Hi everyone,

So I am a little behind in promoting this, but I am hosting a radio show Mondays from 7-8pm on WIDR-FM, 89.1 in Kalamazoo...

I am featuring live bands in the studio - mostly local, but at times I suppose I will branch out a bit...

If you are outside of the Kalamazoo listening area, you can listen online and find podcasts via a link at www.widr.org

If you want to play the show, or suggest someone to feature, write to me here, or at
widrbasement@gmail.com  :   myspace.com/widrbasementshow

I also have the podcasts up on my site at www.37ENT.com


Ok -- Just some self-promotion... Thanks!
  Bryan (aka Grand Mixer DJ Don Campbell)

Hi Everyone! 

I hope you are all doing well.   It's been about three months since I posted anything meaningful anywhere, and I found that not having a way for people to comment on my website was no fun.  Not sure who ever visits my site, but I do get some regular hits, but no emails.  This should be better, or least offer a chance for some commentary.

So, I worked the entire summer away taking classes in Math, Communication, and Art.  I did some good work, had some good experiences, and some things are still open for further exploration.  In the 2.5 weeks between the end of the Summer Semester and Fall Semester, I went camping in the Nordhouse Dunes wilderness area, and recorded bass tracks for the upcoming Nwe Sprights album.

The summer workload was a bit overwhelming, but now I am in my last semester at WMU, and I have it pretty easy.  There is only one class that I have to show up to, a freshman level anthropology course (graded on three multiple choice tests and a participation grade).  Then I am doing an Internship at WIDR-FM on campus, hosting/producing a one-hour show Monday nights 7-8pm, featuring live bands in the studio.  Paralleling this is another class in Multi-Track Audio Production -- to fulfill the requirements of that class, I will produce some bands Live-to-2-track at Western Sound Studios for later broadcast, and that's all I have to do to graduate.  Hooray!

I am still working as the office manager of Western Sound Studios, but I'm looking forward to some time without schoolwork (I only have to keep up with the class readings -- no papers or projects), and more time to make and record music, and other free time activities.  As my time scheduled on campus is only required on Monday and Wednesday, I can at times take a 4-day weekend! 

Finally, for now, I want to say I have a second part-time job in sound -- I was hired as the sound engineer for a local folk/acoustic act called "The Cornfed Girls".  My "boss" at WSS plays mandolin and violin, and I've always liked his music.  He has played in multiple groups in the past, but this is his only band for now.  I used to work with them from time to time at Kraftbrau, and filled in from time to time at other venues.  One of these gigs led to their decision to have me around at all their gigs, including travel dates.  The first show I ran with them was a festival site in South Bend, IN, and two weeks ago we were in Fennville, MI.  It's a lot of fun, and pays well for the amount of time I am actually working, and doesn't destroy my hearing.  Plus I get all the amenities of the band (any food and drink freebies, mainly)..

Ok for now - Thanks for reading!
 
http://www.37ENT.com

It was so nice to see folks at Martini's last night for the wonderful Curtis Eller - Sort of rejuvenating, actually.  It's been difficult at times to see and plan beyond this December (when I graduate), but so I'm doing things more slowly, carefully, selectively.  A couple of people have asked me if I am booking Martini's - I am not.  Speak to Erica or Rich if you want to set a date at Martini's.  I may do some things (occasionally) around town, but school is still my first priority until I'm done. 

I got a new motorcycle recently, and it's been very good to me thus far.  I made a luggage rack for it.

Summer I is going alright.  I haven't had too much of a break since the last post, but I have definitely taken today easy.  So much is going on, I don't know where to start.  In fact, I'm going to leave it alone for now.

Finished up my Finals today..  I was looking over some notes from January 14th a couple of nights ago,
it seems like such a long time since then.  Things are looking good from many perspectives.  These last tests weren't so difficult, and I was going into them with A's in the first place.  Two of three professors had many good things to say about my work this semester, the third was a large lecture class, so we barely talked...
I'll be heading to Florida on the 29th to visit my Grandparents (I haven't been to FL in about 14 years),
with my Mom and Sister.  Venice, Florida is right on the Gulf of Mexico, and apparently the routine is to get to the beach first thing in the day.  I'll probably need breakfast before that, ha ha ...

