I am in awe

[alanbirdsell]

We all came through on that marathon run better known as the great PAC/NW 2005 tour. Amazing what you can do when you have absolutely no choice!(and even less sleep!!)
But I attribute it all to my Korean heritage which gave me leather vocal cords!

And a night of tequila to tighten them up Hmm maybe that why I can't sing

 

[WillyKing]

Yeah, that was my ol' buddy Mike Parypa, one of the best drummers I've seen. When he and Tim were together in Essex 7, they had a real good chemistry. Too bad Mike succumed to the demons of drugs and alcohol. Haven't seen or talked to Mike in years, I think he's still living with his folks in Manette. No, I didn't get your box, I was the guy in the jean jacket with a Star Trek pin on.

Aja, thanx for the advice! Don't have that kinda stamina, sinus problems get in the way, after two or three songs in a row my jaw gets tight! My warmup is usually a shot of tequila or Jack! Don't have anyone to practice with either. No money for lessons or equipment. I just spent the last three weeks flat broke! Can't go out like I used to, did karaoke as my practice. That gets old after a while. I did get on stage with a band I know to sing Crazy Train Sat. night. They liked it, but I didn't feel good about it, I warbled a few times. At least there wasn't anyone there! LOL! Willy

 

[RoboCaster]

Yeah, that was my ol' buddy Mike Parypa, one of the best drummers I've seen. When he and Tim were together in Essex 7, they had a real good chemistry. Too bad Mike succumed to the demons of drugs and alcohol. Haven't seen or talked to Mike in years, I think he's still living with his folks in Manette. No, I didn't get your box, I was the guy in the jean jacket with a Star Trek pin on. Willy

Can't place, you must have been the dude with the black holes in his golden stare, hee, hee.

Anyway, Mike Parypa, Yea I used to know him. Back in 91' I looked up his brother's album at the buy-sell-and-trade store for the 'Sonics' album and it was going for $175.00 in bad condition.

I told a guy about it at work and he had the album, so he let me listen to it. I really wanted to hear what it sounded like, but I guess it had sound engineering effects that John Lennon took credit for and that's why it's worth so much money, cause the Sonics were actually the first to come up with it....

By the way the band name 'Essex 7' - I bet you didn't know this, but it used to be how people in Bremerton say the preifix to a phone number - it actually meant 377.

 

[WillyKing]

"Can't place, you must have been the dude with the black holes in his golden stare, hee, hee."

Yeah, I was pretty drunk at the time! LOL!


"By the way, the band name 'Essex 7' - I bet you didn't know this, but it used to be how people in Bremerton say the prefix to a phone number - it actually meant 377."

Yeah, I knew that. 377 was ES7 or Essex, just like 876 was TR6 or Triangle for Port Orchard!

 

[Air Raid Siren]

Aja, thanx for the advice! Don't have that kinda stamina, sinus problems get in the way, after two or three songs in a row my jaw gets tight! My warmup is usually a shot of tequila or Jack! Don't have anyone to practice with either. No money for lessons or equipment. I just spent the last three weeks flat broke! Can't go out like I used to, did karaoke as my practice. That gets old after a while. I did get on stage with a band I know to sing Crazy Train Sat. night. They liked it, but I didn't feel good about it, I warbled a few times. At least there wasn't anyone there! LOL! Willy

My vocal warm up is 200 sit ups, lol!!!! Not for any other reason than that this is the only thing that works for me - I tried vocalising for YEARS and it did absolutely nothing for me, but sit ups put my diaphragm right where it needs to be and I'm ready to go! Back in the early daze I tried alcohol, too but it just doesn't agree with me, thanks to a mild allergy to it that makes it difficult to breathe. And if ya can't breathe ya can't sing!!! Plus I've personally found that alcohol gives me the illusion of having put on a good show but results I heard were not what I thought they were when they were happening, lol! But everybody's different! A friend of mine used to work with James Ingram and his vocal warm up was smoking a big ole Benson and Hedges before the show. So there ya go! There are many methods to the madness - the key is finding what works for you personally!

