The Periodic Table of Geek Musicians

Jason Morris: #39

2011-12-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

Jason Morris is the consumate musician. He's a composer, drummer, singer, guitarist, and does everything incredibly well. The very fact that he participated in The Masters of Song Fu #2 gives him indisputable street cred among musicians and geeks alike. The fact that he lost to the Rifftones in the final round with a respectable vote tally means he has chops. Great, big, powerful Chuck Norris chops.

Jason also competed in Masters of Song Fu #5. Now, he hasn't posted most of these songs elsewhere so you'll have to follow the link to the competition to get them. They're worth tracking down. Jason had to step down in the third round, thus never answered the challenge, "write a winter holiday song that is not about the holidays". Who cares? He made up for it by totally running away with the Holiday Special challenge, "Create a brand new character for this holiday season, and write a holiday song for him/her/it." The result of that challenge was Twangles, the Christmas Squid:

Original art by Kimberly Johnson for The Periodic Table of Geek Musicians
copyright 2011

While the other competitors were (almost) uniform in offering scandalous or cynical ditties, Jason alone threw his heart and talent into the competition and came up with the first truly original, family-friendly character I know of since Frosty and Rudolph. This is just a really great song. Have a listen and see if you don't agree.

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href="http://jasonmorris.bandcamp.com/track/twangles-the-christmas-squid"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Twangles, The Christmas Squid by Jason Morris&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

A squid who brings toys to the children of Atlantis, where Santa can't go. Folks, it doesn't get more creative than that! And now you know why I've been saving Jason Morris for December's spot on the Periodic Table!

While many geek musicians play with tongue in cheek, or in a niche, Jason just comes right out and plays good old-fashioned ROCK AND ROLL. He gives his clever lyrics on odd topics a mainstream delivery that sometimes has you wondering "what did he just say?" especially in "adult" numbers such as "American Doll" or "Burning for You".

One of the best parts of doing these reviews is that I get to go back and listen to all the music to refresh my memory. In going through the old Song Fu entries, it strikes me how few of them (and by that I mean none of them) sound as though they were written for a competition. No matter how weird the challenge, Jason rises to it as though it was his idea from the start. And when the topic calls for it he's ready to set aside the hard Rock and change genres, as he does in "The Ballad of Rufus Amos Adams" and "The O'Sullivan Stomp".

This is stuff you'd be happy to pay real money for, and Jason gives it away for free!

I'm glad that Jason's got his Bandcamp page up now, and I'd like to encourage him to gather these harder-to-find items up there so people can get full enjoyment out of them.

And now... STUFF!

Jason very kindly allowed me free reign on placing product, and this being December, we're going with the Twangles theme. So there's a LOT of stuff here to choose from. I think you'll find something you like.

NOT ONLY THAT, Jason has marked Twangles on his Bandcamp page as a "name your own price" download, with the proceeds going to RiteCare! So say you don't want to shell out 30 bucks for swag, but you still want to help RiteCare. Just go Bandcamp and download Twangles, and pay what you want. It could be zero, or any amount greater. Any amount is appreciated.

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SHOP!

I'm not going to link everything here, but click on the link and visit the shop. We've got mugs, steins, bibs, clothing... even Christmas stockings and ornaments. Order now for prompt delivery!

Jason's Bandcamp Pages

(I do want to take a second to recognize Kim Johnson for the original Twangles artwork that she provided to me on very short notice! I've been short on time, and she really came through. Now if I can only get her to take paid commissions from the public she'd be wealthier and the world would be more beautiful.)

Joe 'Covenant' Lamb: #55

2011-09-24T15:32:00.000-07:00

Joe 'Covenant' Lamb has already been featured here on the Periodic Table of Geek Musicians as part of the group, Duality237... so what's up with the separate entry? Well, to put it bluntly, Joe's that cool. Joe's so cool that Snoopy has to pay him royalties every time he puts on a pair of sunglasses. But beyond that, Joe also releases music on his own, with a very distinctively different style than that of Duality237, and it was as a solo act that Joe won the 5th Masters of Song Fu title.

Part of what makes Joe incredibly cool is that he is one of the most selfless musicians it's ever been my honor to know. He will work with practically anyone, in whatever capacity he can, adding vocals, guitar, or his distinctive bodhran to other artists' work; and he isn't shy about calling on someone else to collaborate with, either.

The bodhran (pronounced "bow-rahn") is a Celtic drum, and never having heard one you might be inclined to think that such a thing gets old very quickly, but you'd be wrong... it never gets old. Here is Joe's album, Shadowland, which is available for purchase on his Bandcamp page.

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href="http://joecovenant.bandcamp.com/album/shadowland"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Shadowland by Joe Covenant&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

While you're there, make sure you check out his other albums!

Joe has a Bandcamp page!
You can follow @JoeCovenant on Twitter!
Joe's on the radio, and you can listen online!

Joe is the the Assistant General Manager and Assistant Programming Manager of TheLook247.com online radio station, as well as hosting 4 hours of pop, indie, and eclectic music each Saturday evening.

The Swag!

For Joe's contribution, I wanted to try something cool and distinctive, so I picked out one of my very favorite Joe Covenant songs to illustrate. "Tom Furby" was Joe's answer to one of the gnarliest Song Fu challenges ever, which was to write a song about one of the 700 "mole men" that are listed in John Hodgman's book, "More Information Than You Require". This was no easy thing, and I think everyone who's heard the song is in agreement that Joe hit the ball completely out of the park. Here is my rendering of Tom Furby setting a trap so he can torture, kill and maim some of the annoying fuzzballs (which is, let's face it, what we all have wanted to do since they first hit the store shelves).

And remember please, that all proceeds go toward the Rite Care Centers for Childhood Language Disorders.

Here's the song!
&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://joecovenant.bandcamp.com/track/mr-tom-furby-the-furby-catcher-moleman-no-297"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Mr. Tom Furby-The Furby Catcher (Moleman No: 297) by Joe Covenant&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

The Book!

I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Joseph Lamb is now also a published author. His first novel, Sister of the Wolf, is available at booksellers online, including Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com. Hey, I bought it; you can too! Congratulations, Joe!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: #2

2011-05-20T15:50:00.000-07:00

If you're a musician, prepare to be intimidated. If you're a listener, prepare to be AMAZED. This week's installment of the Periodic Table features none other than Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, the premier Geek Musician of all time, and the inaugural member of the "Noble Geek" group.

