Catch me at this year’s South By Southwest Music Festival in Austin, Texas. On Friday, March 19, I’ll be kicking off the Austin Roadhouse Records Launch Party, hosted by Infinite Response. Come see me demo their new keyboard, the VAX77, and if you play keyboards, come up and jam on one. The show is free, with free beer and barbeque too; contact me for an invite to the show. Check my Shows page for details.
I recently posted a spontaneous quiz on my Facebook music page. In my profile photo (from which my banner photo was derived), I am surrounded by six keyboards. The quiz? Name five of them.
Here’s the photo:
photo by Kira Smith
Congrats to the keen eye of Jason Kresge (keyboardist from the band Orpheus Nine) who correctly identified my pets, from the bottom-left corner: Moog Rogue, Yamaha SK-20, Moog Little Phatty, Wurlitzer 200A Electric Piano, and Realistic Concertmate MG-1 (aka the “Radio Shack Moog”). The other keyboard would be practically impossible to identify, since all you can see is keys. Here’s another photo from the same session where the mystery board is visible:
photo by Kira Smith
Yep, it’s my trusty old Hohner Clavinet E7 (which you can see in action here). Also pictured are: Novation K-Station (top left), Moog Voyager (top), Rhodes Mark 1 Stage Piano (top right), and Roland Jupiter-6 (right).
I don’t share these pictures to show off or anything; many of you who know me are aware that I’ve been collecting this stuff since I was a paperboy. And for all the geeking out, it’s looking like my upcoming solo album is going to be primarily a piano-and-vocal affair. Gear is fun, though, and there’s a story behind every instrument. In fact, I’m considering adding a gear page to my site. What do you think? Do you want to know more about the equipment I use? Please comment away!
Now that “Who’s Next” is done, what’s next for me?
Some of you may know that I am currently writing a SOLO album. I’ve played a couple of the new songs live, and am digging in for more. It’s looking to be piano-heavy; possibly just my piano and voice. Maybe more. Collaborations? Yes, but they might go on a separate release. Still figuring it all out.
I’ve also got a few shows coming up where I’m playing with Francis Dunnery, in duo format (February) and the first U.S. shows with The New Progressives (March). See my shows page for more info.
I’m also going to be appearing solo in Austin, TX for SXSW in March! Details soon.
Getting closer to the big Who tribute show! Here’s a clip of the “Won’t Get Fooled Again” organ break. I programmed the sound on my trusty Alesis Andromeda synth, which I also used on the Yes Symphonic tour and Spiraling’s “Transmitter”.
Happy Holidays! There’s a sale going on over at spiraling.net/store with every single thing we sell for $5 each. Every CD, T-Shirt, and download album is $5 plus shipping. Sale ends Friday, January 1.
What better way to end a tour than to have one of the biggest rock legends in history come up on stage and sing a song? That’s exactly what happened at the final gig of the fall tour with Francis Dunnery and the New Progressives, this past Friday in Oswestry UK.
Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Mr. Robert Plant.
We’d been touring throughout the UK and have had some great musical guests sit in for a song or two, on any given night. The buzz among the band was that for the last show, Robert Plant would come and sing “Calling To You” with us (we recorded a new version of the song on Francis’ new CD). Mr. Plant had fun with it, complete with stream-of-consciousness jokes about progressive rock that you can hear at the beginning of my keyboard solo.
It went something like this:
“It’s getting really ‘prog’ now. Ooh. Mountains come out of the sea and they just stand there. I used to know Jon Anderson, you know. And I worked with Jethro Tull too. It was fantastic! All that standing on your own like that with a flute….”
Less than 24 hours later, we were on a plane back to the US, a bit exhausted but still laughing about it all. Thanks to all the friends, old and new, who came to see the tour, and thanks to Francis, Dorie Jackson, Brett Kull, Jamie Bishop, and Paul Ramsey for being such a great band to be a part of.
I can’t believe that the first tour with Renaissance is over. It went by way too fast. It was great to see so many familiar faces, and thanks to the fact that nearly every show was sold-out, we’re likely to be back on the road next year.
Not 24 hours after getting home, I’m heading to the U.K. and manning the keys for Francis Dunnery’s New Progressives. This is my first trip to England since I toured with Yes in 2001. We’re there supporting Francis’ new CD There’s A Whole New World Out There, on which I recorded keyboard tracks. You can find all the tourdates at tombrislin.com/shows .
I got to talk with the Illustrious Imogen Heap about the making of her new album Ellipse in the October issue of Keyboard Magazine. Check out the video clips here.
Before I set out for the Renaissance tour next month, I’m going to play a solo show at Rockn’ Joe in Kendall Park, NJ on October 3. The good folks at NJProghouse put together the night, which is for all ages, and there’s no cover charge….and I’m playing 2 sets!