No solutions for sinus probs, but if your jaw is getting tight after a couple of songs that may mean you need to learn to relax the jaw. When you practice singing along with your records look in the mirror and observe your jaw positioning. If it's jutting out when you sing that may be what's causing the tension. Practice letting it drop more naturally ( like when you say "huh").

I also highly recommend looking at as much live performance of your favorite singer(s) and observe how they create their sound. It may help you achieve the sound you are tring to produce. I have found that very helpful, personally, since I am a visual learner.

Vocal lesson 101 complete! Hope this helps a little - happy practicing!!

 

[WillyKing]

Again, thanx! Those are some pretty good ideas, 'cept for the smoking! No way I'm doin' that! LOL! Today would be a good day for staying home and singing with my records, it's raining pretty good out there! Since my money sitch isn't right, maybe the best thing for me! There's been talk of starting up another "thursday jam nite" here, which is how I got started in this whole thing. In the past, turnout hasn't been very good. Two people I used to play with back then are in it this time, so I hope this works. Who knows? I may find a band from all this! I do really apperciate the help, Aja. The karaoke thing's gotten old after a while, this is just what I need to put some new life into it. I'll letcha know how things go. Catcha later, Willy

 

[nlukes]

Aja, so that's your secret for staying in such great shape and also keeping that stomach so flat..2 million sit-ups a day!! Yes, I knew that you were very sober when you perform onstage. The music is just flying out of you and it comes very much from your soul. That barrier of alcohol is not present in your performance. Yes alcohol does affect people differently, however I think that too many musicians try to rely on it to help them connect to their muse, but ultimately alcohol ends up disconnecting the musician if alcohol is used in an abusive manner.

 

[RoboCaster]

Willy Willy Willy.. What kind of songs are you singing? Ever try any Judas Priest? What about Van Halen, Iron Maiden, Skynyrd?

 

[BichMaker]

Actually, the bar down the street that does Karaoke has "Aces High" by "Iron Maidens" in their songbook!! Too bad I can't sing that high anymore!

 

[Air Raid Siren]

Aja, so that's your secret for staying in such great shape and also keeping that stomach so flat..2 million sit-ups a day!!

Well, I do it to sing better but staying in shape is definitely a side benefit to the exercise, hahaha!

Glad these little ideas are reinspiring you Willy! I have to say that Maiden's music has done just that for me. Getting so deeply into such great music has refreshed and renewed me, musically speaking. The fact that it is appreciated by so many is the icing on the cake. I'm looking forward to hearing from you about it!

 

[metalord]

There are environmental laws and peace treaties that prohibit me from singing

Are you talking about the rotten vegetable slinging incident and the ensuing death threats? Actually you didn't sound that bad when you would sing in the shower, as long as I turned up Denny's stereo to 11

 

[Doodoobubbachuck]

If anyone is interested, this is the guy who blew my mind at the studio. He's playing next week with a trio that's supposed to be absolutely sick! 2 nights at Lavelee in Studio City.


Mendoza, Heredia, Neto Live at Lave lee June 14th and 15th in Studio City………………….
After touring with Whitesnake and Soul Sirkus Marco Mendoza returns to Los Angeles with his trio for 2 shows. Joey Heredia has been working and touring with Steve Lukather from Toto while Renato holds down the keyboard spot for Prince. The trio will take the stage about 8:30 and 10:30 for what will be a sold out event. Tickets are 10 dollars available at the door. Call 818-982-8158 for a Reservation. Also Cd’s of the Trio will be available.” Live At Lavelee.” The night of the show

Where: Lavelee Jazz club
12514 Ventura Blvd
Studio City CA.
818-980-8158

When: June 14th and 15th Tuesday and Wednesday Night
Doors open at 7:00pm

 

[Air Raid Siren]

This is the ultimate line up to see these guys - each one is a monster in their own right , but as a trio they're off the hook!! Joey we've raved about already and Marco, as a lot of you may already know, is an amazing singer as well as a monster bassist - ya gotta hear him scat along with his bass - it's funky and rockin' all at once. But Renato - **chills** - it's been a long while since he's played with them - since he got the gig with Prince (and unless I'm mistaken, he's also Prince's musical director). His chordal choices and the aural colors he creates - impeccable!!