Ways of counting to four

This month brings hints of summer, 2023 style: daily central Texas thunderstorms of varying intensity and duration, fires in one place delivering smoke to another, and conscious (or subconscious) sensing of the pulse of what’s happening in the world, indeed all the worlds, we inhabit. How finely do you monitor the groove of your day. Which dance suits your mood?

You may be familiar with how band leaders count in a song—an effort to ensure the musicans begin together, and then continue to play “in time” with each other. It’s easier said than done. If it were possible to ask Frank Zappa about it, I’d recommend it for the elucidation and entertainment. Without getting lost in philosophies of musical timekeeping, suffice to say that when you hear someone count, “One, two, three, four” it’s different from, “One-and-a two-and-a three…,” or, “One, two, one-two-three-four.”

With the variety of music I’m lucky to play (and here I’ll just refer to 4/4 or common time), I may rely on feeling only the pulse of one, the first beat of each bar. In other cases, feeling all four strong beats helps me stay in the groove. But, more often, I’m attending to the subdivisions: eighth or sixteenth notes. This isn’t in a strictly counting sense, or even a foot-tapping sense, but there’s an internal clock ticking away. The rhythms I play, sometimes simple and sometimes complex, align with both my internal clock and those of the musicians with whom I play. The attention to this alone could power a small village.

If you find yourself dancing this month, notice the pulse that aligns with your movement. Is it heard in a particular instrument? Are you on the big pulse of one, or do the subdivisions match your moves. Or, maybe don’t bother. I don’t want to ruin it for you.

The Mala Nota album, Los Peores Éxitos Vol.1, will be released in August, coinciding with the band’s third anniversary show at Sahara Lounge on August 25. A few singles will be released between now and then. The first is “Running Man,” a compelling fusion of two central themes: travel and rebellion. The verses take listeners on a journey to renowned travel destinations embraced by backpackers exploring Central America and neighboring regions in Mexico. The chorus rallies listeners to challenge the status quo, encouraging them to embrace their authentic selves and resist the societal pressures of conformity.

Inspiration for the song came to the band's frontman, Guillermo Azpeitia, during his travels throughout Latin America with his guitar (dubbed “Mala Nota”). Initially met with indifference when performing his English rock repertoire, Guillermo quickly realized that to thrive as a street musician, he needed to adapt his music to cater to the diverse musical tastes of each region. This journey of adaptation and exploration served as the catalyst for the creation of “Running Man.” Guillermo shares his vision, stating,

I would be thrilled if a backpacker in Central America discovered our song and allowed it to become the soundtrack of their journey, just as numerous artists have done for me.

“Running Man”  offers a thrilling introduction to Mala Nota's musical journey, blending rhythmic elements of dembow with the raw energy of rock guitars and infectious cumbia-esque melodies, resulting in a sound that is both familiar and refreshing.

The band hopes that “Running Man” will inspire their listeners to embark on their own journeys of discovery, embracing personal freedom, authenticity, and breaking free from societal constraints. 

August 25
Sahara Lounge
1413 Webberville Road Austin, TX 78721(512) 927-0700

Find “Running Man,” a travelogue of self-discovery,
out June 16 on all streaming platforms.

Red and The Rebels has two shows in June, opening for Karaoke Night at Savage’s Hill Country Bar (and very excited to present new material), and part of the bill for the first weeked of the two-week ATX Queer Music Fest—an “unapologetic celebration and a dash of sarcasm”—at Sahara Lounge.

June 10
Savage’s Hill Country Bar
9595 Ranch Rd 12
Wimberley TX 78676
7:00 PM, three sets, and followed by… Saturday Night Karaoke (surprise guests?)

June 23
Sahara Lounge
1413 Webberville Road Austin, TX 78721(512) 927-0700
Red & The Rebels is on at 8:45

Finally, in open-mics and other curiosities, I take a look at the open mic at Meridian in Buda, TX. I first became familar with the venue early on as it began presenting music, seeing my friends, Atlas Maior there several months ago. It seemed a perfect venue for their music—walls adorned by large-scale maps, an adventurous drinks menu (click to expand all the menu images beneath the main display), and everything.

Recently Meridian has presented a Sunday mid-afternoon open mic, which is bookended by a reggae brunch and later afternoon music. They advertise:

The mic is open for musicians, comics, magicians and more! Bring your best skills.

One of the unique features of Meridian is the stage. If you’ve ever danced on a table, you have a sense of the stage height, and this one is just a bit more elevated than most tables. In other words, it’s not just a riser, although it does have a drum (or choir…) riser. You’ll be able to see the performers from anywhere in the venue.

One of the features of open mics in general is that they tend to be populated by songwriters, who are storytellers, often of things that have happened to you, too. Or that you wish had or hadn’t happened. You’ll laugh boldly, or shed a quiet tear. The incongrous is always in play; to wit, songs of surfing in Hawai'i on a rainy Texas afternoon. Songwriters take you places—inward, outward, beyond.

I’ll close this month’s newsletter with some performer quotes: “Can you put some talent on this mic?” “A musician friend of mine said, ‘If you ever want to get the crowd going, play a Beatles song. And so I did.’” “Is anybody ready, or do you want me to do one more?” “ We compose, and de-compose.”

Every Sunday
Open Mic at Meridian
200 N. Main St. Buda, TX
2:00 - 3:00 (check Events page)

Thanks again for reading. Feel free to send questions or topics you might like to hear about from me.

Peace, Love, and Art,
Ralph
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Ralph Manak
Raking Light Studio
Austin TX
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