I know, I know... you're thinking "Huh? Some stuffy classical composer?" Not on your LIFE, people! This man's work literally defines Classical music. He is also quite possibly the biggest selling composer of all time... any time, any era, anywhere. Let's back that up with some facts...

In his 35-year lifetime, Mozart composed over SIX HUNDRED pieces of music of various genres and styles, from concerts to bawdy rounds. If you put all of his work together (and it has been done!), you wind up with ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY full-length CDs. Let that number sink in. Now consider that since 2005 this boxed set sold over 100,000 copies in France alone. That's more than 18 million CDs sold in one country, recently. Now consider that his music has been selling steadily internationally in the form of digital downloads, CD's, vinyl, sheet music and concert performances for well over two hundred years. Forget The Beatles, forget Elvis, forget Michael Jackson. Mozart is da MAN.

Mozart's geek credentials are unmatched. He was a prodigy, having begun playing the clavier at four years of age. Among his earliest compositions was what we know as "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star", composed when he was just six years old. Oh, yeah, you've sung Mozart... and liked it. As Tom Lehrer famously observed, "It is sobering to consider that when Mozart was my age he had already been dead for a year." It is indeed people like that who make you realize how little you've accomplished.

Mozart's music has a quality that is nearly unmatched... you've heard the phrase "Mozart makes babies smarter," popularized in the movie The Incredibles. That's not just a joke. It's called "the Mozart Effect", and is the subject of serious scientific study. A 1993 study indicated that listening to Mozart's music could result in temporary enhancement of spatial-temporal reasoning. This is beyond geek... it's mad-scientist insanely geek.

Here's a little night music, performed in France and uploaded to YouTube by Fasculin:

Even in his day, the multi-lingual Mozart was an international phenomenon, Now you might think that, having been deceased for 220 years, Mozart wouldn't have much of an Internet presence. You'd be -- to pardon the expression -- dead wrong. Proto-geek Mozart is represented everywhere:

He's featured in The Mutopia Project. Get your free sheet music here.
He has his own digital research library. (How many geeks can say that?)
He has a FaceBook page that, as of this writing, is liked by 799,524 people.
He's on MySpace!
And, of course, you can read about him in numerous Wikipedia articles.

Is this music still relevant? Well, consider that it's still performed, remixed, and re-interpreted to this day, and if you put a beat behind it (as many have done), it genuinely rocks. Here's YouTuber "Pianowork" giving his interpretation of Rondo alla Turca:

Would Mozart have supported RiteCare? Without a doubt! Brother Wolfgang was a member of the Viennese lodge called "Zur Wohltätigkeit" and composed a fair number of pieces of Masonic music. He would certainly have embraced the charity wholeheartedly. So to celebrate Mozart, proto-geek and uber-geek without peer, the first of our Noble Geeks, we offer the following:

Other people get mugs. Mozart gets a stein.

Because he's MOZART, that's why.

There's also this cool 'Amadeus!' T-shirt!

Mozart was multilingual, and adapted his name to several languages. Mozart's middle name was variously expressed as 'Amadeus', 'Theophilus', and 'Gottlieb', all of which mean, "Lover of God".

This shirt gives you an opportunity to honor a geek, make a statement, and support a charity, all at the same time!

If you're rockin' with Mozart, you're probably totin' some sheet music. That's why we're also offering this stylish 'Amadeus!' messenger bag!

Finally, Mozart makes babies smarter. We all know that. So why not let the world know as well? Our exclusive toddler T-shirts and infant bodysuits proudly proclaim, "Mozart Made Me Smarter!"(TM)

Oh, all right... let's not leave off Mom and Dad...

Craig Bevan: #13

2011-05-14T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. Normally, I try to post these folks in roughly the order in which they've signed up (and there's a link up above if you'd like to show up on the Table); but Craig Bevan, element #13, wasn't next on the list. Here's the true story of how Craig came to be on PeriodicGeek this week... my wife lobbied for it. By "lobbied" for it I mean that she determined to make my life a living hell if Craig weren't next up on the blog.

I relate this story not to cast a shadow on my wife, but to illustrate the kind of appeal that Craig Bevan has. This is a guy who truly has star power. He has supreme control of both his guitar and his voice. Listen and watch...

See what I mean? Obviously, Craig was a shoo-in for the Table in his own time, but I couldn't help but ask my wife why he should be next. As English has no words for "je ne sais quoi", she just drooled silently at the screen for a while. I, being a loving husband of 16 years, understand this to mean, "his sex appeal has sex appeal and if he were in the room I wouldn't give you conversation." Fair enough, Lisa.

Craig's got quite a YouTube presence, with a number of covers. They're ALL good, people, but please take the time to sift through the videos for his original songs, like the one above... they're awesome. The voice is smooth, the music is smooth, and it's easy listening all the way through. I'm ecstatic that Craig's offered to lend his presence to the Periodic Table, and in so doing support the RiteCare charity!

In terms of merchandise, the most compelling design I can think of is Craig Bevan's own presence. So here's a taste of what we have for you (this image is used on the button):

Click the image to visit Craig Bevan's section of the PeriodicGeek store!

VISIT THE STORE!

We're pleased to offer Craig Bevan buttons, T-shirts and mugs, so please click through the graphic to the PeriodicGeek store and see what we have to offer. Remember please that all the profits are donated to Rite Care Centers for Childhood Language Disabilities, a superb charity that helps pre-school children live up to their full potential.

While your bank card is out, head over to www.craigbevanmusic.com and check out Craig's new album, I Think We Made It.

You can buy it right there on the website and can download a FREE track, 'Feelings I Find Hard To Show'. Or buy it on iTunes.

In addition you can find out how to follow or friend Craig on Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, and Twitter.

...

The Hiatus is Over!

2011-05-11T16:28:00.000-07:00

We're back! And we're busy listening and doing. Busybusybusy. Look for an update soon!

A New Radio Station

2011-04-17T09:20:00.000-07:00

Click on the cloud to learn more and donate!

