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ITEMS FOR SALE
OCEAN CITY, MD BOARDWALK WEBCAMS
MY POLITICAL HUMOR ANIMATIONS
The BUS - episode 1 - Politicians argue over who gets to drive the bus.
wmv Quicktime (widescreen) youtube
wmv Quicktime (widescreen) youtube
MUSIC VIDEOS
BIG BLOW AT FAIRIE FEST (PA) 2006 - Don leads a parade with "Mr. Thing" during the tune "Landlord"
BBATB - FIDDLER A DRAM - Big Blow performed this song at PA's Bethlehem Musikfest - I'm on didj.
BBATB - LIE STILL, LITTLE BOTTLE - Big Blow twist on a They Might Be Giants song - from Bethlehem Musikfest
BBATB - LA PORTE EN ARRIERE - Big Blow goes Cajun. I'm covering the low end with my tuba rather than didj on this tune.
BBATB - FROM YOUR HAND - From their first '09 gig, Big Blow plays a sweet tune written by Ted Porter
BBATB - FIDDLER A DRAM - Big Blow performed this song at PA's Bethlehem Musikfest - I'm on didj.
BBATB - LIE STILL, LITTLE BOTTLE - Big Blow twist on a They Might Be Giants song - from Bethlehem Musikfest
BBATB - LA PORTE EN ARRIERE - Big Blow goes Cajun. I'm covering the low end with my tuba rather than didj on this tune.
BBATB - FROM YOUR HAND - From their first '09 gig, Big Blow plays a sweet tune written by Ted Porter
DIDJBUSKER WITH DANCER - Tiny dancer moves to the busking groove
DIDJBUSKER DIDJING IN EMPTY CORN SILO - A performance at ARTFARM, from the 90s. ARTFARM was part of an annual Montgomery County, (MD) farm tour where artists of many media would make the day magical. Thanks to Concerts in the Country for not only many years of ARTFARM, but so much more that they have given.
DIDJ CHAIR AT ARTFARM - avante improv with Tim, Don and Neal - rare footage of the Didj Chair before its theft! Don begins with Contrabass Smegmaphone before moving onto the Conch Shell.
DON PLAYS ACCORDION - at Baltimore's ArtSacape 2008 by the artcars.
DIDJ CHAIR AT ARTFARM - avante improv with Tim, Don and Neal - rare footage of the Didj Chair before its theft! Don begins with Contrabass Smegmaphone before moving onto the Conch Shell.
DON PLAYS ACCORDION - at Baltimore's ArtSacape 2008 by the artcars.
MUSIC VIDS OTHER THAN DIDJBUSKER OR BBATB
TREATY - video for Yothu Yindi's hit song. One of the more well-known Aboriginal bands, Yothu Yindi blend rock-pop with the traditional. Their dueling yidaki (didj) vocals are of the highest octane. This youtube clip will not only offer up many more Yothu Yindi clips, but by reading the comments, you can see the range of attitudes Australians present toward Aboriginal people, from basic human respect to blatantly ignorant racism.
TREATY - video for Yothu Yindi's hit song. One of the more well-known Aboriginal bands, Yothu Yindi blend rock-pop with the traditional. Their dueling yidaki (didj) vocals are of the highest octane. This youtube clip will not only offer up many more Yothu Yindi clips, but by reading the comments, you can see the range of attitudes Australians present toward Aboriginal people, from basic human respect to blatantly ignorant racism.
BBATB at Inwood Coffeehouse 11/12/10 - The link takes you to a collage. In the upper left, select "Click for MORE PICTURES in Slideshow1 - Slideshow2". Check out both slideshows. I only had 3 didjs at this gig, but there a re a few good pics of them.... as well as my old beat-up "Mirafrap" tuba.
VIDEO CLIPS OF DIDJ OR ABORIGINAL CULTURE IN THE MEDIA
CULTURAL ISSUES
Djalu didj - make and play
This is a clip on youtube showing Djalu (see link to his website below)
crafting a yidaki (didj) the traditional way. Features great
traditional style playing. This short clip is an excellent introduction
to the origins of the instrument I love so much. From there, youtube
will offer you many more clips of traditional playing. A must see clip!
Australia Says Sorry to Stolen Generation - From 1869-1969, the Australian government removed Aboriginal children from their parents, to be raised in missionaries and wards. They are known as The Stolen Generation. On Feb. 13, 2008, Australian's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made a formal apology for this dark past. This youtube piece contains history, personal interviews, and Kevin Rudd's speech. It also starts with some really nice yidaki (didj) playing.
Hugh Jackman discusses the Stolen Generation on "The View" (12/5/08)
Ladies on "The View" discuss Harry Connick Jr. on Australian Show (10/8/09) New Orleans musician Harry Connick Jr. was in Australia promoting his new album. He made a guest appearance on a show called Hey Hey It's Saturday. On the show, he was placed as a judge for a talent segment. The act presented to him was titled "Jackson Jive", a group of white men in black face doing a "tribute" to Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. Harry Connick Jr. was not impressed, giving the act a score of zero, and conveying that such an act would not be acceptable in the United States. It was not seen as inappropriate by the studio audience or the show's host. Doing a Google search presents many comments that portray at least some difference in connotations of black face between Australian and American cultures. In the end, the host apologizes to Harry Connick Jr. and gives him a chance to speak. This comedy-based link includes a clip of the whole thing, as well as a wide spectrum of comments. A Google search will turn up many more comments from many different sources.
