First of all, hello to all of you!

I figured I'd start out by introducing myself before diving headlong into existing threads, since I'm still trying to get a feel for the forum

Basically, I knew of Common Rotation, but their Glasgow gig at Sector 14 North sold me on the music (yes, I'm a Buffy/Angel fan, but I'm a music buff and wannabe-musician first and foremost, I'd say..) One of the most amazing live acts I've seen in a very, very, very long time. Great energy, great music, great lyrics, and all that despite Adam having just traveled a few thousand miles, lost some luggage along the way and been generally delayed all over the place. So, I bought the album, saw the gig, and I'm sold.

A bit about me: Mattia, male, 22, live in Amsterdam, med student, play and make guitars for fun, listen to music that most people around me don't like and/or don't know of (varied mix, from Dave Matthews to Pat Metheny, recent discoveries include John Mayer and the Ari Hest, and now, obviously, Common Rotation.)

Let's see...a few little Glasgow anectodes are in order, I guess.

So, I went off to the con not really expecting much beyond, well, fun fun fun and a lot of partying, but I got a new band to love out of it and the best live performances I've seen in a good long while, as well as a few unique memories..

I went in to get my autographs, got my baritone guitar signed (yes, I'm crazy enough to have made a Buffy/Angel guitar to get signed.) Adam, and especially Eric, seemed pretty impressed. Since I'd forgetten to actually get money to buy the darn CD, I had to slip back in a few minutes later, after getting cash, to buy the album and get it signed. I got a startlingly enthusiastic 'thank you for buying it!!!' (fun. And now I've had the chance to really get into the disc, I want to thank them for making it), and Eric asked if he could test drive the guitar. I'll let you guess what I said

So, well, I went back to get it, and went into the hall, where they were working on the soundcheck. Eric seemed to be having fun with it (it's a baritone, tuned low B to low B, not terribly common, and, well, most guitarists, including Eric, apparently, really like the extra flexibility it's got..), and it got the best workout it's gotten to date. Plus, it was most cool. I sat in on the soundcheck, helped out with levels, that sort of thing (there was only one sound guy at the time, and an extra pair of ears is always welcome..) So, basically, that rocked.

Then came the gig. I'll stick to 'Wow', because, as people who've seen the guys live can attest to, words don't really do it justice. Truly amazing energy, the musical chops to back it up, and music that manages to be meaningful and funny at the same time.

The room party that night's been mentioned already, and I ended up having a cool music discussion with Eric which I don't think most people around us quite managed to follow. I did get a few good 'buy this album' tips out of it, and, well, fun! Eric's a great guy, very down to earth, very easy to talk to.

Basically, the guys themselves, their music, sold me on Common Ro. I've got the few Live MP3s, the first album, I'm waiting on the second (please finish mixing it soon!), and I'm curious about the possible Live (or was it Adam and Eric Live?) album that Adam mentioned would follow very shortly after the release of the studio one.

That's me, my little Common Rotation (well, Adam and Eric, anyway. So far, so good) story.

I've also got a couple of questions for you guys: First of all, are the guys taper friendly? ie, are there more live recordings out there, in some form, that I could get my hands on? I saw that there aren't, as yet, any tabs avaliable. True?

Anyway, that's all for now, and I'll probably see some of you next June, at one or more of Common Ro's UK gigs! Questions? Comments?

Howdy there

I'm Skid, insane, 19, female and from London! I thought I'd welcome you seen as your post looked a wee bit lonely without any replies lol!!

I've been lurking on the boards a while but have just started to post recently properly, and now I think its slowly becomming an addiction

I have to agree iwth you, the guys were fantastic live, I have never before been to a gig that had that much energy and wow. I mean usually you get the odd ooh lets get the crowd to join in but the guys just got better and better the more into it the crowd got!

Anyways, yes, hey , welcome!! I'm gooing back to considering getting out of bed now!

Luv and hugs

Skid

I don't have a question ....
I am just ... wheeee another Dutchie and like me from Amsterdam ^_^



I say the right things
But act the wrong way
I like it right here
But I cannot stay
~The Strokes - Hard to explain

Hey Mattia .. I was at the South event... and I travelled from Singapore.. it was one of the fun-nest time I've ever had in a long time!

Interesting abt your music interests and guitar-making. Wld you be going to the Scala gig? I sure wldn't mind meeting people with music interests. I actually work in the industry but I don't want to mention specifics. I don't want to be hounded by and swamped with emails from ahem.. teeny boppers.

