Monday, December 31, 2007

Milwaukee Jam Band, Soul Amp, releases their first slide show video...

Red Rose image - photo by Mike Fisk

Rose on Black Background - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Happy New Year Everybody!

Here's a new song from the HOG gig in October. This is the last song of the first set. It's all made up on the spot including Brad's lyrics. It was recorded using a Zoom H4 on a tripod. It was mastered in Cakewalk using Ozone3. It's a rare Soul Amp love song.

So anyhow, here's the song on it's own:


Here's a broadband picture video (12.5 MB) of Mike Fisk (me) photos to accompany the music:


And here's a downloadable version of the video that's much higher quality (50 MB):



Here's Blogger's copy of the video if you just want to play it right here:


Sunday, December 30, 2007

The start of a Milwaukee Jam Band....June 2004

Origin of a Milwaukee Jam Band - June 2004


Origin of a Milwaukee Jam Band - June 2004 - soul-amp.com
Here's a pic of Brad and I when Soul Amp was just a few months old. Yep, we're a couple of goofballs.... =)

This was taken a month or two before M2 joined. We were practicing in this warehouse space of a relative of our then drummer who quit not too much longer after this pic was taken. We didn't have a band name at the time and so we thought we would call ourselves "xxx Quits" where "xxx" was the name of our then drummer who shall remain nameless. We have since become quite the Jam Band thanks in large part to M2.

Zoom H4 - short review summary - recorded samples...

For the last 6 months Soul Amp has used the Zoom H4 for recording nearly everything we have played (including a bar gig). Using a tri-pod we have used it to record a bunch of stuff nearly all of it at 24 bit. I've even used the Zoom H4 to record nature sounds including using the Zoom H4 to record thunderclaps and birds and cars driving by. And we used the Zoom H4 to record live music at a bonfire with crickets in the background and a voodoo drum cirle. We have found it to work extremely well. My only big complaint it that the screen could have bigger text. Other than that, the Zoom H4 has been amazing and sounds great. I highly recommend you get one if you are into that sort of thing. I haven't used the 4-track feature much, but I just used the tuner to tune E's niece's guitar. Very cool. The following tunes were recorded using the Zoom H4:

Make Another Motion of Love

Zingo Bango Bomp and the Gate Cloud (check out the Millenium Park Cloud Gate pics here)

Free CDs

Desert Sun (check some Arizona Desert Sunrise and Catcus pics here )

Zap Bam Jam in the Criss Cross

Tear Me Apart at the Seams - Live at the Hog

Deep Mercury

Most Horrible Sound Known to Man

Shove - Live at the Hog

Molten Compass - Mellow Melting

The Morning Song

You Don't Get the Eggs Until I Get the Money

Drum Circle at Octoberfest in Lake Geneva 1

Drum Circle at Octoberfest in Lake Geneva 2

Rowing

Pink Shirt

Wine Glasses 1

Wine Glasses 2

Electric Resistor

The Clown is Down

Coming Apart at the Seams

Zingo Bango Bomp

Crinkle in the Wrinkle

The Decision

Suburban Summer Symphony (nature recording)

Floor 22

Hark there is Weirdness in the Bay

Groovy Little Love Cricket

Easy in the Summer

Prowl

Gentle Assasins - Closer in Your Life

Crazy Drums

Heaven Sent You

Fireworks in Greenfield 1

Fireworks in Greenfield 2

Fireworks in Greenfield 3

Concrete Table Jam

Goofy Hammon M3



Here's all the links that mention the Zoom:

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/07/zoom-h4.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/07/recording-requisite-thunderclap-using.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/07/using-zoom-h4-to-record-concrete-table.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/08/using-zoom-h4-to-record-fireworks.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/08/new-tunes-recorded-last-night.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/08/overdriven-manic-drums.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/08/another-new-soul-amp-tune.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/08/m2s-wurli-214.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/08/summer-jam-at-love-shack.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/09/zingo-bango-bomp.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/09/world-from-my-doorstep.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/10/hi-allsome-stuff-about-gig.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/10/recording-from-hog-gig.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/10/wine-glass-music.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/10/wine-glass-music-cont.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/10/live-shove.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/11/voodoo-drum-circle-at-octoberfest-in.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/11/more-voodoo-drums.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/11/deep-mecury-winters-on-its-way-here-in.html

http://soul-amp.blogspot.com/2007/11/drum-circle-with-that-voodoo-drum.html

Friday, December 28, 2007

Milwaukee Handmade Furniture Artist - Todd Fillingham

Check out this Milwaukee artists/craftsman, Todd Fillingham:

http://www.fillingham.com/index.htm

http://fillingham.wordpress.com/

His furniture pieces are amazing!

Check out Todd's studio at:

Fillingham Art Furniture Design
1726 North 1st Street
Milwaukee, WI 53212

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Milwaukee Holiday/Christmas Lights Photos/Images/Pics...Taken on Christmas Day!... Enjoy!

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk


Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Here's some more pics of Milwaukee Holiday Lights... includes a couple pics from Candy Cane Lane in West Allis where about 5 or 6 square blocks of folk decorate their homes and collect money for the MAAC fund. This year they plan on collecting $100,000. Very cool.

There's also three videos here of a house that uses a small FM transmitter to play music into your car's stereo and then has their lights syncrhonized to the music. Also very cool. Check it out:

You can also see more Milwaukee Christmas Lights by clicking here.

So here's the pics (they're kind of psychedelic, huh?).... well you all have A Merry Whatever You Like and an Excellent New Year!!




Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com


Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com


Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Holiday Lights on Christmas Day - Dec 25, 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - Giant Big Old Silver Jelly Bean - Zingo Bango Bomp - Soul Amp Live at the HOG

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - image by Mike Fisk

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com



It seems like the images fit. So here's Soul Amp's tune Zingo Bango Bomp and the Gate in the Cloud which was recorded at the HOG in October 2007 . It is the third tune in the first set. The photos are of the Cloud Gate which is this honking metal reflective stainless steel blob in Millenium Park in Chicago. The reflections it makes are very interesting and inspiring. I dig it.

The tune starts out as Zingo Bang Bomp (one of our new tunes this year), but then because I couldn't feel the chords right (I got them right in the first phrase, but after that I doubted myself) it morphs into a new tune which I'm calling "The Gate in the Cloud". Be sure to click the grey link above to listen to the tune.

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - I like the effect that the flash has on the metal - August 2007 - image by Mike Fisk

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com




Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com



Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - looks like your looking into a stainless metal toilet bowl (like on airliners) filled with tiny odd-shaped people - August 2007 - image by Mike Fisk

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com



Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - these were taken when I went to Chicago on the Metra with E and her family - August 2007 - image by Mike Fisk

Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com



Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com



Cloud Gate - Millenium Park Chicago - August 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com




Free CDs - Britney Spears Bullshit - God's Key - Gig chatter....

Here's some chatter in between songs at the HOG gig this last Oct. Just cracked me up (and me only me, but I thought it was pretty funny... well Brad and M2 are pretty damn funny at least).... so this is not a song and so you don't have to listen.... Listen to Desert Sun instead. The thing is... come to our gigs and you can get a free CD or two (well at least they're free at the gigs (not free online) until we become huge annoying rock stars who will sell you bottles of our sweat even though we have sweat in abundance... ok ok ok... we're all over-the-hill and we'll never become rock stars and I really don't see how we can become anymore annoying than we already are....)....Well anyway....here ya go:

Friday, December 21, 2007

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park

Took some photos last night of the Milwaukee Christmas Lights at Ziedler park and some on Wisconsin Ave. So Enjoy and have a Happy Whatever You Like and a Merry Anything You Choose to Celebrate!! =)


Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk


Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com


Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk



Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk



Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Wisconsin Ave - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk



Milwaukee Christmas Lights - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com
Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Midwest Airlines Center - By Mike Fisk - Dec 2007 - soul-amp.com

Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Midwest Airlines Center - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk














Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk


Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com


Milwaukee Christmas Lights - Ziedler Park - Dec 2007 - photo by Mike Fisk -- soul-amp.com