Tag Archives: Music

We made the world’s longest bubble snake!?

We’ve made bubble snakes before with empty water bottles, bubble solution, and rags, but that was child’s play. This time we went really big! This could be an actual world record! This was a discarded music video idea for a song called “Snake Charmer” that we ended up not needing. I still wanted to make a massive bubble snake, though!

The two main problems I needed to solve in order to supersize the bubble snake was to produce more air than my puny lungs could provide, and to keep a steady stream of bubble solution pumping in.

I used my old Black and Decker electric leaf blower as an air supply, and a pump sprayer from Lowe’s to hold the bubble solution. I attached the pump sprayer to the leaf blower with duct tape and some wire.

I cut a plastic bottle and used duct tape to attach it over the sprayer nozzle.

I tried several types of cloth and fabric over the end of the hose, but a small hand towel gave the best results. I secured it with rubber bands.

That’s it! It came together quick and worked like a charm!

Note that some bubble solutions, such as those using Dawn dish soap can harm grass, or may be harmful to pets. Do your own research and test out different solutions before attempting at your own risk!

If you enjoyed the soundtrack to this video, the song is called Snake Charmer, by a band that I’m in called The Very Fine Gentlemen. You can listen to it in full at Spotify, wherever you stream music, or see the official video here:

Rediscovering Vinyl

Last summer I picked up a cheap record player so I could listen to some old records that I inherited from my family. I had no idea how much fun we would have with it!

We immediately started to notice the abundance of vinyl that could be had at flea markets and yard sales, usually for a dollar or less per record. My wife and I now love flipping through stacks of vinyl, searching for all sorts of retro music, and we almost always come home with at least one gem to add to our growing collection. Sometimes they turn out to be a bust, but with such a minimal investment, we’re willing to take a risk on a record based solely on a whim or a fabulously kitschy cover.

Records

We keep our record player and vinyl collection next to the dinner table and it’s already made for some great family memories.

What the Stumpf Fiddle?

Stumpf fiddle

I spent my Sunday afternoon in a recording studio doing a session for a blues band. Maybe when the record comes out I’ll post some links. Anyway, I had to inquire about the very strange-looking item leaning against a corner, which turned out to be a stumpf fiddle.

This was something I had never before seen or heard of, and I have to admit that I was quite annoyed that other people who were there all knew what it was. On the other hand, I love learning about things this way, and so when I got home that evening, a quick Google search provided me with plenty of information about the stumpf fiddle. It’s an instrument popular in polka, bluegrass, and country music in the upper midwest. The only downside of acquiring all of this new stumpf knowledge is that now I kind of want a stumpf fiddle to call my own. Perhaps I should try to make one?

Stump fiddle, stump fiddle, stump fiddle. Doesn’t that sound silly? I bet Beetlejuice can play it heck out of it.

Here’s a video of the stumpf fiddle in action: