2006 and back
I could say to you when it comes to tributes to tofu that no one else could do a song so well as you. Not even Fleetwood Mac Nor members of The Knack Could surpass your lyrical attack On such a fine and healthy snack. Thus let it be on Earth as it is in Heaven that we meet tonight at ABC Shorly after seven? [end bad poetry] - rocket morton
Wednesday, December 27,2006
On Mariide's CD "Right Wing Radical Hippie," she accompanies herself on guitar, mandolin and sings a few tracks acappella. Her voice is strong and expressive and her songs melodic enough that you barely notice the lack of accompaniment. "The Barn" tells the story of America's disappearing family farms. "Generations of toil and love for the soil/Lost to interest and taxes farmers can't pay." "Down Winder Boogie" is the story of irresponsible waste disposal and governmental denial in "Eastern Washington." On "Newspeak History" she recalls the political struggles throughout her lifetime comparing them to the pro-democracy movement in China as it is played out in Tiannamen Square on her TV. On "Wake Up Call" Mariide sings in a stern voice that bothers me just a little, the way a movie sometimes raises an issue that makes you uncomfortable. Each verse starts with the phrase "Good morning". Like a headmaster addressing a class. It is a powerful song. On the "Roger Sherman Memorial Money Rap" each chorus repeats, "It's the money." in order to reminds us that "They use the money to keep us down." Mariide is very proud of the fact that the seventh track, "New World Order Hymn" has been chosen by Jubilee USA to appear on the compilation "Breaking The Chains: A Musical Campaign to Cancel International Debt." Mariide ends the record with a song of hope called "May the Circle." In it she expresses the wish that the circle of gentle people who know that "creation is one" may be steadily growing. http://www.mariide.com http://www.iamedia.org/breakthechains ======================================================= Mariide wants to be identified by her first name only (like cher) Mariide makes a political statement about a variety of issues on every song of her CD, "Right Wing Radical Hippie." Since she's a hippie, I must assume by "right" she means correct, not conservative. Mariide plays every instrument on the record, she accompanies herself on guitar, mandolin and on about half the songs she sings acappella. Her voice is strong and expressive enough that you barely notice the lack of accompaniment. "The Barn" tells the story of America's disappearing family farms. "The barn is a symbol of failure/Of debt and a system astray/Generations of toil and love for the soil/Lost to interest and taxes farmers can't pay." "Down Winder Boogie" Hot little Breeze, Hot Little Breeze, Hot Little iodine Breeze." is a story of irresponsible waste disposal and governmental denial in Eastern Washington. "Isotope stew/ Lost the recipe, scares the hell out of me/" When Mariide is addressing social issues she doesn't lose sight of the need for a good melody. On "Wake Up Call" Mariide role plays an authority figure at school and work. She sings in a stern voice that creates a character that bothers you just a little, the way a movie sometimes raises an issue that makes you uncomfortable. Each verse starts with the phrase "good morning". Like a headmaster addressing a class. For me this is the hardest song on the CD to listen to, because she steps into a character that is not meant to entertain, but instead challenge the listener. On "Too Simple" Mariide gets out her mandolin and asks the question that since, "It might be funny if it weren't so sad/ Most folks sense they're being had/ They know something's wrong it makes them mad/But they don't know what to do." and she asks, "Why we don't stop it is the mystery". On Newspeak History she recalls the political struggles of her lifetime ... comparing it to the pro-democracy movement in China As it is played out on the TV. "The youth of Tianamen's finest hour just before the blood and bullets/Provided by will of by the of minority power/.... Who can we turn to and what can we say/They are killing young dreamers in China Today" On "The Patriot Song" she also steps out of Mariide's shoes and roles plays a flag waver. Wave the Flag Boys/In god we trust/Wave the flag boy/ It's them or us/rally round boys raise it high/ask no questions just be prepared to die." Sell the arms boys to both sides/Everyone has equal rights to die. On the "Roger Sherman Memorial Money Rap" She reminds us as she talks about the myriad of injustices that motivate people to harm each other. What it all boils down to is, "the money/Yes it's the money brothers and sisters/Oh yes it's the money/They use the money to keep us down" New World Order Hymn has been chosen by..... to appear on the compilation "breaking The Chains. Her song is featured alongside such notable acts as Utah Phillips and Sweet Honey in the Rock. Mariide has donated the song to this project. For more information on see http://www. "THere's money for bailing out the bankers/And for selling arms across the sea/In the name of business interests/Piling up the debt on you and me." Mariide ends the record with "May the Circle," which is a song that honors the people working to build a just and fair society. "But for all of the gentle ones since times begun/Who already new that creation was one /All the children under the sun/ May the Circle be steadily growing/
