Let me introduce you to the next Justin Bieber. His name is Shlomo Schwartz, but his alias (or whatever musicians call it) is ShlomputZ.

His web site is at shlomputz.com and here is a sample song:

Okay, so we play basketball together. We have for the past few years or so.

Last night, after the game, he tells me he has a CD and hands me one. I was a bit shocked, but hey - I guess I see it now.

But I can tell you, he never pulled one of those High School Musical things where they stop playing basketball and break out into some weird singing and dancing event. That never happened. So can you blame me for not knowing he does music? :)

If Facebook is your think, he is at facebook.com/ShlomputZ and if you like the music, you can buy it at CD Baby.

Posted at 12:12 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (1)

I played Twinkle Twinkle on the Ocarina on my iPhone, how about on the keyboard on my iPhone.

Here it goes:

Posted at 12:45 PM | Permalink | Category: Music , iPhone | Comments (2)

Saturday night I downloaded and shared the Ocarina instrument for your iPhone. In any event, I have been messing around with it a bit, maybe 30 minutes of time from then until now. I can play music off a sheet.

Here is me playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star:

And the coolest part is not my music abilities, but the ability to watch others play music on this application around the globe:

How cool!

Posted at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Category: Music , iPhone | Comments (0)

This is funny, very funny. Happy July 4th, btw.

Posted at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Category: Just Funny , Music | Comments (1)

Many of you know I am a Neil Young fan. But I am not sure I told you about the first time I remember hearing his music. I believe it started with a song called, "Old Man." I first heard the song when I was maybe 9 years-old. I borrowed my older brother's mix tape (mix tapes, too funny) and walkman (walkman, too funny) for a class trip. No idea what was on the tape, I just wanted something to listen to while on the bus trip. I remember listening to it on the way there and really enjoying the song.

So I decided to post some YouTube videos of Neil Young performing Old Man throughout his career. Here they are:

Bob Dylan covering Old Man:

There are many more covers...

Posted at 4:54 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (2)

Neil Young gets new honor -- his own spider via Reuters reports that one of my favorite musicians, Neil Young, received the honor of having a new species named in his honor.

A new species of trapdoor spider was named Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi by Jason Bond, an East Carolina University biologist. Bond explained:

As long as these rules are followed you can give a new species just about any name you please. With regards to Neil Young, I really enjoy his music and have had a great appreciation of him as an activist for peace and justice.

The new spider was discovered by Bond in Jefferson County, Alabama, in 2007.

Young wasn't the only musician that had a species named for him. Roy Orbison had a beetle named in his honor. It was named the Orectochilus orbisonorum or the whirligig beetle because it looks as if it is wearing a tuxedo.

Pretty cool. Who will be the first search guy to have a species named for him or her? Larry? Sergey? Marrisa? Jerry? Matt? Danny? or would it be more fitting for a black hatter?

Posted at 9:20 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (1)

Neil Young, one of my favorite musicians, has seriously embraced technology at the JavaOne conference today. He, along with Sun, announced that his entire music career will be put on Blu-ray disc.

The first release will contain years 1963-1972, and will be available on 10 Blu-ray Disc set available this fall from Reprise/Warner Bros. The content will include Young's music, movies, videos, personal archives, memorabilia, photographs, letters, handwritten manuscripts and more.

You can preview some of this at neilyoung.com/archives. Also, here is the Java page:

Rock legend Neil Young is bringing you the most comprehensive, dynamic and interactive career archive ever released with the help of Java technology. His amazing archive, releasing on Blu-ray Disc, is like a time capsule of his career in high definition. With seamless Java powered navigation, you can browse through photos, articles, video clips, and memorabilia, and even have Internet connectivity, all while listening to his legendary music delivered in 192 Khz, 24-bit PCM—for the best possible audio experience. The first 10 Blu-ray Disc set covering Young's career from 1963-1972 will be available from Warner Music this fall. Neil Young and Java: bringing a legend's career and achievements to life for you.

Posted at 2:41 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (1)

How often do you hear a song in your car and say, hey - I want that in my iTunes music collection? If you are like me, at least once a week.

But how often do you forget to actually download the song after you get to your computer? If you are like me, 99% of the time.

I wish there was some type of feature to dynamically add a radio song from my car (or even my iPhone, via the iTunes store, to be prompted to download later.

One night I pulled up to the gym to play basketball, heard a song on the radio and instinctively went to the iTunes store on my iPhone to add the song to my iPhone. Of course, without wifi access (Edge isn't enough), it wouldn't let me access the iTunes store. Why not? Why not let me search for songs, click a button to download later when I am on Wifi or on my computer on a fast connection? Why? WHy? WHY?!!!

Posted at 10:07 AM | Permalink | Category: Music , iPhone | Comments (2)

Neil Peart, Rush's drummer, arguably the most talented drummer to live, owns this song. But this 9 year-old shows he can seriously do some damage. Check out this video:

Amazing!

Posted at 12:56 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (2)

Something I didn't know until now. But now, I go... Oh, I hear the Israeli accent a bit....

This MacBook Air commercial:

Has a song by an Israeli artist named Yael Naim:

Now, do you hear the Israeli accent? A little?

Posted at 3:46 PM | Permalink | Category: Apple Macs , Music | Comments (12)

When I am writing up the daily recaps, either at this blog or at Search Engine Land or at Search Engine Roundtable I like to listen to crazy quick finger music. The faster the music, the faster the beat, the faster I can crank out the recaps. The repetitiveness of the recaps are boring, but I automate most of it. So any none automated aspect, the music helps me along. A recap typically takes me just minutes.

What music do I prefer when 'capping it' out? The Extremist by Satriani!

Here is The Extremist by Joe Satriani on YouTube:

See what I mean?

Posted at 4:46 PM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , Music | Comments (2)

Last night I got my invite to Hulu. Actually, I think a ton of people got Hulu invites last night. In any event, I got one!

So I was watching the "Husbands & Knives" edition of The Simpons, here it is embedded below:

Here is what the interface looks like to me:

Clicking on feedback gives me:

The other features are straight forward. The "Lower Lights" is neat, it basically darkens out the rest of the page and keeps the video the same contrast.

I do not have invites to give out, so don't ask them. I am invited but they don't give me invites to give out.

Posted at 9:54 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (0)

People don't believe that I would actually 'live blog' a concert. Why not?

There is proof. I had to plugin my computer, so I turned it around and someone took a picture of me.

I blogged it live.

Is it that crazy? Don't answer that.

I enjoy documenting things. Heck, in 500 years, I can show this to my great-great-great-great grandchildren. Heck, maybe Buffetts great-great-great-great grandchildren will find this blog post in 500 years and laugh. Or maybe not.

Anyway, here is last night's set list:

1. On the Road Again
2. Fruitcakes
3. I Will Play For Gumbo
4. Weather With You
5. Son of a Son of a Sailor
6. Come Monday (The Beach Band)
7. Elvis Presley Blues
8. Changes In Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes
9. Bama Breeze
10. Cheeseburger in Paradise
11. Grapefruit - Juicy Fruit
12. Fins
13. Brown Eyed Girl

Intermission

14. Scarlet Begonias
15. School Boy Heart
16. Boat Drinks (solo)
17. It's My Job (w/ Mac)
18. Hula Girl At Heart
19. It's Five O'Clock Somewhere (w/Mac)
20. Volcano
21. A Pirate Looks At Forty -> Redemption Song (Bob Marley Cover)
22. One Particular Harbour
23. Margaritaville

First Encore:

24. Everybody's On The Phone
25. Southern Cross

Second Encore:

26. In My Room (Beach Boys cover)
27. Tonight I Just Need My Guitar

I think he played an extra song...

Posted at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Category: Blogging , Music | Comments (0)

As I promised, I will be posting live coverage periodically of the Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefer Band Concert tonight. I am now in a skybox, at the back right of the stage, at Madison Square Garden.

Here is a picture of my view.

They started playing this opera music and now two guys are warming up the crowd. Should be starting any minute now...

hot hot hot song is over and Jimmy Buffett came onto stage on a bicycle. Here they go....

Song 1: On the Road Again

"Tuesday night, starting the weekend early" he said.

"Long distance between Tuesday and Saturday", he added.

Just find the set list over here tomorrow.

Here are more pictures live as I upload them via a flash player, scroll through them yourself...

Ha, he just said tomorrow is Talk Like a Pirate Day... Guess what, I have a theme going live at Search Engine Roundtable in ten minutes for the day.

Video is live...

Don't forget, listen live at http://www.radiomargaritaville.com/.

More videos:

Last one, shutting the computer down:

Posted at 8:08 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (3)

Tonight, I am going to see Jimmy Buffett and the Coral Reefer Band at Madison Square Garden.

Last year, I blogged his concert with Jimmy Buffett Live At Madison Square Garden, I'll probably do the same here.

But you can listen live, I think, at Radio Margaritaville and people will be discussing it at Buffet World.

Looking forward to it!

Posted at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (2)

I am not a fan of most singer type of musicians, I typically prefer the classic rock style with lots of guitars.

There are some exceptions, like Sheryl Crow. Why is she an exception?

Well, I remember back at one of the concerts I went to, probably in 2000. She opened up for one of my favorite artists, Neil Young. She completely rocked the place.

Since then, I have enjoyed listening to her music. She gives a new meaning to Grunge.

She was born in Kennett, Missouri. She then graduated from University of Missouri with a degree in Education. She then got a job as a music teacher in a elementary school at Kellison in Fenton, Missouri. And look at her now.

Pretty cool.

Posted at 10:20 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (3)

iTunes started playing one of my favorite all time acoustics, Bron-Yr-Aur by Led Zeppelin.

That reminded me... I walked down to this song as my wedding. The wife wasn't too pleased with my music selection, but I thought it was a nice song to walk down to.

Check out this kid playing it:

Now, if you want to see made young talent, check out this really young kid playing the song. Amazing... Now, the stomp version done right.

The version I walked down to was the acoustic version and do be honest, I think the kids above played it much better than the wedding guy.

Posted at 4:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (7)

My brother and partner at RustyBrick, Ronnie, purchased an electric drum set a while back. He bought it because the neighbors did not like the noise from his real drum set.

Well, eventually, he had to move it to RustyBrick, because his kid was kinda getting to it and breaking it.

He actually hooked it up to his iTunes library on his computer so that he doesn't need to sync his iPod anymore.

Posted at 10:26 AM | Permalink | Category: Family , Music , RustyBrick | Comments (2)

Grateful Dead Fan Site Reborn as Social Network from Techcrunch reports that Dead.net, the Grateful Dead fan site, is going to be rehauled to add new social networking elements.

Some of the social features outside a complete redesign and new technology includes:
- Discussion forums
- Upload their own photos
- Bookmark concerts and shows they have attended

Here is a screen capture from Techcrunch, for more, see Techcrunch.

Posted at 10:41 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (0)

The summer is basically here and that means a ton of summer music tours. I used to go to concerts all the time but the last one I was at was Jimmy Buffett at Madison Square Garden, which was a cool concert.

In any event, some of the concerts I have been to in the past include (some several times):

- Neil Young
- Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
- Jimmy Page with Black Crows
- Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
- Rush
- Dave Matthews
- Phish
- Jimmy Buffett
- Tom Petty
- Jethro Tull
- Eric Clapton
- Steve Miller Band
- others (cant think of right now, including festivals)

So like I said, the summer is here and concerts come with it. Here are some of the concerts, I want to see (some I did not list because I can't to them).

- Allman Brothers on Wed, Aug 22, 2007 at PNC Arts Center. Update: I will miss this one due to a conference, err.

- Meat Loaf on Sun, Jul 29, 2007 at PNC Arts Center.

- Rush on Sun, Jul 8, 2007 at PNC Arts Center.

- Jimmy Buffett on Thu, Sep 20, 2007 at Madison Square Garden again.

I would love to see Bob Dylan but the dates don't work out too well.

So those are them, I would have liked to see more, but maybe I missing something and not finding the concerts I would like to go to.

How about you?

Posted at 10:23 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (4)

I was listening to the radio this morning and I remember that I always wanted to learn how to play the guitar. Never really did. Of course, I know a few songs here and there from memory and friends. But I never learned notes, etc.

However, I always felt that I would be good at playing guitar.

Why?

I am a fast typer. No, I have pretty quick hands. I am very coordinated. I pick things up quickly.

Maybe one day I'll do it, but again, time is an issue. I do regret not learning it when I was a kid. Oh well.

At least the cartoon version of me can get down with his guitar!

Or maybe I should get Guitar Hero for my PlayStation? I have no idea how the game works and if you can learn from it.

Or maybe not...

Posted at 9:21 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (3)

I love Neil Young, mostly because I grew up listening to it while at my childhood friend's house - his dad was a big fan. Since then, I have been to several Neil Young concerts and CSNY concerts. In any event, I also am a big fan of SEO and some marketing. One blog I skim (but not read too deeply) is the popular Seth Godin.

He wrote a blog post named Lessons from Neil Young where Live at Massey Hall by Neil Young. He made two observations that lead to a marketing concept. The two observations were:

(1) Listeners like to hear what they heard before. Seth adds that even if a song, at the time was not popular but became popular later, the audience back then was not as enthusiastic with the song, as they were with songs they have heard before.

(2) Songs that did not work so well in front of his listeners, Neil Young tried to play better but it still didn't work. Why? Because they were not common songs.

Seth concludes that "It's what you say, most of the time, not how you say it."

Interesting thought. If you think about it, does this work the same with search engine optimization?

There are many ways to think of it:

(1) It is what you link to most, not what you say in the content (link vs. content debate).
(2) It is quantity over quality (very debatable).
(3) It is the link anchor text, and not the content (kinda stretching it there).

Honestly, not sure if you can apply it to SEO here. Seems like it doesn't work too well.

Posted at 9:11 AM | Permalink | Category: Music , SEO Tips | Comments (5)

I was looking for something not so computer related to write about and up came Jazz on my iTunes. I quickly clicked the forward button. In fact, I have a filter on my iTunes playlists that does its best to remove any Jazz song from my list.

I honestly do not know what I hate so much about Jazz. But whenever I hear it, it makes me want to pull out my hair. Really, no idea why.

I like most music styles, with a strong preference towards Classic Rock - I even like Funk, but not Jazz.

That doesn't mean I don't respect Jazz. I respect Jazz musicians, I even feel the Jazz culture is incredibly cool. But there is something about the music that makes me feel - ahhchhhh.

Posted at 4:43 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (3)

I wrote about Kid Plays Super Mario Theme Song on Acoustic with Help in which Caydel commented with some awesome YouTube videos of great guitarists. One I did not hear of, named Jesse Cook. After watching this video, I decided to buy a few of his songs on iTunes.

Really good. Thanks Caydel and YouTube!

Posted at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (1)

So last night I was live blogging Jimmy Buffett Live At Madison Square Garden. I actully attempted to use the Treo to make live video of the concert. But as you can tell, you cannot hear a thing, besides for the crowd yelling. I doubt this would be a copyright issue, since this is barely legible.

The pictures weren't all that great either.

Anyway, Jimmy really looked like he was having a great time on stage. Constantly smiling, laughing and kidding around with both the band and the audience. He actually took one of the life tubes off a prop life guard chair and gave it to one of the fans. He knows how to connect with his fan base. I guess that explains the Parrotheads phenomenon. It was really cool seeing tons of people inside and outside of Madison Square Garden in hawaiian shirts, flip-flops and board shorts. The logo above is from Parrot Heads in Paradise, the character is doing Fins song.

Posted at 12:52 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (0)

I am here at Madison Square Garden, waiting for Jimmy Buffett to get on stage. In about 15 minutes, he will be on stage. Anyway, Ill try to do some live blogging of the concert. I am up in a skybox suite, slightly behind the stage.

Here are the setlists from the Buffett 2006 - Party At The End Of The World Tour.

Here is the first picture...

More to come...

Continue reading "Jimmy Buffett Live At Madison Square Garden" »

Posted at 7:44 PM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (4)

Lucky me, I am going to see Jimmy Buffett live for the first time this Thursday night at Madison Square Garden. For those of you that don't know Jimmy Buffett, well, he is a musician that has a groupie following named "Parrrotheads." Like "deadheads" for Grateful Dead fans, like "Phishheads" for Phish heads, etc.. Parrotheads are Jimmy Buffett fans.

Jimmy Buffett has many famous songs, but one of my personal favorites is Cheese Burger in Paradise, no, it is not kosher ;-). For more about Mr. Buffett, check out his Wikipedia entry. The official web site is named Margaritaville, an other famous song.

Finally, I stole the picture above from CMT.com, it shows Jimmy is a Mac user. So he is legit. :)

Posted at 9:46 AM | Permalink | Category: Music | Comments (1)