Street Sweeper Social Club

STREET SWEEPER SOCIAL CLUB (House of Blues, Chicago DEC 17)

16th of December - Flew out to Chicago airport and got picked up by a man. I was then delivered 45 minutes to Libertyville to a nice room at the Hampton Inn for a quick shower. Then took a cab back to downtown Chicago to check in at the same address as the venue, House of Blues. Went to dinner with 3 people I just met at a place called Rockit Bar and Grill. I had the Seafood Cob Salad which was delicious and filled with gold... pure gold (If gold were only small sea creatures.) I felt like i was fishing in that huge bowl of salad.  Fishing right over a school of hungry fish. Their bait=my fork. After went to 7-11 and got a snackbar, water, and banana for the mornyin. Hotel was great but the tv really sucked. It's like everytime you change a channel on the thing it takes 2 seconds for it to go. It's not channel surfing... its channel crawling. It's a huge high def flat screen tv but the channel network was as fast a 1990 56k modem. Otherwise, the Hotel Sax is a beautiful hotel and I didn't wind up watching too much tv except some CNN to learn about a new gun for the military that shoots smart bullets that can bend around corners of buildings and into foxholes. That would help me maybe if i was trying to shoot someone who was hiding behind something else..... I'm not in the military so i can't see that happening soon. As with life, though, you never know when you're gonna need that gun and those bullets. I spent the night practicing the songs for the rehearsal at 9am.

December 17, 2009 - 7:30 AM - Wake up and surf the internet from bed. Contemplate watching a netflix streaming movie. Eat said banana and snack bar, drink water. Brush. Go down to lobby at 9am and walk over to House of Blues across the street for my first rehearsal with three out of four other members of the band. See drummer, Eric, already there, and meet the SSSC techs, Ted and Jason. Bassist Dave, walks in - meet and greet. We talk about our vocal harmonies. Boots walks in. Tour Manager Dawn takes requests for bagels. I say Sesame toasted with CC. I search for coffee. I adjust my pedals. I have a wonderful marshall half stack and a backline Gibson Les Paul. I try out the Les Paul out but my ES-335 is better and cooler so I stick with that. I remove my distortion pedal from my board.  Now I've widdled it down to a tuner, a whammy II, and delay. It's a rhythm guitar gig after all---I'm going playing rhythm guitar for well known "guitar god" Tom Morello. The morning rehearsal was just eric gardner (drums), david gibbs (bass), boots riley (rapper), and your truly. Tom couldn't make rehearsal since he had to play an impromtu Rage Against the Machine radio spot live on morning UK talk radio. We rehearsed Fight Smash Win, Nobody Moves Til We Say Go, The Oath, Promenade, Somewhere in the World, The Squeeze, 100 Little Curses, Paper Planes. All sounded good. It was fun to play too. Afterwards, Dave and I went to Starbucks and I got one of those Peppermint Mocha's and he got a regular coffee and oatmeal. God Bless the holiday tasty coffees at Starbucks. They have been making me happy for the last 4 years during the holiday season.

12:30pm Went back to Hotel to Sleep.

Went to Soundcheck at 4:30pm. We all ordered food. (Me: Jumbalaya) for after soundcheck. Ran over about 5 songs with the whole group until we didn't have any more time. Came upstairs to the green room and Tom and I played the rest of the songs together to make sure it was all good to go. All Good! We ate. We hung around. Went back to the hotel for a minute.

8:00pm - Put on the SSSC uniform (Carl's SSSC Coat, SSSC t-shirt, black pants, black shoes, and aviator glasses). Went downstairs and rocked the *&^$% out. Sold out hyped crowd. We were 2nd between AM Taxi and Rise Against. I had fun next to Boots cause he's quite a dancin all over the stage type of rapper and the music is heavy and funky. I can really bust out my Mr. Furley/George Jefferson dance moves to this music.



Nothing but great opinions about the vibe of this entourage. Techs, tour manager, and band. All nice, good people, easy to get along with.  After show, talked with the band/crew and a few friends and then went to a wine bar in the hotel with the same group. Had a beer there and ate mixed nuts from a plastic boot-shaped container. Went upstairs and slept great.