While we're on sabbatical, I'd like to take this opportunity to promote another project. Jules Sherred of the Geeky Pleasures website has started a project to create a new Internet radio station. The investment required is modest -- just $3000 -- but she needs some help to get it started. Now, she could go to the bank, or some venture capitalists, but those kinds of solutions often cause problems of their very own. So she's started a Chip-in project.

If only 300 of the thousands of visitors that Geeky Pleasures gets donate just $10 each, the goal is met. For your $10 you have the satisfaction of having started something grand, and ensure a year's worth of entertainment. Get that? A YEAR'S worth of entertainment for the cost of one used DVD.

Jules' shows feature Geek musicians, many of whom are or will be featured here on the Periodic Table. It's YOUR kind of music, folks. In addition, she interviews the most interesting names in music and entertainment. Joining her in this endeavor is Joe 'Covenant' Lamb, the Yang of Duality237, a band which was featured right here.

Please help make this happen, folks, and continue to support the many independent musicians and artists who work to add a little entertainment to our drab and boring lives.

Sabbatical

2011-04-15T19:11:00.000-07:00

The Periodic Table is on sabbatical for the month of April so I can concentrate on a couple of time-consuming projects .

That doesn't HAVE to be the case! If you have artistic leanings and would like to try your hand at product design, give me a holler at dr dot lindyke at cratchit dot org.

For those who are in the queue, thanks for your patience while I pay the bills.

In the meantime, take a look at the shop, and at peruse the music of some of our previous entries! Links are on the right!

Jeff MacDougall: #88

2011-03-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

I was really jazzed when Jeff MacDougall agreed to appear on the Periodic Table, as Jeff is one of my very favorite musicians anywhere. Jeff, if you don't know, is the challenger that went up against Jonathan Coulton in the very first Masters of Song Fu competition. To my mind, this was a very close competition. JoCo pulled out the win with 'Space Doggity', but Jeff's space ballad, 'High' remains stuck in my head to this day. Here it is, submitted for your approval:

Those of us where are of the community called TMA owe a debt of gratitude to Jeff. With Mike Lombardo, he started an international community of musicians and -- more importantly -- friends. That's not the kind of thing that everybody can say.

If there is a person on this Table with a social conscience, it is Jeff. As you're perusing his bandcamp site, read the text, particularly that of the song 'Thank You', and consider that Rite Care is not the only charity worthy of your support.

Also take a look at Jeff's children's album, Stand Up!. Most albums created specifically for kids are, to put it mildly, lacking. Stand Up! manages to entertain and educate without condescending. I'm an adult, and I like it, particularly the high-energy number, 'Bounce'. If you want to get your kids to burn off some energy before naptime, this is the number to play. It's like an innocent little kiddie rave!

It was 'Bounce' that inspired this first bit of merchandise. We have an entire line of children's clothing with the "BOUNCE!" theme, with logos in blue or pink. There are bibs, infant bodysuits, and of course, T-shirts in various colors:

And of COURSE, if you're going to bounce, you need some company! How about this cuddly plush teddy bear? He's eleven inches tall and sports his very own BOUNCE! t-shirt! (Or her own... I've never been very good at that where bears are concerned.)

We have a few special items for the adults as well... naturally there's a coffee mug, and I'm really happy about this one. Taking the theme from 'High', we've captured Tom's spacewalk in this panoramic view in near-Earth orbit. This is a great gift for any geek... musician or not!

One of Jeff's early Song Fu entries was a spoof of 'WKRP in Cincinnati', entitled 'Jeff MacDougall Dot Com'. This was the inspiration for this radio-themed adult T-shirt. And of course, since we all know that Jeff is old, this radio is decidedly retro:

I know this is a little difficult to see in the graphic, so here's the radio in more detail; it sports a retro-styled chrome logo, and the dial lists the songs listenable on JeffMacDougall.com

Finally, we carry that same chrome logo over to a retro-style cap.

I'm sure there's something on this page for everyone, so please show your support for this fine artist, and at the same time help some preschool children get the language therapy they desperately need. You CAN help change a life!

I'll leave you with these important links, and my profound thanks to Jeff MacDougall and all the artists who have chosen to support Rite Care. Until next time!

www.JeffMacDougall.com

Jeff's Bandcamp Pages

Jeff's YouTube Channel

A Very Special Thank You to Dantes!

2011-03-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

As you may know, PeriodicGeek.com is dedicated to raising money to support Rite Care, an exceptional charity that provides language therapy to children who need it at no charge to them. Each of the wonderful musicians who are featured here have lent their names and efforts to this purpose.

But you may not know that in addition to merchandise, there is a PayPal donation button on the right-hand side of this page for direct donations of any amount. That button has gotten its first use, and in a very special way. Bram Tant (aka "Dantes"), a indie musician living in Belgium, and one of the DJs on The Force 925 internet radio station, has donated the proceeds from his very first music sale from his Bandcamp site to Rite Care.

Outstanding, Bram. Thank you.

You can listen to Dantes' shows on TheForce925.net Saturdays 6/9 am PT/ET to 10 am/1 pm PT/ET.

The Table Is Interactive!

2011-03-18T21:17:00.000-07:00

The last couple of months I've been sort of vocally wishing that someone would step up and provide us with a JavaScript Periodic Table that's a bit more interactive than the static picture I was using. Caleb Hines has done exactly that, and he did a great job! THANKS, Caleb!

Look to the right and you'll see an icon for The Periodic Table. Click through and you should see the table. Mousing over a box displays more info, and clicking on it takes you straight to the proper blog entry. It's pretty much exactly what I was looking for, so it's now our official site map.

It's usual for such things to display some quirkiness with different browsers. We've tested it with Firefox and Chrome, and it's working as designed. If there are problems with your browser, leave a comment and we'll see about debugging it.

The next entry on the Table is going to be a bit delayed, as I'll be out of town and otherwise engaged this weekend, but I think you'll really enjoy hearing from the band we've got scheduled next!

Again, thanks Caleb, and folks, don't let the fact that a band has scrolled off the list dissuade you from getting their merchandise! Use the new table to recall Edric Haleen, Inverse T. Clown, Mike Lombardo, Boffo Yux Dudes, Dr. Lindyke or Godz Poodlz and snag some really great merchandise! Want a Mike Lombardo Trio cap? A Bomb Squad Girl clock? Everything's made to order, so everything's still available! And as always, the proceeds go to help preschool kids with language disorders find their voices. Thanks for your support!

