Mike Nesmith's Video Ranch, Sand City CA

www.videoranch.com

Me and Mike Nesmith (Monkees) at his "Video Ranch". I wore my "Freak Out" shirt because Mike was good friends with the late great Frank Zappa. Freak Out was the name of Zappa's first album. Mike told me a great story about FZ being on The Monkees TV show.

Joe, Bnois and Paul on the Video Ranch stage with its green screen.

Wow what a day. This afternoon we played in front of 7000 people at San Jose State and then we drove to Sand City near Monterey to play in front of 4 people in the studio. The show was broadcast worldwide on the net and on 5 stations owned by KPIG from Redding to San Luis Obisbo and all the way to Reno. This will take some explaining. Mike Nesmith has been a pioneer in music, movies and video since leaving the late 60's mega group and TV show "The Monkee's". Mike is working on a new technology he invented and is using it on his new site http://www.videoranch.com/. Video Ranch broadcasts concerts live from their studio. Patrons can log on and see the concert in Mike's new 3D type image and hear it in higher than CD quality. Here's where it gets interesting. When you log on you can choose an animated body for yourself and place yourself in the audience. What you see on your monitor is the live musicians and yourself and other concert goers along with a "Virtual Venue". You can manipulate your animated body around the venue and what you see changes as you move around. You can also make your body dance and carry on. In front of the stage where we played is a drop down projection screen where we could see the "audience" moving and dancing around. While you watch there is a live chat taking place which we can see on the bottom of the screen. It takes a few minutes to adjust to playing to this audience on the screen. Mike was behind the camera egging us on the whole time.We took 2 breaks for the radio to ID themselves and run some commercials. While we did the host asked us questions typed in from the audience. Interactive indeed. There where SJK fans from, among other places, Czech Republic, UK, Asia and all over the USA. My sister Janet was logged on and I could see her dancing around right up front, just like she does at Los Lobos shows. At the end of our show many in the audience turned into Pink Flamigo's which we were told is the Video Ranch equivalent of a standing ovation.

This was a very cool experience to be involved in. In the future (now) you will be able to see your favorite bands, live, without leaving your home. If you have a big TV and a great sound system hooked to your TV you will have something very special. This will never take the place of a real "Live" show but if SJK is not playing in The Czech Republic this week it is a great next best for fans living there. They also have a local band and run old classic movies. Check them out with their free trial period. See the wide range of artists they will be performing there soon.

The view of the stage from the control panel.

After the show we had a chance to chat with Mike. This guy has a million cool story's. He was there and lived the dream playing sold out stadiums and hanging with the stars. Mike, his wife Veronica and their staff treated us very nicely including stuffing us full of great food and insisting we take some cookies along with us. Very nice people.

Check out their site and tell them Dave K from SJK Band sent ya!
www.videoranch.com