tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56111671444353731822024-03-12T21:23:28.881-07:00GuitarChicsSilverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-9612000630267276702014-03-03T21:48:00.001-08:002014-03-03T21:48:24.721-08:00Off and on again!When you are part of a band, change is just part of the package. It's not a full time job, so people come and go. Feelings get hurt, toes get stepped on. It's inevitable. So change is part of the package.<br />
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So back in November we lost a band member who had a promotion opportunity that took away his weekends. Hey, a guy has to pay the bills and keep the heat on, ya know what I mean. So all of a sudden we are without our bass player and have gigs already scheduled!!!! Oh my goodness.<br />
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So Mel and I are sitting round, just kind of contemplating our current situation, throwing out options, brainstorming, if you wish, and he turns to me, the rhythm guitar player, and says, "How would you feel about playing bass?" I draw back in horror, terror, fear, shock and say, "Sure, I'll give it a try."<br />
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Huh? Who just said that? What was I thinking?<br />
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Yep, that was me, open mouth, jump off the cliff. <br />
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I have been the rhythm guitar player for years and its kind of save, wonderful, warm, fuzzy place to hang out. Mel is tearing it up on lead, up and down the neck of the guitar, fingers flying, lightening fast, sweat dripping off his brow and I'm like on E, E, E, E, E, E oooops, A, back to E, E, E<br />
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Yeah, it's cool being the rhythm guitar player. When everyone applauds I take a bow right next to Mel. (Oh, how dare I)<br />
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But now I have just opened my big mouth and offered to be the anchor, the rock, the driving rhythm of the band. THE BASS PLAYER!!!!! What was I thinking????<br />
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I'll tell you more about it on Thursday. See you then<br />
Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-67317684822339813372013-10-25T15:27:00.000-07:002013-10-25T15:28:04.934-07:00Silverwing's Halloween Party at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, NV<strong><u>Silverwing rocks the Red Dog</u></strong><br />
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This Saturday, October 26th, Mel Warstler, Mary Warstler, Sean Rold, and Frank Lescher, otherwise known as Silverwing, will be playing a gig at the Red Dog Saloon in Virginia City, Nevada.<br />
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Virginia City, a small historic town south of Reno, is the site of the Comstock Lode where during the 1800's millions of dollars of silver was mined. The silver millionaires from Virginia City basically built San Francisco and VC silver financed the Union during the Civil War, hence our state motto "Battle Born." The Red Dog Saloon is a great venue with an awesome stage and sound system plus great food, but the Red Dog is not just another bar. The Red Dog Saloon is significant due to its place in rock and roll history.<br />
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<strong><u>The "Red Dog Experience"</u></strong><br />
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I'm sure the building is from the 1800's somewhere, but in 1965 the Red Dog Saloon played a roll in the emerging psychedelic rock scene and the beginnings of the hippie movement. During that year a group of musicians came together and experienced total musical and artistic freedom with some psychedelic additives, if you get my drift. Bands like Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Wildflower and The Amazing Charlatans played at the Red Dog creating the psychedelic music, hippie clothing styles and psychedelic artwork known as the "Red Dog Experience." <br />
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These musicians and their style had a direct influence on the hippie movement which erupted during the Summer of Love in 1967 at Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco which led to major changes in social values throughout the US. The members of The Amazing Charlatans were interviewed about the experiences in the 1996 documentary file, <em>The Life and Times of the Red Dog Saloon. </em><br />
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So when we take the stage at the Red Dog it is appropriate to have some reverence for the venue and the incredible experience of playing in the same location as Janis Joplin and walking the same floors as the first hippies at the birthplace of psychedelic rock and roll.<br />
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<strong>References</strong>: Wikipedia and the Red Dog website <a href="http://www.reddogvc.com/history.php">http://www.reddogvc.com/history.php</a><br />
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<strong>About the Author:</strong> Mary Warstler is the rhythm guitar player, back-up singer and co-songwriter for Silverwing, a rockin' country band from Northern Nevada. Our CD "Moonshine" is available at CD Baby, Amazon and our website <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/" target="_blank">www.silverwingband.com</a> For more music news from Mary check out <a href="http://www.guitarchics.com/" target="_blank">www.guitarchics.com</a> If you need content for your website, articles for your blog or extra posts on FB or Twitter contact Mary at <a href="mailto:maryband_girl@yahoo.com">maryband_girl@yahoo.com</a><br />
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<br />Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-3258687990151298662013-10-23T12:05:00.000-07:002013-10-24T13:34:15.786-07:00Mel Warstler the newest DJ at KHWG 750AM, Fallon, NV<br />
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<strong><u>The Wild West Show on KHWG</u></strong></div>
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Mel Warstler is the newest DJ at KHWG
and if you have heard his show you already know he loves his job, if you can call that a JOB! Lucky dog, playing music all day long and getting paid. Wow!</div>
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<strong><u>Not just a DJ, but a great musician as well</u></strong><br />
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Mel grew up in rural Oregon on a
million acre ranch where his father was the irrigation foreman. He
was taught to play the guitar by his father and brother Jack. He
started his first band at 14 years old, which played at school
events. At 16 he was asked to join a band of semi-retired
professional musicians as lead guitar player. They taught him a
style of country picking which he still uses today.</div>
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Regardless of what “job” Mel held
from ranch hand to cabinetmaker to stucco contractor, his life has
always revolved around playing music. From playing for a few miners
at the International Bar in Austin NV, which his brother Jack owned
years ago to playing at the Nevada State Fair, Mel has always prided
himself on learning his guitar parts note for note. When you hear him
play you will not be disappointed.<br />
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<strong><u>Mel's in demand as a lead guitar player, but starts his own band Silverwing</u></strong></div>
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While playing all over Northern Nevada
and Oregon he has been the lead guitar player and singer in many
bands such as Brandywine, Off the Wall, Stillwater Express, Taylor
Made, Clear Blue 22 and American Steel. But his greatest
accomplishment is his own band Silverwing consisting of Mel on lead
guitar and vocals, his wife Mary on rhythm guitar and vocals, Sean
Rold on bass and vocals and Frank Lescher on drums.
