Jen Kwok, Uke Hunt Happenings and Other Ukulelinks
August 15, 2008
Gosh, it’s been quite a week for Uke Hunt. Probably one of my favourite blogging weeks ever. To stop this post being too self obsessed, I’ll keep it brief. This week I’ve: been mentioned in the New York Times, been asked if I want to work on a real life ukulele book by a real life publisher, been banned from ezFolk, and found out I had a world exclusive on the review of Clone Wars which had unwittingly meant the BBC was breaking the Clone Wars review embargo (a guy from the BBC emailed me telling me they’ve temporarily taken the video down and wanted to know how I found the Kermode uke post two weeks before they published it). I haven’t stopped laughing all week.
You might not have realised it from my previous references to it, but the NY Times article wasn’t entirely about me. It was mostly about Jen Kwok. Congrats, Jen. Now she’s a big star, we can say we knew her back when she was making uke playing, pipe cleaner dolls fellate Rabbi Bob L. Mensch.
I have to take umbrage at Jim Beloff’s quote in the article: “If you were a poor guitar player, you suddenly become a pretty good uke player.” If you’re a lousy musician, you’re a lousy musician on any instrument. Perhaps the ukulele will suit you more, but the idea that you automatically become better when you play the ukulele is bullshit.
Speaking of which, Gawker calls bullshit on the ukulele trend.
James Hill graphs out a new track.
Aldrine ditches his talking cock in favour of Jake Shimabukuro.
Ian Chadwick has in depth reviews of a whole bunch of ukuleles.
Ukulele Tonya visits the Windy City Uke Fest.
Ladybugs Picnic on Uker Tabs.
Photos from the first Irish Ukahuli.
Stop Okay Go has an mp3 of Robin Gray’s These Days and an interview with the man.
Buy your own bobble headed Bob L Mensch. “Watch Him Bob at the Waist as he Davens.”
Jake and Bach, Pete Howlett, Ukes for Obama and other News
August 8, 2008
Jake Shimabukuro discusses JS Bach for a documentary and plays some stunning Bach uke.
Pete Howlett has a video series on how to build a ukulele.
Ukes for Obama: “a hub for ukulele players who share our desire for a better America.” Apply here for Ukes for Hilton.
Let’s Play Ukulele has been shut down after legal threats. Very worrying.
Uke Gal visits the Waikiki Ukulele Festival and hugs James Hill and Roy Sakuma.
The Ukulele Evangelist interviews Dale ‘Fluke’ Webb and Ken Middleton (and me in case you missed it).
Google have recently released their Wikipedia-killer, Google Knol. The idea, I think, is that one person writes the knol and others can come along and edit it. I gave it a test run and wrote one on ukulele history. I’ve left it fairly sparse, so feel free to add to it (and any inaccuracies you might find are there on purpose to get people involved, honest).
The Guardian’s Maddy Costa tests Sam Brown and Donal Coonan’s claims that you can Learn to Play the Ukulele in Under an Hour. (Thanks to John)
MP3s: Cover Me has Kirk Kelly’s uke cover of Springsteen’s Downbound Train, Guilt Free Pleasures has The Do’s Stay.
The UOoGB join the ukulele headgear crowd.
Hot for Words advises us to sell everything and invest in ukulele stock
Uni and Her Ukulele and Her Ice Cream Truck.
Kiwi Ukulele, ezFolk and other Uke Links
July 25, 2008
Mike’s ukulele book Kiwi Ukulele is out now. You can buy it here. The book has endorsements from Age Pryor and George from the UOoGB, to which I can add my whole hearted supported (more on that in the not too distant future).
ezFolk has a new blog look. As an aside/hissy-fit, is it just my self interest speaking or is it a bit off that general sites like ezFolk and Curt Sheller are included in the Top 50 Ukulele Sites list?
First ever Wine Country Ukulele Festival in Napa Valley featuring workshops and performances from the likes of Herb Ohta, Jr., Keoki Kahumoku, Ralph Shaw, and James Hill.
HawaiiMusicSupply has just put up a selection of ukulele tutorials.
Does anyone know anything about Oly Arkle? His From Paris to Barcelona is rather magnificent. All I’ve been able to find out is that he’s French and he looks like this.
I long ago gave up reading ‘news’ pieces about Jake Shimabukuro, they all say the same thing. Luckily, Gary is far more diligent than I am. He found out that Jake’s new album will include a uke/cello duet and a ukulele string quartet. Speaking of Jake, Cover Me has an mp3 of his version of Time After Time.
If you’ve been watching closely, you’ll know I’m a fan of Poopy Lungstuffing. It turns out that she was a sort of proto-Avril Lavigne with the band Rosebud. This was the song as it was and here it is now. A big improvement I’d say.
The Offspring’s Original Prankster on Uker Tabs.
Ukulala gets his make-out socks on for the Squirrel Nut Zippers.
I’m Yours on the world’s smallest ukulele.
Seeso, Janet Klein, James Hill and More
May 31, 2008
This week’s videos include Seeso, Janet Klein, James Hill and many more.
Jake Shimabukuro’s Ukulele
May 11, 2008
Here’s a random selection of emails I wake up to in the morning:
- What type of ukulele does Jake Shimabukuro play?
- What sort of uke is that Jake uses in While My Guitar Gently Weeps?
- Where can I buy a ukulele like Jake Shimabukuro plays?
OK, I’m exaggerating. But I get enough enquiries to make it easier just to write a post.
