If you’ve ever taken your acoustic guitar out to perform at an open mic, a local venue, or a Sunday service, you’ve probably experienced the immediate frustration of plugging directly into a venue’s house PA system. Your beautiful instrument, the one that sounds warm, rich, and full
What if I told you that modern multi-FX units aren't actually just built for electric guitars? For the life of me, I can't figure out why gear companies continue to pander almost exclusively to electric players in their marketing. Look around: 90% of the live
For over 50 years, the Shure SM58 has been the undisputed king of live music. It's the mic you'll find in every dive bar, arena, and rehearsal studio on the planet. But over the last few years, the sE Electronics V7 has emerged as the modern
A little over a year ago, I moved to Vietnam with my wife and daughter. My wife had received a good deal from an international school here, and we decided to take the plunge to live in an entirely new country. At the time, I was doing pretty well for
Vietnamese cuisine is without a shadow of a doubt one of the best in the world. I've eaten out here for a year, and I simply cannot get enough, in fact, I'm constantly shifting between favorite dishes, although the title is sitting quite firmly on Bún
Have you ever bought a product from an ad with an obviously AI-generated image? No? So why are music venues and musicians using this technology as if it's any different for them? Gig-posters and art covers are the window through which present, and potential fans get
Being in a band is absolutely awesome... For the most part. We all agree on the parts we love doing: Jamming, writing, performing, recording, all of that. But after getting to know thousands of artists, there are parts of being in a band that we also all agree on are
Think of any large act today, like Coldplay, Drake, Arctic Monkeys, or Rosalía, and ask yourself whether they use backing tracks when they perform in massive arenas all over the world. The likelihood that they're using them is way higher than not, even in genres you'd
I find small cafe gigs more intimidating than regular, rowdy bar gigs, or massive high-production corporate events. The reason is that they are way more unpredictable, you never know what kind of gear they have, and in what condition. So today we're going to talk about cafe
Have you, as a musician, heard that phrase? If not, it's a matter of time, and you'll hear it whether you're a solo act, a cover band, an originals duo or a 12-piece big band. I would know, I've been asked
A little while ago, I made an Instagram post that got a few laughs from some fellow musicians here in Saigon. It was a skit about "dealing with the heat while performing", and while I keep it light-hearted, my protocol is no joke. I'm no
If I could ever be accused of writing a clickbait title, it would be this time. But I really do mean it. I hate the Shure SM58. For all the hype this microphone draws, and all the recommendations it gets for professionals and beginners alike, there are a few problems
Music Gear Review
A long time ago, I watched a video from a very popular, guitar-centric YouTube channel. I can't remember which it was, but even though the video was about Fender's, then-new acoustic guitar pedals, the duo who starred in it spoke very honestly about the
The Local Scene
Do you know that feeling of walking into your regular pub (in my case, that's Mooney's here in Ho Chi Minh City), and running into some legendary bantering friends? That's the feeling I get when I listen to The Gobsmacked Ivory Salesmen's
Day in the Life
Billy, the guitarist, is noodling on his Harley Benton T-style guitar. Jason, the drummer, is playing a jazz sequence that he's been practicing at home because his girlfriend said she's tired of hearing his "screamy" music. And Ana, the singer, has been doomscrolling
Interviews and Discussions
What if I told you that Blues isn't what you think it is? Gibson-owning dentists and lawyers would have you believe that the Blues is this cigar-lounge, slow and melodic genre of music that's best experienced while sitting silently. This is just one style
Day in the Life
Truth be told, it's hard to find information about the live music scene in Ho Chi Minh City online. I landed in Vietnam with a couple of gigs pre-booked but had no idea what the reality of working as a musician in Saigon would be, what the
Consumer Tech
You would think a humble calendar on a phone is all a musician needs to fulfill their work of providing emotional moments, entertainment and a sense of community. But the more successful musicians I know use an unlikely suite of apps that would make an accountant proud. Keeping track of
Music Gear Review
Have you ever made an intercontinental move as a musician? Let me tell you, it's a stressful affair. The gear you've accumulated for years suddenly has to go through a trial by fire that takes its weight, size and usefulness into account in a test that
Day in the Life
Let's be real, the music business is more about appearances than musicality. If you look like you play all the time, you'll probably play all the time, so presenting as someone who does so is essential for keeping your calendar booked. Having certain documents ready to