CUR518 -Local Musis Diaries – January 19, 2015

Dom Pat- An artist from the 518! Originally from GreenIsland NY Dom takes pride in his abilities of not only being an artist but also being a rap artist. In the short 2 years that he’s been releasing music he’s open for major named artist such as Cassidy, MGK, & even Joe Budden. Be on the lookout for this upcoming artist he’s determined to make It big! Youtube.com/dompat23   –   Reverbnation.com/dompat

Jay Frost : Ever since his first performance at the original Positively Fourth Street (later B.R. Finley’s and The Basement Bayou) back in 2001, Jay Frost has been a mainstay in the Capital District music scene. A native of Troy, Jay honed his craft as a singer/songwriter on the open mic circuit, where he regaled audiences with his original material as well as covers of classic and contemporary rock numbers, gritty acoustic renditions of three-chord punk, and selections from other more obscure acts. Drawing influence from the 

same well of creativity as Aaron Lewis, Dallas Green, Dax Riggs and Neil Young, he has shared the stage with a number of local rock and metal bands, as well as national and international touring acts (most recently, Michale Graves of The Misfits and Wind in Sails). In 2009, Jay released a number of selections from his seven song EP “The Sun’s Descent” digitally through MySpace. His only studio effort to date, “Sun’s…” finally saw a full digital release in 2013 via BandPage, and is available for free download at www.facebook.com/jayfrostsolo Despite playing in a number of local metal bands throughout the years, Jay has never lost his passion for solo performances. Be sure to catch him this Thursday, January 22nd at Bombers Burrito Bar in Troy where he will be playing his first hometown show in nearly 2 and a half years. ___________________________________________________________________

Bored Habit is an alternative post-punk trio that formed in Troy, NY in 2014. Their sound is influenced by the likes of Joy Division, Nirvana, The Descendants, Built To Spill, and others. Their sound is unique due to their variety in musical background. Their sound is simplistic, yet driven by melodic overtones. They are a new band with a lot of ambition and a desire for artistic expression. Their songs are reminiscent of pop with a dark side. Their lyrics touch on the topics of love, loss, and living in the cities of upstate New York. They strive to be a breath of fresh air that their audience can relate to.

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A newcomer to the capital district music scene, Matthew Pryce is making a name for himself as session player, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter.

On any given day, you might see him strumming & picking a variety of guitars (acoustic & electric), providing low end as a funky bassist, tickling the ivories behind a keyboard, 

picking bluegrass on mandolin and singing harmony. Locally, he’s played with a variety of bands on all of these instruments, but has emerged as a one-man-band type solo act. With influences ranging from the most modern contemporary music to the deep chasms of classical, you really never know what to expect. Aside from the bevy of unique originals, Matthew is comfortable jamming out everything from Bill Monroe to Daft Punk. Master of the loop pedal, Matthew creates the sound of a full band all by his lonesome. With the addition of a gorgeous Washburn f-shape mandolin (a Christmas present to himself), his solo show can sometimes resemble a full-fledged bluegrass experience.

Currently, he is finishing up his first solo record. Titled #Funplugged, this debut album features all original acoustic material. Ever the bubbling source of new ideas & material, the follow-up album is already written and work will begin on A Very Little Bit Country as soon as the first record hits the shelves. With the presence of the mandolin, the follow-up will have a rootsier Americana feel – as much an can be done by an Italian kid from the Bronx. Look for Matthew on stages across the Capital District.

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Among the Madness: For over ten years Jon Thompson has developed and established himself as a musician and songwriter. His music is unique in sound and meaning. 

There are times when listening to his lyrics you wonder how he knew what you were feeling at a time in your life. He has a strong ability to capture emotion. Which he says is exactly why he started playing and writing, “for a release.”   Most of his inspirations have come from artists such as Bob Dylan, Shannon Hoon, David Gray, Jack Johnson and so many others.  The band came together when Chris Paolucci on drums and his brother Andy on guitar started jamming with Jon in the basement.  Bassist Rich Krissel later joined completing the lineup that now makes up: Among the Madness

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From the humble streets of Poestenkill, New York, Charlie Parker’s head is a rock n’ roll band comprised of Zach Leffler “Zeffler” (Vocals, Guitar), Matt Heffner “Meffner” 

(Guitar, Vocals), Dylan “Waxey” Westbrook (Bass), and Andrew “Bobby Light” Golden (Drums).  Formed in the fall of 2014, they began composing original songs and putting their spin on classic hits and various hidden gems by singer-songwriters. Bringing forth hard-hitting grooves with a mellow vibe, Charlie Parker’s Head  is bringing back what rock n’ roll used to be, fun but not overdone. Drawing from a wide range of influences, their sound takes cues from the British invasion hits of the Sixties up through contemporary rock sounds of today. They are passionate about music, and look to bring that to you in the live show, and eventually in the studio.