UPDATE: It was looking a bit funny in Microsoft Internet Explorer, though every other browser displayed it properly (is anyone surprised at that?). I believe I have that fixed now, so it should look the same in all browsers. If something looks wrong to you, leave a comment.

GöDZ PööDLZ

2011-03-12T22:52:00.000-08:00

It's another duo this week. Rüss Rögers and Rhöd Dürre (the umlauts are optional, so don't bust a vein trying to find them on the keyboard!). Russ competed in Song Fu 3 as "Rusty's Rocking Jamboree". Shortly thereafter he paired with Rhod and they burst into Song Fu 4 as Gödz Pöödlz. And what an entrance! In successive rounds they delivered Bad Penny, Gödz Pöödlz on Parade, and the iconic Bomb Squad Girl. In particular, Gödz Pöödlz on Parade estabished a certain... attitude... that defines the Pöödlz.

I first "discovered" Song Fu in the following competition, where the Pöödlz offered up such polished gems as Captain Dane Frostline, 3455316008, and A Gift from Gödz Pöödlz. I have to admit to some stupidity on my part when it came to 3455316008, their answer to the challenge "Write a song about a number". It wasn't until after the voting that I realized that every word in their apparently numberless "song about a number" was written upside-down on a calculator! In other words, the entire song was a number, the title of which resembles "She Boogies"!

A Gift from Gödz Pöödlz takes the self-promotional attitude of Gödz Pöödlz on Parade to a new height:

A fine bit of hubris from a band that had at the time a grand total of two competitions and six songs under their belt! But it's all in good fun... these guys are all about pleasing the crowd. That's something they've continued to do through successive competitions, both Song Fu and SpinTunes. They've a loyal (you might say, rabid) fan following with whom they communicate on Twitter and Facebook.

GöDZ PööDLZ on the Web:

Facebook.com/GodzPoodlz

@GodzPoodlz on Twitter

GodzPoodlz.bandcamp.com

And of course, in various songwriting
competitions, like SpinTunes

At this point I'll mention that they've set a goal to appear on the Doctor Demento show, as well they should. So click through the Facebook link above and find out how you can help make that happen!

I have no segue for this next piece... it's just that my wife wanted to make absolutely certain that you heard it, because she's a Pöödlz fan, too, and this is a really nice piece of music:

When I announced that the purpose of the Periodic Table of Geek Musicians was to benefit Rite Care Centers for Childhood Language Disorders, the Pöödlz were easily the most enthusiastic volunteers. I soon found out why, but I'll let Rhod Durre tell that story himself:

"When one of my daughters was diagnosed with speech apraxia when she was 3 years old, we exhausted all apparent options without much noticeable improvement. Despite receiving intensive speech therapy at home and through our health insurance, she was still unintelligible to even immediate family members. We learned about Rite Care through our school district speech therapy and were placed on the waiting list. When an opening was finally available, the local Rite Care evaluated and accepted two of our children for therapy twice a week. The improvement in my daughters' speech was dramatic and was immediately noticeable! The therapists engaged our children and made speech therapy fun for them in a way no previous teacher had. Not only did their speech improve immensely, but they really bonded with the therapists and started to actually look forward to speech lessons. As their therapy progressed, my children gained self-confidence because they were finally able to communicate with others. Three of my children have now received therapy through Rite Care and their transformation has been incredible! Especially in the case of the child who was diagnosed with apraxia, I credit Rite Care for helping her to overcome this very serious disorder. If not for the early intervention she received, I don't know that she would be understandable to this day. Because of Rite Care, however, she is now doing extremely well both scholastically and socially. Thank you, Rite Care, for everything you have done for my family!

-Rhod Durre
St. Michael, MN"

Normally at this point you'd get a disclaimer saying that so-and-so's results are atypical. While Rite Care cannot do the impossible, what is certain is that your donations go to pay for the very best, most dedicated therapists possible. The monies we collect here go directly to therapy. They don't even pay for the administrative costs of this web domain or the Cafepress store. Rite Care services are offered without cost to the families, but that doesn't mean they're free. Rite Care receives exactly zero government funding... everything happens as a result of fundraising projects like this one. So please support a great band that supports a great cause and buy some of their merchandise. When it comes to your home and you open the box, know that you're part of something wonderful. If you can't afford the merchandise, no problem... we've got a Paypal donation link for smaller amounts, and if nothing else you can click through a few ads. Every little bit helps!

In keeping with their enthusiasm for the project, and their flair for self-promotion (and keep in mind that they're letting me do this to benefit other people!), Gödz Pöödlz have THIRTEEN products for sale, including some really SPECIAL items! I'm going to list some of them, but give you the link to the PeriodicGeek shop for the whole list. Partly because I knew this was coming, I've partitioned the PeriodicGeek shop by band. It's now a lot easier to find the particular stuff you're looking for.

Gödz Pöödlz shop at PeriodicGeek

I'm going to start with the mug, because I like mugs! I like them so much that I'm running out of room in my cabinets. I like them so much I may have to take up drinking coffee! This is a really fun design featuring Len Peralta's "Monster by Mail" image of the Pöödlz, and a reference to a possibly-recognizable jingle.

What's not immediately apparent in these photos is the notice on the cups: "No PööDLZ were harmed in the making of this merchandise." Animal lovers take note.

Next up is something special. In honor of Bomb Squad Girl, we have this unique clock with Bomb Squad Girl herself, as envisioned by Your's Truly. Here she is in fighting trim, armed with a pair of wire cutters to defuse an explosive situation! Meanwhile the seconds tick down from 60 to zero!


This was a really fun thing to design. Click here for a close-up of BSG's face.

We also have THREE apparel designs. The first two are BSG designs. Your Bomb Squad Girl will be fearless, fit, and fabulous in the BSG logo. This is available as a Jr. Ringer Tee (shown. available in pink/salmon, yellow/gold, and mint/avocado) and as a white ladies T-shirt. Round out the look with a BSG military cap in black, olive, or tan. Bomb Squad Girl wears one, and it looks GREAT. Men's and Women's T-shirts are available with the same BSG image that appears on the clock!

