[Daryl Jones]

Every high has a low or withdrawal to it. Christmas in general can do that to a person, so much activity crammed in a few days with family and rushing around doing last minute chores and getting ready. Then it’s over and gone and life returns to the regular grind. I notice it more this year for some reason, maybe the number of livestreams had an influence…?
I’ve spent more time at the hospital of course, and that weighs on all of us. Makes the alone time even more empty I think. I try to make myself available to my brother, but he is a very stoic and private person and refuses most offers. Being business partners since the mid 70’s I’ve learned to let him do his thing, he’s very particular and old fashioned that way. Even if I could make several things easier on him, he’s still a personal “hands on” guy and will never change. C’est la vie.
But we do have this place to come to whenever we want, that’s a very good thing.
Stay groovy all.

[Daryl Jones]

Jung is once again the “go-to” guy around here. He has a mind and memory of a steel trap! The post Lisa answered was before my time in the club so I really appreciate the info Lisa provided and Jung called up. I was pretty sure that wasn’t the original bridge because of the trem, but I didn’t know it was a Dusenberg. Floating bridges are notorious for tuning instability on just about any make of guitar, and some makes are just awful that way by design. I have two guitars with floating bridges and my old Yamaha is a bit fussy, the PRS will go out of tune with excessive bombing, but it’s usually the nut hanging up that is responsible for the most part. As long as the groves in the nut are properly sized and the nut is lubed with graphite or similar dressing most guitars are much more stable. Bone nuts are often difficult that way.

[Daryl Jones]

Jung, I totally get where you are coming from on that hook. My ex sister-in-law worked in the industry for many years. Many of these music “stars” are actually fabricated by the record labels themselves based on what they see as a visual or “attractive” package. What gets offered up for sale to the public is largely electronic slight of hand and most of these “hero” figures can’t perform live on stage if their lives depended on it. They will even go so far as to fabricate a life background to garner a sympathetic edge that a gullible public will eat up like candy. We have a (now middle aged) Canadian female country superstar that fits that model to perfection. And there’s always Biebs to drive that point home.

Sad really, there’s some very talented young people out there that will never get that type of backing.

[Daryl Jones]

And then there were three. My latest addition plus my two previous Paul Reed Smiths. I thought I was stepping outside the box when I bought my first PRS, now I know I’m hooped. My first one (the sapphire blue Custom) I got three years ago. Then I got the bug for the Hollowbody late 2021 for the combination of acoustic and electric tones it produces. But I had to factory order that and the wait time of 10 months was horrible. Then I played Josh’s S2 this past spring and OMG what an amazing instrument! Similar in many playing respects (feel, neck, fit) to the other two, but still so very different tonally.
I almost went for a brand new S2 in a stunning dark cherry color, and had pretty much justified the cost of another brand new guitar, at least in my own feeble mind. Then thankfully (?) my missus contracted COVID and gifted the darn pox to me before I could pull the trigger on the red one….I had the trip to the city and the buying visit to the store all planned for two days after I tested positive.
But a different kind of color, and a far more beautiful one comes from the sound in a guitar far more than the finish. I think Josh has ESP or something, he offered the deal on his the very same day I told him I had COVID. And then there is also the kind of ‘tuxedo’ appeal of the black too. Not to mention a black guitar is just somehow gnarlier when you’re playing a hard driving rock lick. 😉

[Daryl Jones]

Mona and Lisa, Rudi and Michaela, there aren’t enough words to convey my thanks for what you all do for us here at eh MLT Club. I’ve only been around for a bit over a year, but in that time I have made some great friends, but especially in the four of you.
You give up your free time for us on these livestreams and do so much in the background to make the members happy. Sure, it’s a business too…but it is certainly more than that. I cannot think of any other musicians that would do that, and I have some friends in the business that certainly don’t. I know I speak for all of us when I say we appreciate everything you do. Yes, it’s about promoting the music, but you take it far beyond that.
From the bottom of my heart, thank-you for providing us with the absolute “grooviest” place on Earth!❤🎸🎼

[Daryl Jones]

This has nothing to do with scenery or lights and seasonal views really, but it does have a place in my Christmas. I love making “studnetz” (Ukrainian pan headcheese) and my own flavor of beef jerky (developed the recipe from using venison of all manners) so it’s my kitchen tradition as much as turkey and stuffing. Doggone, the kitchen smells good!

[Daryl Jones]

Great song Tim! The intro is good, but belies what comes out in the solo. That really cooks!

[Daryl Jones]

Same as up here pretty much. Many non-hunters ask me how I can be a conservationist and still hunt. If there weren’t conservation efforts that we as hunters abide by and help promote, the lands and forests would be in far worse shape. And that includes the natural fauna big time!