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Tarzan J. Hedgepeth I started out as a drummer in a local church in 2000.  At the ripe old age of 18, I was a late beginner.  Not long thereafter I got a job at Wal-Mart whereat another drummer was employed.  His name is Mr. Freddie Blood.  He gave me instructions while I was pushing carts, “Dub-ble Bub-ble Pair-ah-didd-le – digga dagga digga dagga…!” – I would hear in my head as I slapped the handles of the guide cart out on the frozen asphalt.  IF anyone knows who that man is, then it is apparent to you that I improved quite quickly.   But I knew somehow that drumming was not my passion. I picked up a guitar (always someone else’s guitar – I was supposed to be a drummer!) and practiced when no one was around.   It’s now 2003 and I have moved back home to Lawrenceburg, TN – the home of southern gospel music(look it up).  I spend years getting into trouble, with music always there hanging in the background as a sort of an expression of my character like my pronounced cheek bones.

It’s now 2007 and I’ve decided trouble is not fun anymore(little did I know that you needn’t seek trouble for it to continue – in fact, it’s a greater invitation to flee it).  I start writing songs – LOTS of songs – on a hardcover journal I bought at Ocean State Job Lots.  I bought that notebook on December 17, 2007.  I met my wife in 2008.  She loved my music.  You could say 2008 was when my music started paying off! I am 30 years old now and I have written over 350 songs to date.  There are quite a few that have found their way into obscurity much like the screws and nails of the “junk drawer”.  But I have since found my voice. You will hear that voice at Bomber’s Burritos in Troy on January 29th, 2015.

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Summer of Doug :Douglas John Bergen had a dream to play music and it seemed like it was to remain a dream until his wife, Kelly, gave him an $100 guitar…….a few strums 

and a few scribbles later, the Summer of Doug band was born. Now, four years later, they have a CD under their belt, and are presently working on a follow-up. They perform all over the Capital District as well as sharing the stage with some of Upstate’s best talent. Critics have stated that “They are Rock and Roll with just the right taste of Soul” and “Summer of Doug brings the party to you-Southern Rock for the North”  Their message to the Capital District and the rest of Upstate New York is that ” SUMMER IS A STATE OF MIND”  It’s been an absolute joy to have been able to play to thousands of fans, young and young at heart, and the party just continues to move along.  Summer of Doug …is made up of Douglas John Bergen – Vocals/Guitar – Matt Juk (Uncle Bootsy) – Vocals/Mandolin – David Nicholas – Vocals/Lead Guitar – Mike Montuori – Saxophone – Arya Chowdhury – Vocals/Bass Guitar/Keyboards – Dennis Knight McGlauflin – Drums/Percussion

  ____________________________________________________________________________ Yankee Holler is a roots rock outfit with members hailing from Albany, Rensselaer, and Schenectady Counties. The group began in the fall of 2013 when singer M.T. Dickerson 

guitarist Matt Aumand joined up with some veteran musicians to cover alt-country and Americana artists like Uncle Tupelo and Steve Earle. Over time, as the band honed their sound, original music was added to the mix.  After gigging around the capital district in the winter and spring (and earning a nod as the #3 “Best Cover Band” in Metroland’s 2014 Readers Poll), Dickerson & Aumand parted ways with Yankee Holler’s original rhythm section and added Jeff Kehoe and John Meliski on bass and drums, respectively. Since the summer, the newly-configured four-piece has been gigging steadily while crafting an album’s worth of original material. Yankee Holler’s music runs the gamut from rock to country to blues and back again. They are fond of saying that they “specialize in plaintive ballads, pastoral anthems, and good ol’-fashioned barn-burners.” Recently they launched a successful Kickstarter campaign to raise funds for recording. As a result, tracking sessions are scheduled to take place at Big Blue North Studio in Utica beginning in late February. Look for their debut album later this year. 

Ten Years Burning Down The Road

American Songwriter magazine has been through some big changes in the last ten years. So has the music business. I’ve been in this crazy business since 1967, and it’s completely different. However, as I look over the “Guitar 101” articles I’ve written since 2004, I realize that when you get down to the basics of guitar playing and songwriting, not much has changed at all. Recording technology has improved enormously and with the advent of auto-tuning, people who can’t sing in tune can now make hit records. But as far as writing good songs and playing guitar well, it’s the same as it ever was.

