Back in the late 80's and early 90's I played in a couple of hard rock bands. Their names were Allegiance (my first band ever), and Legacy. They were what you would call, "hair metal" bands. We were young Christian boys and wanted to rock out like any other young men our age. We chased the elusive record deal to make us full time music stars. Got a couple of nibbles, but to no avail. We were good bands, and I am proud to have been in them. Our hearts (intentions) were pure, and we wanted to be all that Christian musicians could be. But it all went down the drain like Brian Adam's song, "Summer Of 69." Sing it to yourself and you'll understand.
Anyway, we all kind of hung out at this Christian Record store called Heartsong Records. The guy who owned the place was also a concert promoter, and had his own Christian Rock radio show at the local Christian radio station. (He is still on the air now at: http://newark.promiseradionetwork.com/ The show is called Rock Solid, check it out) It was kind of this young adult Christian scene/subculture that was really unique.
So me and some of the guys that were in these hair bands with me were asked if wanted to play a Heartsong Records reunion party. I was still working two jobs at the time, so I was a little reluctant to do it because of the lack of rehearsal time available to make it a good concert. Since I don't know how to say no to anyone, I said yes anyway. We squeezed in about 3 rehearsals and I must say they went rather well. I said before that we were pretty good bands, and it seemed the old muscle memory from playing that style of music served us well. Things really snapped into place. Turns out I AM pretty good at that style of music! Huh, who knew??
The concert went really well and the party was a complete blast! We even made a fair amount of money.(which we used to pay the sound man, and the rest went to the guy who owned the record store) The crowd cheered as each song ended, and I seemed to have more fun with each number we belted out. It was such a great time to see all those people I hadn't seen in 20 years. Moments of the other night were like time had stood still and no time had passed since the last time we were all together. I posted some videos below that our drummer posted to his youtube page.
Have you ever had an experience like that? Where it seemed surreal and that you were indeed reliving a bit of your past? Learning that I still have the musical chops was the single best musical experience I have had in almost 15 years! It has been an effort to pry the smile from my face since the other night! I am really looking forward to seeing what is on the horizon for me and my musical partners in crime!
August 09, 2009
August 01, 2009
July 07, 2009
Has Ruth's Chris turned into Taco Bell, and ruined the music business!
Technology is an awesome thing. We live in an age where we can have anything we want delivered to our doors. I can hardly think of anything that can not be purchased over the Internet. You can even meet your future significant other without ever leaving the comfort of that Walmart office chair that sits in front of your put-together computer desk, or the cozy little booth by the fireplace at your local overpriced coffee shop. The information age has really given a shot in the arm to those who want to reach a broader audience to buy whatever it is they are selling. But what happens when technology completely upsets the apple cart? Today, the music business is desperately trying to pick up it's apples from the sidewalk before we smash them under our Old Navy flip flops.
I grew up in the 70's and 80's. You heard a song you liked on the radio, you found out the name of the song and artist who recorded it. You saved your nickels and dimes and went down to the record store (remember those?) or department store and laid down your hard earned cash for the album that contained that song. The bonus was you got at least 9 or 10 other songs with it! You didn't know them, but you learned them by going home and putting the LP, or cassette, or whatever format on your stereo and listening. I used to love the LP's that had lots of liner notes and photos of the artists on the inner sleeve. Listening to music you could hold in your hands was an event. An experience. I don't want to get into whether the music was better then or not, but I will just say that it I feel it had more of an impact on us than the music of today. I think the quality of the experience stuck with us more. Dare I say, you got more for your money when you HAD to buy an LP, cassette. or CD.
Now, you can pick and choose what you want from any artist. Not having to buy the whole album. You don't get something you hold in your hand and look at, and you usually don't get more than cover art when you purchase your music digitally. No cool liner notes and credits, no photos... nothing but mp3 files. Yes, its faster and cheaper, but it's just not the same experience. While I am forever indebted to Steve Jobs and am seldom ever without my ipod within arms reach, I long for the, "I just got a new record and I can't wait to listen to it tonight!" experience. For me the record album was a meal at Ruth's Chris steak house. Not just food, but the food. An event. An experience. The digital download has turned buying music to going through the drive through at Taco Bell. It's fast, cheaper, and it fills you up. It tastes okay, but the experience doesn't stay with you.
