"the beat, the beat, the beat..."

"...and I believe with all of my heart that it is a contributing factor to our Juvenile delinquency of today. I ah hundred percent believe it. Why I believe that is because I know how it feels when you sing it. I know what it does to you. And I-I know the evil feeling that you feel when you sing it. I know the-the lost position you get into, and the beat... well ah, if you talk to the average teenager of today and you ask them what it is about Rock and Roll music that they like and the first thing they'll say is the beat, the beat, the beat."        -- Elvis Presley

The first time I heard this quote was part of an into to an old album/record/tape/CD I used to listen to.  I believe the artist was Dime Store Prophets, but I don't remember the song it was attached to.  It was 'the beat, the beat, the beat' that caught my attention and ran through my head constantly.  It got me thinking a lot about society and what songs say to people.  I love a song that has a good beat, a great hook and something that is memorable.  (ie, you find yourself humming the melody without even knowing it)  At the same time, it's a bit scary when you actually see the words you are trying to sing but fumble through what we can.  

A good example of this is when I auditioned for the Retreads last year, we played the song Semi-Charmed by 'Third Eye Blind'.  I knew how the song went, but I only knew half the lyrics (if that) from listening to it on the radio.  It's a very catchy song, has an upbeat melody and a great hook, what's not to like?  Of course the words go by very fast, when you slow them down, or actually read them, it's a very dark song dealing with Meth Addiction.  

I won't go into much detail, but here's one line from the song...what do you think it means?

The sky was gold, it was rose
I was taking sips of it through my nose
And I wish I could get back there, someplace back there
Smiling in the pictures you would take
Doing crystal meth, will lift you up until you break
It won't stop, I won't come down
I keep stock with the tick-tock rhythm, I bump for the drop
And then I bumped up, I took the hit that I was given
Then I bumped again, then I bumped again

Perhaps drug hallucinations from cocaine mixed with Meth, a drug high that eventually crashes, so keep taking more and more resulting in heart palpitations or arrhythmia, but take another 'hit' and keep your high anyways...of course that's just one opinion.  It could mean something completely different. 

For more on this song, you can look here: http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=2072

I would advise you to keep your overhead down; avoid a major drug habit; play everyday, and take it in front of other people. They need to hear it, and you need them to hear it.
--James Taylor  

 I figure the counter to Semi-Charmed Life would have to be James Taylor's "You've Got a Friend".  Since James Taylor is classfied as a folk singer, this song lacks the upbeat rhythm and hooks that Semi has. The Lyrics in this song are inspiring, and encouraging, especially considering how cruel or unfair the world can be sometimes.  In most cases, no one is ever completely alone.  If you are reading this, then I hope you know that I am your friend, and may not come knocking on your door, but will do what I can to help.  I know I have a few friends who will do the same.

If the sky above you
should turn dark and full of clouds
and that old north wind should begin to blow
Keep your head together and call my name out loud now
and soon I'll be knocking upon your door.
You just call out my name and you know where ever I am
I'll come running to see you again.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
all you got to do is call
and I'll be there, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Please don't get me wrong, I would have loved to have Semi-Charmed in my old band's line up, but it just didn't sound right so we dropped it.  With my new band, Jack's Roommate, this song isn't even on our radar, but neither is James Taylor.  It's the audience that the songs are geared towards.  I find it a bit disturbing when I see girls under 10 singing Kate Perry, don't you?

I'ma get your heart racing in my skin-tight jeans

Be your teenage dream tonight

Let me put your hands on my in my skin-tight jeans

Be your teenage dream tonight

***Shudder***

Lyrics and meaning aside, the true heart of any song is the rhythm, which makes me understand why Elvis said what he did.  It is the pulse, that makes a song move.  That uncontrollable drive that makes you unconsciously tap your toe, or get up and dance.  It provides an emotional effect.  And rhythm does not just mean drums...

Back in my High School days our drum line entered several Winter Percussion Ensembles and did really good.  For me the most memorable section was when we used no instruments and just our hands.  Clapping in various ways to create different pitches and rhythms.  It definitely turned a few heads....kind of like these guys below

I guess all I'm trying to say is...."I HATE SAUERKRAUT"!  


speaking of which...here is a true musical genius...

