Mack-n-Cheeze Music

Another Night Buried in the Trenches at The Metropolitan Grill

I love to play music, I love to record, and, to the best of my abilities, I love to produce music. But what I also love is a super cool job, health insurance and stability. Call me double minded.

I have been a Sommelier with a restaurant group for the last 29 years, the last 16 spent at The Metropolitan Grill in Seattle. We are one of 91 restaurants in the world which have been recognized by the Wine Spectator as a Grand Award…

Read more

I have been reading a lot about tapping in to my super power. Most people who know me know that I am not super powerful, which is disappointing to myself since my own self expectations are so high.

I wish I wasn’t prone to error. I wish I would not forget arrangements. I wish that a fellow musician’s bad meter would not affect me.

Shouldn’t I be able to transcend bad meter? If I could have just one super power that would be it.

Another super power I wish I had – I wish that I…

Read more

Guest Blog By Todd Ainsworth

By the time I heard that Ice-T was going to play the RKCNDY, I had been listening to him since “Power”, which came out in 1989; along with Public Enemy, NWA and others. Some of my “Rock Only” friends looked at me sideways and wondered why. I knew I was going to see Ice-Motherfucking-T!

You might remember the uproar over “Cop Killer” and the attention it got from then president, George Bush. Not “Mission Accomplished” George, but, “Read My Lips”, George. The…

Read more

A Normal Morning In My House

Get out of bed, wander down to the coffee maker, get some Joe brewing, wander over to the lap top, fire it up, oops, my feet are cold, wander back up stairs, put on some socks. I got to pee, wander in to the bathroom, pick up the tooth brush, oh, coffee is ready, never mind, wander down stairs. Oh, that load of clothes needs to be dried, throw those in the dryer, wander back to the lap top, sit down, pull up my daily habit check list, itemized in degrees of importance…

Read more

“Someone’s talking in the guitar solo.”

“What?”

“There is someone talking in the guitar solo.”

I listened to the track over and over and could not hear the voice. I went through every single track. Nothing. During the guitar solo I muted every track that was inactive. Nothing.

“Dude, the voice is still there.”

“What? It can’t be.”

“I guess we we’ll just live with it. There is still someone talking in guitar solo.”

Mix down; listening over and over again, until one pass…

Read more

Aggrandize, to increase the power or reputation of something.

For me, it implies some sort of exaggeration.  It is endemic in the world of music.  Please understand, I am as guilty as the next person when it comes to past pretence.  

I see it in Facebook adds.  I see it in band names.  How many times have you heard that this group of individuals has recording contracts, management, connections and it all turns out to be drivvle?

How about going on tour?  What exactly is a tour?

I have friends that…

Read more

I have read the books.  I have stood in front of the mirror yelling at myself.  I have gone to the conferences.  I have read the blogs.  I have reaffirmed my affirmations.  Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.

I have found out what habit is – its habit.

The daily routine is what moves me forward.  No matter what my day entails, two hours minimum on the drum kit, period.  I wish I had more time but its the best I can do.  Drums are my passion.  Drums are the foundation of everything; my recording studio…

Read more

By Todd Ainsworth

Writing for a music blog hasn’t been on my radar, but music is one of my passions and an important part of my life. As my generation gets a little older ( I never expected to live to 50 when I was 18 ) and I start to look a little more inward to try to figure out exactly how I got here, I find myself thinking back to that great time in Seattle I was able to experience and be a small part of-the late 80’s and early 90’s

The media called it Grunge and I’m not refusing…

Read more

So I’m hanging in the lobby waiting for my lesson, listening to what I perceive as a high school student laying down a super congruent groove. I’m saying to myself, ‘Man, I wish I could have played like that when I was 17’. This goes on for another 5 minutes till the groove stops. Super impressive. Wow!!!

My instructor comes out of the lesson room all smiles and excited. In tow ( my jaw hits the floor ) a three year old toddles out, hands clutching drum sticks, all smiles and excited.

My…

Read more

Rehearsal, 10 am. Hey I got time for breakfast. I’m heading over to the closest breakfast chain anticipating some great morning grub.

Man, I can taste those hash browns with my over easy eggs and some wheat toast with strawberry jelly. Lotsa coffee. I’m in Baby.

