If you go through the photographs on this page, you'll notice that some of them are the work of an amazing photographer. That person is Joanna Sokua, who is capable of seeing things that others miss. Her Semi-Precious photos are all tagged with her name, but you'll recognize them just by the quality. See more of her work on instagram - sokuaj, and you can find her blog at jsokua.tumblr.com
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On Sunday, July 7, we are excited to play at the summer concert series of the First Christian Church in Concord (3039 Willow Pass Road). This will be a long set, and I believe the show starts at around 5:30. Sharing the stage that evening will be Kelsey Gross' band Swedish Easter. We are really looking forward to this show, and we hope, if you are reading this, and you are not bedridden, you will come and have fun with us.
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If you are in the East Bay, come over to Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. Semi Precious will play a short opening set prior to Zydeco Flames' show. 6:15 start time! Way may play an intermission set as well. It is possible we will breathe fire as a part of our set. You'll only know for sure if you attend. Peace and love.
Reply
We have added Light Years to the songs on this page. It was just recorded a few hours ago. Please enjoy! It was written within the last few weeks. When writing it, I felt somewhat influenced by Radiohead, generically, and by Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word by Elton John. But when I first played it to friends, one said it sounded like Bridge Over Troubled Water! That took me by surprise, and I don't hear it. Well, every rock song builds upon an existing structure. For the record, Alex and I write almost everything together, so she must be to blame...
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Alex and I both play custom Taylor Grand Auditorium models. Alex's main guitar is a special order 814, with a cutaway and a tobacco burst spruce top. It is a probably one of a kind. Unlike other 814 cutaway models, it does not use Taylor's Expression electronic system. Instead it has a custom installed LR Baggs Lyric microphone pickup. This gives us a more rich and diverse live sound - as we use two dissimilar acoustic pickup systems. The tone wood is Indian rosewood and the soudboard is spruce. The binding is figured maple. Finally, the guitar has a short scale neck - another unique characteristic. Alex's Taylor was the only guitar used to record The Ferris Wheel, so you can hear it there.
I use a Taylor custom Grand Auditorium featuring cocobolo tone wood (not standard on any Taylor model), maple binding and a blank fingerboard. Delightful.
When we record with an electric, it is generally a Gibson Les Paul custom - as in custom made, not the "custom" model. My Les Paul was made from old factory neck, saved by a former employee, and a worn, orphaned Les Paul body (solid mahogany). Santa Rosa luthier Michael Dolan took these elements and fashioned a whole greater than the sum of the parts. The pickups are Harmonic Design humbuckers, from Japan. The hardware is a custom mix of chrome and black, and the pickguard is real ebony.
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When it rains it pours! This is one of our first original songs, and it is the first song Alex ever wrote! It definitely gets votes as a 'favorite' when we play it live.
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Finally... we have a new song to share with you: You and Me. This is an original song written over the past three weeks. Alex plays piano on this as well. It is our first time recording a piano. This is an early mix. The song has already evolved a bit since we finished this recording yesterday, but we can't resist getting it out there. We will definitely play this at next week's show at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. And... about that show... we will only be playing a few songs, prior to Zydeco Flames doing their full show - and maybe a brief intermission set as well. So if you were going to fly in from New York or anything, this is not the one...
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Where, at the Contra Costa Fair, will Semi Precious be playing this afternoon? Next to the monkey exhibit! This is one of the signs that you have "made it." Come over, and we'll start playing primate-friendly music at 4:15.
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One week until Semi-Precious shakes up the fair industry with a paradigm shifting performance at the Contra Costa County Fair on May 30, beginning at 4:30. We'll be on for about 45 minutes, in which time we'll do our best to induce mass soul searching by all within earshot. We'll be on the Community Stage, which is at the heart of the fairgrounds, in a shady, grassy area which is perfect for the community self realization sure to occur. See you there!
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Come over to Panama Red Coffee in Concord (2151 Salvio - across from Todo Santos Park) for a FREE extended Semi-Precious experience! We'll be playing a mix of originals and eclectic covers. And if you like Angel of Darkness (posted on this page), it is the lead off track of our second set. And you'll hear the debut live performance of our new song Revelation. Our covers are an eclectic, wide ranging mix - from Opeth to Taylor Swift. As vintage as Cat Stevens and as contemporary as Imagine Dragons. Our second set will feature percussion from Kelsey Lee Gross, as well as a special percussive experience involving margarine tubs for the song "Call Your Girlfriend." Obviously, madness will reign.
