Thursday, December 27, 2012

Toronto Snapshot

A friend of ours shot some video during our performance in Toronto this month. Nothing like a YouTube clip full o' memories.



'Twas the night after the day after Christmas...

...and the entire band was home except for the drummer. He headed north to Wisconsin after the final gig in Chicago to celebrate the season with his wife's family, instead. And he has a couple of random post-tour thoughts to blog about.

- After catching a screening of Les Miserables, I remain convinced that singing things that were meant to be spoken is not as high class as so many people seem to think. Let's be honest: it's a bit silly. And forcing almost every line of dialogue to exist in a rhyme scheme creates a pretty small box for plot to function in. Just sayin'.

- Christmas carols are chock full of ridiculousness, as well. I understand that many of them were written as lullabyes for children, so historical accuracy was not the most important factor in crafting the song. But, I'm pretty sure oxen and lambs don't keep time all that well and the birthing of a new mother's first child was probably not the most serene, peaceful environment, either.

- I'm thankful for the bond I share with the guys in this crew after three months on the road. Many bands exist in either a treacherously tenuous or just plain toxic social situation: they get together to make the music happen and then couldn't care less about each other for the rest of the hours of the day. After three months locked in either a van or a hotel with these guys, I'm in no way tired of their company or sick of their presence. I realize how unique and special that is, and I am certainly grateful for it.

North America, the second half

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Home Stretch

We've arrived at that point once again: the final week before a tour's end. Tonight finds us sealed up in a hotel room in Montreal, trying to let the weather system snow itself out before we continue on to Ottawa. Of course, I say "snow", but what I mean is that sludgy, wet, cold substance that doesn't quite communicate a festive sense of the season or even allow for sensibly coherent motion. Venturing out for lunch, we joined the natives downtown in a sort-of waddling, wobbling, motor-skill-impaired form of movement that left us with wet shoes, cold feet, and a aching desire to get back inside.

Thus, I wish I could report that this city is as beautiful as it's been accommodating to us, and I'm sure that it is, but the weather has kept us from any kind of exploration we might otherwise have pursued. Alas, I've relegated myself to getting some reading done, playing some nonsense games on the iPad, and getting caught up on Lord of the Rings before I go out to see The Hobbit (Netflix being, of course, disabled north of the border).

But, I must say that our Canadian audiences on this tour have been some of the most enjoyable for which to play. We all feel very welcomed and appreciated here in the Great White North and it is a truly wonderful privilege to get to perform our music this far away from our home.


Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Laundry Day

Ah, Laundry Day - when the road dogs celebrate getting to cleanse the tour funk from their suitcased lives. The sweat of myriad performances is swept away in a couple of glorious, change machine-funded hours. Permanent press? Spin cycle? Heavily soiled? These are the questions dealt with by every independent band who's ever toured and they are enough to make you wonder: is large scale success really worth it if I have to forfeit all of this? I mean, what will a tour be if we're simply employing people to do our laundry for us? Where's the poetry in that?

Anyone else get that I'm a bit bored watching my clothes go round and round?

This update's long overdue, folks. I know that. I apologize. Except, I don't. The reasons for the delay have been both numerous and legitimate. First, the band was able to enjoy a bit of a siesta during the tour after our show in Nashville. Most of the crew loaded up the van and drove south to enjoy a few sun-soaked days on the beaches of Florida before continuing with our performances in St. Petersburg and Orlando. I, on the other hand, hopped a plane and met my beautiful wife for a long-awaited jaunt to Walt Disney World. It only took me 30 years to get there, but, by golly, I got there. And let me tell you all: it is not overhyped or too good to be true. I got to spend a couple of days feeling like a kid again. The music, the rides, the food, the sights - all of it conspired to bring out that old joy that made my jaw drop the first time I saw Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast in the theater as a youngster. Great times.


Friday, November 30, 2012

Backstage in St. Louis

Well, here we are again at the Old Rock House, St. Louis, MO. What a trip it's been.

Not a whole lot of new info to report to everyone. The band's out again after the Thanksgiving break and back into the swing of road life. The shows this week have been great - the audiences have brought the love and reminded us all that we're exactly where we want to be: performing for fans all across this country and building the T-Ward fan base step by step.

It occurred to me earlier that during my junior year of high school, I bought a new drumset to play for a talent show. I ended up winning that talent show (along with my bass compatriot Joshua Corbett), and that very same drumset, albeit with a couple newer additions and tune-ups, is still with me tonight for my second show in St. Louis. It's crazy how life goes sometimes.

Kinda like this....

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Joey turns to me and says...

...half-jokingly, "Is this God's country?"

And I reply, not jokingly, "Absolutely."

(These pictures have been shamelessly stolen from the Instagram of merch guy and all-round great conversationalist, Brent Buckingham.)

 

On the Road Again

the 1st leg
There's a bittersweet quality to having breaks during a long tour: getting to come home and see my family, my friends and my dog is always a plus, but having to leave them again is never a pleasant thing (especially during the one time of year when I want to be at home more than any other). Alas, this is the nature of the gig and the ever-present reminder that dream jobs are not always perfect ones.

Thus, the band has set out on its final leg of touring for 2012. The first North American portion went swimmingly: we had better-than-expected attendance at just about every show, the crowds were great (by-and-large), and nothing even close to catastrophic went down. (Here's hoping our good fortune continues to hold out!) In the midst of all this, some pretty huge developments are brimming behind the scenes in the dark, musty, and pungent corners of... bum ba da bum... the business side. Seeing as how it's neither my purview nor area of expertise, I'll just leave it at this: next year's probably gonna be big. Huge, even. Maybe even... riesig. (wink, wink)

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

A few things you might want to know...

