Bluegrass is an all American form of music, and its creation is credited to Bill Monroe (often known as “The Father of Bluegrass”) and his band The Blue Grass Boys. Traditional bluegrass bands generally involve banjo, fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and stand-up bass. Since our CloseUp System is ideal for amplifying, and isolating the natural sounds of acoustic instruments, we’re really interested in the bluegrass genre. Conveniently, one of our favorite spots here in Providence hosts what they call Bluegrass Throedown every Wednesday night. We’re talking about Nick-a-Nee’s, where the music is great, and there’s never a cover. Nick-a-Nee’s is also dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pooch along for the fun!

Nick-a-Nee’s features both local, and touring artists for their weekly bluegrass night, and this week’s act has been playing live around the Northeast, Midwest, and the South since 1992. They call themselves Dyer Switch Band, and the group seriously exemplifies why we’re so excited about bluegrass. Not only are they a lively bunch bursting with energy, but we love their skillful pairing of acoustics, and embellished vocals.

The band features Nashville recording artist Bob Bates, Bruce Barker (who once played with a band who opened for Joan Jett!), JoAnn Sifo (who composed a song which topped European music charts), and Chris Schultz (formerly the lead banjo player for Flood Road). Dyer Switch Band has performed at festivals across the country including The Central Indiana Festival at Bean Blossom, the Tri-State Bluegrass Festival in Kendallville, Indiana, and the Stringbean Festival in Kentucky. They’ve also played at plenty of fairs, renowned coffee houses, and performed live on a number of radio shows. The group even had the opportunity to open up for Ralph Stanley.

Want a sneak preview to get you excited for Wednesday night? Check out the video below to see the energetic crew sing Sweet Blue Eye Darlin’ at their CD release concert two years back.

If you’re as excited about bluegrass as we are, and as eager to catch this bunch in action, come out next Wednesday night to Nick-a-Nee’s from 8:30 to 11:30. We’ll see you there!

5. Reach Out to Bloggers
Email blasts to your followers are great for sharing updates on your music and your schedule, but try reaching out to bloggers, too. Here at​ ​Your Heaven Audio​, we’re always excited to hear and support new artists! We’re more than happy to check out and review your EP, and we’re probably not the only ones. Plenty of other music blogs will likely want to hear your best work and spread the word. So next time you’re about to send out some emails, write up a quick message with a link to your music, and send it over to your favorite guitar blogs asking for a review. A good review is a fantastic way to get discovered, and increase your following.

Steve Sorensen of California loves to embrace the fact that he crafts his mandolins differently than the traditional  Gibson and Lloyd Loar models. He’s not interested in the cookie-cutter method of building instruments, rather he looks at it the way he looks at making wine, another trade of his. Making wine is a long process, and one that requires patience. To Steve, building mandolins is quite similar. He believes that each mandolin’s sound develops over time, and he feels that his instruments “scream beautifully.”

Themandolinplayer.net tells us “Picking up one of Sorensen’s mandolins, you are struck by the fine workmanship, but once you strike your first note, the quality of the sound really hits you.” Sorenson also has a background in design, and this is shown through his detail-orientation and his articulate craftsmanship. Overall, Sorenson knows what serious mandolin players are looking for, and he’s making instruments which fit their ideals. For an in-depth review of one of Sorenson’s A-model mandolins called The Sprite, check out this article  from JazzMando.com.

1. John Mayer Signature D-45 Acoustic Guitar by Martin

Price: $15,000

First up, take a look at the new John Mayer Signature model. This high-end guitar has an Engelmann spruce top, with Guatemalan rosewood backs and sides. If all of that doesn’t sound fancy enough, it was also designed, and signed by Grammy winner John Mayer. Musicradar.com tells that it’s full thickness neck comes with hexagon inlays, bone nut and saddle, plus gold open-gear tuners, as well as an interior label personally signed by the man himself.

