art supplies.

Buy Local First

When you can it is best to buy your art supplies from an art supply store in person. This is the best way to really see paper textures, to be able to judge and compare paintbrush sizes or to just do some general comparison of prices and quality. You will also save yourself some money in shipping and handling costs by buying from your local art supply store in person.

Don't Spend a Lot of Money

If you are a beginning artist or art student, don’t spend a lot of money on top quality paint, canvas, brushes or paper. Ideally, one must create a lot of bad art before the good stuff starts. I’m not trying to rain on your artistic parade, but not everything you make is worth keeping. Start with an inexpensive student grade paint and use newsprint to draw on.

Buying Art Supplies Via Internet

If you have to buy art supplies on the internet, let the buyer beware. Typical large art supply stores like Pearl Paint or Dick Blick will have part of your order unavailable or on back order. When the art item comes in they will ship it separately, therefore charging you double on shipping. Art supply stores will not call you to advise you as to whether you want to pay the extra shipping or not. These art supply stores have your credit card number and they’re not afraid to use it. When your internet art supply order is delivered, go through your invoice with a fine-toothed comb. If there are any art supplies on backorder, call the art supply company and cancel the order immediately.

So the first choice in buying art supplies is to go to your local independently owned and operated art supply store. Second choice is the chain art supply store such as Pearl Paint, and third choice is internet art supply buying.

The benefits of buying art supplies online?

There are advantages to buying art supplies via internet. You don’t have to spend gas money to drive to the store, and you can pool orders among several other artists to share the cost of buying paper in bulk, for example.

If there is one particular art supply you are looking for consider using froogle.com as this search engine related to google will comparison shop for you. Also, consider making a small purchase from an art supply company to test the waters before you call in the big money order.…

Wildlife

Night of the Wolves

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

Proud and alone stands the wolf
Mournfully he howls at the moon
In reply answers only the night

Like glass, silent is the night
Overhead hangs the full moon
To that moon, howls the wolf

Alone in the sky is the moon
On a dark, eerie night
Alone in that night howls the wolf
Piercing the night, the wolf howls at the moon.

Gently blows the night breeze
It rustles the leaves of the trees
It answers the wolf in its own way

Round glides the wind, every which way
It whispers through the forest and the trees
On a cool autumn night, blows the breeze

To the howl of the wolf bow the trees
They bend in the respect of the old way
Aided by the cool autumn breeze
And the trees find their way in the breeze of the night.

Through the forest, the she wolf runs
Guided by the full moon's light
And the howl of her yonder mate

The wolf awaits the arrival of his mate
Watching out for her in the moon's light
Listening to her steps on the breeze as she runs

She sees him at last in the full moon's light
Noble and proud, there stands her mate
He sees her too and to meet her he runs
Runs the she wolf with her mate in the light of the moon.…

Music

Politics and Music- an Urgent Call for Harmony

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

Since writing this, the ordinance discussed below has been shelved, at least temporarily, thanks to a ground roots campaign that resulted in almost 6000 emails (in just 4 days!) protesting the proposed law. Even so, it could still resurface and be passed at a later date. I would ask that you still read the message below and respond as you see fit.

The Chicago city council is trying to push through an ordinance that would severely restrict the ability of musical groups to be able to play at many, mostly smaller venues, i.e. clubs, bars, restaurants, etc. It’s known as the “Events Promoters” ordinance and will have the effect of seriously diluting the live music scene in the city. The results could be devastating to the local music scene. The new law could apply to a Mozart-playing string quartet as well as a head banger rock band.

It’s a knee jerk reaction to a tragic event several years ago in which a number of people were killed at a nightclub, largely due to overcrowding, hyped up emotions, and panic. The ironic part is that the club had been ordered to close, didn’t, and the powers that be didn’t enforce the order. Consequently, people died, and now a lot of the music in Chicago appears to be on the same path to extinction. There is also some question as to who really benefits from this ordinance, Chicago politics being, well, Chicago politics.

This situation should be of interest to anyone who enjoys and appreciates music and any of the other arts, regardless of where you live. It’s a trite saying, but if it can happen here, it can happen anywhere. It doesn’t matter where your musical tastes lie. If this kind of law is adopted here, who knows what other city (or maybe even state) might try the same thing. It’s not just music, either. This type of law could be enacted to restrict almost any event, cultural or otherwise.

No, I’m not suggesting a huge conspiracy to destroy culture, highbrow or low, but the actions of the Chicago city counsel are a misguided attempt to police and control our access to a very basic invaluable asset – the wonderful majestic power of human creativity.