Sure wld love to talk shop

~Ash

Skid: Thanks

Xianne: Rock on!

AshBaby: Singapore...egads! It's looking very, very likely that I'll be going to (at least) the Scala gig, if not more than 'just' that. Shop talk's always fun fun fun

Hi Mattia! Welcome to the board

~Hacker Groupie

Mattia - Well, a group of us will be at the whole con. Just look around for the "Danny bitches" LOL And we might most prob "adopt" Xanne if she decides just to come for the Scala gig. So feel free to hook up with us too, if you want.

So are you involved in a band too, Mattia?

PS - while trolling around websites, I haven't seen an Tabs around.

~Ash

Mattia-what a story! Welcome to the forum and to Common Ro fandom They rock don't they? Well now you gotta make a trip stateside so you can see the band as a whole And you made a B/A guitar? How on earth do you do that? Sounds like you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing that with us.

To answer your questions: As far as I know the CD is done, now it's just a matter of getting that puppy out g I think Eric is doing a solo album and I believe another CR album is in the works (*crosses fingers*). Yes they play live gigs, usually in Cali and New York, they have one coming up Saturday at 14 Below in Cali. There are some MP3s floating around from some of the gigs, just ask around and I'm sure who ever has some would be willing to share. And of course we'll post reviews of the gig

So do you have a favorite song yet?

I so wanna go to the UK. I am all jealous of those who got to go to those cons. One of these days g Now you guys all need to come stateside



*wuvs*

TB

Adam's Biggest Fan
ABC #1-Founder and Official Geek
ABC Version 1.0 Retro Adam
West Coast So Cal Common Ro Pimp
"Don't don't don't let's start this is the worst part. To believe for all the world, that you're my precious little girl. Don't don't don't let's start, I've got a weak heart. I can't get around till you get around."-"Don't Let's Start", They Might Be Giants covered by Common Rotation-
"It's not the size of the mic it's the length of the song."-"Rockstar", Common Rotation-
"What was so delicately touching was she recalled that I preferred it red."-"Burgandy", Common Rotation-
"I'm not a poet, nor a prophet though I dream from time to time. I'm an artist of illusion and I sketch a strange design.. So don't pay me with respect, just pay me with attention."-"Did A Verse End?", Common Rotation-
"When I was younger I used to get angry at all the girls. Now that I'm older, I just get angry at the world."-"Oklahoma", Common Rotation-

AshBaby: I'm sorely tempted to go to The Harvest, but the price tag (on the hotel, mostly) is scaring me, and I've already got End of Days the month before. The last few guest announces (Jane E, David Fury, Common Ro) are what's tempting me to just go ahead and register, costs me damned, but I'm still waffling.

And am I in a band? Not so much. I write some stuff, occasionally perform (very occasionally), that sort of thing, but I haven't really found people here that are on the same page with me, musically speaking (I have a very, very non-dutch, possibly non-european taste in music, I fear..), so no luck so far. Plus, I'm far, far too busy.

TB wrote...
Mattia-what a story! Welcome to the forum and to Common Ro fandom They rock don't they? Well now you gotta make a trip stateside so you can see the band as a whole And you made a B/A guitar? How on earth do you do that? Sounds like you had an awesome time. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Thanks! Yes, the guys rock, bigtime, and I'll (hopefully) be in the US for a couple of months next year, starting in August or so, if things go as planned, and Common Ro are definitely one of the things on my ever-growing list of things to do and bands to see (Dave Matthews is the other one; they were supposed to come over last year, but then 9/11 happened...)

As for the B/A guitar, I'd decided I was gonna do more cons after you've done one, you can't just stop right there. Too much fun, too many people you want to meet up with again . I figured cons were as good an excuse as any to make another instrument (it's an addiction. Be well aware of that), and why not make it a B/A themed one? I still haven't quite finished it off (needs some finish, some detail work, some polishing), but here's a pic for the curious.



As for fave song..I'm tempted to go with 'Saviour' for now. Or possibly 'Sit Down'. Or maybe the live version of Oklahoma they did. Or maybe.....gah. Um, so, like no, no one song

As for the CD, the reason I asked is that Adam mentioned that they weren't quite happy with the mix when he was at North, and that they were still tweaking it and finetuning it. I just think they should release a few 2-disc live albums. That's always good

Wow Mattia - that's a really pretty guitar

I like live tracks myself (when the band is darn good of course).. the most conducive way is prob for them to add one or 2 live tracks on the album as a bonus track.

