Look what showed up today...

 

 Not a surprise, I knew this was coming.  It's another product from Aeroband, the company that makes the digital guitar I recently reviewed.  Here's a look at the exterior of the box...

 This is the Aeroband PocketDrum 2 Max.  We've all seen "air guitar" - this kit allows the player to make drum sounds, without physical drums.  Yep, "air drums" - but, you actually get the drum sounds.  The kit comes with 2 drumsticks, bass drum and hi-hat pedals, and a small controller (what would be the "brain" on a set of e-drums).

In the next few weeks, I will be doing a review on these.  Of course, I did get them out of the box, turned them on, and plugged in my Bose headphones.  Yes, they sound like drums.  No, it isn't like actually playing drums, because you are moving the drumsticks in front of you "in space."  Like a physical set of drums, the hi-hat is to your left, the snare drum is between your legs, the mounted toms are in front of you and at a 45º angle, the floor tom is to your right, and the ride and crash cymbals are up and to the right and left.

The lady from their marketing told me that these can be "quirky... don't expect them to play like real drums."  Having researched them, I knew what to expect.  Mostly.

These arrived with some charge on them.  Each part of the kit is rechargeable; according to the instructions (yes, actual written instructions), once fully charged, these will last "up to 16 hours."  There are 8 different "drum kits" (all drums do not sound the same) that you can shift through.  In the short testing I did today, the volume level of each drum is not controllable... the hi-hat is much quieter than the bass drum, and so it goes with each of the drums.

I will play with this as time permits over the next couple weeks.  The "action" isn't anything like playing real drums, since you are just moving the sticks through the air... no "bounce back" as when a real drumstick hits a real drum.

As with the guitar, these are mine to keep.  I'll take them next time I get together with Mark and the guys to see what everybody thinks.  That will be a couple weeks from now, since Mark and Cindy are on vacation for a while.

If nothing else, I can see a use for the foot pedals (foot switches, actually) as a bit of rhythm when playing guitar.

 

X Marks the Spot...

 

Well... Xmax.

It's been a couple weeks since I got out for a ride.  I've been keeping a battery tender on the CTX and the Burgman.  Joan started her Xmax a couple weeks ago.  I was up early this morning, with a plan of getting her bike out for a ride.  The local weather weasels tried to convince me otherwise.

They were showing video of hard-pounding rain about 10 miles east of us.  I pulled up weather radar and it looked reasonably clear.  I took Murphy out in the yard; we watched while I cleaned the filters in the hot tub and topped it up.  I came back in and checked weather again... yeah, I'm going for a ride.

The Xmax popped right off when I started it and the alternator was showing a good charge.  I had a Hydroflask with ice water and didn't bother to put a camera on the bike or put in Airpods to listen to some tunes - I was just needing a ride.  The spot that Xmax was "marking" was deep inside my chest: being home most of this summer has meant less riding than we've done since we first got those PCX scoots in 2013.  I miss the riding.

It was 90º when I left around 7:00 am, but there was overcast to the east so the sun wasn't pounding.  The riding was good, once I got away from the morning drive-time traffic on Dobbins.  Other than a couple South Mountain Park trucks, I only saw 3 other vehicles on that whole drive up and down the mountain... one of them was a convertible Camaro driving well over the center line.  I saw him coming slowing at me from a distance; an older guy at the wheel who didn't look like he was enjoying the twisty roads.

I, on the other hand, was downright joyful to be out there this morning.  That ride really "hit the spot."  :-)

 

Yabut...

 

"You've had a lot of music related posts, Jim - don't you think it's about time to get back to the important stuff?" 

You are absolutely right.  Without any further ado...

 Yep, that's our Murphy.  He is settling into being an "only child" again, after a couple weeks of way more time than usual with his "cousins" (Steph and Dan's cats).

This morning, Murph was resting next to Joan's leg, asleep, but with one eye half-open...

 

Yep, that's a bit creepy.  The boy keeps us on our toes.

 

What an AMAZING night of music!

 

Last night, Joan and I had front row seats for Blood, Sweat, & Tears at MIM (Musical Instrument Museum).  The musicianship was the best we've seen this year!

