John McElhenney (www.buzzie.com) does a simple rendition of For the Summer by Ray LaMontagne.
“I’m falling in love with the idea of falling in love. The Ray LaMontagne song For the Summer just kicked my ass all day. I had to learn and record it. Sometimes music just touches me that way. You?” 2-17-13
Enjoy.
Buzzie
This vimeo video release had ZERO plays. Hmm… Maybe I forgot to put the link or embed up.
99 Days by Buzzie from John McElhenney on Vimeo.
Enjoy.
BUZZIE
A new set of music is emerging. Currently titled 13 Roughs, here’s a quick sample of the progression that came during our morning session.
If We Can – Sample (mp3 download)
Enjoy.
buzzie
The Head Radio Tribute CD has been a nice awakening of just how powerful the In Rainbows disc was to me during my recent divorce. The cover of Last Flowers was a less than hopeful play to get my leaving lover to reconsider her decision. I’m sure she heard it, once. She never commented on it.
As part of my Songwriter’s Notebook, Here are the tracks in progress.
1. Standing Nude (over the actual radiohead tracks)
2. All I Need (first draft w/ Ron Flynt)
3. Last Flowers (completed w/Ron Flynt)
4. Reckoner
5. Down Is the New Up
6. 4 Minute Warning
Enjoy,
Buzzie
click to view in iTunes
To say I was surprised when the iTunes account listed the Radiohead tribute as JAZZ is an understatement. When I then listened to the other tracks, the inclusion of Buzzie is even that much more amazing. Most of these are really jazz variations and interpretations of Radiohead themes more than the songs.
And Buzzie’s “Last Flowers (on the way to the hospital) is the closing track of the 2-cd collection. An honorable position for sure. And when you listen to the other tracks you’ll understand why I wasn’t first. Or even first on the 2nd CD. The Buzzie track is the only song on the record that is really a cover version. The other song would mostly be unidentifiable as Radiohead.
Well, thank you ESC! I am honored.
Buzzie
SEE: HEAD RADIO on iTunes.
Contribute to the cause, click to see Buzzie in iTunes
So at .90 per track, the royalty rate for an indie artist with 30 or so songs on iTunes, is probably less than a dime a download.
That’s a hard way to make a living unless your Katy Perry or Radiohead.
But what it does show to me, at least, is that Buzzie is selling to someone. The tracks ARE being found and bought. I need about 100x the royalty to make some real difference in my lifestyle. Hmm.. Maybe getting those two new CDs out is worth it.
Buzzie
iTunes has BUZZIE:
Shooting Beer Cans Off the Buddha – 2011
Are You Feeling Anything Yet – 2002
Diablo del Soul – 2000
What was it about “Frampton Comes Alive” that blew us away in 1976? Were we ready for a blitzkrieg of a live tour de force? The crowd interactions that made Frampton seem like a rock god, when his first 4 solo records had actually not done all that well. What was the formula?
I was 14 years old and about to leave for prep school up East. Leaving everything I knew behind. Leaving for the unknown. And yes, at that moment, I DID feel like Peter did. Was he openly saying he was getting high? Yes, yes, I believe that’s what he was saying.
And aside from the still-alive classic rock tracks “Do You Feel Like We Do?” “Show Me The Way” and “Baby I Love Your Way” there are some other great songs. Songs that more typify my fall into rock fantasy. We all wanted to BE Peter Frampton. 8th graders, with long hair and a subversive attitude. I did not even own a guitar at that point. I had played flute in band. BUT I COULD SING. Choir was my strength. And Frampton’s massive album had a lot to sing along with.
My stand out tracks, listening to the album on Spotify at the moment, would have to be:
and of course
Which became kind of an anthem for my generation as we grew up trying to push the envelope of what was legal and illegal, of what was acceptable vs. what was fun. And during Spring break that freshman year in high school I visited my sister in NYC and bought a cheap electric guitar.
Let’s put this in context by looking at the top hits from 1976 and see what was playing on the radio.
Yeah, I’d say Frampton was in a class by himself. And I was in his army of followers.
We owe a lot to Mr. Frampton.
Frampton said he regretted the (RS shirtless) photo because it changed his image as a credible artist into a teen idol. [And I bet he wishes he had a bit more of that hair these days.]
