Tosin Abasi and Animals as Leaders

Brainphreak and Tosin Abasi at "the Metro" in Oakland, CA

I had the great honor and pleasure of meeting and getting a guitar lesson from Tosin Abasi this week! His amazing band Animals as Leaders was in Oakland so I ventured on over to the "Metro" before the show to meet him with my new custom Halo for an hour lesson. Tosin is not only an amazing player, but an amazing guy who is well educated and easy going. He proceeded to teach a few different techniques he has used in his writing, the most unique was his use of major and minor arpeggios mixed (top and bottom halves) and then moving them up the neck tonally so that you get a giant pattern that covers the neck and not only outlines the chords but has both major and minor sound and wide intervals making the riffs seem extra speedy. Tosin talked about a few influences and gave recommendations of various guitar instruction videos, most I was already familiar with (Steve Morse Power Lines, Guthrie Govan etc.).

Overall this was an amazing experience to not only meet Tosin, but to get a personal guitar lesson and then shortly after the entire band took the stage and tore it up! I have some video down below which I took from the very front. I also have a link and you can download the entire show if you wish! I highly recommend it! Its heavy, its mellow, and there are no vocals to mess things up!

For those not familiar: Animals as Leaders is an American, Washington, D.C.–based instrumental progressive metal band, formed by guitarist Tosin Abasi in 2007 which now includes guitarist Javier Reyes and drummer Navene Koperweis. The self-titled debut album was released in April 2009 by Prosthetic Records. Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes are also members of the supergroup T.R.A.M alongside former The Mars Volta wind instrumentalist Adrian Terrazas and Suicidal Tendencies drummer Eric Moore.

Animals as Leaders "CAFO" Official Music Video

Live footage I took from right up front! (Also in 3D!)

Download the Full Show in 3D! (Anaglyph Red/Blue)

Meeting Homer Flynn and "the Residents"

 3D Stereo Photo - (SBS) Cross Eyed Format

3D Stereo Anaglyph - (Red/Cyan Glasses)

Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE 'the Residents'. These masked men (and sometimes women) travel the world creating some of the most visually rich art and music there is, they are an endless fountain of inspiration for me. The main 'artist' and 'spokesman' for the anonymous group; Mr Homer Flynn, held a public art show in Oakland yesterday displaying masks, album covers, and other miscellaneous artwork that has been in use over the years on stage,  in media, and some never seen before.  It was awesome to see the work in person, and finally meet Homer and talk to him about his unique work and how it has inspired me. I also gave him a sealed copy of my very first album "ruining reason" which I am sure was hugely influenced by his work. Even better I got a nice 3D picture of the mad bunny boy himself!  See brainphreak hanging out with a sad eyeball above.

Ok everyone, frown for the camera!

Here is one of my all time favorite live videos of the Residents for your viewing and aural pleasure.

the Residents - It's A Mans World (James Brown Cover)

Check out the Residents at www.residents.com
BUY OR DIE!!!!