#the amazing digital marching band

[literallyzooble]

The Amazing Digital Marching Band: Beta Designs

WHAT THE HEEEEELLLLLLL OH MY GAWD NO WAYAYAYAYAYAY

Hi hello hi!! I finally got around to designing some beta layouts for my Digital Circus AU! Please tell me what you think and reblog if you can! If I continue to expand upon this AU, I might just make its own blog for it! Just depends when and if I have time :)

Okay under the cut is me infodumping about each design so feel free to like skip allat if you don’t want to read it

Gangle: Color Guard -I wanted to still follow Gangle’s ribbon motif in her design, this is probably the most personalized outfit out of all of them. -The ribbon the makes up her body now continues down and spirals around her legs, sort of to make a “skeleton” of a dress. -I added a bit more flare to her arms, adding extra ribbons that don’t act as limbs, and more as sleeves or decoration. -The bow on her head kind of just ties it all together, again fitting with the ribbon motif that I was going for. -In terms of the first point, the reason why I say “personalized” is that I’m still not sure what I’m going for in terms of outfits. I don’t know if I want them all to be uniform and the same, like a true marching band (in this case, I would have to change Gangle’s outfit), or if I’d like each uniform to have more of a personal style to it (in this case I would keep Gangle’s outfit, and change uniforms to echo the original character’s designs (i.e. changing Ragatha’s uniform to be a bit more dress like).

Pomni: Drum Major -I’m still deciding on the hat, I wanted to try to make a shako with a jester hat motif, but I’ll have to work it out over time. -Her uniform borrows from modern marching uniforms (Stanbury for inspiration) and circus jester clothes (hence the fringe around the waist). -Gloves are the same size as her original gloves, except they’re white. -Pants are classic bibber pants, shoes are classic marching shoes (both black).

Zooble: Snare (Battery) -One of their antennae is a snare stick. I came up with this gimmick that Zooble basically pulls out sticks from everywhere: their head, their arm, their leg, they always have a spare. -I decided to give Zooble two wings for stability, since you don’t want to be tilted to one side while marching, especially for battery. -Their right (looking at the drawing it’s their left) arm has this mechanism where you can easily insert sticks, it’s sort of like one of those things that can extend your pencil when it’s short? It uses the same logic. -I kinda went the craziest on Zooble’s design because I am so normal about them (I am not) -I CHOSE ZOOBLE AS A SNARE BEFORE GOOSE SAID THAT THEY PLAY DRUMS MY BRAIN IS MASSIVE

Ragatha: Flute -Adding on from what I yapped about in Gangle’s tidbit, I had this idea to make the uniforms a bit more personalized to each character, for example giving Ragatha’s uniform a bit more of a “dress” look to math her original design. Of course, this conflicted with my knowledge of marching bands and why everyone has such similar uniforms, so to go with the dress-like design or not, as well as personalizing each of the character’s designs more, is still up in the air. -Woodwinds have gloves that have the fingertips cut off, so their fingers can be more technical. Ragatha’s gloves are black. -The woodwind and brass uniforms are mostly the same, the shakos (color wise) are the only things that differentiate the two. -Classic marching bibber and shoes. -Yes I am self projecting by making Ragatha a flute and BEFORE YOU GO SAYING “erm achchually Ragatha plays Cello-“ FIRSTLY there are no cellos in marching band and SECONDLY within this AU she plays flute for marching season and play cello in the orchestra for concert season :)

Jax: Trumpet -His ears go inside his shako, I’m just too lazy to edit/erase them. -Brass have gloves that have no alterations made to them. Jax’s gloves are also black. -Classic marching bibber and shoes. -Jax gives me “typical crackhead trumpet” energy and I don’t know why. Anyways there’s my reason for putting him on trumpet.

Kinger: Bass Drum And Gong (Pit/Auxiliary) -I want Kinger in this AU to give “How TF Did I Get Dragged Into This” Vibes -Pit percussion members don’t wear shakos, which is sort of cool so we can still recognize the chess piece form. -Since Kinger doesn’t have any legs, his “marching bibber” is more of just a black skirt that surrounds his body. -Pit percussion members don’t wear gloves. Which is a problem. Because Kinger is always wearing gloves. And I do not want to draw whatever is underneath those gloves. Scawy.

Stay tuned for more!! Maybe!! In the near future??? ALSO ALL SHIPS ARE ALLOWED!!! YOU MAY SHIP WHOEVER WITH WHOMEVER!!! AS LONG AS YOU’RE NOT A CREEP!!! YAHOO!!!

[theamazingdigitalmarchingband]

The Amazing Digital Marching Band: Pomni Concepts

Hello! Mod Hino here, and today I will be sharing some concept sketches I’ve whipped up for Marching Band! Pomni These characters and their designs are not completely finalized, as I’ve stated on a post on my main blog, most of the illustrations I’ll be making are just β designs and ideas, nothing is SUPER final as of now, but I would like to keep some consistency in my character’s designs for asks and the like :)

As I’ve said before, Pomni within this AU acts as another Drum Major, and sort of an assistant Drum Major to Caine. When she’s first taken into this digital world, she’s very shocked and stressed, not only because of all of the responsibility she now has, but also at the fact that Caine chose her for such an important role in the first place. Along the story of this AU, Pomni battles with the feeling that she is undeserving of being Drum Major, as she evolves and comes to terms with the fact that she will eventually fill these shoes, and feel like this was made for her.

