MADMAN’s ROADCASE - HALF YEAR UPDATE.
Well there is about 36 hours before the Blues Immersion Course (BLIM) kicks off in anger. Some of you may have seen the news that I was signing up for it somewhere !
I am not one for using these Learning Logs for recording frequent progress and practice routines. Coming from the old forum I still like to do it Old Skool and the Roadcases were a case of periodic lines in the sand and a showcase of what gear had been bought in between.
So for starters I better clarify there is no new gear, since the ASATS arrived but I did get a Tab Notebook which will be abused over the next six months.
So where exactly am I at the end of June 2024 ? Guess it would be easier to just link my latest diary chapter that summarises what I have been learning, developing and playing.
So rather than reinventing the wheel, here you are …
The Madman’s Diaries - The Blues Chapters - Chapter Four (The calm before the storm)
So where I can summarise the last six months in a single line, the last four weeks may take a little longer.
So having been accepted onto BLIM, we all got a shed load of prep work, so the last few weeks have been pretty hectic but all good fun.
So apart from listening to countless Blues artists in the Immersion playlists Justin had created, I also went a bit mental on Spotify and literally been listening to every flavour of Blues out there whenever I had the time. Discovered old masters that were new to me, rediscovered artists from the 60s and 70s I’d long forgotten about and founds some fairly new Blues Rock bands to keep the blood pumping ! And on top of that been watching loads of Blues documentaries to feed the beast !
Aside from the audio video history immersion, there have been some recordings, all neatly tied up in the last diary release.
Wrote the lyrics to a Blues that may see the light of day later this year
The Blues Immersion Blues
Well I cant find my Blues, from my head down to my shoes.
Yeah I cant find my Blues, from my head down to my shoes.
Ive never had to struggle, life for me’s been one long cruise.
When the back man plays the Blues, Blues to him comes naturally.
Yeah when the back man plays the Blues, Blues to him comes naturally.
Too much discrimination and those years of slavery.
When the white man plays the Blues, its from his head not from his soul.
Yeah when the white man plays the Blues, its from his head not from his soul.
Coz he’s probably never struggled like them Blues masters of old.
But there’s some that really get it, yeah its like they see the pain.
Yeah there’s some that really get it, yeah they understand the pain.
But I try an try an try, just cant make my Blues the same.
So I’m trying Blues Immersion, deep deep dive its gonna be.
Yeah I’m trying Blues Immersion, a deep deep dive its gonna be.
But I hope that after six months, it will let my Blues soul free.
Yeah I hope that after six months, it will let my Blues soul free.
Got to get my head around Hound Dog Taylor’s Give Me Back My Wig for this one, so may take some time.
The biggest achievement was transcribing, something I have run as far away as possible from over the years I’ve been here. Too hard, too old, life too short yada yada with a big dose of CBA - plenty of Tab online ! But one of the BLIM Prep exercises was to transcribe a 48 bar solo, as this will form an integral part the course. So after all the years of kicking and screaming, I dragged myself up to the PC and over the last few weeks, deciphered the whole piece as best I could. The more I did the easier it got and I kicked myself for not doing it early in my playing journey. So added to the “practice” routines is Justin Transcribing Course, which I think will help with the BLIM lessons.
Another achievements that shows things are eventually coming together, was learning a new Corey Congilio solo last week. Its still needs a lot of polish and I won’t be recording yet but I managed to get the nears two minute solo under my fingers and into my head in about 90 minutes !! The last ones and my acoustic Blues ones have taken weeks and months. Can an old man say stoked ? If he can I was really stoked about that and the transcribing.
So another half year is nearly over and the next half looks pretty exciting. All being well there will be some Madman’s Diary Chapters to chart the journey, so folks in the city can see what happening over the hedge !
Maybe the odd Open Mic appearance depending on slot availability and workload in the coming months. But a big thanks to @Richard_close2u and the JGC OM team for keeping things rolling while I take a sabbatical. A huge thank you to all who posted in Mr Coles’ Applause thread, truly appreciated the warmth of the comments.
So that will do for now, long read but hey what else would you expect.
Take care peeps, keep practicing. keep playing and above all keep rockin !