Shimabukuro plays a custom Kamaka tenor ukulele by Casey Kamaka. His first ukulele, at the age of 4, was a Kamaka and he’s been using them ever since.
If you want to buy one, you’re pretty much out of luck. In 2006, Kamaka made 100 Jake Shimabukuro Signature Model ukuleles. These ukes were made to Jake’s specifications and individually inspected and signed by him.
Despite a hefty price tag of $5,500, demand for them was over whelming. So much so they decided to have a raffle to determine who could buy the ukuleles. By January 2007 they were all gone. If you manage to find one for sale, expect to pay much more than the original price (at least double would be my guess).
The Nerdy Stuff
Body: Curly Koa
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge Ebony: Ebony
Binding: Rosewood
Inlays: Mother of pearl and abalone
Tuners: Gold Schaller tuning keys
Pickup: Fishman Acoustic Matrix
Photo: BotheredByBees
Friday Ukulinklinks
May 9, 2008
Craig Robertson talks about and demonstrates the dark side of the ukulele.
Acoustic Guitar magazine has a player profile of Jake Shimabukuro (thanks Hughy).
UAS sufferers now have their own support group: the UAS Society.
Gary at Ukulelia on how he designed Warren Buffett’s ukulele.
Another chance to win a ukulele. This time by creating a logo for Ukulele Review.
Ukulele mp3s: Another uke playing Coulton fan Donna Maciocia (thanks to Graeme), weePOP has an mp3 from their latest signing Wonder for All (and many others), The Driftwood Singers Present Lyle Ritz.
The world was not ready for a ukulele/bassoon duo.
Friday Links
February 15, 2008
Ukulele Review will be launching a competition today. There’ll be three concert Fleas up for grabs along with a whole load of other goodies (including my ebooks - which are, of course, the real draw). Make sure you stay tuned for it.
Uke Thingy has been knocking out ukulele tabs for classic guitar riffs including Day Tripper, Eye of the Tiger and Crazy Train.
Mike has a few new chord sheets up on his ukulele page including more Mountain Goats and No Surprises.
Uke Hunt friend Andy (AKA zym) has start his own blog ilovefizzypop (every time I read that name I start singing Helen Love’s I Love Indie Pop - no bad thing). As well as ukes, ilovefizzypop covers monkeys, games and robots. What more could you want?
A big thanks to Gary for drawing my attention to a two part audio documentary on the uke at The Human Chorus. It charts the ups and downs of the ukulele’s popularity from its introduction in Hawaii up to the 1990s and includes chats with Jim Beloff and Herb Ohta.
NukeDoc has a video showing you how to change the strings on your ukulele. Including using a power-drill to take the wrist work out of all that peg turning.
Buy yourself a handmad ukulele bag from Sugar Kane. (KDUS got there first)
Jake Shimabukuro has a new look website including a page packed with ukulele videos.
Daily Growl is a long term fixture in my feed reader. It usually covers the latest, hippest folkies (which reminds me: listen to Thao Nguyan if you’re into that sort of thing), so it was a very pleasant surprise to see The Fabulous Heftones as the Valentines Day choice.
How did Robert Plant deal with the stresses of the Led Zeppelin reunion? “I just lay in a dark room playing my little ukulele.”
The uke appears briefly amongst the lingerie models in The Raveonettes video for Candy. (Well done to uncle budd for spotting that one).
Art Ukes at Celtic Connections festival. (More pics here).
“Here’s a tip: if you are thinking of buying this ensemble, accessorising the look with a ukulele will make all the difference and help to bring out a certain music-hall je ne sais quoi.” Sound fashion advice from Laura Barton in The Guardian.
A novel solution to loose tuning pegs.
Friday Links
September 28, 2007
Dominator tabs Going To California (not the Jake Shimabukuro version).
KDUS pointed in the direction of this video of Calexico on the ukulele. Also there is a video of Jeremy Warmsley crooning his way around Brussels.
PJ Harvey pictured with cigar-box ukulele in The Guardian.
If you couldn’t make it to SF for the Evolution of the Ukulele Exhibition, check out this extensive photo tour.
Cyberinsekt has an mp3 of Uncle Bob’s Ukulele Singers covering The Pixies Monkey Gone To Heaven and Foggy Ruins of Time has a ramshackle baritone uke track from Tinyfolk.
Friday Links
September 21, 2007
In case you missed the link earlier in the week, Buke is a new website dedicated to the baritone ukulele with many tabs divided into elementary, intermediate and advanced.
Stefans Ukulele is a Swedish uke site (written in Swedish and English) has some handy hints and tips, chordcharts and a very interesting article about taking care of your ukulele.
New York Uke Fest 2008 announced April 3rd - 6th.
Louis A Gaspar ukulele dissected and remade.
Wigan’s Formby statue erected.
Tiki carvings and Tahitian ukuleles on Tiki Central forums. And some very detailed plans for creating a Tahitian ukulele (in French).
The banjo-lele blog I mentioned before is in Czech.
Two new Jake Shimabukuro releases reviewed.
The Saturday UkeTube
September 15, 2007
Another bumper crop this week. Jake Shimabukuro’s performance at the SF Ukulele Festival, new Taimane clips and a number of videos from a ukulele get together in Dortmund with a whole bunch of Uke Hunt favourites. Not to mention some ukulele juggling.
Watch more clips including Stephin Merritt reworking a kids’ classic and a GUGUG going solo over the fold.
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