SERIES ONE: THE CHOP

I’m excited to announce the release of my first online lesson series. It’s a set of 5 downloadable videos focusing on the percussive bowing technique called The Chop, available in full HD resolution and Mobile-Ready versions. Knewsletter subscribers, Facebook Fans, and Twitter followers have the opportunity to download the entire series now. [Proceed to store]. On Sept. 22, all videos will be available individually. The HD versions come “pre-packaged” with the Mobile versions. Have a look at the video below to see what they’re like.

(Can’t see the video? Please view it here.)

OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

“Casey Driessen has gone further into Chop Land than anybody, and has returned alive and grooving! He presents the results of his explorations in a clear and entertaining manner. Good meaty stuff.” – Darol Anger

CHOP SHOPS [Workshops]

To celebrate the release of my lesson series, I’ll be doing a short Colorfools tour (Jeff Sipe – drums, Alana Rocklin – Bass) and holding afternoon workshops before the shows. Enrollment is limited to 15 people. Please Visit the Gigs Page or the links below for more details and instructions to signup.

WORKSHOPS
Wednesday, Sept. 28 – Emile Baran Violins, Decatur GA
Thursday, Sept. 29 – Poplar Knight Spot, Aberdeen NC
Friday, Sept. 30 – Brevard College, Brevard NC

ENCORE

Back when hurricane Irene crawled up the east coast, the Flecktones were on the way to play a show in NYC on Governor’s Island. Our set time was excactly the same as Irene’s scheduled arrival. Gig canceled. We had a few days off after this gig anyway, so we looked for a city out of the path to wait out the storm. Burlington, VT seemed like a good choice. Well, Irene came through VT and dumped flooding rains. Our hotel of refuge was safe but the surrounding areas were hit. I holed up in my room for 4 days and played. A new looping tune was born. I’ll play it for you someday.

Casey

GIGSAW PUZZLE

Spring has sprung and summer is swinging hard! Dusty shadeless Bonnaroo hit 100ºF and then a week later in Telluride CO it snowed.  And there I was, up in Saskatoon experiencing spring once again (and vicious mosquitos!).

Two festival highlights so far this year are Merlefest (hosting Midnight Jam full of unconventional jams and juggles – seriously) and Telluride Bluegrass Fest (sitting in on late night sets with the Punch Brothers and Mumford & Sons, and a powerful Father’s Day Gospel set with Darrell Scott, Buddy Miller, Patty Griffin, Abigail Washburn, Kai Welch, and Bob Hemenger).

Please enjoy the following fan balcony cam of the acoustic Amazing Grace with Mumford & Sons, Punch Brothers, Sarah Jarosz Band, and Abigail Washburn & the Village. (If you don’t see the video, follow this link right here.)

The early part of this year was a jigsaw of different gigs…a new Greencards record in January; my trio, the Colorfools, touring in February and April; travel with Jayme Stone‘s Room of Wonders in March; and a scattered smattering of other shows – solo pedal board looping, Darrell Scott duos, Wayfaring Strangers, Duhks, Zac Brown Band, Jonathan Scales and Ben Sollee.

(Here’s my tune, Hunt for the Quail Egg, from a recent Colorfools gig – Alana Rocklin on bass, Jeff Sipe on drums. If you don’t see the video, follow this link right here.)

Since late May, I have [mostly] left behind the myriad of different gigs – trading the jigsaw (gigsaw?!) for nearly a year of touring with Béla Fleck & the Flecktones through April 2012. They’ve reunited with Howard Levy – the diatonic harmonica / piano phenom not seen with them in 17yrs.  The new record is called Rocket Science, on which I had the pleasure of bonus track fiddling on the tune Wolf Laurel [find it here].  Please check the gig list [to the right] to see when we’re near you.

PHOTO GALLERIES

My continuing photo journal of interesting visuals witnessed while on the road…Two current galleries and two past.  Snap snap, click click. You will find the recent protests in Madison WI, foot adventures and nighttimes in New York City, mountainous Telluride CO to a SF Bay Area home stay with very interesting art, and a stunning lift bridge in Duluth MN.

