Square Zero

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Cover: “When I Drink” by the Avett Brothers

Posted by Eric (March 17, 2013 at 8:49 pm)

My second cover video, hot on the heals of my first, nearly two years ago. I’ve been meaning to do this one for a long time. Hopefully it won’t be so long before my next!

I’m a little hesitant on the last verse, I’m afraid. After about 12 takes, I could scarcely believe I was going to finish the thing without a major mistake.

I recoded the vide with a Canon PowerShot Elph 310 HS and the audio with a Zoom H2. Video editing with Adobe Premiere Pro CS6 on a mid-2012 13″ MacBook Pro.

The beer is a Triomphe Belgian IPA, by Brewery Vivant.

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The Temptation of Mardi Gras

Posted by Eric (February 21, 2012 at 3:17 pm)

From the Vesperal Stichera of Forgiveness SundayToday is Mardi Gras—Fat Tuesday—the day of feasting before Lent begins in the the Western Church. For a Byzantine Catholic, whose Lenten fast began Sunday evening with Forgiveness Vespers, Mardi Gras presents a particular temptation. But not what you might think.

It is not that one is tempted by the indulgence of Mardi Gras going on in the rest of the culture, even among those who do not know that Fat Tuesday is followed Ash Wednesday.

In fact, it is the opposite temptation: the temptation to be like the Pharisee who, in the Byzantine Rite we recalled three weeks ago on the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee, one of the Weeks of Preparation in advance of the Great Fast: “God, I thank thee that I am not like other men . . . [Continue reading this entry »]

Posted in Byzantine, Catholicism, Culture & Society, Faith | 2 Comments »

Cover: Untitled by the Avett Brothers

Posted by Eric (April 15, 2011 at 10:00 am)

This is my cover of a new, untitled, unreleased song by the Avett Brothers, commonly referred to as the “New Years Eve Song,” because it was first played to an audience on New Years Eve 2010 in Asheville, North Carolina. It’s also known as “Scared to Die,” from a lyric in the chorus.

I first heard this song at the Kalamazoo show on January 27, 2011. At the end of the first chorus, when Seth sang, “If I live the life I’m given, I won’t be scared to die,” we all realized this unfamiliar song was not a cover, but a new Avett song.

It has since become one of my favorite of their songs. Find a discussion of this song on forum at the Avett Brothers website here, and my PDF of the lyrics and chords here.

Santa Cruz D/PWI recorded this video with a Flip MinoHD (older version at 30fps), and the audio with a Zoom H2, and mixed them together with Adobe Premiere Pro CS4 on a Macbook Pro. My guitar is a 2004 Santa Cruz D/PW (Dreadnought Pre War).

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What Chord Am I playing?

Posted by Eric (January 11, 2011 at 1:46 pm)

I stumbled on this awesome widget for figuring out what guitar chord you’re playing.

I’ve used this both for figuring out chords I’ve come up with when composing, and for determining how to annotate chords figured out when I’m laying out songs, as in my Avett Brothers Archive.

Check it out:

Posted in Music | 1 Comment »

I Am Not a Robot

Posted by Eric (April 16, 2010 at 12:17 am)

RobotsI’ve been thinking about directory structure lately. I have to deal with it all the time, generating so much material (e-mail drafts, photos, newsletters, handbills, handbooks and so forth). What goes where?

You’ve got what it is (a postcard). You’ve got what it’s about (a protest). You’ve got where it’s happening (Chicago). And when it’s going on (July 2010).

At least four different “folders” you could put it into. But why have to put it in just one? Or better yet, why not just one—one folder for everything, with user tags to make it all accessible? [Continue reading this entry »]

Posted in What Not | 1 Comment »