Thursday, April 28, 2011

Chris's New Venue

Music central

Maytan Music Center is hosting a new concert series in its revamped performance room

By Laura Davis 
More stories by this author... 

This article was published on 04.28.11.

Sound engineer and promoter Chris Nixon began the new concert series Maytan After Hours.
PHOTO BY AMY BECK
The cheers from an energetic audience, the raw instrumentals, the between-song banter from the musicians onstage—the feel of a live performance is something a studio can never quite capture. That’s why Maytan After Hours, the new venue opening above downtown’s Maytan Music Center, is offering an extra incentive for the acts it’s set to host: live recordings.
“There’s not very many being done now,” explains head engineer and visionary behind Maytan After Hours, Chris Nixon. “It’s just very polished recordings that take away from the warmth of what a performance is—so that’s what I’m trying to accomplish here, plus introducing new technology.”
The new technology in reference includes state-of-the-art lighting and sound equipment, which Nixon has access to thanks to his other job, working sound for local country singer-songwriter Rick Hayes.
The alternating lights and sharpness of the speakers aren’t the only atmosphere enhancers in the formerly cafeteria-ish space. A brand new stage replaces the little plank in the back of the room. The space also features a backdrop mural painted by local artist John Becker, and, soon, a dance floor.
Keeping with the Maytan Music tradition, the venue plans to be family-friendly, with early show times between 7-8 p.m., affordable prices between $5-$20, all-age access, and a smoke-free, alcohol-free environment.
“If you want to go hear a band, you have to go downtown, and some of the places are really small, like coffee houses and whatnot where you can only fit about 25-30 people,” says owner Marianne Maytan. “Sometimes bands want to play to a bigger audience, and we can seat up to 150 people here.”
There’s also the possibility for snacks, with a concession stand window being one of the venue’s formerly untapped features.
“It’s just going to be a nice vibe,” says Maytan After Hours promoter Dan Phillips. “You come to hear the music, you’re not here to drink or party.”
Audiences will be able to listen to everything from jazz to bluegrass to spoken word, maybe even a bit of flamenco thrown in the mix. The only thing ruled out is the heavier stuff—no punk or metal shows will be gracing the stage anytime soon.
“This to me brings out something that’s acoustic sounding,” says Phillips. “When it starts to get super loud, it just kinda blows the speakers.”
Being stationed above Maytan Music Center, Phillips plans to use the space, which formerly acted as the Reno Orchestra’s rehearsal room, as a collaborative workshop. Both the music store and the venue hold classes for aspiring and veteran musicians.
“Marianne is definitely going to have some workshops here, and we’re going to be doing some, as well,” says Nixon. “And it’s all going to go through the nicer PA stuff, so we have a good quality sound.”
The melding of the two units’ business plans will help bring in a fresh crowd to the family owned store. With nationwide chains popping up, the local guys can get overshadowed.
“When you have a big company like Guitar Center or Walmart come into town, it takes a sizable amount of the business away,” says Maytan. “It hurts … because of the deep pockets they have, they can offer a lot of different products that we may have been able to carry at one time but haven’t anymore.”
While her shop has been holding court in its current location since 1959, with midtown’s continual growth spurt drawing new people into the area, there is still a need to get the word out that they not only exist, but also what they have to offer.
“We’re hoping through this it will increase our customer base, our involvement in the community, and let people know that we are here,” says Maytan about Maytan After Hours. “Awareness. It’s another way to say, ‘Hey, check us out.’ We’re just trying to make music happen in our town. It’s all part of the trying-to-stay alive thing, as much as the music scene in Reno.”
The desire to help each other out and keep a steady flow of both income and people coming through the doors is mutual between the music store and the venue. “We’re here to help raise awareness of Maytan,” says Phillips. “Also, to bring more energy to this neighborhood.”
Contrast is the main focus of Maytan After Hours’ music taste—they’re primed to bring in both local and national acts outside the norm of a local venue.
Strings attached
To ring in the grand opening Saturday, May 7, L.A.-based act Shoestring Trio will be breaking in the new stage, along with local jazz group Clocks Magic Bandits.
The touring headliners will bring an acoustic, all-instrumental mix of just about everything.
“We love to play music from lots of different styles and places,” says Shoestring Trio musician Robby Marshall. “We do a lot of gypsy jazz, we like to do Brazilian music, but we’re also known for doing pop covers and stuff like that, too. The music is really lively and spontaneous.”
And if the opening night crowd is down to show some moves and try out that new dance floor, they might get a really special treat from the guys. “You might hear Lady Gaga if the party starts getting going. We like to leave it open,” says Marshall. Adding that people can expect to get a full show for their cover charge. “We’re probably going to play all night. It’s hard to get us to stop playing. We’re kind of known for sabotaging parties with our instruments. A musical attack, but it’s gentle! All our instruments are made of wood.”
Some of the band’s members have played in Reno before but never under the current name and line-up. They say they’re excited to return to the Biggest Little City for a number of reasons—being able to crack in a new venue is only one of the perks.
“I was pushing for Reno,” says Marshall in regards to the tour stop. “It’s such a cool little place there’s a lot more than meets the eye—it’s got such a creative energy flowing from the locals. And I’m excited to see this venue … there’s a setup where we can record. That’s really cool.”
With the eclectic acts lined-up, coupled with the high-end technology Maytan After Hours has to offer, the equation seems to add up for success.
“The sound’s amazing, and it’s above a cool music store,” says Phillips. “I think we’ll start getting people to take chances and come and see stuff that never comes through Reno. All people have to do is show up.”





