Good Evening,
I'd like to do somewhat of a different blog here, my take on playing music, not just on my own, but with my band "Light & Motion".
In my blogs I've never really spoken directly about my pure passion for music, with what's going on these days, it's always been the thing I've loved doing, plugged in, unplugged, on paper, in my head, music, is what makes me who I am, which sounds cliched I know, however, with the illnesses and side effects I suffer with, its the thing that's ALWAYS been consistent, and with it, I've met some of the best people in the world.
Last night was a stonking practice, beforehand I felt bloody awful and I contemplated not going, alas Kim, the drummer of the outfit coaxed me that it'd be for the best, so I went down and I'm very glad I did...
Me & Fellow guitarist and good friend Jay were the first to arrive, there we were setting up, each of us at polar opposites in terms of tastes and playing styles, I'm plugging in an array of pedals from a Pitch Shifter to a Fuzz, to a Delay pedal and many more, whilst he plugs in the Wah pedal I borrowed him, into a couple of distortion pedals straight into the amp.
I'm a self-confessed effects based player, I don't play in the traditional nature, I use effects alot to create new sound, I've always loved the concept of getting lost in technology and stumbling on something new or beautiful that could be used that no-one has heard before, I'm completely self taught and I don't follow traditional methods, nor inspirations, whereas some may class "Stairway To Heaven" or "November Rain"'s solo's as the best on the face of the earth (not that I'm dissing them, they aren't bad songs!) I class my more inspirational solos as U2's "Love Is Blindness" or Peter Framptons cover of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", aside from bands, after I dropped guitar duties in Crashpoint, and wasn;t really doing much in a band with guitar, I sat working more on my technique, just working on simple things like hand positioning, feel, vibrato, just general back to the drawing board, take what I've got and improve...
Anyway where was I...
so then Laura, our bass player and Kim, our drummer entered, and promptly, we were all set up, and ready to go, we run through our first full track that we've virtually finished were calling "Croydon" for now, we kicked into it, and for once, I dunno what it was, I stood, with my eyes closed, I could feel everything that was going on musically, like this song that had started off as a sort of rough jingle a month back, has evolved into this beast of a rock song where all of us get to work to our strengths, I stood there eyes closed, which I never do, absolutely still, playing at my best, just feeling the pulsating bass and drums in my feet, everything ringing in my ears.
I closed my eyes, and hit chords that cut like a knife, not thinking of where I wanted to be, but taking in the moment, trying to leave an impression with every single note... when my solo came, I didn't even have to look, I just stepped on the Whammy and in my head I've split my solo like this
Melodic/Bendy/Tappy/R2D2
I loved the fact that right there, everything was where it was meant to be, we were all playing off each other, for the last run of the chorus, I opened my eyes, to see how well we were all doing, and to me, that's what its all about, we are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of the dream, the song ended, and a slam of an E minor... Laura's Dad, Roger had popped in aswell and we certainly got the thumbs up off of him aswell, just re-assuring that it isn't just us that thinks we sound great!
with that, keep dreaming
Your pal
Luke
Thursday 22 July 2010
Tuesday 20 July 2010
Baby, Something beautiful's dying...
Hola Readers!
It's time again for one of my late night blogs, I've got alot on my mind and I know for a fact alot of people read this, and often don't give a damn, but yesterday it would have been my Dad's 57th, and what happened? all of my effects pedals got fried, yeah, great...
Luckily I salvaged them all except for the bodged Korg, which I was really enjoying using after so long, but on further inspection, it seems some of the soldering on the circuitry has just disintegrated, so I'll give up on that one and look at getting something else, because that unit, really came in handy, I'll be sure to see what the range is, I've tried the Line 6 Pod XT Live, and that really seems to be fitting the bill, at a hefty £269, it's a BIG BILL! (classic line there, hall of fame readers will get that one ;D)
Anyway, onto more pressing issues, mind games, whats going on in my noggin?
Well, Wednesday 28th, I've gotta go in the oven for an MRI scan at the hospital at stupid o'clock in the morning, which I'm dreading, alas, I'll try and keep the chipper attitude, even if things keep going wrong and my colleagues and my mother make me feel utterly useless, I'm finding it increasingly hard to keep a good state of mind...
Also, I think it was a mistake for me to join FormSpring, theres been a series of questions been asked about me, love interests and the special someone who I've mentioned, I can't help but think it may be that someone asking the questions, whoever it is, I'd like to know, but the real thing is, that I just don't want to risk ruining a friendship with the thing called love, nor do I want to hurt/be hurt as much as last time... I just can't get her out of my mind...
Love, eh, it's a fantastic thing when it works...
Post cut short for now, started feeling really ill
Your Pal
Luke
It's time again for one of my late night blogs, I've got alot on my mind and I know for a fact alot of people read this, and often don't give a damn, but yesterday it would have been my Dad's 57th, and what happened? all of my effects pedals got fried, yeah, great...