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<strong><u>Silverwing performs in front of thousands</u></strong><br />
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You may have heard Mel play somewhere
and not even known it, since Silverwing has played at the Eureka
Country Fair, Armed Forces Day, Night in the Country, Hearts of Gold
Cantaloupe Festival plus numerous farmer's markets, street fairs,
bars and parties. But the real highlight for Silverwing was playing
for thousands of people at the Pony Express Pavilion and the Reno
Livestock Event Center for Sarah Palin in 2008 during both of her
campaign stops in Northern Nevada.</div>
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<u><strong>Buy the Silverwing CD "Moonshine"</strong></u></div>
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You can hear Silverwing's new CD
“Moonshine” on KHWG or you can visit the website at
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a></u></span></span>
to find their schedule. Mel also hosts Karaoke and has DJ'd a few
weddings.
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<strong><u>Working at KHWG is a dream job for Mel Warstler</u></strong></div>
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Mel would like to thank Ronzo, Latigo,
Rebecca and Alex for training him at KHWG. And he would like to
thank his listeners for calling in requests and for all the
compliments he has received at his new “job.” You can hear Mel's Wild West Show Tuesday thru Friday from noon to 5pm, streaming live on your computer at <a href="http://khwgradio.com/fx/audiostream/player.php" target="_blank">http://khwgradio.com/fx/audiostream/player.php</a></div>
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For more info on Mel and the band visit <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/" target="_blank">www.silverwingband.com</a><br />
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Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0Fallon, NV 89406, USA39.4727622 -118.7789629999999839.4237362 -118.85964399999997 39.521788199999996 -118.69828199999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-75892632042258032382013-08-21T16:19:00.000-07:002013-08-21T16:20:51.102-07:00Silverwing Lite (The Mel & Mary Duo)Yes, it's a non-band weekend and Mel & I have picked up a duo gig. Just Mel and I together with our little drum machine. That's how it all started for me, as a duo. Well, re-started is more like it.<br />
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When we met Mel had been playing for years with different bands all over Northern Nevada, but I hadn't picked up a guitar in years. I had learned how to play the guitar when I was a teenager. My brother Kenny had brought home a few guitars and books and we sat in the living room working our way through the chords and notes. I took guitar lessons for several years also, but then I put the guitar down and didn't pick it up for years.<br />
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I discouraged myself. When I think back now, I realize I was good. I could read music like nobody's business. I made it through several Mel Bay levels and could play jazz chords to my teacher's lead playing. Then I just stopped. I was a blue, moody teenager and I probably couldn't see what might happen down the road. So I stopped.<br />
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Many years later I meet Mel through some friends. He's such a nice man and we start to date. Months went by and one day the light bulb goes on over my head and I remembered "Hey, years ago I knew how to play the guitar!" It was long forgotten. When I told Mel, he was less than interested. After years of people trying to get into his bands, he just nodded politely and changed the subject. I thought "hum" and let it go. No big deal. <br />
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Months go by and one day he is hanging out at my house. I'm cooking a big pot of spaghetti, the kids are playing video games and Mel is playing his guitar at the kitchen table. It's a good day. Then the phone rings and it's for Mel. People knew we were dating and starting calling my place for him. So I hand him the phone and he hands me his guitar. <br />
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I think to myself "what were the chords to that song?" I start to strum the few things I could remember from years ago, but it was there, hidden back in the depths of my old brain. When Mel put the phone down, he jumps up and says, "Hey, you can play the guitar!!!!" I said "Yep, I told you that a few months ago." He says "Yes, but I you can REALLY play." Then out come the story about how many people kind of exaggerate their skills, so he just smiled at me when I told him that I could play. He'd heard lots of women say they could sing and ugh, yeah, maybe not so much. So he's jaded.<br />
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But even at that point, I wasn't interested in learning 50 to 100 songs with the band. I still enjoyed my time at the band table. I applauded and laughed and hauled gear and typed lots of lyrics. I had a place and I liked it.<br />
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Now years go by and Mel is playing lead for a different band. He is getting frustrated being a hired gun as they are called. He's not in charge and it's beginning to get to him for several reasons. He feeling less than appreciated and I never get to hear him sing cause they never make it to his songs. Right, sure. So out of frustration I say, "What are the chords to Boot Scootin Boogie? I can play that! I'll be your band."<br />
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So that's how it started. I have a steno notebook with chords, a Yamaha keyboard with drum patterns in it and Mel playing lead in the back corner of the Big Horn Saloon. I forget how long ago that was, maybe 8 to 10 years ago. The first night we played my 5 co-workers showed up and pulled up chairs right in front of us. Up close and personal. I am staring at my steno notebook so I don't screw up the chords, when I look up and they have their lighters up and they are swaying like a crowd at a rock concert. It was sooooo funny!<br />
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From the back of the Big Horn, it's been a wild ride. Once we played for thousands at a political rally during the 2008 election campaign, but we've also played to two sad lonely drunks who need a ride home. I wouldn't trade it for anything.<br />
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So this weekend, it's back to basics. It's back to the beginning and really I love it. I like being with Mel. I like the challenge of trying to make two guitars sound good. My strumming has to be full and confident behind Mel's lead playing. I have to sing backup and attempt some harmony. It's a challenge and it's gonna be fun. It's Silverwing Lite!Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-3189898929601449502013-08-10T10:41:00.001-07:002013-08-10T10:41:05.738-07:00Ah, the lazy weekendThat's right, no Silverwing gig this weekend. What will we do? Of course, we still host Karaoke on Friday night at our local bar with our buddies. So, it's not a total lazy weekend, but still no Silverwing gig? Ugh, I'm having the shakes.<br />
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Anyway, Karaoke used to be a forbidden word around our dining room table. The evil Karaoke singers were going to destroy live music and bands weren't going to be needed and on and on. We just resented it and were offended by it and now? Guess what? We run Karaoke!<br />
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Are we sell outs? Perhaps. Is there a dime to be made with our gear that is sitting idly in the garage? Oh, yes. But more so, we get it. Karaoke allows everyone to participate. It accessible to everyone who has the guts to get up there and open their mouth and squeak out a tune. For the moment you can be Carrie Underwood or Jon Bon Jovi. You can get the whole bar to sing Na-na-na-na-na along with Journey to thunderous applause. Who doesn't love that?<br />