http://www.newsreview.com/reno/music-central/content?oid=1967356

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Duck! Art is everywhere!

Here I am again.  Hi.

I am watching the Extreme Couponing show and my feet are propped up.  It feels wonderful.  I got 11,670 steps today.

In Art History we finally got to Chapter 23.  What is so special about this chapter, you ask?

Monet!  Renoir!

Manet, Degas, Cassatt, Whistler, Toulouse-Lautrec, Seurat, van Gogh, Gaugin, Cezanne, Rousseau, Munch, Klimt, Rodin, Gaudi!

I've been looking at pictures of Jesus for months!

Not only have I been looking forward to learning about these artists, but as an added bonus- I know their work!  Even if I've haven't seen a particular painting before, I recognize the style.

After school I went to pick up Ant and find some fabric for my book projects.  We dug through the clearance bolts and found some crazy prints.  The fabric cutting table lady was awesome.  I explained what I was doing and she translated how the fabric cutting works.  She made sure I had extra but not nearly as much as I likely would have bought.  Ant was helpful for a while carrying multiple bolts and finding weird patterns but lost interest at the cutting counter and started asking when we were leaving.  He wandered off as the cutting lady and I bonded over our love of bargains.  She had this neat little watch hanging off her apron and I asked her what it cost.  She said it was there at Joann's and was $10, "But I didn't pay that," she scoffed.  "I used a coupon."  We were chatting away and suddenly here's Ant pushing a cart down the aisle, shopping.  What a goofball.

I'll be back to write more tomorrow while I'm spending twelve hours at school.  Good grief.

UNReliable vs The Most Conservative Choice

I got an email from the Veterans Service coordinator today.  The lady at the College of Liberal Arts gave me a letter to clear my summer English class but as it turns out, if I get certified for that it means I won't be certified for ANYTHING in the fall.  It looks like I'll have to pay for that one myself, then hopefully she can certify me for all four classes in the fall since that will be my last semester.

I took only the total number of classes needed for the AA degree at TMCC- nothing extra, but that used up my total number of credits payable by the GI Bill.  Most of those classes don't count here.  If I had been going to UNR the whole time that wouldn't have happened.  Just another reason I seriously dislike UNR.

TiARRRGGGGHHHed

I feel relieved, sort of.

I changed my work schedule so I have Friday to work on my book project.  I'll work two days next week when the classes are dying out.  Tomorrow I will be at school ALL DAY which sucks, but it is the end of the semester.  Go go go.

I just read that a way to prevent varicose veins is to prop your feet up each night for 15 minutes.  You don't have to tell me twice.  I started that last night and could not motivate myself to move again.  "You want me to pull your clothes off so you don't have to get up?" Chris asked.  How kind of you, honey!  It may sound pathetic, but that should give you an idea of how exhausted I was.

