Posted By Peter on February 25, 2010

Matisyahu was sick! I got to see him at the roadrunner concert hall. There were only 30 people there. It was intimate. You could skank in front of the stage (one guy did) a foot away from him. He was funny and a great performer to boot. One of the best shows and live venues I have ever been to. Make sure you come down to EMC this Saturday for your chance to do the same for Real Big Fish and Shinedown. There is nothing like seeing someone up close and personal like that!

Category: Pete's Perceptions
Tags: easy music center, matisyahu, petformance, star 101.9

Posted By Peter on February 3, 2010

Making beats is what got me started on running a musical instrument store.

It has frustrated me that the very thing that got me into this (making beats) is something I just don’t do anymore.  I was feeling pretty bored and tired of making beats until this new toy by Korg came along.  I am too busy and lazy to make beats, but this thing solves that problem.  You can chop up samples and sequence a song before you could even turn your computer and get a DAW up and running or load a sound set from an Akai MPC.

Category: Blogs, Featured Products, Pete's Perceptions, Products
Tags: beats, easy music center, hip-hop, keyboard, korg, microsampler, ms1, peter

Posted By Peter on January 25, 2010

I get so tired of junk mail. Credit card companies send you outrageous amounts of junk mail. I get a credit card application from citibank every week without fail. “Just throw it away” you say? I wouldn’t if I were you. Someone will sift through your garbage and find a way to use that application to sign up for a card and steal your identity. I shread every single application I get in a paper shredder aka my confetti maker.

What can you do about it? Do what I do. I stuff as much worthless junk back into the envelope (see pic) as I can possibly fit, try rocks or whatever is nearby and handy, and then I tape it shut with clear tape, and I send it back in the mail on their dime. If everyone did this everytime, can you imagine how quickly they would stop sending junk mail? Nope. I can’t take credit for this idea, but it sure makes for a fun moment. Junk the junk.

Category: Pete's Perceptions
Tags: junk mail

Posted By Peter on January 23, 2010

Al Green can still move and sing for a guy who is 66 years old. Konfonnit security guys wouldn’t let me get close enough for a real pic with my beggar ticket.

Category: Pete's Perceptions
Tags: Al Green, live show, performance

Posted By Peter on January 20, 2010

I like the NAMM show because of the talent.

Category: NAMM, Pete's Perceptions
Tags: NAMM, performers

Posted By Peter on January 17, 2010

I’m in the airport on my way back from the NAMM show. I feel very lucky that Mike Upton, the owner of Kala ukulele, gave me my very own Kala Pocket Ukulele (with my name inscribed on it no less) at the NAMM show. When I first saw it, I thought it was a joke. I thought sopranos were tiny, but this thing is on a whole different level. Pocket Uke? I’m calling it my PUKE. I’m excited to have it while I wait an hour for the flight to board. I hope people around me don’t get too irritated at the two songs that I know. Yep. You can really play this thing. It takes a little getting used to because it is so small that you can’t cradle it under you arm, but it is a lot of fun, and I am surprised how much sound it has for such a small size. The intonation is on too. We will be carrying them in the store soon. This uke is a chick magnet. I’ve gotten a lot of smiles and comments from the ladies as I sit here… Thanks Mike!

Category: NAMM, Pete's Perceptions
Tags: Kala, NAMM, pocket ukulele, ukulele

Posted By Peter on January 17, 2010

Whoa! Sashimi in California can be unreal too. They hook up the hamachi with yuzu kosho (thanks DeShannon Higa – I wouldn’t even know what that was if you didn’t give me a bottle)

Category: Pete's Perceptions
Tags: sashimi