As for relationships, Pomni is closest with Ragatha and the rest of the woodwinds. She’s a bit annoyed by Jax and the rest of the brass, as they’re definitely not the most focused during rehearsal. She has a lot of respect for Zooble and Kinger in percussion land, but she’s very scared to talk to them, mainly because she finds Zooble intimidating and Kinger a bit odd. The group that Pomni is the most disconnected from is Gangle and the color guard, but she hopes to get to know them better, as she’d like to bring the ENTIRE marching corp together as a whole, instead of 4 fractured groups.

Pomni, like all of the other members of the Amazing Digital Marching Band, are open for asks! Feel free to ask questions that you may have to the people in the group, and they will answer you when they get the time in between rehearsals! Please read the ask box guides in the pinned post before sending an ask, thank you!

[bandkidcentral]

A band kid and a mime lady. Ironically for Mibble, she can talk

[spacekadoot]

I just realized I haven't done an intro yet so uh

-My name is Vance

-My pronouns are He/Him

-Fandoms I am in currently are Bungou Stray Dogs (I am the author of bungou stray dogs zero on ao3 !!) Fear and Hunger, The amazing digital circus, Identity V, Hellsing, Phighting, and Modern Warfare.

-I am an artist (mostly mixed media) Musician (I play percussion in both concert band and marching band) and writer.

-Other things I enjoy are Music, Drum Corp International, History, and video games

Ao3 account:

[dailyniallnews]

Interview with Niall Horan, ex frontman of One Direction

If the global success with One Direction is now far behind, the fortune that Niall Horan is enjoying as a solo artists is very current. His third album was just released. Emblematic title: The Show, and the show could not get better than this. Article by Leonardo Clausi

Precisely because this is the new age of anxiety (from the title of the poem by W. H. Auden The Age of Anxiety, 1947, and from Symphony n. 2 by Leonard Bernstein inspired by it, 1949), Public Health around the world should prescribe listening to Niall Horan. As anti-anxiety medicine, tonic for the psyche, emotionally restorative medicine. Really, who else in the modern soft rock world is as capable of tuning in for ten tracks on an equally balmy wavelength, without ever straying into drama or comedy, as Horan does on The Show, third album since he went solo after the dissolution of One Direction, the (boy)band who competed with the Beatles in music sales? Not even the much more wanted colleague Harry Styles, with his unapologetic Bowie-ism that annoyed Tony Visconti so much.

30-year-old Horan doesn't have the same ambitions. We could easily ask him to go and pick out our daughter from school because he is so.. fragrant? Since 2016 - without stopping except from when forced by the pandemic - he's been writing music and bringing it on tour. A constant motion of three albums, the feverish craftsmanship of a diligent entertainer devoted to the career that he was raised in thanks to the shortcut, sometimes a brutal one, with which talent shows have short-circuited the discography and industry of A&R (Artists and Repertoire). We intercept him as he drives, always busy as a bee. "I just came back from America yesterday. Today I am in Liverpool. It's constant travelling, I spend most of my time jetlagged". He is understandably satisfied with his latest discographic effort, which will become the center of the homonymous The Show Live on Tour, with the Italian stop on 21st March 2024 at the Mediolanum Forum in Milan: "I spent a lot of time writing and producing it during the pandemic and the year after. I’m happy, the response has been very, very interesting around the world". Not surprising, considering the melodic quality of the tracks, touched by the Californian light of the Laurel Canyon, with vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Beach Boys, and references to the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. "I trusted that I could write a song. I knew I had the ability to do it. I just needed to trust that I could get a guitar, or sit at a piano, and something good would come out of it. It's out, but you never know. I need to keep my head down, work hard and see".

The 70s were his first introduction to music through records (or vinyls, as hipsters say), which were floating around the house; the real love however started "when I realised how lucky I was to have grown up with music that stayed with me to this day. My parents had a large album collection. I still listen to a lot of them now. When I’m in the studio I often use analogue mixing desks, it’s an important part of the sound I’m looking for". Speaking of the search for the 'organic' sound that digital audio is not able to embody all the way, what does he think of artificial intelligence, now that creators in the entertainment industry are taking the streets as well to protest against forcibly becoming obsolete? "Artificial intelligence can really do a lot, but it can’t give you that feeling that I call the human touch. It couldn’t write 'Hey Jude' or any other masterpiece. Humans will always have the upper hand".

Horan's Irishness is a prominent element of his personality, that proud affability that made his country a cultural superpower despite its size. And that was worth the warm reception of none other than the POTUS, who is also a descendent of the Celtic diaspora. "For how small the nation is, the relevance we have worldwide is amazing. Only five million inhabitants, and yet our culture of drinking, night life, musical or literary traditions are known everywhere. It's something I always keep in mind and want to show off as much as possible. And yes, I was invited at Washington to meet Joe Biden". Understandably, the fact excites him: "It was crazy that someone from a small town like mine (Mullingar, northwest of Ireland, ed.) ended up playing for the President of the United States at the White House. I still can't believe it". Not to mention the fact that, from a particularly bigot and conservative society that it once was, Ireland is now one of the most advanced and liberal ones of the West. "I'm not sure how it happened, but I am very proud of it. It was great to see it become one of the first countries to have gay marriage, for example. And I’m proud that it’s acting as a catalyst for change in other countries".

And does he know U2, this compatriot up and coming group? Would he collaborate with them? "Some of my all time favourite songs are by U2, their shows are some of the best I’ve ever been to. It would be great to do something with them if they ever ask". Coming from one of the best selling bands meant that there was a challenging precedent to compete with. But Niall Horan is doing great. It's impossible to refrain from asking about a 1D reunion. "It’s a busy time for everyone, so no, not that I know of. We keep in touch but everyone’s doing their own thing. Louis is touring in America, Liam is working on his music, Harry’s busy on the biggest world tour... In fact, if you hear about a reunion, please let me know".

