"One Small Step..."

Hellooooooo Everyone!

So awhile ago like the end of March Rocket Scientists did a concert at "The Winchester" in conjunction with "NASA", and I found it on YouTube...

below is the YouTube video blurb:

Rocket Scientists performance of the Erik Norlander song, "Sky Full of Stars", live at The Winchester in Lakewood, Ohio on March 28, 2009. The song was performed in honor of the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission with video footage provided by NASA and the Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Musicians: Erik Norlander (keyboards), Don Schiff (NS/Stick), Mark McCrite (rhythm guitar), Jim Williams (lead guitar) and Chris Quirarte (drums).

We got to touch a bit of history. Watching the movie play behind us I remembered actually seeing that footage when it aired the first time.

In the video you get to see the concert, then in the background on a big screen you see the lunar landing... The fun part (at least for my wacked sense of humor) is that I'm stage front and center... and the lunar module kinda takes off near my head...then it looks like they are tryin' to land on my head! I love it.

Anyway it's a Progressive Rock song, In other words REAL LONG! So I'll cut to the chase for us. I played NS/Stick and at 5:22 into the video (feel free to zip ahead - Shhhh I did too). I have a 'slide NS/Stick" solo, you can see the technique pretty well. The 'carabiner' and 'tapping' together.
(Have a look)



Hey, someone found 'part 2'... excellent, (The credits at the end are nice stick around for those as well).


The beauty is how you can go from playing bass to the slide stuff then back to bass again. I used the Podx3 pro pedal which is two "Line 6" pods stuffed into one pedal board. I really enjoy the separate amps/effects/ that get created for each side individually. It is really a wonderful piece of gear for the Sticks. On this video You can hear both sides pretty well.

As for the lunar module landing on my head, well, I enjoyed that too.

Ya know.... the song is so long it wouldn't fit on YouTube (you only get 10 min. per piece) so it is actually in two parts. I haven't found the second part yet! (It's probably the part where they leave the space capsule and plant the flag on my head.) I'm sure it will turn up eventually.

Ya know!!! Speaking of different techniques, if you are thinking of going to the Santa Cruz Stick seminar the amazing Bob Culbertson and myself will be teaching along with Neil Bettencourt. I may wear the lunar module on my head and share the techniques I used with you. We'd like to get a head count so please let's us know if you'd like to attend.

You can write Neil:
drums@neilbettencourt.com
OR CALL 831-458-2870.


Last year was a lot of fun, I think I ate my weight in donuts, and still found time to teach... Oh yes... I practice that sort of stuff.

Okay, it's late... more recording to do.
Good nite everyone.
Don