Life in a cover band

When I started to pick up bass guitar, late in life to some, at 16, what I really cared about is how it might help me be perceived as more appealing to girls. I was already an avid surfer, and if there was surf, that was what I did. A couple of my friends found girls content to sit on the shore and sun bathe as we pursued our passion. I never found such a girl, and I needed some kind of edge. Being in a rather small pond, I got gigs in punk and garage bands, and developed some small degree of ability.
I think it all changed (as referenced in my last post) when I rented the Van Halen video " Live Without a Net". I don't know what year that was, but it was obviously after 86, when the video was released. Eddie looks live he's having the time of his life on that video, and he's tearing it up in his prime. I knew that was the life for me.
I took what little lessons I could afford. We had a local guitar hero, Steve Jurich, who really knew his stuff, and when ever I could scrape together the cash I'd have him show me some stuff, and truth be told, he did a lot of pro bono work too. (We were broke because my parents spent a load of money renting our beach front apartment, for which I will be forever grateful. It was a great way to grow up)



So, anyway. I took it seriously. I did a few bands. I wanted to be a pro musician. I watched a few people around me make pretty good runs of it, but I only ever made one record. Thanks to Duane Taylor for that.

Now I'm going to be 35 this weekend. Rock Stardom is waaaaaaaaaaaaay out of the question. And it seems like when ever your church band starts to get good, people start whining about how your heart is not in the right place. (Like we'd tolerate a pastor giving lousy sermons all the time and just call it "heartfelt") So, what I do to get my groove on is play in a cover band.

I've been with That 70's Band a few years now. When we gig, the pay is ok. But the great thing is the caliber of musicians I get to jam with. We recently began prepareing to be That 50's band, That 60's band and that 80's band as well. Really, I'm playing tons of my favorite tunes with guys who have become like family to me.

So, some guys younger than me have asked how I can sell out and give up my art like that? It's easy. No one wanted to hear my art. (Or more specifically, no one wanted to invest in my art to expose it to people who might want to hear it.)Maybe one out of, what 10,000 bands has any success at all. And anyone who has been in the industry knows it's not the most talented, most visionary bands that make it. It's the most marketable. (It's even more rare to have a marketable band with vision) Anyway,I'm no longer marketable. So do I give up on music because of that? No way. Making music is FUN. And I've made far more money playing other people's music than I ever did my own. My only regret is that I didn't hit on this cover band thing sooner.

My band offers costumes as an option, which adds a bit of anonymity that really lets you cut loose on stage. All the cliches that seem so goofy when you are trying to get signed become "what they're payin' ya for!" Acting like a ham can get you tips.

The one down side ( if you want to call it that) is that people really want to accurately reproduce the song. You're in the nostalgia business, and the more you remind them of their youth, the better you'll do. This means, yes, "Louie Louie" is pretty boring for the bassist. Getting feel for the crowd can give you a bit of freedom though. Still, watching my buddy John nail Berton Averre's athletic guitar solo onMy Sharona night after night is a talent unto it's self.

Treating music as a product to be marketed might bother some art minded individuals, but really, it's a more honest version of what the music industry does every day. Metallica may talk a good game, but really they manufactured a product that appealed to disenfranchised youth, and slowly built market share until they had mass market appeal. They never would have even made that 1st record on Megaforce if somebody didn't smell money first.

So, I like my cover band. I'll keep doing it until I can't anymore. And, I'll keep finally getting paid to play music.
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And that's enough for now.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Eddie Van Halen: Evolution

More than any single person, Eddie Van Halen got my butt down in the garage practicing 5 hours a day in high school. Not so much to sound like him, but to play like him. Like I was really good and having the time of my life. Over different times my my career, I have had various levels of sheer musical dexterity to play with. At my height of chops (if lacking musical maturity), Ed was my hero. And I've followed the highs and lows (Van Halen III ?!?!?) of Ed's little band. So, it is with all due respect I say, Ed should quit. I don't want Eddie to be another Axel Rose asking me to wait 10 plus years for a crappy "Chinese Democracy" that will never come. Writing song after song that doesn't measure up, pushing back the release as he knows it's true.

Ed threw down a gauntlet with "Eruption" few have dared to pick up. Perhaps only protege and die hard fan Paul Gilbert ever achieved such a mixture of frightening chops and musical soul. (I Love Satch and Vai , but what I said is true) And on top of writing some of the most kickass guitar riffs ever, Ed mastered the art of pop song writing with songs like "Dreams", "Love Walks In", "Right Now" and "I can't stop loving you", where he showed he was also the master of the tasteful, melodic guitar solo.

But, Ed has seen better days. I actually picked him for a Ghoul Pool this year. He's had a hip replaced and he's battled cancer. His long time marriage to Valerie fell apart. Tireless VH trooper Michael Anthony is out of the band. And, as much as we all loved the glory days, Dave hasn't been Dave in years. Who wants to see him on tour with VH? Not me.

If Ed quits now, he can look back at almost 3 decades of rock with very few regrets. If he puts out another album. It better be awful darn good, or all of the legacy is in jeopardy. I love him. I miss him. I hope he never comes back.
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And that's enough for now.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

My, how the mighty have fallen...

I can barely type right now.
Most of the small group who reads this blog know that I used to be a bassist of some small local renown. I wasn't Flea, but I got called pretty regularly. Those days are gone, and I'm really ok with that. Still, I got a few licks left in me, and I play as much as I can.

I had no idea how depressed I was going to make myself when I set down to play this evening. I got a little Digitech BP 200 bass effects thing I use as a practice amp. My wife must love it, because she never hears me practice. So, tonight I put on the headphones and throw down a bit of the funk. And no, not some weak NKOTB, KISS FM funk. I mean some booga in tha nose, mornin' breath smellin' all day long, nasty 'ole stinky stank FUNK. Slappin' an Syncopatin'. I was pleased.

I dunno, I guess I got cocky. The BP 200 has a little 8th inch jack in for jamming along with an external audio source. So I plug in the iPod and I'm scrolling through when I come across a line that says "Iron Maiden: Best of the Beast (UK)". Now, mind you, I did this ALL... DAY... LONG... in high school. So I say "Bring it!" and press play.

Dude... it was totally brung. Two songs. TWO SONGS and my forearm is screaming like a kid in day camp. (The Clairvoyant and The Trooper for those who know and care). I used to play Steve Harris' galloping triplets for HOURS, and now I wimp out after two songs. I feel like an old man. I AM an old man.

Well, I certainly remember what I admired about the guy. I'm not really comfortable recommending Iron Maiden in terms of content. But, I gotta give props to Steve Harris. His right hand is KING.

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And that's enough for now.

Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal

Syncronicity

Today is my last day of work before I become Mr. Mom and stay home with my kid. Now, I actually enjoy what I do quite a bit and have mixed feeling about leaving, but I woke up and my favorite tech diva Amber Mac posted a video on her blog. This is what they call an Anime Music Video. The editing is great, and I love this song. The sone is, of course, Code Monkey (link opens iTunes) by Johnathan Coulton. Possibly my favorite indie song EVER. I think there is a little code monkey in all of us. Have fun with the grind today.

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And that's enough for now.

Guitar Monkey, Brian Norwood

Platypi Online: The Platypus Portal