[handsmotif]

[ID: An illustration of my Amazing Digital Circus OC. He’s an orange and yellow spotted cat, wearing a colorful marching band inspired uniform. His whiskers are bent a little, and the ends resemble music notes. He’s grinning widely, which shows off his braces. He has a long tail with a microphone at the end of it. He’s posing confidently with one finger up in the air. You can see his toe beans, which are colored orange, blue, and purple. The background consists of very colorful shapes, along with music notes and a piano. They are both the same image, but the second has a transparent background. /end ID]

THIS GUY!!!! done by my wonderful friend izel @mcnuggyy ^__^

his name is Arpeggio and he’s based off that one orange cat piano toy ! i haven’t thought much of his backstory yet but he did the music for the video game before he got stuck in the circus :-) he’s a bit of a self absorbed asshole and loves to do impromptu musical numbers much to everyone else’s annoyance lol typical theatre kid things i guess

[metalcultbrigade]

Exodus ANNOUNCE LIVE ALBUM

BRITISH DISASTER: THE BATTLE OF '89 (LIVE AT THE ASTORIA)

The band announces today their live album British Disaster: The Battle of '89 (Live At The Astoria). 35 years after the recording the band decides to share this outstanding live performance with their fans. Recorded live at The Astoria in London back in March of 1989, EXODUS show once again why they are one of the biggest thrash metal bands of all time. Headbanging riffs, fast solos, and an amazing atmosphere are what can be expected from this live album which sees the light of the world on May 31st, 2024.

Be prepared for a much more aggressive and rawer sound than on the studio albums. British Disaster: The Battle of '89 (Live At The Astoria) is the ultimate live album presenting the sheer energy of what made EXODUS famous and notorious for during the 80s and what made them a legendary thrash metal band. A best of setlist compiled from the band's first three classic albums. The live album, mixed and mastered by Zeuss and the artwork done by Mark DeVito, will be available as CD, 2LP vinyl and digital.

Tracklisting:

1. The Last Act Of Defiance

2. Fabulous Disaster

3. 'til Death Do Us Part

4. Corruption

5. The Toxic Waltz

6. A Lesson In Violence

7. Chemi-Kill

8. Piranha

9. Like Father, Like Son

10. Deliver Us To Evil

11. Parasite

12. And Then There Were None

13. Verbal Razors

14. Brain Dead

15. Strike Of The Beast

EXODUS is:

Steve ‚Zetro‘ Souza - Vocals

Gary Holt – Guitars

Rick Hunolt – Guitars

Rob McKillop – Bass

Tom Hunting – Drums

[crashtestjeffy]

Tuesday as it goes....

I'm a dumbass. And my cat is a brat.

My cat knocked over his treats container and it fell down and fell open and the little bugger went to town. Then 30 minutes later threw up. I can't even be smug and satisfied by it because he just stepped over the mess and went to bed. Leaving me to clean it up.

I need to get my daughter's bus pass, and I forgot it's February and it's a short month. So I need to get it like now. I got part of the cost I am about $13 short. Shit. Anyone got $13 they can spot me?

Did you know there's videos of drum and guitar techs and roadies for bands showing how they spend their days and their work. I am enthralled. So much has changed, yet so much is the same. But it's a lot different than when i did it 35 years ago. The closest thing to a computer we had was a guy who was good at math. And a digital mic could nary be found in a live environment, they were considered so advanced they were used only in studios. And the food....Forget about it! Now the crew gets amazing meals and buffets. Back when I did it it was a stack of pizzas and a couple cases of beer. And a sack lunch and a payout for breakfast.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of the last time I ever spoke to my mother. I was making fun of my brother (her favourite) and the last words she said to me were "Shut up Jeffery, I'll talk to you later". It wasn't a mean thing. In fact my mom's most repeated words to me were "Shut up Jeffery" or "Jeff do you always have to be such an asshole?" and it was in her weird way loving. My mother was not very nurturing. She tried when we were real small, but a protective momma bear full of safe hugs and calming words she never was and after the age of about 4 we would never touch again. Until she was laying in the hospital bed she was dying in.

The first of March is when she had her stroke. And the 19th is when she died. That period was the toughest of my life. I feel really emotional about it this year. Maybe it is because I miss her or maybe it's because of now being able to actually feel her passing. She died at the very beginning of the pandemic and so there was no closure or ceremony I suppose.

Confession, I am absolutely terrified of dying like my mother did. A big stroke and lingering stock in a dying body, unable to speak eat or move. I can feel chest pains and shrug them off. A heart attack is usually pretty quick so to hell with it. But if I get even the slightest headache or symptom I immediately feel panic welling up. It's one of those things I guess.

Seriously, anyone got $13 they can spare?

I'll rub your bum!

[a-silent-symphony]

NIGHTWISH's FLOOR JANSEN To Release New Solo Single 'Invincible' This Friday

Floor Jansen, best known as the lead vocalist of the Finnish symphonic metal band NIGHTWISH, will release a new solo single, "Invincible", on Friday, January 13. She says: "This song tackles a sensitive and important subject."

"Invincible" is the fourth single from Floor's upcoming debut solo album, "Paragon", which will arrive on March 24. The LP showcases the Dutch-born singer's impressive vocal range and powerful voice on a diverse collection of pop-infused tracks and emotional ballads influenced by the sounds of her career.

