All posts by Kev Brock

I'm a musician, singer/songwriter, blogger, writer, poet, bodybuilder, movie lover, music lover, video gamer, history/political buff, conservative/republican, etc. I like to do a lot of things.
Kev Brock music

Getting serious with music theory and improvisation…

Leave a comment

How serious am I getting with music theory and improvisation? Very serious. I’ve been doing some reading on music theory, scales & modes, improvisation, etc. If I want to form my own band someday or play in someone else’s band, I’m going to have to learn this stuff. It is time for me to become a real musician here. I no longer want to be looked at as a hobbyist and it’s time to start learning how to play like a “pro”. So I figure if I want to be a great guitarist, I learn as much music theory as I possibly can. Everything in detail. For proof, I’ve just learned how the “Circle of Fifths” work. That circle with the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, it’s an image that tells you how many flats and sharps there are in a key signature. Easy to learn and easy to memorize.

Taking everything seriously and slowly. I’ve been studying real hard. Once you get good with this stuff, it’ll give you a better ear and you’ll be able to improvise better. You will be able to play everything in your head and improvise better with other musicians.

If you want to be a better guitar player, go for it asap. Now that I have an electric guitar, that inspired me to get better. I won’t go through expensive courses and teachers, I’m just going to be self taught.

Kev

World Wide Web

Communicating mistakes that people make in Facebook…

Leave a comment

Facebook is beginning to be a turn off, that I can understand why some people cancel their account and leave the site. I even thought of doing the same thing a few times. Why is facebook beginning to be a turn off?

Well, maybe it’s because of these reasons here:

  • People becoming too personal: FB maybe a good place to rant but don’t go too personal about your private life. Keep your money problems off the public. Also, your health problems and emotional problems as well. People even like to talk about their love life and sometimes even their sex life. It’s not a good idea to go on there to say you’re “depressed” and tell the whole world that your life is shit right now. All this stuff needs to be kept off the public. If you do, there will be consequences and will haunt you in the future.
  • Getting too negative in your status’s: When people are having a bad day, they’ll go in their facebook status and rant about it, even swearing up a storm sometimes. I try not to do this ’cause the whole world will be reading and you’ll surprised on how quick this stuff spreads around. You think you’re writing this stuff to yourself but other people can read.
  • Bashing and slamming other people : I see this happen quite often, drama will break out with other people in public that I can still read everything people say. Slamming other people in  your own friends lists isn’t cool. I’ve had my own facebook for a long while, and I never used it to slam people. I only add nice people to my friends lists. You know, people that are cool. I’ve had blocked assholes before.
  • Couples getting too dramatic: I’ve seen couples breakup over facebook and even married couples sometimes. They would fight and argue and their facebook friends will get into things. Couples personal problems in their relationship should be kept private. If you make these things public, then you have no right to do the relationship thing to begin with. I’ve seen girlfriend & boyfriend, and even married couples get a little too soap opera in public. Not cool. People like me don’t need to see all that shit.
  • Getting too sexual publicly: I’ve seen both men and women getting too sexual in their public status’s. Sometimes they talk about getting laid and how much they are into sex, and all that stuff. Also, not a cool thing. Your families could be reading this and it might affect your job, you could get fired because of it. Again, more consequences in the future.
  • Posting about how drunk and stoned you are: I’ve talked about this before on how this is a bad idea.

I can keep going on with this. If I think of more, I will edit it in.
Kev

Health and Fitness

Good eating, is the only way to get ripped…

Leave a comment

Have you been working out for a year or so and haven’t been making any progress at all in your bodybuilding dreams? You’re still kind of fat and not lean? Well I think the obvious answer to that one is, you’re probably not eating good. Your nutrition is terrible. I’ve seen so many people workout and they think they can eat what they want. Bodybuilding doesn’t work that way. Eating good and healthy is the only way to build muscle and lose the fat. Having plenty of protein and healthy “carbs”, eat some good fibers along with it too. Mix it up. I like to mix up a variety of healthy foods. This is how I am able to get muscles successfully ’cause of good eating. Yes, you must eat healthy almost all the time.

Yes, you’re gonna miss eating junk food and high sugary stuff, but you have to change your lifestyle and avoid that stuff completely. I eat healthy Monday-Friday, and on weekends, I eat whatever I want. That’s how I do my nutrition routine. I’ve read that you can have 1 or 2 days a week of cheat meals on the weekends, but that still doesn’t mean you can eat whatever. My cheat meals on the weekends would either be pizza, chinese food or eating out at restaurants. Then back to eating healthy again during the week.

