Brilliant! That was the first I knew you had been in a band (several!), first I knew about various kinds of Congas (of course, I went and did a little research, because nerds etc.), and I even learned a little more about Rundgren (longevity counts for a lot, though I still think "Hello It's Me" is a terrible song). One nitpick: people who were raised on McDonalds actually prefer it. My friend Gary, a Bay Area transplant from a small town in Nebraska, was really excited some years ago to host his father, who was traveling outside their home town for the first time in his life. Gary took him to, you guessed it, Chez Panisse for his welcome dinner. When the main course arrived, Gary's dad looked at it and said "Where's the food?" He then refused to eat it because it was "weird". Gary cancelled all the rest of their reservations for the week, and they ate al their meals at Denny's after that.
Yeah, you make a good point about the fast food eaters. I'm somewhere in between. I don't eat fast food but I find Chez Panisse too stuffy. I like festive dining, where it feels like a celebration.
Oh, there are a lot of different types of congas. More than the 3 I mentioned. But those are the most common. I'm not sure why I haven't written about my decades of percussioning here on the 'Stack much. I expect it'll appear a time or two again before the year's end.
I knew you would find "Hello It's Me" terrible before you even said it! Maybe I can convince Band-Maid to do a metal version of the song!
Was it you or Brad who brought us a funk or reggae version of "Hello It's Me?" Yes, when I nerded out I saw a long list of different kinds of Congas--why not? People geek out over different models of guitars or cymbals. Anyway, I would love to read more war stories about your alternate identity as a percussionist!
Re fast food: it must be about the processing. I think they spike Hot Pockets with nicotine or heroin. Remember when, during the Obama administration, they began trying to introduce school lunches prepared from fresh ingredients, and the school kids went ballistic?
It wasn’t me. Sounds like something Brad would do! And I remember that Obama era attempt to serve healthier food but sadly that backfired. We like our addictive additves and processed sugars.
This was fun! I had no idea you were in a band, or were a percussionist! Or, once looked like Maynard G. Krebs (http://www.artnet.com/magazine/features/finch2/finch2-5-3.asp)! How cool you've got all these pix, too! I don't think I knew you also worked in a record store!
But, like you, too, I found myself pounding my fingers on my desk all thru high school. Most of the time, it was to the music in my head. I never graduated, though, to official drums of any sort. So, mark me down as percussion-ish.
Loved the Todd stuff, of course, and your linkage to my Todd-kids baseball-related post! I just noticed I had it behind a paywall....it's FREE now! Hopefully, your readers will go back if first they bumped into the paywall.
Ah - I didn't see that it was behind a paywall. I guess as a PAID subscriber I have access to all your goodies! I often do a search on your 'Stack when I write a new piece before I head over to Wikipedia. I like to go to the real source of knowledge first!
Regarding my percussion, yeah I've played all sorts of types over the years. I was a taiko drummer for about 6 years and performed with a group for most of those years (2000-2006). I dabbled in West African, Brazilian, and Afro Cuban rhythms and drums. Currently in a bit of a break from it all, though I do jam with friends on occasion.
Wow, thanks for telling me that...and that you do it in the first place! How flattering. I may change my name to Bradapedia, or just add an "a" and go with Wakipedia!
I think a post or a series of posts would be warranted for sharing those different drumming styles...with clips or YT vids demonstrating. And, you could even record yourself percussing on the very post you're writing about, with yourself demonstrating!🎤🥁👈😁
I think you're the first to compare me to Bob Denver! I had to click the link as I didn't know Maynard G. Krebs. I probably am more like Gilligan.
I wouldn't dare to post video clips of me playing most of the styles I write about as I'm not that good despite the number of years of playing. Maybe taiko drumming. That I have lots of video clips of. And that was when I was thinner and more muscular. I think you should call your page Whackapedia.
Ha - not all that well known if they were playing high schools during lunch!:) I own three of their albums currently. The cassette in the photo in the body of the piece was never made into vinyl, which was the first "album" I heard from them. I didn't check if they are still around. I would think not?
Fair enough 😂 but still, I’m surprised they even made it to the US (albeit at a school canteen) because they were never mega famous, not even in Argentina. They’re not active anymore, no. But great you got to see them!
