New City Yikes.

I recently moved to Austin, TX. It's almost been a week since I arrived. I've always found this town to be quite the adventure every time I have visited in the past. This is my story how I feel about it right now. I'm feeling in limbo and I hope by writing this, maybe I will be able to look back and either laugh or cry at where I was at.
The first time I came here was over two years ago. Winter of 2011. I arrived just in time for what the locals call "free week." A week in early January between the fall and winter semester at "The University of Texas." It was like nothing I had ever seen. All the the live music music clubs charged no fee to get into their venues.  I spent a week in Austin and every night I went out and saw both local and national bands in multiple venues. I thought I had died and gone to music lovers heaven. I was so impressed at the volume of music venues and the appreciation they were apparently getting from everyone. I saw multiple genera of band sharing the same stage. When I left, I was dead set on one day moving to Austin, TX.
The next time I came it was that summer and I was house sitting for the friend I had visited earlier that year. I spent between three to four weeks all by myself. This trip was both insane and exciting. I didn't know anybody. I will have to make a note here, I have a hard time reaching out to people. It's difficult for me to meet new people. I don't know if it's because of how I was brought up, or if it's just because I'm shy in general. I know I'm shy until someone gets to know me. Then, you'll never think I ever shut up. Well, I spent most of my time that summer swimming, cycling,  trying to find free shows since I was pretty broke, and drinking myself into a stupor every night. I remember how I would budget my money. I would reserve just enough to barley eat and make sure I always had enough to buy the cheapest whiskey I could afford. It was this bottle of Kentucky blend that I cant even remember the name. It cost about $7. I would have to make this last for two days and usually it didn't. I ate mostly rice and beans that were in the cupboard  when I got there. I seriously lost so much weight in the time I was there. And, not in a good way. I loved this experience, however. I wrote songs, I had several nervous break-downs, and the memories are more good than bad. My only real regret was that I didn't manage to make any friends while I was down here. I also had a girl I was seeing back home and that I'm sure prevented me from  really reaching out to anyone. Sorry, I do have one regret. I shouldn't have ever dated that particular girl.
The next time I came was just last fall. I came for only five days to attend the "FFF6. Festival" (Fun Fun Fun Festival) It was amazing. The weather was perfect and the festival was too. I saw so many bands, bands I had  wanted to see for a very long time. During this visit I started to see a difference in my friend that I had been coming to visit and was attending the festival with me. Him and his wife had in the last few years adopted a son. They had become very religious and even though he was still and will always be in-dear to me, he seemed to of aged ten years. Now for the record, I have no problems with religion  In-fact, I feel that it can be a beautiful thing. What bothers me about it is, people seem to become religious because of social pressures or because they feel inadequate. My friend is one of the most intelligent friends I have. He can explain in faith better than I can explain anything. I don't want to say anything bad about him all of a sudden becoming religious. It's just that he isn't the same person I use to rally with back in my home town before he moved. He bad become like all my neighbors from where I grew up. Family men, wearing "dockers." His music tastes had started changing. We'd ride bikes all night listening to bands like "Slayer," "Mastodon," "Dead Meadow," and "The Brian Jonestown Massacre." He was listening to almost exclusively acoustic "schmaltz" music. I didn't think too much about it until now.
About a few months ago he called and said he was coming back to Utah to rent a moving truck to take what he had left in Utah back to Austin. He offered me an opportunity to move here. I could ride back with him and bring my things, tow my truck behind the rental truck he was providing. During this time I was feeling frustrated with where I live. It's a frustrating place being a musician in Ogden, Utah. Ogden has some of the most rich abundance of talent without an audience. I loved all my musician friends there. But I needed to see if maybe I could go somewhere else. My reasons for this, I could almost write a book about so I won't go into too much detail. Most importantly, I wanted to try and live somewhere new. So when the time came, after so much time spent on the fence I found myself on that truck heading to Austin.
Here now about a week, however, I feel so incredibly alone. I could go and see show after show and live it up if money wasn't a concern but until I find some way to at least support the basic needs for living, there isn't too much I can do. It's like I'm living in a city full of music and I cant go see it until I have some sort of foundation. My friend who I moved here is no help. His friends are all people from his church and most of them are not musicians anyway. I don't have the mentality of him and his peers. Their all professionals with household incomes over anything I could ever dream of. I'm like some punk kid that lives down the street who they probably pray for because they feel sorry for me. I need some people to play music with and I need a "shitty" part time job. I think that if this doesn't work out I'll be packing my truck with whatever I can fit and bailing. I don't want that to happen. I've never felt more by myself than I do now. I went from being in four bands and having amazing friends to nothing. I know it was a leap of faith but as of today, I may of made a mistake. Sometimes great cities are best visited not inhabited.