And of course we have a shirt featuring the wonderful Len Peralta image in glorious high res!

But that's not all! This image also appears on a toddler size T-shirt; an infant bodysuit; a gym bag; and a kid's hoodie! As the song says, "WE WANT YOU TO BUY GöDZ P ö ö DLZ FOR THE HOLIDAYZ!" But you you don't have to wait for Christmas! We've got holidays year-round, so come one, come all!

While we're on the subject, I'm really loving this last product, too. A Gift From Gödz Pöödlz is an oval porcelain ornament featuring the Pöödlz rocking out. This item can do double-duty as a gift tag... it's a gift on a gift! Now how cool is that?!

Thanks, Russ and Rhod, for allowing me to go crazy, and for supporting Rite Care. And thanks to everybody for your support. While you're in the mood, visit Gödz Pöödlz on Facebook and Bandcamp. At just a buck a song, you really can't go wrong... GodzPoodlz dot Bandcamp dot Com!

Duality237

2011-03-06T09:31:00.000-08:00

I'm very happy to feature this duo this week. Duality is Joe 'Covenant' Lamb and Denise Hudson, both of whom have competed in Song Fu and SpinTunes in their own right. Somewhere around Song Fu 6 they started collaborating on songs. The band is alternately known as "Duality" and "Duality237" (I think they're of two minds about the subject), so I'm using the names interchangeably here. A little known fact is that Duality237 is an isotope of Duality, which firmly cements their place in the Periodic Table... They are element #93, having an atomic weight of ... you guessed it... 237.

Now, stylistically, it is in fact possible to be farther apart than Joe and Den... but not much. Prior to Duality, Joe was known for his highly rhythmic and regimented Gaelic folk ballads accompanied by his ever-present bodhran, and Den was known for... well, honestly, for some weird stuff such as "Anna's Gerbil and the Singularity", which I can never, ever hope to explain. Joe completely eschews music theory; Den majored in music. Joe is from Scotland; Den is from the planet Xondor. Basically, Den is peanut butter and Joe is chocolate. And we all know what happens when you put those two flavors together.

That's right, something wonderful.

"Bluebeard's Lament", Denise's entry into Song Fu 6 round 2, seriously impressed the audience. It seriously impressed Joe as well. He imprisoned Denise in his lair on Skullcrusher Mountain, instructing his cadre of trained furbies to feed her nothing but tacos and aphid nectar. He then spent the next several weeks imprinting both of their minds with traces of the other while a trio of Scottish witches chanted naughty poems by Robbie Burns. (At least that's how I remember it, and my memory is famously perfect. whatevermonkey.)

What followed were several Great and Glorious collaborations under the appellation of Joe 'n' Den that you will now find on Duality237.bandcamp.com, and the emergence of Duality, complete with name, logo, bandcamp site, what have you, as an entrant in the SpinTunes 2 songwriting contest, of which I was a judge. In the third round, Duality submitted this shadow entry that I regard so highly that I ranked it above the official entries and deconstructed it on my personal blog. There's a video. Watch it:

These days it's fairly easy to find Duality; they're the featured indie band for the month of March on Geeky Pleasures and are regularly heard on The Force 925 internet radio station. In fact, Joe not only has a weekly show, he is the station's assistant programming director and the music director in charge of non-urban genres. Are you feeling like an underachiever yet? And, if you're in the Austin, TX area, you may find Den playing a gig here and there. If you haven't heard her, you're just not going to the right places. How do you find the right places?

THE RIGHT PLACES:

Duality237's SECRET BLOG

Duality237 on Twitter

Duality237's Bandcamp Site

Before we move on the the Periodic Table, I'll point you to these two free tracks that demonstrate the wide range that this duo covers:

Duality gave me permission to produce two items for sale. I produced four, and submitted them for approval. Using an ancient Jedi mind trick (I'm quite versatile) I persuaded them to allow all four items to be offered for sale. Really, it seemed like no effort at all.

First are these mugs. I like them both. Buy them both!

We also have two T-shirt designs. The first carries the Duality237 bandcamp banner across the chest, with these lovely photos of Joe 'n' Den at their serious and artsy best:

The next carries a pocket-sized print of the Duality logo.

I don't care who you are, that's a cool logo. Even if you've never heard the band (how can that BE?!?) you want the shirt! Click through the T-shirt and zoom in to see the design in detail.

As always, all proceeds from the sale of this merchandise go to Rite Care Centers for Childhood Language Disorders, an awesome charity that funds language therapy so that children can grow into their fullest potential regardless of their socioeconomic background. This therapy is provided at no cost to the children, their families, the insurance companies, or the government. In times like this, where government funding is being cut from other programs, it's more important than ever to support organizations like Rite Care so that this important work can be carried on. Many thanks to Denise Hudson and Joe 'Covenant' Lamb of Duality for adding their talents to this effort.

Dr. Lindyke: #23

2011-02-28T19:31:00.000-08:00

Dr. Lindyke is the nom de plume of William Hoover and Dave Leigh. They've been writing music much longer and more competently than they've been writing bios about themselves. That is, they've been writing since their high school years in the *ahem* late 1970s, when Dave tripped over one of William's poetry notebooks and fell onto the piano. The result was so melodious that they've been writing music in pretty much the same fashion ever since.

Why "Dr. Lindyke"? Well, there's a well-known maxim that you should never, never, ever name your band after a song, and of course having never heard of this maxim, that's exactly what they did. This song, in fact.

Their style is mostly piano rock/ballads (with a little guitar thrown in), which is unsurprising, given the influence of groups like Elton John and Supertramp in their formative years. To that they add a healthy bit of experimentation, as with this little bit of oddness called "Harvey Ray", composed almost entirely of Three-Letter Abbreviations, delivered in that odd Shatnerian style of sing-talking that for lack of a better term I'll forevermore label singcantation:

The Doctor also experiments with singcantation in a sort of mad scientist "Peter Cushing" mode. Here's a cover of Inverse T Clown's "Sexy in the Rain" in that style.

You won't find Dr. Lindyke's music for sale... it's free. They're much too sane to harbor delusions of rock stardom. That's not to say they don't have some delusions; they're just of a different variety. They think of themselves as songwriters, not performers, and that their music is best performed by somebody other than themselves. They're quite sure that someday, somewhere, they'll find an immensely talented band of musicians who can't write songs for love or money, and who would rather play this stuff than real music.

