Hey…it’s Brian from the ol’ Technology and the Arts podcast. I’m just letting our former listeners know that I have submitted an old-but-reworked techno song of mine called “Vortex (2009)” for a Best Piano/Keyboard Performance contest on TalentTrove.com, an online talent community (think of it as “Star Search” for the social networking generation).

Voting is under way now through midnight on Sunday, June 7, and I would really appreciate your support by clicking the link below and casting a vote for “Vortex (2009)” at TalentTrove.com.

Vote for Best Piano/Keyboard Performance on TalentTrove.com

Now, you do have to sign up on TalentTrove.com in order to vote, but since many Technology and Arts fans probably have artistic talents to share with the world, you may wind up liking what the site has to offer.

Anyway, thank you for your time. Any votes you cast for “Vortex (2009)” will be greatly appreciated.

And, if you want to hear what “Vortex (2009)” sounds like before you head over to TalentTrove.com, just listen to it in the embedded player below.

- BK

“Vortex (2009)” – Brian Kelley

Technology and the Arts Special: 4/24/2009

Technology and the Arts hosts Brian Kelley and John LeMasney met for drinks and dinner at Triumph Brewing Co. in Princeton, NJ, on April 23, 2009, and recorded this mini podcast (sorry about the sound quality and background noise, but this was kind of a spur of the moment thing). John previews his Trenton Computer Festival talks on April 25 and April 26, and discusses the beers he drank at Triumph. Brian provides an update on Christian Beach. Brian’s fiancee, Alison, also joins in on the fun for a bit. Hosts: Brian Kelley and John LeMasney. File size: 4 MB. Time: 8 min., 30 sec.

Technology and the Arts hosts Brian Kelley and John LeMasney met for drinks and dinner at Triumph Brewing Co. in Princeton, NJ, on April 23, 2009, and recorded this mini podcast (sorry about the sound quality and background noise, but this was kind of a spur of the moment thing). John previews his Trenton Computer Festival talks on April 25 and April 26, and discusses the beers he drank at Triumph. Brian provides an update on Christian Beach. Brian’s fiancee, Alison, also joins in on the fun for a bit. Hosts: Brian Kelley and John LeMasney. File size: 4 MB. Time: 8 min., 30 sec.

Related Links:

• FriendFeed.com/lemasney – John LeMasney’s FriendFeed profile.
• lemasney.com – John LeMasney’s Web site.
• @lemasney – John LeMasney on Twitter.
• FriendFeed.com/bktandem – Brian Kelley’s FriendFeed profile.
• Tandem With the Random – Brian Kelley’s blog
• @bktandem – Brian Kelley on Twitter.
• Trenton Computer Festival - John LeMasney returns to TCF for 2009 to discuss “Exquisite Design Using Open-Source Software” on Saturday, April 25, and Sunday, April 26. Check out the speaker grid [pdf] for times and location.
• BeerCritic - John LeMasney’s craft beer review site.
• ChristianBeach.net – Christian Beach’s new web site, designed by Brian Kelley.

Technology and the Arts co-host John LeMasney, who — as our listeners may remember — critiques beers at http://beercritic.wordpress.com, recently brought his reviews to Ustream.tv.

Featured here is John’s review of Sly Fox Phoenix Pale Ale…

Sly Fox Phoenix Pale Ale
A slightly hoppy, somewhat sour brew with a longer delicious finish of maple, smoke, and nice bitterness.

To watch John’s other beer reviews (and other videos), visit his Ustream.tv channel at http://www.ustream.tv/lemasney

Christian Beach

Mark your calendars for April 10…not only is it my wonderful girlfriend’s birthday, but my friend Christian Beach will be celebrating the recent release of his self-titled CD with a show at The Saint in Asbury Park, NJ.

I will once again be part of Christian’s backing band, helping out on organ and accordion, as he performs the entire 12-song CD in tracklist order. Christian will be hitting the stage around 10 p.m. and tickets are just $10.

If you are in the area and are available that night, please feel free to come to the show. If you want to get a taste of Christian’s music, visit his new web site at ChristianBeach.net or visit him on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/christianbeach.

The CD can be purchased via CDBaby.com or  iTunes.