Tuesday, December 26,2006 Charlotte Thistle bills herself as, "A Girl With a Guitar," but she is a woman of many talents. Pianist, vocalist, songwriter and social activist. On "Mommy" Charlotte plays the piano and through a child's voice asks why children can talk about war, but not sex. It is my favorite song on the record. I like the songs tongue and cheek humor, but it is also a catchy tune. I play the song on the streets on my trombone, and it is fun to play and brings in the tips. The eighth track, "Danny" has gotten stuck in my head more than once. She the song to a past lover, she uses it as a metaphor on the choices we make in life. "We're all just hanging on to this crazy spinning sphere/Trying to figure out what the hell we're doing here/But the road leads right to the edge of the sky/You could follow it there just find out why." Charlotte is very committed to social causes. She expresses this through her music and her activism. On semper Fi she asks why our loyal soldiers seem to get "empty promises" from the DOD, On "heroin" she role plays an addict who is in denial about her problem, "But I'm not like those people that you see/picking through the trash on hasting street/ Or hanging in the alley turning tricks/selling their shoes just to buy another fix" "take the pain away/Take another day" The first time I heard "Who Shall We Blame" on which she harmonizes acappella with Carissa Meisner was at her CD release party. On this song she asks the question, "Who shall we blame for the bombing...for all the suffering." She ultimately blames ignorance and fear and sings, "I found a little of both in my own heart tonight" In the end she blames ignorance and fear and declares, "I found a little of both in my own heart tonight." Reluctant Bride, the story of a shotgun wedding that is a bluesed up by Russ Johnson's smokin' harmonica licks.
Saturday, December 24,2006
Merry Christmas. I saw my whole family today and exchanged gifts. It was fun, then I went to church with Mom and Dad. Singing Christmas Carols was nice Peace Greg
Saturday, December 23,2006
Hola, Como Esta mis Amigos, It was so nice to see everyone in Ithaca. Whether it was a planned rendezvous at GreenStar, or a spontaneous encounter at Autumn Leaves Used Books. Michael and Bob, Thanks for letting me crash at your homes Loaves and Fishes is still the same, but with some new people, it was good to Schmooze with sandy, Elora and Melissa. All the people I rendezvoused with at ABC knew each other, yet they all got along. I hope you all enjoy the CD's. And I hope I don't take five years to come see you all again. PEACE AND Love Greg Spence Wolf
Friday November 24, 2006
from 7:30 - 9:30 PM
at the Pegasus Coffee House on Bainbridge Island.
131 Parfitt Way SW
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Phone: (206) 842-6725
Pegasus Coffee House Music Schedule
FRIday, October 20,2006
Down At The Farmer's Market (6:10)
Angeline The Baker (9:13)
Going Back To Texas (6:45)
Rusty Volvo (5:38)
The Indigenous People Of Mexico Want To Be Free (8:12)
You Always Have A Pleasant Thing to Say (7:52)
Last Night I WIshed Upon A Star (11:43)
Hush Little Baby (4:38)
Sisters in Disarmament (3:20)
The Flag Won't Set You Free (1:17)
Thursday, October 19,2006
All information is from "The Mixing Engineers Handbook" Second Edition by Bobby Owsinski.
MusTc 223 Week Three Homework Greg Spence Wolf
1) The four reasons to use effects are:
a) To create an aural space
b) To add excitement
c) To make a track sound bigger, wider or deeper
d) To move a track back in the mix, give the impression it is farther away.
(pg 39)
As a general rule, try to picture the performer in an acoustic space and
then realistically recreate that space around him.
(pg40)
Dave Pensado says, "The way I think of it is the pan knob places you left
to right, while the effects tend to place you front to rear. . If you want
the singer to sound like shes standing behind the snare drum, leave the
snare drum dry and wet down the singer. If you want the singer in front of
the snare drum, leave him dry and wet down the snare drum.
(pg 40)
Ed Seay on reverb, "You don't even have to hear it, but you canse it when
it goes away."
