February 25, 2006
preston reed is blogging.
The result of a successful composition should be satisfying, entertaining, involving, and, on some level, edifying, whether it be long or short, simple or complicated, easy to listen to or not. Some compositions require multiple listenings to digest and enjoy. Some are instantly pleasing. But there will always be something that feels right — natural, organic, alive — about a good composition.
A good composition gives back energy. It continues to evolve inside the listener over time.
[Live-streaming music samples can be found here. My fave track is one called “Flatonia,” but that’s just me.]
[Here’s an AMAZING hour-long video of Preston performing live at The Kennedy Center. Watch his technique. Wow.]
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I thought legendary acoustic guitarist, Preston Reed, should start a blog:
What Preston realised is that what paid his bills wasn’t percentages on record sales, but the relationship he had with his audience.
So he and his wife built up a nice wee “Global Microbrand”, which includes lots of playing, lots of touring, lots of real time connection with people who dig his work.
Like I said, this conversation was pretty seminal. Turns out what a lot of bloggers are now trying to do online, Preston was already trying to do the same via live music. His philosophy certainly helped confirm what I was trying to do with my work, back in those early blogging days– bypassing big media, building one’s own sovereignty from the ground up etc. Even though I’m not a musician, his hands-on M.O. proved to be a real long-term inspiration for me.
So I wrote him an e-mail earlier today, telling him he’d be a perfect candidate to bring some music into the Blogosphere. Maybe I get him to play live at a Geek Dinner, blog confab or something. Just an idea.
A few phone calls later, he was on the case.
Rock on.
Sorry, Hugh but it seems MC Hammer got there first (mchammer.blogspot.com). Weird.
Excellent news Hugh. I discovered Preston thru your original post. Listened to some samples and bought everything I found available. I also left a message on his message board encouraging him to follow your advice and blog.
It’s probably safe to say I’m not the only one who responded this way.
Hugh, you’d better check your title — “preston reed is bogging”.
::Reader got /me coughing. Nice catch IMHO.
Anw, \m/. ‘Nuff said.
Dead Cool or Who is Preston Reed?
Reed is a known quantity as a guitarist even though I had never heard of him. He is more acoustic than electric and adds percussion to the mix — pounding on the guitar and/or strings in various creative ways as he strums and picks. You can file this…
Blog Measurement — Sunday’s Random Thought
This Thursday I’m going to be chatting with Steve Rubel as part of his Social Media Tour. I’m very excited. Specifically, I want to talk with him about measuring the effect of blogs and leveraging the phenomenon to its fullest…
Preston Reed and MusicHacks
This return to the theme need not always be literal. It can be conceptual. That’s a MusicHack. It’s cognitive dissonance. Leave something for the listener to complete in their mind. Involve them in the song.
…
After visiting mchammer.blogspot.com I have to say, the man can write… (I’ll visit Preston Reed a bit later) (In fact, I guess I’ll visit now…)
I guess Google Reader caches the void… Preston is still bogging along this morning. Hey Hugh, if anyone else tries to use “bogging” we’ll know that you had it first!
bogging; it’s like blogging without the “l”!