Luckily I salvaged them all except for the bodged Korg, which I was really enjoying using after so long, but on further inspection, it seems some of the soldering on the circuitry has just disintegrated, so I'll give up on that one and look at getting something else, because that unit, really came in handy, I'll be sure to see what the range is, I've tried the Line 6 Pod XT Live, and that really seems to be fitting the bill, at a hefty £269, it's a BIG BILL! (classic line there, hall of fame readers will get that one ;D)
Anyway, onto more pressing issues, mind games, whats going on in my noggin?
Well, Wednesday 28th, I've gotta go in the oven for an MRI scan at the hospital at stupid o'clock in the morning, which I'm dreading, alas, I'll try and keep the chipper attitude, even if things keep going wrong and my colleagues and my mother make me feel utterly useless, I'm finding it increasingly hard to keep a good state of mind...
Also, I think it was a mistake for me to join FormSpring, theres been a series of questions been asked about me, love interests and the special someone who I've mentioned, I can't help but think it may be that someone asking the questions, whoever it is, I'd like to know, but the real thing is, that I just don't want to risk ruining a friendship with the thing called love, nor do I want to hurt/be hurt as much as last time... I just can't get her out of my mind...
Love, eh, it's a fantastic thing when it works...
Post cut short for now, started feeling really ill
Your Pal
Luke
Monday 5 July 2010
Laughing In The Face Of Love
Hey Everyone!
The other day, somebody accused me of plagarism in some of my work, when I showed them a coupel of my new riffs, and song ideas, frankly, it's a bold accusation, yes, I do draw inspiration from the artists I listen to, but I would never steal work from them, thats illegal!
However, where we are now, 2010, nothing is original, so I say steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination, when all is said and done, It's not where you take it from, It's where you take it to...
I'm Luke Clarke and welcome to another edition of my blog, it's been a bit of a while since I last wrote, which I apologise for, I've been awfully busy, under the weather, and pre-occupied with a number of things, so I've sat down in order to write, without drafting my blogs like I normally do...
Let me start off by saying these past couple of months have been difficult for me, to say the least, as most of my long term readers and close friends will know, I struggle with photosensitive epilepsy, and I never shut up about it at times, however just lately, the effect the medication is having on me is pretty bad and my Mom let me in on the fact that a couple of years back, my doctors told her the incredible amount of knocks on the head i've taken may be the cause of it, and any further mental problems I may encounter, she let me in on this and it kinda makes sense, yet in another daunts me, mainly because the symptoms i've been experiencing have scared even me, big ol' me who sort of stands up to everything, continually walking on, making what I can of a situation, alas recent symptoms have sort of kicked me back and made me realize that I can't do everything anymore, severe amnesia, extremely deep prolonged periods of sleep, spontaneous blurred vision, slurred speech, depression, the list goes on, and I'm feeling at my lowest, if only 2007 Luke had known what was to come, maybe he wouldn't have taken what he had for granted...
onto lighter news, I'm the proud owner of a Gibson Les Paul Custom Buckethead Signature, one of few it seems, as I'm told they're in limited numbers worldwide, it set me back a hefty £1899, which I'll be paying off for a while to come, but I love the tone of this thing, through my AC30, with all my effects, it sounds great, take a look at my collaboration with a you-tuber below!
3:00 Whammy & Killswitch Ftw!
onto the band, Light & Motion, we ousted Mr. Crap, and replaced him with a good friend of mine Jay on guitar, and we've got alot more energy flowing around now, one song finished, all but lyrics, which I'm working on as we speak, It's sort of a mid paced arena rocker, taken alot of messing about, but it's come together quite nicely.
staying on the musical topic, to guitar playing, I've taken a step back recently and looked at my direction to playing, I'm not that great, but I know and use alot of good techniques, I can't walk into a room and say "Hey, I'm going to be creative." But what can I do to walk into the room so that I might stand a better chance of being in a creative moment? Well, using those four clever but mysterious words, if I walk into a room with my hands functioning automatically, superbly well, efficiently with no energy wasted, with me in a relaxed and alert condition with my attention engaged, something becomes possible. So. That's what we can do. But until we actually experiment with that and work with it and build up information and experience, they're only bright words.
Looking further afield, from my inspiration U2's The Edge, to people such as Peter Frampton, Chris Rea, Robert Fripp & Buckethead, It's obvious that the 6 years i've been playing, isn't a drop in the ocean compared to these guys, sure, I may lack capabilities now, but I do not intend to stop playing any time soon, even if i seem to be having alot of senior moments at age 19!
It's just the quest of looking for my sound, my style, maybe its a hybrid of all of my favourite players? the Percussive Delay of Edge, the melodic works of Peter Frampton, and how he somehow manages to play out of key and it still works, the slide work of Chris Rea, the ambient works of Robert Fripp and the chaotic playing of Buckethead... who knows.
