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Welcome to Donnie Ficzere's News Page... So what's new...
December 09 , 2005 - Hi Everyone, this site was offline for the month of November. My apologies, and welcome back! Some of the latest news entries were lost, but a back up has been posted. Hence the gap between April 30th and now.
That's all for now! ~ D.
April 30 , 2005 - Greetings! Long time since my last update! I have to take this opportunity to welcome our new Bass Player Marc Seguin! Marc is a great fit with Igntion Eleven and things are really coming together for my new Band. We are currently considering doing a show or two over this coming summer. Will keep you updated on the eventual dates. Other than that, that's the latest. Thanks for visiting! ~ D.
March 22, 2005 - working on some new tunes with Ignition 11 this coming weekend. Our last jam we worked on a couple new ideas. Other than that, not much to report. Happy Easter! ~ D.
Feb 23, 2005 - Not much. Although Feb 12th IGNITION eleven had another jam, this time at Bruce's place. Two of our band mates couldn't make it out this time around, but the time was used productively. We worked out a couple of my tunes - one new one and one older one. Realm of Fancy turned out fairly well, and I laid down the bass track after the initial recording. One of my newest tunes "Torque" turned out great too. I finally got a chance to try out the new lyrics. It's such a fun song!
Jason got a chance to exercise his vocals too. The guy is good! We got the harmony parts in on both tunes... BONUS!
Not much else has been happening. I think the Kids' tunes will be getting some more of my attention in the coming weeks.
Glad you stopped by! Keep checking back! ~ D.
January 26, 2005 - I recently finished a couple draft versions of 2 new Kid's songs this week. They are intended to go on the Children's CD project I am working on. Feel free to check them out. They are located on my MP3 Samples page.
In other news, IGNITION eleven had a great rehersal last Saturday in my basement studio. I am so lucky to have a great bunch of guys to play music with. The basement studio is a great sounding room, I must say, it went very well. We did record most of our session on the digital workstation, but I have not had a chance to listen to it yet. I should get to it maybe on Friday. I have not yet decided if I am going to post any of that material on this site, however if I do, it will most likely be short MP3 clips.
That's the latest on my end! Keep your stick on the ice! Thanks for checking in! ~ D.
My new band is getting together for another recording/jam session this coming weekend. We're all pumped! Should be able to get some of those clips posted for you to download soon. We have been thinking about some possible band names. So far we have come up with IGNITION eleven . (It's a working title for the project for now. I'll let you know if there are any changes.)
Cheerz! ~ Don : )
Also, the Tsunami Disaster victims in Thailand are in our thoughts and prayers. If you would like to make a donation to the relief effort please visit the Canadian Red Cross Website.
The first song for the Children's CD has been completed just a few days ago. I will post mp3 clips of all of those kids songs when they are ALL done.
Finally, it's back to the day job tomorrow morning. (Sure would be nice to have another week off!) That's the latest! ~ Don : )
• 17 Dec 04 - Hi Everyone, It's been too long since my last post! Waaaaaaaaay busy this month!
FYI: I contracted a worm virus last week on my Home PC. My virus package/firewall caught it, but only after I realized my firewall was disabled. As part of my clean up activities on the PC, some of my operating system files and firewall files were accidentally deleted. The major concern was that our internet connection and e-mail accounts were off-line. This resulted in the need to do a complete re-format of my hard drive, and re-install of Windows from scratch just to get everything back up and working smoothly.
This would explain why both Lori and I have not been able to communicate via e-mail from the Home PC for the past week. If you have sent us e-mails during this time and have not received a reply - That's why!
Also, if you send/receive e-mails to/from Lori and I, please do a virus scan on your own PC using the latest definition file for your Virus Scan software. Just a precautionary measure. If you are wondering, the virus name was called:
W32/Tanked.PHP.C (as named by BitDefender.com) also known as W32.Kwbot.C.Worm (as named by Symantec.com)
GREAT JAM!!! Other than the PC issues...
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weekend before last, I hosted a jam session at my place with my new band mates. It went over very well! We had a new bass player hook up with us this week. Martin Régimbald is the name and he did a great job on such short notice! Well done Martin!