For some background: I really like a good horn band.  Some of you know I quit college (first time around) to go on the road with a horn band (The Flippers).  Before that, I was in a horn band (Faith), through high school.  And early on in college, another horn band (Oddessy).  My favorite bands during those years were Chicago, Tower of Power, Chase, Cold Blood, and (of course) Blood, Sweat, & Tears.

This is the first time Joan and I have seen BS&T live.  While the music was nostalgic, there are no "original" members in this current band.  Much like The Flippers, there were a LOT of musicians in BS&T over the years.  This line-up was a 4 piece horn section, guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and a lead singer.  BS&T came together in the 60s, playing a mesh of jazz and rock... and that is what the band has been about ever since.

The horn section took my breath away: kick-ass powerful and tight.  Each of the 4 is an outstanding player.  The drummer is possibly the best I have ever heard.  Everyone else in the band is impressive.  And together, they are strong and tight.  No fancy lighting or special effects - just great playing!

Here's a look at the concert...

 I shot some video with my phone, but I have to admit that I missed some of the best playing of the evening, because I was so engrossed in the music.  Video coming soon.

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As promised, the video:

 I'm sorry I didn't capture the best music of the evening - I was completely caught up in the music and the talent, but this video will give you a taste of it.

 

If you're going to play a Roy Orbison song...

 

... you have to have to wear the sunglasses...

 Podge sent me these individual photos...

 I'm assuming courtesy of Mrs Podge (Roberta).

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Joan shot some video clips - I put them together for this...

 

It's back...

 

Well, from my perspective, it never went away.  Another Extreme Heat Warning for the next 3 days, with temps expected to be 111º to 115º.  The last 4 or 5 days have been more "normal" - typical daytime high is around 105º.  I guess we have acclimated... I find myself saying "only" when the daytime highs are around 103º.

Warnings by the local media to "avoid being outside during the hottest part of the day."  Mark, Podge, and I are playing out for a group at Banner Health (near downtown) today.  We'll be loading in equipment at 3:00.  So, fun.

Actually, I'm looking forward to the playing.  In air conditioned comfort.

 

Check out the time on that image above.

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Loading up...

Joan, as usual, had a good suggestion: take the Equinox out of the garage, turn it around, back it in, and load up in the garage...

 It is 109º out currently, and the driveway is in the sun - this is much better.  The gear at the door, ready to go to the garage...

 Loaded...

 We'll have to unload in the heat, so it was good to skip that step for loading into the SUV.

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Murphy wanted to visit his cousins.  Instead of him going over to their house, he invited them to ours.  The boys are back in town...

 Alfie and Murphy by the patio door (above), and Tango checking out Murphy's toys (below)...

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 The gig is a wrap.  Our placement in the room was a bit snug, but we made it work.  Joan shot some video of the playing - I'll try to work something up tomorrow.  In the meantime, here's a few screen grabs...

 

So, what do you really think?

 

I've been asked a coupe times what I really think of that Aeroband guitar... pretty much what I said in the video.  It won't replace any of my guitars, but I did play it for Joan and Murphy while sitting outside on our patio this morning.  Before the heat drove us in.  And then I played inside for a while.

I have my favorite settings on it - the acoustic guitar setting you get when first turning it on, and the piano setting.  I used both of those today.  Also as I said, it takes some adjustment in technique to get the best playing experience out of this guitar; and I've been "adjusting."

The big deal: after an hour and a half of playing, my fingers weren't sore at all.  Not the fingertips or the muscles across my palm and thumb.  

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I laid out the set list for the gig we're playing tomorrow for Banner Health.  I like to have that set up ahead of time, so it is easy to flow from one song into the next: as soon as I finish one song, the OnSong app on my iPad pulls up the next song.  We we decide to swap things around on the fly, one click takes me back to the list, then another click on the chosen song.  Fast and easy.

I'll be bringing more gear than a typical get-together with Mark and the guys, since we'll be using my Bose PA and mixer.  We are ready.

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Have you been getting out on any of the bikes lately?  Thanks for asking, but, no.  Since Steph and Dan have been gone most of the last couple weeks, my mornings have been occupied with cat duty.  Today was the first morning in a while that I just had Murphy to take care of.  It continues being hot here, so if you don't get out early, it can get unpleasantly hot while riding.