Reasons for Joining:
I took the band seriously and did not want anything to distract us from our goal of making music, playing gigs, and perhaps making money. Not to mention one of the items on my bucket list is to play live music as the member of an actual band.
As a result, I urged Craig to leave Jenn at home. I continued to learn music, practice and play; with the hope that whatever fire inside of Jenn would burn out of its own accord. And it did. The work needed to create a successful band burned it out…and she ceased coming to practices.
We joined the band for different reasons. I cannot presume to know in depth the reasons the others had for joining the band. But the beautiful thing about writing this account down is that I can speculate all I want…
Tiffany: A talented young woman who sacrificed her youth for a chance at stardom. The years of struggle and disappointment saw her return to Dallas, her home town, jobless and alone. For her this band was something to bring people into her life; a chance to do something she loved with people she enjoyed being around. This was her opportunity to be on stage, a place she relishes and a place where she can showcase her talent. Not to mention her adoration of being the center of attention…a place she fits naturally and splendidly.
Jay: Jay’s intensity toward music, perhaps art in general, led him to the band. He plays the guitar with much more love than I’ve seen from any other musician. For this I am grateful he is a part of the project. His genuine love for music kept him returning, and kept him motivated to learn songs he did not particularly care for. He had no job, except for what money he could make selling screenplays and plays he’d written. He joined the band for his love of music, and for another possible way to sell his creativity…and I suspect he joined at a chance to get closer to Tiffany.
Hardy: I’m not sure my reasons for joining the band are complicated enough to warrant space in this account, but I think it only fair to Jay and Tiffany to include myself in this amateur psychological profile. I joined the band because I have a hollow space inside me that is only temporarily filled by occasional artistic expressions of self and soul…which is to say, writing, painting and playing music. While left to my own devices I fill the hollow with the two former. However, there is something I value more about including my talents and emotions with others. The word is Harmony. Fills the hollow for three of us at the same time.
I joined the band for the chance to bring Harmony into my life and into the lives of those I play with.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Monday, February 16, 2009
Kingfisher: A Small Account of the Struggle (4)
The Drama of Craig and Jenn:
Craig entered the project wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a goofy hat, and the hopes of creating from nothing a business opportunity in a field he has much interest. He liked the idea of bringing us together, creating a business plan, developing a strategy, and watching the project take on a life of its own. He was the mad scientist in a goofy hat.
He organized and ran the first few meetings with enthusiasm that radiated and transferred to those of us around him. His charisma cannot be denied. It was so strong, in fact, that his wife felt it most of all.
Initially Jenn was a supporter of the band. She came to the first practice wishing to cook us dinner and wishing to help in any way possible. She began the night as the drink fetcher. She fetched drinks when the musicians became thirsty. Sometimes, she fetched herself a glass of wine. She would drink and fetch until the music we played caused her to dance and sing. Sitting on the side became intolerable.
The first time we played a song she knew, she would dance around and be obviously moved by our performance. The second time we played the same song she would try and listen for improvement and sing along with the chorus. By the third time of playing the same song she would become bored. She distracted us with cigarette breaks and glasses of wine, and occasionally she suggested singing with the microphone. She watched us practice, learn and improve with the envious gaze of a young woman who adores the limelight.
But watching us work became too tedious, as it would for most people. She questioned why she came and wondered how many times we needed to practice one song before moving on to another. She often said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” and she was right. The problem, however, arose when she resented Craig for coming. She did not like staying at home with the kids and some part of her was jealous because Craig enjoyed being a part of the project. I know she did not mean to do this, but she made Craig feel bad for coming to practice or staying too late, and that ultimately took the fun out of managing the band.
Craig entered the project wearing a Hawaiian shirt, a goofy hat, and the hopes of creating from nothing a business opportunity in a field he has much interest. He liked the idea of bringing us together, creating a business plan, developing a strategy, and watching the project take on a life of its own. He was the mad scientist in a goofy hat.
He organized and ran the first few meetings with enthusiasm that radiated and transferred to those of us around him. His charisma cannot be denied. It was so strong, in fact, that his wife felt it most of all.
Initially Jenn was a supporter of the band. She came to the first practice wishing to cook us dinner and wishing to help in any way possible. She began the night as the drink fetcher. She fetched drinks when the musicians became thirsty. Sometimes, she fetched herself a glass of wine. She would drink and fetch until the music we played caused her to dance and sing. Sitting on the side became intolerable.