"Paragon" includes the following tracks:

01. My Paragon 02. Daydream 03. Invincible 04. Hope 05. Come Full Circle 06. Storm 07. Me Without You 08. The Calm 09. Armoured Wings 10. Fire

Jansen said: "To renew yourself and take leaps into the unknown makes you grow. To age is a gift not everyone gets. I am a fortunate woman who got to make an album I never knew I could make. One that even defines me, where I am on my path. I have reached my PARAGON! I am so proud of this work! And grateful for all the amazing people in this beautiful life that helped me get here!"

With its mix of influences and powerful vocal performances, "Paragon" is an album that will appeal to fans of pop music and metal alike. It's the perfect addition to any music collection, and a must-have for fans of Floor Jansen and NIGHTWISH.

"Paragon" will be released digitally and physically on CD, vinyl, and a limited-edition deluxe box set. The album will be available on all major streaming platforms and at music retailers worldwide.

Following the release, Jansen will embark on a tour of The Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria in April and May of 2023.

Floor has already released three singles from "Paragon": "Me Without You", "Storm" and "Fire".

As part of NIGHTWISH, Jansen has landed two number one albums in Finland, and Top Five albums in Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland.

Born in the Netherlands, Jansen joined her first band, one of the world's first symphonic metal bands, AFTER FOREVER, when she was only 16 years old. The group went on to release five albums from 2000 to 2007, before they broke up in 2009.

Jansen's next band, REVAMP, released two albums in 2010 and 2013, before she joined NIGHTWISH as a full-time member. NIGHTWISH's first album with Jansen as the lead singer was 2015's "Endless Forms Most Beautiful", which landed in Top 10s around the world. This was followed by 2020's "Human. :II: Nature." , which was also an international success.

Jansen has toured extensively with the band and appeared on three of NIGHTWISH's live albums "Showtime, Storytime", "Vehicle Of Spirit" and "Decades: Live In Buenos Aires".

In 2019, Jansen participated in the popular Dutch TV show "Beste Zangers" where she scored a big hit with "Phantom Of The Opera" together with Henk Poort. She was recognized with a Dutch Popprijs award — a prestigious accolade for artists that has made important contributions to Dutch music. In the same year, her first solo tour sold out in less than 24 hours.

Jansen performed live with NIGHTWISH for the first time on October 1, 2012 at Showbox Sodo in Seattle, Washington following the abrupt departure of the band's lead singer of five years, Anette Olzon. Jansen officially joined NIGHTWISH in 2013.

[dollycas]

Cozy Wednesday featuring Battered and Buried (An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) by Lena Gregory #Review / #Giveaway - Great Escapes Book Tour @LenaGregory03

Welcome to Cozy Wednesday! I am delighted to share my thoughts about Battered and Buried by Lena Gregory today! Battered and Buried (An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) by Lena Gregory About Battered and Buried Battered and Buried (An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) Cozy Mystery 7th in Series Setting - Florida Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page (March 19, 2024) Paperback ‏ : ‎ 188 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1960511580 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1960511584 Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CW18PPSQ The best-laid plans may go awry, but the best-laid clues could frame a man for murder . . . Never one to let a day off work go to waste, café owner Gia Morelli and a friend head out for a blissful kayaking trip through the local national forest. But the peacefulness of the day is soon shattered when they come across Cole, her head cook, standing over a dead body. Worse still, the victim was a lifelong enemy of Cole’s and clues found on the body point to the cook as the culprit. When the police take Cole in and subject him to an intense grilling, Gia vows to do everything she can to prove his innocence. As even more incriminating evidence surfaces—including when the murder weapon itself is found hidden at the café—Gia knows she’s up against someone brutal enough to kill and devious enough to frame Cole for the deed. With the police ready to make an official arrest and wrap up what they consider an open-and-shut case, Gia turns for help to an old friend who’s not above breaking the law himself. Because if she can’t find the killer, Cole may go from serving up hot dishes to serving a life sentence . . . Dollycas's Thoughts We are back in Boggy Creek at Gia Morelli's All-Day Breakfast Cafe after a short time away. She is delighted to have realized her dream of owning a successful cafe where people love to gather for "good food, a cozy atmosphere, and to stoke the Boggy Creek rumor mill". Most of her customers are friendly and enjoy their time there but there is always someone that has to make a scene. Rusty Bragge was not happy with his food or the service and he seems to know her head cook, Cole. He finally leaves after making some threats but that wouldn't be the last Gia saw of him. On a well-deserved day off Gia and her friend Trevor head down the Ocklawaha River, drifting along in their kayaks. She has become accustomed to seeing the monkeys and the gators but she watches carefully for the deadly water moccasins. She gets a pleasant surprise when they notice Cole and Cybil on the shore. Then they notice Cole is standing over a dead body. The dead body of Rusty Bragge. Clues on the body point to Cole and the altercation at the cafe doesn't help. Gia knows Cole is no killer and even after the murder weapon is later found in the cafe, she is determined with a little help from her friends to prove his innocence. She plans to serve the real killer up on a silver platter for her fiance Captain Hunter Quinn and his partner Leo Dumont. _____ The core characters of this series are a tight-knit group of people and when one of their own is in trouble they quickly band together to help. Savannah and Gia always make me smile. They are there for each other no matter what. Their romantic relationships are strong. Hunt and Leo know Gia and Samantha are going to get involved in their cases and work hard to keep them safe. I love Alfie, his skills are amazing, and he is quick to do anything to help solve the case. All of Ms. Gregory's characters are well-developed and continue to evolve as the series continues. She has created some wonderful pets for her characters too. The author has written a fast-paced well-plotted mystery with several possible suspects and confounding clues. There was twist upon twist but I finally moved someone to the top of my own suspect list. That being said, I was surprised by how the showdown occurred and how fast the pages were turning. This is not the first time and I am sure it will not be the last that I found a book by Lena Gregory impossible to put down. Battered and Buried is an excellent addition to this series. I am thrilled that this series has found a new home and that we will be able to continue to visit Boggy Creek and Gia and all her friends. I am very excited for their stories to continue. Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent About Lena Gregory Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime. Author Links Newsletter.   Website    Facebook    Facebook Page Twitter (X)   Goodreads   Pinterest    Instagram     Bookbub    Amazon Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N - Kobo - Bookshop.org Also written by Lena Gregory Great Escapes Praise for Battered and Buried (An All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) by Lena Gregory I am GIDDY to be back at the All-Day Breakfast Cafe with Gia Savannah, Cole, Leo, Hunt, Alfie, Trevor, Cybil, Harley, Earl, Thor … and all the wonderful people that make up Gia’s inner circle. I have missed these characters and the cafe, and it was just such a delight to dive back in and feel right at home once more. ~Reading is my Superpower I would recommend this book, and series, to anyone who enjoys a well-crafted cozy mystery. This author is one of my favorites and I cannot wait for her to write more. ~MJB Reviewers If you’re a fan of cozy mysteries with yummy breakfast food, great characters, and a puzzling mystery, you’ll love Battered and Buried! I give it five big stars! ~Christy's Cozy Corners TOUR PARTICIPANTS - Please visit all the stops.  March 19 – Mystery, Thrillers, and Suspense – SPOTLIGHT March 19 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT March 20 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW March 20 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT March 21 – Christy's Cozy Corners - REVIEW, AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY March 21 – MJB Reviewers – REVIEW March 22 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – SPOTLIGHT March 22 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic - AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY March 23 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST   March 24 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT March 25 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW March 26 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW March 26 – Sarah Can't Stop Reading – REVIEW   March 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY March 27 – Angel's Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT March 28 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – REVIEW March 29 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW March 29 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST March 30 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee – SPOTLIGHT March 31 - FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT March 31 - Teatime and Books – SPOTLIGHT April 1 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT a Rafflecopter giveaway Have you signed up to be a Tour Host? Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today! Want to Book a Tour? Click Here Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read the full article