 

-Brian

"People are flowers. Music is water. Musicians are the hose."
-- Carlos Santana  

Jack's Roommate

As previously mentioned, I am back in the music business, or at least the business of making music.  Ok, so not really making music per say, but at least duplicating music that has already been made.  I'm doing this with two other local musicians in the Boise area.  Together, the three of us are a group called "Jack's Roommate".

When I joined the band and I heard the name, I was a bit puzzled as to the title and tried to figure it out.  There are so many Jacks out there.  Initially I thought Jack in the Box, maybe someone was his college roommate? (I could go for a couple tacos right now)  Jack Frost?  Jack Black? Jack Nicholson? Jackie Chan? The Jack that no one knows....from "You don't know Jack"?  As it turns out, our guitar player Roc does know Jack.  Last December the band had a "Naming Party".  Basically, it was a house party, where everyone put a potential band name in a hat, and then the band later went through the list and picked one.  Since this part was at Jack's house, and Roc is Jack's roommate, well, I think you can figure out the rest.

Because Jack's Roommate was an existing band, the initial playlist was already in order, so of course I have some catching up to do.  The list contains mostly Classic Rock, including artists such as Jimi, Tom, Lenny, Eric, the other Jimmy, Bob, Stevie, Joel, and others.  We will be adding more songs, and more artists, as well as some of our own takes on fan favorites. (Everybody loves a re-make)

Unlike the last band I was in, I'm getting in with this group on the ground floor.  Lisa has been in this industry so long that she is pretty much the musical director of the group.  She likes the fact that we all play different instruments and we will be using that.  I'll get our from behind the drums, starting next week, I'll have a mic (scary, I know)  btw, only 9 Months and 28 days till The Hobbit.

The pictures I've put up are taken in our rehearsal space is known as "Studio 10".  This is Lisa's private studio.  Only a handful of people are aware it even exists.  I'm blessed to be one of them as it has everything a band needs, lots of space and a fridge.

Be sure to like us on facebook , so you'll get the latest and the greatest news and events...

Till next time....

Back in the Saddle

So it's been about 6 months since I last "ROCKED" as the drummer of Retreads.  For various reasons, including tendinitis, that journey came to an end.  I started playing at my church about a month ago, and the hands feel good, so I decided to check out Craig's List again to see what was out there.  

After a few e-mails back and forth, an audition was arranged.  The following songs were requested to be played

• Hard to Handle - Black Crowes
• Born to be Wild - Steppen Wolf
• All Right Now - Free
• Kryptonite - 3 Doors Down
• Mary Jane's Last Dance - Tom Petty
• Sunshine of your Love - Cream
• Are you Gonna go my Way - Lenny Kravitz

So I wasn't familiar with all these songs, but thanks to YouTube, I became familiar enough to duplicate the songs.  A few things to note at this point, I haven't done "serious" practicing in a while so I was a bit nervous going in, but I convinced myself to just do the best I could and be myself.  Long story short, I'm in the band!

I believe the group will be called "Jack's Roommate", however I'm not %100 sure about that.  It is currently a 3 piece cover band, with guitar, bass, drums, and possibly adding keyboards in the future.  Our front-man is actually a woman who has played with various bands over the last 25+ years, plays multiple instruments...toured Europe, etc, etc.  The kicker is that they (she) have their own studio.  Since she is a "professional" musician, meaning she makes her living from playing music, she has her own place.  All the gear is setup and ready to go...I won't have to lug my drums around

Since they have only been together about 2 months, I'm getting in close to the ground floor.  I'm excited and looking forward to what the future holds.  When I know more, you'll now more.

-Brian


(btw, only 10 months, 7 days till "The HOBBIT".  (one has to keep track of these things))

Time...what to do?

So it's the new year..and January is already over.  Only 10 months and 12 days left before Part 1 of "The Hobbit" comes out on the big screen.  10 months and 12 days....that's about 317 days, or 27,388,800 seconds...give or take a few hours.  What are we supposed to do with ourselves?  I suppose we can watch the trailer, over, and over, and over again.  If you haven't seen it yet...behold your eyes, and be sure to turn up the bass on your speakers....those Dwarves can carry a tune...

So while we wait for that, I guess I'll go audition for another band.  My hands feel good and I've been playing drums at church the past few weeks with no problems, so let's see what happens, shall we?  And yes, I'll be writing more...must write more...after all, I have 10 months and 12 days before....we'll you get the idea...

wish me luck!