2. The Concertina from Breedlove: Legacy Concertina E

Price: $2,799

The Concertina is Breedlove’s brand new body shape for 2018 which uses their new sound optimization process. What we really dig about this new build is that it’s smaller and more comfortable to hold, but the guitar still has a nice big sound. The Legacy is made from sitka spruce and cocobolo, and has a glossy finish. It’s comfortable, and the sound delivers, what more could we ask for?

3. Alvarez Guitars FYM66HD Model

Price $2,500

We were looking for unique, and we found it here. A one of a kind model, The FYM66HD is made out of perfectly conditioned Honduras wood from Japan that’s been aged for nearly 50 years. The FYM66HD is the all mahogany model. The rare material that this line of gorgeous guitars is crafted from draws us to it like a magnet. It’d be a gem in any collection, for sure.

4. Art & Lutherie Legacy Q-Discrete 2018 Denim Blue

Price: $450

Art and Lutherie is a sister company of one of our favorite guitar manufacturers, Godin. After completely revamping their line last year they revealed a new denim blue finish for a couple of their models. Ok, so it’s not ‘high-end’ price-wise, but this cool vintage looking guitar with on deck volume and tone controls has a sheer finish that gives each individual guitar a different look. They basically took a sweet guitar and made it even sweeter with a faded denim look that we just can’t get enough of.

5. Lowden S-35W Figured Walnut

Price: $5,980

This new 12 fret neck joint model by Lowden is redesigned with the bridge closer to the middle of the body of the guitar, and the neck slightly shorter. We particularly love this one made entirely of figured walnut, which is beautiful and gives the instrument a warm tone. Lowden makes great guitars, and this one just happens to stand out in not only look, but more importantly in sound. To the ear it’s distinctive and earthy, but is still super clear. Easily one of the most attractive models we saw, this acoustic is a perfect example of combing flawless looks and flawless quality.

On Richmond Street in downtown Providence lives a hip live music venue and nightclub called Alchemy. This otherworldly little lounge is appropriately named, and it’s an ideal spot for night owls like myself to come out and support their local artists. Just walk inside and the hypnotic ambiance is immediately evident from the multi-colored mood lighting that flashes over a mysterious dark room. Like unveiling a juicy secret, your first time at Alchemy will make you say to yourself, this is my new favorite place. The staff is beyond friendly, too. The kind-eyed bartender was laid-back yet courteous (and also super apologetic), and offered me a free drink after admitting they were out of limes that night. The smell of freshly popped corn filled the air as the employees placed bowls of it on the bar, something for us hungry-for-music attendees to much on while we waited. I made my way over to the arcade games where a pinball machine flashed, and I couldn’t resist playing a few rounds before the show. One of the coolest things about this place is the fact that a sweet view of the stage can be had from anywhere inside. You can take a seat at the bar, get up and dance, or plop down on one of the oversized, cozy leather couches and still get an awesome view of the band.

One of the two groups featured last Saturday calls themselves They Were Robots. The lively crew combines five uber-talented members: Chris Mitchell on keyboard, Mike Cirino on guitar, Matt Smith on bass, Keith Harriman on trombone, and Tim Eskey on drums. Everyone except Tim contributes to the vocals as well. Each bandmate adds his own personal energy on stage; not one of the guys seemed to overshadow the rest, and interlocking vocals give the music a unique texture. I was vibrating with anticipation as I sipped my drink, waiting for them to start the show. The moment they started playing I could feel my spirits lifting. The best way to describe their sound in a nutshell is experimental with a clear alt-rock influence. In the middle of the set, center stage trombonist Keith Harriman asked the audience if we were familiar with the band Cake. I threw my hand in the air as I began reminiscing on the summer nights I’d spent blasting The Distance through my car speakers. Cake does an epic job of smoothly working the trumpet into an alt-rock song, and They Were Robots manages to do the same with the trombone. I have to admit, my favorite part of the show was watching how much fun the band had on stage. There were nothing but passionate and magnetic vibes emanating from these guys as they set fire to the room. The red, green, and blue lights that danced over them reflected the colorful personalities of the bandmates, on radiant display during the set. Even when my feet started to hurt, I couldn’t choose taking a seat over swaying and bouncing to this vivacious bunch. Make sure you check out the band ASAP. Take it from me, their good mood tunes could turn any bad day around with just one note.

