General Music Chat

So whatcha gonna follow it up with? This'll get you on for sure, Paul.

You'll prolly want to have at least 10 down that you can do in your sleep.

You are absolutely right. It's hard to find good songs that have the same chord progression for the verses and choruses. I think i'll start a thread here with that question. With or without you is another. I got scathing reviews here on that on though. I will probably try to play and sing solo on piano (only sixteen, the DR. Hook/ my version) and full band with me on guitar if I get on the show. Just to show my diversity.

Thanks for all the support and kind words friends. I've felt the pre-stage adrenaline for a week now! It usually starts an hour before a gig. This one has BIG potential though. I feel good about it!

Do you plan on looping every song, Paul? I'd think it might look too "gimicky," or "one-trick-ponyish" if you planned on that.

Mix it up a bit. There was in act on that show that was called "Quick Change," & all they did was change costumes on stage about 20 times in a minute as they danced & played with props. It was amazing, but the judges thought it got old after three shows, like they were too one-dimensional. I quite agreed.

I'd be very wary of falling into that trap. Show your wares in all their glory. Doing a cpl songs as a solo, that are difficult enough, will wow the audience just as much as the loopy stuff, imho.

Are you sure that all the judges are going to know what you're doing? If they're non-technical, they might think that you're lip-syncing.. er.. I mean, instrument syncing (from pre-recorded music). Maybe having the looping mechinisms highly visible would help so that they could see the intracasies of what you are doing. To the un-trained eye, I would think, It would be kind of hard to tell (e.g. on your promo vid.) just a thought. You've probably gotten all the details already worked out weeks in advance.
Knock-em-dead Man!

I will probably try to play and sing solo on piano (only sixteen, the DR. Hook/ my version) and full band with me on guitar if I get on the show. Just to show my diversity.

Do you plan on looping every song, Paul? I'd think it might look too "gimicky," or "one-trick-ponyish" if you planned on that.

Are you sure that all the judges are going to know what you're doing? If they're non-technical, they might think that you're lip-syncing.. er.. I mean, instrument syncing (from pre-recorded music). Maybe having the looping mechinisms highly visible would help so that they could see the intracasies of what you are doing. To the un-trained eye, I would think, It would be kind of hard to tell (e.g. on your promo vid.) just a thought. You've probably gotten all the details already worked out weeks in advance.
Knock-em-dead Man!

Thanks for the heads up. I thought it was obvious because I show my foot on the loop pedal (the only looping mechhanism) everytime I hit record and stop recording. I also put it in the title and description. I guess I could put subtitles in the video I submit.

I am sure it sounds great I am frustrated our computer crashed last week and my wife just brought it back up but we don't have any sound so I will have to wait untill the morning to hear it at work. eh gotta go, the Super Bowl is starting in the words of FB LATER!

Don't get me wrong at all. Just pay attention that you don't drag the lyrics when you sing. I know it's how the song is. But live, you should try to add your own touches to it to make it less boring.
Clean looping and nice harmony with the pedal. Good luck, man.

This is my submission to America's Got Talent. I'm leaving friday for ATL! I had to edit the song to meet the 3 minute time limit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H80n2kv_K3E

Professor Neanderpaul,
for some strange reason, I previously neglected this thread. I'm unable to view the video from the link on your first post, but I'm assuming that it's the Chris Isaak cover.
I already checked it out because your stuff appears on my new You-tube site! Awesome! (moder technology is indeed a wondrous thing)

Seems like you're getting a lot of mileage with that looper thing.(I really enjoyed the Andy Griffith Theme, but I'm relieved that you didn't have the girls with you when ya recorded it! I believe that video production and driving is illegal in my state!)

Good luck with the Americas got Talent endeavor.

Your ol' pal (and admiring student)
Howlin'

Sweet! A masterful use of your equipment; sounded like a full band playing live right in front of me.

*Disclaimer*

The next post is the detailed version of the day. The Short version is. I did everything I wanted to do and it went great. I feel like I made it past the preliminaries at the very least.


Thanks all!


The America's got Talent audition.
The long version.



I left Roanoke at about 11. I stopped to visit friends in Raleigh NC at Gumby's pizza. I stayed for 2 hours there and at another friends in Dhalonaga GA. It was great visiting my buds but it cost me almost all of my sleep. I GOT 2 HOURS, UGH!