I have some new Voice-Over works up here... new, that is, unless you were at the GCII concert last Friday at the Union.  Imagine these blasting out the PA there, if you can... Apparently the first segment was a hit.. 
Also, I think I am going to put up some of the papers I written over the past year... If you are interested in Film Analysis or the History of American Music, check back later...

That's going to be it for now... glad to see so many hits on the counter here... I still have no idea who is visiting, so drop me a line if you have a minute and just say "Hi". . .   Admin@37ENT.com

once a month - I've been off spring break for about two and a half weeks..

I started up my audit for eventual graduation and found two required general education courses leftover...
However, I will supposedly be done this december.  Hopefully I don't have to go back on that statement :)

New Sprites are supposedly playing a house party in mid-April.. working on some new material for that.
I'll put up a flyer when it's all figured out.  Not much to say, was going to upload some stuff for you all.

I can sure be late on updating some information... I think it's been done, or at least not too dated, and then I go take a look and it's all way behind the info curve.  Thanks for all the visits lately, as well -- It could be due, in part, to Jsettlers.com, but I know how potent some Old News can be, maybe the secret is out!   In any case, I am one week away from spring break - this semester has been -much- better for my schedule, and thus mind and body.  I am interested in all of the subjects (two music courses to all but finish my Music Minor, and one Communications course), and I only got hit with one of those large lecture classes for Freshmen... But I can use a relatively easy semester after the last couple of years - now I have it.   Grades are Up, when I thought, perhaps, this one wasn't going to be so easy..

I have joined up with a band / some friends - the New Sprites.  I am playing Bass - this is my third experience as a bassist (though the first two had a lot more room for error), and it is going quite well.  Having a regular practice has kept my Music Theory lessons in use to some degree, and the experience is teaching me even more about Listening in a musical performance environment.  We'd love to play some shows, if -you- can help, write me!  But in any case, just playing any melodic instrument that makes use of my Theory lessons is a great improvement in my general musicality.

Thanks to Ry Charters for a great custom/handmade Fretless Fender P.

All this grade and school stuff is kinda lame... you should come to my show this Friday (check the Index)

Well, the semester is now finished... we'll have to wait and see how it turned out for my GPA, but I can tell you now i'm not carrying that 4.0 anymore.  Aural Comprehension - should've taken it during my last possible semester.. anyone who needs to take that for their Music Minor should just wait until the last minue, if you/they want to keep the GPA up, and aren't super-interested in trained ears.  Anyway, I need to get past that - the fact is, I am able to hear intervals and transcribe music, which I was never able to do before.  Cheers to actually learning stuff!  A fellow here (who might even have a few years on me :)  suggested that as a rock/jazz person, Aural Comp is going to help me most, since rock guys will probably never get a chart for the music.. and as a drummer, it will help me hear changes approaching when improvising.  So, I suppose I should start playing bass with someone on the side, to keep these skills up.

Over this long-needed break, I will be playing and tracking much music - this years Xmas CD is still just a playlist in my Itunes, Swedish Headaches will hopefully get finished up, a weekend with the PhoneTones, Hot Dog! demos volume 5 tracking sessions this weekend, and learning some parts to sit in with Nwe Sprights next week.  Is it actually a break i'm getting?  At least it's a break from school - these projects should be fun and somewhat relaxing - to get something done from my long-backlogged project list is a relief.

Write me if you want a copy of any of these things, or if you didn't get a copy of last years holiday CD.
Happy Holidays to You!

One drawback about the School of Music - The basic Theory and Aural Comprehension classes that every music student must take are only offered at 8 and 9am.. Luckily I was able to get into the 9am classes, but this still cuts out a lot of nightly activity for me.  It's been bugging me recently, as I keep hearing about great shows taking place at times I can't attend.  I don't understand what is beneficial about having these classes so damn early -- It can be seen as a "weeding-out" process for the less-serious music student, but I am not able to attend interesting, inspiring, non-classical or non-traditional jazz shows that happen in town because I would not be able to participate in class the next morning.

Sure, most people would skip class to check out a cool show - I understand this if you're not highly concerned with making top grades.  Through remarkable luck and hard work in school, my tuition is being covered by State and Local grants, so right now I need to stay in the class material.  I will probably miss most of the last shows taking place at the Kraftbrau, before they close.  Despite the last days of my time there, the closing of an establishment that provides a place for a variety of music is a major loss to the community.

But even in this seemingly rich time, I must keep with my studies.  I will be 29 next month. Now is the best time for me to make the most of School.  These are the best circumstances I have experienced in all of my different forays in education.  I'm sorry to be missing events that are important to my friends and acquaintances, events I would enjoy and whose very happenings are important to a community of musicians.

But I'll be done with this schedule eventually.  Then I'll see some of you again and hopefully you won't be pissed about not seeing me or whatever for so long..  My phone number hasn't changed for 4 or 5 years..

Speaking of which -- If you are in a band or small ensemble, and would like to make a "free recording*"
I'm looking to schedule time over the next 8 months or so to work on an independent study in Stereo and Live-to-2-Track recording techniques.  Give me a call or Email

Last weekend I tracked 5 songs with Swedish Headaches, Matt.T's other band.  It was a good time --
Turned my house around for the weekend so the controls were upstairs, and the band took over the basement.
The API showed some interesting colors on the drum overheads, though more time is needed with different sound sources.  This weekend it sounds like we'll be re-tracking the vocals, which will be a good time to use
the API's again.  Looking forward to working on the next Holiday CD, for the new Pre wil be all over it.
It just seemed like for all I'm in debt over school and the rest of my recording rig, adding the cost of this Pre would be well worth it -- Anything that can be done with two channels will now feature a major step forward in sound quality.

Classes are going well, since I've put in at least an hour daily with the Piano.  That first week was a little difficult, but I'm starting to keep the theory straight in my head.  Nothing too complex, but I can play through over half the Alfred's Adult Piano book from my KVCC theory class a few+ years back, and I worked out the underwater theme from Super Mario (NES) from memory.  Nothing rewards like a productive attitude!  :)

Speaking of productive attitudes, I took down the Booking page, since I'm not booking anything at the moment.
In it's stead, I'm developing the Misc page, for an assortment of stuff which I couldn't devote a whole page to.

All has been fairly low-key lately, since I finished up the Summer II Semester.  Working with the
new (mobile) Pro Tools rig has been a good experience - If I only chalked it up to a near-infinite supply
of Aux Sends, that might be enough for me for the time being.  For more sterling sounds, go to WSS.
The Fieldside Music Fest was interesting, by the way.  Check it out next year, if it's happening.
Thanks to Matt W. for the tape recording - there's a gem in there for sure, so check back for an update.
Starting fall semester on the 4th.  16 weeks of Music Theory I, Ear Training, International Film Industry,
Audio Engineering, and my job as the Office Assistant for WSS.  Should be an earful!
9-9:30am start 5 days a week (for those who know me as a night person...)

ok for now.. couldn't update the page since I got the new Macbook, but now it's a breeze (with SeaMonkey)

Congrats to Me!
I've maintained my 4.0 grade average through the Summer I (and II) at WMU..
Further, though I only applied for Federal Loans (again), I was awarded an extra $2800
in grants from WMU and the State (of MI) for fall and spring semesters -- should pay most
of tuition and books.. So that sort of offsets my need for some solid time off..  :)

However, last weekend H. and I enjoyed a canoe trip along the Sturgeon River in the northern L.P.
I hadn't been river-canoeing for at least 12 years -- definitely wanted another day or two on that trip,
and I highly recommend it for the avid canoeist or tuber..   You will go in, so bring a dry bag..

Basic Pro-Tools recording system is quickly coming together.. more news to come or inquire

Happy New Year! 

The Mondale! / Shuttlecock / Deep Sea Creatures show was a good experience.
Chris C. and I took care of all the P.A. works, and it was pretty smooth sailing..
It can be tough to draw a crowd when every other venue in town also has a
good rock show booked -- but Cheers to that, and all those who made it down..

Special Thanks to Will and housemates for their hospitality towards our guests from Ohio,
and those Acid-Brothers for breaking down the 4th wall for us... Nice Bathrobe!

Mondale! can be seen next at our CD*Release show June 7th at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum.
KVM hosts 84 folks comfortably, so order your tickets now! (or soon)..
*"Robots Gone Wild" is in the final stages of post-production..
soon you will be able to hear it on WIDR-FM and at our Myspace page..

That's it for now -- Until I can figure out how to do it here, comment on my space, or write!

Spring Break will be over in less than two days.
I recently got a letter from the President Emeritus of WMU..
I am currently in the Top 10% of the Junior Class,
and I have been invited to pay dues to Phi Kappa Phi
                                                     (not a fraternity)

I will congratulate myself, but write for the full story...