Jack Hanna on dingoes - Airing Christmas night 2009, Jack Hanna was the main guest on Nancy Grace. With Nancy holding a dingo cub, Jack explained that 4000-5000 years ago, Australian Aboriginal men would take dingoes home from their den in the wild, and then the female Aboriginies would breastfeed the dingoes. This taught the dingoes to come to the Aboriginal people after the dingoes killed a kangaroo. Jack Hanna says that breastfeeding dingo cubs made them hunting dogs. I can't verify this one way or another, but you can click here to hear Jack tell the story.
Hugh Jackman discusses the Stolen Generation on "The View" (12/5/08)
Ladies on "The View" discuss Harry Connick Jr. on Australian Show (10/8/09) New Orleans musician Harry Connick Jr. was in Australia promoting his new album. He made a guest appearance on a show called Hey Hey It's Saturday. On the show, he was placed as a judge for a talent segment. The act presented to him was titled "Jackson Jive", a group of white men in black face doing a "tribute" to Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five. Harry Connick Jr. was not impressed, giving the act a score of zero, and conveying that such an act would not be acceptable in the United States. It was not seen as inappropriate by the studio audience or the show's host. Doing a Google search presents many comments that portray at least some difference in connotations of black face between Australian and American cultures. In the end, the host apologizes to Harry Connick Jr. and gives him a chance to speak. This comedy-based link includes a clip of the whole thing, as well as a wide spectrum of comments. A Google search will turn up many more comments from many different sources.
Jack Hanna on dingoes - Airing Christmas night 2009, Jack Hanna was the main guest on Nancy Grace. With Nancy holding a dingo cub, Jack explained that 4000-5000 years ago, Australian Aboriginal men would take dingoes home from their den in the wild, and then the female Aboriginies would breastfeed the dingoes. This taught the dingoes to come to the Aboriginal people after the dingoes killed a kangaroo. Jack Hanna says that breastfeeding dingo cubs made them hunting dogs. I can't verify this one way or another, but you can click here to hear Jack tell the story.
DIDJ COMEDY
Bill Bailey comedy on busking with a didj - Youtube has removed this clip for copyright. If you seek out the English comedian Bill Bailey, he is very funny, with many musical-based humor skits. If you can find this clip elsewhere, it is very funny.
DIDJ ON TV
Craig Ferguson with a rented didj (11/6/08)
Ellen Degeneres has a go on didj (Jan 2010) I didn't capture this as it aired, but this is a link to the clip on Ellen's website. (It plays very poorly on my PowerPC Mac. Hopefully, the site offers better performance for you.) Even if you can't view the clip all that well, there is a thread of comments on women playing didj.
Here is the same clip on youtube
And here is more of Ellen playing didj backstage. This is a quicktime clip that plays much smoother (at least for me)
Ellen Degeneres has a go on didj (Jan 2010) I didn't capture this as it aired, but this is a link to the clip on Ellen's website. (It plays very poorly on my PowerPC Mac. Hopefully, the site offers better performance for you.) Even if you can't view the clip all that well, there is a thread of comments on women playing didj.
Here is the same clip on youtube
And here is more of Ellen playing didj backstage. This is a quicktime clip that plays much smoother (at least for me)
Cash Cab ('09 or earlier?)- You can probably guess the answer to the question asked here in the Cash Cab game show. This probably aired earlier than this, but I caught this clip in June, 2009
Lisa Simpson plays didj - I've heard about this episode for many years, yet no matter how many Simpsons re-runs I watch, I never seem to catch the right one. Well, I saw the Simpsons 20th anniversary special on 1/10/10, and captured this 2-second clip.
Law and Order (?) - I don't know what season or year this episode of Law and Order originally aired, but it briefly shows a termite-hollowed Eucalyptus didj. No playing or didj sound, but the clip does feature an all too common mistake about where the didj comes from. Looks like it might be a nice didj.
Lisa Simpson plays didj - I've heard about this episode for many years, yet no matter how many Simpsons re-runs I watch, I never seem to catch the right one. Well, I saw the Simpsons 20th anniversary special on 1/10/10, and captured this 2-second clip.
Law and Order (?) - I don't know what season or year this episode of Law and Order originally aired, but it briefly shows a termite-hollowed Eucalyptus didj. No playing or didj sound, but the clip does feature an all too common mistake about where the didj comes from. Looks like it might be a nice didj.
DIDJ IN COMMERCIALS
Wendy's didj commercial
Outback Steakhouse commercial (March '09-1) The didj sound has been present in nearly all Outback Steakhouse commercials through the years. Sometimes only very faintly, (and with only a cheap sampled loop), but sometimes the didj can be heard moderately well, especially the didj vocalizations. This commercial mixes the didj in pretty well.
Outback Steakhouse commercial (March '09-2-CLEAR Didj sound) After posting the other Outback commercial here, this new commercial began running on TV. By far, it's the most clear didjiridu sound in any Outback Steakhouse commercial to date. It also briefly shows the didj in a corroboree. At the end, I copied that part and it replays in slow motion so you can see it more clearly.
Fosters commercial (Sept '09) This commercial for Fosters Lager probably uses a simple looped sample for its didj track, but it is very clearly heard in the mix. The timbre of this didj sounds more Aboriginal Australian in nature. Just as different cultures can perform with the same instrument and get a different aesthetic or signature sound, the same holds true of didj. My playing has a Western concept of tonal aesthetics. The tonal aesthetics of the didj in this clip comes closer to a traditional Aboriginal concept. I love them both. See if the didj in this clip sounds different in character to you than clips of my didj playing.
Outback Steakhouse commercial (March '09-1) The didj sound has been present in nearly all Outback Steakhouse commercials through the years. Sometimes only very faintly, (and with only a cheap sampled loop), but sometimes the didj can be heard moderately well, especially the didj vocalizations. This commercial mixes the didj in pretty well.
Outback Steakhouse commercial (March '09-2-CLEAR Didj sound) After posting the other Outback commercial here, this new commercial began running on TV. By far, it's the most clear didjiridu sound in any Outback Steakhouse commercial to date. It also briefly shows the didj in a corroboree. At the end, I copied that part and it replays in slow motion so you can see it more clearly.
Fosters commercial (Sept '09) This commercial for Fosters Lager probably uses a simple looped sample for its didj track, but it is very clearly heard in the mix. The timbre of this didj sounds more Aboriginal Australian in nature. Just as different cultures can perform with the same instrument and get a different aesthetic or signature sound, the same holds true of didj. My playing has a Western concept of tonal aesthetics. The tonal aesthetics of the didj in this clip comes closer to a traditional Aboriginal concept. I love them both. See if the didj in this clip sounds different in character to you than clips of my didj playing.
OTHER DIDJ WEBSITES
www.djalu.com - the website of Djalu Gurruwiwi, renowned yirdaki craftsman. Interested in seeing the yirdaki (authentic Aboriginal Australian didj) in its traditional context? Djalu presents a wonderful introduction to his culture. Many photos of his yirdaki in the gallery section. Though I have had the privilege of playing a couple of his yirdakis, I have not had the honor of meeting Djalu. All who do, speak of him in only the highest regard.
www.ididj.com.au - A HUGE resource for traditional didj
www.youtube.com/ididjaustralia - THE place to go for a huge wealth of video clips on traditional style playing.
http://www.yirrkala.com/yidaki/dhawu/ - Traditional didj (yidaki) from Northeast Arnhem Land. The region of Australia that originated the didj. This is a brilliantly put together site that covers not only traditional playing techniques, but Aboriginal culture as it relates to didj. Small Quicktime clips of interviews with Yolngu (Aboriginal people of Northeast Arnhem Land) make this site far more than just an ethnomusicology lesson. These easy to play clips bring Yolgnu culture to life far more than just the written text ever could. Thanks to Randin Graves for creating this brilliant modern resource that presents Yolgnu culture in Yolgnu words.
www.hickssticks.com - website of Ben Hicks. Ben is a master didj crafter, as well as a very learned student of traditional yirdaki playing. Ben sells his own masterful wood didj creations as well as traditional Eucalyptus imports from Australia, complete with info on each instrument's maker. His site has some great material on traditional instruments, and respect for the culture and Aboriginal origins of the instrument.
MISC. LINKS
Sawnee Bean history - I came across this site one night. It offers historical context to the macabre story of Sawnee Bean, mentioning my band's Celtic disc - Off-Kilter (A Celtic Outerlude) by Big Blow and the Bushwaclers.
My blog - Rarely didj-related, these are my sporadic thoughts primarily on political issues. It's titled "Liberal Heart, Moderate Mind". That should give a pretty good sense of my perspectives.
FRIENDS' SITES
Not necessarily didj-related, these are friends, peers, or cool places I have performed:
World Accordion to Don - Don Plehn (Big Blow and the Bushwackers' accordion frontman) now offers you his own website. Not your grandpa's accordion!
Meet the Bushwackers - Don Plehn's presentation of Big Blow and the Bushwackers' 5 members. E-mails included! Are you crazy enough to contact these guys?!
House of Echo - DC area band. Vocalist and keyboard player David Tauler also is a fantastic sax player. I had the joy of improving with him on the boardwalk one night.
Clearwater Nature Center - I've performed at this beautiful site a few times. (See photo page) Just south of DC, and part of the Cosca Regional Park, this beautiful little hidden gem is home to turtles, snakes, birds of prey and cool educational displays. Visiting these animals is always cool - especially the bald eagle and owls. Free admission.
Apologizers mp3s - From the musical mind of fellow SSU student Brad Barkett. The track-"Apologizers-Big Blow and the Flopohone" features not only my construct the flopophone, but some PVC didjin' as well.