Anyhow, Xanne your fellow Dutchie isn't going to Harvest either... still, we are happy enough to hook up with either of you guys for dinner and some chit-chat before the Scala gig. Just holla, if you need us

~Ash

*points to Mattia's guitar*

I WANT THAT!

I am so jealous hun. That is a kick ass guitar And while I just stand here with my mouth hanging open and drooling, I'll just throw in a YAY for you coming stateside sometime! How did you make that guitar? That is just soooooooooo cool I want one g



*wuvs*

TB

Adam's Biggest Fan
ABC #1-Founder and Official Geek
ABC Version 1.0 Retro Adam
West Coast So Cal Common Ro Pimp
"Don't don't don't let's start this is the worst part. To believe for all the world, that you're my precious little girl. Don't don't don't let's start, I've got a weak heart. I can't get around till you get around."-"Don't Let's Start", They Might Be Giants covered by Common Rotation-
"It's not the size of the mic it's the length of the song."-"Rockstar", Common Rotation-
"What was so delicately touching was she recalled that I preferred it red."-"Burgandy", Common Rotation-
"I'm not a poet, nor a prophet though I dream from time to time. I'm an artist of illusion and I sketch a strange design.. So don't pay me with respect, just pay me with attention."-"Did A Verse End?", Common Rotation-
"When I was younger I used to get angry at all the girls. Now that I'm older, I just get angry at the world."-"Oklahoma", Common Rotation-

Hey TB - i'm keeping options abt going the States in 2003. It depends on lots of things. One of which is simply practical - I can't drive on the right side of the road for the life of me, and hence need some local buddies to hang around with. LOL
Are you at the East or West - side?

~Ash

*blush

Aw, shucks. Thanks guys!

As for how I made it? Erm, well, see, I had a month, right? And I ordered some wood, cut it into the right shapes, hollowed some of it out, cut some flamed maple scraps into shapes that look like B and A, took a router to it, dabbled around with glue, scrapers, sandpaper, that sort of thing...

...that didn't really help, did it?



AshBaby: I'm still trying to decide if I'll go to The Harvest, frankly. It's getting very, very tempting, but I just don't have the cash flow right now to book tickets. At the very LEAST I'll be at scala

Welcome, sadly have never seen Common Rotation live

As for guitar tabs, I have part of Indie Rockin'



is the scan of the sheet I learnt it from.

and the tabbed out version is below:

<body>


-------------------------------|--------------------------------|--
-------------------------------|--------------------------------|--
-------------------------------|--------------------------------|--
-7--------7--------5-----------|--7-----------------------------|--
-5--------4--------3--------5--|--5--------7--------9--------5--|--
----------------------------3--|-----------5--------7--------3--|--


-------------------------------|--
-------------------------------|--
-------------------------------|--
-7--------7--------------------|--
-5--------4--------5--------7--|--
-------------------3--------5--|--</p>

</body>

Then there are the chords, Em, G and A7, apparently there is a little G and D chord in there on the repeat (you'll have to listen to hear exactly where, I can't remember - sorry ) in the little interlude part and then the very last little bit I play 2 note power chords, on the 5th and 4th strings starting at 2 - 4, going up to 7 - 9.

I claim in no way that this is correct, and it's certainly not complete, but maybe someone could use it as a base for working out the song. When I get the chance i'll take the song back to my guitar lesson and figure it out completely.

Lara

Damn, that was meant to be a link to my site

http://blindinglight.bravepages.com (it's a four star mary site) and then just add indie%20rockin.jpg at the end.

Lara

[[ AshBaby: I'm still trying to decide if I'll go to The Harvest, frankly. It's getting very, very tempting, but I just don't have the cash flow right now to book tickets. At the very LEAST I'll be at scala ]]

Hey Mattia - Yeah it's expensive, not so much the ticket but the hotel room! Good thing a bunch of 5 or us are going to be prob sharing a suite or something.

Anyhow, whether you're going to Harvest or not, or just for the gig, if you want to hook up with the bunch of us, just let me know or write me

~Ash

Hi Mattia i was in the party with you guys in Glasgow. i am the guilty one who could not keep up with the conversation between you and Eric.
I am sorry i had 2 much 2 drink as you could probaly tell i couldn't keep up with much that night.
sorry and i hope you had a good time.