Now, it's been 6 months, already since we lost my Dad, Ray, I miss him like hell, just the little things, recent events he would have loved, the guitar work, the band, my philosophical ramblings, my growing confidence, I still wish he were here, right at my side like he always was, he told me he wanted me to go far with music, and I still intend to do him proud, now I'm writing this with tears in my eyes and I always remember how he would do anything for anyone, I'm trying to do that for the people I know, trying to be the good guy, as crap as I feel, I feel I have some of the best friends and close family members I could ask for, the pub gang, the band, they're all so so close to me, and I thank them all for being so supportive...
I'm just glad I never took anything my Dad did for granted, and glad I appreciate what I have left...
Thanks for reading you lot!
This Is Luke Clarke, out!
The other day, somebody accused me of plagarism in some of my work, when I showed them a coupel of my new riffs, and song ideas, frankly, it's a bold accusation, yes, I do draw inspiration from the artists I listen to, but I would never steal work from them, thats illegal!
However, where we are now, 2010, nothing is original, so I say steal from anywhere that resonates with inspiration or fuels your imagination, when all is said and done, It's not where you take it from, It's where you take it to...
I'm Luke Clarke and welcome to another edition of my blog, it's been a bit of a while since I last wrote, which I apologise for, I've been awfully busy, under the weather, and pre-occupied with a number of things, so I've sat down in order to write, without drafting my blogs like I normally do...
Let me start off by saying these past couple of months have been difficult for me, to say the least, as most of my long term readers and close friends will know, I struggle with photosensitive epilepsy, and I never shut up about it at times, however just lately, the effect the medication is having on me is pretty bad and my Mom let me in on the fact that a couple of years back, my doctors told her the incredible amount of knocks on the head i've taken may be the cause of it, and any further mental problems I may encounter, she let me in on this and it kinda makes sense, yet in another daunts me, mainly because the symptoms i've been experiencing have scared even me, big ol' me who sort of stands up to everything, continually walking on, making what I can of a situation, alas recent symptoms have sort of kicked me back and made me realize that I can't do everything anymore, severe amnesia, extremely deep prolonged periods of sleep, spontaneous blurred vision, slurred speech, depression, the list goes on, and I'm feeling at my lowest, if only 2007 Luke had known what was to come, maybe he wouldn't have taken what he had for granted...
onto lighter news, I'm the proud owner of a Gibson Les Paul Custom Buckethead Signature, one of few it seems, as I'm told they're in limited numbers worldwide, it set me back a hefty £1899, which I'll be paying off for a while to come, but I love the tone of this thing, through my AC30, with all my effects, it sounds great, take a look at my collaboration with a you-tuber below!
3:00 Whammy & Killswitch Ftw!
onto the band, Light & Motion, we ousted Mr. Crap, and replaced him with a good friend of mine Jay on guitar, and we've got alot more energy flowing around now, one song finished, all but lyrics, which I'm working on as we speak, It's sort of a mid paced arena rocker, taken alot of messing about, but it's come together quite nicely.
staying on the musical topic, to guitar playing, I've taken a step back recently and looked at my direction to playing, I'm not that great, but I know and use alot of good techniques, I can't walk into a room and say "Hey, I'm going to be creative." But what can I do to walk into the room so that I might stand a better chance of being in a creative moment? Well, using those four clever but mysterious words, if I walk into a room with my hands functioning automatically, superbly well, efficiently with no energy wasted, with me in a relaxed and alert condition with my attention engaged, something becomes possible. So. That's what we can do. But until we actually experiment with that and work with it and build up information and experience, they're only bright words.
Looking further afield, from my inspiration U2's The Edge, to people such as Peter Frampton, Chris Rea, Robert Fripp & Buckethead, It's obvious that the 6 years i've been playing, isn't a drop in the ocean compared to these guys, sure, I may lack capabilities now, but I do not intend to stop playing any time soon, even if i seem to be having alot of senior moments at age 19!
It's just the quest of looking for my sound, my style, maybe its a hybrid of all of my favourite players? the Percussive Delay of Edge, the melodic works of Peter Frampton, and how he somehow manages to play out of key and it still works, the slide work of Chris Rea, the ambient works of Robert Fripp and the chaotic playing of Buckethead... who knows.
Now, it's been 6 months, already since we lost my Dad, Ray, I miss him like hell, just the little things, recent events he would have loved, the guitar work, the band, my philosophical ramblings, my growing confidence, I still wish he were here, right at my side like he always was, he told me he wanted me to go far with music, and I still intend to do him proud, now I'm writing this with tears in my eyes and I always remember how he would do anything for anyone, I'm trying to do that for the people I know, trying to be the good guy, as crap as I feel, I feel I have some of the best friends and close family members I could ask for, the pub gang, the band, they're all so so close to me, and I thank them all for being so supportive...
I'm just glad I never took anything my Dad did for granted, and glad I appreciate what I have left...
Thanks for reading you lot!
This Is Luke Clarke, out!
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