Not a lot of people like eating healthy, but once you get into eating good, you’ll start to like it more and get used to it. Once you get into eating healthy, it’ll make you never want to eat junk food again. Like it happened to me.

You want to get a six pack? It’s not gonna help if you continue to eat fast food, drink beer, and candy. You have to give up all that. To get low bodyfat percentage, you must eat more fruits, vegetables, chicken, fish, cottage cheese, etc. The usual stuff that all bodybuilders eat. Watching your calories and avoiding sugars. I’m doing the best I can and still learning nutrition everyday. I’ve been avoiding a lot of food I don’t agree with and will only eat healthy during the week. I eat a few cheats on the weekends to help gain some more pounds and get it off next week. It’s okay to eat junk food once in a while, just don’t over do it.

Eating good is key to getting the buffed physique that everybody wants. I have a few family Christmas parties to go to this weekend, and yes, I’ll probably get off the healthy nutrition for a few days and pig out at the parties. Just something to keep in mind people. If you want to get into fitness, you have to change your eating ways. A lot of people have this problem and that’s why they fail at fitness. A lot of natural bodybuilders are successful at it ’cause they eat nothing but healthy food all the time. Think about it a while.

Kev

Celebrity/musician deaths

RIP: Captain Beefhart 1941 – 2010

Leave a comment

There is another sad loss in the world of music today, folks. Don Van Vliet, aka “Captain Beefhart” died today in California due to multiple sclerosis. Before Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Black Sabbath, and other rock groups in the 70’s, it was Captain Beefhart that started it all. Captain Beefhart did it all. He sang, he wrote his own songs, played his own instruments, a poet, a painter, and he was even a film director.

He never played the guitar, but he did play harmonica, saxophone, clarinet, flute, and other instruments. Beefhart grew up listening to blues and jazz music. Which is where he got to meet guitar icon, Frank Zappa. Him and Frank became best friends, and they started to play music together in bands before they were famous. Frank Zappa and Beefhart together made a movie titled, “Captain Beefhart vs. the Grunt People” which is where he got his name from. Later, Beefhart formed his own band, “Captain Beefhart and the Magic Band”, and they got a record deal. In all, the band made 12 albums in their career. They are known for songs such as “Electricity”, “Safe as Milk”, “Bat Chain Puller”, “Ice Cream For Crow” and many more hits.

It is also widely known, that Robert Plant always said in his interviews, it was Captain Beefhart that got Robert into singing and rock n’ roll. Captain Beefhart was a hero and a huge influence to Robert Plant. Can you tell? Led Zeppelin borrowed a lot from Captain Beefhart’s music.

In the early 90’s, Beefhart was forced to retire from music due to being paralyzed on a wheel chair and suffering from multiple sclerosis. He’s been battling multiple sclerosis since then. Captain Beefhart was only, 67 years old. Died young, gone too soon. RIP Captain and thanks for the excellent music.

Kev

WWE news

Cool Video: Shawn Michaels HBK announces WWE return in latest youtube video…

Leave a comment

Shawn Michaels posted a video today in his official youtube account, he revealed the shocking news that he signed a full time contract with WWE. The only problem is, that Shawn will only be a performer, not a wrestler. He’s done wrestling for good, but that doesn’t come as a surprise because Shawn always had health problems and he has serious back problems.

I don’t think Shawn is the RAW Anonymous GM, he’s probably going to perform with Triple H as DX, just to entertain the kids.

Enjoy this interesting video. This is Shawn Michaels home gym. Look at all the cool WWE memorabilia he has hanging on his wall. All that stuff is from his WWE career from the past.

Kev

TV

Cool Video: So Long, Larry King!!!

Leave a comment

I know Larry King is not everyone’s favorite TV host. Well, he’s not mine either. You can’t deny that he’s a legend and an inspiration. Even if Piers Morgan will be taking over for him soon, the Piers version of his show will NOT be as successful as Larry. No matter who replaces Larry, no one can top him. We have to know that fact, folks. Like Larry or hate him, Larry King live was the biggest talk show on television. Larry King was even bigger than Oprah Winfrey and Bill O’ Reilly.

Over the years, I watched Larry King once in a while. I only watch it if he has a certain celebrity guest on there that I want to see. Sometimes he can get you hooked to watching his show even if you don’t like the guy. Thanks Larry and best of luck!

Kev

music, TV

BREAKING NEWS: Alice Cooper will perform at Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame with original band members!