Then, there is the whole illegal downloading/file sharing issue. Now, I don't want to sound like Lars from Metallica, but I do not understand why people think that this is okay. The artists who spend time to write, arrange, and record this music usually really work at it. Even an American Idol contestant is singing a song that someone painstakingly wrote, and probably rewrote a few times. I am trying to say that there is significant effort in what musicians, singers, recording engineers, and producers do to create quality music. Why do we think that it is okay to say that their efforts have no worth any longer, and go to a file sharing site and get that music for free?
I will admit it. I used to "dub" my albums to cassette and even share them with my other musician and music loving friends. We did this for two reasons: Portability, and to preserve the relatively fragile vinyl LP. We used to share them to let each other know about cool music each of us had discovered. I almost always went out and bought the dubbed album for myself later. The music people got paid, the musicians got paid and I owned those albums. Why? I wanted the experience. The Full Meal Deal. To sit down and enjoy a large fillet cooked medium with a baked sweet potato, a large beer, and a salad with bleu cheese at Ruth's Chris steak house. Not Taco Bell served in the car and made by some teenage boy who is upset at the manager for making him wear a hairnet for only $7.50 an hour.
I realize this post has two different points. The lack of quality/experience in the digital age, and the lack of conscience of those who download music illegally. I will attempt to make this post be more of a cohesive thought by proposing this theory:
Is perhaps the lack of an experience in the digital download is a root cause of the decline in the perceived value placed on music today? The purchasing is painless and the music doesn't move you on as deep of a level, so therefore music is worth nothing or at least worth less in the eyes of the consumer. Whoa, my head hurts now...
So if you actually read through all this, what do YOU think? I am very interested to know what you, the modern music fan thinks about all this. Tell me. Do you even care? Tell me anyway. I'll wait right here and take a few Advil...
I grew up in the 70's and 80's. You heard a song you liked on the radio, you found out the name of the song and artist who recorded it. You saved your nickels and dimes and went down to the record store (remember those?) or department store and laid down your hard earned cash for the album that contained that song. The bonus was you got at least 9 or 10 other songs with it! You didn't know them, but you learned them by going home and putting the LP, or cassette, or whatever format on your stereo and listening. I used to love the LP's that had lots of liner notes and photos of the artists on the inner sleeve. Listening to music you could hold in your hands was an event. An experience. I don't want to get into whether the music was better then or not, but I will just say that it I feel it had more of an impact on us than the music of today. I think the quality of the experience stuck with us more. Dare I say, you got more for your money when you HAD to buy an LP, cassette. or CD.
Now, you can pick and choose what you want from any artist. Not having to buy the whole album. You don't get something you hold in your hand and look at, and you usually don't get more than cover art when you purchase your music digitally. No cool liner notes and credits, no photos... nothing but mp3 files. Yes, its faster and cheaper, but it's just not the same experience. While I am forever indebted to Steve Jobs and am seldom ever without my ipod within arms reach, I long for the, "I just got a new record and I can't wait to listen to it tonight!" experience. For me the record album was a meal at Ruth's Chris steak house. Not just food, but the food. An event. An experience. The digital download has turned buying music to going through the drive through at Taco Bell. It's fast, cheaper, and it fills you up. It tastes okay, but the experience doesn't stay with you.
Then, there is the whole illegal downloading/file sharing issue. Now, I don't want to sound like Lars from Metallica, but I do not understand why people think that this is okay. The artists who spend time to write, arrange, and record this music usually really work at it. Even an American Idol contestant is singing a song that someone painstakingly wrote, and probably rewrote a few times. I am trying to say that there is significant effort in what musicians, singers, recording engineers, and producers do to create quality music. Why do we think that it is okay to say that their efforts have no worth any longer, and go to a file sharing site and get that music for free?
I will admit it. I used to "dub" my albums to cassette and even share them with my other musician and music loving friends. We did this for two reasons: Portability, and to preserve the relatively fragile vinyl LP. We used to share them to let each other know about cool music each of us had discovered. I almost always went out and bought the dubbed album for myself later. The music people got paid, the musicians got paid and I owned those albums. Why? I wanted the experience. The Full Meal Deal. To sit down and enjoy a large fillet cooked medium with a baked sweet potato, a large beer, and a salad with bleu cheese at Ruth's Chris steak house. Not Taco Bell served in the car and made by some teenage boy who is upset at the manager for making him wear a hairnet for only $7.50 an hour.