You can find demos on various sites in a deliberately unfinished, sometimes quirky style.

Among the songs you'll find on Bandcamp are their songs of Song Fu 6, which they lost with ease to that upstart Mike Lombardo. Included in the mix you'll find the song that explains their placement on the Periodic Table at element #23.

Dr. Lindyke's Bandcamp Page

Dr. Lindyke's Blog

Dr. Lindyke's YouTube Channel

Dr. Lindyke's most memorable accomplishment may well be their creation of the Periodic Table of Geek Musicians, a site devoted to promoting independent musicians for the purposes of charity. This website. If you'd like to help Dr. Lindyke in providing the gift of communication to children at no cost whatsoever to the families, their insurance companies, and the government, click on through the merchandise and buy a thing or two. While you're in the shop, look at some of the items for sale by the other selfless geeks on the Table.


A mad-scientist beaver. It doesn't get better than that

The Doctor is IN!

Here's the full design of the mug. Truth in Advertising. Click to embiggen it.

The Force 925

2011-02-20T15:19:00.000-08:00

Due to some unforeseen circumstances (I'm learning a new computer language for work) I won't be posting a new entry to the Periodic Table this weekend. Instead I'll tell you about a corner of the web where you're likely to hear the musicians that are and will be featured here... because you won't find most of them on your local AM or FM stations.

The Force 925 (http://theforce925.net/) is an Internet radio station, newly formed by General Manager Peter "DJ Pied Piper" Allen and Assistant General Manager and Programming Director Julia "Jules" Sherred, aka "Geeky Jules" of the "Geeky Pleasures" radio show. I had an opportunity to talk with Jules this week about the station and what differentiates it from what you normally hear.

Some of these differences aren't the sort of things you'll recognize by ear... you'll still hear DJs patter between songs. You'll still hear periodic station identifications ("The Force... ninety-two five") just as you would with a broadcast station. And you'll still hear a great mix of musical numbers.... and it's in this last bit that you'll start to notice something really different. You might be used to hearing "a Country station" or "an R&B station" or "a Rock-and-Roll station". The Force refuses to be pigeonholed. You'll find all of that here, and some Zydeco, and talk, and eclectic mixes, Japanese pop and God-knows-what-else. You might find something by an artist who's only appeared on YouTube, or in some obscure songwriting competition. The DJs at The Force know what they like and they play what they like, and that's a Good Thing. Says Jules, "The only thing that hinders us is our imaginations."

It's not the Wild West... it's radio done right, where the DJs have quite a bit more creative freedom within their 3 to 5 hour blocks than you'd normally encounter on a broadcast station. The Force currently airs DJs from 4 countries (or 5, depending on how you count them) catering to listeners in 41 countries. It plays on just about anything that will stream an Internet broadcast, so you need look no further than your computer or smartphone for a radio fix.

From that same computer, you might want to log in to The Force's chatroom (http://theforce925.net/chat/) and interact with the DJs during their sets. It's a veritable party some nights. Show up twice, and you'll start getting that same welcoming feeling that Norm gets at the Cheers bar.

Folks, go and visit The Force. Take a look at their schedule and try the shows that interest you. Also try some of the shows that don't interest you right now and see if they don't change your mind. I can't tell you everything because some of the on-air talent also happen to be geek musicians who are likely to appear on this Periodic Table; which is one more reason to check it out. Now. Really, why are you still reading this?

(Sorry about the delay in updates. It's part and parcel of being a computer geek... periodically, the world changes around you and you have to adapt, or become Bob the Dinosaur. Hopefully, I'll be done with the language course soon and get on track with this schedule. I could've rushed it, but really don't want to do that. Thanks for your patience.)

Boffo Yux Dudes: #107

2011-02-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

In our most ironic placement to date, the Boffo Yux Dudes check in as #107 on our Periodic Table, the spot reserved for Bohrium on a periodic table of the elements. Ironic because "boring" isn't an adjective usually applied to these... erm... gentlemen. Wacky.. yes. Irreverent... yes. Totally off their nut... now you're talking! But not boring. When I asked the 'Dudes to describe themselves, they responded, "The Boffo Yux Dudes are a multimedia comedy troupe from the 80's and 90's who are now older, balder, and much more cynical." I vehemently disagree... they're not that much more cynical. (whistles idly)

If you listened to radio in the US during the 1980s and '90s you've probably heard Pat Montello, Tom Giarrosso, and Scott Mercer doing comedy bits, interactives, liners and songs, though you've probably never heard their names. These days the Boffo Yux Dudes are Tom Giarrosso and Allan Morgan, "with occasional co-conspirators". More often, though, you'll know them as "Elvis Presley", "Alfred Hitchcock", and a seemingly endless host of other celebrity and character voices. I first heard them as "Elvis", and then "Al the Blues Singer" from Song Fu 6, and I must confess that my first reaction involved the letters 'T', 'W', and 'F'... not necessarily in that order. Experience that feeling for yourself:

I knew I was in trouble when I realized that their stuff grows on you. Now I feel like Jordy Verrill.

BYD firmly establish their geek musician cred with SpinTunes entries such as "Elf Shot the Food", "One Level Down", and "The Ballad of Henry Pym". In short these are funny and talented guys. And a big "in your face!" to the teachers who told us all that you can't make a living by goofing off.

How does one keep up with these guys? Here!

BOFFO LINKS:

They Blog!

They have a YouTube Channel!

They Tweet!

They do that Bandcamp thing!
They give you a chuckle a day on BYD365!

Here you may learn that Pat just did a diner scene on "One Tree Hill" last week as an extra. You may learn that Scott's been writing a screenplay in LA. You may learn that Al is one of the founders of the band Pop Machine. You may even learn that Tom's been working through a vast backlog of material (VAST!), posting it to the web at a rate of at least one comedy bit a day. Or you may just hear a fart joke.

Tom and the rest of the BYD know the value of communication in their own lives and careers. I'm very happy that they have put their support behind Rite Care, lending their names to this important work. And that, my friends, is no laughing matter. As Federal budgets are cut and government early intervention programs are scaled back, we'll have to depend more programs like Rite Care ... funded entirely by donations and purchases made by folks like you... to pick up the slack.

