Evidence that effects must be used tastefully...

[bassist_25]

...and being avant-garde and "thinking outside of the box" can often times equal shit.

I'm sure a lot of you are familiar with Dumble amplifiers. If not, they are really super boutique amps that cost $50,000. If I'm dropping that coin on an amp, then the literal voice of God better be coming out of the speakers; but I digress.

Alexander Dumble did a video with this guy named Henry Kaiser. Kaiser's the grandson of industrialist Henry J. Kaiser. He also fancies himself an experimental cross between John McLaughlin and Thurston Moore. The only problem is that McLaughlin and Moore actually learned how to play the guitar. I don't normally like to just slam on a cat for his or her playing, but when you're this self-important, you're gonna have to take some flak.

Here's Kaiser using some weird pitch modulation effect over some bluesy riffs played by Dumble:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76nU5Ghq5Wo&NR=1

Kaiser stroking his ego about how original he is with his effects choices:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuTLl1Jb ... re=related

Trying to be Robert Fripp:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce0P1Rih ... re=related

WTF?:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MbmZCLoX ... re=related

Some ensemble playing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALyZA1Codjw

And a bonus, Dumble giving some mystic new age answer about how tube amps work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVTj08qTwGw

Again, I don't go around blantantly bashing on a cat, but c'mon. I'm pretty open to stranger styles of music. I like music based on semi-tones, stuff that falls outside of tertian harmony; I like the sound of a prepared piano. But there's a such thing as having musicality.

[Ron]

Some of the comments on those videos are PRICELESS.

Did this guy grow up next to a glue factory? That's as pleasant  as a rusty rake in the eyeball. Step away from the guitar and no one will get hurt.

i just want him to play something normal so that i know hes playing like this on purpose
because it just sounds like he never learned how to play

You know...I posted on one of the vids something negative but I did a Wiki on him and apparently he is somehow apart of something called "Free Improvisation". Might be interesting to read and it might cause some of us to give him some slack...
Don't get me wrong I can't listen to it.

I wish I could meet him, and punch him in the nuts

yeah youre eclectic awrite..now go bury your head

And my favorite...

Here's how to become a millionaire playing avant garde music. First inherit 50 million, then keep playing until you are down to a million.

[bassist_25]

There's a great comment on one of those videos that goes something like, "Yeah, and a cat is out of the box too when it takes a shit on the floor."

[JackANSI]

Has to be a joke... just has too..

[todd17063]

Seriously WTF !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i need this ass to open for me !!!!!!!!!! Fuck i'll sound like Hendrix compared to this no talent !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[KeithReynolds]

check out the guy Derek Bailey that influenced him..wtf..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quGnEkYt ... re=related

W O W

[Big Jim]

Happy April Fools Day everyone!!

[bassist_25]

I wish it were an April Fool's joke, but that dude is serious.

[onegunguitar]

I could only stand to watch a few minutes-that dude sucks and so does his use in effects.

[onegunguitar]

check out the guy Derek Bailey that influenced him..wtf..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quGnEkYt ... re=related

W O W

WTF........................

[thebattle]

this made my day good way to start a friday morning

[VENTGtr]

Don't DISLIKE it. Can't listen to this type of stuff for a long time, but have some like it.

John Zorn has some wild stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKDEeQ-3 ... playnext=1

This isn't the most out there of his by any stretch.

Over a longer period of time you can feel the tension building in yourself...then you put on Vangelis to counter.

Strangest one is Dumble explaining his amps. He should just let his people talk for him.

[lynch1]

this guy is an idiot. now I don't feel so bad about my playing. this guy sounds like what it would be if I gave my 6 year old my guitar and processor and let her play with it. yoi and double yoi!!!

[f.sciarrillo]

I can play better than him, which isn't saying much. Wow ..

[VENTGtr]

Ya. Take someone who's a basic beginner, hand them a guitar that's in some random tuning, and give them some effects, would probably have something similar to what these guys end up with.

Can deny that.

[nakedtwister]

At least the chick in part ten has an excuse. Looks like she was playing a piece of drift wood with clothes line strung across it. I think he took too many blows to the head from the " Wang " bar.

[RFBuck]

I think I'll just fart in my pickups. Maybe with a hint of wah....yeh...definitely wah.

Geez.

[bassist_25]

Don't DISLIKE it. Can't listen to this type of stuff for a long time, but have some like it.

John Zorn has some wild stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKDEeQ-3 ... playnext=1

This isn't the most out there of his by any stretch.

Over a longer period of time you can feel the tension building in yourself...then you put on Vangelis to counter.

Strangest one is Dumble explaining his amps. He should just let his people talk for him.

I think it comes down to, at least for me, hiding behind the pretense of art as a cover for not being able to play. I remember when I heard Mahavishnu Orchestra for the first time. Man, that was some dissonant stuff to my ears, but it was obvious to me that they were some serious cats who knew how to play. They just chose all of those dissonant harmonies and out there melodies as a part of their musical pallette. And their execution was tight.

Here's Kaiser attempting some Zappa in a bedroom or something, and he's more sloppy than Larry the Cable Guy at an all you can eat BBQ buffet. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdR9_hziOC0

Cats like John Zorn, John McLaughlin, Thurston Moore, Kevin Shields, and John Cage have used their sheer ability and knowledge to create music that may not always be consonant. Page Hamilton from Helmet plays some pretty atonal stuff in the alternative metal genre, but he's actually a brilliant jazz-trained guitarist who can throw down some Wes Montgomery and George Benson licks with the best of 'em. Kaiser just seems to be some dude who never really learned the mechanics of his instrument, so his lack of ability gets him lauded for "thinking outside of the box."

To me, it's analogous to how Picasso created some great pieces that may have violated what was considered proper art, but he was able to create those pieces due to his exceptional talent and intimate knowledge of the craft he had chosen. The person with no art background what so ever who buys a couple cans of Dutch Boy from True Value, violently splashes it all over a white canvass, and then calls it art isn't the same as Picasso.

Of course, that's just all my opinion. Like I said, I normally don't like to blatantly bash on someone for their playing. Kaiser seems like a nice, smart dude who's very passionate about music. If he enjoys his thing and other people enjoy his thing, then more power to him

[lonewolf]

This guy should go on SNL and do guitar equpment demo skits a la Nick the lounge singer

[daveb]

I could take his playing better if he was the slightest bit less self absorbed.

[Ron]

Kaiser has played with a lot of great musicians... they throw down a crazy groove and he goes into the weeds. I highly doubt that he can play in a conventional manner, though I've read where people claim that he can. I couldn't find any evidence online.
Derek Baily definitely could play, which sort of gives validity to that "style".
I agree with the Picasso reference.

And now for some WTF humor...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlhQeOZp35I

[lonewolf]

And now for some WTF humor...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlhQeOZp35I

Hey! I recognize that song! We used to play it in the garage back in '74!

[Charltor]

LSD is a powerful drug.

[bassist_25]

And now for some WTF humor...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OlhQeOZp35I

...and another great quote from a YouTube poster:

Bert looks like he's explaining to his ex just exactly how the house burned down with her car inside it.
Henry looks like he's explaining in excruciating detail how and why his attorneys are going to be leasing your asshole out by the hour

[f.sciarrillo]

Here is the price list and agreement contract for the dumble amps. It is from 1992. There is a lot online about his ways, and how secretive he is about his amps. Things like caking epoxy on the circuit board so no one can see how it is set up and such. Check out the notary seal space at the end of the contract - WOW !

http://www.berkleemusic.com/assets/disp ... dumble.pdf

And here is a used one on Ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dumble-Overdrive-Sp ... 35a83a754b