Christian Beach
The Saint
601 Main St.
Asbury Park, NJ
http://www.thesaintnj.com

NOTE: This post was originally published on Brian Kelley’s Tandem With the Random blog on February 4, 2009.

Christian Beach's CD now available on CD Baby

It’s finally here…the self-titled, solo CD from my good friend, singer-songwriter Christian Beach!

“Christian Beach” is now available for sale at CDBaby.com, where you can also listen to 30-second samples of each of the album’s 12 tracks.

And here’s a fun fact for you: I designed the CD artwork around a photo by Charlie Pranio, which means I just did layout and selected an appropriate font.

Anyway, if you want to check out Christian Beach live, he has a few shows coming up:

Sat., Feb. 7, 2009
5:00 p.m.
The Strand Theater
Lakewood, NJ
http://www.strandlakewood.com
with band

Sun., March 8, 2009
8:00 p.m.
Rosie’s Cafe Presents at the Atonement Lutheran Church Hall
Asbury Park, NJ
http://www.atonementlutheranchurch.com/ROSIES-CONCERTSr.html
solo

Sat., March 28, 2009
8:45 p.m.
S.S. Cape May Music Conference Showcase
Congress Hall – The Brown Room Lounge
Cape May, NJ
http://www.sscapemay.com
solo

Fri., April 10, 2009
10:00 p.m.
“Christian Beach” CD Release Party @ The Saint
Asbury Park, NJ
http://www.thesaintnj.com
with band

Thurs., April 23, 2009
8:00 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
Princeton, NJ
http://www.triumphbrewing.com
solo

Thurs., May 21, 2009
8:00 p.m.
Triumph Brewing Co.
Princeton, NJ
http://www.triumphbrewing.com
solo

For information about Christian Beach, visit http://www.myspace.com/christianbeach

Technology and the Arts Interview: Fox Elipsus (1/30/09)

In this special Technology and the Arts podcast, Brian Kelley interviews indie singer-songwriter Fox Elipsus. Originally from Oxford, England, Fox has self-produced two double CDs, including his latest, “Momentum,” and uses MySpace and Facebook to promote his music and build his fan base. Currently, Fox is on an extensive U.S. tour of free shows at bookstores and cafes. He recently performed at the Borders in Langhorne, Pa., and talked with Brian after the show about his music and how he utilizes social networking sites as a promotional tool. Host: Brian Kelley. File size: 4.2 MB. Time: 8 min., 48 sec.

Hey, folks…remember when we ended the podcast back in December, we said that we wouldn’t abandon this place entirely? Well, we meant that.

Case in point, above this text is a video interview I did with singer-songwriter Fox Elipsus. Those of you on MySpace and Facebook have probably received a friend request from him at some point…but that’s because social networking sites are his primary way of reaching his fans. Fox records his CDs at his home studio, promotes his music through MySpace and Facebook, and is currently on an extensive tour of bookstores and cafes in the United States in support of his latest double CD, “Momentum.”

So…enjoy the interview…and be on the lookout for an audio-only version on the ol’ blog and podcast feed…coming soon!

Oh, and I want to make a special mention about Bill…one of Fox’s fans who has given him a place to stay the past few days while in the NJ/PA area. Bill also has very good taste in music…anybody who thinks highly of Francis Dunnery, Midge Ure and Roland Orzabal has my utmost respect.

- BK

(T+A #50) Technology and the Arts-The Finale: 12/24/2008

In this hour-long, final installment of the Technology and the Arts podcast, hosts Brian Kelley and John LeMasney reminisce about their two years working on the program and share some final thoughts on technology and the arts, including breaking news regarding the recording industry lawsuits against MP3 file sharers. Also featured are outtakes, highlights and other special moments we recorded over the past two years…and more! Hosts: Brian Kelley and John LeMasney. File size: 28 MB. Time: 59 min., 55 sec.

In this hour-long, final installment of the Technology and the Arts podcast, hosts Brian Kelley and John LeMasney reminisce about their two years working on the program and share some final thoughts on technology and the arts, including breaking news regarding the recording industry lawsuits against MP3 file sharers. Also featured are outtakes, highlights and other special moments we recorded over the past two years…and more! Hosts: Brian Kelley and John LeMasney. File size: 28 MB. Time: 59 min., 55 sec.