And there was even a bit of contraversy that surfaced about the phenominal Comes Alive album later.
“Because “Show Me the Way” had not yet been released in any form, the audience response was less than more familiar numbers. On the original album, Frampton added more audience response to make it appear that it was as recognizable to the audience as more familiar material.” They enhanced the audience tracks.
My hat’s off to you today Mr. Frampton. In all you still do, you are still showing the way to the sun.
Reference: Peter Frampton (wikipedia)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/frampton
Got six bucks? I’d bet you’d love Shooting Beer Cans Off the Buddha. Now available in Google PLAY and iTunes.
You know it’ll be good for your karma.
@jmacofearth aka buzzie
This song was written to a friend…
watch directly on YouTube: A Place to Go – Buzzie
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/a-place-to-go
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
This song was imagined as a love song sounding directly inside the head of my listener through their headphones. When I wrote it, the iPod didn’t exist yet. Now the song makes even more sense, as headphones are probably to the most common way that people listen to music. And now my idea is complete. Listen to this song with headphones. Let the chorus wash in the space between your ears.
Watch this video directly on YouTube: Inside You by Buzzie
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As an example of songwriting in motion, here is the original version, I recorded in my home studio. The song was practically written by the lush reverb effect that bounces around in your head.
Watch this video directly on YouTube: Inside You by John McElhenney
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And here is the Blue Cartoon version. Notice the subtle lyric changes.
Watch this video directly on YouTube: Inside You by Blue Cartoon
It is fun to hear all three versions again. Each one has it’s own vibe. Thanks to my mates in Blue Cartoon for allowing me to republish this song.
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/inside-you
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
So why not set it to the longing and fantastical beauty of Victoria’s Secret models? Buzzie’s Disappear.
Watch this video directly off Vimeo: Disappear by Buzzie
This take was a single pass with two mics. I have often tried to better the performance, but this captures the fragility of the moment and the feeling of loss and hope at the same time. At least the singer/writer is still alive to sing the song. In the end it is triumphant. Or will be, when the singer is in a different place.
This song is from the forthcoming release, “Admitting There’s a Problem.”
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/disappear
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
A Fan Video of 99 Days from the Buzzie CD, Are You Feeling Anything Yet.
99 Days – Buzzie from John McElhenney on Vimeo.
Watch directly on Vimeo: 99 Days from Buzzie
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/99-days
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
The contracts are signed, the cover art is done, the tracks are in digital transit via the interwebz. And here’s your preview of the Radiohead Tribute from ESC Records in Germany.
(And if you are reading this and would like to hear a preview,
here’s the final mix via MP3: Last Flowers (radiohead cover)
Buzzie (4:00)
Last Flowers (on the way to the hospital)
(Radiohead)
VIDEO: http://youtu.be/cld4WMt4QTk (pre-mastered vocal)
Buzzie was formed in 2000, after lead singer and songwriter John McElhenney left his popular pop band Blue Cartoon after two acclaimed indie pop CDs. Buzzie has performed at the International Pop Overthrow in Los Angeles and been featured on numerous compilations. In 2011 Buzzie released an EP of songs entitled Shooting Beer Cans Off the Buddha in anticipation of a full-length disc expected in the summer of 2012. This track, “Last Flowers” is from the Extra Tracks version of “In Rainbows” and was written during “The Bends” period. This recording features 20/20 legend Ron Flynt holding down all the instrumental duties. The instrumental version is available on the CD containing this song, “Shooting Beer Cans Off the Buddha.”
JOHN MCELHENNEY / vocal
RON FLYNT / all instruments
Recorded by Ron Flynt at Jumping Dog Studios in Austin, Texas; vocals recorded at Little Frog Studios, Austin, Texas.
Produced and mixed by John McElhenney
Published by Happy Mac Tunes (ASCAP) with additional rights from radiohead
www.buzzie.com
http://www.facebook.com/
available via: http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/
Namasté.
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/head-radio
Original announcement: Buzzie to be Included on 2012 Radiohead Tribute from ESC Records, Germany
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
www.nickibluhm.com (highly recommended)
Wow. Not very often you are blown away by a music video. Maybe it’s a crush on the lead singer, but I think it’s the whole presentation. A great song. (Just how I’m feeling right now.) Wonderful harmonies. And the sly joy of knowing they are doing something bad ass.
