Chris Mitchell Music

2011
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Happy Halloween!

10/31/2011 10:32 PM Filed in: Blog
Happy Halloween Everybody! Everybody knows that it’s my favorite time of year and I’ve been especially busy this year. I was a old western sherif this year and it was a pretty authentic costume. I’ll have to upload some pictures soon. Ashlee was a cowgirl and two of my students in our recital were cowboys and cowgirls. It was a pretty popular theme this year. Next year I’m going as Cobra Commander and I’m already looking for the costume.

Yes. I love Halloween.

One thing you can expect to come as a change on the website is better photos. I haven’t had a good digital camera until now. I’ve been saving up for the Canon T3i and now it’s here. Actually, I started saving up for the T2i but they released the T3i as an upgrade. Sweet.








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I've been Busy

10/15/2011 10:40 AM Filed in: Blog
Sorry about the long delay folks… but honestly, I’ve been busy.

I know I say that a lot but it’s true now more than ever. I’ve engulfed myself in my work to the point of obsession. It’s something I just have to do in order to do what I do. We’re very close to releasing the Jimmy and our CNC machine is cutting guitar bodies!

I’m really stoked about all of the new changes and challenges that Pladd Dot has in front of it. We’re about to purchase a new distribution warehouse, we’ve recently purchased a CNC machine to do the heavy guitar work, we’re about to expand our publishing division, and our new amplifier line is almost here! The new American guitar line is also only one month away! These products have been in development in some shape form or fashion for three years and will consume my future at Pladd Dot. I’m very pleased that our amplifier line (and American guitar line) is made in the USA.

Look out world, here comes Chris Mitchell Guitars and Mitchell Amplifiers!!!

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What's Wrong with the Music Industry

07/17/2011 10:36 AM Filed in: Blog
I found this picture online last night and it reminded me of exactly what's wrong with the music industry. Normally, I don't think about the current state of the industry. After all, I'm doing what I want to do everyday making music so why should I care? And let me first say that I don't... not really. And instead of sounding old and saying something like "they just don't write them like they used to" or "back in my day, music was different", let me remind you that it wasn't. It's actually been this way for a long, long time.


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Dad June 8th, 1939 - July 4th 2011

07/10/2011 03:43 PM Filed in: Blog
Dad passed away on Monday, July 4th, 2011. Dad lived an interesting life. Although he suffered from bi-polar disorder, he managed to overcome many of the obstacles that plagued him. My sister once made the observation that the term "Manic Depression" was a much better description of the illness. I have to agree with her. For those of you who have faced the illness first hand, you know exactly what I'm talking about. I could write of countless stories about what it was like being the youngest son of Jimmie Mitchell, but instead I'll just let you read the lyrics to the song "Twin Sons" that I wrote about him. Read More...
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Hip Hop Hooray!

06/12/2011 09:53 PM Filed in: Blog
I love observing how companies go through transitions. It's funny to see how they try to change their identity and focus. Even before I owned a brick and mortar business, sold retail goods, or even before I became incorporated, I liked to watch companies try to change with the rolling tide. Mainly Video game companies, computer companies, guitar companies, and car companies. I find it interesting how the same companies that make good decisions and wind up with a killer product can turn right around and make an idiotic move for the worse.

In the last ten years, I've seen Microsoft loose millions on an investment in Rare (which I predicted back on October 4th, 2002). Luckily for Microsoft (and the Xbox) they invested in another small Apple software developer called Bungie. I mean hey... Halo made me eat my words and I even bought an Xbox. In this decade I've seen GM lose their shirt and rebound, and recently I've seen Washburn Guitars go from a thriving company to a guitar company that's bleeding money with absolutely no identity. It's a shame. The second oldest guitar company in the United States doesn't know who they are. Nor do they make a single Washburn guitar in the USA. Read More...
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A Day Off

06/04/2011 10:36 PM Filed in: Blog
Finally. A day off. I haven't had a day off since March. Seriously. Either I've had gigs every weekend, cleaned the garage, or gigs every weekend. Sometimes I've even played gigs on the weekend. I've played 18 gigs since May.

Don't get me wrong. I love what I do. That's why I do it.

But a day off is freakin' awesome right now. Today we even went in to Savannah to do a little shopping. We were ready to go home about the time we got there. Savannah doesn't really blow my skirt up like it did when I was younger. For one thing, Statesboro is becoming more self sufficient as of late and Savannah is really a pain in the butt. The "big trip" doesn't impress me nearly as much as it did when I was a kid. Read More...
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On the Road Again

05/06/2011 11:23 AM Filed in: Blog
I'm writing this blog from the road. We're heading up I-16 on the way to Atlanta for Ashlee's Teacher of the Year Banquet. The last blog I wrote from the road was the Christmas blog written the way back from Wisconsin.

Anyway, we're on the way to Atlanta to find out the outcome of Ashlee's great honor. Honestly, I personally (and selfishly) hope she doesn't get it. I know that sounds horrible but I don't want to loose my wife for a year. Not only would I be loosing my wife for a year, but I'll also be loosing my accountant. Ashlee's dad said that he'd take over the accounting dept. but I'd still be loosing my wife for a year... and that sucks.

Think about it... I'll be without a wife, Pladd Dot will be without our star accountant, and Sebastian will be without a mom. Say what you will about the other two, but that woman would miss her cat more than anything. Read More...
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Toys and Art

03/24/2011 09:00 PM Filed in: Blog
This blog is about my obsession with toys. No–let me more rephrase that and say toys that happen to be high art. I realize that many people might disagree with me on that point but I plan to change your mind in this article.

Most of you know that I'm a huge toy collector. I've always loved toys. Even as a child, I didn't want every toy on the market, but rather the ones that I thought were aesthetically pleasing. I would pass over a toy that was popular because it just didn't look cool to me. My GI JOE army was a strange amalgam of good guys, bad guys, and toys that I took apart to re-assemble in a fashion that I thought was best. Certain heads just didn't look right on certain bodies and some arms and torsos worked better on a different set of legs. By the time I got done compiling my forces, they pretty much all worked for a unified "Army of the Cool" and usually fought against a potpourri of the worst figures I'd get as a gift (the ones I didn't pick out for myself).

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Travels

03/14/2011 09:00 PM Filed in: Blog
Friday Ashlee and I rode to Macon for her Teacher of the Year interview. She had to go to the Bibb County Board of Education office and give an in-person interview to judges and the former Teacher of the Year. It was pretty cold in Macon Friday. It was odd, Saturday warmed up like it was a beautiful Spring day. Nonetheless, she said that everything went well in the interview and I know she did great. She has to give one more speech on April 1st to Georgia Power in Atlanta and she won't know anything until May.

Speaking of my beautiful bride, I just updated her website: www.ashleemitchell.com Check it out! Read More...
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Ashlee is Teacher of the Year!

02/28/2011 10:44 PM
In my Christmas Newsletter that I mail out to friends and family, the top story was that Ashlee was honored as Bulloch County's Teacher of the Year. As it turns out, she's now a finalist for the TOP TEN teachers in the state! WOOOOO HOOOOO!!!! GO BABY! Needless to say, I'm as proud as a husband can be! If she wins, she'll have to do a good bit of traveling throughout the state. I don't know how much but I hope she's not gone all the time.

I don't have time for a long blog, but I just wanted to give a shout out to my wonderful wife!! She's AMAZING!!!!










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