Best Radio Music Shows & Scottish SynthPop 07Feb18 - Updated 19Oct18

I mentioned before how good some radio shows like Like A Version are in delivering keen renditions of bands' songs. The mix for these small venues needs to be really good. I've referenced other shows in describing artists I like so you might recognize some. I'll mention several more shows which regularly kill it, and therefore which I listen to, I'll roll some tunes from the top of current synthpop, from CVRCHES. NPR Music's Tiny Desk show has been around for a while but still books and offers the best. CVRCHES come to the show with a bit different rig & sound than typical acoustical arrangement found on this set - 'cause they are synth/electronica-based. Dive on other Tiny Desk shows as well for great music.

CVRCHES @ NPR Music's Tiny Desk

KEXP in Seattle regularly hosts keen acts as they roll through that town. The mix and sound from these is typically spectacular. As it is here for CVRCHES but again dive on the many other shows they've posted.

CVRCHES @ KEXP

Finally for this entry, BBC 1, whether through the Live Lounge (Miley did one from her studio) or other venues is another great producer of shows with unique setups for artists. Here again is CVRCHES - but in 2012 right after they really named themselves and began to play regularly. Very cool - Martin singing is a bit unusual but Lauren probably just finished law & journalism school.

CVRCHES @ BBC1

To wrap up - mainly on CVRCHES here's "Gun" from Studio Brussel. I haven't really watched anything else from there. It's just odd the way a violent and dark song, sung by an angel in an upbeat fashion can sound so good. Their stuff is plenty dark at times but dang they are good.

CVRCHES w/ "Gun" @ Studio Brussel

It took a while but 91X, another great radio concert show producer in San Diego hosted CVRCHES recently... woohoo.

CVRCHES @ 91X

And TripleJ "Like A Version" in Australia (typically superior and "forcing" headliner bands to play someone else's stuff before singin' their own stuff - cool concept). The link here is to their own Graffiti but they do cover Arctic Monkeys on the same show - both excellent.

CVRCHES @ ABC on tripleJ's "Like a Version"

Early Starts & Softness 04Feb18-06Feb18

I was fortunate to ski with Daryle again before the SuperBowl. Good quick outing on some new snow afforded by an early start... especially traversing out North Bowl glades pretty far past the gate. Always good to go with DD. No pics that day. I "worked" on Monday while first the wind ripped and then it snowed 8" during the day; I shoveled the deck. Then... it snowed another 8" overnight! Woohoo - finally a storm overachieving from forecast. That 2nd deck pic is a reload. I hit Keystone for some nice soft runs today - much of the prior days snow had been skied except in some secret spots and today's snow was unexpectedly heavy (making me breathe hard and incur fire thighs). Still, welcomed day of double digits where I could bring out the boats - Liberty Genomes, 145mm at the waist, fattest ever produced - always good lift comments. Hopefully even a video but the size restriction, Nest upload bandwidth and Blogger parsing restrictions make the process slow.

A Bit Of Love 03Feb18

WTF... one of my favs from GroupLove - Shark Attack - "I left my body in a sea of people and that's just how I leave it." -  full acoustic in a radio station studio. In fact this rendition led me to check out many more of the show "Like A Version" from "triple j" on YouTube - excellent.

Shark Attac

Jyah... heres's move... little better IMO... covering Cage The Elephant... better than the original spider...

Spiderhead

Who's got tix?!

Finally James Is Angry 03Feb18

Whoa, my buddy DD alerted me that Angry Jamey Brewery in Silverthorne had finally opened and I rolled down Royal Buffalo to the spot. Great vibe, cool spot, keen patio, meh brew thus far - though, the IPA & APA were gone so I "just" tried the wit and DD's APA. It's good to have a home town brewery but the brewer's gotta dial it up to compete with the power existing in Summit already - yeah, we were there in Frisco @ OR Brewing first.

