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Ch-Ch-Ch Changes

  ***NOTE This article is a throwback to the dimly-lit past of 2009. Please enjoy my post-post-post adolescent angst*** Lately, I’ve been thinking about the concept of change, and the repercussions of change.   Let me elaborate. I’m in a band. I formed this band with a guy I met on the Internet, through an online band classified ads site. We got together and wrote some songs, and although his words were very good, he admitted that his singing experience only went as far as karaoke. I figured that the more we played and practiced, the better he would become. Then as we gradually began to accumulate band members, and the volume got louder, it became clear, or rather it became clear to others that the singing was not progressing to the level of the music.   I would often explain the concerns of people who would hear the music as poor recording methods, which was true, or some other excuse. Last fall, we ventured into the recording studio, not a big, fancy studio, but a small digit
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Yours, Mine and Ours

For those of you that don’t know first-hand, being in a band is an experience unlike no other.  It is no surprise that the band environment is a veritable powder keg of not only mind-blowing cohesion, creativity and synchronicity, but of regrets, bitter acrimony and downright hatred. While I won’t say *all* of the best bands straddle that knife-edge of violence in pursuit of great art, but the anecdotal evidence suggests a great many number of them have. Simon and Garfunkel, Jagger and Richards, Ray and Dave Davies and of course, where would this short list be without the Gallagher brothers?   Creatively speaking, these pairings produced their fair share of gems, thereby making the tension pay off in the end. But what happens when tension happens and there is no saving grace? Therein lies the problem. (Allow me to preface this by stating, in its present configuration, I love my band. They are, to a person, the most thoughtful, creative and easygoing folks I have eve
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Uncomfortable Truths for the Rock Musician (in no particular order)

Guitarists – If you think your amp is “loud enough” it is TOO loud. If you think your amp is too loud, it’s WAY too loud. Guys - Although tempting, do NOT have sex with your bandmates. Especially the female singer, because that NEVER works out…EVER. Ladies – Same goes for you, remember for every Stevie Nicks, there is a Meg White. Guitarists/Bassists – If your axe covers your nipples you need to join a Fusion band instead. Guitarists – If you think your solo is “long enough” it is TOO long. If you think your solo is too long, then it is WAY too long. If you have to ask the crowd if they have “had enough yet”, they have. In the context of Rock music, the word “Bass” should almost NEVER be followed by the word “Chord” or the word “Solo” Drummers – Your kit does NOT have a volume knob (if only…). Remember this simple formula: Marshall Stack>Drums>Acoustic Guitar. The audience applauding loudly after you announce “This is our last song” is NOT a compliment. It’s hard to t
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