[sweetdreamsjeff]

Amazing Grace: Jeff Buckley

Date: Apr. 4, 2005

Author: Dennis Harvey

(DOCU)

A Once and Future Prods. presentation. Produced by Nyla Bialek Adams, Laurie Trombley. Executive producer, Peter Adams.

Directed by Nyla Bialek Adams, Laurie Trombley. Camera (color/B&W, digiBeta), Adams; editors, Adams, John Neely; music, Jeff Buckley; sound designer (Dolby Digital), Dan Olmstead. Reviewed at Cinequest, San Jose, March 9, 2005. Running time: 62 MIN.

With: Sebastian Bach, David Browne, Chris Cornell, Shane Doyle, David Fricke, Mickey Grondahl, Mary Guibert, Matt Johnson, Parker Kindred, Duncan Sheik, Michael Tighe, Hal Willner, Jimi Zhivago.

Mysteriously drowned at age 30 in 1997, singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley left behind just one completed studio album, the remarkable 1994 "Grace." That was enough to ensure him a still-growing cult audience, as well as more posthumous tie-in sales than any late rock legend since Jimi Hendrix. Electrifying performance footage in "Amazing Grace" underlines the sense that a great talent was lost. But this less-than-definitive docu portrait works overtime abetting his tragic hero mythology, worshipping the artist but omitting insight into the man. That lack could be fixed with expansion of the brief runtime, making specialized theatrical play more likely.

Leaping past Buckley's early years, the pic suggests he sprang fully formed upon moving to NYC in 1990--an impression shared by the loyal following he soon developed at Sin-e and other under-the-radar clubs. His passionate performing style, insinuating songs and extraordinary voice--swooping pitch-perfect from growl to falsetto to Middle Eastern-style ululation--soon attracted a major-label bidding war, then fast assembly of a backing band.

Acclaimed "Grace" release led to an 18-month international tour, after which Buckley ditched the spotlight for Memphis, where he struggled to come up with a satisfying sophomore disc. That effort was cut short by an impromptu river swim from which he never emerged, apparently caught by riptides.

Seen in interview and promo clips, the handsome performer comes off as even younger than his years, somewhat self-consciously striking vague tortured-artist postures he might soon have outgrown. ("I think too much. ... there's too much to know, too much at stake. ... Life is bigger than anything.") His reportedly playful side off-stage is just briefly glimpsed. These affectations are forgotten, however, in the live or live-in-studio sequences where he performs hair-raising versions of his songs and his signature cover, Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah."

Fellow musicians, fans and friends offer plaudits but little insight. Even Buckley's mother, Mary Guibert, speaks of him as if describing a remote, intangible genius, cryptically referring to his occasional "troubled" moments and "dark days." As if the whiff of pretentious obfuscation weren't already apparently enough, pic ends with a quote from Pushkin.

Archival materials are of variable quality, but remain the unquestionable highlight of this competently assembled package.

Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2005 PME Holdings, LLC d/b/a Variety Media LLC

From: Variety (Vol. 398, Issue 7) Type: Movie review

[literallyzooble]

About Me???

Pinned Post? In MY Blog? It’s more likely than you think!

-Name: Call me Hinotori! Or Hino, or Phoenix, or Rainbow…whatever name you know me by!