ON THE HORIZON
• Skills & Techiques

I’m making preparations to release “Skills & Techniques with Casey Driessen” – groups of short downloadable lesson videos focused on a specific topic.  The first series will concentrate on different aspects of a percussive bowing technique called “The Chop.”  Stay tuned for more info.

• United States Artists Projects

I’ve just accepted an invitation to participate in United States Artists Projects (USA Projects). This organization helps connect boundary pushing artists of all disciplines with willing donors and supporters. I’ll begin the fund raising process later this year for a project I’m not quite ready to talk about yet – what I can tell you is I’ve been hard at work, deep underground in my fiddle laboratory, developing some techniques for it.  To learn more about featured artists, their projects, and the organization, click here

NOT SO NEW KNEWS…

Oog never ceases looking for new life experience. Perhaps it will become your soundtrack for a few moments – wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Have a listen online right now, or send yourself one today.

You can learn more by watching the Making of Oog and the Meaning of Oog, or read some words about it by others at Pop Matters and Blog Critics.

Don’t forget to stop by my website cASEYdRIESSEN.com once in a while for new photos, videos, and rambles.

ENCORE

Friends, I have a problem. Plants. Plants for the house and plants for the yard. I’m no green thumb but I give it a good go. I water (sometimes too much).  I feed.  I pay attention to light.  I read.  I learn (hopefully).  Instead of a bedtime book, I peruse the pages of the Encyclopedia of Garden Plants (when I’m home anyway ’cause that thing is big!)  For a good time on the weekend, I go to the nursery and let my imagination run.

My big news: I just acquired my first 4 plants to bonsai (2 junipers, a boxwood, and a cotonester) – along with a bonsai book for father’s day.  I’ve always marveled at the art and figured it might be a good match for a guy with long stretches away and a tendency to tinker.

Anyone else into this? Any tips for me? Perhaps I’ll share a time-lapse in a few years.

Snip snip, snap snap, and wait for it,

Casey

I rounded the corner of 2010 on a holiday tour with Béla Fleck and the Flecktones and finished out the year with the Zac Brown Band for two hometown shows – Nashville (me home) and Atlanta (ZBB home).

Please enjoy the following countdown to 2011 from stage during an intimate moment with the Zac Brown Band…and 18,000 Atlantans. (If you don’t see the video, follow this link right here.)

Since then, I’ve been laying low at home – actually spending quite a bit of time in the studio.  I recorded for the Flecktones new record, the Greencards upcoming release, Jonathan Scales next album, and for a few songwriters in town.

Starting at the end of May, I hit the road with the Flecktones as they tour their upcoming album – marking a reuniting with harmonica madman and original member Howard Levy.  I’ll be out with them for the better part of a year… meaning fewer Casey & the Colorfools sightings…

3 OF WHICH ARE COMING TO YOU THIS WEEKEND!!!

Please join Matt Mangano [bass], Jano Rix [drums], and myself for a bit of toe tapping.  I’ll also be giving a fiddle workshop in Frankfort, IL on the afternoon of the 19th at Down Home Guitars.

VIDEO SERIES

One last quick note…I’ve also been in the video studio this year.  I’m working on a series of downloadable lessons for fiddlers and violinists.  Keep and eye out for more info on that as it becomes available.

ENCORE

I’ll leave you with a few photos from recent wanderings.
Hope to see you in a couple days!
casey

[Happiest hydrant I've seen - and I've seen a lot]

[I feel like everyone that's been to Seattle probably has this picture]

[The car wash is just one thing that is better at night]

[The street lamp with two brains]

[Because without this setting, we'd all miss out on PopTart perfection]

[Just for the record: me within the first (wee) hours of 2011]

ZAC BROWN BAND TOUR – A DAY IN THE LIFE

The experience of two weeks of touring this August with the Zac Brown Band was easily the biggest thing I’ve been a part of as a solo artist. I’d like to extend a big thanks to the whole traveling family that I was welcomed into.  We totaled 5 tour buses, 5 semis, and 57 people from city to city.  Soon I hope to introduce you to everyone through  a tour portrait series I did.  Our biggest show was Charlotte NC on Aug. 21 with 18,000 people.  I’m happy to announce that there will be four more shows coming up with ZBB at the beginning of November.