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Semi-Precious / Blog
Master Photographer - Joanna Sokua
If you go through the photographs on this page, you'll notice that some of them are the work of an amazing photographer. That person is Joanna Sokua, who is capable of seeing things that others miss. Her Semi-Precious photos are all tagged with her name, but you'll recognize them just by the quality. See more of her work on instagram - sokuaj, and you can find her blog at jsokua.tumblr.com
Reply
Show this weekend! First Christian Church in Concord
On Sunday, July 7, we are excited to play at the summer concert series of the First Christian Church in Concord (3039 Willow Pass Road). This will be a long set, and I believe the show starts at around 5:30. Sharing the stage that evening will be Kelsey Gross' band Swedish Easter. We are really looking forward to this show, and we hope, if you are reading this, and you are not bedridden, you will come and have fun with us.
Reply
SHOW TODAY!
If you are in the East Bay, come over to Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. Semi Precious will play a short opening set prior to Zydeco Flames' show. 6:15 start time! Way may play an intermission set as well. It is possible we will breathe fire as a part of our set. You'll only know for sure if you attend. Peace and love.
Reply
Light Years
We have added Light Years to the songs on this page. It was just recorded a few hours ago. Please enjoy! It was written within the last few weeks. When writing it, I felt somewhat influenced by Radiohead, generically, and by Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word by Elton John. But when I first played it to friends, one said it sounded like Bridge Over Troubled Water! That took me by surprise, and I don't hear it. Well, every rock song builds upon an existing structure. For the record, Alex and I write almost everything together, so she must be to blame...
Reply
About these guitars...
Alex and I both play custom Taylor Grand Auditorium models. Alex's main guitar is a special order 814, with a cutaway and a tobacco burst spruce top. It is a probably one of a kind. Unlike other 814 cutaway models, it does not use Taylor's Expression electronic system. Instead it has a custom installed LR Baggs Lyric microphone pickup. This gives us a more rich and diverse live sound - as we use two dissimilar acoustic pickup systems. The tone wood is Indian rosewood and the soudboard is spruce. The binding is figured maple. Finally, the guitar has a short scale neck - another unique characteristic. Alex's Taylor was the only guitar used to record The Ferris Wheel, so you can hear it there.
I use a Taylor custom Grand Auditorium featuring cocobolo tone wood (not standard on any Taylor model), maple binding and a blank fingerboard. Delightful.
When we record with an electric, it is generally a Gibson Les Paul custom - as in custom made, not the "custom" model. My Les Paul was made from old factory neck, saved by a former employee, and a worn, orphaned Les Paul body (solid mahogany). Santa Rosa luthier Michael Dolan took these elements and fashioned a whole greater than the sum of the parts. The pickups are Harmonic Design humbuckers, from Japan. The hardware is a custom mix of chrome and black, and the pickguard is real ebony.
Reply
The Ferris Wheel
When it rains it pours! This is one of our first original songs, and it is the first song Alex ever wrote! It definitely gets votes as a 'favorite' when we play it live.
Reply
You and Me
Finally... we have a new song to share with you: You and Me. This is an original song written over the past three weeks. Alex plays piano on this as well. It is our first time recording a piano. This is an early mix. The song has already evolved a bit since we finished this recording yesterday, but we can't resist getting it out there. We will definitely play this at next week's show at Todos Santos Plaza in Concord. And... about that show... we will only be playing a few songs, prior to Zydeco Flames doing their full show - and maybe a brief intermission set as well. So if you were going to fly in from New York or anything, this is not the one...
Reply
Dignity at All Times
Where, at the Contra Costa Fair, will Semi Precious be playing this afternoon? Next to the monkey exhibit! This is one of the signs that you have "made it." Come over, and we'll start playing primate-friendly music at 4:15.
Reply
The Fairest of the Fair
One week until Semi-Precious shakes up the fair industry with a paradigm shifting performance at the Contra Costa County Fair on May 30, beginning at 4:30. We'll be on for about 45 minutes, in which time we'll do our best to induce mass soul searching by all within earshot. We'll be on the Community Stage, which is at the heart of the fairgrounds, in a shady, grassy area which is perfect for the community self realization sure to occur. See you there!
Reply
Show Tonight! Sordid details...
Come over to Panama Red Coffee in Concord (2151 Salvio - across from Todo Santos Park) for a FREE extended Semi-Precious experience! We'll be playing a mix of originals and eclectic covers. And if you like Angel of Darkness (posted on this page), it is the lead off track of our second set. And you'll hear the debut live performance of our new song Revelation. Our covers are an eclectic, wide ranging mix - from Opeth to Taylor Swift. As vintage as Cat Stevens and as contemporary as Imagine Dragons. Our second set will feature percussion from Kelsey Lee Gross, as well as a special percussive experience involving margarine tubs for the song "Call Your Girlfriend." Obviously, madness will reign.
Reply