[Daryl Jones]

I hear you Tim. The wilderness is calming and a great place to connect with your inner self. While I do have a group of friends that I often hunt with, I mostly hunt alone and will travel the bush for many miles in search of solitude and away from other hunters. I use my SxS to get to and from specific areas and then go on foot from there. It’s not uncommon for me to go 60-100 miles in my buggy and several hours of foot travel during a normal hunt day. While it’s nice to reap a reward for the efforts, it’s often enough to just be out there and find some relative peace in nature. When you actually do take an animal is when the fun stops and the work begins…

[Daryl Jones]

I hunt myself, and have also used a bow. But I haven’t had an arrow on the string for years now. It’s more of a regulatory thing where I live, hunting period has become a draw license only and that is a period of years between acceptance on applications except for white tail deer. But my significant other is of indigenous status so if we really wanted the meat that bad, we could go at any time we choose. She’s still a bit squeamish on the taking of an animal that means her no harm. Not that I disagree vehemently on that outlook, but I do enjoy having my game in the freezer. I don’t hunt birds except grouse at all anymore, haven’t for decades. Wild geese and ducks are just not something I have any desire to kill. Same with wolves, cougars or bear. Unless they are a threat to me or mine anyway. Nor do I hunt for antlers or records, that’s another discussion for another place and time.

[Daryl Jones]

I try not to be negative about artists/musicians too, but so many times the hype far exceeds the reality of the product. Taylor is one and for me Lady Gaga and Madonna are a couple others. If you have to rely on shock factor and “bling” to get your point through, then to me you are not in that upper echelon of artistry. Nor do they deserve my admiration. Call me fussy.

Mona and Lisa are truly “real” and I have huge respect for their efforts (and Rudi/Michaela too) and obviously the results speak for themselves. I am not a believer in the use of “auto-tune” nor am I at all thrilled with the advent of AI and the production of AI generated music tracks.
A motorcycle race pal of mine is a friend of Tom Scholtz (Boston’s lead guitarist and production headman) and although Tom is a bit of a hard case personality wise, he still believes in writing and producing music “the old fashioned” analog way. I can’t say I disagree with his opinion given their results either. Tom is a wizard and master of overdubs and layered tracking on their records…and they are extremely hard to play all by yourself because of it. I don’t have a looper and even if I did, I doubt I could do a solo effort on many of their songs. I can jam to some of them, but the whole deal is a different matter entirely. Def Leppard is another example of old school (modern? rick-ish) production, and many of their singles that found airplay on radio and video channels required a good deal of “learning” to play live when they toured. It’s very hard to do live what you can lay down in the studio. Also why greats like The Eagles and ZZ Top toured with a huge entourage of players (even symphonies) for fill-ins on live performances.
Before I ramble on too far, I recognize that Taylor Swift is a phenomenon and she knows how to play to a crowd successfully, at least monetarily. But if the crowd is blinded as to what makes a great musical performance (at least my definition of one) and only see’s the hype, there is zero need for me to be in attendance or support of them.

[Daryl Jones]

Hey no worries, it’s not like it’s a culinary world secret or anything.😅

[Daryl Jones]

Sorry Chris, I didn’t mean to keep anyone in the dark! I have made it several ways, but have never used the actual pig’s head in the process. There is a favorite sausage house in Edmonton that does do it that way though and I often buy their headcheese when I’m able to drop by.
I have used the hocks and feet, but most often these days I chop up and cook a boneless pork shoulder for the meat and substance. A whole boneless shoulder is often less costly than 3-4 hocks and a couple packs of split feet!
I cube the pork meat 2-3# for an average batch, a couple quarts of chicken broth, two tablespoons of crushed garlic, a teaspoon of crushed ginger, ground sea salt (or kosher if I have it) and pepper to taste but unless you use low sodium broth you need to be careful of the salt content. Bring the meat and broth to a slow rolling boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 2-3 hours. If using hocks and feet, then you have to remove them to de-bone and return the meat to the pot after shredding and cutting. If feet are included, there is usually enough of a reduction to get the headcheese to gel, but I always add a packet of powdered gelatin just in case; two envelopes if using boneless pork. I also add a tablespoon of rice vinegar and a pinch or two of dried dill weed. Ladle the cooked mixture into pans to cool and set. Usually the re is a payer of fat that collects on the top of the pans that needs to be skimmed off after the studnetz is cooled and set. Some people serve it with a drizzle of vinegar or will add diced pickle while ladling into pans a la Sulze type.
You can always add some extra spice/salt when serving if needed, but after a time you’ll find the right amounts during the cooking process.
Hope it works out for you.

[Daryl Jones]

Jung, I just sat down and started playing after the livestream. I warmed up the guitar a bit with some noodling along on some blues backing tracks playing clean with the voicing dialed up for some extra gain and then switched the amp over to the overdrive channel. Started off with “Cocaine” (hadn’t played that in over a year), then “Smoke on the Water”, hit up “Mustang Sally” (Commitments version) since I hadn’t played that in ages, and then “Mississippi Queen”. Got a bit more Canadian based and played Could Have Been A Lady, then American Woman (hey, the Guess Who are Canadian…). Then I tuned down to double drop D and hammered on Cinnamon Girl to see the difference from the last two days with the new axe and amp. God, I was in rock-out Heaven! I LOOOOVE this rig!!!

[Daryl Jones]

Sounds beautiful Chris! We hear some highway noise year round, it’s only about a kilometer (2/3 mile) as the crow flies so big trucks noise will carry through and the snow plow in the winter, occasional off road bikes, and of course open piped Harleys and such. Some boat traffic in the summer, but that isn’t really any louder than I get on the deck with my guitars.😉 And snowmobiles in winter, which I used to partake of myself.

• This reply was modified 2 years, 2 months ago by  Daryl Jones.