(pg 40)
2) To make an effect blend in more, , darken it up, filter out the highs.
(pg 41)
3) A threshhold control determines at what signal level the compressor
will begin to operate. (pg 53)
4) A compressor is used for limiting and de-essing.
a) limiting - setting the rqtio at 10:1 so you set up, "...a brick wall
for level, allowing the signal to get to a certain point and little more.
Ex Figure 7.1 Universal Audio Precision Limiter.
b) De-essing - Reducing sibilance by compressing the frequencires between
4-6 KHz.
A de-esser can be made up of a compressor and equalizer plugged into a
side-chain, or a stand alone, dedicated unit. ex dbx 902(pg 55)
5)I would like to use compression on vocals to reign in extremes in
dynamics. I know when I sing and record, the dynamics vary wildly based on
what I am saying, ie. the emotional content of the lyrics. Anger requires
and different level than love.
A good starting point for a lead vocal is a 4:1 ratio., medium attack and
release, and the threshold set for about 4-6 dB of gain reduction.
Monday, October 9, 2006
I Don't Support The Troops
The troops are all volunteers. Most of them joined the military for one reason, money.
They are taking tremendous risks in Iraq, but they took that risk to get money.
I have no problem with people making money. I do it myself everyday. But I have
a problem with people killing other people for money,
and that is what "United States" troops are doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.
They are killing people.
The website WWW.IRAQBODYCOUNT.NET tabulates media reports on the war in Iraq
and has estimated that at least 43,850 Iraqis have died as a result of our invasion as of 10/9/06.
Not all of these people are Iraq military and resistance fighters.
A majority of these people are probably innocent civillians.
And they are beeing killed by the United States military.
I don't support this, and I never will. How can you?
Greg Spence Wolf
Thursday, October 5, 2006.
I stayed home sick due to a cramp in my hip that made it painful to walk,
and even more painful to get up and sit down.
I did the lotus position stretch and that helped a bit.
I go stir crazy when I stay home. At 10 I had to get out,
so I walked to QFC and bought some mint chocolate chip, Soy Dream frozen desert.
And I watched South Park. Comfort food and humor, they help a little when I am sick.
Peace
Greg
Fircrest Rehabilitational Center Monday, October 2, 2006 7:00 PM 155th and 15th Ave Ne (on the 330 bus route) I sang sing along folk songs and a few originals. I passed out the lyrics on Righteous Dumpster Diver Dude and got some folks to sing along.
Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 2:30 PM
Pike Place Market Buskers' Festival
South Stage
Pike Place Market - Seattle, WA
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Jorge came and played guitar.
Tommy Dean sat in on This Land is Your Land
Kristin even chimed in on a few verses
Saturday August 12, 2006 - 2:00 PM
Aaron Dixon Benfit - Spaghetti Dinner
8923 2nd Ave NE
Seattle, WA
Adults $7.00 Kids $5.00
Meet The Anti-War Candidate And Eat Spaghetti!
Contribution for spaghetti and salad
and bread and butter On March 9th, 2006,
Aaron Dixon will be here
at 3pm to explain his candidacy. Meated and vegetarian spaghetti,
as well as black beans and
garden salad will be available from 1pm until 9pm.
Saturday, August 12 from 1pm 'til 9pm For
more information call 206 523-1720
Monday, February 13th
at Fircrest
155th and 15th Ave Ne (on the 330 bus route)
7PM-9PM
I did a show at the Fircrest Residential Rehabilitation Center tonight. Most of my audience were autistic people. Each person seemed to appreciate the performance in their own way.
Tuesday, August 3, 2004
I am actively recruiting street performers for the Pike Place Market Buskers' Festival, so when I saw a man who juggles on the corners of Northgate Way and 5th Ave, I thought I should tell him about the Buskers' Festival and the Pike Market Performers' Guild. I asked him how he was doing and he said that he was suffering from some sort of poisoning inflicted on him, by arts. I then asked myself, what have I got myself into. Is this guy paranoid? But then he asked me how I was doing and I told him I had a sore back, so then started telling me about yoga. This homeless looking fellow that stands on the corner I was not expecting to teach me the lotus position, but he did. I did the lotus position for about ten minutes at the bus stop, then he left, and some guy at the bus stop started talking non-sense to me, so I left and mopved on.
Monday, August 2, 2004
It is illegal to sit on the side walk in seattle.