I realize this post has two different points. The lack of quality/experience in the digital age, and the lack of conscience of those who download music illegally. I will attempt to make this post be more of a cohesive thought by proposing this theory:
Is perhaps the lack of an experience in the digital download is a root cause of the decline in the perceived value placed on music today? The purchasing is painless and the music doesn't move you on as deep of a level, so therefore music is worth nothing or at least worth less in the eyes of the consumer. Whoa, my head hurts now...
So if you actually read through all this, what do YOU think? I am very interested to know what you, the modern music fan thinks about all this. Tell me. Do you even care? Tell me anyway. I'll wait right here and take a few Advil...
July 04, 2009
Why The Wet Blanket?!!
I know that no one is really reading this blog, so I have to vent. Look, I am a Christian. I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the grave to bridge the chasm between God and man. He shed his blood for our sins. I believe, and I have a relationship with him. But why can't I just say something without having to interject my faith into every word I type on the internet? I love God, but I sometimes have a real problem with those who call themselves his people. Christians do more to drive away their own than any other religon I know, and it is a faith that is based on GRACE and FORGIVENESS!
I am not embarrassed of Jesus or what I believe in, but I am not a Christian to please other Christians! I do not have to convert you or please you! Why is it that YOU are the only people who have a problem with me when you feel I don't inject enough "Jesus" into what I am saying or doing? Your measuring stick will never fit me! Actually, it is NOT YOUR JOB to hold the stick up to me anyway. That job belongs to Jesus...
"I have stolen, cheated,
I have lied
I am prideful, and UNQUALIFIED,
I am broken when I realize,
God's GRACE covers me..."
-Eli
I am not embarrassed of Jesus or what I believe in, but I am not a Christian to please other Christians! I do not have to convert you or please you! Why is it that YOU are the only people who have a problem with me when you feel I don't inject enough "Jesus" into what I am saying or doing? Your measuring stick will never fit me! Actually, it is NOT YOUR JOB to hold the stick up to me anyway. That job belongs to Jesus...
"I have stolen, cheated,
I have lied
I am prideful, and UNQUALIFIED,
I am broken when I realize,
God's GRACE covers me..."
-Eli
July 01, 2009
Schedule Changes and Announcements
A couple of years ago I get the opportunity to take the job I really wanted, but with a pay cut. So this is where I started working two jobs to make up the difference. This is how we have been operating for the last two years. ...until today.
I got an offer for a second temporary job that will last about a month. the money I can make in this month will make it possible for me and my family to make it with only one of my incomes! I can't wait till the end of this job, because it will mean that I will have a life again. And part of that life can finally be a musical life!
So I had to cancel that show that was scheduled for the end of July so I could take this job. It really pained me to do it, but the rewards will be far greater in the long run. Our cars will be fixed, bills paid, and a little money for the famous Dave Ramsey, "emergency fund"! Then I can resume being a better husband, father, and musician again, instead of a work machine!
So stay tuned for more updates, music, concerts, and most of all, original songs! I am feeling like a huge weight is being lifted from my back. What a source for inspiration!
I got an offer for a second temporary job that will last about a month. the money I can make in this month will make it possible for me and my family to make it with only one of my incomes! I can't wait till the end of this job, because it will mean that I will have a life again. And part of that life can finally be a musical life!
So I had to cancel that show that was scheduled for the end of July so I could take this job. It really pained me to do it, but the rewards will be far greater in the long run. Our cars will be fixed, bills paid, and a little money for the famous Dave Ramsey, "emergency fund"! Then I can resume being a better husband, father, and musician again, instead of a work machine!
So stay tuned for more updates, music, concerts, and most of all, original songs! I am feeling like a huge weight is being lifted from my back. What a source for inspiration!
June 27, 2009
Finally, I have comments!!
After a week of having a blog, I finally got a couple of comments! This is thrilling! One commenter complimented the song I have posted in the music player in my side bar!(its a song from one of my former groups) He said he loved the song and that it had a "deep bench". Well I'm not sure what that means, but the fact that I actually had other people read my first post is of great significance to me. It symbolizes my return to music and being a working musician again.
Speaking of that, I have some good news. I was recently selected at my day job to be, "The Voice Of ------s!" I auditioned and was selected to record voice overs for internal media and training videos that my company is creating. I have just recently started getting hired as voice talent for singing and narration and I really enjoyed the work. I am hoping to get more work of that type to supplement my income. Hey, it is music related work! I'll take it.
I am also still putting off rehearsing and learning songs for this up coming gig I have at the end of July. I am getting more nervous about it because a lot of friends from my past may be there. I have probably played and sang in front of them countless times back in the day. But I am kind of flipping out at the thought of doing it again after all this time. I am not usually one to be shy or even very nervous about performing, but it is starting to get to me. What if I sing like a rusty nail on a chalkboard? What if my fingers cramp up and I can't play guitar correctly? What if I forget lyrics to the unfamiliar cover songs? What if our backing vocals sound like a group of drunk karaoke singers after happy hour? ...um, I think I need to go practice!
Before I go, I would like to plug my buddy's blog. Go down to the blogs I follow and click on either one by my friend Jake Allen. His life as well as his postings are much more exciting than mine. I am hoping to visit him someday and help him do some maintenance on Abigail, as well as sample the local culture!
R.I.P.-Michael and Farrah.
Speaking of that, I have some good news. I was recently selected at my day job to be, "The Voice Of ------s!" I auditioned and was selected to record voice overs for internal media and training videos that my company is creating. I have just recently started getting hired as voice talent for singing and narration and I really enjoyed the work. I am hoping to get more work of that type to supplement my income. Hey, it is music related work! I'll take it.
I am also still putting off rehearsing and learning songs for this up coming gig I have at the end of July. I am getting more nervous about it because a lot of friends from my past may be there. I have probably played and sang in front of them countless times back in the day. But I am kind of flipping out at the thought of doing it again after all this time. I am not usually one to be shy or even very nervous about performing, but it is starting to get to me. What if I sing like a rusty nail on a chalkboard? What if my fingers cramp up and I can't play guitar correctly? What if I forget lyrics to the unfamiliar cover songs? What if our backing vocals sound like a group of drunk karaoke singers after happy hour? ...um, I think I need to go practice!
Before I go, I would like to plug my buddy's blog. Go down to the blogs I follow and click on either one by my friend Jake Allen. His life as well as his postings are much more exciting than mine. I am hoping to visit him someday and help him do some maintenance on Abigail, as well as sample the local culture!
R.I.P.-Michael and Farrah.
June 20, 2009
I should be writing lyrics instead of blogging!
I should be writing lyrics or deciding what songs to do for an upcoming show, but I keep hearing how we indie musicians need to have blog so here is my first post.
Like my description states, I am a thirty something singer and guitarist who is established in life with the great wife, awesome kids, a really good job turning wrenches on corporate aircraft. I have been a musician all my life. Singing in school and church choirs, taking lessons on a few different instruments before settling on the guitar at 14. I got in my first band at 15, and cut my teeth playing christian hard rock. Then I moved on to a couple other different groups in my early twenties playing hair band rock, alternative adult rock, and even an all acoustic group.(I am most proud of that group, our vocals were smokin'!)
I came close to the almighty record deal once or twice, with nothing ever really coming out of it. Truth is, the "Christian" music industry is just that ... an industry. Both of the groups I was in were told we were too UGLY to have a recording contract! Well, they didn't come out and tell us that in so many words, but they let us down easy. Kind of like the person who goes on a date and lets the not so desireable person down easy. The dumper says, "I think you are a great girl/guy with an awesome personality,"(you're ugly) but I really want to be your friend!" The record conpamy weasels said, "While we think you are a quality band, we just aren't excited enough about your presentation and image (you're fat and ugly) to take any action right now"(no deal), "but we will certainly stay in touch!"(let's just be friends) Why do I have to look like Ricky Martin to have people like my music or singing?
Along the way I became really interested in studying my faith and cultivating my relationship with God. Being disenchanted with the music business, I enrolled in Bible college to study vocal music and worship ministry. Let me just say that I became even more disenchanted with that facet of the Christian church then the record business! But that is for another post. As I grew cynical of the ministry, I began a friendship with the secretary at my home church. She was the sweetest, most loving girl I had ever met and I thought she was totally out of my league! She was the perfect distraction from my holy roller college. We dated for only five months before we were married! That was almost 14 years ago! Who says whirlwind romances can't last?
So up to this point I had pretty much given up on being a working musician and focused on finding a good job to support my new wife and daughter.(I married a ready-made family, just add Dad!) I was working in an old condemned car wash in a crack house area of town building shipping and warehouse pallets. A good paying job for a single college boy, but not much security for a young family of three.
