tag:seanike.com,2005:/blogs/soul-seekers?p=2Soul Seekers2024-01-23T09:30:47-05:00Sean Ikefalsetag:seanike.com,2005:Post/73386312024-01-23T09:30:47-05:002024-01-23T10:05:07-05:00Sean at House of Giroux on Ferndaleradio.com<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/217391/910c227978f76b8dc775c50d5f18aeeecc3be9f5/original/20240120-160222-01-01.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" />After finding a spot in a busy Saturday Ferndale parking lot, as fast as I could, hauled my gear into the Ferndale Radio booth. A miraculous (and long) sound check, and this... "Courtney John," and "reggae masterpiece," got fumbled in my mouth at the end.</p>4:52Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/72167342023-05-27T16:53:56-04:002023-11-23T19:09:54-05:00Some PDA? With Evidence! Sean Live at Berkley Coffee<p>The Song: I wrote KISSING a long time ago. Not sure I remember when. It could have been during the early 00s, when I was in a band called, The Elevations. Most likely, after I left them, in the later 00s. I am completely guessing!</p><p>The Show: The venue was great, the owner bought the place, used to engineer, and bought foundations for great sound from the start. Studio level gear for a coffeehouse! Great guy, too. Before I started, long-time friend, Ernie Douglas, showed up out of the blue! He was on a different mission, but felt like more than just a co-incidence! <br>For the astrology page readers, it was during a Mercury retrograde and a lunar eclipse. In addition, it was the first humid and warm weekend, so my guitar was never going to be in tune. Also, my laptop effects weren't working - which changed how I was going to play the whole show.<br>As the owner and I were trying to troubleshoot the problem, I just let it go, and decided to tell my tech-nerd-musician ego to sit down, and that it was going to be just vocals with a little out of tune guitar. This decision made the night a one with a shift in outlook and energy. A very good night in the end! </p><p>The Video: I wanted to do a more elaborate visualizer, but in the end, just wanted to get these sounds out because it's from my first solo show in a decade. Hope you enjoy!</p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="sZsPGEeNhSw" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sZsPGEeNhSw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/71981792023-04-27T18:38:33-04:002023-04-27T18:41:21-04:00Baby, Let's Practice Cruisin...<div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="xhdw7-IwThw" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xhdw7-IwThw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p>Here's a clip of my rehearsal from earlier this week. It's got pops and clicks, an alarm at the end and some good moments that get me even more excited to be singing to you onstage next Saturday! That's May 6th from 8-8:45 PM at Berkley Coffee / Oak Park Dry. </p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/71750992023-03-20T15:05:41-04:002023-04-01T22:37:29-04:00NEW DATE ADDED: 5/6 at BERKELEY COFFEE<p> And just like that, there is a show coming up! I'm happy to have been asked to open up for my good friend, Sarah Grogan and her new band, Detroit Sol. I will be bringing my versions of some old Jamaican Lover's Rock songs, and bring some loops to life to begin a great spring evening starting at 8 PM EST!</p><p>Check out <a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.berkleycoffee.com/" target="_blank" data-link-type="url">Berkeley Coffee </a>and see you there!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/217391/5c1296227c679d9bc36bd7dcffeabfa99cf731d3/original/sean-may-6-flyer.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/71271552022-12-22T17:47:51-05:002022-12-22T17:55:44-05:00Happy Holidays! All of Them!<p>Happy Holidays! Holy days, if we bring our part to the table (says the man in the mirror).</p>
<p>Much love, y'all!<img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/217391/0743700b06319a3525ef0c2ebb3127363a635cc5/original/happy-holidays-1-post.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/62156122020-02-14T18:07:16-05:002023-04-01T22:13:00-04:00SIMPLE, SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL (AL GREEN)<p>Last night I just went ahead and broke my own rules about warming up my voice, and being precise about the camera, mic placement and all of that.</p><p>I'm trying to break my habit of letting the perfect get in the way of the good, iykwim.</p><p> </p><div class="video-container size_xl justify_center" style=""><iframe data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="CvREGHmsSpo" data-video-thumb-url="" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CvREGHmsSpo?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div><p> </p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/61991972020-01-31T22:00:39-05:002023-04-01T22:14:04-04:00TB-303, 808, and 909 TECHNO NOSTALGIA IS REBIRTH-338 ON YOUR IPAD 2<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/217391/eb944aaff93d1ced9473ba9235d995daefbe04db/original/rb-338.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpeg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>The ReBirth RB-338 at my house is the iPad recreation of two Roland TB-303s matched up with a Roland TB-808 and it's follow-up, the TB-909. Basically two hits of clean acid, with the sacred heart of hip-hop beatmaking, on top of the drum machine that gave birth to house and techno in Chicago and Detroit. It is magic. It is funkyasallhell. </p>