...before coming on the road with the Tyler Ward Band.

1. Sometimes abbreviations just aren't enough. Which is why, more often than not, we just end up using the first letter (even if it doesn't save us any syllables).

"Hey bro, let's go grab some d." [dinner]
"I really need some s." [sleep]
"I am gonna punch you right in the f." [face]

When you think you're ready, start trying to one-letter multiple words per sentence. That's when things really get crazy.

2. Offstage Entertainment. House, MD. Happy Endings. White Collar. Homeland. Go On. New Girl. Friday Night Lights. TV? Yeah, we like the good kind.

The Warmup

Getting warmed-up backstage. Anyone care to guess whereabouts?

 

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Take A Seat

Before the tour started, I made contact with a company out of Georgia that was promoting a new product they assured me would change my overall drumming experience. Now, a little more than halfway through our current tour, I can honestly say that they've delivered on their promise.

The people at Carmichael Drum Thrones have developed the best kind of idea: a brand new one that should make everyone else plant a palm firmly against their forehead and declare, "Why didn't I think of that?!?" Carmichael's goal was to create a drum throne that would actually help drummers relax and play without the usual side effects of back pain, especially after a 90-minute set or two hour practice session. The solution was both simple and sensible: a seat that supports the drummer on either side of their butt without compressing the base of the spine.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Word Of The Day: Europeany

Seriously. Say it. It's funny.

Anyway, I thought I'd update the blog with some completely random and totally unmusical photos from the last European tour. Who knows? You all might think it cool to get a little peek into the weirdness that is what the T-Ward Band finds interesting enough to capture on camera.

After our first van died, we were forced to rent a moving truck and a BMW wagon in order to make it to our show in Malmƶ on time. Here's the crew manning the truck; nail-biting, to say the least.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Reflections at the Fifty-Yard Line

Alright, well.

Here we are: back in the States, a little bit jet-lagged, a little bit rested, and one day from embarking on the American/Canadian leg of our Fall 2012 tour.

Reflecting on the last month and everything that came along with it is causing me to feel a bit daunted at the prospect of summing it up here in a blog. But, here goes anyway.

As anyone who's paid attention to this blog is probably aware, our European tour was a bit of a comedy of dichotomy. A lot of things went wrong. A lot of things. But I'd be less than honest if I told you that all the things that were, shall we say... less than optimal... ended up being bad in the end. I, for one, have learned quite a lot because of it all. I saw my band function in nightmarish touring conditions with what could only be described as remarkable aplomb & unity. Nobody freaked out and lost their mind in some kind of overly dramatic rock star tantrum (even though there may have been a few circumstances that might have almost justified such a reaction). The band went through everything together, as a unit, and got through it all without alienating anyone or fracturing any relationships. Believe me when I say that this is quite a rarity in the world of touring musicians.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Random Thoughts from The Road

Why is it that American hotel chains are the ones always overcharging us for accommodations? I'm starting to feel a bit abandoned by my peoples.

What is it with girls fainting at rock shows? I'm starting to think we're toxic or something.*

I crave the written word. I have to read on the road. I get far too grouchy if I don't. Something about massaging my brain that way has got to happen for me on a consistent basis, even out here on tour.

I crave the silence. Sound is our job and we crank a ton of it out every single day (both on stage and off...). I love the quiet when I can get my ears on it.

Everest? Shmeverest. Try going low-carb in Europe.

Bremen was the first official sellout of the tour and I'm glad to report it was a great show. Great room. Great crowd. Great performance.

Bremen

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Perspectives

Here I come from Lausanne, Switzerland, on the north shore of Lake Geneva. As I reread that sentence, I'm struck by something Tyler asked me while we were setting up the stage in Zurich two nights ago.

How it was in Zurich.
He looked right at me and said, "Did you ever think you'd actually get to travel this much?" (An aside: when the year 2012 concludes, I will have spent more than one-third of it on the road, and about half of that here in Europe. That's a big deal for a travel hound like me.)

I told him what I'll tell you: I always wanted to, always hoped music would be the vehicle that would allow me to do so, but never thought I'd be able to without a major label deal or massive distribution and radio play.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

An American Rock Band in Paris

After a dichotomous week of monstrous technical headaches and awesome nights on stage, a day off in one of the most important historical cities in the world was a welcome refresher.

Paris was beseiged yesterday by a cavalcade of wandering American musicians who got their fill of French pastries, gothic cathedrals, and monumental architecture.

Taking in the sights in the City of Lights for the second time this year was a joy for this particular writer; history and religion are sort of my jam, and Paris certainly has copious amounts of both. It was also great to be there with friends who were seeing the heart of the city for the very first time. I know I couldn't stop looking at Notre Dame or the Eiffel Tower the first time I had the opportunity to see them, and it's apparent after yesterday's adventures that I'm not alone in this particular predicament.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Two vans. Two breakdowns.

Wow. Where to even start with this.

After the debacle in Sweden with the burned-out clutch, I might be forgiven for thinking the worst was behind us (at least in terms of vehicular balderdash).

Whoops.

Yesterday's endeavors started out normal enough. We had an entire day-and-a-half devoted to travel for our 14-hour trek from Malmƶ to Paris. The only aside that needed to be dealt with was a stopover in Hamburg to drop off the two rental vehicles we were tooling around in since the death of Van Number One and to pick up Van Number Two. Easy peezy.