- This was also Lori's first chance to meet the band. She gave us the "Two Thumbs Up!"
- Our drummer Bruce picked up a digital recording workstation this past week (www.tascam.com/2488.htm) and we are all totally pumped about recording some tracks! I will finally be able to post some Jam session MP3's.
- As well, we had our first Team lunch at Nates on Rideau St. on Wednesday. Martin couldn't make it out, but that was fine. It was good to get together with the guys out side of a jam environment. We had lots to chat about and we scheduled another jam to take place at Bruce's place over the Christmas break.
More music news, I have finally started working on a CD project of entertaining songs for children of all ages. My folks have been bugging me for years to do one! So, it's another work in progress. I'm guessing that now the word is out, I'm going to have all kinds of friends and relatives asking for a copy. Don't worry! I'll set you up! ; )
In other news, cousin Tommy Squire was visiting us from Labrador this past weekend. (Thanks for the care package Tommy!) He had some issues with Air Canada - as usual with those guys - but all in all it was great to have him out. We took him to a bunch of tourist locations and we took lots of digital pics during our tour through the Parliament buildings. (I'll post a few pic links here soon so check back!) The Ottawa Market was fun, and so too was our trip to LeBaron's Hunting/Fishing/Camping store in Bells Corners. The visit lasted 3 hours!
Earlier in the month of December: I managed to finish the new version of T42 for the National Songwriting Competition. I dropped it off in person at the Bear Den on Sunday November 28th. Dan Sonkodi entered a song as well. I heard it already and it's pretty good! We are going to try it out during our next jam session.
Good luck to all who entered tunes in the contest! I'm looking forward to hearing some fresh original songs, no doubt submitted by many other Ottawa songwriters.
Press Section: I have not forgotten to include the new Press Section Page on this site. It's in progress, so you should see it posted here soon. Hopefully over the Christmas Break!
That's the latest here! If I don't get a chance, Happy Holidays! ~ Don : )
• 27 Nov 04 - Hey! my buddy Daniel Sonkodi came through for me! I spent the better part of Friday night working on the new vocal tracks for Tea For Two. Here's a rough mix! Tea for Two.mp3. Hope you like it! ~ Don : )
• 25 Nov 04 - Hi again! As I have mentioned earlier, I have been working on a new lyric part to "Tea For Two." As it turns out, my multi-track recorder is failing me, and it seems as though I'm stuck without a way to finish the song for the contest. I have blown 3 whole evenings this week recording track after track, and not getting the results I need. (Fear not! I have a 'Plan B'! Hopefully I'll get it finished in time.) According to my wife Lori, It's too nice of a song to not finish. I have to agree - I'm very excited about it too. I just wish I had the resources to give this song the proper attention and care that it deserves...
• In case you have been wondering what Lori has been up to - her PseudoDiva Web site has relaunched, to rave reviews, and is now Miss-Behaving.com.
• The the new band is coming along nicely. I've got myself hooked up with a realy great bunch of guys. I have had a few replys to my "Bassist Wanted" ad on the OttawaMusician.com site. I'll have to give it a few more days before I can get back to everyone with the proper mindset. I'm on a mission to finish my new tune first. But by all means, keep the e-mails coming. I usually respond to everyone who checks in with me. If you haven't heard from me yet, you will soon!
That's it for now! Cheerz! ~ Don
Also - I have the band's Intranet page up and running - but that has not/will not be set up for public access.
Also, the 12th Annual - National Songwriting Contest deadline is December 3rd. I have been working on an updated version of "Tea For Two" for a few days now, which includes a new and improved ending to the lyrics. (Basically it's the final version of the lyrics so there will be no more drafts after this one.) I really hope to get this final version finished this week and sent in to The Bear. (It's tough and thankless work being an independant songwriter you know. I recommend it to anyone!)
Next on my list of things to do is to include a "PRESS" section to this Website, which will include my electronic press kit materials, lyric sheets, and more!