Wild Home Automation Update 03Feb18

The Nest is undergoing a home automation update. I already use a Logitech Harmony for the TV/audio/video system (with simple fast reconfiguration via the Internet); I already use a Nest thermostat to control temperature (and have access via Internet); I already use AccuLink to post my weather readings (and have access via Internet); I already use Arlo to monitor the Nest via motion-sensing video recording and alerts. Now I am extending those systems, adding new ones and integrating the lot. New temp/humidity sensors for the wine cooler and the wine cellar join the spa monitor under AccuLink. I get notifications if temps are too high or too low - we don't want Edgar's creations to spoil.

A dive on protocols indicated the open source Z-Wave Plus was the most secure and fastest wireless mesh network for sensors and controls (vs ZigBee, WiFi, etc.). And Samsung SmartThings Gen2 was the "best" hub. The hub is in/up and I bought GE Z-Wave plus lighting controls nearly exclusively (simple plugs were tested with Samsung ST plugins) - I replaced 3 dimmers, 4 switches (some of which are 2 way) and 1 integrated motion sensor/switch - all in/up. Thinking about a dance hall vibe for certain lights to add colors.

Sure I can control the lights now in scenes from my Logitech Harmony remote (yes - I integrated these systems), or my phone - Harmony Hub is the very best AV/Home controller/remote IMO. The only downside is no backlighting on the remote but that also saves tons of power - rare is a battery change. Yet, all this is not enough; what about if-then-else stuff?

I added some motion/light detection sensors to augment the lighting. Kala was bummed the prior system required five steps down the dark lower level stairs before illumination - now there's only one step! The keys were 1) location & sensitivity on motion detection to distinguish strolls passed it on the main level vs a true step toward the lower level - nailed it. And 2) a blazing speed of event posting of these EcoLink Z-Wave detectors... imagine a new system slower than "five steps down" - not happier users. This if-then-else app does require coding to integrated sensors and controllers but it's like Java (more later). I've built the same motion-lighting system for the stairs to the second level too. I'd prior attempted navigation there in the dark, perhaps with dulled senses, and this keen system will help.

I had to reconsider Ecolink motion detectors - they ultimately were not fast enough. I bought some Iris Gen2 motion detectors based on Zigbee and did a side-by-side test in the desired spots. The Iris MDs are much smaller and are faster to post motion events. They cost the same, $29. The only issue is that the adjustable sensitivity of the Ecolink allowed easier placement before getting false positives for stairway travel - still, a trade up IMO - and they report temperature too.

So what else? I have added Fibaro flood detectors (after I saw BK add $50K to his remodel build) - yep, they are Z-Wave too. The flood detectors have been modified by my own hand to use 12V DC from a wall warts as opposed to the stock battery drive. I did this in the spa with good success as I don't have ready access or desire to replace batteries where these have been installed: the kitchen (covering dishwasher & sink and hidden below the dishwasher), the water heater/radiant heating system, and in the washer/dryer area. They do temperature too which is just a backup to Nest, et. al. Sweet - I tested them but hope I NEVER hear from them again.

I guess I should consider a main water valve control for shut off in the event of a flood alert but that's work for another day. There are multiple integrations which make this stuff more useful... one is combining Logitech Harmony with Samsung SmartThings - I control the lights from my GR8Room remote now - and can add controlled window shades in the future. Another big integration completed today was one combining all this into Google Home Assistant/Mini. Yep I added a Wild Home Mini and have voice control over all this stuff.

I've done all the research for garage door automation but was freaked out by a number of reports of "phantom operation" - I think I'll skip that step for a while.

Altered Carbon 03Feb18

Worth it! It's known I'm a fan of the scifi genre and the cyberpunk sub-genre but this series is worthwhile even without that appreciation. I'm several episodes in and it is good and handles some keen topics. Plus it's a rich canvas to boot. Recommended.

Skiing With Schwab 02Feb18

I headed to Summit Thu after Kala left for the east coast. In part to partake of some extended storms over the area but too to dine and ride with some other clients and associates of Schwab. Kala & I have some accounts there and we often get invited to events - this one was a ski outing to Keystone to ride the cat to better snow and dine at the Alpenglow Stube. It was good but the snow was only OK on the cat ride due to windblown crust, till I hit the trees. Lunch was sublime at the Alpenglow however. I met some really cool folks on the outing... none old like me though.