Some people get into the music business because they want to be rich and famous. Others get into it because they love playing music and writing songs. You don’t have to do it for a living. Making a living as a songwriter or musician is getting harder and harder to do all the time. However, if you love it, do it anyway. It can enrich your life and the lives of others immeasurably.

Learning to sing well, to write songs well, or to play an instrument well is its own reward.

My primary focus in this column has been to make it easier for songwriters to use their guitar as a tool to help them write better songs, and to get better at playing guitar to accompany themselves and others. It’s really fun, and the better you get, the more fun it is.

A basic principle that I really try to get across is that writing songs, singing, dancing and playing musical instruments is normal and natural. It’s something that virtually everybody can do. These things are not just for the formally trained and gifted. People who are afraid to try to learn to do these things are missing out in a big way. Music is a language. You can learn to communicate in that language. You don’t have to be a virtuoso. Something I try to get people to understand is that learning to read written music notation and learning to play an instrument are not the same thing. Can a 5 year- old communicate? Yes. Does this child have to know how to read and write before he can communicate? No.

As far as common obstacles to learning to play guitar, I’d like to point out the ones I think are the most common: (1) trying to play on a guitar that is physically difficult to play, usually because the strings are too high off the fretboard, (2) being told that you have to learn to play music you don’t like before you can play music you do like, and (3) being told that you have to read musical notation to play an instrument.

Songwriters who play guitar usually learn in a random, hit-or-miss fashion and don’t understand how to use chords and chord progressions to their best advantage. Most of the traditional guitar method books and chord books feature chords that are relatively rare in popular music today (diminished and augmented chords) and completely omit chords that are common (sus2 chords and add9chords).

There seems to be a total disconnect between the people who write instructional materials and what is actually being played on records today. Also, if you use online websites to learn the correct chords to a song, they are 90 percent wrong. The people who post their versions of what theythink the chords are almost always miss the “color” chords  (sus2 , add9, sus4) and “connector” ( G/B , D/F#, etc.) chords.

Music theory is not that hard to understand. Understanding it has nothing to do with reading music notation. If you can sing “do re mi fa sol la ti do” (a major scale) and you can count to 7, you can understand music theory.

A lot of people have said they like my more tutorial lessons in which I have notation and tablature and specific licks and the like. Doing that kind of thing is pretty time consuming and is much more effectively communicated through a video. I apologize to those who want to see more of those articles. Maybe I’ll learn to use to use the available software more effectively. I’m open to suggestions as to what to write articles about. It seems like I’ve written about everything I can think of after ten years of this column.

I received tons of really nasty feedback from internet readers for a recent article in which I pointed out that in the documentary It Might Get Loud that three famous guitar players reverted to a basic “beginner” way of playing a Bm chord when they strummed acoustic guitars. Playing acoustic guitar rhythm is not what they got famous for doing. Something that people don’t seem to understand is that rich, famous guitar players aren’t really any better than YOU are at many guitar playing skills. If you’ve spent years playing acoustic guitar on a professional or semi-pro level, you’re probably better at playing acoustic rhythm guitar than Jimmy Page, The Edge, or Jack White. These people are not “gods” nor are they “masters” of their instruments. Most rich and famous guitar players are REALLY good at one or two things.

Are you a really good blues player? Well, you’re probably a better blues player than Chet Atkins was. If you can play “Eruption” by Eddie Van Halen, you’re better at THAT than Andres Segovia. You don’t have to be a virtuoso to get GOOD at what you want to get good at.

You’ll save yourself years of time and work by focusing on playing what you love to do the most. I’ve enjoyed writing this column for 10 years. Thanks for reading it.

I want to Thanks Gary Talley For Very Good Advice.

Written by Gary Talley

Bono Will Never Play Guitar Again

The Edge will continue to handle most of fret work (photo: CC, xrayspx)

You may recall that back in November we reported that U2 had to cancel its appearance on the Tonight Show at the last minute after Bono took a nasty spill off his bicycle in Central Park. News of the accident and resulting arm surgery was met with mirth in some circles (including here) as falling off a bicycle didn’t seem very rock n’ roll. Today, however, comes quite serious news: the injuries were worse than anyone thought and Bono may never be able to play guitar again.

The singer posted a lengthy blog post on the U2 website on New Year’s Day. As well as posting a photo of his new titanium elbow, he wrote that he has been pretty much laid up in bed for several weeks. “Recovery has been more difficult than I thought. As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again. The band have reminded me that neither they nor Western civilization are depending on this.” Although Bono won’t be strumming anymore, the show must go on: the band’s tour will still go ahead.