-Pronouns: Singular They/Xe/🌈 Pronouns

-Aspiring Independent Mangaka And Animator! <3

-Check Out My Caards For More Info:

And Check Out My Wix Website For All Of My Labels!

Current Largest Special Interests:

The Amazing Digital Circus

All Forms Of The Arts, Both Visual And Performing

My Own Universes/Original Characters

Marching Bands/Drumcorps

Neurodivergence/Autism

Hey! Just Try To Be Nice To Me, Alright? I’m Going Through A Rough Time And Just Came Back On Here To Get Some Serotonin From Digital Circus Fanart. Hopefully You Enjoy What I Make Though! Thank You For Checking My Blog Out <3

[theamazingdigitalmarchingband]

COME ONE, COME ALL!!! You’re Invited To See The BEST BAND In The WHOLE Digital Realm!

Welcome to the Amazing Digital Marching Band!!! I, your conductor Caine, have gathered the VERY BEST musicians in ALL THE LAND to give you the most jaw-dropping, heart-stopping, mind-bending marching band you've ever laid your eyes AND ears upon! Don't be afraid and come on in! Diddle around with your favorite woodwinds, scream loud and proud with the brass, and keep perfect time and tempo with the percussion gang! I guarantee you, this band will be the best in all of the digital land, and you will NOT be disappointed by the marvels these hard-working individuals pull off! So get your instruments, get your drill, and get set! Rehearsal is about to begin, my friends! I salute to all a wonderful time here in this beautiful, musical, inescapable world!

Signed with a Salute, Caine, Head Drum Major

The Amazing Digital Marching Band, sometimes abbreviated as TADMB, is an Alternative Universe to the independently animated series "The Amazing Digital Circus". This alternate universe takes on the question of "What would it be like to be stuck in a never-ending cycle of marching and concert seasons?" as well as "What would band practice in complete virtual reality be like?" To be put more simply, each main character found within "The Amazing Digital Circus" is assigned a different role that are typically shown in a high school/collegiate marching band. These roles are as follows:

-Caine: Head Drum Major -Pomni: (Assistant) Drum Major -Ragatha: Flute (Woodwinds) -Jax: Trumpet (Brass) -Gangle: Color Guard -Zooble: Marching Snare (Battery) -Kinger: Gong And Bass Drum (Pit/Auxiliary)

Each character takes on a different piece that helps make a marching band full. One cannot exist without the other. Within this AU, the characters are shown going through the typical struggles, hardships, and perseverance that marching band members have to go through, but also shows the much more positive side of marching band: the community, the trust, and the lifelong friends.

This AU might even involve more than just marching band, leaking out into the daily lives that the characters live within the digital world they're trapped in, other interests they have besides music, and also possibly incorporating the fact that this AU takes heavy inspiration from high school marching bands by adding in elements of high school life, such as other "classes" the band members might be taking.

GENERAL ASK BOX RULES!

Do YOU have any questions for our talented performers? Any burning confusion that you want to confess? Than look no further than the BAND BOX! This is where you can gain information about the band, as well as some of the students within it! Just click "Ask The Band Members!", type in your question (anons are welcome!), and send it in to get an answer from our folks! However, there are some rules that you must follow in order to place a note in the Band Box! This is an EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT after all, so please follow these rules our students have curated: -NO NSFW. None of the characters are comfortable answering questions like that and neither are...they. The person that created us. The one almighty. I wonder what they look like... -NO SHIP ASKS! As our creator has told me to state, "They encourage shipping of any of the characters/pairings you enjoy, as long as its not problematic! No ships are canon within this AU because they encourage enjoyers of all Digital Circus ships to enjoy shipping their favorite characters together without discourse! So please don't ask about any ships, but feel free to make your own ship content for this AU!" -NO OFFENSIVE ASKS. This encompasses basically everything on a basic DNI list, such as homo/trans/enby/xenogenderphobia, hate against any religion, xenophobia, misogyny, racism, sexism, discrimination, ableism, etc. Hate towards any characters/hate asks are also not permitted. -All in all please be kind and think about what you're typing before you send it! Our creator is currently very busy and is in the home stretch school-wise, so answers to asks may take bit of time! Please be patient!

The band members are excited to meet you and answer your questions! Once again, welcome to the Official Ask Blog for The Amazing Digital Marching Band!!!

Note From THE CREATOR :O

Hello! Welcome to my very first ask blog! I have never run an ask blog before, so I’m looking forward to this experience! I hope you all enjoy the content I create for this blog as much as I enjoy creating it! March on, March strong! -Mod Hino

A POLL???

Yes, my lovely little readers! That is correct! A POLL!!! If you have been so courteous to read this post all the way down here, YOU get to choose which character of "The Amazing Digital Marching Band" cast will get a fully-fledged reference sheet first! The poll will ask a week, and then I will start on the character that has the most votes! So choose wisely!

[bandkidcentral]

Welcome!

I see you stumbled across this blog, well now that you’re here… I mind as well introduce myself.

My name is Phoenix. My other names are Willow and Eden! Birth name is strictly for school friends only. But call me either one of those three names and I’ll respond! I’m genderfluid-transgender and use he/him pronouns. My sexuality is unlabeled and I’m taken by three wonderful people!

Now as for interests… I don’t have much. They include marching band, The Amazing Digital Circus, Five Nights at Freddy’s, Project Arrhythmia, Evangelion, The Hunger Games, and Divergent. In terms of drawing about said things, I’m open to other things too.

I’m an adult, but please for the love of god do not be creepy with me. You’ll be blocked immediately.