AshBaby: Will do! It's getting more and more tempting to just go ahead and buy a ticket, but my banks looking at me sternly and saying 'not a chance' for the next month and a bit, I fear..

Lara: Thanks for the tab! I think I've worked out most of 'Saviour', but I'm sorta trying to fine-tune it before I commit anything to tab.

Gerri: hi there! I don't think you were the only confused one, mind you. It was sort of a guitarists-with-similar-and-very-non-european-tastes-in-music kind of discussion. I know I had a great time, hope you did. Maybe we'll see each other again at one of the cons or the gigs next year?

Mattia-well that guitar is the ultimate of cool I bow down to you g If I actually still played guitar (I learned acoustic for a year in Girl Scouts but have forgot most of it) I would so love one of those. Hell, I'd love one anyways What a project!

AshBaby-I'm West Side. Southern California, Irvine to be exact And if you do come Stateside, come visit Disneyland You can say hi to me g I work in Tomorrowland



*wuvs*

TB

Adam's Biggest Fan
ABC #1-Founder and Official Geek
ABC Version 1.0 Retro Adam
West Coast So Cal Common Ro Pimp
"Don't don't don't let's start this is the worst part. To believe for all the world, that you're my precious little girl. Don't don't don't let's start, I've got a weak heart. I can't get around till you get around."-"Don't Let's Start", They Might Be Giants covered by Common Rotation-
"It's not the size of the mic it's the length of the song."-"Rockstar", Common Rotation-
"What was so delicately touching was she recalled that I preferred it red."-"Burgandy", Common Rotation-
"I'm not a poet, nor a prophet though I dream from time to time. I'm an artist of illusion and I sketch a strange design.. So don't pay me with respect, just pay me with attention."-"Did A Verse End?", Common Rotation-
"When I was younger I used to get angry at all the girls. Now that I'm older, I just get angry at the world."-"Oklahoma", Common Rotation-

Hey Mattia - yeah I understand abt the $$ issue. I'm raising funds as it is selling off stuff on Ebay LOL

TB - thanks for the info. I've been to Disneyland many years back when I was much younger hehehe.. If I DO go by CA-way sometime in the near future, I'll call on ya

~Ash

TB - that guitar is even nicer in real life....

Mattia - how are you my cheeky monkey? ; ) i'm so gutted you didn't mention meeting me at North grumble grumble - i must have not made an impression on you - but wait - i thought i did - you came to see me not so long ago...

ARGH!!! CONFUSEMENT!!!

I'm a newbie too. I had not heard of Common Ro until North, so I geuss I'm the uninformed... : (

I have posted a thingy to introduce myself... and I know Mattia quite well now ; )

huggle

rachel

Rachel wrote...

Mattia - how are you my cheeky monkey? ; ) i'm so gutted you didn't mention meeting me at North grumble grumble - i must have not made an impression on you - but wait - i thought i did - you came to see me not so long ago...


Erm, uh, *blush*

I'm all shy 'n bashful. And I wasn't sure you wanted me posting oodles and oodles of most complimentary stuff about you on a Common Ro board that, erm, well, I didn't know you were reading..

Will I be forgiven if I huggle you?

I have posted a thingy to introduce myself... and I know Mattia quite well now ; )

huggle




Did I mention Common Ro wasn't the only, nay, even the main reason that 'North' rocked the Hizzay? No? Well it was.

(yes, that anonymous message was me and my tired, lazy butt just in from travelling and forgetting to do stuff like, oh, use my name. that sort of thing)

TB - Thanks for the compliments!

AshBaby - Heh. Well, it's gotta happen one way or another. I've got more-or-less steady income, but I've just got really steady outflow. It's the darndest thing..

Rachel - aw, yay, guitar admirage! And yes, I'm an ass for not mentioning the Amazingness that is Rachel. Shall I grovel a bit? Would that help?

thankyou Mattia - you're grovelling is much appreciated - and you should just mention me anyway - whether i am here or not is not something that should matter...
(can you tell who wears the trousers in this relationship yet?)

you know i'm all shy and bashful too...

rachel gets all coy and hides under a rock

huggles are also appreciated...

guitar dreamage is defirately good... mmm... but Mattia dreamage is better...

hit me if i get too off topic...

rachel/giant_bedsprings
xx

Hehe Mattia, don't I know too well about the STEADY OUTFLOW thing! Trying very hard to stem the outflow now!

We just got confirmation that we got the suite at Paragon Can you say ROOM PARTY!!!! :D

~Ash