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We get it. It's about everyone and we can all join in.<br />
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I personally have become a much better singer since we started running Karaoke. I am a fair singer, good pitch, fair tone, buy I was shaky and worse yet, I didn't practice. I didn't open my mouth until we got up there on stage with a crowd in front of us. Oh my goodness, what was I thinking? Sometimes it was just really weak and timid, but now I am the queen of Karaoke.<br />
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Okay, not really the queen, but I'm part of the crowd. I have done well on some songs and then I've picked songs that were a total stretch and bombed! I bombed and did it in front of people and lived to tell the tale. That's actually helped my singing skills also. You wouldn't think so, but really butchering a song and laughing at yourself is good for your mental health. It takes the perfectionism down a notch or two. People...it's not the end of the world.<br />
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Plus, now when I step up to the microphone to sing I have some practice time under my belt. Just like learning chess, you remember the moves. My throat remembers the shape that makes that sound. I've stretched for that note before and I know I can hit it. I've swooped that country sound before and I can do it again.<br />
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So the evil Karaoke has become one of my favorite things. I have a room full of friends who I encourage with my whooping and applause and they do the same for me, even when I totally, totally ruin some beautiful song, my friends still applaud, gotta love it. <br />
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Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-46359138530690728262013-07-31T14:43:00.000-07:002013-07-31T14:43:00.513-07:00Silverwing tears it up in Carson CityHey, well, we really didn't tear up Carson City, but Mel and Sean tore it up on lead guitars and we rocked 'em till they dropped at the Whiskey Tavern.<br />
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What a great time! We really connected with crowd and they bought 5 CD's from us. <br />
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All the original songs went over really well. One of our original songs, "Who You Are," is a song about a man trying to learn what this girl is all about, so he can get to know her. It's like a first conversation where the man takes the time to ask the questions. He wants to know "Who You Are and What You Do," to see if they might be a perfect match. It's really about Mel and I and how I walked by him and all the other men at a gig and went home alone. That intrigued him and he wanted to know more about me. See playing hard to get does really pay off.<br />
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But enough about Mel and I, back to the Whiskey Tavern, one of the guys at the bar came up at the end of the night and said that "Who You Are" was a perfect description of him and his girlfriend. I saw them dancing closely and whispering during the song. It is very satisfying to know that something I helped write has touched someone. I hope it inspires them to talk deeply and get to know each other's hearts.<br />
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The rest of the crowd was wild and rowdy. Lots of applause, lots of dancing and at the end of the night several people said we were the best band that had played there. I am pleased and very grateful. It always feels so incredible when people appreciate your hard work. <br />
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I know we all felt good about our performance. Song selection was great, breaks were tight, leads were smoking, singing was spot on! It was a great time. We stopped at 1am-ish and tore down and drove an hour to home. We got home right before the sun started coming up. Yeah, I love being a musician. <br />
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The next day, when we <u>finally</u> woke up, I was worthless. Making breakfast at noon just wiped me out. Would I trade it for a good nights sleep? Nah, rock star wins!<br />
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Visit our website at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a>. Our original CD "Moonshine" is available at our gigs, the website, CD baby and Amazon.<br />
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Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-83038700477478758422013-07-25T16:52:00.000-07:002013-07-25T16:52:05.341-07:00Next gig for the GuitarChicMy fascination with female musicians is not just some weird quirk. I am a musician and knowing how challenging it can be to play on stage makes me respect these talented women all the more.<br />
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I am part of Silverwing, a rockin' country band based in the Reno, Nevada area. We play classic and current country music with a few good rock songs thrown in to keep it surprising. I have played for a few lonely drunks in a tiny bar to thousands of people at a political rally. It's always fun, even at closing time and the place is emptying out, I still love and appreciate that I get to play music for a living. It is a blessing in my life.<br />
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So where is my next gig? The Whiskey Tavern in Carson City, NV. It should be a great time. Looks like they have a good crowd with lots of Facebook followers. They approached us in Virginia City on the Fourth of July and immediately wanted to hire us. Very cool, that's a nice compliment.<br />
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So Saturday is gig day. We start playing at 9pm, but we live an hour away, so we actually have to start our "job" earlier in the afternoon, when we load the gear into the pick-up truck. Gotta bring it all, don't want to be an hour away from home and forget one chord, ugh. So it's personal gear, like guitars, stands, microphones, amplifiers and tuners plus PA gear like mixer board, power conditioners, more chords and lots of speakers. <br />
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I don't sit by watching my husband loading gear, frightened to break a nail, I jump into the back of the pickup and organize all the stuff. It's like the old video game Tetrus, putting all these amps, boxes, speakers and guitars into a nice little package in the bed of the pickup. <br />
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We gotta get there early enough to set up and sound check, so when we turn it on, it sounds good right off the bat. Each room is different. What worked great at the last gig, could be a real disaster at the next gig. We go from outdoor gigs, to small rooms, to large rooms and everything needs to be adjusted for the unique situation. Plus, you don't want to be rushed and chaotic. So after the sound check we need time to relax and kick back just a bit.<br />
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You'd think I would be nervous, but it rarely crosses my mind. I was so shy growing up, that even I am amazed by how cool, calm and collected I am when I'm getting up on stage in front of people and singing. Recently we played a wedding. The first song was the couple's first dance and the first note of that song, was me singing with no music behind me, HUH? What! I admit I was shaking, but, I did great. Yeah!<br />
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So, that's why I am a great fan of female musicians. I am just a part of a band. I can't imagine how it would feel to step up and be the focal point, to keep a crowd entertained for an evening. Wow, these women are my idols.<br />
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Please stop by my website <a href="http://www.guitarchics.com/">www.guitarchics.com</a> and learn a few interesting facts about my favorite female musicians. The site will be growing each week, so come back often. Also, check out our band at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a>, that's me right in the middle. Our CD "Moonshine" is available at our gigs, our website, CDbaby and Amazon.com.<br />