Please enjoy the following Good Vs. Evil fiddle duel of The Devil Went Down to Georgia. (If you don’t see the video, follow this link right here.)

9AM: Arrive venue on the bus. Crew begins to unload and set up the stage. We carry everything with us — lighting, complete sound system, all amps and instruments, video screens, stage set, and catering. 230PM: Stage is set.  ZBB soundcheck.  4PM: Support acts soundcheck (myself and the Wood Brothers). 5PM: Eat & Greet with ~150 fans and VIPs. (Early in the day, our Chef Rusty would venture into the city and find local food to prepare along with Southern Ground favorites and Zac Brown family recipes.  6PM: Tune, dress, and meet in Zac’s bus for vocal warmups. 7PM: My set for 25min. 730PM: Walk through the crowd (in red suit) to meet people while the Wood Brothers play. 815PM: ZBB takes the stage and rocks the house for 2.5hrs.  I sit in on “Who Knows,” a guitar/fiddle duel with Clay Cook, and on the classic good-vs-evil fiddle-off “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” with Jimmy DeMartini as Johnny and me as The Devil.  Our show would close with all 12 musicians on stage for our Last Waltz – my contribution being a version of “Working on a Building.”  11PM: I tear down my gear, sign autographs, then attend after show party/hang while the crew breaks everything down.  2AM: all buses and semis loaded and rolling down the road towards the next city…with band & crew catching a few hours of sleep before we do it all over again.  (See Photo Gallery)

PHOTO GALLERIES

My continuing photo journal of interesting visuals witnessed while on the road…Two current galleries and two past.  One from the road tour with ZBB, one is from the Zac Brown Band “Sailing Southern Ground” cruise down to Grand Cayman, one from a video shoot in southern CA, and one from a walk in Philly.

FREE TICKET GIVEAWAY – ZAC BROWN BAND SHOWS

I’m once again offering a few free tickets for each upcoming ZBB show.  In exchange, you agree to go out into the crowd and pass out “Free Music Download” cards during and after my set, spreading around good Casey vibes. If you can find a friend to help, they can have a ticket too!  Just leave a comment on the Facebook event page for the show that you’d like to help at. Indianapolis, IN (Nov. 4), St. Louis, MO (Nov.5), Wichita, KS (Nov. 6), Kansas City, MO (Nov. 7). I’ll select winners at random a few days before the show.  I surely appreciate your help and support. You won’t be disappointed by your seats.

CROSS CANADA TOUR

This knewsletter is being written from the sun deck of a ferry surrounded by mountainous wilderness saling from Powell River to Vancouver up in British Columbia.  I’m on a two week tour with Jayme Stone (banjo), Ross Martin (guitar) and Joe Phillips (bass) as we support Jayme’s new record Room of Wonders (on which I played). It’s a collection of folk dances from around the world: Bulgaria, Ireland, Brazil, Sweden, Norway, Italy, and America.  Check out the “making-of” below…  Look for us stateside in the spring of 2011.

(If you don’t see the video, follow this link right here.)

NOT SO NEW KNEWS…

Oog never ceases looking for new life experience. Perhaps it will become your soundtrack for a few moments – wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Have a listen online right now, or send yourself one today.

You can learn more by watching the Making of Oog and the Meaning of Oog, or read some words about it by others at Pop Matters and Blog Critics.

Don’t forget to stop by my website cASEYdRIESSEN.com once in a while for new photos, videos, and rambles.