8:30 am, I’ve got plenty of time before we get serious. I put in my order. Wait, and wait, and wait, and wait. 9:15, and wait, I can’t get any coffee, and wait.

It figures. This chain, which has been around all of my life…

Read more

• I played my first Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge in 1977. There is a definite vibe and personification of this organization. Lots of great people adding amazing contributions to our communities. The same goes for the Moose, Lions, Masons and VFW organizations. Great organizations making incredible contributions.

Every 5 to 6 years I end up at a gig for one of these organizations.

Heres the thing. I’m not sure if its endemic to the organizations or the culture of contribution. It…

Read more

Hey All, a quick shout out. This afternoon at 4:30 my friends at the MOB Recording studio are partnering with KOMO News featuring Randy Hansen.

This is an invite to all my friends and readers. The KOMO News shoot goes down at 4:30 pm. All are invited to participate. Just contact the MOB at

booking@mobstudios.com

RSVP your spot. Liquor provided.

How can we help you? Please let us know.

bryan@mackncheezemusic.blog

Things I’ve Learned From Otis Trust Your Friends

Otis has good friends. Smokey comes to visit from down the street, leaping and bounding because he is so excited to see his buddy Otis. I have never seen two cats so comfortable with one another.

Otis always remembers the humans he likes. As soon as my friends walk in the house he bypasses me and goes directly to them. He always remembers those who are kind to him.

Be Proud of Your Accomplishments and Maintain Priorities

…Read more

We will be performing at 4 pm, Saturday, September 14. 72 nd and Woodlawn in the Green Lake Business District.

Hope to see you there.

bryan@mackncheezemusic.blog

Hi Everyone, We will be playing in Ballard on Friday, the 13th. The Substation, 645 NW 45th. St. Seattle 98107.

The show sarts at 8, we should go on around 9:30 to 10 pm.

Love to see you there.

Cheers.

Is there any way we can help you? Please feel free to contact us.

• bryan@mackncheezemusic.blog

What motivates me everyday?  One guess.  Coffee.  Every morning I participate in the ritual.  At least a pot down the gullet. Not to mention the daily Quad Americano just to finish out the evening.

What the caffiene does for me is to facilitate concentration.  My best and most productive woodshedding  is done under the influence of said drug.  If I’m a little drowsy, I’m not as able to put my full mental capabilities in to the constant repetition required to facilitate practice.   Lots of starting…

Read more

Brave New world?

Social media….. Everyone of us who participates willingly hands over every bit of information that our sign up requests.  George Orwell thought it was going to be the state.  Actually, our government does not have to concern itself about our daily activities.

Trade Desk, NASDAQ TTD, tracks all of us.  I walk in to Walmart, consult my cell phone for the best pricing, Trade Desk grabs the info, sells the query to advertisers, the advertisers then send adds on our cell phones to direct…

Read more

Digital Keyboards, Forget About It.

Want to talk Monster, Wall of Sound……Hammond organs powered by Leslie Speakers.

The Hammond is an electric organ first manufactured in 1935.  The organ generates sound with a metal tone wheel near an electromagnetic pickup.  Recording these beasts, the mics reveal the the tone wheels firing.  Truly awesome.  Traditionally, Leslie Speakers were used.  The Leslie is configured with an amplifier and speaker cone at the bottom of the cabinet with rotating horns at the…

Read more

On the road and a plane flight later we arrive at the club.  Part of the contract stipulates accommodations, of which we are immensely grateful.  It always helpful to defer costs, especially hotels; saves a ton of money.

We have been booked an extended engagement and will be at the club several days.  Get it while you can: these days these types of gigs are few and far in-between.  Not like the old days.

We set up our gear and get the sound check done.  Pretty cool when we don’t have to rush and play…

Read more

I smoke my own crack. I understand thats not a smart thing to do, but some times I want to believe I’m so great that my door should be broken down by all those folks who aspire to work with me. Why wouldn’t they? I’m so great.

But I smoke my own crack.  What I want to be the quality of my state of being is not necessarily the reality of my situation.  That can be disheartening if you smoke as much crack as me.  Haven’t I been taught that my reality is what I make it?  So why is this happening?

There is…

Read more