Music Review: XanderNichting Writer @ San Diego in SL

Second Life Live Music Review
Written by Enniv Zarf
Metaverse Music
XanderNichting Writer Myspace
San Diego in SL

So have I gotten you to get into some alternative musical choices this weekend yet? Well if I haven't yet then here's another one to give it a try. I promise the next person I review will be your good old fashion singer!

Well out of the enormous amount of group IM's I noticed one about a violinist and it didn't look like it's a classical music thing. So I thought hey I wonder what it would actually be!

XanderNichting plays with a big band with a piano player and all that good stuff. It's a great sounding piece, nice production value.

Well XanderNichting performs on an electric violin and honestly I am not sure if I really like the sound of that violin. It's not bad or anything, but it has a bit too much of a whiny quality to it (for me personally, but you may find that you like it - so check it out). He does play it exceptionally well, both technically and stylistically very well. It's just I don't like that sound much (again personal taste.

But I will have to say that his performance along with the rest of the band is pretty strong and good enough to listen to and enjoy. The tunes he choose are nice songs fitting for his instrument and group.

I believe that Xander is from Holland or something like that and speaks with a pretty neat accent, which gives him a fun quality while he speaks. And he is great with connecting with the audience and keeping it pretty real and honest which is always a welcomed thing. I like it when performance talk to the people a little bit. The thing about Second Life is since most people are not talking in voice with anyone else, having that voice connection with everyone do bring them in to your performance more. I will definitely have to work on that a little bit more.

Now at one point also Xander started to kind of sing some scat like thing while he was playing his violin and that was absolutely funky. It was definitely different, a little funny but actually interesting to listen to. I thought that was definitely a unique little touch to his performance.

Also later on in his concert he played a little fiddle piece showing off some of his techniques. He is fun to listen to, I have to give him that, and doing a little bit of show offing is always great for the audience. But I can also hear technical issues that started to pop out while he's doing that, be it very very minor. But there are a couple tiny rough patches and wrong notes. Well who doesn't right? So it's nothing to be alarmed about. I sure make mistakes in my playing, but it's freestyle so it was...eh...intentional!

Nevertheless XanderNichting is definitely a change of pace, a fusion artist of worlds. He is definitely someone I would consider putting on your roster, though not way up high. I prefer TB Andel for sure over him mainly because I am not a big fan of the sound of the actual violin he uses. I almost wish he'd drop that violin sometimes and perform on an actual violin. I just think there has gotta be a better sounding electronic violin out there. I just think he's a better performer then his violin is a violin.

Check out Xander Nicheting's concert though. The pieces are all very well rehearsed and well put together with a good band behind him supporting him. It's definitely a solid and at times beautiful performance that is worth tping over and even a bit of your linden dollar!!!

Until next time...
...Play on...

Music Review: Blue4u Nowicka @ Endeavour Cove

Written by Enniv Zarf
Second Life Live Music Review
Blue4u Nowicka Website
Endeavour Cove SLURL

Now here's a change of pace of music from a lot of the other stuff that's out here in SL!

Blue4u sings just as her name suggest, blues, and boy can she really sing.

Blue4u got a brilliant auto voice, a rare find in Real Life and most definitely Second Life. Her voice does evoke a great folksy feel, transporting the listener to the old south, enjoying the tunes out on the open street.

But of course here we are at Endeavour Cove where we are at holiday mode with the snow out and it just made it extra warm hearing Blue's voice filling the airwaves.

Complimenting her beautiful low voice, Blue4u does a lot of growling and sounds in her voice that gives it a really nice and rich texture that really just compliment the sounds. It all comes out so natural sounding and works just so well with what she's doing. It doesn't sound fake, it doesn't sound artificial like so many other singers who try to do this kind stuff. I believe every moment where she does these vocal techniques.

Her voice is accompanied by her acoustic guitar that has also a thick rich sound to it, perfect for her blues. Her playing is both delicate at times and digging when she needs to be. No matter what she does on her guitar, it compliments her singing perfectly balanced.