Watch directly on YouTube: I Can’t Go For That (Hall & Oats Cover) Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers
And two more Van Sessions classics:Bobby McFerrin’s Don’t Worry Be Happy and Linda Ronstadt’s You’re No Good
And here’s an original, that really shows Nicki’s range and rocker/hippie chickness.
Watch directly on YouTube: Jetplane by Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/buzzie-loves-nicki
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
Holy crap! I’ve been a little slow on the uptake for Wilco’s new CD.
Here’s a cut from their David Letterman appearance where they show the power that they wield. Notice Wilco go from a band with almost no guitar sounds, even the guitarist is messing with Radiohead-ish effects. We have two full-time keyboardists, Tweedy with no guitar… and by the end of the song we have three guitarists and a bass player rocking hard.
All I could say after this one was WOW!
Watch directly on YouTube: Wilco’s The Art of Almost
And also from the Letterman show, this rocker that has a real Joe Jackson/Elvis Costello feel. I Might.
watch directly on YouTube: Wilco’s I Might
Brilliant. Some of the best music today. Tweedy and company truly cutting their own path, and doing it well.
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/buzzie-loves-wilco
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
Russian syncro swimming duo Anastasias Davydova Ermakova set the back drop for this classic pop song, Buzzie’s The Same Thing from 2002′s Are You Feeling Anything Yet.
watch this video directly on YouTube: The Same Thing by Buzzie
Enjoy,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/beautiful-beautiful
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
This video features the famous Buzzie Reutimann. If you Google “buzzie” these days this race car driver and weekend motor gladiator comes up a lot. In my sincerest homage to my name sake and hero, Buzzie. Here is an unfinished song called, “Higher Than Anyone.”
Watch directly on YouTube: Higher Than Anyone by Buzzie
Peace Off!
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/higher-than-anyone
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
I find the happy love song is harder to write than the sad one. Here’s my best shot.
Beautiful Beautiful from Are You Feeling Anything Yet, by Buzzie.
watch this video directly on YouTube: Beautiful Beautiful, by Buzzie
Thanks,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/beautiful-beautiful
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
I took a video today at Whole Foods Market in Austin, Texas. I was amazed by the number of beautiful women walking around. And as I thought about walking away from the wreckage of the last relationship I felt a hopefulness about what’s next. This song carries that spirit, and this video seems to embody the future.
Watch this video directly on YouTube: I Walk Away by Buzzie
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/i-walk-away
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
A found video that is in Russian. It seemed cute and works with this song. “My Little World of Love” from Buzzie’s 2002 album, Are You Feeling Anything Yet?
Watch this video directly on YouTube: My Little World of Love – Buzzie – 2012
Enjoy.
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/little-world-of-love
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
© 2012 happy mac tunes (ascap)
Watch this video directly on YouTube: I Wanna Love You (official music video)
I Wanna Love You is another single from Shooting Beer Cans Off the Buddha from Buzzie. This video includes a video montage of modern-day rock goddesses. We can aspire to great things while continuing to rock along. All buzzie songs are ©2012 Happy Mac Tunes (ASCAP)
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/wanna-love-you
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
UPDATE 2-6-12: I got the contract for the Radiohead Tribute CD today. Buzzie is IN. wOOt!
While the ink is not on the paper yet, intentions have been set to include Buzzie’s Last Flowers on an upcoming Radiohead tribute record from ESC Records in Frankfurt, Germany.
I don’t know if it will be available in the US yet, but I’m sure I can get some copies. I’m excited to see who else will be on the CD.
Pretty good terms. Inside Voice: I wonder if they will pay Radiohead’s publisher for copyrights. I’m sure they will. I wonder if I need to pay here in the US? (nod) Yes, I do.
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
Permalink: http://blog.buzzie.com/archives/radiohead
Garr Reynolds (Presentation Zen author) has an amazing stream of pictures. These are from his Japan series. Thanks to him for permission to use them.
This video is supposed to have a “Lost In Translation” feel.
After we leave, or part, we usually travel. Travel alone is a mix of joy, liberation, spiritual journey, and sadness.
Namasté,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
Other buzzie links of interest:
Another quick-release video from the upcoming CD. Heavenly, by buzzie, from Admitting There’s a Problem.