For my blogs!

@bandkidcentral - My main blog where I post stuff about my characters and concepts… sometimes fan art.

@divergentsocietysystem - System blog where my alters can post. Again, don’t be creepy or harass them, you’ll be blocked.

@red-carnival - A blog strictly for my gore artwork (Do NOT interact if you are sensitive to that stuff. Block it if need be).

@musicbythefield - My personal blog where I post a bit more personal artworks to cope with issues I have.

@facilityofsickdreams - Experimental AU blog.

A little short, albeit I don’t know how to exactly introduce myself, but this will have to do. Hope you enjoy your time here!

[nickmacleanjazz]

Nick Maclean Quartet feat Brownman Ali's CONVERGENCE is now officially released! You can stream it on all of the various platforms, but if you really want to support the creation of new jazz art consider buying a digital copy on Bandcamp! https://nickmacleanquartet.bandcamp.com/album/convergence

PURCHASE (digital or physical) or STREAM CONVERGENCE now! Maclean.Browntasauras.com ---------------

"Don't ever become a pessimist, Ira; a pessimist is correct oftener than an optimist, but an optimist has more fun - and neither can stop the march of events." - Lazarus Long (from Robert Heinlein's 'Time Enough For Love', 1973)

I love this quote from Heinlein, and coupled with another bit of Lazarus Long wisdom "Pessimist by policy, optimist by temperament..." I think the sentiment aptly sums up the creation of this record.

'Convergence' was first started in 2020, after Brown and I returned from our Canadian National tour with Ben Duff and Jacob Wutzke. Ben and Jacob are a special breed of player. Brown and I developed a real chemistry with them on the road, and we desperately wanted to record this incarnation of the group. Tunes were written, players assembled, a tour was booked to get us ready for the studio... and everything was very quickly cancelled by the subsequent "march of events" - the Covid pandemic.

At the end of 2021, amid more lockdowns and a new unknown Omicron variant, Brown and I decided "screw it, let's take a gamble on 2022". So for the second time, we assembled our band, we booked our tour, we booked our studio time... and we hoped beyond hope that circumstances would allow us to prepare and record this album. And then, a series of amazing things happened.

We got a grant from the Canada Council for the Arts... and then another one from the Toronto Arts Council... and then finally the Ontario Arts Council came back with a THIRD grant. Suddenly not only had I the budget to pay my musicians something they deserved, we could record in Canada's top recording studio AND hire a crack team of videographers to get stunning footage of the sessions - all for a project that Brown and I strongly felt had the right mix of tunes and musicians for something magical to potentially happen.

To make the mixture even more exciting, we had a number of guest artists coming in to record with us as well. One of Canada's great jazz bassists, the multi-Juno winning Mike Downes - a musician I have long admired and taken inspiration from - and the young, rising star drummer Mateo Mancuso lent their substantial talents to us for our version of 'Eye of the Hurricane'. The original bassist of the ensemble, the incredible Jesse Dietschi (who's just released a phenomenal record called 'Gradient') joined us on the Herbie classic 'Dolphin Dance'. And one of Canada's greatest latin percussionists, Luis Orbegoso generously added his incredible conga and bell playing to the Brownman original 'Wisdom of Aurelius'.

This was all incredible... and terrifying. We had such an opportunity, but so much depended on no lockdowns, no cancellations, and no-one catching Covid.

When you listen to the record, hopefully you'll agree with me that this story has a very happy ending. This record's name 'Convergence' owes to the extremely fortuitous circumstances that allowed its completion, but there were many near misses that could have spelled doom along the way - all in a global environment that was anything but fortuitous. What I've learned from this, and another lesson I plan to teach my quickly-growing daughter, is that Convergence depends on your autonomous choices just as much as it does on blind luck. Without being an "optimist by temperament", you'll avoid the risks necessary to chase your goals. Without being a "pessimist by policy", the contingencies and planning vital for mitigating those risks will be inadequate to see those goals through. On very rare occasions, those who strive to embody these principles will be able to turn random good fortune into Convergence. Because they were very lucky, yes. But also because they were ready.

This record is very special to me, not just because of the incredible/terrifying circumstances of its creation, but because every single person on this gave so much of themselves, so much of their personalities, and so much of their heart. I'm so proud of the music that was captured, I'm so humbled by the reverence and care that was taken by everyone involved. Thank you all.

In particular to my rhythm section Ben Duff and Jacob Wutzke - you both are a FORMIDABLE force full of heart, personality, and irreverence. You are a shining example of the next generation of modern-minded jazz musicians and I hope to be working with you both for many years to come.

To my producer and my featured trumpet player Brownman Ali... what can I say? It's been nearly 10 years that you've been mentoring me and working closely with me on so many different projects, how on earth do I sum up nearly a decade of deep inspiration, formative lessons, and artistry in a paragraph? I can't, so I'm just going to say THANK YOU. You sound like a world class KILLER all through this album. Your treatment of my melodies is inspired and your soloing shows a creativity and a personality that is both highly expansive and all your own. You never fail to impress in your role as my producer and the attention and wisdom you bring to every project we've done is unparalleled and has helped to create an album I'm fiercely proud of. Thank you brother, I love you.