The overall package of the performance is just a treat. There are no bad notes, there are no intonation problems from top to bottom, the entire hour. There are no issues with voices, no technical problems, nothing. It was smooth and just fantastic. This is as good as any Second Life performance can get, very professional, very well done, and very well attended.

So if you are in the mood of something different, something folksy, something that's just down to earth and here and now, Blue4u is the woman for you. So look her up and hear her music and you are definitely in for a good treat for at least an hour on any night of music in Second Life.

Until next time...
...Play on...

Review: Mash Rhode @ Bushy Beard Pub

Written by Enniv Zarf
Second Life Indie Music Review
The Bushy Beard Pub

I have to say this has got to be my first rather not so positive review!

Funny thing is that I was just talking to my friend about SL music and how he doesn't go to concerts especially the singers cause there are just so many singers who are totally out of tune. Right before I left he even said to me that he hoped my ears won't hurt. Guess what, it's hurting.

Literally the first sound I heard out of Mash made me jump right out of my chair and I was about to just tp away.

But I thought that would not be the right thing to do if I were to actually be serious about reviewing music. If all I ever do is positive then what am I doing really? I want to be supportive, but I said from the start that I will be honest. I'll just try not to be too mean. And also maybe that was just a fluke, and I have to give him a little chance...to maybe change my mind.

Mash is from Dublin Ireland and is actually both a watercolor painter as well as a guitarist and singer.

Well the good side is Mash's guitar playing is descent, at least something that I can live with. His playing is clean and clear and his sound is pretty good. There aren't any intonation issues, well since it's a guitar.

But his singing is just off. There are serious intonation problems and pitch inaccuracy that isn't just a "style." Admittedly there was a song near the end that I actually could actually listen to, basically whenever he's not trying sing in his higher register.

All in all, Mash has got to get his intonation issues under control. I am often surprised how people are so enthusiastically applauding something who have such serious issues that in RL would never get any attention...well maybe not. There are problems like that in RL too.

I will say though Mash does have a great voice quality when he sounds good. But it's rare to hear the couple of moments when he sounds descent, and these are when he uses his natural voices to sing. Most of his higher register sounds where he's really pushing doesn't work and is harsh and off pitch. That's a problem I find time and time again with a lot of singers in Second Life. They try so hard to get this "voice" this "sound" to sound like what a singer is supposed to sound like. But it doesn't work. You can't try to force that kind of sound, you can only have that kind of sound.

So if Mash just let his natural voice come through more often and just relax his singing a bit, I think he will sound tremendously better. And then if he can really work on those intonation problems, then Mash can actually be a great singer that could be great to listen to and enjoy. But for now, I would say he's on my not so great to listen to list...sorry Mash.

Well I don't want to make this anything personal. I have nothing against Mash at all. I think he's doing his best and wants to provide good entertainment. But please, please Mash if you are working on this, please work on that intonation problem and I will definitely revisit my review for you!

Take care everyone and until next time!

Review: BlindBoy Gumbo @ The Yard Club

Written by Enniv Zarf
Second Life Indie Music Review
Blindboy Gumbo Myspace
The Yard Club

I am in a ton of those music groups in SL, way too many mostly so I can post group notices. But since I'm launching this magazine and such, I am now going to make use of those tons of IM's I get every hour and review different people. It's going to be crazy cause now I'm just going to random concerts and reviewing people from all over. And I can tell you already that it won't always be pretty. I hope I don't get too many people mad and upset. But I'm here to seriously review all the music as best as I could.

I got the IM for Blindboy Gumbo at Independent Musicians Group from fay Rehula who is the contact for Blindboy Gumbo to book him.

Blindboy is a singer and guitarist located in England and speaks with a British accent. I love a good British accent myself. But the singing itself wasn't all too British.