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Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-3905291081834633652013-07-18T14:42:00.000-07:002013-07-18T14:42:04.082-07:00GuitarChics is Alive and WellMy website, <a href="http://www.guitarchics.com/">www.guitarchics.com</a>, is finally active on the Internet. It's has been a personal challenge for me, but it is working and I will be adding to it weekly for the rest of my days.<br />
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My hope with GuitarChics is to introduce people to the stories of women who have made a living in the music industry. Whether they are headlining in a stadium, playing in a coffee shop or teaching young children how to play, I want to share their stories. The stories that encourage and inspire young women to pursue their hopes and dreams. I want guitarchics to be a Power of Positive Thinking with musicians as our role models.<br />
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It's dear to my heart because I play rhythm guitar in Silverwing, a rockin country band from Northern Nevada. I have played to thousands in a convention center and to a few in an empty bar at closing time, but regardless, it's always showtime. It's my "job" to do my best, to reach down and give you my heart even if it's time to turn off the neon lights and head home and I love my "job."<br />
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So stop by <a href="http://www.guitarchics.com/">www.guitarchics.com</a> and read up the bios that I have completed so far. Check back each week to see what else I have added. If you have an idea of a great female musician that should be added to the site, send me an email at <a href="mailto:maryband_girl@yahoo.com">maryband_girl@yahoo.com</a> with "Guitarchics" in the title. I'll do my best to get that person included.<br />
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Get Silverwing's first CD of original music at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a>. It's fun and I'm very proud of it, since I wrote a lot of the lyrics, played guitar and my husband wrote the music and played a bunch of instruments.Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-2017669881070681612013-02-22T16:09:00.001-08:002013-02-22T16:09:30.306-08:00Silverwing's Lead Guitarist Wins MXL Mic Contest<div style="text-align: center;">
Congratulations to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the <strong>Lead Guitar Player</strong> for <strong>Silverwing</strong>, <br />
<strong>Mel Warstler</strong>, </div>
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for entering and winning the MXL Mic Contest. </div>
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His prize is the newest in the MXL line of studio Mics the</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<strong><u><span style="font-size: large;">MXL Cr 30</span></u></strong>.</div>
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MXL Cr 30 Large Diaphragm Condenser Microphone</h3>
<div class="description">
The <b>MXL Cr30</b> has a small profile body with a sleek black chrome finish. It features a 32mm large diaphragm capsule with a fixed cardioid pattern, and a low noise FET preamp with fully balanced transformerless output. In addition it has a 3 position pad (pre attenuation) switch with settings of 0dB, -10dB and -20dB. The Cr30 delivers power and depth to vocals, as well as capturing the clarity and smoothness of instrumental performances. Wired with Mogami cable, the Cr30's fidelity and versatility will ensure it is a favorite in your studio. <br />
<strong>Photo and description courtesy of MXL Microphones </strong><a href="http://www.mxlmics.com/"><strong>www.mxlmics.com</strong></a></div>
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Mel's winning photo received the most votes during the contest. The title of the photo is <br />
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<strong>"Bouquet of Mics Used on Silverwing's new CD <em>Moonshine."</em></strong> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsLkgLQJSt7vj-n94RYh2f0XNhelj7NwdprB6MxfNO4Jqx9YYWk2Lxa-7FHWViYLiI7k6m5DmivMAy369X79t8RRmoGYQAy1fxD0-Qns7xC3AYUwNlpVFsnjYu_eITd_-XuNRbv6QIHnI/s1600/Mel's+Mic+Collection.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpsLkgLQJSt7vj-n94RYh2f0XNhelj7NwdprB6MxfNO4Jqx9YYWk2Lxa-7FHWViYLiI7k6m5DmivMAy369X79t8RRmoGYQAy1fxD0-Qns7xC3AYUwNlpVFsnjYu_eITd_-XuNRbv6QIHnI/s320/Mel's+Mic+Collection.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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Overhead Left to Right:<br />
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The<strong> MXL</strong> <strong>991</strong> is a superior instrument microphone designed for recording acoustic guitar and drum overheads and is part of the very popular MXL 990/991 package.<br />
The<strong> MXL 551</strong> instrument microphone provides the dynamic range needed for acoustic guitars, drums, high-hat cymbals, pianos, percussion, stringed instruments and more and is part of the MXL 550/551 package.<br />
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Below Left to Right:<br />
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The<strong> MXL</strong> <strong>990</strong> offers a silky, sweet high end and a tight solid bass, perfect for recording vocals. <br />
The <strong>MXL 550</strong> is a robust vocal condenser microphone with exceptional clarity and tonal quality The <strong>MXL V250</strong> was used for vocals. <br />
The <strong>Guitar Cube</strong> was placed in front of the cabinet for the electric guitar tracks. <br />
The <strong>R70 Ribbon Mic</strong> was used for vocals.<br />
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A later purchase, not included in picture, was the ribbon mic <strong>R144</strong>. Incorporating a Figure-8 polar pattern and a 1.8-micron aluminum ribbon, the <b>MXL R144</b> offers breathtaking sound for vocal and instrument recordings and is an excellent microphone for broadcast applications. The R144 also performs brilliantly on acoustic instruments, strings, and horns and offers high SPL capability, outstanding side rejection and precise directivity. <br />
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<strong>Descriptions of mics courtesy of </strong><a href="http://www.mxlmics.com/">www.mxlmics.com</a><br />
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Our finished product is <em>Moonshine</em> by Silverwing, a collection of our original music. The instrument mics were used for recording the Dobro on "Moonshine" and "Wave Your Flag," the Ukelele on "Toes in the Sand," the Classical Guitar on "Where do Old Cowboys Go" and the Mandolin on "Wide Open Spaces." The Guitar Cube was used for picking up the amps and the electric guitars. The R144 and R70 were used for the vocals. The CD is available at our website and at CD Baby <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing</a>.<br />
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<strong>About the author</strong>: Mary Warstler (the Guitarchic) is the rhythm guitar player, wanna-be bass player, back up vocalist and co-songwriter for Silverwing a rockin' country band from Northern Nevada which respects it's roots, but pushes the limits on rockin out. Our CD "Moonshine" is available at CD Baby, Amazon, and our website. Check out Silverwing at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a> and like us on Facebook. Connect to Mary at Guitarchics at Twitter for the latest news on Silverwing.Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-30629369740886783462013-02-16T12:26:00.000-08:002013-02-16T12:26:35.835-08:00Silverwing Rocks Virginia CityMy band <strong><a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/" target="_blank">Silverwing</a></strong> had a great time playing this last Saturday night at the Ponderosa Saloon in <strong>Virginia City, Nevada</strong>. We had a large turnout of dancers from both Carson City and Reno who came all the way up to Mt Davidson along the dark winding Geiger Grade from Reno or Six Mile Canyon Road to enjoy some music and have a good time with Silverwing.<br />