I was buzzing after drummer Tim Eskey hit me with a wave of positivity during our brief interview. His genuine insight left me eager to hear more and impatiently waiting for my next opportunity to see him live again

How long have you been playing live?

Started playing out when I was around 11-12, with a dixieland band in San Diego. A couple of years later I was playing swing standards with a big band on a yacht club circuit. Then it was a succession of rock, jazz, and fusion bands at clubs, parties, bars, concerts, and festivals.

How did you meet your bandmates?

Craigslist! I’d been playing in the Boston area, but recently moved to Rhode Island and wanted to be more musically centered here. The band (They Were Robots) had been together about a year and was between drummers, looking for a replacement. I answered the ad and we got together to see if it was there. We played and I was blown away. They’re talented, committed, and write compelling and challenging originals. Glad I got the gig. It’s great playing with these guys and being part of where they’re going.

Your Heaven Audio has a drum system in the works, what are the biggest audio challenges you face when playing live?

Getting an accurate sense of how the drums really sound in the mix that the audience is hearing.

Who are some of your influencers and/or favorite artists and what do you admire most about them?

Early influencers/favorites were older jazz drummers like Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Tony Williams, Joe Morello, Jo Jones; and some younger cats like Peter Erskine.  In the rock genre, Ringo (of course), John Bonham, Carl Palmer, Danny Seraphine, Neal Peart, Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, Stewart Copeland, and Dave Grohl are favorites.  Fusion drummers like Vinnie Coliuta blow me away too. That’s a long list, but what they have in common that I most admire is not their incredible chops (that’s just a given on that level) but how they blend with, and make their bands.  Listening to these guys teaches that drummers are sure enough important, but they need to be a piece of the whole, serving the band’s music, rather than flashing chops, just because.

Any advice or words of wisdom for fellow performers in the industry?

When I was lugging drums to rehearsals and gigs before I could drive, my grandfather, who patiently drove me around, always used to say, “you should have played the damn flute!”  That always used to crack me up because the only thing I ever wanted to play was drums and, not just by myself, but with just about anybody who would play with me and who, like me, ultimately wanted to play out for other people.  I don’t know about advice or wisdom, but I do know that sometimes it’s a grind to get it right and deal with the fact that there’s a lot of competition for good venues these days.  So I’d just remind folks to keep in mind what you love about gigging and to support your fellow musicians by going out and seeing their shows and letting them know when they kill it.

1) Make a budget, and try to stay within it.

Start off by making a comfortable budget for yourself. If you’re working with one that is relatively low, make sure to do plenty of research on the instrument you have your eye on to ensure that it meets up with your ideal quality. GuitarPlayer.com mentions that, if this is the case, you need to pay more attention to small details such as how well the woods were conditioned.

2) Be aware of the sound that you’re looking for.

Guitars are manufactured in a variety of different materials, shapes, and sizes. These are all important factors that affect the sound of the instrument. If you’re inspired by a certain artist’s sound, try doing some research on their instrument. Guitar Salon mentions some specific tone options to keep in mind, such as “bright versus dark” and “clear versus full.”

3) Bring a friend along.

Consider bringing along a trusted friend who may be musically inclined. It never hurts to have a second opinion, especially with important investments. MusicRadar.com mentions that, by doing this, you can have your friend play the instrument before you purchase it, so that you can hear what it sounds like from an audience perspective.

4) Look to lower your price any way you can.

Keep in mind that you can always trade in your old guitar for a discount on the new one. MusicRadar.com also notes that some dealers will match a lower price from a different dealer or add accessories to your purchase in order to match the difference.

5) Make sure the guitar feels comfortable.