Things began to get a little funky once we arrived in Hamburg. The changeover happened well enough, but in a completely unnecessary & frustrating way involving a Sprinter van, a rental truck, a trailer, and the world's most tightly packed & absurd parking lot.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Uppdelning

"Uppdelning" is the Swedish word Google Translate tells me best fits the English word for "breakdown".

I mentioned in my last post that if the tour can only go up from our first show, we were in a really great place. I should've checked myself.

Last night, after an absolutely killer show here in Gƶteborg, the drive to our hotel was interrupted when our GPS unit guided us to a narrow, dead-end road, perhaps blocked off in the time since the last update of our nav unit's software (the fact that it was dead-end not revealed to us by street signage). By the time we realized that our route was blocked, we were at least 50 yards down this one-way drive and staring a straight uphill reversal with a van-load of people and a trailer-load of band gear and merchandise right in the face.

Let me reiterate for emphasis: a Sprinter van, reversing uphill, with 8 band members, all of their luggage, and a trailer full of guitars, amps, drums, hardware, and close to 30 boxes of tour merch. And, oh yes, the clutch had already started to give off that familiar burning rubber aroma.

Friday, October 5, 2012

Backstage in Sverige

I'm sitting backstage in Gƶteborg, Sweden while Eppic performes 'Storm Before the Calm' for what sounds like a very lively Swedish audience, and I thought I might throw a quick update at the blog.

A great shot from our friend Maria.
Last night the tour officially kicked off in Copenhagen, and from the looks of things, this time out is going to be one to remember.

Despite a few of the usual bonehead, first-show jitters, last night made for a pretty incredible debut performance. I can honestly say it was better than just about all of the other first shows I've played in the past, and a few great friends of ours mentioned that it was even better than our performance from 7 months ago. In other words, mission: accomplished.

It has been really fun to see the band re-develop with the addition of Joey on lead guitar and Eppic & Alex G coming along for opening support has been its own kind of special. If the tour can only go up from here then we're already in a really great place.

We got some sightseeing time in and around Copenhagen before we had to report for load-in yesterday, as well. This was great for us because our last time through was sort of an in-and-out affair; we only got to see about one block of the great city. This time, however, we saw a little bit of the great architecture and culture that abounds just about everywhere you set foot over here in Europe, and I'm glad to report it wasn't lost on us.

Can't wait for what's to come. Hopefully this month doesn't fly by too quickly...



Tuesday, October 2, 2012

We're here.

Well, we made it. At least this far.

And I must say, the German people have really got this whole airline convenience thing down. 9 hours on a Lufthansa flight? Not bad at all. In fact, it was probably one of the best flying experiences of my entire life.

And so, we're here. After a three-hour layover in Frankfurt, we finally flew into Berlin. We made it to our hotel despite a handful of early tour head-scratchers, and after partaking in the uniquely German culinary stylings of McDonald's, promptly proceeded to pass out.

Day Two? It's off to pick up our rental gear, merchandise, and then on to Copenhagen. These past couple of weeks have gone by so quickly that it still seems weird that tomorrow night is the first performance of the tour. It's time to get my head around it, though. The rock waits for no one.

 

Monday, October 1, 2012

Gabriel @ Red Rocks

Nothing like celebrating the beginning of your own tour by going to see someone else's.

Especially when that someone else is Peter Gabriel.

Red Rain
Last night, the wife, sister-in-law, and I ventured up to the world's most beautiful live performance venue to catch Peter's Back-to-Front tour. The whole idea was in keeping with the 25th anniversary of the release of the legendary So album. Gabriel reunited the entire lineup that helped him forge the record - Tony Levin on bass, Manu Katche on drums, David Sanctius on keyboards, and David Rhodes on guitar - and played the entire thing down, top to bottom.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Not bad...

...for a dude with no record deal and no radio play.

One day in, and he's already Top 20.


Not bad. Not bad at all. Way to go, Ty.

Meet The New Guy

Several astute followers of this blog have contacted me after noticing a new face in the the rehearsal photo posted here a few days ago. (It seems we have a few up-and-coming practitioners of the deductive arts in the T-Ward fan base.) Well, faithful readers, the time has finally come for you all to meet the new guy.

Avengers Schmavengers.
This fall and winter, Tyler, Joshua, & yours truly will be joined onstage by one, Joey Barba. A fantastic guitarist with the ears of a producer, Joey has brought a brand new energy and excitement to the rehearsals for the upcoming tour. Those who may have caught us at a show in February are in for a whole new slew of surprises this time around, in many ways due to Joey's remarkable musicality.

Having served in several prominent bands on the Denver scene like Tickle Me Pink and Rachel & The Kings, Joey unexpectedly crossed paths with Tyler on a flight back to Colorado from Los Angeles a few months ago. Tyler had first noticed Joey years before when he was performing in a band known as The Brotherhood of Dae Han and both of them had worked with a handful of the same artists in the years since. Striking up a conversation on the trip back to Denver, Tyler asked Joey if he'd be willing to help with some production on what would soon become Hello. Love. Heartbreak. At first, Joey was hesitant due to a packed schedule that included his upcoming wedding, but eventually doors were opened, opportunities presented themselves, and he was able to lend his notable talents to the tracks 'Raise Up' and 'Dashes'.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Christmas In September

Today is a big day.

To wit:

Hello. Love. Heartbreak.

Alright
Found
Never has $17 gone so far. 

I didn't have the pleasure of getting to play on Alex G's record, but I do get to spend a month traveling around Europe getting to see her perform. And my, my, my, what a difference a year makes. Ms. G has come so far in such a short amount of time and her latest release proves it.

To say that it's an honor to get to work with such a talented group of people is in all ways an understatement. In the midst of this very confused (and confusing) era of popular music, to be directly involved in the recording & release of such truly musical offerings is an exciting experience, to say the least.

Can't wait to hear everyone's feedback on the new releases. I hope you all enjoy listening to them as much as I enjoyed performing on them!


Making of 'Alright EP': Parts IV-VI

Parts IV-VI of Sean Waldron's YouTube video series giving a bit of a song-by-song behind-the-scenes look into the making of his new EP.



Friday, September 21, 2012

Making of 'Alright EP': Part III

Part III of Sean Waldron's YouTube video series giving a bit of a song-by-song behind-the-scenes look into the making of his new EP.


Engage

Rehearsals are officially underway.

There's one thing I always want when it comes to rehearsal time: I want the band to always - always - be taking a big step forward. Maybe two or three steps.

Every new tour should be a whole new party. If a fan enjoyed themselves at a show during the last tour, I want to make their jaw drop all over again the next time. That's not to say that every single element should be completely different, (we don't need to be re-orchestrating 'The Rescue' into a country two-step or anything), but I want to always be up'ing the ante; for an entertainer, to bore people is to fail them.

I want the shows to improve from a showmanship perspective as well as a musical one. I know that if I'm not bringing something new to the table each time tour season rolls back around, I feel like I'm not doing my job. Fresh air is the best kind, after all.

Well, I can confidently say that the Tyler Ward Band's most recent rehearsals are checking all of my particular boxes. With a flourish.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Making of 'Alright EP': Part II

Part II of Sean Waldron's YouTube video series giving a bit of a song-by-song behind-the-scenes look into the making of his new EP.

Gearing Up

It's starting to sink in.

In just about two weeks, Tyler Ward's next European tour will commence. It's officially time to gear up and get ready.

Rehearsals start this week with a new guitar player. There will be new team members on the management side of things, as well. But, perhaps most importantly of all, there will be brand new music to perform.

I've also had the pleasure of getting to hear the final mix downs of the first 6 tracks of Tyler's new album, and it's not at all hyperbole to say that I'm more than excited to get to play the tunes for the fans. I don't think anyone is quite ready for what Tyler's getting ready to drop next week. Our fearless leader's done a great job at capturing himself on his first original album: the songs sound like Tyler and not like Tyler trying to sound like someone else. There are plenty of trademark elements and little surprises on the tracks, but I feel like if I say anything more, I'll get fired, so I'll digress.

Thursday, September 13, 2012

Making of 'Alright EP': Part I

Part I of Sean Waldron's YouTube video series giving a bit of a song-by-song behind-the-scenes look into the making of his new EP.


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Adventures in iTunes: Joel's '90s Playlist

photo found at: (http://www.drcellphone.com/ipod-repair-service.php)Straight from my shuffled iPod to your computer screen, here's a taste of my recently-completed '90s playlist, taking me back to middle & high school, and the diorama of memories that come with it.

It's kind of funny looking back: I used to think that the radio predominately sucked when I was coming up, and maybe it did, predominately. But as I was going through & constructing this playlist, I was blown away by how many songs I absolutely loved from the flannel decade. It wasn't as bad as I thought while I was there, it seems, and it certainly blows away the majority of what's going on today.

Be careful: not everyone can handle this amount of awesome. You've been warned.

Monday, August 13, 2012

A Few Different Faces

I once remember having a discussion with a fellow musician whose band I was playing in. We were talking the finer points of musical philosophy as it applies to practice and learning. What he told me has stuck in my memory ever since:

"I know everything I need to know to make the music I want to make."

Huh. Arrogant air aside, it still seemed to me to be a rather artistically shallow perspective: specifically, that the only things worth knowing musically were the things that pertain to the particular genre you want to participate in. Now, to each his own. One of the great things about music is that it does, in fact, have room for everyone, no matter how droll, naive, or immature their musical worldviews may be.

Up & running at 232 Studios.
But, for me, there's always been an attraction to the styles and genres of music that didn't come naturally. I've always been fascinated and infatuated with jazz & classical & old rhythm & blues music that didn't quite sound exactly like the kind of music that awakened my passion to become a musician. But the infatuation certainly led to broadened horizons and a deeper understanding of music in general, and those things alone make the occasional ventures into unfamiliar territory well worth it. I'm grateful for music I don't fully understand and even more for the opportunity to perform it every once in awhile.

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Remembering Jeffrey

20 years ago today the world lost one of the greatest drummers in history. Jeff will always be one of my most meaningful inspirations. Wish I could've seen him play just once.

 Jeff Porcaro
1954 - 1992

Friday, August 3, 2012

A Day In The Life

Yesterday began not like most days, but not especially unusually, either. I woke up feeling beat, tired, and generally unmotivated to do anything resembling productive. Nonetheless, I made sure that I at least started to get down to some business: I made it to the gym, returned a call or two, and probably managed to accomplish a handful of other less-than-exciting things.

The turn came in the afternoon, when I got on the phone with T-Ward to discuss some stuff totally unrelated to music, recording, touring, or anything else that you'd probably think would make this blog post interesting. Tyler, however, in his characteristically spontaneous way, ended up asking me if I could jet on over to Drew's studio in order to record a few new drum parts for the upcoming album.

And so I did.

After about an hour of working with the scratch track in order to come up with a competent idea, I made my way over to 232 Studios. Drew and I set up the kit, got the software working, and got to work. Four hours later, we sent a handful of different ideas back to Tyler for a couple of new songs entitled 'Someday' and 'Trench Coat Angel'.