Leave a comment

Alice Cooper announced, that he will perform at the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame with the original band members picture above. Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, and Neal Smith will join the lineup. What song will the Alice Cooper band do? It’s probably going to be either, “School’s Out”, “No More Mr. Nice Guy” or “I’m Eighteen”. Or maybe even all three of them as a medley mix of hits.

More on the story, here.

While it is great that Alice finally made it, the Hall of Fame is still snubbing a bunch other important bands/artists that deserve to get in. Where is Rush and Kiss? How come Weird Al Yankovic never made it yet, he so deserves it.  What about Iron Maiden, Megadeth,Yes, UFO, and hell even, Phil Collin’s solo career got ignored. How about Lionel Richie & the Commodores? Oh, so many important artists that haven’t made it yet!

Kev

Random/off topic posts

Brock’s Top 10 newstories of 2010!!!

Leave a comment

So here it is. My choices for the top 10 news stories of 2010. These are the news stories that I either find the most interesting, controversial or caught the most attention in this blog site. Here is the list below.

  1. Fans get together to support Conan O’ Brien and protest against NBC – In the beginning of the year, fans of Conan O’ Brien decided to get together online and in person in the real world to help stick up for their hero. A fan created that poster pictured above and started a facebook campaign to do rallys in NYC and Los Angeles to protest against NBC. The rally’s were such a success, that Conan himself responded to their support by going to the rally’s himself in return. Conan obviously has a new show on TBS aired every night at 11 p.m. This news story makes no. 1, ’cause I too am Conan’s big fan.
  2. Michael Douglas announced throat cancer – Earlier in the year, actor Michael Douglas announced big news that shocked the world that he has throat cancer. I certainly hopes he fights this. My heart goes to him and his family. Feel better, Michael!
  3. Actor Dennis Hopper dies – Such a shame he’s gone. He’s been a favorite actor of mine for a long time. I’ve always admired his work.
  4. Former child star Corey Haim dies – Another sad loss this year.
  5. Comic legend Leslie Neilsen dies – Another sad loss this year, an actor I’ve always respected.
  6. Zack Snyder hired to direct the next Superman flick – This news came out of no where, it should be no surprise to anybody but Zack being picked created a lot of controversy. Honestly, I think it’s the right choice and looking forward to seeing how Zack is going to make the next Superman flick.
  7. The Who plays the Superbowl – A child abuse organization desperately tried to get the Who off the Superbowl because of Pete Townshend’s child pornography arrest. Well the organization failed. The NFL was smart not to listen to them but were committed for the Who to play the Superbowl. The Who played the gig with no problems.
  8. Megadeth’s, Dave Mustaine buries the hatchet with Metallica and Slayer to play the Big 4 shows in Europe – Dave Mustaine finally decided that holding long grudges is old and tiresome. He had a change of heart with both Metallica and Slayer which he have been feuding with both bands for years. The feuds are officially over and done with. No more drama. It’s now back to good times and good music! METAL! \m/
  9. Metal legend, Ronnie James Dio dies – A sad loss that shocked the world of music. Ronnie was a great talent and he will be missed. He died young. Gone too soon.
  10. Soundgarden returns – Seattle grunge legends, Soundgarden returns this year. It all started with Tom Morello reuniting the band TAD at a small club in Seattle, and that’s what inspired the Soundgarden reunion. Soundgarden already played a few gigs at small clubs instead of arena shows. No word if the band plans on sticking together for a new record and full time tour but all we can do is cross our fingers on that.

That’s all! Enjoy!

Kev

Random/off topic posts

Best Movies of 2010 list will be coming sometime after Christmas…

Leave a comment

The reason I haven’t done the “Best Movies of 2010” list yet, is because there is still more movies coming out this month in theater, I still want to see. I’ve just seen, “The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of Dawn Treader” yesterday afternoon and it was good, but definitely not the best of the year, that film will probably make the top 10 somewhere though. Other movies coming out this year, I need to see are, “The Fighter” which I will see next week before Christmas. After Christmas, I’ll try to go see, “Tron: Legacy”, “Black Swan”, and “True Grit”. I’ll try my best to see all those before they stop playing in theater. They’ll be playing in theater for a long while since they are successful movies, so I have plenty of time to see them.

Plus, there are still 2010 movies on DVD that I still haven’t seen yet, like “Toy Story 3”, “Knight and Day”, “Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World”.

I’ll try to catch up and then I’ll make my “Best Movies of 2010” list, probably sometime at the end of December.

Later today, I plan on doing a “Top 5 Best News Stories List” that I do every year.

Kev