I had a few inspirations lately seeing street performers using a variety of means to create music. So this will be our EvS 8Track “unplugged” edition. Featured tracks will all be unplugged for this edition. (EvS fun fact- there actually is an 8 track museum!) Enjoy:
1/Pipe Guy – House/Trance/Techno Live
never realized you could get this kind of sound from PVC pipes, flip flops,a paint can (or box?) and a single drum kick pedal. Simply named “Pipe Guy” he is an interesting musician. His Facebook page is here, cuz really who doesnt have a FB page these days?!
2/The entire “Juno” soundtrack
My daughter loves this soundtrack and it sure fits the bill for unplugged. Folky, clever, fun and pretty funny lyrics. Give this compilation a try, various artists. OK its mostly unplugged, say about 80 percent. Don’t like it make your own blog!
3/Metallica unplugged
Probably the first time I recall hearing of something being called “Unplugged”. This was really weird for a metalhead used to Marshall stacks that could cause nose bleeds. The dark gods of metal casting a contemptuous eye (in booming evil voices***), “WHAT IS THIS UNPLUGGED CREATURE!?!”
…..interesting….. sea shanty? Dunno, maybe somethings just aren’t served best by the unplugged phenomena.
4/The Violent Femmes
Pretty much an unplugged group, they were doing it before there was a whole cool thing associated with the concept.
5/Jack White – The same boy you’ve always know
Probably has to be one of my favorite guitarists. And it’s not because he’s “the best”, its because (in my opinion) Jack is one of the most heartfelt. The guy pours his soul into his music and he continually displays a sense of musical history and depth.
6/”Bucket Drumming”
Really any kind of the “stomp” or “bucket drumming” qualifies here. I feel this is completely in the spirit of “unplugged” as it is materials that are readily available, generally not a usual musical instrument and needs no amplification. Next to singing, drumming is probably THE oldest form of music.
7/ Marching Bands and Classical Music
What the hell? Yeah probably the original “unplugged” as marching bands and instruments have been around before electricity. From drums, bagpipes, flutes,etc none of them needed to be amplified. Seems there is quite a few “classical” instruments doing heavy metal songs of late. Ironically it was classical music that inspired lots of heavy metal music, many of the best heavy metal guitarists are “classically trained“. Guess it explains while I always felt drawn to Wagner. Beware the flatted fifth!!!!
8/ Misfits (or insert your favorite band) unplugged
chances are pretty good that any band that has been around for any length of time has something that is “unplugged”, because let’s face it at 3 in the morning sitting on the back deck you and your friends do not have the stacks and p.a.’s set to the “rockin it hard” level . At the end of the night or early morning it usually comes down to some acoustic and mellower tones. Being that The Misfits are probably one of my favorite groups (all the incarnations) I have to give them the nod. -Thanks for tuning in! -EvS