Time is of the essence in this situation. The council is scheduled to have its final vote on Wednesday, May 14th. It can allways be overturned in the future, be we all know how hard that can be. You can go to savechicagoculture.org to read in more detail about the ordinance, express your opinion, and hopefully stop this insidious and draconian effort to stifle the arts.

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Sports

How to Watch Sports in the 21st Century

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

I am the biggest sports fan you’ve never met. I make time for the NFL, college football, college basketball, NBA and NHL playoffs, baseball, European soccer, major tournaments in golf and tennis, IndyCar racing and more. Chances are good that if there’s a game on TV, I’m either watching it or recording it.

My friends ask me all the time, “How do you watch so much sports?” They are amazed at how much I watch sports since I am married, have a newborn baby, work 3 jobs (1 full-time and 2 part-time) and go to college full-time.

Realizing that fewer people than ever before actually watch sporting events, I figured it was time to share some of my secrets with you. As a sports fan, you need to know how to cram as much sports as possible into your spare time without shirking your responsibilities to work and family.

You need three things to maximize your sports watching into your modern schedule. First is a good TV. It doesn’t have to be an HD TV or a 126-inch TV; it just needs to work.

The second thing you need is a good package of TV channels. You need all the networks, of course, plus all of the ESPN’s. You will want Versus for those NHL playoff games, and all of the NBC’s to catch all of the Olympic coverage. USA, TNT and TBS occasionally cover very important games, and because sports is getting more expensive for networks to buy, they are passing more events off to these cable networks.

The third and final thing you need is a DVR player. This is required. No sports fan should go without DVR.

It will not be hard to show you why DVR’s are essential. Remember the last NFL game you saw that wasn’t the Super Bowl? The amount of commercials during NFL games is outrageous. The same goes for March Madness, the NBA, MLB on Fox…What am I saying? Commercials are in abundance everywhere.

When you watch the NFL, you need to be able to save time by fast forwarding commercials and the halftime show. If you do this, an NFL game should take about 90 minutes to watch.

When you watch baseball, you can fast forward between half-innings and during coaching trips to the mound. A baseball game takes about 2 hours.

When you watch basketball, you can fast forward halftime and free throws. Just hit that 30-second button to skip ahead. You don’t actually need to watch the free throws until the last couple of minutes. A basketball game takes about an hour.

For every sporting event, there are commercials and other non-essential things to fast forward.

This is what I do. For example, the Masters coverage started at 2:30 on Sunday afternoon. I started watching at 4:00. By the end of the broadcast, I was caught up to live viewing and I didn’t lose that 90 minute block of time to unimportant stuff like advertisements.

Remember these things the next time you watch sports. If you are truly a fan of the games, you will love me for how much time in your life I have saved you.

No, no…No thanks needed. Just use that time and spend it with your family or friends.…

News

Opening a Sandwich Shop – How to Start a Sub Shop

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

Starting a sub shop is not a cheap investment, but with a realistic business plan, a delicious menu and the zeal to succeed it can be a path to a rewarding business venture. According to the National Restaurant Association, America’s restaurant industry is the second largest private-sector employer in the country.

Essentially, a sub shop is an eatery that, different from a traditional restaurant, provides quick and healthy meals to people on the go. Although business start up plans vary depending on the type and scale of the business being started, there are a few general steps you can take when starting a sub shop.

Step 1

Write a business plan giving the reasons for starting the business and what sets your business apart from other competitors. Include your business goals and objectives.

Step 2

Find a suitable location to set up your sub shop. Suitable locations include busy urban areas like malls and colleges where many people visit. Ensure the location is easily accessible and it has ample parking space.

Step 3

Obtain a business license and permit. Visit a government health inspection office and apply for a license to operate a food and beverage business. Apply for a business permit from your local municipality office.

Step 4

Purchase the equipment and furniture you will need for your sub shop, including chairs, tables, refrigerators and stoves.

Step 5

Make sure to establish a relationship with the people who will supply food ingredients like meat, bread and cheese for your business on a regular basis.This will ensure that you never run out of food supplies

Step 6

Set up the business. Arrange the furniture in the sub shop with the help of a few people, including tables and chairs. Perform interior decorations to make the business premises attractive.

Step 7

Now it is time to hire competent staff that will help you run the sub shop, including cooks, waiters and cashiers. You can start with only a small staff and gradually employ more staff as your business grows.

Step 8

Advertise your sub shop in local print and broadcast media like radio and newspaper. Distribute flyers and coupons with your menu in your neighborhood.

Step 9

Start an opening promotion to encourage people to try your sub shop. Offer a buy-one-get-one-free promotion to draw attention to your business. You should begin to see regular customers on a daily basis.