ENCORE

When I have been home, I’ve been trying to do a bit of instigating of my own – this time in the form of party I’m calling the Red Shoe Stringjam. It’s a collection of whichever awesome music buddies happen to be in town – residing or visiting – along with other interesting like-minded creative types.  As life seems to get busier with family and travel, the jam/hang doesn’t happen as much as it used to, and I’m trying to fix that. So far, the gatherings have been at a great warehouse photography studio, but I’m seeking other rad and unusual locations around town for which to rotate this picking party.

Kick it off!

casey

Hey Friends!

I’ve got some exciting news and a chance for you to get involved and help me out in the process. My trio is opening for the Zac Brown Band for two weeks on their tour in mid-August.  The Wood Brothers will be playing those dates as well.

So, how can you get involved? I have TWO FREE TICKETS PER SHOW that I’ll be giving away. In exchange, you agree to go out into the crowd and pass out “Free Music Download” cards during and after my set, spreading around good Casey Driessen vibes.

The card gives a link to a recently recorded live show of mine. Feel free to check it out and download it for yourself.

If you’re interested in being a part of one of these great nights, go to my Facebook Events Page and leave a comment on the Facebook event for whichever show you want to attend. A few

days before each show, I’ll randomly select the two winners from everyone who posts for that show. Please make sure that you can get to the venue because I’ll be counting on you to spread the word at the show and you are responsible for your own transportation. A full list of tour dates is below (along with direct links to the shows).

Thanks in advance for your help.  I’m really looking forward to these dates.

take care,
casey

Wednesday, August 11
Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion
Raleigh, NC

Thursday, August 12
Virginia Beach Amphitheater
Virginia Beach, VA

Friday, August 13
The Susquehanna Bank Center
Philadelphia, PA (Camden, NJ)

Saturday, August 14
The Comcast Center
Boston, MA (Mansfield, MA)

Sunday, August 15
The Comcast Theatre
Hartford, CT

Wednesday, August 18
DTE Energy Music Theatre
Detroit, MI (Clarkston, MI)

Thursday, August 19
Charter One Pavillion
Chicago, IL

Friday, August 20
Blossom Music Center
Cleveland, OH (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

Saturday, August 21
Verizon Wireless Ampitheatre
Charlotte, NC

Thursday Night Contra Dance

Rushing the Stage

INTERMEDIATE BLUEGRASS FIDDLING

We picked up where we left off yesterday, with the double stop version of Maiden’s Prayer. I think the cramming of a week of diverse fiddle styles was taking its toll and a more in-depth study of this version was very helpful.  We added an alternate last phrase – one octave up from our normal phrase – with a bonus high E harmonic.  Harmonics are a natural property of vibrating strings and were new to many in this class.  You achieve a harmonic by lightly touching the string (not pressing fully down) on one of the equally divided points of the string – 1/2 way, 1/4 way, 1/3 way…etc.  Last on our list for this tune was a fancy pizzicato tag.  We’re ready for a gig!

To round out the class, I gave the class an intonation/warmup exercise.  Walk chromatically up one string while playing its adjacent upper open string – very slowly paying close attention to all the intervals and getting them in tune (long smooth bows from frog to tip).  When you get to the E string, play the chromatic notes with your open A string.  Now descend on the E, while playing open A. Continue descending and repeat on your lower strings.

One difficult aspect to violin/fiddle intonation is that you need a reference point to play to so that you can tell if you’re out of tune or not.  I use a recording put out by fiddle maestro Darol Anger.  It’s a CD of Perfect Fifth intervals in all 12 keys.  Play a track and play along – scales, tunes, random notes – listen very closely to your pitch and adjust until it sounds “right.” Don’t be afraid to trust your ear.  You can find that Drone CD here.

ADVANCED BLUEGRASS FIDDLING

Awe, Shift! (sorry).  Here are some tips for beginning shifters, and perhaps a good reminder for the rest of us.