After almost a year of crack house pallets, I heard at church from a friend of mine about job openings at his work. He was an aircraft mechanic at a growing private jet airline. I applied and got my foot in the door as an aircraft cleaner. That was in 1996 and I have held a few different jobs there before settling in as an aircraft mechanic. I work in the last great post 9/11 aviation companies and I am blessed to be here.
So for the past 13+ years, my musical life has been almost non-existent, except for a few one-off performances and one or two recording sessions. I have written only a handful of song fragments during the years. But something has been stirring inside me. I really have the bug to play and write and record again.
Now, the technology has progressed so that I don't need a record deal to finance an album. They can't tell me I don't fit their formula for sales success anymore. I can record MY music for far less than years ago, have Cd's pressed, sell downloads online, meet and start relationships with real fans, and actually put a few dollars in my pocket for the effort! The artist is now in charge! There is no better or more exciting time to be an independent musician then now. The records labels are dying and the industry is in a state of flux. No one knows what the new business model for music will end up being.
Can I actually juggle having and keeping a suburban family life as well as trying to write music and start a part time music career? Is it possible for my music to be self sustaining and even profitable? Will people even like my singing or my songs? It's going to be an interesting ride. I hope you decide to read along as I chronicle my journey.
Like my description states, I am a thirty something singer and guitarist who is established in life with the great wife, awesome kids, a really good job turning wrenches on corporate aircraft. I have been a musician all my life. Singing in school and church choirs, taking lessons on a few different instruments before settling on the guitar at 14. I got in my first band at 15, and cut my teeth playing christian hard rock. Then I moved on to a couple other different groups in my early twenties playing hair band rock, alternative adult rock, and even an all acoustic group.(I am most proud of that group, our vocals were smokin'!)
I came close to the almighty record deal once or twice, with nothing ever really coming out of it. Truth is, the "Christian" music industry is just that ... an industry. Both of the groups I was in were told we were too UGLY to have a recording contract! Well, they didn't come out and tell us that in so many words, but they let us down easy. Kind of like the person who goes on a date and lets the not so desireable person down easy. The dumper says, "I think you are a great girl/guy with an awesome personality,"(you're ugly) but I really want to be your friend!" The record conpamy weasels said, "While we think you are a quality band, we just aren't excited enough about your presentation and image (you're fat and ugly) to take any action right now"(no deal), "but we will certainly stay in touch!"(let's just be friends) Why do I have to look like Ricky Martin to have people like my music or singing?
Along the way I became really interested in studying my faith and cultivating my relationship with God. Being disenchanted with the music business, I enrolled in Bible college to study vocal music and worship ministry. Let me just say that I became even more disenchanted with that facet of the Christian church then the record business! But that is for another post. As I grew cynical of the ministry, I began a friendship with the secretary at my home church. She was the sweetest, most loving girl I had ever met and I thought she was totally out of my league! She was the perfect distraction from my holy roller college. We dated for only five months before we were married! That was almost 14 years ago! Who says whirlwind romances can't last?
So up to this point I had pretty much given up on being a working musician and focused on finding a good job to support my new wife and daughter.(I married a ready-made family, just add Dad!) I was working in an old condemned car wash in a crack house area of town building shipping and warehouse pallets. A good paying job for a single college boy, but not much security for a young family of three.
After almost a year of crack house pallets, I heard at church from a friend of mine about job openings at his work. He was an aircraft mechanic at a growing private jet airline. I applied and got my foot in the door as an aircraft cleaner. That was in 1996 and I have held a few different jobs there before settling in as an aircraft mechanic. I work in the last great post 9/11 aviation companies and I am blessed to be here.
So for the past 13+ years, my musical life has been almost non-existent, except for a few one-off performances and one or two recording sessions. I have written only a handful of song fragments during the years. But something has been stirring inside me. I really have the bug to play and write and record again.
Now, the technology has progressed so that I don't need a record deal to finance an album. They can't tell me I don't fit their formula for sales success anymore. I can record MY music for far less than years ago, have Cd's pressed, sell downloads online, meet and start relationships with real fans, and actually put a few dollars in my pocket for the effort! The artist is now in charge! There is no better or more exciting time to be an independent musician then now. The records labels are dying and the industry is in a state of flux. No one knows what the new business model for music will end up being.
Can I actually juggle having and keeping a suburban family life as well as trying to write music and start a part time music career? Is it possible for my music to be self sustaining and even profitable? Will people even like my singing or my songs? It's going to be an interesting ride. I hope you decide to read along as I chronicle my journey.
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