WagooMusic

The exhibition “Hendrix in Britain” which will be held at the London Handel House Museum from 25th August to 7th November 2010 and will celebrate the life of legendary rock-star Jimi Hendrix – who since the Sixties lived in an apartment very close to the house of the German composer later become part of the House Museum – during the 40th, anniversary of his death. Here it will be showcased his clothes, memorabilia, handwritten lyrics, photographs, it will be explored the particular contribution he made to the sound of the electric guitar, examining his personal style and use of technology on stage and in the studio and it will be discussed in interviews and personal reminiscences by some of the guitarists and songwriters he inspired from his contemporaries to performers from successive generations. The Museum will also host a series of special events to accompany the exhibition, including guitar workshops exploring Jimi Hendrix guitar effects, his particular use of amp and tip for playing guitar like him. A not to be missed happening for all the ones who are devoted to the rock’ n roll.

“HENDRIX IN BRITAIN”, UNA MOSTRA ALLA CASA MUSEO DI HANDEL CHE CELEBRA JIMI HENDRIX

La mostra “Hendrix in Britain” che si terrà alla Casa Museo di Handel a Londra dal 25 agosto al 7 novembre 2010 e celebrerà la vita della leggendaria rock-star Jimi Hendrix – che a partire dagli anni Sessanta ha vissuto in un appartamento molto vicino alla casa del compositore tedesco, successivamente divenuta parte della Casa Museo  - in occasione del 40°, anniversario della sua morte, Ivi saranno esposti i suoi abiti, memorabilia, testi di canzoni scritte a mano, fotografie, sarà esplorato il particolare contributo che ha dato al suono della chitarra elettrica, esaminando il suo stile personale e uso della tecnologia sul palcoscenico e nello studio di registrazione e sarà discusso in interviste e ricordi personali di alcuni chitarristi e cantautori che si sono ispirati a lui, dagli artisti contemporanei a lui e delle generazioni successive. Il Museo ospiterà anche una serie di eventi speciali che accompagneranno la mostra, includendo workshop di chitarra incentrati sugli effetti dati al suono della chitarra da Hendrix, il suo uso particolare dell’ amplificatore e plettro per suonare la chitarra come lui. un appuntamento imperdibile per tutti coloro che sono devoti al rock’ n roll.

handelhouse.org

Is it necessary that your rock band’s logo design should have an electric guitar image?

No, not really

In fact, there are a lot of famous rock band logos that do not consist of guitar images in their trademark sign and are still widely recognized.

Let’s have a look at some of those rock band symbols:

1. Tool: their symbol is smart, sophisticated and a little funny. it consists of wrench like tool with the end that resembles a scissor. the image is illustrated in black and white colors that make it sophisticated and chic while the textured illustration give it a unique personality. Overall, the image perfectly complements the band name.

2. Slipknot: their design is artistic and intimidating. it consists of the group name in red colored type face that looks like a dripping blood. it is accompanied with an image of a letter S with devil horns. the prominent color in the image is red which makes it even more daunting and menacing.

3. Aerosmith: their band image is more angelic than intimidating. they have a letter ‘A’ encased in a circle with angelic wings in their logo design. To make it more imaginative, the image has been created in a sophisticated combination of black and white colors that makes it chic and timeless.

4. Guns N Roses: This is undoubtedly one of the smartest contemporary designs today. it consists of two pistols placed on a plate entwined and surrounded by roses and weeds. the symbol is easy to remember, clean, represents violence and love.

5. Jamiroquai: the design crafted for jamiroquai perfectly complements the funky style of this group. it consists of a silhouette of a young man with an elaborate head-gear and horns. This is a perfect depiction of the lead singer of the group who is popular for his eccentric dressing sense and flamboyancy.

6. the Offspring: This band could have easily created a simple rock guitar logo but instead they chose an image of a burning skull to make a statement. the image of the skull is encased in a circle which makes the emblem compact and clean. This monogram was created with different color combinations including red, yellow, white and black colors to make it show the variety and spice of offspring’s songs.

Hence, you can use an image of a guitar if you are trying to create a brand mark for your rock group but you can also get creative and use images of skulls, guns, fire and angelic wings to give more imagination and appeal to your band symbol. that way, you will take the stereotypical rock band concept and give a new and refreshing look to your band symbol.

Debo is an energetic Ethiopian funk Boston-based band founded by saxophonist Danny Mekonnen. it specializes in dance sounds direct from four decades of classic pop nourished in Ethiopia. just as the musicians unleash mystical grooves, so do dance moves by the gravity-defying Fendika leave folks gasping.

Mekonnen traces the history of the music Debo plays back to 1966 when Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Ethiopia and other nations with their personal record collections. from that introduction to American jazz, Ethiopian pop emerged, seasoned with traditional styles.

Ethiopian pop music of the 1970s, he points out, is played with the timbre and tone of the indigenous African styles from Nigeria. it was also influenced by the Turkish psychedelic rock bands. the 6/8 rhythm and non-Western scales are foreign to the average ear. the dissonance resembles what you hear in music from the Mid-East and Japan.

There was a period in Ethiopia when big bands contained strings and drums. Debo has two violins and a drum, along with two saxophones, a trumpet, a trombone, a tuba, an accordion, an electric bass and an electric guitar. the accordion has historical relevance, but tubas were only used in military bands. Debo is unique in that there never was a band with the combination it has.

Mekonnen was 18 months old when his parents came to the United States in 1982 by way of Sudan, the pathway of most refugees at that time. He grew up in Dallas, Texas, began saxophone lessons in middle school and entered the University of Texas in Arlington as a music major.

After graduating, he headed to Boston to study jazz. while working on his Ph. D., a Harvard professor with a background in Ethiopian music encouraged him to explore it. Subsequently, he formed Debo from musicians he played with around town. their specialties ranged from classical music to klezmer and Balkan brass bands.

Since its debut in the Boston area, Debo’s popularity has erupted nationwide. Adding to the excitement, the band joins forces at festivals and venues with Fendika, an ensemble they encountered at an Addis Ababa nightclub. it consists of a male and female dance duo, a female vocalist and a traditional goat-skin drummer.

The vocalist’s vibrato is a timbre of singing found in Ethiopian voices and the saxophone. like native singers, she is often accompanied by a one-string violin and a lyre with six strings and no fret board.

The dancers perform in the style called ‘eskista’ wearing traditional outfits to display a lot of color and visual elements of the culture. the woman does a shoulder dance to a 6/8 rhythm played by the drum. All the movement is from her shoulders, head and neck. Her movements are emphasized by a scarf and a huge set of beads that accentuates the sound. She contrasts with the male dancer who has worked with a forward-looking and trendy Dutch punk rock band.

Mekonnen’s ensemble of 15 is large because he wants audiences to see how they bring together folk dances and the big, exciting band with a little bit of dissonance that doesn’t fit tradition.