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We sold 10 CD's to new fans who enjoyed the originals that we throw into our sets. Our title song "Moonshine" is a southern rocker, if you loved 38 Special, you'll like it and "Wide Open Spaces" is a tribute to Mel's father and his western upbringing. But you don't have to come to a gig to get a copy, you can download the entire CD or a few songs at <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing</a><br />
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If you are a county dancer you will enjoy "Who You Are" which is a cha-cha similar to Neon Moon and if you are a city dweller listen to "Rodeo" to get a feel for the western lifestyle. If you are proud patriotic American listen to "Wave Your Flag." I think it should become the Tea Party anthem. We get lots of compliments on the CD, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. Downloading the music is easy at <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing</a><br />
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Our next gig will be back home in Fallon, but it's always a treat to go to Virginia City.<br />
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Virginia City was the site of the Comstock Lode. During it's heyday in the 1860's about $300 million dollars worth of gold and silver was mined here. The town boomed with gambling halls, bars, and banks. The ore mined here helped fund the US Govt during the Civil War, hence our state motto "Battle Born." Though many years have passed since it was a bustling wild west town, the locals have maintained it. You can truly step back in time in Virginia City.<br />
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Walk along wooden sidewalks, sleep in victorian hotels, drink at historic bars, go on a mining tour, visit Pipers Opera House where Mark Twain gave a speech while he was living in VC and working as a reporter for The Territorial Enterprise and stop by the Forth Ward School where the children of miners studied together and is now a museum. <br />
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In 2009 Virginia City is was given a "Distinctive Destination Award" from the National Trust for Historic Preservation. And of course for anyone old enough to remember the TV show Bonanza, Virginia City is where Hoss and Little Joe went to call-on pretty girls, ooops, I mean they fought with bad guys and ran them out of town.<br />
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The Ponderosa Saloon where we play music was the original Bank of California building where William Sharon helped finance the mines around VC, and of course foreclosed on them as well. The bank vault still stands in the middle of the bar and in the back of the building is the entrance to the Best & Belcher Underground Mine Tour. Take a tour and get a feel for the hard lives of the miners.<br />
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Currently Virginia City is busy with events and entertainment. There are many festivals held here such as the Americana Music Festival, Steampunk Ball, Comstock Civil War Days, Camel Races and great holiday events for 4th of July, Holloween and Christmas on the Comstock. Check out all the action at <a href="http://www.visitvirginiacitynv.com/">www.visitvirginiacitynv.com</a>.<br />
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Silverwing's next gig will be at Boomer's Bar in Fallon. Check out our schedule at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a> and "Like" us on Facebook. We love to talk to fans.<br />
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Silverwing is a four piece country band, but we rock it up ALOT. Of course, we play the classics, a few Merle Haggard, George Jones, Johnny Cash and a Waylon or two, but we also push it with some Jason Aldean, Luke Bryan and now Brantley Gilbert. That is some intense stuff with some rockin' guitar riffs. (I need to get my Strat back out of the case for those!) <br />
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So, stop by CD Baby and download <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing" target="_blank">Silverwing's new CD "</a><strong><a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing" target="_blank">Moonshine</a>."</strong> You will enjoy it and downloading is simple at <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing</a><br />
I am going to give a free Silverwing T-shirt to the first person to download the CD and leave us a review at the CD Baby site. Get to ordering!!!! So I can mail out this T-shirt!<br />
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<strong>About the Author</strong>: Mary Warstler is the rhythm guitar player, singer, lyric writer and wannabe bass player for Northern Nevada's best kept secret, <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/" target="_blank">Silverwing</a>, a rockin' country band that stays true to it's roots while pushing the limits of rockin' fun. Silverwing's CD of original music called "Moonshine" is available at our gigs, our website, at CD Baby and at Amazon. Come by and visit us at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a> and come "Like" us on Facebook. We love our fans! <br />
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<br />Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-50357312071860150112013-01-27T16:27:00.002-08:002013-01-27T16:39:58.353-08:00Orianthi receives award at 2013 NAMM Trade Show<br />
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Right now one of the hottest,
rockin-est female guitar players on the music scene has to be
Orianthi.</div>
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<img alt="Photo: Congrats to Orianthi for winning the Inspire Award at Namm
I produced her new album out soon" class="scaledImageFitWidth img" height="403" src="http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/424438_10151201180817133_766787509_n.jpg" width="403" /></div>
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Photo courtesy of Dave Stewart</div>
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If you are not familiar with this
guitar goddess feel free to view this tasty video of Ori trading
licks with Steve Vai in “Highly Strung.” I'm sure you will be
impressed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7b-_YcACuQ&feature=share&list=UUlFyN-SOQEK5QK9wodHQFeg">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7b-_YcACuQ&feature=share&list=UUlFyN-SOQEK5QK9wodHQFeg</a></div>
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Orianthi (Panagaris) born was in
Australia in 1985 and grew up in a home filled with music. She
learned to play the acoustic guitar at 6 and moved to the electric
guitar at around 9 years old. She was playing with bands at 14 and
had the incredible experience of playing for Steve Vai at 15.
Orianthi became interested in Carlos Santana's music and bought all
his videos. She studied them over and over till the tapes were worn
out and her dedication paid off. When Orianthi was 18 she got the
opportunity to jam with Carlos and later he invited her up on stage
where she played for about a half-hour.</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Later, Carlos Santana brought her to
the attention of Paul Reed Smith and she signed an endorsement
agreement with his guitar brand. In 2006 she signed with Geffen
Records. She has played at Eric Clapton's Crossroads and opened for
Steve Vai. Orianthi was the lead guitar player for Carrie Underwood
at the 51<sup>st</sup> Grammy performance of “Last Name.” That performance caught the attention of Michael Jackson who hired her to be his
guitarist for the <i>This Is It</i> tour which never took place due
to his passing</div>
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In 2005 she released her first album
<i>Violet Journey</i>. On the album, Orianthi wrote all the music and lyrics, plus
contributed guitar, drums and vocal tracks as well as doing the mixing in her
home studio.