Thursday, August 2, 2012

Getting There - Part III

7. Be True To Yourself
There are going to be down times for you. Nothing worth having is easy to get, and most creative ventures are apt to be especially difficult. Part of what will keep you going in those rough spots is the knowledge that you're doing what God made you to do. Being convinced of that will get you through a lot. Part of being a good musician is being an honest one: don't pretend to be something you're not just to succeed or to do what you think other people want you to do. Find out what's in your heart, be honest with yourself about your own particular talents, and then get after it. There will be others who are better at certain things or who have a more varied or diverse skill set, but if you have something worth saying, then it's probably worth the battle to say it. Bring what you have to the party: let everyone else be everyone else.

8. Keep Going
And so we're back where we started. Once you've got all the pieces in place - you're working hard to develop your talents, surrounding yourself with the right people (both in your band and outside of it), committed to learning how to become a great performer, and being honest with yourself about who you are and what you're here on earth to do - get ready to get familiar with the ol' grindstone. Like I said when we started, nothing replaces hard work and concentrated, consistent effort. No amount of natural talent or luck will ever take the place of just getting down to work.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Getting There - Part II

4. Forget the Math
There are plenty of people who will tell you that you have to accomplish X by this certain time of your life and Z by another time. Forget them. Don't listen. The music world is full of the successes of people way beyond what most on the business side of things would call "too old": little-known names like Michael Buble and Sting. The simple truth is that there are no equations by which the game has to be played. Musicians of all shapes, sizes, colors, and yes, ages, both succeed and fail: let the words of the conformists fall by the wayside.

5. Surround Yourself With The Right People
Don't listen to the naysayers. There will be plenty of them. For some reason, this world is good at manifesting people who get their jollies by telling others what they'll never be able to accomplish. Whether this comes from a sense of insecurity or a simple pessimistic worldview or both, don't worry about it. Just let it slide: people's words will only have power if you allow them to. Conversely, don't surround yourself with yes-men. People that tell you that you're great no matter what are harming you just as much as those who tell you that you can never accomplish your dreams. Your real allies reside in the middle: those who will encourage you when you're down but also give you a good butt-kicking if you need it. Criticism and encouragement can come from the same person, and that's the person you want to be around.

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

The atomic weight of AWESOME


Getting There - Part I

Last night during Tyler's live YouTube stream, where he played a few previews of music from his new album and answered questions sent-in online, the question came up again: "Do you have any advice for an up-and-coming musician?" Looking to capitalize and perhaps expand a bit on Tyler's answer, I present the following post.

Now, before we get too far into this, I want to say that at times, it does feel weird to answer this question for people. Realizing that I can't speak for everyone else in the crew, I will admit that I feel like I both have and haven't "made it". On the one hand, I am living my dream of playing music and touring the world in order to perform. On the other, most of us still haven't gotten to that level where we feel like we've really locked a long-term career into place. So, of course, it seems that there are different degrees of making it, so take my advice from that proper perspective. That being said...

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Werk.



Obsession is the enemy of balance; balance is the soulmate of meaning; meaning is the progenitor of joy. Let's not take this graphic too literally.
That being said...

_ Nothing replaces elbow grease. Nothing. Even geniuses work their butts off.
_ If you don't love the practice room, you'll never fully appreciate the stage.
_ If something is important, do it every day.
_ Do the work, enjoy the results; it's fun to be good.
_ Entitlement never achieves.
_ Sometimes it's not about the destination, it's about the journey.
_ Nothing worth having is easy to obtain.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Dream Teams

If you have to ask, you wouldn't understand.

_ Steven Tyler, Eddie Van Halen, Billy Sheehan, Gregg Bissonette.

_ Peter Gabriel, Steve Lukather, Jaco Pastorius, Vinnie Colaiuta.

_ Sting, Bruce Hornsby, Michael Landau, Steve Gadd.

_ Sammy Hagar, Jeff Beck, Tony Levin, Simon Phillips.

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Best Music You Haven't Heard (Yet) - Steve Lukather

This post has been bouncing around in my head for awhile. Reason being that it's sort of like trying to buy a Christmas present for a millionaire: what exactly would you get them that they don't already have? Similarly, what in the world can I say about Steve Lukather that hasn't already been said?

I could go on and on about the accolades, the hits, or the thousands of albums he's been a part of (including the most successful record release in all of music history). But plenty of people have already been over all of that stuff time and again, and I'd rather spend my time convincing you to listen to one of the most underrated masters in all of music.

To say that Luke is a great guitar player is sort of like saying Notre Dame is an impressive piece of architecture. To say that Luke is one of the greatest rock guitar players ever to live is probably a little bit more on point. But what separates him from the rest of the pack is his stature as a complete artist - guitarist, songwriter, singer, band member - and not just a one-note banjo. There are quite a few guitar hero types running around these days, and just about all of them are worthy of the reputations they've constructed over the years. Lukather, however, to me, stands in a category all his own due to his ability to make music, and not just Guitarmaggeddon.

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Rejected

So, today I experienced that old familiar feeling. I was officially rebuffed in my first attempt to attain a professional endorsement.

Interestingly enough, on the exact same day, a great friend of mine asked me if I had any advice on how to deal with criticism and someone else's negative opinions.

Great. Time to walk the talk now, Joel.

As a struggling musician, rejection is not a new concept for me. I've played to completely (and by "completely", I mean "completely") empty rooms, been passed-up in battle-of-the-bands competitions, been ridiculed for dropping out of college to pursue my dream, been fired from a band, and had guys quit on my own group. And I can honestly say that I don't think any of them were easy to deal with.