December 18 - 10:30 AM - get ready to go to airport. 11am: Livery Driver talks and talks and talks.  I can't even think---so i reverse the game and try to talk more than her. She turns out to be a good listener as I ramble on about New York City Pizza and OJ Simpson. And I laughed in my head because she's from chicago and was talking sports with me....and mentioned DITKA. "He's no Ditka", she goes. I love that last name.  DITKA.  I get to airport. I write this blog on the plane. Tonight I get back at 5:45 and I gotta rush home and learn songs for private house party gig with Audrarox playing R&B covers at 9pm. So glad I get to play Lets Groove Tonight by Earth Wind and Fire.

SETLIST:
FIGHT! SMASH! WIN!, SOMEWHERE IN THE WORLD, PAPER PLANES, THE OATH, 100 LITTLE CURSES, CLAP FOR THE KILLAS, PROMENADE, NOBODY MOVES (TIL WE SAY GO)

PAPER CAT GIG in Philly Thoughts

Well, it's been a long time since there's been an exciting opportunity for me to play what I truly want on stage and really speak my musical mind comfortably. Last week, Julie Slick, Eric Slick, and I played our first show as Paper Cat and debuted all of our new songs and improvised as well to a sold out crowd.  Needless to say, it was a great time.   The crowd reaction --- oozing with loud applause. We really enjoyed ourselves and are psyched to do it again.


We are due for another video conference meeting.  That's next on the agenda!  2010!  We're psyched!

SETLIST:  INTRO, SPIDER, ROCKY, IMPROV, FOUR SQUARE, CAGED MOUSTACH, OPERATION DESERT STORM, NOVEMBEARD

December Rules

Super Busy this December.  I haven't gone shopping for anyone (sorry gift expecters).

(i made this flyer on my downtime last week between teaching students)

Went back to Philly this past weekend for days of recording and writing again.  Julie Slick made delicious food and engineered and played bass.  I realized I play no regular guitar in this band.  I only play baritone guitar and played wii versus Eric Slick.  He kicked my ass in Table Tennis and I kicked his ass in Swordfighting.   I took NO pictures this time!  We were hard at work but we were having fun.  Coffee, Food, Chocolate, music, wii, youtube and cable.   Really satisfied with the way things are turning out.  We went straight back to recording our songs again but revised them and wrote more to them.  Right now, the E.P. has about 4-5 solid songs that we've roped in and caged from our improvisations 3 weeks ago.  Most of all, have the fire on our asses to perform well at our first show in 3 days.  We're all psyched to play it too.

Played a really cool christmas tree lighting celebration at Madison Square Park with AudraRox.  It was the 92nd anniversary of the tree being lighted, and it was historic because this is also the site of the first christmas tree in america to ever be lit.  So as soon as they lit it, I started on guitar playing Rockin' around the Christmas Tree and kids and parents were dancing in the cold.  It was really sweet to see so many kids excited about christmas cheer....  we played all the happy fun christmas songs like frosty the snowman and rudolf and these kids went nuts jumping on tiny stage in the park and every kid sang along.  Great time.  Really roped in that old happy excited christmas spirit for me, seeing these kids sing and jump around in the cold.  And it was cold!  I bought red 99 cent gloves and cut the fingerstips off so i could play.

Got a rehearsal today and need to learn about 20 R&B songs for a house party coming up (Let's groove tonight by earth wind and fire is a song i have to learn....YES!).  Also have to learn about 14 Rock songs for a cool one-off gig I'm filling in for.  That being the case, I need to go now.

Philly Paper Cat Recording and Upcoming Show

This past saturday morning, I drove out to Philadelphia, PA to write and record with Paper Cat.  Our small goal is to record an e.p. and the big goal is to record as much as possible!

We recorded about 3 hours of improvised music on the first day.  Second day, recorded as much as we could trying to get good takes of what we wrote.  Next session is in two weeks to tighten up everything and record more, plus rehearse for our show at the Kyber coming up December 11th.   Some pics of the session can be found on julie's blog:

Gear I used:  Italia Baritone Guitar, Gibson ES-335, Musicman combo RD-100, Mesaboogie 1x12 cab, Ampeg Combo 1x15, Digitech Whammy II, MI Audio Crunch Box, Vox Wah, Fulltone Soulbender, Boss DD5, Boss Tuner, Electro-Harmonix Small Stone.