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In 2009 she released the album<i>
Believe</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> with the hit “According
to You” which she performed in March 2010 on American Idol.</span><br />
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Right now Orianthi is tearing it up on
tour with Alice Cooper. She has the honor of being the first female
member of Alice Cooper's band. In a quote about her debut
performance with Alice Cooper's band, a fan said “she gave a
blistering performance....she's worthy, she's worthy.”</div>
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At this year's National Association of
Music Merchants (NAMM) trade show Orianthi will be receiving the “She
Rocks” award from the Women's International Music Network.
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On March 12<sup>th</sup> her new album <em>
Heaven in this Hell</em> will be issued. Check her out as she performs
the single “Frozen” on Fox News.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cLZSn4B7uQ&feature=youtu.be">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cLZSn4B7uQ&feature=youtu.be</a><br />
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In a quote from the website "Weekly,"
Orianthi says, ”I hope to <u><b>inspire</b></u> a lot more female
guitar players. Just pick it up and keep on going. Even though it's
a guy thing, it'll be really cool to see more girls out there kicking
butt and rocking out”</div>
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And since INSPIRATION is what
GuitarChics is all about, let Orianthi's story inspire you to be
dedicated to YOUR passion, whether it's guitar playing or basketball
or ballet. Become committed to your personal interests and maybe you
will be blessed with good luck and great opportunities.</div>
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But you'll
never get there if you don't put in the <u>effort</u>!</div>
Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com1Nevada, USA38.8026097 -116.4193890000000232.443179199999996 -126.74653750000002 45.1620402 -106.09224050000003tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-52447435091139256032013-01-25T17:24:00.000-08:002013-01-25T17:27:28.394-08:00Silverwing's Mini-Vacation<strong>Silverwing Band takes a mini-vacation</strong><br />
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Well, January has been a slow month for Silverwing. I think we played just about every weekend from July all the way to New Year's Eve. But January only has one gig in it. I'm going through withdrawals. What will I do with all that time on my hands?<br />
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So during our mini-unexpected-vacation there are a few things the band is going to do:<br />
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<strong>Market our new CD "Moonshine"</strong><br />
The CD was printed at Disc Makers and it available at CD Baby, Amazon, our website and a few other outlets, but if no one knows about it, we won't have any sales. So we did a great radio interview at the local country radio station, KHWG 750AM, Fallon, Nevada. Ronzo, the morning DJ, invited us into the studio and between playing some of the songs, he asked each of us a few questions. I won't deny it was nerve-wracking, but it's all part of the joy of getting to play music for a living.<br />
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<strong>Learn a few new cover songs</strong><br />
It's a good idea to keep the set list fresh, so we each picked out a new song to add to the set list. Since we are a rockin' country bar band, we normally play from 8pm to midnight. Four hours can be a long time and playing the same old set in the same old order can start to make the night drag. So bringing in something new is a good idea. I'm not sure the dancers always appreciate the effort it takes, but we are proud of ourselves even if the dancers have to go home and learn a few new steps off of YouTube. It's good for them!<br />
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<strong>Work up some new material for the next CD</strong><br />
Silverwing can't sit around and wait for "Moonshine" to become a big seller. We need to work on the next CD while we promote this one. At this point we have a bunch of half completed tunes, some with no lyrics, some just a hook and a lead. It's time to decide on our favorites and focus on completing them for the next CD. Mel is going to get a CD together of snippets of songs and have each of us decide on our own which ones have the most promise. Hopefully we can come to a consensus on about 10 or 12 songs. Then we need to complete them and record them. It's intimidating to create. In Twyla Tharp's "The Creative Habit" she discusses the white room with nothing in it and how challenging it is. Well that is the challenge of completing songs, can I make the lyrics better? Is this good enough? Should I toss it in the trash and go sell french fries cause I am terrible? Oh, the mind can think some terrible stuff. <br />
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So our mini-vacation from playing gigs is going to be very busy and I'm happy about that. Playing music is so satisfying and as a formerly shy person it has changed my life.<br />
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Check out the CD "Moonshine" by Silverwing at CD Baby. <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing">http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/silverwing</a> You can purchase the whole CD with the nifty art work or download one song at a time. If you know an old cowboy, he'll probably love "Wide Open Spaces" It is a crowd pleaser.<br />
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Stop by the website and leave us a message at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a>. Check out our schedule for a gig near you. <br />
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Thanks, <br />
Mary Warstler, rhythm guitar player and songwriter<br />
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<strong></strong><br />Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-51863388893891381272012-12-30T16:00:00.000-08:002012-12-30T16:03:41.410-08:00Silverwing records new CDHi friends, I have been busy playing music with my band <strong>Silverwing</strong> and of course procrastinating since I last posted, so I need to do some catching up. Here goes....<br />
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When I last posted, I was talking about recording the drum tracks and how we used the wrong microphones for the first attempt and so we purchased the <strong>Shure PGDMK6 Drum Mic Kit</strong> which worked perfectly. Each mic picked up only the sound of the drum that it was pointed at, so we ended up with 6 individual drum tracks.<br />
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Next we recorded the bass guitar. Of course, our bass player listened to the scratch tracks through the headphones while he played along. Instead of placing a microphone infront of a bass amplifier, he used a chord do go directly from the bass into the <strong>Tascam DP 24 Digital Portable Studio</strong>. This produced a clean track without any room noise at all.<br />
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Next it was my turn to do the rhythm guitar tracks. Even though some of the songs are pretty rockin, we used an acoustic guitar on all the tracks. I just changed the strum pattern for each song. For "Moonshine" and "Rodeo" I strummed in short hard strums, but for "Wide Open Spaces" I used a much more flowing light strum. It just is dependent upon what the song requires.<br />
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On a few songs I went directly into the board from the acoustic guitar with a guitar chord, but we also used an amplifier and placed a mic infront of it, for a different sound. One of the mics we used was the <strong>Guitar Cube from MXL</strong>. It is manufactured for recording guitar amps, so it served well.<br />