There are people who naturally handle this kind of thing really well. For me, it's been more of a process (a very humbling process, at that) of learning that other people's negative stuff doesn't need to drag me down - I have deeper hopes than this and just because I failed in the here and now doesn't mean that I've failed completely. It could come around in the future, and many times, it has. My biggest problem is in second-guessing myself: Did I do something wrong? Did I send them the right kind of material? Should I have been more flashy and less musical? Do I need to play the game more?

Sunday, June 24, 2012

2012 - The Road So Far...

Well, here we are: halfway through the Year of our Lord, Two-thousand-and-Twelve, and it has occurred to me that a quick moment of reflection is appropriate.

The other night I sat with my wife before going to sleep and it dawned on me that this year has quite possibly been the most musically adventurous and awe-inspiring of my life. In the early part of the year, music allowed me the opportunity to not only visit, but tour the European continent for the very first time. I got to see things I've been waiting most all of my life to see. I met wonderful people from other countries who knew my name before I knew theirs. I played concerts for thousands of fans with two of the dearest brothers in my life.

The late winter gave way to spring, and as Tyler took the next step in his musical journey via writing sessions and constructing the framework for his very first album, Josh Corbett, Drew Hartley, and I joined forces with another incredible talent by the name of Sean Waldron. Our efforts with Sean have led to the recording of a tasty 6-song EP, due to be finished in late July. SeƱor Waldron also got the call to open up for the up-and-coming band Churchill at the end of this week. Not bad for a group's very first show with full personnel.

Hornsby & The Noisemakers get it done in Boulder.
In the meantime, God saw fit to bring three of my all-time favorite artists (joined by three of my all-time favorite drummers, to boot) to the Front Range of Colorado. In the last six months, I've been blessed to get to see Sting, Toto, and Bruce Hornsby perform live (with Vinnie Colaiuta, Simon Phillips, and Sonny Emory occupying the thrones, in case you were wondering). I've seen a ton of great concerts in my time, but I think it's probably safe to say that I've never had the opportunity to see that amount of masterful, jaw-dropping talent in such a short span of time. (And to top all of this magnificent concert-going revelry off, Peter Gabriel is bringing the entire original lineup of his legendary release So to Red Rocks to perform the album start-to-finish in September. Shoot dang.)

Friday, June 22, 2012

Seeing Music - Dominique Nabakov

Jazz, New York, 1985 by Dominique Nabakov



Luther on Music

"I wish to see art, principally music, in the service of Him who gave and created them. Music is a fair and glorious gift of God. I would not for the world forego my humble share of music. Singers are never sorrowful, but are merry, and smile through their troubles in song. Music makes people kinder, gentler, more staid and reasonable. I am strongly persuaded that after theology there is no art than can be placed on a level with music. For besides theology, music is the only art capable of affording peace and joy of the heart. The devil flees before the sound of music almost as much as before the Word of God.

"A person who...does not regard music as a marvelous creation of God, must be a clodhopper indeed and does not deserve to be called a human being; he should be permitted to hear nothing but the braying of asses and the grunting of hogs."

- Martin Luther

Monday, June 18, 2012

Don't take my word for it...


In Defense of the '80s - Part III

VII. Timeless Songs
Did I mention the classic tunes yet?!?


VIII. The Birth of Superstar Careers, The Growth of Others
Loads of talented, superstar artists hit the scene for the first time in the '80s. Monikers that would quickly become household names and stay that way for decades first appeared on people's musical radars - names like Bryan Adams, Huey Lewis, Bon Jovi, Bruce Hornsby, & Stevie Ray Vaughan. Def Leppard's debut album was released in 1980, Metallica was born in 1981, and by the end of the decade, bands by the names of Guns 'n' Roses and Dream Theater would release their first recordings. The decade of the 1980's saw the birth of a plethora of classic musical acts that would remain massively successful and appreciated for decades to come.



Friday, June 15, 2012

In Defense of the '80s - Part II

III. Great Musicianship
Great, stupendous, jaw-dropping, amazing musicianship, really. The Herculean feats of rock musicality that had started in the '60s and continued through the '70s hit all kinds of new highs in the '80s: Eddie Van Halen single-handedly crafted an entire movement of pyrotechnic guitar playing on the back of his own virtuosity & the idea of the guitar hero was born anew. EVH paved the way for the likes of Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, and legions of other rock guitar gods. And what Eddie did for rock Stevie Ray Vaughn was accomplishing for the blues. But guitars weren't the only instruments whose boundaries were getting expanded - drummers followed the leads of players like Neil Peart, Vinnie Colaiuta, Stewart Copeland, Manu Katche & Terry Bozzio to take the concept of what rock 'n' roll drums could be to all new places. The Ć¼ber-musicality of progressive rock saw itself revitalized in the continuing (and sometimes never-before-achieved) success of bands like Rush, Genesis, King Crimson, and eventually Dream Theater. The session scene was also in full-bloom, showcasing the monster talents of players like Steve Lukather, John Robinson, Mike Landau, Steve Gadd, Nathan East, and Dann Huff. And, perhaps most-notably when talking about the music of the '80s, cats could sing. In a time before digital editing and pitch correction, the lead vocalists that dominated the airwaves in the 1980's demonstrated vocal prowess on a scale that has since to be matched, by-and-large. The simple fact of the matter was that to make it back then, you had to have your crap together. And, while I don't mind conceding the fact that the over-the-top musicianship did eventually get way out of hand and become a bit ridiculous in and of itself, the level of dedication to music that was evident back then is something the music world today sorely lacks.



Thursday, June 14, 2012

In Defense of the '80s - Part I

Ah, the 1980's.

It was a a time of big hair, loud clothes, snap bracelets, rubix cubes, video arcades, and cold war.
Getty Images/Andrew Spencer

It was also a time of very great music, which seems to be a fact lost on most of the general public these days.

Now, don't get me wrong. I understand what most people envision when they think, "'80s music": the ridiculous (and many times androgynous) hair metal bands, the cloyingly catchy one-hit-wonder pop groups, & the onslaught of cartoony synthesizer tracks and drum machines. But I find that this sort of gross generalization to be both hypocritical and misplaced. Hypocritical, first, because with the possible exception of the huge hair in the metal bands, most all of the aforementioned criticisms could be recited about modern day pop music, as well. (If you don't believe me, just throw on Beynoce's Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) and listen closely for the completely random and amusical Galaga sound effects firing off in the background.) I call the criticisms misplaced because despite all the rubbish released during the so-called Era of Excess, many great records, songs, and artists found their way into both the mainstream of pop culture as well as the annals of music history. Via this blog, I will seek to vindicate the great and timeless music of the '80s from amongst the mire and detritus with which it is generally (and unjustly) associated.

Seeing Music - Carrie Nuttall

Rhythm & Light by Carrie Nuttall

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Stereo-untypical

Boris Penton of Dragon House crew proving that one doesn't need crappy electronic muzak to craft a jaw-dropping hip-hop dance routine. Enjoy.


Sunday, May 27, 2012

Heroes

I think one possible definition of the word "hero" could be, "mentor from afar". (This is not to suggest that all heroes are people you don't know, but for those of us musicians who grew up being inspired by the sounds and songs of people we'd never met, I think this an apt definition.)

Last night, my wife & I, along with a bunch of our friends, bandmates, and a few family members, got the chance to catch a rare performance by a few of my heroes. Toto played a free show in downtown Denver as part of the city's Day of Rock benefit. The band is getting ready for a summer tour in Europe and was playing the Mile High City as part of their usual parcel of warm-up gigs.

Toto's history is one that displays both the potential for success that serious musicianship has in the pop music world as well as the politics and inane media chicanery that can confound even the most celebrated of bands. The group has sold tens-of-millions of albums worldwide and released some of the biggest rock hits of the last 35 years, earning 6 Grammy Awards along the way. Nonetheless, the band was hung out to dry by its record company in the early '90s while other rock contemporaries like Van Halen, U2, Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, and Aerosmith were permitted by the powers-that-be to stay on the airwaves and maintain their considerable presence in the American musical world. Alas, Toto has continued to record and release a number of fantastic albums as well as keep up their superstar status in Europe & Japan and has maintained a successful career based primarily in markets outside of their homeland. They are the rare group that has experienced phenomenal success both smack dab in the middle of popular music as well as outside of its notoriously small box.

But the commercial success of Toto is not at all what has made me such a devoted fan. The music, the playing, the performances, and the unending commitment to doing what they love makes them a diamond in the rough of the modern music scene. The resumes of the individual members should be enough to make any serious music fan sit up and pay attention - Steve Lukather alone has played on more than 3,000 records as a session guitarist. They are, pound-for-pound, the best pop-rock band I have ever been able to get my ears on, and they, perhaps more than any other performer or group, demonstrate what is possible within the genre of rock music and not just what is usual.

It was my fifth time getting to see the band, and there were still a few firsts for me -namely, seeing Joseph Williams front the group vocally along with Steve Porcaro on keyboards. It's been decades since both of these members have toured together with the band, and, due to David Paich's return, there were more founding members on the stage then there have been in years.

But there are two members of the group that stand out as particular heroes of mine. The aforementioned Lukather, a master guitarist and prolific solo artist in his own right, is one of the great rock performers not just of our time, but all time. He is a guitarist's guitarist, but still manages to keep himself accessible to those of us who don't know the first thing about strumming a power chord. Both as a name artist as well as a member of Toto, Lukather ranks in my personal pantheon of musical favorites.

And then, perhaps most notably of all, there's Simon Phillips. It's probably correct to call him the singularly most important drumming influence of my entire life. He was certainly not the first drummer I noticed and wanted to sound like when I played, but he has been the most important. There's a certain amount of similarity one needs to feel with someone he considers a hero; a common ground, a sense of ethereal or implicit camaraderie. Now, he might disagree upon hearing me play, but when I listened to Simon, he would perform the fills and grooves I felt like I would want to do in that particular musical circumstance. I heard my own creativity in what I heard him doing and, quite naturally, I heard what might be possible if I was persistent in the honing of my own craft. I heard the kind of drumming in Simon's performances that I wanted to hear from myself without any expectation of actually attaining his level of skill - he inspires me while simultaneously keeping me humble. (It's a potent one-two punch, to be sure.) And this, of course, has made listening to Toto these past years all the more special for me.

All this to say, it's important to have heroes. Especially in the all-too-subjective realm of music, (a world especially given to unearned overconfidence and misplaced egotism), a regular dose of true greatness is good to imbibe. It's good to be inspired. It's good to be blown away. It's good to be impressed. It's good to be humbled. But, perhaps, most importantly, it's good to have something to pursue beyond the obvious and temporal financial benefits that musical success can grant. It's important to have a standard to hold yourself to that you may never reach - it'll keep you going even when you accomplish a thing or two: your drumming may be good enough one day to help sell a few million albums and sell out a handful of tours, but this guy over here can play circles around you and you know it. So don't forget it. Keep going. Keep working. Keep learning. Never forgot that you're not the best thing since sliced bread and that's ok. These are the kinds of truths that heroes help us to remember.

