The Smokin’ with Superman website is no more, so I plan on putting up a page of sorts with some general information. We still have some cd’s left, so we’ll continue to sell those on cdbaby.com/sws. I’ve also uploaded a some SWS photos in my photo gallery section.

I’m still trying to get some of the core players from SWS to start a new project, but everyone seems pretty busy. The drummer and I are supposedly going to start practicing next week, so who knows what will happen.

Happy New Year!

I recently emailed an ex-girlfriend, which I used to live with, to wish her and her family a happy holiday. I don’t email or call this person anymore, but I have no ill-will toward this person and felt compelled to send her a holiday email.

The last time I heard from her was the Summer of 2004, when she emailed me while I was in the hospital. I’m not quite sure what I did between now and then, but maybe she’s just decided to put things in the past. She used to be my best friend, and now I can’t even get a reply back from a holiday greeting.

I’m guessing I’m now in the same boat as her ex-best friend, which was also cast aside a few years ago. Those two grew apart for various reasons, but to completely shut someone out like that was childish. Oh well, her ex-best friend and I are now best friends, so at least I have something to show for that relationship.

Life is just too short to be that bitter.

Clear Channel has turned rock station 96.3 WMAD into new country 96.3 STAR. That company has zero integrity and can take a shit train straight to fuck off. Clear Channel has turned all of the radio stations in Madison into mainstream crap. They need to seriously grow some balls and put out a few stations with good music. I understand that they’re a business trying to make money, but they are ruining radio.

I used to listen to the syndicated morning show, Rover’s Radio, but now it’s gone so I guess I’ll be listening to 1310 WIBA for my morning news, even though it’s owned by the evil empire, Clear Channel. I emailed Rover this morning about the switch and here’s his response…

Hey Brett…

Clear Channel kept us in the dark as well - we only found out about the situation this morning. We’re looking into it to see what’s going on, and if we can get on another station there.

Hang in there!

Rover

It looks like 94.1 JJO is the only real rock station in town. I like them, but I like choices, and sometimes I want a different flavor then what they’re playing. I’m hoping JJO takes advantage of the situation and expands the type of music they play.

With all of the bad radio stations in town, it is no wonder people are out there illegaly downloading music and switching to sattelite radio. Sattelite radio companies must absolutely love Clear Channel for pushing business their way.

I’ve decided after the holidays I’m going to get a portable sattelite radio that I can use in my vehicle and at work.

I can typically stomach bad trends for a short period of time, but I’m STILL seeing people wearing Ugg boots. I’ve heard some say they’re comfortable, but why would anyone want to wear a boot that is so damn ugly? I’m guessing it’s the same people that thought moon boots were cool back in the 80’s.

Ugg boots look like a cheap, mass-produced moccasin that sells for $10.

I want to setup a small recording studio at home, but I’m wondering if I should stay away of firewire. I was originally thinking I wanted to buy an AD/DA that was firewire so I could stay mobile, I’ve been hearing that Apple is going to stop making computers with firewire capabilities. I feel like Apple led us to firewire pond, so to speak, and now they’re abandoning us.

I should have seen this coming when MOTU came out with the Traveler, which uses both Firewire and USB. And now, you can order an 828 with either Firewire or USB. Hmmm, I think I’m seeing a trend here.

I originally wanted to get a firewire compatible MOTU 828. It’s affordable, powerful, and does everything I need it to do.

Is USB 2.0 fast enough for recording audio? I guess it must be, or MOTU wouldn’t be making these products, but for some reason it makes me nervous. I’m going to continue to do my research, and maybe talk to someone from either MOTU or Sweetwater.

The xBox 360 is one of the hottest items out on the market right now. Game enthusiasts want to buy them now, and kids want them for Christmas. I usually ignore this type of madness, but let’s just say a “person I know of” and an article I read about eBay caught my attention.

This “person I know of” has a friend that works at Target. This Target employee knew when shipments of xBox 360’s were being delivered, and at what stores. Well, this “person I know of” drove too a couple of different locations, one of them in Janesville, WI, and managed to purchase about a half a dozen of them. Of course, you know where this is going, right?

This “person I know of” immediately puts them on eBay and sells them for well over the amount they are actually worth. I believe he sold systems that typically sell for about $299 for around $400 and up. I heard the first two actually went for around $800.

I was kind of disgusted with this person at first, but if people are dumb enough to spend that much money for system that has been overheating and causing lock ups, screw’em! If you’re disgusted with people like this “person I know of” don’t be mad at him, be mad at Microsoft. There have been rumors for a while that Microsoft purposely had a shortage to create a buzz surrounding their new system.

I say shame on Microsoft! I understand they wanted to release their new system before Sony and Nintendo, but at what expense? That would be the expense of the consumer. The people that can’t wait are overpaying, and are getting systems that are overheating and locking up.

Microsft should have waited.

I bought a 1972 Fender Jazz bass last Summer from Chris Plata’s wife, Ann Plata. Actually, my co-worker at the time was working on her bass, and brought it into work so she could pick it up. He showed it to me and told me that she might be interested in selling it. It was all original, but one of the pickups had something wrong with it. He got back to me and said she only wanted $900 for it. SOLD! It also came with an extra set of Bartollini pickups and a BadAss bridge, which I could use on one of my other basses; I’m thinking my fretless.

It played really well, but it needed either a fret leveling or to be re-fretted. I do most of my own work on my basses, but I have all of my major work done by George Rondinelli, from Rondinelli Music/Audio in Dubuque, IA. I’ve been pondering for a long time what to do with this thing but decided that this is going to be my main bass for quite some time and I might as well have it refretted. I also had my pickups sent off to a company called Lindy Fralin to take a look at my pickups. They decided that they needed to be rewound, which was done to spec of a 1972 Fender Jazz.

Anyway, it might be done by this weekend, so I might be making a trip to Dubuque to pick it up. After that, I’m thinking I’ll be busy for a while.

I’m in dire need to find a new band. I haven’t been a member of a band since Smokin’ with Superman. We played our last show June 29th, 2004. Right after that, I broke my leg, and then this last Summer I tore a ligament in my hand. I’m finally healthy, and I’m dying to play. Another reason I’m dying to play is that Winter is here and I’m bored.

I was hoping to get a project going with some of the guys from Smokin’ with Superman, but either the guys are too busy with other projects or work. I’m pretty sure I’ve exhausted my contacts in this town, so I’m feeling a little stuck. I posted an ad on madisonmusicians.net, but that hasn’t worked for me in the past.

For now, I’m going to continue playing and writing music at home. I’m hopeful a project will fall in my lap soon.

Well, this is my first blog post for my personal website. I’ll probably rant on about a bunch of random crap. This actually isn’t my first ever blog, I currently write another blog about football on Madison.com called Third and Long.