*View this video on YouTube: Heavenly by Buzzie
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
Here is the Buzzie Video Playlist on YouTube if you want more.
A friend sent this video along yesterday. It made a perfect background for an instrumental rock song called, “Rising Above the Blame.”
Watch this video directly on YouTube: Rising Above the Blame by Buzzie.
© 2012 Happy Mac Tunes (ASCAP)
You tube is telling me that some one named “happy smile people” owns this video. I don’t think that’s right, do you?
Let me know if you like it.
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
Note the rock guitar sound is courtesy of this little gem. The tone sort of wrote this entire song. And an American Standard Strat, that I no longer own. (frown)
So putting music on YouTube is like, part of the global plan for everyone. Fans make videos to their favorite songs, people post complete tracks with the album cover as the entire show. So, how do we get our music up to YouTube without being really boring?
This song Last Flowers (on the way to the hospital) was an unfinished Radiohead song from The Bends era. It showed up on the In Rainbows (bonus tracks). It kicked my ass and I called Ron and asked if he would help me. The entire thing was done in a matter of hours in Ron’s studio. I retracked the vocals in the living room of my house, in the closing days of my marriage. Not to be dramatic, but this song sort of captures the whole thing for me.
Watch directly on YouTube: Last Flowers (radiohead) by Buzzie © 2012 Happy Mac Tunes (ASCAP)
My dear friend and music producer Ron Flynt held down all the instrument duties and let me focus on the non-autotuned vocal. It’s in the push and effort that the soul of the music is discovered. This is raw and unpolished for a reason.
And if that weren’t cool enough, I got this email last week from ESC, a German label that is putting a Radiohead Compilation together:
click to see larger version
Rock on!
Thanks,
@jmacofearth (also seen on Google+: jmacofearth)
A song from the forethcoming Admitting There’s a Problem from Buzzie.
I Need a Good Day
* watch I Need a Good Day directly on YouTube. See also the full-size version.
Thanks for listening,
@jmacofearth
John McElhenney aka: buzzie
I’ve been thinking of this little experiment for a while. Go back in your history and recall all the MAJOR ALBUMS of your life. No googling, memory only. And share the list in chronological order from the earliest major love affair to your current FAVORITE. (do this from memory as best you can, this is not a reference but a survey of your memories)
First Known Crushes
High School Begins
Today a friend on facebook shared a link with me of our college dance band. Wow, I had no idea this stuff existed. Listening to an REM medly right now. The cassette tapes held up pretty well. Thanks to the keyboard player Karl Rehn for preserving this historical blast.
Stuck in Neutral – SOLD OUT – at Cafe Brazil (archive page)
Carnival of Sorts/Radio Free Europe – REM (mp3)
Have fun with that.
All it takes is an inspiration these days and with the magic of technology something so simple as a visual palette for a song. The story sort of tells itself. And the object of our desire is Helen Mirren from 1967′s Herostratus. Give it a click and let us know what you think.
@jmacofearth
permalink: http://goo.gl/qnYmb
Here’s a quick peek at what happened here on Sunday when Barry Simon, formerly a bandmate in Blue Cartoon, came over and added some drums to my song. I’m pleased. Granted this version has no bass yet, and the mix is still not quite right, but I think the shape of the song is beginning to come out. Thanks Barry!
A Good Day (mp3 download)
Enjoy, and let me know if you have any thoughts.
(image is of iPad as control surface using Digital Performer, cool huh?)
Yesterday I bought my first drumkit. It’s the least satisfying thousand bucks I’ve ever spent, partially because I don’t play drums, and partially because I kinda dread setting them up… but…
I now have drums!
So today I’m recording drums with my old buddy from Blue Cartoon, Barry Simon. And a couple things I won’t have to worry about today.
I picked up a set of Roland’s V-Drums, and man have they come a long way! Now I can record Barry’s performance in both sounds and midi. Then if I want to “collective soul up” my song I can simply replace the “wilco-trapkit” with the “heavier-things-kit.” Viola!
Barry can even run the recording session with the iPad.
Let me know if you want to hear some daylies. (grin)
It wasn’t hard. And I had some help from Scrambles. Here is the outta-da-box experience with my new Roland V-Drums.