When buying your guitar, you want to make sure that the instrument is in good condition and the strings are not too far from the fretboard. GuitarWorld suggests that you try playing single notes and chords at different spots on the neck to check for fret buzz. They also recommend looking for light strings and a low action if you’re a beginner.

6) Trust your musician’s intuition!

You are the artist behind the instrument, so trust what feels right!

If you’re looking for somewhere to start, some of our favorite guitar blogs have great recommendations, such as the ones below.

For more options for buying the perfect guitar on a budget check out the GuitarPlayer.com article here. If you’re looking to learn more about higher end guitar options, scroll through GuitarAficionados Reviews for plenty of reliable insight.

Gene Bertoncini is a long time jazz musician who has been playing the acoustic guitar for a lengthy six decades. A clear lover of all things musical, Gene finds the art both abstract and beautiful. He emphasizes the importance of learning through small jam sessions with other performers, but above all feels that the simple desire to play is a gift in itself. Once you possess this desire, you have to “run with it,” he says. He feels that success in the industry is dependent on having this drive to play.

Gene also describes how intuitive playing is a big part of being a successful musician. He mentioned in an interview with Guitarkadia—a blog dedicated to great stories about guitars, told through text, video, multimedia, and photos—that you don’t always have to be entirely conscious of what you’re playing in an effort to play well. He says in reference to this, “It sounds funny, but that’s okay.”

Gabriella Quintero, who combines percussive rhythms with metal techniques says in an interview with the world’s most popular music gear website Reverb, “If you think about it, all kinds of music can be played on the guitar.” This is something, which at first note, she failed to realize. The artistic freedom which the guitar offers is not necessarily available on all other instruments, which is an important thought to note when learning to play and testing out different styles.

“The important part is that it has spirit,” she goes on to say. “Music, like all expressions of art, is about filling it with spirit. Every night we play pieces that we have been playing for 10 years. They’re like your children, they grow with you, it has to have lots of spirit.”

Charles Mokotoff’s career as a musician flourished throughout the 1980s. After taking a long break from music to focus on other obligations, he decided to pick it back up. “I also had an enormous capacity for practice,” says the classical guitarist in an interview with Classical Guitar, a site which includes wonderful articles on performing, practicing, interpretation and techniques related to the guitar.

Mokotoff is a firm believer in the necessity of deliberate practice when aiming for success. “I would spend at least an hour with the guitar. I wrote out a schedule of pieces to review, new music to learn, and at least 15 minutes or so of technical exercises.You have to love practicing, I really look forward to my time with the guitar, I never feel like it is a chore.”

One important piece of advice which all of the above artists agree on, is that it’s crucial you learn from watching and connecting with other more knowledgeable artists as often as possible. These musicians value their own encounters with mentor type figures in their lives. So get networking and get practicing because one day, you could be someone else’s inspiration.

The CloseUp System was made by musicians, for musicians like Jesús…

“In my 30 years of playing amplified violin, I’ve always been looking for the best sound, the best violin, the best bow and the best amplification. It’s like these guys designed exactly what I had in mind, and I am very happy to be working with them closely, because it is revolutionary. Amplifying an acoustic violin has always been a challenge. I’ve tried them all, and then this past year I found the CloseUp System by Your Heaven Audio.”

Why the CloseUp system works for Jesús…

“It is very easy to use. It holds easily; you can put it in and out, and it’s not intrusive. This one has the perfect sound. It can also model and equalize your sound on their proprietary software. You go online, you test it for your violin, and it sets the perfect EQ for your violin. It’s unbelievable. We compared it in the studio with high end mics, it was as good. I can have a high end violin and just put it in the f hole and it works wonderfully.”

Jesús’ upcoming world tour with the CloseUp System…

“I mean it was unbelievable, we were very surprised and very pleased that I found this mic since i was looking for a system for my new upcoming world tour with Sonoro Latino. I needed to find the perfect sound for this because it is an acoustic show and I want to have great sound. This system accomplishes them all. Ease of use, no feedback, great sound, and the EQ system software is amazing. We can’t wait to get on the road and show you how good it sounds.”