How can we thank Boffo Yux Dudes for their support and help provide the gift of communication to a child at the same time? By ordering this great stuff!

First up, is the Boffo Yux Dudes trucker cap! Don't think of this as a mere hat... think of it as advanced sunblock (oh, yes, I went there!) It's available in glorious black and white to remind us of those days when having a color TV set meant you painted the cabinet.

Click on the hat to get yours!"

Our second item is the Boffo Yux Dudes T-shirt featuring their astonishingly realistic and flattering likenesses on the box of "Komedy's" cereal. This is the shirt that stays funny, even in milk!

Click on the shirt to get yours today!
(Boffo Yux Dude sold separately... you can probably find one at W00tstock)

UPDATE:
I just received an email from Tom calling my attention to a rather important oversight... I'll just give it to you in his words:

The original Artwork was created by Dan Klass - one of the original podcasters (The Godfather of Podcasting) who literally wrote the book on the subject. He's also in a current Chevy Malibu commercial. And is a stay at home dad doing his 5th year of 'The Bitterest Pill' out of his garage in the flight path of LAX.

Dan played the Harmonica for our 'Al's Blues' Song Fu entry.

Tom also points out the appropriateness of placing the Boffo Yux Dudes in Bohrium's spot, in that they have always been "radio-active". You may groan now.

Mike Lombardo: #87

2011-02-09T06:43:00.000-08:00

Representing Element #87 on our table is piano rocker and YouTube staple, Mike Lombardo! (87... Francium... is a GREAT spot, and though I've said I'll be telling you the whys of my placements, I think I'll let this one hang there for a little while. Let's see if you can figure it out! Remember, this is a periodic table, so think outside the box.)

I don't know where to start with Mike. I first met him on-line when I joined the TMA community he co-founded and started participating in the Masters of Song Fu songwriting competition. Mike cleaned house in Song Fu 6, easily wiping the floor with his competition (including... ahem... me). He cemented his position as a Master of Song Fu by signing with a record label, releasing an album, and going on tour!

Mike's specialty is old-school piano rock wrapped up in the New Model. From "Rock Song" to "Colby's Song", his music is intelligent, catchy, well-produced, sometimes funny, sometimes poignant, and always brilliant. Have a listen to his "Songs for a New Day" album and see what I mean:

You'll find Mike on YouTube, Twitter, and a venue near you. He's grown up on-line from a gawky kid to an outstanding performer, and is making real a dream that all of us have had. It's not easy, and it's not luck: he's a graduate of Berklee with a degree in songwriting. He works every day to improve himself in some way, readily sharing what he's learned with the community. I think if Mike's ever stopped to wonder whether he could do something before making a go of it, he's keeping those doubts to himself. This is a guy who's going places.

Mike's music is released under Creative Commons, and for sale on DFTBA Records.

LINKS:

MikeLombardoMusic.com

Mike's YouTube Channel

@MikeLombardo on Twitter

Mike on Bandcamp

Mike at DFTBA

(If this guy were any more connected, he'd be an XBox)

The place you're most likely to find Mike Lombardo, though, is under his military hat... and now you can have one of your own! Here it is, the Mike Lombardo Trio military hat:


Click on the hat to get yours! Available in Olive, Mocha, and Black

Every purchase supports an amazing charity, Rite Care, that provides language therapy for preschool children regardless of race, creed, or the family's inability to pay. I want to thank Mike personally for lending his support!

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!

Mike tweeted about the hat as soon as it was done. But this next item was developed silently, quietly, in my soooper secret lab. I took the hat's ML3 logo and spun it and tessellated it and applied it to an item priced for anyone... because cool doesn't have to cost more.

Here's the Mike Lombardo Trio T-shirt! Now with radial symmetry!

Click on the shirt to get yours today!

Answers to Questions You Didn't Ask

2011-02-08T21:20:00.000-08:00

I'd like to take a moment to thank everybody for the reception they've given this project. This is really and truly a great way to have some fun and make a huge difference for the children that receive language therapy through Rite Care.

I've got a little better idea of how this website will work than I did a few days ago. My target is to post two geek musicians per weekend, placing them on the Periodic Table, and offering merchandise that you can get nowhere else. I may not hit that target. Some weeks you may get one, some weeks you'll get three.

What makes a "geek musician"? One thing for certain... it's not limited by genre. These folks offer songs with a bit of intelligence, but you'll find them playing everything from pop-synth to acoustic ballads. They know who they are, which is why the criteria here is that they select themselves. By simply signing up they've identified themselves as geek musicians, and that's good enough for me.

I'm also not just looking for "famous" artists, although their participation would be fantastically cool. I'm hoping to introduce you to musicians that you've never heard of before. You're sure to find a few diamonds in the rough.

One really fun aspect of this (for me) is the placement of people on the Periodic Table. The first thing you'll notice is that I'm not placing folks in linear 1, 2, 3... order. At first glance it may seem as if I'm filling the table in haphazardly, but I know why I'm putting people where I am, and there is a method to the madness. I may explain this as I go. A sometimes more subtle puzzle will be the choice of Symbol. Sometimes it will simply be based on initials, but sometimes you may need to know something intimate about the artist to figure it out. Comments are unmoderated, so feel free to speak up with suggestions, shout-outs, and questions.

There are 118 elements in a Periodic Table, so completing this project should take a little over a year. Beyond that... well, people aren't elements, and new artists are always being discovered.

And yes... I've already got my spot staked out.

Inverse T Clown: #21

2011-02-05T05:18:00.000-08:00

ITC is preparing an album for release. Patience, Grasshopper.

For our second installment, Box #21 goes to Inverse T. Clown... "ITC". A mysterious figure who coaxes magical MIDI from raw silicon. Some say he wears that mask because he's in the witness protection program. Others think he's just shy. Some say he wears it because he's hideously deformed. Whether he's a target, bashful, or just plain ugly, his talent is undeniable.

I know what you're thinking... why isn't he Element #2? Well, let's just say that this is a Periodic Table, and there are certain groupings and properties to be respected. As it so happens, I've reserved the big block in the center -- the one that would contain transition metals in a periodic table of the elements -- for that group of musicians which started out in Song Fu, and which continued through a community called TMA, and finally landed in Artifiction.spruz.com. Box #21 is the first of this series.