---------------

"Convergence" releases Oct 27 (Can) & Nov 24 (Int) on Browntasauras Records ---- :: Nick Maclean - piano :: Brownman Ali - trumpet/producer :: Ben Duff - bass :: Jacob Wutzke - drums with special guests :: Mike Downes - bass (track 5) :: Mateo Mancuso - drums (track 5) :: Jesse Dietschi - bass (track 1) :: Luis Orbegoso - congas & bells (track 11) -- Revolution Recording -- recording studio (Kim Cooke , booker) Stephen Koszlerzler -- head tracking engineer Luke Schindler -- assistant tracking engineer Wayne H Ferguson -- piano tuner Josh Bowman -- mix engineer Justin Gray -- mastering engineer Dean Shu -- cover art Daryl Angier -- liner notes - Thom Varey -- director of photography Brittany Farhat -- camera crew Matthew Fong -- camera crew - Canada Council for the Arts -- funding Ontario Arts Council -- funding Toronto Arts Council -- funding - Browntasauras Records -- record label Stephen Danic (Browntasauras Records) -- publicist ---- WATCH singles from CONVERGENCE ROAD WARRIOR (blazing uptempo swing): https://youtu.be/qfOno29FcXM DOLPHIN DANCE (introspective ballad): https://youtu.be/61856iZ__0c VERBOTEN (irreverently funkified): https://youtu.be/lexWg8YLXDQ WISDOM OF AURELIUS (Latin jazz odyssey): https://youtu.be/-cPAbdH6qkM ---- For more info: Maclean.Browntasauras.com NicholasMaclean.com Brownman.com Browntasauras.com

[designaday]

Rest in Peace, Chief

I just got word that a true legend, Phil Faini, passed away Wednesday, June 7. You can read about Phil’s illustrious career in this news release from West Virginia University. I’m going to tell you what Phil meant to me.

When I was attending Fairmont Senior High School, band was my favorite thing. Yes, I enjoyed marching band, but more than that, we had a percussion ensemble. This was a class that I and the rest of my fellow percussionists took. The rest of the band members took concert band, but concert band is relatively boring for percussionists. There’s not a lot for us to do. Our parts are relatively simple with a lot of rests, and most of the time is spent working the wind instruments. Not all high schools have percussion ensembles, but my band director, Barry Vingle, was a percussionist. He received his Master’s degree at West Virginia University in 1976 where he learned from Phil Faini.

One of my close high school friends, Todd Caldwell, invited me to attend a WVU Percussion Ensemble concert, and I was mesmerized. It wasn’t just a concert—it was a tour de force of music, african dance, and theatrical presentation. The staging and lighting were as impactful as the performance. The theater was packed. I returned year after year, never missing a concert and purchasing the recordings on cassette. I’ve digitized those and cherish them. Phil Faini knew how to put on a show, and his enthusiasm was infectious. I told myself that one day, I was going to perform in one of those concerts.

My high school percussion ensemble played several pieces that Phil Faini composed or arranged. We played his arrangement of El Cumbanchero—probably my favorite piece to play on marimba—his arrangement of Sleigh Ride, and his composition Highlife. We were learning Highlife my junior year, and Mr. Vingle invited Phil Faini to work with us for a day, and then direct us in the concert. It was an amazing experience, and I remember Phil telling the audience afterward that we performed the piece better than a lot of college ensembles.

The summer after my junior year, I was accepted into the prestigious Governor’s Honors Academy for which I stayed at WVU for a month with the top students from every county in the state. It was a life-forming experience. It’s where I met my wife. It’s where I got to learn from Phil Faini every day in a world percussion class where we played African drums and steel drums. He introduced us to Ellie Manette, the inventor of the steel drum. Like his college students, we came to call Phil “Chief,” an honorific he picked up from his study of African percussion. During my senior year, all of us GHA students were invited to perform with the WVU percussion ensemble, Percussion 90, at The Greenbrier, a luxurious resort in southern WV. These experiences cemented my desire to attend WVU.

And so I did. Now, I wasn’t a music major, but I joined the Mountaineer Marching Band where I continued to learn from the masters students that I got to know during GHA. Then Phil Faini became Dean of the College of Creative Arts, and my Graphic Design class interacted with him as we designed a new logo for the school. Oh, and remember the goal I had set for myself years before? When I reached my senior year of college, I decided I had some room in my schedule and signed up for the freshman percussion ensemble. I took that class in the fall semester knowing that come December, I would be part of the WVU Percussion Concert. I performed one piece with the freshman ensemble—a comical piece where we all started playing a line of snares and eventually moved to a base drum in the center that we circled in a little rhythmic game, leaving the drum when we were “out”—and then performed in the finale, which was inspired by STOMP! Phil Faini’s concerts always had a finale that brought all of the various ensembles together for a big finish. Life goal achieved.

Then I went on with my life. I graduated, got married, went on to grad school, and started a career. The concert that I performed in was the last WVU percussion concert I attended while Phil Faini was at the school. When my daughter became a percussionist, I decided to take her to a concert to show her what a percussion ensemble was. I was disappointed. It was a small concert, poorly attended. There was no flair, no drama. Phil Faini was retired, and apparently the current faculty didn’t have his vision or energy. But there was a little old man sitting two rows in front of us. I made a point to approach him after the concert. I re-introduced myself—he didn’t remember me—and then I introduced my daughter. He smiled and nodded and said something polite. I didn’t expect him to remember me, but I felt compelled to let him see just a little bit of the legacy he passed down.

Now I play drums every week in a worship band, and my daughter is in college studying music therapy.

Thank you, Chief.

I encourage you to take some time to watch this video. It’s the only one I could find on YouTube. This is Phil Faini and Percussion 90 in their prime. This performance was in 92, the same year I graduated high school. My percussion instructor from my senior year, Dave Ross, and my drum line instructors from college, Jamie Eckert, and Rob Sigler, are all performing.