Paper Cat news

Paper Cat - the band, featuring yours truly with Eric Slick and Julie Slick, will be recording an e.p. in Philadelphia within the month.  A few weeks ago, we had a pre-production conference meeting via video iChat and it was very productive as well as funny and new.  Julie gave me a live video tour of her recording studio and it seems it will be just the right atmosphere.  We discussed gear, studio layout, song material, improv, food, drink, sleep, film, and schedule.   We all seem to be looking forward to it and I plan to warm up for 5 days in advance before the sessions.   We also took screenshots of our video chats.

I set up my pedalboard, including a Delay, Wah, Whammy (peevish name), Distortion, Fuzz, Phasor, and Tuner.  Got it plugged into my home stereo and I'm not sure if i'm blowing my speakers or not but I love the way guitar sounds through a home stereo.

I think, for the sessions, I'm going to bring a solid baritone guitar and semi-hollowbody electric and use two amplifiers running at the same time in stereo, most likely using my 1x12 combo amp and one of julie's guitar amps.  I'll also bring a couple more microphones and we're gonna "just do it" after setting up and record music in the same live room.

Keep checkin here for more updates about the recording..... but also check out julie's blog.

and....

We have a show on December 11th at the Kyber in Philly opening for Cheers Elephant.  It will be our second show and by then we will most likely be finished recording our E.P.  I believe we are going to be the 2nd band of 5 bands to play.

I am proud to leave you with this picture; from a show I played with AudraRox for kids recently at the Socrates Sculpture Park in Astoria, Queens, NY.

Photo by Kim Parker Russell

Morning Guitar Out of a Book

Today I woke up and picked up my Sigma coustic guitar, set the "Real Vocal Book" on my music stand, and played a song at random called "My Attorney Bernie".  The "Real Vocal Book" is better than the "Real Book" in my opinion because it has lyrics so you can actually see what these songs are about.  I'm not a jazz-buff but i like reading music and I absolutely LOVE lead sheets.  My method for playing something I've never heard before on a lead sheet is reading and playing the chords, then reading and playing the melody, then trying to play the melody with attention to the chords, then improvising licks on top of the chords, then trying to sing the song and play the chords.  Then the phone rings or something....
"Music is the Best" - FZ

Have a look inside the Real Vocal Book

Paper Cat Review

Woke up today and played two songs on acoustic out of the The Real Vocal Book (I picked them at random so I don't know what they were...but one of them was a billy strayhorn song).  I really love to start out my day playing music.  Reading music is nice.  Music is Nice.   Last night I got word from Julie Slick that there is a nice blurb about the Paper Cat Live at John n' Peter's cd's.  Check it out here:

http://ropeadope.com/

and just look at this adorable kitty.

By the way, Check out Paper Cat bandmates Julie Slick and Eric Slick on the current Adrian Belew Power Trio tour.  You can buy the new Adrian Belew CD called "E" (which the Slicks play on) and you can buy our Paper Cat album there too.  They are an awesome trio to see and Adrian Belew is an amazing musician.

I can't wait to record PAPER CAT in the studio this winter!

PAPER CAT

Here are the uploaded PAPER CAT music tracks from a taped concert performed by myself, Eric Slick and Julie Slick at John and Peter's in July.  This is our new project.  We finally have a name and we will be recording at Julie's Studio in a the next few months so check back often! 


http://papercat.bandcamp.com

Enjoy!

Robbie Seahag Solo Acoustic

I recently went out of my way to play an acoustic set by myself in the Tri-State Area of New York City.  Being that this was my first time doing this, I didn't tell anyone.  I did this for myself to practice in front of a fresh audience, and I think I'll be trying this again secretly to get my chops up. 