Blindboy performed at the Yard Club today around 1pm. I'm not sure what time did it start, but I got there at around 1:30ish. He performs both original songs as well as cover songs of popular RL artists.

I have to say I'm a little mixed with my reaction to Blindboy. I like his guitar playing and the feeling of his music, rather relaxing and very well played. It was fun and relaxing and definitely has a laid back feel to it.

But his voice definitely has some issues especially on cover songs. He does have a good voice quality but has intonation issues that was just bothering me throughout the whole time. And some times he does this sort of Elvis wannabe voice in some of what he's doing which I'm not sure works so well with his music.

I think he'd do himself some favor if he'd just make sure that his intonation is spot on for his music. It's not awful or unlistenable or anything. It's just that there are definitely moments throughout that are just a little off. But it's nothing that can't really be fixed if he really worked on it.

In general, I think Blindboy tries a little too hard to get a "sound" down when I think he doesn't quite need to over do it that much, but let his nice voice quality come through. But his guitar playing is definitely very wonderful to listen to and I almost just want him to stop singing and just play the guitar, which I actually thought was very good. His original tunes were definitely a lot better to listen to also, and the singing is definitely much more solid then the covers.

No matter he does create a fun environment and relaxing addition to any venue if you are ok with some minor intonation problems.

Review: VIRTUAL ROBODOCK FESTIVAL 2008 IN SECONDLIFE - Sunday 11/23/08

Written by Enniv Zarf

Alright, so where can I possibly go within minutes of hearing a new music concert by a music composition student who's currently studying abroad in Russia???

Answer: VIRTUAL ROBODOCK FESTIVAL 2008 IN SECONDLIFE

I got a group IM in my contemporary music group, which I did start btw to promote contemporary music and experimental music of all kinds! Well Ze Moo invited everyone to this what turns out to be a huge festival that ran from Nov. 19, 2008 all the way to Nov. 29, 2008.

Today is day four of the performance and a few people are actually scheduled to perform. The show already started at noon and will last probably past my staying there. I have other things to do too ya know! Well it is six hours long total today.

Well I was there at Nutski Newman's performance. It is absolutely fascinating!

Personally I don't know all that much about experimental soundscapes and how to make them. I haven't really dealt with electronic sounds though I have the equipment and sorta now really wanna be playing with it.

Well Nutski specializes in environmental sounds, soundscapes and long mixes as well as extraordinary music. HE has his own radio stream at: live.nu/altena.m3u.

His music is supported by graphics that are projected on the projector in the back along with a whole environment with smoke and other effects.




There are really no limits as to what contemporary music can be. I consider this all to be a part of the world of art music which is the same as Classical Music. It is always about Bach, Beethoven and Brahms. Of course this is definitely not everyone's cup of tea. In fact they do cross over to the world of Popular music as well.

But the soundscapes and environmental music poses questions about what music is and should be and can be. If music is simply organized sounds, then of course all sounds made by human beings in any conceivable way could be thought of as music! What is the limit and where do we draw the line? Maybe we should draw, and let each listener determine for themselves what the world of music should be and could be.

The Virtual Robodock Festival's music reminds me of that. Even sometimes I lose track of what I want to do and what music is. I get caught up with the freestyle piano improv that are audience friendly and pretty and forget that there are other types of music I want to explore as well. This festival inspired me back to pushing the envelope and going to the fringes of sounds and soundscapes and create new paintings of musical languages and thoughts and ideas.

Well thanks Ze Moo for taking me there, even if it is for a short time that I could stay.

Be sure to drop by the festival between now and Nov. 29. Whether you are a die hard Classical nut who won't touch anything composed after 1950 or you are a Pop music encyclopedia, this festival whether you like it or not will at the very least give you a new perspective of what music can be to some people. And it is in the end whether we approve of certain music or not, important that we are at least educated and have experienced it at least once, or even half a time.

Contact Jce Emoto - festival manager/curator for information about this festival.
Complete info at: http://dfm.nu/robodock

Until next time...
...Play on...