New York City! Opera! Vocal Outtakes!

Guess what! If I get this job, I will be moving to New York City!! That's right, the Big Apple! Home of the Yankees, the Mets and the New Yorker! "How did this happen??" you ask? Well, let me tell you. While browsing some of the websites I regularly peruse, I came across this employment opportunity. These are the highlights, for those of you who hate clicking on links:

METROPOLITAN OPERA
Announces the following vacancies:
CHORISTERS:
BASS or BARITONE
SOPRANO (No Mezzo-Sopranos)
Resume deadline Midnight [EST] on March 30th, 2010.
Auditions to begin April 1st, 2010 until positions are filled
HIGHLY QUALIFIED APPLICANTS ONLY

What luck! I'm the person they're looking for! I have the vocal range of a bass but sing more comfortably in a baritonal tessitura. Some would call me a bass-baritone. As a bass-baritone, the operatic roles I am suited for include Méphistophélès from Faust by Charles Gounod, Don Giovanni from Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Figaro from The Marriage of Figaro, also by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
I think the Metropolitan Opera will find this video to be an adequate audition. If they need me to drop in on April 1st to seal the deal, I can certainly repeat this performance. Although I generally reserve that day for more foolish behavior, I suppose I can get serious for a brief demonstration of my vocal prowess. I hope the job pays well. I hear those lofts in Manhattan can get pretty pricey!



Back up plan: cast member on Saturday Night Live

Update 2-22 at 2:22 PM

Hunter Revenge @ Cinespace on 2/1/09 by Carlton Beener
Okay, I lied about the date and time of this update, but I'm close enough. Two twenty-two at two twenty-two PM is the funniest time of the year (it's a proven fact that 22 is the funniest number) and I if I had not been laughing hysterically, I surely would have written this blog at that exact minute. So what has been going on? Let's make a list.

1. NAMM - In January, I took a trip down to Anaheim to attend the 2009 NAMM show. NAMM is a four day music gear blast that is the Comic-Con of gear nerds. To say that it is HUUUUUGE would be an understatement. Every company that makes any type of anything that's even remotely related to the idea of music is represented. I was asked to sign autographs for Ampeg. While I was there I ran into Tim from Rancid, Geoff from Tiger Army, Maya from The Donnas and a few other friends. I talked to bassist Tony Levin about photography (he carries a camera around his neck and takes pictures all the time, even on stage!) and even snapped a psychedelic picture of Mick Mars. Thanks to @flavapave for the software!

2. The Hunter - My new Macbeth shoe, The Hunter is available now! Order it online now, or wait another week and walk into Journey's to buy a pair. Your feet will thank you!

3. HR Show - On Feb 1st, Hunter Revenge played a very focused set in Hollywood, CA at a little place called Cinespace. We had a lot of fun, as we always do. Everyone who showed up had fun too. See how this works? Anyhow, this will be the last Hunter Revenge show until I have new songs to play. I love playing the old stuff, but it would be so much cooler to play new songs. I will have updates about the new songs soon. Keep your ears open.

4. Shorty Awards - You can read the post below to hear about my trip to NYC to accept the music Shorty at the Shorty Awards.

5. Grocery Shopping - I bought some cereal, rice dream, two frozen burritos, new english muffins (from New England), soups, soaps, and broccoli.

6. President's Day - AKA The Place Where I Wanted To Get An Awesome Vegan Burrito Was Closed And I Had To Settle For A Frozen Burrito Day.

7. Begin Transmission! - The winners of AFI's Begin Transmission contest joined us in the studio! As it turns out, Natacia, Raine, Mark, Courtney, Brock and Christy were all very good singers and really helped us out. It was really refreshing to have people in the studio that haven't heard the new songs 87652348 times already. After so much build up and excitement, the time really flew by and before I knew it, AFI's new friends (and their guests) were on their way home. I hope everyone made it home safely and I look forward to seeing these new friends in the future. Apparently Natacia and Christy commemorated the experience with BEGIN TRANSMISSION tattoos. How cool is that!?

8. Mammoth Regeneration - Yesterday at 3:30 AM I began the first of several mammoth cloning/regeneration experiments. My goal is to be the first person to successfully regenerate a mammoth. At 3:45 AM I realized that this was going to be more difficult than I first thought, due to the fact that I have no mammoth DNA. I consider this a minor setback. This week I'm going to head down to the La Brea tar pits, hop a fence or two, and "find" some mammoth samples. Wish me luck.

Shorty Awards!

Posing with my Shorty Award.

A few days ago I had the honor of receiving a Shorty Award in the Music category. The Shorty Awards recognize those individuals who have expert-level mastery (or just plain obsessive use) of Twitter. The prize included a free trip to NYC and a chance to mix n' mingle with other Twitter savvy folks. CNN's Rick Sanchez hosted the event, and MC Hammer presented some of the awards (including mine) alongside Rick. I had a great time and met a lot of really cool people, many of whom I hope to stay in touch with. Highlights of the trip include getting a personal tour of the Marvel Comics Headquarters (thanks, Agent M!!), hanging out with my oldest and dearest friend Greg and his wife Laura (Thanks again for putting me up), and of course hanging out with MC Hammer. More can be read about this event here, here, here, and here. (and also here)
Thanks to Kelly and Daniela for the pictures!


Hammer and Hunter - U Can't Touch This!


I tapped the mic to prove once and for all that the feedback you ALWAYS hear in movies when people step up to the podium doesn't really happen! It's a fallacy!


Two dapper lads: Greg Martin (my BFF of nearly 30 years) and myself.


Charles Trippy and myself. He won the Shorty for Humor.


Accepting my Shorty.


CNN's Rick Sanchez and myself.


Hammer and Rick Sanchez laugh at my jokes (or at my expense!)


Hammer apologizing for joking at my expense. Don't worry, Hammer. It's all good.


Look! My first Shorty! (the gentleman behind me is obviously jealous)

Like I said in my acceptance speech: "Thanks 2 everyone who nominated/voted for me; my friends, fans & followers; readers of tranquilmammoth.com; & especially all the @AFI fans." Follow me on twitter and maybe next year YOU'LL be meeting MC Hammer!