Let's make that how exhausted I am.  I feel like I live here at UNR.  It's like those nightmares I started having when I worked at Linens 'n Things about folding a mountain of towels except this is not a dream.  Here is a sample conversation I had with my book arts teacher this morning:

Bob: "Well, the sheet of book board is 30 inches by 20 so if your pages are 9x6 and you need to add 1/8 of an inch to three sides then you'll need to cut 9 1/4 by 6 1/8 so 9 times 3 is 27, that leaves you room there, 6 times 3 is 18 so you'll be able to get 3 across and three down so 9 per sheet.  You'll need another sheet of book board.

Jenny: "Nine...?"

Three of my classmates are collaborating on a zombie bible called the Holy Biiible.  I feel like I belong in their book.

It was in book arts this morning that I realized how completely confused I am today and that confusion + $5 per sheet book board + cutting table = big mistakes and temper tantrums.  I asked Bob if I could come back tomorrow.  Hopefully I will be less zombie-like tomorrow morning.  An art history classmate asked me to help her study so I will be here until the mindfulness class.  I will probably nap through the meditations.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Or maybe we need more grits.

Ant just came to say goodnight in a Southern accent.  That was kind of strange because this morning I was fixin' Chris's breakfast and could not stop saying "Paeynit buttah."  I brought him his food and we giggled through horrible Southern accents for like faeftaen maenits.  So maybe something's wrong with our kitchen.  We need a grits exorcism or something.

I told Ant about that and he said this would be our new "What did you do today?" item.  On Saturday we hit Game Stop so Ant could blow his Easter money.  When we left the parking lot I started "Vrrroooooom!"ing and "EEEAAArrrrrrkkk!"ing to correspond with my driving.  Ant giggled and started voicing the long "rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr" sounds between stops.  We laughed and I told him it would be great later when Daddy asked us what we did today.

"Made car noises."

Except we had to prompt him to ask.  So make sure to ask, because we might have a silly answer in store for you.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Easter Tuesday Confirmed

I just went to have a powwow with both of them.  I told them how important these holiday traditions are to me and Ant cut in before I could finish.  He said nobody ever does anything for me and they should probably stop thinking only about themselves.

Gold star, kiddo.  Gold star.

They both said they appreciate the fun I create and agreed to Easter Tuesday.

Easter Tuesday

I have been collecting Easter items for at least a month.  Whenever I found something silly or fun that was also very affordable I snagged it and put it in my closet.  I was only going to do baskets and not the hunt but Ant started talking about last year at Topaz.  Last year he went around with one of Mike's grandkids, helping her find eggs.  He's really good with younger kids.  He was excited that no one would be holding him up this year.  Of the other kids attending, one is his age, one is 8, one is maybe 5 and the youngest is 2.   I warned him that he would have to be just as restrained as he was last year but that we'd do another hunt at home where he could go crazy with Daddy.  He seemed happy with that.  We also planned to color eggs, which we don't do every year.

Today was a sugar nightmare, of course.  Brunch at the lodge included root beer and mini cheesecake desserts.  At the house the kids were tearing into any candy they could find.  The whole situation was strained to start with because... well, the disfunction increases every year.  The youngest kid was happy, sociable and talkative which was so cute because I couldn't understand most of what she said.  The older kids... not so cute.  Ant got obnoxious quickly and wouldn't stop attacking Chris while he was talking to his family over the phone.  He was greedy and rude.  I was only a little annoyed but mostly I kept it to myself and tried to give him some leeway.

At home he was busy doing what he wanted rather than what he was asked to do and I was still fine and acknowledging that he had one hell of a sugar high today.  Chris made dinner and we were helping him set up.  The plan- all day long- was that we would come home and do our own little Easter but while preparing for dinner he asked if we could watch a movie.  "We're doing Easter," I said.

"Do we have to?"

That was it for me.  "No," I said, "We don't."

And so we're not.  He washed the dishes and was sent to his room.  We'll do Easter maybe Tuesday night.  I'm used to the boys tearing through their baskets with no idea or care about what went into them (I get it now, Mom.  Thanks for never buying me a pre-made Easter basket.) but I'm not about to hand them over to that kind of crap.  In fact, I think I'm going to ask them both to put together something for me for once.