My plan is do only do about one live Shaman performance per month in 2011 to allow me more time to spend with my daughter and to work on writing and recording the follow up to Animist, so I have only done a couple of shows thus far this year. Both of these shows were OneManBand affairs, the first at the Root Note in February and the second, last week at Winona State University for a Midwest Music Fest promotional event. The equipment setup for the one man band is still evolving as I find I can't really be sure what is going to work until I try it in front of people and playing drums with both feet while playing guitar and singing has some inherent difficulties. So far I have tried using a miniature 16" kick drum both with a regular snare drum or an electronic snare trigger. The trigger is nice because it sounds good, especially through the P.A. but there is no option for dynamics. However, I am thinking about trying a trigger for both kick and snare next. Anyway, below is a video of a version of the Clairaudience utilizing both the 16" kick drum and the actual snare drum also played with a kick drum pedal.
I have been too busy to do a lot studio work thus far in 2011 but have been kept busy enough working on projects for Of The Fact for a debut EP and Neon for the follow up to their 2010 release, If It Was. I continue to really enjoy this work and expect to be doing some more work with both of these groups and Michelle Lynn in 2011 as well as whatever else pops up.
I have begun rehearsing with Michelle and Adam again and am really looking forward some upcoming gigs including our first show together since November, 2010, which will be Thursday, April 14th at Del's Bar in La Crosse, WI. Playing with Michelle again and the prospect of toting a full drum kit around all summer inspired me to put together a mini drum set for my shows with her. Check out the pic and the rough video demo.