Open Mic Nights in Ogden

For the most part, Ogden Utah's music scene is diverse but there is a lack of places for a musician to play during the week but recently there has been open mic opportunities popping up.  Brewskis located at 244 Historic 25th St has had an open mic every Wednesday for the past four to five years.  In the last 6 months, both "The Sandtrap" located at  2851 S Washington Blvd and The Copper Club located at  315 – 24th Street has created their own.  Open mic jams are can be a useful tool to see who is out there.  There is never a cover and it gives people of all types of musical backgrounds a place to play music. 

The Sandtrap has theirs on Tuesday and is hosted by Ben Jennings. Ben Jennings is a true patronage of the arts in Ogden.  He operates his own art gallery, http://ogdencityarts.org/arts-in-ogden/galleries-in-ogden/universe-city-gallery.html.  Ben is also fluent on several different instruments and plays in several bands.  His open mic is good for people who maybe want to get an early set.  Teh Sandtrap's open mic starts at 8 o'clock p.m. and goes to 1 p.m.  There is always a drum kit set up but it's recommended to bring your own guitar.  Many "open mic" jams start too late.  Starting early allows for folks who might not be interested in staying up late a chance to play too. The Sandrap open mic opens their stage to all types of creative people.  Acoustic sets, spoken poetry and bands are what you'll typically see. When it starts getting later into the night, people arrive for more of an open jam session style of music.  Free form jam, jazz, and blues are the types of music you'll here till last call.


The Copper Club open mic is held every Thursday. It is hosted by Ryan Bassett an Ogden musician who plays in various bands around town.  This open mic is set up more like a jam session from start to finish, however, I've seen anything go down, including DJ sets with MC's.  There is usually always gear such as amps, drums, and guitars. However, it is still recommended to bring your own guitar if you're planning on playing a set. The Copper Club is a new establishment that is still in the works of being a serious music venue.  The open mic night is located in their basement.  The upstairs is going to be the stage for local and touring acts.  Check this venue out. It's new and going to be a good place to see live music.

Brewskis open mic is on Wednesdays and if hosted every other week by, yours truly, Jason Roy Sawyer and Rick Gerber.  Rick Gerber plays in a variety of Local band as do I.  At brewskis there is always a drum set up and a guitar amp.  Acoustic and electric guitars are not typically provided and therefore, it's recommended that you bring your own. Anything goes really at this open mic.  There has been MC's, spoken poetry, rock n roll bands, comedians, and even a magician. Music always starts at 10 p.m. and goes till closing time.  

Open mic sessions are always frequented by musicians. Networking is always a possibility.  If you're interested in playing live music and you don't have a band, check out one of these three open mic jams. Get yourself on a stage and involved with local music and musicians.   

Tribute to my favorite Guitarist, Randy Rhoads!

                                                                     

My favorite all time guitarist is Randy Rhoads.  There hasn’t been a greater influence on the music I play than him.  When I was 8 years old I purchased my very first album.  It was on cassette and the album was “Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads Tribute.” It was a double LP that that was available on one cassette.  I remember going through the photos and just being mesmerized.  Even at that age, I knew I was one-day going to play the guitar.  I would listen to “Tribute” almost every day.  I never understood at that age what the “tribute” meant.  I can still remember my reaction when I learned that Rhoads had died in a plane crash in March of 1982.  I was so devastated.  It was like I had lost a family member. I had my Rhoads posters on the wall by this time and I just sat there and stared at them. 

I didn’t start playing the guitar until I was 13 years old.  Unfortunately for me, my parents just didn’t let me have one until then.  By the time I got my first guitar it was during the peak of the early 90’s grunge music scene and being such a young teenager I had temporarily forsaken most metal from the 80’s.  It wasn’t until I was 16 years old that I came across my “Tribute “ cassette and remembered how much I loved to hear the guitar playing of Rhoads.  Since I had been playing guitar for three years, I was able to understand what he was doing better than I did at the age of eight.  I re-purchased the album on CD and started to study it.  During my teenage years and into my twenties I have listened and claimed to love many different musical genres.  All in an effort to better myself on the guitar, however, I’ve never stopped listening to Randy Rhoads.

Five years ago, I purchased the “Hal Leonard” transcriptions of “Tribute” I still don’t understand why I didn’t purchase it sooner.  It has been my bible for guitar playing and I still to this day struggle to play songs note for note.  I typically write my own music but I learn songs to further my skills and studying Rhoads has been an inspirational and frustrating journey.

Rhoads’s death was, in my opinion, one of rock musics great tragedies!  He was only 25 years old when he died.  Rhoads had only begun to scratch the surface of his potential.  He only recorded two albums with Ozzy Osbourne and a few others with bands he played with in his teens.  All of his early work is out of print.  One of the reasons I get so frustrated when studying Rhoads is that he was so young and sounded like a “seasoned guitarist” that should have been playing for years beyond 23-25.  When hearing what he accomplished at such a young age, it’s hard not to think about the tragedy of such an amazing talent lost.