• We normally play in 1st Position; this is our reference.
•  2nd Position means your 1st finger is placed where your 2nd normally goes; 3rd Position is when your 1st finger is where your 3rd normally resides….and so on.
• Shift at your elbow, not your wrist; your whole hand & forearm should move together.
• When shifting, keep your finger in contact with the string, lighten the pressure if you need, but feel the distance traveled on the string.
• To practice a shift (3rd Position for example) play your regular 1st finger B on the Astring, then your 3rd finger D on the Astring. Now move your hand, hearing the slide, until your 1st finger plays the D note you just heard. Slide back down to 1st.
• Repeat repeat repeat repeat….as you get better, make the slide lighter and quicker until it disappears.
• When shifting double stops, work on each note individually, then together.

We spent time with an identifiable Vassar Clements double stop shift lick and, like yesterday, moved it around to all keys and finger/openstring combinations.

The day finished with the learning of melody and chords for David Grisman’s E.M.D.

CASEY’S CAMP JAM HOUR

Cripple Creek (A)
Soldier’s Joy (D)
Glory in the Meeting House (E)
June Apple (A)
Forked Deer (D)
Tennessee Waltz (D)

INTERMEDIATE BLUEGRASS FIDDLING

I think The Blues is an essential part of a musical upbringing. Using the major scale as our foundation, we created or “spelled” the blues scale in numbered scale degrees (see picture above).  Once we had the key of A nailed, we took it’s open string fingering and moved it one string down for the key of D. Then we took the key of A low octave closed fingering one string up for the key of E.  We learned how where the chords fall in a standard 12bar blues and played our three scales in the appropriate places.  You can’t teach the blues without a blues bass line, so we did that too.  Next up, call & response. The class rounded out with Maiden’s Prayer – a slower number that used all the chords found in the A Blues.

ADVANCED BLUEGRASS FIDDLING

The focus of today’s lesson was double-stops.  I talked about the hours and hours I spent as a youth drilling the double-stop section of Stacy Phillips’ Hot Licks for Bluegrass Fiddle.  I would take one of the licks and move it through all 12 keys, trying to keep the fingerings as consistent as possible.  We took one I remember from Bobby Hicks’ break on Toy Heart and transposed it all over the fiddle.  One of his intervals (b7 & 9) reminded me of the B part for Kenny Baker’s Grassy Fiddle Blues.  The only logical course of action was to learn it.

CASEY’S CAMP JAM HOUR

Forked Deer (D)
Roxanna’s Waltz (C)
Leather Britches (G)
Back Up and Push (C)
Fire on the Mountain (A)
E.M.D. (Em)
Temperance Reel (G)
Liberty (D)
Mississippi Sawyer (D)

INTERMEDIATE BLUEGRASS FIDDLE

We reviewed the melody and chords from yesterday’s tune, Nine Pound Hammer, and then dug in to the nitty gritty of percussive backup fiddling – also known as The Chop. Here are some beginning chop tips:
• Straighten your bowing thumb to roll the bow hair away from you;
• All chops happen within the silver winding part of the bow (the 3-4 inches from the frog);
• Lightly mute the strings with your right hand to dampen any notes;
• Let gravity (with the guidance of your bow hand) “drop” the bow on the strings;
• Once the “down” chop has dropped, allow the bow to rest until you want the next sound;
• Simply lift the bow off the strings in the direction that it arrived for the “up” chop sound;
• The “down” chop is beats 2 & 4 while the “up” is 1 & 3
• Use your metronome and gradually increase the tempo as you get more comfortable;
• Groove.

ADVANCED BLUEGRASS FIDDLE

Today we reviewed Cattle in the Cane which sparked a discussion of bowings. I find bowings difficult to teach since I never play the exact same melody, and as a result, never the exact same bowings. However, upon real-time personal examination, I find there are certain bowing patters that I play more commonly than others. There’s a classical violin study book by Kreutzer. The second exercise/etude is all about bowings. At least 25 (from memory here) different bowings are applied to the notes. For example, you play bowing #1 for every measure; then bowing #2 for every measure, and so on. By the time you’ve done all 25, your bowing should be able to turn on a dime and not get “stuck” anywhere. While not all the bowings are great for bluegrass, I still find this to be a great exercise in phrasing training. I gave 5 bowing patterns to apply to our tune. We then mixed and matched them to explore their effect on the phrasing.