<p>This piece of software is the first music software I ever encountered, made music on, and fell in love with. My good friend Gus had it on his Mac clone, and another friend, Paul, was going in hard with his copy. I remembered just how easy it was to dig in and pull out some badass beats with just a few clicks. I also remember the haze hanging around in those rooms, too. But, that's a story for another day. </p>
<p>Nowadays, there are companies like Behringer, and others, that make TB-808 and 303 clones. Word is that there is a 909 coming out soon as well! All for prices ranging from a couple hundred to a couple thousand (if you want a used Roland). And that's before you factor in the scratch pots, the non-functional buttons, the missing caps, poorly soldered midi retrofits, and the arcane user interfaces. </p>
<p>Even so, the hardware world is now in the ascendancy for music makers, as most everyone has gotten sick of trying to jam hard with a laptop and mouse. I'm still with it, tho, with my Logitech roller mouse (damn, it makes a difference). But finding that I had ReBirth on my old iPad means I've got some funky ass beats to make! And yes, I already have done a little somethin. More on that, and the music called, "Hi-Tech Soul," later. </p>
<p>ReBirth combines these four units into one and adds effects like, compression, delay, a cool filter, and distortion, to give you an incredible palate to create with. The company that made it, Propellerhead, now makes a fantastic package of music creation software called Reason. Now, Reason is a suite I don't own, but have used, and can say they moved on full steam ahead with more great coding after leaving ReBirth behind. They did the world a solid, and with Roland's wink and a nudge, left the software online without support for a few years. Finally tho, they pulled it all down, only to be found by those hardcore interweb dwellers who have Windows machines to run it and the time to hunt down the pieces-parts, or those who want the adrenaline rush of downloading sketchy apps from unknown sources. </p>
<p>That's something I don't have to worry about. I gots mine right beside me on my iPad. I'll probably play some beats in bed tonight, to dance the night away in my now nostalgic memories of 90's Detroit raves.</p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/61962642020-01-29T21:23:44-05:002023-04-01T22:15:24-04:00Shake Steady Shaky Shake<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="O-9KGXcAZqw" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/O-9KGXcAZqw/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O-9KGXcAZqw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>We've been having fun playing, writing and rehearsing as we wait for some our studio work to be mixed.</p>
<p>I didn't want y'all to forget what we look like!</p>
<p>Here's the intro to a song tentatively called, "Rock Yr Body."</p>
<p> </p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/61962652020-01-29T21:07:37-05:002023-04-01T22:17:57-04:00Soul Music For Soul Seekers<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/217391/d30e23ef7e1f9e62b0206d7e26baee414109e8d3/original/shake-steady-june-8-2019-lofi-bar-59-crop-size-copy.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/60361252019-12-20T14:52:31-05:002023-04-01T22:25:30-04:00In Studio With Shake Steady<p>Y-YEAH!</p>
<p>Always fun to get to make music at Detroit's Hi-Bias Recordings. This week spent some time adding vocals to a couple of tracks on the upcoming Shake Steady release (or releases? Not sure yet).</p>
<p>Alec and Shana, sax and drums respectively, were in attendance for team spirit and encouragement. MAN, I was glad they were there. It made for a great mid-week romp thru some sexy songs and power songs! Deep conversations about life, recording gear, and the industry with Chris Koltay, our guide thru the recording jungle of mics, compressors, eq units and giving good vocal takes. I, for one, do appreciate these things!</p>
<p>We are getting closer and closer to opening our discography! Still some work to do, but excited to hear these songs and find out what y'all think!</p>