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It is difficult to hear your own mistakes and even though I have played the songs many times live, I still made a few mistakes. In past recordings our engineer has had us replay the entire track again and pick through it for the best parts, but since we are using only one track per instrument, we used the "Punch In" technique to fix errors as we recorded. <br />
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So after my initial track was completed, I would go outside and get some fresh air and let the engineer and my hubby listen to the track for any errors. I didn't like to hear it. It makes me cringe to hear myself and I am so critical. If they found a mistake we just "Punched In" the correction.<br />
So they would make a note of what measure needed a correction, and I would play along with the recording, when we got to spot that needed fixing, they hit record, let it go through the error and then turned off the recorder. TA-DA big booboo all gone, just like that.<br />
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The CD is actually already completed and up for sale all over the internet, but just for the record I am going to continue to discuss the recording process. You can find a copy of our CD "Moonshine" at CD Baby and our site <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a>. If you are in Northern Nevada or California check our schedule and come out to one of our gigs. This New Year's Eve Silverwing is playing at Sharkey's Casino in Gardnerville, NV. I'll post some pictures at my next blog.<br />
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Check out this link: <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">New CD "Moonshine" by Silverwing</a><br />
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<strong></strong><br />Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-82926426308365891912012-11-14T20:24:00.001-08:002012-11-14T20:24:55.456-08:00Silverwing recording CD of original musicWhat have I been doing since I last posted? Oh, I think that would be procrastinating. Yep, that's it. Because the CD has been coming along quickly and I have posted nothing. So here we go....<br />
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After the scratch track was completed, the band members were all supposed to come back to the studio, listen to the scratch track through headphones and then play our individual part, one person at a time. So first up is Frank the drummer. The drum tracks will be the first layer in our final CD.<br />
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Frank has the drums all set already from playing the scratch tracks and so now we mike the drums put each mike into a different channel on the mixer/recorder. Frank puts the headphones on and plays along with the song, while the recorder does its job. Sounds to simply, but whoa, nothing is that simple.<br />
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Frank plays his heart out. His time is perfect and he adds little touches to each song. He is just great. So he plays each song and he heads back home which is an hour away. He probably spent an entire day working on these individual tracks for the drums. We are very excited.<br />
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Our engineer is going to listen to the tracks and do a little clean up before we go forward with the next layer of our CD. He is going to listen to each individual tracks and see if there is any ugly white noise or overbleed from another drum. Theoretically each mike should only pick up the drum that it is pointed at. But no, we didn't use the right type of drum mikes.<br />
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And so the mikes picked up the drum in front of them and then everything around them as well. Microphones come in a variety of types, you got your vocal mikes, instrument mikes, condenser mikes, etc, etc, and we used the wrong type of mikes on the drums. So we picked up a Drum Mike package from Shure. The PGDMK6 Drum Mike Kit from Shure did the trick.<br />
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We had Frank return to the studio and the drum mikes were placed strategically, so each tom, snare and cymbal had a clean track recording. The kick drum was miked and a blanket was tossed over it, so it wouldn't bleed over into the other mikes. <br />
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Frank re-played the entire CD and, wow, what a difference good mikes can make in your recording effort. So use the right tool for the right job. When recording drums for a CD try the Shure Mike Kit. It worked well for Silverwing.<br />
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Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-60304887476085101102012-08-19T11:37:00.002-07:002012-08-19T11:39:19.983-07:00Home Recording: The Scratch TracksOur first step in recording our original music will be to create what we refer to as scratch tracks. The CD is going to be recorded one instrument at a time, but the scratch track will be all of us performing the songs together. That scratch track will be used by each member of the band. We will listen to the scratch track through the headphones while we play and recording one instrument at a time.<br />
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So we met a few weeks ago to create the scratch tracks. We set up our equipment as if we were going to play at a gig. Everyone had a vocal microphone that was plugged into the recorder. Each instrument amplifier had a microphone in front of it and they were plugged into the recorder. Then the drums were miked also. Those microphones were input to a mixer and the two line outs from that mixer were plugged into the recorder. We needed to do it that way, because our recorder doesn't have enough inputs for the drums to go directly into it for recording with all the vocals and instruments.<br />
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We are using a Tascam Digital Portable Studio DP-24 for creating this recording. We have had two failed attempts at recording this music in the last few years and decided that instead of depending upon others to produce the CD the way we wanted it, we would just do it ourselves. We pulled together some money and my husband researched home studios and selected this model. We are sure that it will do a great job.<br />
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Recording the scratch tracks was not very difficult at all. We have played these songs in public many times. Our original music gets very good crowd response and sometimes we get requests for our original music and that is quite the compliment.<br />
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We ran through a few warm up songs, just to get the cobwebs out. The bands favorite warmup song has to be "The Fireman" the George Strait hit or the Dwight Yoakum version of the Elvis hit "Little Sister." Those songs are upbeat and fun, they just get you in the right mood for playing music.<br />
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After the warmup songs, our engineer turned on the DP-24 and we played one of our originals. The main point right now is not to be absolutely note for note perfect, but to have the tempo be perfect. The DP-24 has a click track option, which is like a metronome playing in your ear, but we decided we didn't want to do it that way, so it is up to the drummer to maintain the tempo and not speed up or slow down. This is critical because as we each lay down our individual tracks we will be listening to this scratch track through the headphones. If it speeds up or slows down, so will our final product. So this is alot of pressure on the drummer.<br />
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We did a few of the scratch tracks on the first take. That is very satisfying. Several of them required more than one take, but it went very quickly. We created scratch tracks for nine original songs in less than an eight hour day. Very productive<br />