For the guitar players out there: I have been having trouble with my Telecastor lately. I need to get a fret job, and maybe a new set of Graphtec String Saver saddles. (Highly recommended!) The first ones I bought for my Tele were in 1992. They are still in use today and they have performed exceptionally! FYI - I NEVER break strings with these things! Strings will literally have to rot off your guitar before the friction from the saddles break your string. Although if you are wondering, I do change my strings often. Hopefully with a fret job, I will be able to properly intonate my high E string. We'll see how that goes.
That's all for now, Cheerz!!! ~ D.
• 26 Oct 04 - A note to my Family and Friends, the Adventures With Morgan Presentation.PPT (9.5 MB!) has just been posted, and it comes with voice narration so you'll need to turn your computer speakers on. Note: This is a large PowerPoint file (.PPT.) Using the text link above, you have two options:
1.) You can use a Right-Click and Save Target As... to download the file and run it from your own computer (Recommended) OR;
2.) Left-click to open the file in a new browser window. (Slower - Please be patient while it downloads.)
If you do not have MS PowerPoint YOU DON'T NEED IT. Just download the following zip file: Adventures With Morgan.ZIP (9.2 MB) using option 1 above. You will need Winzip to extract the .PPS file. (The .PPS file is an executable version of the PowerPoint presentation - meaning, you don't have to have the PowerPoint software to run the file.) Save it to any location on your computer and run it from there. Good luck!
• 24 Oct 04 - I placed a new ad last week for a Second Guitar & Bass player. I did get some replys. Keep them coming! Don : )
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• 06 April 04 - Recently, one of my song writing partners - Frank Dalton - from the East coast, sent me one of his recent demo CD's that contained 18 of his original songs. Nine of those tunes are the original studio recordings of Donnie and the Dealers. Those recordings have undergone digital audio enhancements and finally re-mastered on a new CD. The original CD cover art work was never used in an official release of Donnie & the Dealers and since the material has been revised, it was only fitting to put together a new package utilizing the old cover art. |
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(Samples of the older material can be located on the old Donnie Ficzere Website. )
If you would like to purchase one of these new "Donnie & the Dealers" CD's, please send me your e-mail address, and I will make arrangements to send you one.
I had an audition with a band on Monday, March 1st in Hull. I was offered the position but unfortunately I had to turn it down. (Thanks for the chance "Jerk Factory." You guys are a heavy, tight, & talented bunch. I hope you find your singer.) As for me, I should probably re-define my requirements... I'm looking for something a little less heavy, and more on the groove-oriented side: a la Hip.I am STILL looking to join - or start - an "originals only" project. Radio friendly (marketable) rock stuff in the vein of… well... how about Blue Rodeo meets Train? Does that help? I'm not looking to make a big splash on the scene here folks; I'm just a serious songwriter attempting to infuse some life into my work - and possibly yours too? Once a week would be great, no stress and no gigging. There is potential for lots of recording.FYI: I am located in the Aylmer area of Gatineau, Quebec, Canada. I am about 15 minutes drive from the Island Park Bridge to Ottawa.If you are an individual looking for a creative and productive outlet for your musical ideas, we need to hook up. With the responses I've had since my last post, I could possibly organize some of my new contacts into a working unit. Yes, I have to say some songwriting experience is a prerequisite, and ability to improvise on your instrument of choice is needed. To all the bands out there looking for a singer and/or guitar player, I am capable, versatile, and adaptable, but sorry - not interested in a cover project. Been there, done that, and although it can be loads of fun, I just do not find it fully satisfying these days. So if you are like-minded and interested in putting together 'more than a few' originals, DIAL ME IN! My e-mail link is located at the bottom of this entry. I would also like to invite you to read my music resume. There's alot more in there on my own musical abilities.Without coming off negatively, I really would prefer not to hear from those of you are contemplating global domination as a world famous rock star. If you are:
- down to earth,
- mature,
- with professional work ethic,
- musically capable,
- financially self-sufficient; and
- comfortable working in a collaborative environment...
please get in touch with me.
Thanks for checking me out, I hope to hear from you soon. D.
Check out Lori's excellent new Web site! PseudoDiva.com
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