ITC deserves the first spot in this series for good reason. Inverse is a master of under-promotion. As he sits on a reservoir of raw talent that others would die for, he would have you believe that he's not doing anything special. On the contrary, of all the musicians that have competed in the various songwriting competitions I'm familiar with, ITC is the one guy who never touches an instrument, yet cranks out stunningly detailed orchestrations in record time. Every note is entered on a musical score and played by his computer, one track at a time, then traditionally mixed. Are you getting this down, folks? Add in some seriously clever lyrics and you've got a recipe for... well, for this:

ITC is often accused of writing videogame music, with some justification. But it's good videogame music! This stuff hits the perfect geek chord (pardon the pun), and I have found myself covering a good number of his songs, including the ubiquitous Today's the Day, which should be covered by every self-respecting musician!

Enough of this... either you like him by now or you need professional help. How do you properly show support for this musical icon?

Well, we've put ITC's mug on a mug, just for the purpose. And we've chosen just about the most disturbing image we could find of him and amped up the anxiety just a bit, just to drive home the point that ITC ain't no Bozo. That's the face of a clown who's not foolin' around!

And remember please, that all proceeds go toward the Rite Care Centers for Childhood Language Disorders.

Edric Haleen: #0.99999999 ad infinitum!

2011-02-04T20:20:00.000-08:00

What started as a little joke on my music blog could very well turn out to be something very special, and for that I will count myself as Edric's #1 fan... or #0.99999... if you prefer. So I think for this inaugural posting I'm going to simply show you what I posted there, plus a special update.

Oh, and if you're wondering what all the fuss is over this odd number, listen to the song.

So you think you're into geek musicians? Well, if you don't 'get' the above reference, then you're Johnny Wannabe. Move aside, Coulton! Back of the bus, Paul and Storm! Edric Haleen is a brilliant musician whose work shows influences from Sondheim to Tom Lehrer, with a few stops in-between. Those of us who have participated in or followed the Song Fu or SpinTunes songwriting competitions know Edric well as someone who's sure to wow the crowd with a show-stopper. And so what if he never wins? That's only because his music is over the heads of the Neanderthal judges. It's probably over YOUR head, too.

I was discussing this in chat with some fellow musicians, and it occurred to us that anybody so infuriatingly talented... so impossibly intelligent... and so disgustingly pleasant... deserves his own merchandise. So I set out immediately to remedy that injustice. So here it is... The EDRIC HALEEN FANBOY T-SHIRT!

click on the images to supersize them.

Believe it or not, this shirt can be yours! NOT A JOKE! Be the first on your block to get one, before Edric notices this blog entry and makes me take it down!! (It could be tomorrow, or it could be next week. Edric's currently music-directing a play. That's right. As if you didn't feel inadequate enough*)

Look folks, you can't BE Edric. But at least you can admire him.

GET YOUR T-SHIRT TODAY!

* Edric is currently busy music-directing a show by Adam Gwon called Ordinary Days. The show runs from January 27 - February 5 in Lansing, Michigan, which means you might still have a few days to get your shirt before he notices he has a fan club.

** UPDATE **

Due to popular demand (that would be JoAnn's demand), I've added the MATH QUIZ version of this shirt. to the store. Now's your chance to weigh in on one of the more important issues of our age... does 0.9999999999... equal 1? Well.... does it? This is a True/False test presented as multiple choice for those who like to sit on the fence (or are simply partial to fuzzy logic). So buy the shirt, use a Sharpie to answer the quiz, and don't forget to show your work!

Now here's the really AMAZING part of this product... If you happen to be in or near Lansing, Michigan, you can answer the quiz, explain your answer, and then stop by and have Edric himself grade your work! Right there on the shirt! Is that cool or WHAT?!?

** SPECIAL UPDATE **

I've also added the Edric Haleen fanboy MUG, because I WANTS ONE, Preciousssss...

The Beginning

2011-02-04T15:43:00.000-08:00

Hello, all...

I'm Dave Leigh, aka the vocal half of the songwriting team Dr. Lindyke. While not programming or writing songs, I also spend a portion of my free time supporting a charity called Rite Care Centers for Childhood Language Disorders. Rite Care provides speech and language therapy to pre-school children at absolutely no cost whatsoever to their parents, insurance companies, or the government. It's funded entirely by members of the Scottish Rite through fund-raising project (not all of which are as harebrained as this one).

YES, this is a fund-raising project. But more than that, I'm hoping it will be a FUN-raising project! A while back I had an idea to create a "Periodic Table of Geek Musicians", and set about doing just that. I actually have the table. But I think we can have a little more fun with it than just having me put the names in the boxes. A few days back, I created some swag for Edric Haleen. It was a joke, and I really didn't expect to sell any; however, I have sold a few T-shirts, and Edric was gracious enough to allow me to donate the proceeds to Rite Care. So what I want to do is this...

If you're an independent musician with any kind of presence on the web, and you would like to be on the Periodic Table of Geek Musicians, sign up. Give me permission to create a T-shirt, a mug... some kind of salable item. I'll take care of the design, the fulfillment, the shipping, everything. All you need to do is give me permission, and Rite Care will be able to use the proceeds to pay trained therapists to assist the kids who need it. This is really critical work... a child who can't communicate gets left behind in school and rejected by his peers. Many of them wind up dropping out. By taking care of this problem early, you can change a life for the better. You'll also have some great swag that you can point your fans to. I will do my best design work for you, free of charge. These particular designs will only be available here.

A few people have chosen to step up already. As I mentioned above, Edric Haleen is the first. So for that and other reasons, he gets pride of placement with Atomic Number 0.99999 ad infinitum. It does, in fact, equal one (I heard it in a song). He'll have the first of the announcement blog posts here, as well. Other early signers are Inverse T. Clown and my co-conspirators in the "HaleenSwag-gate", Boffo Yux Dudes and JoAnn Abbot.

The Periodic Table itself will indeed be hosted on this site and will be linked in the tabs at the top of the page. Names will be added as they sign up, though expect an initial delay while I get the table ready.

Examples of STUFF

Sign up here.