And, sometimes, it just feels good to listen to great music.
Bands like Toto remind me I'll always have that.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Critical Ear & The Question 'Why?'

It's happened again. I've found myself blown away by the frivolous way people treat their music. Let me paint you a couple of pictures.

The first is of a decades-old rock band. They rocketed to the heights of musical stardom 25 years ago and they've announced the release of another new album. This is not a the-band-broke-up-and-then-got-back-together-after-a-really-long-time release. No, they've been more or less at the top of the music world for the past two-and-a-half decades and have been releasing albums and touring the entire time. They are a supergroup if ever there was one.

The new album drops and after not even listening to it one entire time, my worst fears for the record are confirmed: it sucks. The production and audio quality are terrible and the songwriting is mediocre, at best. The band sounds absolutely uninspired on the record and completely out of their depth with whatever they were trying to accomplish with this new musical direction. Nevertheless, to my never-ending frustration, most every music rag comes out with nothing but praise for the record, saying it's the group's best effort since the late '80s. There is obviously some cloak and dagger chicanery going on with all the press, because, to any kind of objective observer (even one very biased towards fandom for the group), this is most definitely not the group's best effort. At anything. Ever. They haven't put out a crap record in more than two decades and yet, here we are. No matter, though, claims the press. The greatness of this latest album is plain for everyone to see.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

The Best Music You Haven't Heard (Yet) - Jonny Lang

I remember when I was a young lad growing up in North Dakota, I saw a news report about another young North Dakotan playing a concert at the state fair. The kid was only a year or so older than me and yet the voice that was coming out of his body was that of a much older, much more grizzled and experienced blues singer. That kid was Jonny Lang.

Well, it's been almost 20 years since, and that kid that came out of Fargo is still going strong. Proving that it wasn't some kind of gimmick or schtick, Jonny keeps cranking out real, legit rock 'n' roll/blues music. True child prodigies come along perhaps once in a generation, and Jonny is ours.

His voice is what will grab you. The songs and the playing are what will keep you there. Jonny, unlike other popular "blues" artists (ahem!), doesn't tend to hold back on his albums. He lets loose, tearing up the record with soaring vocals and screaming guitar solos. He has a appreciable dedication to the music itself, writing the songs that he wants to write, regardless of what might or might not fit on a radio station rotation. Thus, you won't find Jonny getting spins on Clear Channel stations anytime soon, but you will find him out on tour. And if you think the albums are stellar (they are), the live show will blow you away.

Jonny is just past 30-years-old, but he brings with him a historical understanding of the music that he so marvelously creates. He is remarkably old-school for being so young, and his sound is a breath of fresh air during a time when music heritage is being lost due to the unyielding pursuit of the three-minute ear worm. No matter where you start with your listening, Jonny will not disappoint. You might want to begin early in his career, with albums like Lie To Me or Wander This World, which will get you to the ripe old age of 17. Or, if you'd rather move towards a more mature and diverse presentation of Lang's musicality, dig into Long Time Coming or the unrecognized masterpiece Turn Around.



Happy listening, people.

Seeing Music - Robert Doisneau

Musician in the Rain by Robert Doisneau


Monday, May 14, 2012

'House' Gems

House, MD will conclude it's fantastic 8-season run next Monday night. That it's been my all-time favorite television drama is an observation that doesn't require Dr. House's remarkable talents in order to make. So, in honor of what House has meant to me, I present to you some of the musical gems that I was fortunate to discover by tuning in.

Hope you enjoy them as much I have.


~     ~     ~









Thursday, May 3, 2012

Songs of the Sea

I am not a sailor. My dad is not a sailor. I have no real desire to become a sailor. Except for a few short toddler years (that culminated when I was five), I have never lived anywhere close to the ocean. I have no sea legs to speak of and when I do go out on boats, I tend to get a bit queasy (at least initially). Nevertheless, songs about the sea have a unique power to absolutely captivate my imagination. Here's Sting singing one of my all-time favorite nautical tunes, Why Should I Cry For You?



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

A thought on Wednesday

"Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go."
- William Feather

I've always been mystified by how people perceive the ascension of successful musicians. In most cases, it seems as though people think rock stars appear out of the sky, sent into our world by beings from another universe for the satiating of our entertainment appetites. That is to say, most people don't give it a lot of thought and think it just... sorta... happens.

Believe me. It's not like that.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Earf Day

How did you all spend your Earth Day?

What's that, you say? Didn't even realize this past Sunday was Earth Day? Me, neither. I was too busy recording a new track with Sean Waldron.

All mic'd up at Soteria.
We spent a few hours in the afternoon recording drums at Soteria Studios here in Colorado Springs. It was my first time tracking at this particular studio, and I ended up having a fantastic time. It was probably the best raw drum sound I've ever had the pleasure of recording and I can't wait for the rest of the band to get their parts laid down (which should happen sometime next week). There will be an accompanying video for this particular track, as well, so be sure to check back often for updates.


There are also some additional plans to record a 5-song EP with the aforementioned Waldron, so rest assured: SeƱor Ward isn't the only one finding himself in some unexplored territory this summer. All kinds of new musical adventures are being had by the whole Crew, and I'm going to try my darndest to carve it all (or at least my part of it) into stone here on the blog.

Stay tuned, kids. Same Bat-time. Same Bat-channel.

Animated Social Gadget - Blogger And Wordpress Tips