• Subscribe to podcast via RSS feed
  
• Subscribe to podcast via iTunes

Related Links:

• FriendFeed.com/lemasney – John LeMasney’s FriendFeed profile.
• lemasney.com – John LeMasney’s Web site.
• FriendFeed.com/bktandem – Brian Kelley’s FriendFeed profile.
• Tandem With the Random – Brian Kelley’s blog

***BREAKING NEWS***
After recording the conversation part of our podcast, news broke that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) would be altering its strategy of dealing with peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharers and torrent downloaders. Instead of filing lawsuits against unknowing single mothers and grandparents, the RIAA said it would work with Internet Service Providers to warn suspected downloaders about their activities. The ISPs would limit the users’ bandwidth or shut them off completely if illegal downloading continued. For more on the story, click on the following links:

RIAA to halt lawsuits, cozy up to ISPs instead (Yahoo! Tech)

The RIAA’s About-Face on Lawsuits (InternetNews.com)

John and Brian recorded this final Technology and the Arts podcast at the Crystal Diner in Lawrenceville, N.J.

After two years, the Technology and the Arts podcast comes to a close with this hour-long installment filled with memories, outtakes and other special moments from the series. It has been a good ride, but John and I felt it was time to “close the curtain” for a final time on this venture.

We still have more to say on the topics of technology and art, but we find ourselves with very limited time to do so in this format. Each of us will still have our FriendFeed profiles (see above) and we will continue to share information with the world that way.

Also, this blog will remain…and there is always the chance that we may post something — a blog or even a special podcast — at various points in the future. However, we decided that it was time to end the program before it suffers the fate of similar podcasts…one day, without explanation, it disappears.

We wanted to go out with something special and we feel this is worthy of a series finale.

Before we go, John and I would like to express our thanks to the guests we have had on the podcast since we first started doing this on December 13, 2006

• Jonathan Feldschuh, artist – TechArts #1 (but never recorded)
• Susan Kaprov, artist – TechArts #1
• Patricia Lay, artist – TechArts #1
• Sally Davidson, exhibit curator – TechArts #2
• Alan Goldsmith, exhibit curator – TechArts #2
• Barbara Osterman, artist – TechArts #2
• Sharon Libes, artist – TechArts #2
• Perry Cook, Princeton Laptop Orchestra – TechArts #3
• Ge Wang, Princeton Laptop Orchestra – TechArts #3
• Donald Ambrose, Rider University – TechArts #4
• Sigfredo Hernandez, Rider University – TechArts #4
• Tim Westergren, Pandora – TechArts #5 and #15
• Gregg Taylor, Decoder Ring Theatre – TechArts #6
• Christian Beach, singer-songwriter – TechArts #7
• Eddie Kramer, rock ‘n’ roll producer/engineer – TechArts #8
• Guests/Attendees at Trenton Computer Festival 2007 – TechArts #10
• Janie Hermann & Evan Klimpl, Princeton Public Library Poetry Podcast – TechArts #11 & #12
• Marsha Loftis, blogger/podcaster – TechArts #13
• J.G. Birdsall, independent sci-fi filmmaker (“Venus Rises“) – TechArts #14
• Whitney Hoffman, blogger/podcaster – TechArts #18
• Veronica Yankowski, photographer – TechArts #19
• John S. James, editor/publisher of “AIDS Treatment News” and computer programmer – TechArts Special: A Night with Pandora in Philly
• Chris McGrew, videographer for Pandora and drummer for the band Griddle – TechArts Special: A Night with Pandora in Philly
• Kevin Seal, host of the “Pandora Presents” podcast and Griddle vocalist/keyboardist – TechArts Special: A Night with Pandora in Philly
• Barbara Mink, Light in Winter Festival, Ithaca, N.Y. – TechArts #25 & #26
• Kip Rosser, thereminist – TechArts #34

And, finally, John and I would like to thank our listeners for the past two years. You made this all worthwhile.

And since it is that time of year, please have a safe and happy holiday season and wonderful new year!

Take care,
BK