<p>Shake Steady Website - Soon Soon come</p>
<p>Shake Steady Newsletter - Soon come</p>
<p>You can check out our IG @shakesteadymusic right here: https://www.instagram.com/p/B6Tca4AliG2/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link</p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/59962942019-12-07T11:58:04-05:002023-04-01T22:30:29-04:00SHAKE STEADY AT SUGAR RUN BAR NEW YEAR'S EVE! <p>That's @sugarrunbar to you and me. Yup.</p>
<p>Well, who is Larry Johnson? <br>Well I could tell you, but y'all would just find the finest speakeasy this side of Toronto and beyond! </p>
<p>America! Have you heard? <br>Caravan or Rent-a-Car or fly like a bird <br>Get your passport/ license now that you got the word! </p>
<p>Kitchener/Waterloo - Let's Do This! </p>
<p>Tickets available now at nye-sugarrun.eventbrite.ca. </p>
<p>#shakesteady #shakesteadymusic #nye #funk #livemusic #speakeasy #canyoukeepasecret #hiddenbar #rumbar #rum #bestofkw #downtownKitchener #dtk #wraweaome #cocktail #cocktails #uniquecocktails #rumcocktail #sugarrunbar</p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/59958932019-12-06T20:59:42-05:002022-05-16T02:15:51-04:00A Taste From Summer 2019<p>Out in Ann Arbor, Michigan, there's a great summer festival that we've been playing for years now. First as Third Coast Kings, but now as Shake Steady. This year of 2019 there was a gentleman named Dave Chappell who not only shot footage, but did the hard work of editing it and put it on his YouTube channel! A big ol thank you to him for this little video of our own song, "Love You Back."</p>
<p>Check it out here:</p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWebYDk6JcM</p>
<p> </p>
<p>#shakesteady #shakesteadymusic #AASF #TOTP #soulmusic #funky #michiganmusic #northstarvideo #funk #soul</p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/59952062019-12-06T11:40:54-05:002022-05-29T07:52:06-04:00Words From Mt. Olympus (Pretty Purdie)<p>Y'see? You don't know what you don't know. Who does? Some of the rumors I'd researched myself. Who cares? I can hear his riddim in my head right now.</p>
<p>He is a World Famous Doctor of Root Downs and Funk PhD.</p>
<p>So much to know in this world, and until this AM, I didn't know this video existed.</p>
<p>Totally made the start of my day!</p>
<p>Some of what he says may shock some o y'all, to others, old news.</p>
<p>But as I start this musical day, my prayer is that we may hear and feel the words from this Mt. Olympus!</p>
<p> </p>
<p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxGA-XdekNY&list=WL&index=5&t=0s</p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/49971272017-12-28T12:50:58-05:002023-04-01T22:37:29-04:00Sean & Don Was All-Star Band Perform "What's Goin' On"<p>Here's a video that I didn't think was going to be posted, because I didn't know it existed! Recently, a Facebook friend posted it and made my day. It's a version of Marvin Gaye's "What's Goin' On." I'm very excited about it and hope you enjoy! I'll have to tell y'all about it in full in an update to this post. </p>
<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="IvaKWcYZGww" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/IvaKWcYZGww/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/IvaKWcYZGww?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="180" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/44015342016-10-03T12:14:37-04:002023-04-01T22:34:05-04:00October 8 Will Be Great!Ladies and Gentlemen,<br><br>I will be onstage with my fellow kings in <a contents="Third Coast Kings" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://thirdcoastkings.com">Third Coast Kings</a>, this Saturday evening, October 8th, 2016.<br>No need for a formal invite, because we're celebrating Octoberfest at Arbor Brewing Company, outside with the rest of our friends, in downtown Ann Arbor. Come see, and hang out, and have a beverage, and get down with us!<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="QA1dmc2QjPc" data-video-thumb-url="http://img.youtube.com/vi/QA1dmc2QjPc/0.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QA1dmc2QjPc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="200" width="320" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></div>Sean Iketag:seanike.com,2005:Post/43819432016-09-20T18:20:11-04:002022-04-12T02:48:07-04:00In The Beginning...Well, Hey!<br><br>As the singer for Third Coast Kings, you may see some pics from our things there. As time goes on, I'll be putting up older music, such as the band I moved to Michigan, USA with, Fathers of the Id! New things will be coming along, as well. For the moment, there's just a taste of my more funky rock based passed music with the Fathers. It's a band that meant a lot to me, and when I get a chance I will fill in the blanks. For now, may you enjoy, and we will hopefully have fun together soon!Sean Ike