I recommend any and all guitarists to check out Randy Rhoads.  Even if heavy metal isn’t your thing, his guitar playing transcends all genres.

How I make a living!

Playing music for a living isn't what most people think it could be and it's full of good and bad times, but for me it's the only way I want to live.  I have been playing guitar for almost 20 years.  I started my first band when I was in the 8th grade.  We were a "The Cure" and "Depeche Mode" cover band primarily till we started writing our own songs.  The reason we played the songs we did in the beginning was due to our keyboard player being the brains behind the show.  He knew music better than any of us and we followed him.  I've since then been in so many bands. Some doing mostly cover but mostly I play original music.  The way to make money is to become a diverse musician and be able to play a variety of music styles. I LOVE to play music that rocks.  But sometimes when you're trying to make a living you have to play genera that you don't necessarily love.  I've played country, jazz, blues, and bluegrass.  I was a banjo player in a bluegrass band once.  Weird? Absolutely!
I don't mind playing for a living because I know I write, record, and perform my own brand of music that I love.  The way I see it it, you could either clock in 9-5 working a job you don't particularly like or you can play music for music you don't fancy but love playing the guitar anyhow. 

'Junior and Transportation a band I don't play for anymore but made a good living and had some real good adventures.  They were a "jam band"  Jam bands are boring for me to listen to but it's fun to go rock out on stage with them.

Red Dog Revival Plays For Occupy Pioneer Park.

"Red Dog Revival" a band from Heber, Utah performed at Pioneer Park in Salt Lake City last Saturday. (10/22/2011.) The performance was for the Salt Lake City version of "Occupy Wall Street."  “Red Dog Revival” plays a genre of music they call "Progressive Psychedelic Butt Rock Blues."  However, I think their Facebook description sells them a little short.  This band is what I call refreshing to the Utah music scene.  So many young local bands have focused on trying to sound too much like their influences.  When it comes to "Red Dog Revival," it's obvious their listening to music created in the 60's and 70's but with their own fresh approach.  It’s easy to see their influences cross multiple genres.  There is a “psychedelic rock” sound but not the “drone” sound that has been flooding the local scene.  They instead use their instrumental ability without subjecting themselves to sounding like a jam band and improvise in and out of arranged sections. Thus, making for a serious rock experience.   After meeting with each member I was surprised to discover the humility they are blessed with. Complementing my own guitar playing instead of accepting compliments offered to them.  It makes you like their band for more than just the music and keeps you interested in seeing them again.
"Red Dog Revival" has a rhythm section that makes the band worth seeing alone.  The drummer plays with his toms flushed flat instead of the typical angled fashion.  For those who don't understand what the benefits are to playing like this then here is a short explanation. Have you ever seen a marching band?  The drummers with the exception of the bass drums have their instruments flat with their bodies.  With most drummers that play a kit, you can notice that the snare is usually the only drum on the kit that is flat.   This technique allows for the sticks to bounce and even crack the side of the rim.  The technique makes for a more efficient and loud sound from the snare; therefore, by doing this with all the toms it can create the same desired effect.   The result is a drummer with a very proficient and punchy sound that can make even the most rhythm incompetent person dance. In other words, a drummer with a “back-beat!!” The bass player holds the bottom end of the rhythm section.  The bass lines are to the point and he unselfishly delivers them allowing for the crowd to move with the rhythm. 

With the rhythm section doing their job so well it leaves a wide-open canvas for the two guitar players to add texture and compliment each other and leave room for the bluesy vocal lines. I love the guitar riffs.  Their almost traditional sounding yet they have a modern approach.  The two guitar players both appear to play rhythm and lead, depending on the arrangement.  The vocalist works his vocals into the textured mix resulting in a great rock n roll band that is worth checking out.  

Members include, Lonnie Banton on drums, Shawn Davis on bass guitar, Samuel Dumonte on guitar, and Casey Hansen on Guitar and vocals.

Purpose for my blog!

Music is the biggest part of my life.  Not only do I play in bands but I have a passion for others music such as concerts and albums.  I also have interests in the equipment available to musicians.  With my degree I'm hoping to go into writing more professionally as well as use the media knowledge to further my own music career.  I'm hoping his blog will be a place for me to start.  I've always wanted to have a career in music writing.  I have a friend, Linda East Brady that has written for reviews such as "Blues Review" and the "Go" section in the "Ogden Standard Examiner".  She has been an inspiration. 

First post

Posting this for the first time to see how it looks. I've been looking at purchasing a new guitar amplifier.  These are some of the options I'm seriously looking at. Orange or Mesa.  I need an amp that is no more than 50 watts.  I already have 100 watt "Mesa Boogie Dual Rectifier TremoVerb Combo" and a "Peavy Classic 30." I'm either too loud without or too quite.