Hi Everyone,

Ether Ore is finally available as a digital download, via bandcamp.

You can even check out the whole things first if you like:

This CD is totally live, improvised, and with no loops. Just me, my Sticks and my SE-70s and TC Fireworx.
Hope you like it:

http://greghoward.bandcamp.com/album/ether-ore



So far, I'm really loving bandcamp as a means of distribution, though I haven't tried to do anything that I had to pay licenses for yet like Beatles covers, so I don't know how that works on it.

This album is very cool. I think that the really long improv on there is my favorite. The sound is a bit different as It was recorded with a mic, but it captures it quite well. Its a really raw and unique track, with many different vibes. This is the side of Greg's that I am really into. Its also the stuff I play for people as an example of "electronic' Stick and exploratory improv.

Anyhow, whats the deal with bandcamp? Seems like really good quality and ok prices. I like that you can pick different formats to download too. Is it the new thing for downloads or still incubating?

Hi Ben,

I'm so glad you like the disc. Admittedly the audience for this kind of music is small, especially the noisier shade of it ( like "Freedom of Expansion") For a while I was listening a lot to David Torn's Tripping Over God, and I think a fair amount of the willingness to be a noisy improvisor comes from there.

I recently found out about bandcamp when someone sent me a download to check out. It's a very nicely set up service. So far I haven't tried selling anything that has not been released in physical form, but that will come soon, as I can't see that there will be enough demand for all the music I'd like to put out in CD format.

The "physical product" boundary keeps me from putting certain things out there that I'd like people to hear, but don't necessarily want to just give away.

Stay tuned...

Always was particular to this album since you released it right around the time we were moving to Virginia- went to one of your gigs at Miller's in Charlottesville when you were recording these improv shows and saw the CD release party at Gravity Lounge.

I also think it's a really great showcase of effective signal processing on the Stick, showing that you can explore some unique sonic territory without MIDI.

HI Rob,

If I remember in those days you were a single malt whiskey fan. There are times when I miss playing in that little club, the I walk in and hear how noisy the audience is and all the nostalgia just vanishes...

Your point about the power of effects alone is well-taken. I've never really warmed up to amp modeling and guitar-to-MIDI control of sounds. Even the slightest delay in responsiveness is very distracting to me, and I find most of the modeling processors I've tried still have that slight delay. To me it feels like I'm stepping back from my amp a bit, and it's taking the sound just a little longer to reach me.

So I definitely enjoy spending the time to create these multi-multi-effects patches, and the feeling of driving them with those good vibration strings. Even with lots of effects in the chain, I still feel more like I'm hearing the string's instantaneous response, which is the joy of Stick playing as far as this former keyboard player is concerned.

Long live the Boss SE-70!