CASEY’S CAMP JAM HOUR

Ashokan Farewell (D)
Red Haired Boy (A)
Big Footed Man in a Sandy Lot (G)
St. Anne’s Reel (D)
Belle of Lexington (D)
Nine Pound Hammer (A)
Old Joe Clark (A)
Fisher’s Hornpipe (D)
Fly Around My Pretty Little Miss (D)
Sugarfoot Rag (A)

Thanks to a student's parent for taking this photo

INTERMEDIATE BLUEGRASS FIDDLE

Students were interested in learning about backup and fills on vocal tunes, the fiddle chop, embellishments of melody, and as one student said, the “intangibles.” Our framework today was the song Nine Pound Hammer (A) .  We learned the vocal melody as interpreted by the fiddle – first as a single note melody, and then spruced up with doublestops and open strings.  We didn’t have time to play fills, but I explained the concept: a support instrument steps into the sonic spotlight in the lyricless spaces between vocal phrases.  Now that we learned the vocal melody, we know where those spaces are.  In a jam session on an unfamiliar song, you might need to listen to the verse and chorus go by once to get a feel where the phrases breathe.  We finished by learning the chords, how to find the I, IV, and V chord of a key and playing a basic backup “chunk” on beats 2 & 4.

ADVANCED BLUEGRASS FIDDLE

The desires of the advanced students are very similar to those of the intermediates.  In truth the classes are similar as well.  The difference is the pace.  In this class, we move faster and can delve deeper into subjects.  When you get to the advanced level though, it’s tough to find tunes that everyone should know but that no one knows.  You have to settle for one that the least people know.  Today’s tune was Cattle in the Cane (Am) .  Instead of a bare bones call & response style of learning the melody, I played variations of small melody motifs – hoping to give the students ideas for their own variations and interpretation of the melody.  Chord changes were learned next and we began the dive into the realm of percussive backup.  There was only time for “chunks” on beats 2 & 4 with left hand muting.  Tomorrow will be chop day.

CASEY’S CAMP JAM HOUR

Angelina Baker (D)
Arkansas Traveler (D)
Whiskey Before Breakfast (D)
Jerusalem Ridge (Am)
Lost Indian (D)
Cluck Old Hen (A)

9 AFRICANS, 3 AMERICANS, AND A CANADIAN

The first excursion following the last knewsletter was my longest tour to date – 6 weeks, 33 shows – from Feb-Mar with Béla Fleck’s Africa Project.  We were 13 on a 12 bunk bus, 7 from Mali (Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba), 2 from Tanzania  (Anania Ngoliga & John Kitime), plus tour mgr, translator, myslef, and Béla.  As stage mgr, merch boss (“King for Money” as Bassekou called me), backline tech, and fiddler, my days were full.  However, I did manage to escape reality once for a 3D showing of Avatar.

This tour offered various levels of communication, from full conversation to short words and lots of repetition.  In the latter case, a rapport of silly human tricks, dance moves, handshakes, and funny phrases developed nicely. “Big problem for you; You big problem today; and This bull*#@% has got to cease” were the most popular.  The weather on the trip was the coldest many had ever experienced. We had snow quite often and had to buy a few jackets.  Electronics were in high demand and 5 laptops were purchased – 3 to folks that couldn’t read. (I questioned the logic and my assistance in this but came to the conclusion that a motivation towards literacy, technology understanding, and world connectivity outweighed my initial reaction.)  Once again, music is the great unifier, transcending social, economic, and religious differences.  The playing kicked ass, but what made it even better was the friendships that were born. Open invitations to each others homes are mutual.  (See Photo Gallery)

PHOTO GALLERIES

Right before the Fleck/Africa tour, I got a new camera – a real camera – and there was no end of great subjects.  I’ve posted a mix of recent photos and backlogged ones.  This go around you will find: Africa Project, Jayme Stone Record, Nashville Flood, Fall Colors, Truck Graveyard, Aspen Mine, Ireland, and China.