The experience was great and I got to play in front of people I didn't know, and I realized how easy it was to make people laugh.  My banter was surprisingly comedian-esque and, well, my songs are often like that too.  Let it be known, I was nervous about doing this gig and that's the exact reason I said yes to it when I was asked.  I had to get over the hump. I learned a lot from this singular performance.  We had a little jam at the end with my friends (guitarist) Tim Palmieri and (drummer) Adrian Tramontano, and some other talented performers. 

My set list included these original songs:  Haunted Boat Ride, She Sleeps in the Attic Now, Ham to the Clam, Hangry, Boring 40-Something, Puppethead, Scattered Showers, Four Eels.  No instrumentals were performed.

Evelinn Trouble & Chris Harford

Last week I played bass for an artist from Zurich, Switzerland named Evelinn Trouble.  The band consisted of Joe Russo (drums), Scott Metzger (guitar), Chris Harford (guitar), Evelinn Trouble (gtr, vocals), and myself (bass).  We had one rehearsal and I created basslines for 4 of the 5 songs we played which were:  Wrong Shape, Yours, North, Meantime, The Things You Don't Know.  We played the beginning of Chris Harford's set at Brooklyn Bowl, and then the next night at John n' Peter's in New Hope, Pennsylvania.  The band sounded great!  I also was fortunate enough to sit in on baritone gtr for the whole Chris Harford set in Brooklyn and on a song or two at during the Chris Harford set in New Hope the following night.  I'm hoping to play more with Evelinn and Chris Harford soon enough.  We are checking out our options to record at the moment and I'm visiting a studio today to get a lowdown.

Back from Europe Tour

Back from Europe!

Here's a great pic of Roy Estrada at the home of some friends in Italy.

There are video clips from the tour.

With Project/Object:

Bass in Eindoven, NL at Effanaar

With Grandmothers:

Guitar in Bussana Vecchia, Italy

Guitar in Spello, Italy

Guitar in Vallo della Lucania

Sold a bunch of my new project with Eric and Julie Slick in parts Italy and in Zurich. We don't quite have a name yet, but I have some favorites. Plus Eric Slick and I have a band name list of about 400+ horrible band names.... most too horrible to use for ourselves or that describe our music. I sold it as many different names.... Hag/Slick, Slick/Hag, Robbie Seahag Trio with Eric Slick and Julie Slick, Paper Cat Trio featuring Robbie Mangano, Eric Slick, and Julie Slick. It is a cd of our first and only live performance thus far! We're planning on getting into Julie's studio to record for real very soon, though.

Ciao My Shining Star: Benefit Concert

I'm playing rhythm guitar for Chris Harford and Mr. Ray Neal at this benefit for Mark Mulcahy. Mark suddenly lost his wife Melissa last year and has two twins to raise who are just three years old. The benefit coincides with the release of a new tribute album featuring many talented artists covering Mark Mulcahy's music.

September 20th

at Music Hall of Williamsburg

Brooklyn, NY 11211

For Tickets

Here's info on the Album coming on out on Shout! Factory Sept 29th.

track listing

01 Thom Yorke - "All For The Best"
02 The National - "Ashamed Of The Story I Told"
03 Michael Stipe - "Everything's Coming Undone"
04 David Berkeley - "Loves The Only Thing That Shuts Me Up"
05 Dinosaur Jr. - "The Backyard"
06 Chris Harford & Mr Ray Neal - "Micon The Icon"
07 Frank Black - "Bill Jocko"
08 Vic Chesnutt - "Little Man"
09 Unbelievable Truth - "Ciao My Shining Star"
10 Butterflies Of Love - "I Have Patience"
11 Chris Collingwood (Fountains Of Wayne) - "Cookie Jar"
12 Frank Turner - "The Quiet One"
13 Rocket From The Tombs - "In Pursuit Of Your Happiness"
14 Ben Kweller - "Wake Up Whispering"
15 Josh Rouse - "I Woke Up In The Mayflower"
16 Autumn Defense - "Paradise"
17 Hayden -"Happy Birthday Yesterday"
18 Juliana Hatfield - "We're Not In Charleston Anymore"
19 Mercury Rev - "Sailors And Animals"
20 Elvis Perkins - "She Watches Over Me"
21 Sean Watkins - "A World Away From This One"

In Laredo, Spain

I am in Leredo, Spain. It's on the beach. Last night I went out to eat with Eric Slick and we drank Duff Beer together. My Spanish Sucks but i think i have a good memory for it. A full bottle of Duff beer brought my shyness about the 5 spanish words I know. I probably sound like borat to these people but worse. A laughing idiot who cant talk. They humor me here though. Mom taught Spanish, but I opted to switch out of Spanish to Italian class because my mom was too interested in finding out if I did my Spanish homework... so much that interrupted my bass and guitar playing.