So I got to the auditions at America's mart in Atlanta at 7:45. The line was 2 blocks long then. Right after that it was 4 blocks long. It was freezing cold for sure. I got in, was frisked a bit, signed in, got a number, and went to the 4th floor in a large open room to wait with a bunch of other hopefuls. It was exciting ..... at first. It dragged on for an hour or so. Then they announced we all needed to go downstairs for some video taping. We were in a huge room and there were a bunch of cameras on booms. I estimate 2500 people were in that room. It was intense! I also guess that about 5000 people showed up for the Saturday auditions alone. A British lady with a megaphone was directing us. We were told to yell "America's Got Talent!" and then cheer. That went on for way too long. I ended up sitting down at a table but not before I held up my lime green acoustic guitar for the cameras! lol! Several people commented on and complimented the little green guitar.

After about an hour of that they let us go back to the fourth floor for more painful waiting. I would pace, practice quietly to myself, sit, rinse, repeat. Every 45 minutes or so they would call a list of about 15 numbers. It was never mine. ARG! I visited with a nice guy named Tony. He was playing some Robert Johnson. He was there by himself like me so we kind of stuck together for the day. Several people were practicing loudly and or entertaining the other applicants. Some were great, some, were just wasting our time. One lady was a phenomenon to me. She was in a corner singing opera. The power seemed superhuman to me. I was awed. Her name was Audrey. This is nothing compared to hearing (feeling) her in person but you can find her here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faBbTEm4 ... annel_page

I talked to her after we had both auditioned and she was humble and cool!

So more waiting, and more ......and more. Finally at about 2 pm, about 6 hours after I got there we were moved to another room. I sat in a chair for a moment and started to lose it. I was ready to sleep! I sat on the floor against the wall propped up my head in my hand and was out instantly. Tony listened out for my number to be called. Soon enough they called it. They asked us to form a line in the large hall. 10 minutes of that passed then we walked down the hall for more waiting outside the final room - the audition room. More practicing quietly and then I lost my number!! For just a moment anyway. Someone pointed out that it had transferred itself from my overalls to the back of my guitar!! I was sweating it for a a minute or 2!! 20 minutes or so later Tony went in to audition. When he came out he said that they had told him he had a unique sound and sent him on his way. We shook hands and wished each other luck. About 10 more minutes passed and it was FINALLY my turn.

I walked in and stood on a wooden tiled square about 12' x 12' . The scout asked what I would like to do. I told him that time wouldn't allow me to do what I really wanted to do which was live looping ....... like this.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H80n2kv_ ... annel_page

I quickly explained what looping was and how I do it. I spoke fast both because of my nerves and because I knew my time was short. I wanted to respect their time as well. I told him I would like to show him the DVD that I had brought with videos of that performance, but that I'd also like to play and sing live to show my voice in person. Even though I had received an email form AGT stating that we only had 1.5 minutes he said I could do both! SWEET! I belted out the first verse and chorus of The Commodores "Easy". I was really happy with and proud of the performance. It showed my dynamics range and tone. So far so good! Then I walked over with the dvd. He popped it in. He played the 1.5 minute edited down version of "Wicked game" Then he asked for the longer version!! He was able to see what it is exactly that I do. I was asked what made me different. I was bold without sounding cocky and told them that there a few big league looping artists. But that I had something on all of them. I referenced KT Tunstal who sings "black horse and a cherry tree" I said she has a lead singer voice and loops acoustic guitar, but that I play bass, drums, electric and play leads. Then I brought up The White Stripes I said he was hip and edgy but that he has a drummer to play drums for him. Then I brought up Keller Williams. Keller is a crazy great guitarist, but he doesn't have a front man voice. I basically told them of my strengths and they seemed to be on board. They then said they needed to get a photo. I thanked them and said they must be numb by now. He said it was going well and thanked me. So at 3:30 I got out almost 8 hours after I went in.

I only saw one other person get their picture taken from my small group. I feel very optimistic that I showed them something that no one else had done before in the auditions. I also saw not a single person wearing overalls (the neanderpaul uniform!) LOL! So that was a triple threat of uniqueness. Live looping - one man full band style, a lime green guitar - and a unique overalls look.
I feel great about the audition and confident that I will move to the next level of auditions! Keep me in your thoughts!!!

thanks!
Paul
carbonvmax
neanderpaul!!

Wow, Paul! How long does it take to get the final deliberations? I thought it would be like Am Idol, & you'd know immediately! Criminetly that seems like it's really nerve-racking. Best o' luck, man. You deserve a shot.

Wow. No idea it was so involved. Rootin' for ya'!!

ok were do i send for my autographed neanderpaul overhauls,i want to get a pr before the price goes up dont forget us little people congrats again hope it all works out 4 u

It takes 6 weeks to get a response.

Man it was involed. Alomost 8 hours!

There are NO little people. Everybody is a people!

thanks again for all the kind words everybody!