That all looks pretty serious. Like a drum kit.
All racked up with no where to go.
Had to go with the Iron Cobra.
Even the box had instructions.
Da Brain. Where all the sounds and midi comes from.
The pedal to nowhere. It’s virtual baby!
Even the box is pretty.
As close as V gets to real drum sounds.
Wiring up the brain. A little help from my furry friend.
Rockin da House Kit.
All set. All I need is a drummer. And a bit more cowbell, of course!
It’s here and it’s free from NoiseTrade.com.
click to download entire cd
Please enjoy my pre-CD release of a small handful of new buzzie songs and one radiohead cover. It’s free for the taking, so grab it. (tipping appreciated but not necessary)
Namasté,
John
Today was one of those days. I was looking for a song. I was full of it. I had an idea of where to start.
I got clear of my obligations around 6pm and headed home to get on with it. And then technology got in the way.
I really wanted to start with a drum pattern, a ROCK drum pattern and build the sound from there. So I opened my mac and started loading WIN7 under parallels so I could run Sony’s ACID PRO, where I store a lot of my drum loops. And nothing worked right. I could not get WIN7 to access the web so I could serialize and activate a new version of ACID PRO.
Okay. I moved on. I opened iDrum, a drum loop program for the Mac, no parallels and WIN7 needed. And also no inspiration.
All right, punt on the drum pattern, let’s go straight to the guitar. And jumping back from technology a bit further, let’s get the Taylor warmed up. No electronics just wood and steel. And… it literally took me 15 minutes to find a guitar pick. (I’ve just moved into a new house and my studio is not even close to being unpacked, but this was ridiculous!)
So I found the pick and tuned the Taylor, oh about an hour and a half after I started my tune quest, and I was finally strumming the first chords. It would’ve been easy enough to give up, move on, do something else. But when I put the capo into the 3rd position something connected. A tone, a feeling, the crisp cool air coming in from the open sliding glass door, the little dog at my side and the cat looking sulky at me from the carpet.
And just as the first verse was coming together my phone went off. And magic of the universe it was the person I was *sort of* writing the song about. And I just kept on writing and texting and writing and singing. And though this person was 20 or so miles away, and couldn’t know that they were in the middle of a songwriting session, there was something inspiring about the interconnectedness of it all.
This EP is dedicated with thanks to my friends in the WYRE* class that just ended. Man did I need that. This quick-release EP is for you guys and girls who have grown so much these last 11 weeks. And the full CD is coming. Hold me to it. You can get it now from CD BABY. (free listens available too)
The title comes from a conversation I had with Krista where she said she and her kids were “shooting beer cans off the buddha.” In a later conversation she let me know they were indeed tallboys from her neighbor. When asked if she drank tallboys, she replied, “No, I don’t.”
The tracks on this EP tell a shortened version of the full-length “Admitting There’s a Problem” CD that still requires a few tweaks before it’s ready for prime time. I wanted to put this out in celebration of this moment in my life, at the close of our group and a terribly painful phase in my life. I pause this evening and breathe as I anticipate the next adventure.
The tracks on this EP are:
@jmacofearth
permalink: http://goo.gl/tUmEL
You can see and hear all the Buzzie releases on the Buzzie’s CD Baby Page.
*WYRE – When Your Relationship Ends group
No checking your iPod for reference, no taking more than 5 minutes on this exercise. Name the top 15 most influential cds in your life. “If you were stuck on a desert island… blah blah blah” NOTE: I’m only sending this to YOU because I actually want to hear what you think is essential listening. You can write a note of your own and then TAG me back along with people you would like to know more about, musically. That’s it. Rock On!
1. U2 – Boy
2. Led Zepplin 2 (Whole Lotta Love)
3. Coldplay X and Y
4. Radiohead – Ok Computer
5. ACDC – Back in Black
6. The Guess Who – Best of
7. OK Go – Oh No!
8. Steely Dan – Can’t Buy a Thrill
9. The Who – Quadraphenia
10. Led Zepplin – Houses of the Holy
11. Collective Soul – Collective Soul
12. The Beatles – Revolver
13. Mr. Mister – Go On
14. Level 42 – World Machine
15. Eric Johnson – Tones
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@jmacofearth
permalink:
