PURITY DEVICE

The past 2 days I recorded some cymbals, Snare drum and v-drums for Purity Device.
I kinda forgot I was a member of this group. Infact I don't really remember recording the drum parts for songs like "So Slowly"
But it's a killer group.

http://www.myspace.com/puritydevice

The songs up on their myspace isn't finished yet. The extra cymbals, snare and v-drums will be added to some of the songs. It sounds very groovy and more organic. Although Greg may edit the hell out of my parts and make it sound fucked up (in a good way) Regardless, it'll sound awesome.
Most of the songs have multi-layered percussion/drums. Some of it was a recording of me playing a groove during a separate session, some of it from a hip hop record, some of it programmed by Greg etc

It kinda reminded me of how Peter Gabriel records his drummers, except that Peter Gabriel uses guys like Steve Gadd, Manu Katche, Jerry Marotta and Ged Lynch...


Very excited with this group (as well as Departures)
H.

MEGA FUSION

Last sat, I played in this mega music collaboration between the Aboriginal dancers/musicians, Chinese traditional musicians and Dejan's shred music (which i play drums for) All Brisbane-based.

It's kinda hard to imagine what it sounds like, but it worked. We grooved 'n jammed in the key of D (which the note of the digeridoo) with no set structures, just gradually accelerated in tempo. Though I couldn't find beat 1 at times...
One of the Chinese musicians was playing a Guzheng (I think) which reminded me of the Japanese Koto (apparently there's one in every country)
The other Chinese musican was playing a small stringed instrument which is bowed upright like a cello.
My toms were also tuned in D, so I did this tom groove with mallets.
And ofcourse there's Dejan and Sonic's power-chord riffage (did I mention Shred?)

Daff Jam

DB's Greta invited moa to a Sufi music jam.
It was held in this Dodecahedronal house (yes 12 faces!, possibly more) which was in the mountains in northern Brisbane.

Met some Turkish and Iranian musos who played instruments I have never seen or heard before.
One of the instruments that I briefly got to play was the Daf. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daf)
I've realised that I've never played a percussion instrument that you actually hold on while you make noise with your palm and fingers. 't was quite awkward at first.

We got into a circle and played some tranced out rhythms while Greta was playing this instrument-> http://www.deepblueorchestra.com/images/people/greta.jpg
(I forgot the name, sorry)

I should definitely check out non-Western rhythms and percussion instruments more often.

H.

BUNBURY

The final show of the 08 tour!
The tour has been grreaaat I personally can do this for another month or so (maybe)


My "office"






The Bunbury crowd






Post-show, I had an unbelievable bubble bath in our hotel spa.

GERALDTON

Wayne's a pretty busy man..


The legendary gaff ball. It's very heavy.


Signing the walls. There were signatures everywhere in the venue.



Busking in the foyer during intermission.


The Geraldton crowd were awesome!


So were the tech crews. They encouraged us to party after the show at the venue for a bit.
Dane and I did some sick air-guitar/band.


Our veteran roadie, Speedy. He roadied for Led Zeppelin!


H.