Saturday, December 25, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Today's Contribution to the Band
There is this philosophy out there which dictates that, if you're going to "make it big", then you should do one thing for your band every day.
Today, I went shopping for the ugliest guitar strap in Louisville.
The result was a compromise between an homage to Andy Summers, who always used a Fender monogrammed guitar strap, and fast food restaurants from the 1970's, which used the same muddy color scheme:
Lesson learned: Buying stuff is not an inherently creative enterprise. Write more songs; buy fewer straps.
Today, I went shopping for the ugliest guitar strap in Louisville.
The result was a compromise between an homage to Andy Summers, who always used a Fender monogrammed guitar strap, and fast food restaurants from the 1970's, which used the same muddy color scheme:
Lesson learned: Buying stuff is not an inherently creative enterprise. Write more songs; buy fewer straps.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Seachin' for that "Salmon Sound"
I'm forcing myself to begin practicing again, even though work often leaves my hands too cramped to do so comfortably. Here's your proof:
My hand. My guitar. It's all I need to "Start the Band". . . for now.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
"Inside every new guitar there are many new songs to 'uncork'."
A lot of people believe this. Kurt Cobain purportedly could sit for hours after getting a new insturment, and the songs would make themselves known to him like contents pouring out of a bottle.
To this I say: "New Telecaster". Since I don't drink anymore, it is nice to have something else to uncork and enjoy this New Year's Eve.
To this I say: "New Telecaster". Since I don't drink anymore, it is nice to have something else to uncork and enjoy this New Year's Eve.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
"Start The Band!!"
The name of this blog comes from a Jandek song, an instrumental atypical of the band's signature tunelessness. Sterling Smith, the songwriter for whom Jandek is, for all intents and purposes, his alter ego, has a knack for plain-spoken profundity. I love the simplicity to that imperative. "Start The Band"-as if instuments don't need to be bought, lessons taken, members auditioned and selected, or songs written so that the band has something to play.
As easy as Mr. Smith makes forming a group sound, I have always had great difficulty starting a band. Maybe it's because I'm nerdy and don't cut a convincing a "rocker dude" visual, or perhaps it's because I provide so little in the way of direction when I play music with others. The people whom I ask to join my band reply nonverbally, with a facial response equal parts skepticism and mild revulsion. They make me feel like I'm scamming them, as if I were some modern day Harold Hill.
All I can do is reassure prospective bandmates that I am in earnest, and have something of substance to bring to a music project. I'm a good guitar player, work hard at writing decent songs, I don't try to dictate to other band members the parts they play, and, when put in the role, try to be an encouraging bandleader.
This is my attempt to avoid the traditional problems and simply, without depending on others' less enthusiastic responses, "Start The Band". That's why I chose a band name, the spelling and pronunciation of which is the same in the singular and plural (more on that later). If need be, I can be the band until others get interested in joining.
As for joining, how about you? Do you play drums or bass? Do you sing? Are you from Louisville or surrounding environs? Are you into experimental music at all? If not, does it sound fun to play? Do you have any problems playing an instrument you don't know how to play?
C'on, give it a try. It'll be fun, and, maybe, we can play a few shows to small audiences, make small-volume runs of CD's to sell to our 3 die-hard fans, and maybe write our story large in the annals of relative obscurity.
How 'bout it?
As easy as Mr. Smith makes forming a group sound, I have always had great difficulty starting a band. Maybe it's because I'm nerdy and don't cut a convincing a "rocker dude" visual, or perhaps it's because I provide so little in the way of direction when I play music with others. The people whom I ask to join my band reply nonverbally, with a facial response equal parts skepticism and mild revulsion. They make me feel like I'm scamming them, as if I were some modern day Harold Hill.
All I can do is reassure prospective bandmates that I am in earnest, and have something of substance to bring to a music project. I'm a good guitar player, work hard at writing decent songs, I don't try to dictate to other band members the parts they play, and, when put in the role, try to be an encouraging bandleader.
This is my attempt to avoid the traditional problems and simply, without depending on others' less enthusiastic responses, "Start The Band". That's why I chose a band name, the spelling and pronunciation of which is the same in the singular and plural (more on that later). If need be, I can be the band until others get interested in joining.
As for joining, how about you? Do you play drums or bass? Do you sing? Are you from Louisville or surrounding environs? Are you into experimental music at all? If not, does it sound fun to play? Do you have any problems playing an instrument you don't know how to play?
C'on, give it a try. It'll be fun, and, maybe, we can play a few shows to small audiences, make small-volume runs of CD's to sell to our 3 die-hard fans, and maybe write our story large in the annals of relative obscurity.
How 'bout it?
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