Brilliant! That was the first I knew you had been in a band (several!), first I knew about various kinds of Congas (of course, I went and did a little research, because nerds etc.), and I even learned a little more about Rundgren (longevity counts for a lot, though I still think "Hello It's Me" is a terrible song). One nitpick: people who were raised on McDonalds actually prefer it. My friend Gary, a Bay Area transplant from a small town in Nebraska, was really excited some years ago to host his father, who was traveling outside their home town for the first time in his life. Gary took him to, you guessed it, Chez Panisse for his welcome dinner. When the main course arrived, Gary's dad looked at it and said "Where's the food?" He then refused to eat it because it was "weird". Gary cancelled all the rest of their reservations for the week, and they ate al their meals at Denny's after that.
Yeah, you make a good point about the fast food eaters. I'm somewhere in between. I don't eat fast food but I find Chez Panisse too stuffy. I like festive dining, where it feels like a celebration.
Oh, there are a lot of different types of congas. More than the 3 I mentioned. But those are the most common. I'm not sure why I haven't written about my decades of percussioning here on the 'Stack much. I expect it'll appear a time or two again before the year's end.
I knew you would find "Hello It's Me" terrible before you even said it! Maybe I can convince Band-Maid to do a metal version of the song!
Thanks for reading and commenting!
Was it you or Brad who brought us a funk or reggae version of "Hello It's Me?" Yes, when I nerded out I saw a long list of different kinds of Congas--why not? People geek out over different models of guitars or cymbals. Anyway, I would love to read more war stories about your alternate identity as a percussionist!
Re fast food: it must be about the processing. I think they spike Hot Pockets with nicotine or heroin. Remember when, during the Obama administration, they began trying to introduce school lunches prepared from fresh ingredients, and the school kids went ballistic?
It wasn’t me. Sounds like something Brad would do! And I remember that Obama era attempt to serve healthier food but sadly that backfired. We like our addictive additves and processed sugars.
This was fun! I had no idea you were in a band, or were a percussionist! Or, once looked like Maynard G. Krebs (http://www.artnet.com/magazine/features/finch2/finch2-5-3.asp)! How cool you've got all these pix, too! I don't think I knew you also worked in a record store!
But, like you, too, I found myself pounding my fingers on my desk all thru high school. Most of the time, it was to the music in my head. I never graduated, though, to official drums of any sort. So, mark me down as percussion-ish.
Loved the Todd stuff, of course, and your linkage to my Todd-kids baseball-related post! I just noticed I had it behind a paywall....it's FREE now! Hopefully, your readers will go back if first they bumped into the paywall.
Ah - I didn't see that it was behind a paywall. I guess as a PAID subscriber I have access to all your goodies! I often do a search on your 'Stack when I write a new piece before I head over to Wikipedia. I like to go to the real source of knowledge first!
Regarding my percussion, yeah I've played all sorts of types over the years. I was a taiko drummer for about 6 years and performed with a group for most of those years (2000-2006). I dabbled in West African, Brazilian, and Afro Cuban rhythms and drums. Currently in a bit of a break from it all, though I do jam with friends on occasion.
Wow, thanks for telling me that...and that you do it in the first place! How flattering. I may change my name to Bradapedia, or just add an "a" and go with Wakipedia!
I think a post or a series of posts would be warranted for sharing those different drumming styles...with clips or YT vids demonstrating. And, you could even record yourself percussing on the very post you're writing about, with yourself demonstrating!🎤🥁👈😁
I think you're the first to compare me to Bob Denver! I had to click the link as I didn't know Maynard G. Krebs. I probably am more like Gilligan.
I wouldn't dare to post video clips of me playing most of the styles I write about as I'm not that good despite the number of years of playing. Maybe taiko drumming. That I have lots of video clips of. And that was when I was thinner and more muscular. I think you should call your page Whackapedia.
That's why I included the link. My age is showing. As soon as I saw the bongos/congas and the goatee, I thought of that early Denver character!
Love your writing style 😀
Thanks so much!
My dad was/is a huge fan of Arco Iris. I didn’t know they were known outside Argentina!
Ha - not all that well known if they were playing high schools during lunch!:) I own three of their albums currently. The cassette in the photo in the body of the piece was never made into vinyl, which was the first "album" I heard from them. I didn't check if they are still around. I would think not?
Fair enough 😂 but still, I’m surprised they even made it to the US (albeit at a school canteen) because they were never mega famous, not even in Argentina. They’re not active anymore, no. But great you got to see them!
Loved hearing how you became a drummer, or should I say, conguero?!
I prefer the term "percussionist..." :)