Free Guitar Effects Clinic!
Our infamous pedal clinic is back! Tone nerds, guitar geeks, and newbs welcome- come learn about the different effects, makers, and history of stompboxes. Enjoy live demos detailing the differences between different effects, how they are used, and how to troubleshoot pedalboard set ups. Instructor Robert Alan will also bring myriad boutique and handmade effects for attendees to hear and try, and there will be ample time for Q&A.
Space is Limited- Call us at 408-395-0767 to RSVP
Space is Limited- Call us at 408-395-0767 to RSVP
About the Instructor
“The power of music influencing social change is self evident, and that fact is further proven by the establishment’s constant attempts to censor audio art in a free society.” Robert Alan
Robert Alan is well aware of the power of music. He knows it can heal the soul, inspire change, and even aid in the process of mental rehabilitation. As a music therapist for many San Francisco Bay Area retirement communities, Robert has seen dementia and Alzheimer’s patients regain their memories of lyrics and melody through his unique bi-monthly sessions. Robert has witnessed music uniting rival gang members towards a common artistic goal while performing and teaching music for The Alameda County Prison in East Oakland.
Although born in 1980, Robert has been performing professionally for nearly two decades, his music spanning multiple genres. His two albums, available in brick and mortar stores, as well as digitally distributed everywhere, bring Robert’s original compositions to fans all over the world. In 2012, Robert Alan’s one-man musical project, O’Zarathustra, released the prophetic opus Sex Drugs, and Armageddon to critical acclaim. The video for the first single, “Let Your Darkside Out to Play,” won best music video at the International Fetish Film Festival, and is still garnering views on YouTube. Critics described the album’s sound as “a gooey mishmash of Floyd, Metallica, Rage, Satriani.”
“I wanted to make a record that was a musical throwback to the artists I cut my teeth on while crafting lyrics that reflected the current state of US politics- specifically the topics that come up at the dinner table and in the classroom, but fail to become part of national discourse.”
Armed with a Political Science degree from UC Davis, as well as years touring with myriad musical acts, Alan wrote, produced, engineered, mixed, and played all the instruments on Sex, Drugs, and Armageddon. His musical efforts were rewarded when the US Government flew a flag over Washington DC for Robert’s contribution to the arts. Building off the hype from Sex, Drugs, and
Armageddon, Robert was offered an opportunity to score the multi award-winning indie film, The Valley.
Following the success of The Valley, Robert was asked to score Hark, a powerful film about human sex trafficking directed by Santa Clara University film professor Dr. Jon Fung. Instantly earning critical acclaim, Hark won “Best in Fest” at many film festivals, and was screened at Cannes. Using skills learned during pre-law classes at UC Davis, Robert drafted contracts to retain ownership and control over innumerable tracks he licensed for various forms of media. Through his company, Blue Skool Records, Robert plans to release a collection of original music composed for films and commercials.
Searching for authentic tones for future albums, Robert is now building and selling his own hand-made effects pedals, as well as teaching others the art of DIY analog effects building through his weekly classes. Always happy to share his knowledge of guitars, gear, and music in general, Robert is also a contributing writer for Guitar Player Magazine. Currently, Robert is in pre-production for The American Nightmare, the politically-charged follow up to O’Zarathustra’s Sex, Drugs, and Armageddon.
“The power of music influencing social change is self evident, and that fact is further proven by the establishment’s constant attempts to censor audio art in a free society.” Robert Alan
Robert Alan is well aware of the power of music. He knows it can heal the soul, inspire change, and even aid in the process of mental rehabilitation. As a music therapist for many San Francisco Bay Area retirement communities, Robert has seen dementia and Alzheimer’s patients regain their memories of lyrics and melody through his unique bi-monthly sessions. Robert has witnessed music uniting rival gang members towards a common artistic goal while performing and teaching music for The Alameda County Prison in East Oakland.
Although born in 1980, Robert has been performing professionally for nearly two decades, his music spanning multiple genres. His two albums, available in brick and mortar stores, as well as digitally distributed everywhere, bring Robert’s original compositions to fans all over the world. In 2012, Robert Alan’s one-man musical project, O’Zarathustra, released the prophetic opus Sex Drugs, and Armageddon to critical acclaim. The video for the first single, “Let Your Darkside Out to Play,” won best music video at the International Fetish Film Festival, and is still garnering views on YouTube. Critics described the album’s sound as “a gooey mishmash of Floyd, Metallica, Rage, Satriani.”
“I wanted to make a record that was a musical throwback to the artists I cut my teeth on while crafting lyrics that reflected the current state of US politics- specifically the topics that come up at the dinner table and in the classroom, but fail to become part of national discourse.”
Armed with a Political Science degree from UC Davis, as well as years touring with myriad musical acts, Alan wrote, produced, engineered, mixed, and played all the instruments on Sex, Drugs, and Armageddon. His musical efforts were rewarded when the US Government flew a flag over Washington DC for Robert’s contribution to the arts. Building off the hype from Sex, Drugs, and
Armageddon, Robert was offered an opportunity to score the multi award-winning indie film, The Valley.
Following the success of The Valley, Robert was asked to score Hark, a powerful film about human sex trafficking directed by Santa Clara University film professor Dr. Jon Fung. Instantly earning critical acclaim, Hark won “Best in Fest” at many film festivals, and was screened at Cannes. Using skills learned during pre-law classes at UC Davis, Robert drafted contracts to retain ownership and control over innumerable tracks he licensed for various forms of media. Through his company, Blue Skool Records, Robert plans to release a collection of original music composed for films and commercials.
Searching for authentic tones for future albums, Robert is now building and selling his own hand-made effects pedals, as well as teaching others the art of DIY analog effects building through his weekly classes. Always happy to share his knowledge of guitars, gear, and music in general, Robert is also a contributing writer for Guitar Player Magazine. Currently, Robert is in pre-production for The American Nightmare, the politically-charged follow up to O’Zarathustra’s Sex, Drugs, and Armageddon.