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Our next step will be to record the individual drum tracks. That will be the first track that will be layed down on the final CD product. Very excited. I will report back on our progess soon.Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-53190556983568859452012-08-13T13:18:00.000-07:002012-08-13T13:18:05.064-07:00What have I been doing for two yearsHere I am looking at this blog which I have abandoned. It's like an old house that no one has lived in and has deteriorated due to lack of attention. I think my blog has a few cobwebs, maybe a leaky faucet and definately needs a fresh coat of paint.<br />
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So here's the news...my band, Silverwing, is recording a CD of original music written by my husband and myself. It is very exciting. We don't have daydreams of fortune and glory, but we need to do this cause it is an unfinished project. <br />
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You know how it is...I can come up with great ideas and be all excited and full of energy and then the tough part of the idea hits me upside the head and guess what???? I put the idea away and it never gets finished. I am a great starter (yeah, see first sentence about my abandoned blog), but my finishing skills leave alot to be desired.<br />
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So we are going to finish this CD and then we are going to start another CD since we have that much material. Our band website is at <a href="http://www.silverwingband.com/">www.silverwingband.com</a>. We play regularly throughout Northern Nevada and occasionally in California.<br />
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We had the honor of playing for the Nevada Republican Convention during the last Presidential Campaign when Sarah Palin spoke in Carson City and Reno for thousands of people. We played fairs and festivals, honky tonks and classy casinoes. It has been a great adventure and now we are going to record our originals.<br />
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And our original songs are warmly received by everyone.<br />
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I'll keep you posted. Thanks, The GuitarChic Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-49399125779234011962010-06-15T08:26:00.000-07:002010-06-15T08:35:20.237-07:00Hot Guitar RiffsWell, the title sounds good, but the reality is...maybe not so hot. But I have learned the minor pentatonic scale and I jammed to Oye Como Va on the CD which accompanies my new book, "Rock Guitar" by Hal Leonard.<br /><br />I'm impressed that you can play any note in that pentatonic scale and be in tune. It's great. I also learned some power chords and that makes total sense. I've played enough blues and rock that I know where the next chord is, really pretty easy to figure out. So I am learning "I hate myself for loving you" by Joan Jett and of course it sounds much better with the power chords.<br /><br />I may even try out a distortion pedal. I know that is the crunchy sound that I need for that song. I am loving this guitar playing and soon I am going to get up at open jam rock night and throw down a Joan Jett song. I think I will be first female to show up at this rock jam night. Yes!Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-59915009858113483762010-06-06T08:52:00.000-07:002010-06-06T08:59:11.728-07:00Lead Guitar RiffsQuick update on my new goal of learning lead guitar, I forgot all about my new goal and so I have nothing to report. The book has not even been opened. So today, Sunday, a day of take it easy and watch some playoff basketball, I make a promise to myself to open that darn book and make some progress.<br /><br />But in the meantime, Brandywine played two gigs. We played at the Oasis Bowl and at the American Legion Hall. Both nights were great with great crowds. We added quite a few newer songs to our set lists. I added White Liar by Miranda Lambert and I did a pretty good job singing it and got a few compliments. I think my Karaoke singing has actually helped me loosen up when I try and hit the high notes.<br /><br />Karaoke at Big O's in Fallon on Thursday & Saturday is taking off with good crowds and lots of fun. Thursday is ladies night, so come on out.Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-26493366836830279412010-05-09T14:13:00.000-07:002010-05-09T14:22:26.248-07:00Learning to Play Lead Guitar LicksLadies,<br />I am a rhythm guitar player in both the Silverwing band and Brandywine. And my husband Mel Warstler is the lead player. I am so awestruck by Mel's lead playing that I have decided to set a goal to learn how to play a lead run. Mel can just tear it up, he can bring people to their feet with his rocking leads on Sweet Home Alabama and he can make people fall in love with the sweetness of Wonderful Tonight. It is just a blast to listen to him. So I am going to attempt (HA!) to learn a few lead lines. I went to Guitar Center and I bought a book/CD by Hal Leonard called "Rock Guitar."<br />So on top of a new job, housekeeping, my websites, exercising, recording our CD, practice with the band, blogging, etc, I am going to learn how to play lead!!! As I said earlier, HA!, but here I go. I will keep you posted as to my progress.<br />Make sure to visit <a href="http://www.guitarchics.com/">www.Guitarchics.com</a> to pick up your favorite CD by your favorite guitarchic. Do forget to read by three steps for overcoming stagefright. See you in the spotlight, Love, the GuitarchicSilverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-51726027575951451062010-05-01T14:26:00.000-07:002010-05-01T14:44:10.881-07:00Miranda Lambert wins at Academy of Country MusicOne of my favorite GuitarChics, Miranda Lambert, was a big winner at the 45th Academy of Country Music awards held in Las Vegas on April 18th. The Academy of Country Music was organized in 1964 to promote country music in the 13 western states, but it's impact is truely nationwide. It's annual awards bring thousands to Las Vegas each year. Miranda looked shocked when her name was called as the Top Female Vocalist, where she beat out a stellar crowd consisting of Reba McIntire, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and LeeAnn Womack. Miranda also won Video of the Year for "White Liar" which co stars her parents, best friend, and Jamey Johnson among others. I am going to add "White Liar" to the set list for my duo, Brandywine, in the near future. I think its a great song with a clever twist. But in my opinion the greatest award for our GuitarChic was ALBUM OF THE YEAR, for "REVOLUTION." This award makes Miranda Lambert the first female artist to EVER win 2 Album of the Year awards, because Miranda won in 2008 for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." Congratulations to Miranda and thanks for the inspiration.Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611167144435373182.post-33229438989604514352010-03-22T13:45:00.000-07:002010-03-22T13:54:53.180-07:00GuitarChics is launched!!!The new website GuitarChics.com is launched. At GuitarChics we will be falling all over ourselves telling you about great female guitar players of all genres. We want to share the news and find the talent and let everyone know what we girls have to offer the world. Its going to be exciting to learn the history of female guitarist. Who stepped up to the mic years ago and paved the way for the rest of us? Who is creating a new sound and being unique and true to themselves? How is the female guitar player changing music and in kind changing the world?<br /><br />Stop by often. It's young and new, but it's growing. My favorite part will be a section for young women who have never picked up a guitar. The basics, the answers to the questions that you don't want to ask the cool hot guy at the music store. Ask me and I will get the information for you. And then when you stop to talk to the cool hot guy at the music store he will be impressed. <br /><br />Guitar playing has changed my life. I just want to share it with other young women and share my passion for music. Have a great day.Silverwinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08677021649532636689noreply@blogger.com0