Remember that you can always purchase a sub shop franchise if you do not want to go it alone when starting a sub shop. Sub shop empires like Subway offer franchising that come with name recognition, branding, marketing, uniforms, decorations and a food supplier.…

News

Hit by a Freight Train

3 years ago

Blanca Patterson

All the books out there on pregnancy week by week, baby development week by week, but there's no after delivery week by week for us new moms! Why doesn't anyone tell you that after you give birth you feel like you've been hit by a freight train? Not for a day or even a week, but months!

Giving birth is a crazy experience that no one can prepare you for! That feeling of contractions, knowing you are going to meet that little miracle that's been inside you all those months, that gets you through it all! But what happens after the baby is out? This is what everyone seems to forget to tell you about. Yes, you have that miracle on your chest but that doesn't mean lied is all fine and dandy.

After giving birth you are in pain and are bleeding, a lot! You don't bleed for a few days but for weeks. Just when you think the bleeding has stopped it appears again after a leisurely walk you made yourself take to get out of the house! You sometimes feel like you can't walk from the couch to the bathroom without feeling so much pressure and pain that you could scream (not to mention the pain of actually going to the bathroom).

Around week 9 or 10 your body, minus that extra weight and leaking boobs, seems to be back to normal. By this time you are so sleep deprived that you might be hallucinating that you're body is actually back to normal!

For any new moms or moms to be, if you want more advice, information or insight on this topic give my article some love and I'll put together another article!…

Computer & Technology

The Toshiba Qosimo G45 Laptop Computer – Product Review

4 years ago

Blanca Patterson

There are many things to consider when you purchase a laptop. It is important to make sure the laptop meets your needs or you are going to want to buy another one right away. When you find the right fit for you it will last you for years. The Toshiba Qosimo G45 laptop has many features you might consider. The Toshiba Qosimo G45 is surprisingly comparable to some of the other high end laptops on the market. It is right up there with the Lenovo ThinkPad X61 (top of the line), the Dell Inspiron 1720, and the HP dv2500t. I think some people might be leery of the new name but his laptop gets top notes as a screaming machine. Although this laptop is comparable to some of the other Intel T7500s it is not the better choice.

This Toshiba has an Intel Core 2 Duo Processor (2.20 GHz, 800MHz, 4MB L2), the Mobile Intel chip set, and the Intel Wireless WiFi link. In addition, it has the Bluetooth 2.0. This laptop comes with an installed 2 GB of memory and can be upgraded to 4GB. There is an integrated webcam with speakers and a microphone also. Now you can video conference without the hassle of setting up a camera and microphone.

The Qosmio comes with a 17" widescreen, glossy, LCD, which is perfect for working. I like this size better than the smaller screens you can barely see your applications. The graphics look amazing on this screen with a 512 MB nVidia GeForce GO 8600m GT graphics card. There are also a ton of ports on this laptop which include a FireWire (which means you can download movies from your DVR player, an S-Video, VGA, HDMI, two headphones, microphone, and five USB ports.

The overall look and feel of the Qosmio is fabulous. It looks very flashy with the glossy black cover and shiny screen. The palm rest is glossy also and the dials are chrome. The LEDs light up with a bright blue which illuminate all of the soft media buttons also. If you don't like these lights they can be disabled.

One thing you might consider with this laptop is the frame build. For the price of a laptop like this you would expect an alloy frame to be of top quality. If you hang the laptop over the edge of the table as you type, resting your wrists naturally, you will notice the frame bend slightly. It bends close to a quarter inch or more, which makes this a less durable model than some of the other laptops on the market made by Toshiba.

I absolutely must mention the speakers on this laptop because they are some of the highest quality speakers I have heard integrated in a laptop in a long time. The Bass is very clear and defined, midrange and high is very accurate also. You can get the volume level very loud before you begin to hear any distortion at all. You might chuckle when the plastic case of the laptop begins to rattle when you turn the bass up.

As a writer I have to say the keyboard on this laptop is very comfortable. The keys feel solid and supported unlike other laptops. When you type it doesn't require much pressure for the key presses to be recognized. This allows you to keep your wrists free as you type so you have to worry less about carpal tunnel. In addition, the typing is not as loud as the Compaq keyboard models.

This laptop is comfortable for writing and has excellent graphics with a big glossy screen. This model is perfect for someone who doesn't have a lot of high end video needs that are going to work the processor. It has many great features to it and definitely great for listening to music. However, the cheap casing on this laptop forces me to give it a 'no' for purchasing.…

News