Ariel Bitran

Wednesday
Before my bandmate and frontman Mike Baglivi showed up for a one-on-one guitar session, I listened to my recently purchased Manolo Sanlucar album, Mundo y Formas de la Guitarra Flamenca, Vol. 2. Sanlucar scales the fretboard with such speed and precision. While Paco De Lucia has the fury and fire that made him so famous, Sanlucar played with a certain reserved/professional quality, focusing more on the composition and the progression of the notes. Well Manolo, just know, your clarity is appreciated.

When Mike arrived, he asked if it was me playing.

We then churned through his song "NY Afterparty." Baglivi wants to be the next Bruce Springsteen, the next Electric Light Orchestra, and the next Frank Sinatra all at the same time. He's filled with ambition, and he's got a badass band to shoot him to the top of the universe. Watch out…

After practice, we listened to Selling England by the Pound by Genesis and dissed Tony Banks' cheesy organ tones (someone should have told him to chill out), lauded Steve Hackett's blistering guitar work and gliding tone, and dug into the well-synchronized grooves that Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins build on during "Firth of Fifth."

Following Genesis was Crabs on Banjo, a Wednesday night improvisational/experimental rock band, in which I play lead guitar. At a Crabs on Banjo show, members of the audience scream out fabricated and fantastical song titles, which we, in turn, use to create a song.

Thursday
Walking down First Avenue, I ran into my good friend and drummer for Mike Baglivi and the Open End, Alex Pine. I invited him over to my place where we hung out and listened to records until practice that evening.

First was Dvorak's "New World" Symphony as conducted by Bruno Walter and played by the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. At first, Alex and I started off a little chatty, but as the score grew larger and larger, we found ourselves overwhelmed, excited, and silent. Alex sat with his eyes closed, smiling.

Baam-bam-bam baaam! Baam-bam-bam baaam! Can you hear it? I still can. Although, Alex and I both agreed that reverting back to the main theme was an unnecessary refrain at the end of the Second Movement. It seemed forced.

Secondly, we listened to Bobby Womack's The Facts of Life. Actually, I didn't even listen to it. I had to get some guitar stuff prepared for band practice later that evening, but Alex chilled on my couch, listening to the LP.

After Side 1 was over, he screamed, "This guy is AMAZING."