Speaking of BASS playing. I am having a blast playing RENTED basses every night. I have a new realization: The world trusts standard things: Fenders and Gibsons. Everyone knows how to play one of those guitars. Why the HELL would I want to bring my guitars on planes across the world when I can get a working, pro, already set-up and intonated, new

stringed bass for free included in the backline? Here are the two basses I've played with so far. On the Backline Rider it says -- I need either a Fender Jazz or a Precision Fender.

This bass is a Fender Jazz Bass. I adjusted the action to my liking but realized that I am used to a wider neck, so I prefer a Pre

cision Bass. My Spector NS-2 is wider like the P-Bass. This Jazz Bass had a good sound but it had a problem with hum when I tried to mix pickup volumes seperately. It became easy to play but I had to warm into it. String spacing was too close for my liking. About this Amp Setup, I realize I love the Ampeg 8x10 but I couldn't get sound out of this amp with this head. I know it's an beloved SVT but I think I like an 8x10 C

ab run by a GK Head. My first head was a GallienKreuger 800RB and I still use it today because it still works! It's from 1989. I bought it New!

Here's the Bass for the Eindoven, NL show. This had a great sound. It came with Heavy Strings which shredded my fingers up, but

Prague on Aug 7th

I left JFK airport at 3:55 and got to Frankfurt, Germany pretty quick. Lufthansa is the best airline - first class service in economy class. Around 11:30 pm NYC time, we arrived in Frankfurt. I sat next to a great couple from Brooklyn. They were really "nice". I quote because the guy loved to say "nice". But I really liked them. I hope they have a great vacay in Greece. I didn't get their names but I gave them a card. We talked about wildlife, fishing, traveling, brooklyn, eating, and music.

Speaking of Cards... I have two people to thank for my new business card that I'm carting around Europe right now. One is my lovely girlfriend, Elizabeth, who said "You should use that". And one is my recently departed daddy, Joe, or Dadhag which he used to like to go by at my concerts. Dadhag paid a guy in Florida make me this design with my name incorporated into a bass, when i was about 12-13 years old. Mygirlfriend saying, "I think you should use that design for a business card" was very very endearing to me. I went to Staples and here it is: From the original to the business card:

It looks real snazzy in real life with a border....

Getting the guitar as a carry-on on board was a cinch but I am never going to get comfortable doing it. I got a good ride from a guy named Petr in a cool VW boxy van. I worked on trying to get my money back for a T-Mobile Hotspot mistake that I made at the Frankfurt Airport traveling to the Czech Republic. I filmed a few videos of my hotel room and view and I went out for a walk in this town. I enjoyed the experience. I don't like handling new money. It's confusing. I have 3 different types of currency right now. US Dollar, Euros, and Czech Crowns. Ugggh. Tomorrow is the gig. Tonight we're supposed to eat and drink some food. I am super tired. I am lapping the 24 hour period and going to get some sleep soon. We lost a gig on the Grande Mothers tour. Right now it's shortened up but still they are trying to book some gigs before we go back.

Just heard that Eric Slick's parents are listening to the gig we played together with Eric's sister. Thanks to a certain taper of the show who came to the club and taped it. We're trying to get mp3s so we can hand it out here in Europe. We really think we're awesome.

Europe Tour

Going on tour in Europe in a few days playing in two separate bands:

Playing Bass for Project Object featuring Ike Willis, Robert Martin (festival only), Denny Walley (festival only) and Don Preston, Eric Svalgard, Eric Slick.

Playing Guitar for the Grandmothers filling in for Miroslav Tadic, featuring Roy Estrada, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and Don Preston, Chris Garcia.