BIG TOUR: OPENING FOR THE ZAC BROWN BAND

From August 11-22, I will be on the road opening for the Zac Brown Band Breaking Southern Ground Tour. A slightly different Colorfools will be in effect – Matt Mangano is still on bass, but on drums will be Christian Dugas (of The Duhks). Also opening will be the Wood Brothers.  Check the tour dates to the right and please come support this great opportunity.  Look for follow up Casey gigs in the fall and spring to return to the ZBB tour areas.

JAYME STONE RECORD & TOURING

Two weeks after the Africa tour, I headed north to Tornoto to work on a new record for Canadian banjoist Jayme Stone. The music was based on folk dance forms from varying traditions.  We scratched the surface of Bulgaria, Sweden, Norway, Ireland, Italy, Tunisia, Brazil and North America.  The thread holding this diversity together was a core band of Jayme, Greg Garrison (bass), Grant Gordy (guitar), and myself.  This outfit has two tours scheduled: 2 weeks in October, and 2-3 weeks next March and April.  The Canadian release is Sept. 28.  US release to follow. (See Casey’s Photo Gallery) / (See Photos by Vanessa Heins)

NASHVILLE’S FLOOD

Most folks have heard about the flood disaster that hit Nashville at the end of April.  The rains hit while my family and I – and many Nashvillians – were at Merlefest.  Conversations buzzed with worry about homes and how to travel through, around, and to Nashville in the coming days.  We called our family, friends, and neighbors for updates on our homes and theirs.  Many were lucky, many were not.  It seemed no one was without some water intrusion.  I was lucky.  I live 4 blocks from the flooded river (50ft rise!), but happen to be on the high part of the street.  Less than 10 houses away, the road turned river.  Many houses on that street are complete losses. Friends are just beginning to get their homes back in order, Opryland Hotel and mall is still shut down, vegetation that was underwater is still dirty with muck.  The biggest blow to the music community was the flooding of SoundCheck – the main instrument storage, rehearsal and stage supply facility in town.  It was practically on the river and millions of dollars of instruments were lost.  If you’d like to make a donation, the Nashville Musicians Union is accepting here….   I went and snapped a few pictures of my neighborhood and downtown a day after the river crested. (See Photo Gallery)

TWO COLORFOOLS CHANGES

Christian Dugas will be playing drums with me on the ZBB tour.  Long-time drummer Tom “TommyG” Giampietro will be leaving Nashville for Amherst, MA. He’s accepted a great teaching position at the University of MA.  We’re very excited for him but will miss his presence in Nashville.  I guess I’ll need to book a Northeast tour.  The second difference is more subtle, but if you look close enough you’ll see a wedding ring on the finger of Matt Mangano. Congrats and welcome!

NOT SO NEW KNEWS…

Oog never ceases looking for new life experience. Perhaps it will become your soundtrack for a few moments – wherever you are, whatever you are doing. Have a listen online right now, or send yourself one today.

You can learn more by watching the Making of Oog and the Meaning of Oog, or read some words about it by others at Pop Matters and Blog Critics.

Don’t forget to stop by my website cASEYdRIESSEN.com once in a while for new photos, videos, and rambles.

ENCORE

We played paintball for Matt’s bachelor party.  Here’s a lesson I learned: If you get shot in the arm while crouching, don’t curl up and hide your face, because the barrage of paintballs that follows can bypass your mask and hit you on the forehead.  Not only does it sting (doesn’t do it justice) and the sound of the impact echos throughout your skull, it will leave a proud battle scar for the wedding pictures.

three cheers for washable paint and aspirin,

casey