This is the law prohibiting it. Seattle Municipal Code ------------------------------------------------------------------------ SMC 15.48.040 Sitting or lying down on public sidewalks in downtown and neighborhood commercial zones.A. Prohibition. No person shall sit or lie down upon a public sidewalk, or upon a blanket, chair, stool, or any other object placed upon a public sidewalk, during the hours between seven (7:00) a.m. and nine (9:00) p.m. in the following zones: 1. The Downtown Zone, defined as the area bounded by the Puget Sound waterfront on the west, South Jackson Street on the south, Interstate 5 on the East, and Denny Way and Broad Street on the North; 2. Neighborhood Commercial Zones, defined as areas zoned as Pioneer Square Mixed (PSM), International District Mixed (IDM), Commercial 1 (C1), Commercial 2 (C2), Neighborhood Commercial 1 (NC1), Neighborhood Commercial 2 (NC2), and Neighborhood Commercial 3 (NC3). B. Exceptions. The prohibition in subsection A shall not apply to any person: 1. Sitting or lying down on a public sidewalk due to a medical emergency; 2. Who, as the result of a disability, utilizes a wheelchair, walker, or similar device to move about the public sidewalk; 3. Operating or patronizing a commercial establishment conducted on the public sidewalk pursuant to a street use permit; or a person participating in or attending a parade, festival, performance, rally, demonstration, meeting, or similar event conducted on the public sidewalk pursuant to a street use or other applicable permit; 4. Sitting on a chair or bench located on the public sidewalk which is supplied by a public agency or by the abutting private property owner; 5. Sitting on a public sidewalk within a bus stop zone while waiting for public or private transportation. Nothing in any of these exceptions shall be construed to permit any conduct which is prohibited by SMC Section 12A.12.015 , Pedestrian interference. C. No person shall be cited under this section unless the person engages in conduct prohibited by this section after having been notified by a law enforcement officer that the conduct violates this section. (Ord. 117103 Section 2, 1994; Ord. 116885 Section 1(part), 1993.)
This is the law that makes this law irrelevant
Seattle Municipal Code Information retrieved August 2, 2004 3:12 PM
SMC 12A.12.015 Pedestrian interference.A. The following definitions apply in this section:
1. "Aggressively beg" means to beg with the intent to intimidate another person into giving money or goods.
2. "Intimidate" means to engage in conduct which would make a reasonable person fearful or feel compelled.
3. "Beg" means to ask for money or goods as a charity, whether by words, bodily gestures, signs, or other means.
4. "Obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic" means to walk, stand, sit, lie, or place an object in such a manner as to block passage by another person or a vehicle, or to require another person or a driver of a vehicle to take evasive action to avoid physical contact. Acts authorized as an exercise of one's constitutional right to picket or to legally protest, and acts authorized by a permit issued pursuant to the Street Use Ordinance, Chapters 15.02 through 15.50 of the Seattle Municipal Code, shall not constitute obstruction of pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
5. "Public place" means an area generally visible to public view and includes alleys, bridges, buildings, driveways, parking lots, parks, plazas, sidewalks and streets open to the general public, including those that serve food or drink or provide entertainment, and the doorways and entrances to buildings or dwellings and the grounds enclosing them.
B. A person is guilty of pedestrian interference if, in a public place, he or she intentionally:
1. Obstructs pedestrian or vehicular traffic; or
2. Aggressively begs.
C. Pedestrian interference is a misdemeanor.
(Ord. 117104 Section 1, 1994: Ord. 116897 Section 1, 1993: Ord. 113697 Section 1, 1987.)
Cases: Subsection B 1 was upheld as constitutional in a challenge based on breadth and vagueness and does not deny equal protection of the laws. Seattle v. Webster, 115 Wn.2d 635, 802 P.2d 1333 (1990).
Link to Recent ordinances passed since 3/31/04 which may amend this section. (Note: this feature is provided as an aid to users, but is not guaranteed to provide comprehensive information about related recent ordinances. For more information, contact the Seattle City Clerk's Office at 206-684-5175, or by e-mail at clerk@seattle.gov)
Friday, July 16, 2004
Today I sent the following message to SchoolBoard@seattleschools.org Dear School Board Members, I am writing to express my support for lifting exclusivity contracts and encourage healthier foods for students. I feel that freedom of choice is important for all consumers and that choices should not be dictated or sold to the highest bidder. I also feel that although if left to pick all their own food, students would buy some junk food, I feel that very little quality selection of food is available in our schools. I worked in the Seattle School district for one year at Fairmount Park Elementary as a VISTA Volunteer and for 6 months as a tutor at Broadview Elementary. The salads provided are iceburg lettuce and carrot shavings. Generally no other vegetables are available. These salads are not fresh, there is no spinach, brocolli, tomatoes, mushrooms, etc available. The dressings offered are loaded with chemicals like EDTA. And they taste horrible. All the apples are the same. The small dark red ones, they are all the same size, they look like they came off an assembly line. I have seen bananas provided, but there is little other choice. When I was a student, we received minimal nutritional education. We were given a lecture on sugar occassionally, but no information on the benefits of fiber, well balanced nutrition, whole foods, etc. Milk is heavily advertised in schools. When I worked at Broadview the cafeteria featured a poster of the Dixie Chicks holding a calf with milk mustaches of course advertising milk. (I like the Dixie Chicks, but I don't think they should get free advertising in our schools) While I believe that moderate amounts of dairy can be in a balanced diet many people are allergic to milk and others choose not to eat it for ethical reasons. I've never seen milk alternatives like soy or rice milk offered. Rice milk is actually a common beverage in Mexico and is offered in Mexican restaurants. It may be appreciated by our young mexican students. Nutrition affects students moods and energy levels as well as their long term health. It can be integrated into science and cultural education. I hope you will consider my comments and do your own research on nutrition. Sincerely. Greg Spence Wolf
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
IT IS ILLEGEAL TO SIT ON THE SIDEWALK IN SEATTLE.
Wednesday, July 7, 2004
I have been stressing out about how to store my cd's that survived the house fire for 6 months now. I also have not had some cd's of my music displayed for sale because I haven't had the funds to buy storage. A friend/fan mamed Greg asked me if I had any of my full length cd's for sale and I explained to him my situation. He said that he had 200 cd jewel boxes in his closet that he got for free and that he didn't need, and that if I was around in about an hour, he'd give them to me. I said I would be much obliged and give him a cd in exchange for the jewel cases. I now have one less thing to worry about and a few more cds for sale in my case.
Tuesday, July 6, 2004
I was waiting for the bus on Aurora Ave and I heard a man with a very threatening tone start yelling at someone. I stood up to see what was up and to see if I could help diffuse the situation. I wound up standing between the man and the woman he was yelling at. At that point he left and waked to the curb and across the street. The woman was vera hug, a kiss on the cheek and her phone number.
Wednesday, June 30, 2004
I woke up to the radio djs Mike Fisher and John West on KMTT announcing me that there was a line around the block at the Issaquah COSTCO to sign Bill Clinton's book and that he would be signing books at the Elliot Bay Book Company in the evening. I said to myself, I need to get myself down to Elliot Bay Books and sing "George Bush is a Liar" to the Clinton fans. They ate it up. I spent about three hours alternating between that and "Iraq Belongs to the Iraqi's". They not only tipped well ($43 in three hours) they seemed to enjoy hearing Bush get bashed. Lots of chuckles and giggles from the crowd, and lots of smiles too. I could get away with singing the same song over and over because the line kept moving. I had a blast, even though it is not as useful to sing a protest song to the converted, it doesn't hurt.
JUNE 22, 2004
One of the perks of street performing is free tickets. Today I decided that I wanted to see Mary Chapin Carpenter at Pier 62-63 in Seattle and made a point of singing her songs to fans as they entered the event and waited in line. I only made $2.38 in tips in that hour, but I got three free tickets. I gave one to my friend Karen who came down to hang oout when I told her about my strategy, and another to a random fan who was waiting for a friend who was gonna buy another ticket. It was a great show, I love Mary Chapin Carpenter's songs. She led off with a new song about believing in our ideals. Followed with "Passionate Kisses", and performed mostly new songs for about an hour. She capped off the show with classics like "I Feel Lucky", "Shut Up and Kiss Me" and "He Thinks He'll Keep Her". Shut Up and Kiss Me got me off the bleechers and dancing with Karen. Dancing made me so happy that I realize that the gimmick I need fopr my performances that is missing is dance. I am going to work more dancing into my performances was a resolution I made, at least some songs.