The first time we played a song she knew, she would dance around and be obviously moved by our performance. The second time we played the same song she would try and listen for improvement and sing along with the chorus. By the third time of playing the same song she would become bored. She distracted us with cigarette breaks and glasses of wine, and occasionally she suggested singing with the microphone. She watched us practice, learn and improve with the envious gaze of a young woman who adores the limelight.
But watching us work became too tedious, as it would for most people. She questioned why she came and wondered how many times we needed to practice one song before moving on to another. She often said, “Maybe I shouldn’t have come,” and she was right. The problem, however, arose when she resented Craig for coming. She did not like staying at home with the kids and some part of her was jealous because Craig enjoyed being a part of the project. I know she did not mean to do this, but she made Craig feel bad for coming to practice or staying too late, and that ultimately took the fun out of managing the band.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Kingfisher: A Small Account of the Struggle (3)
The Loss of DW:
After one practice session and several cancelled sessions, we lost DW as our drummer; the first and most crucial setback the band experienced thus far. He played with two other bands and learned that the opportunity these projects offered was superior to what we offered. For that, I wanted to prove him wrong.
He called Craig and explained that he could no longer commit to the band. Craig called and told me this 2 weeks after I spent $400 on my new bass. “It’s okay,” he said, as he listed several other prospective drummers he intended to bring to our project. He assured me we would find someone and we would continue forward.
We held a band meeting to discuss our options. And to drink vodka. Losing our drummer had not yet robbed the wind from our sails. We channeled our energy into creating songlists and practicing music that did not necessarily need a drummer. We played Desperado, Ain’t No Sunshine, Proud Mary, Harvest Moon, and we spent time learning “Jay Originals”. We spent a lot of time talking about how badly we needed a drummer. We talked about these things and eventually Craig quit coming to our practices.
After one practice session and several cancelled sessions, we lost DW as our drummer; the first and most crucial setback the band experienced thus far. He played with two other bands and learned that the opportunity these projects offered was superior to what we offered. For that, I wanted to prove him wrong.
He called Craig and explained that he could no longer commit to the band. Craig called and told me this 2 weeks after I spent $400 on my new bass. “It’s okay,” he said, as he listed several other prospective drummers he intended to bring to our project. He assured me we would find someone and we would continue forward.
We held a band meeting to discuss our options. And to drink vodka. Losing our drummer had not yet robbed the wind from our sails. We channeled our energy into creating songlists and practicing music that did not necessarily need a drummer. We played Desperado, Ain’t No Sunshine, Proud Mary, Harvest Moon, and we spent time learning “Jay Originals”. We spent a lot of time talking about how badly we needed a drummer. We talked about these things and eventually Craig quit coming to our practices.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Kingfisher: A Small Account of the Struggle (2)
First Rehearsal:
We set up our equipment in Tiffany’s dining room and discussed possible songs to play. Because of Jay we stuck with almost pure blues…1,4,5…We played through 11-12 songs. Craig recorded our session on his computer and made a list of the songs we played. Occasionally he added songs to the list he wanted us to play. Music like: Stevie Wonder, Evanescence, Credence Clearwater. Wishful thinking. He did not wear his goofy hat or the Hawaiian shirt to the first rehearsal.
I sounded bad. I played a new charcoal black Ibanez. I played catch up. I struggled finding the location of the song and did not know scales well enough to play riffs that matched what the guitar was doing. Tiffany sounded good. She made up most of the lyrics she sang, but was rarely, if ever, off key. DW was fine. Jay got excited each time he got the chance to sing or play a solo. He loved playing the blues.
[Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues…]
Out of the first 11-12 songs only one sounded good. Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone. Was a little messy, but sounded good enough to demonstrate our potential and give us hope. Manager Craig burned a CD of the first rehearsal. I listened to it and decided that I needed to practice before our next session. And that Jay should not sing too much.
We set up our equipment in Tiffany’s dining room and discussed possible songs to play. Because of Jay we stuck with almost pure blues…1,4,5…We played through 11-12 songs. Craig recorded our session on his computer and made a list of the songs we played. Occasionally he added songs to the list he wanted us to play. Music like: Stevie Wonder, Evanescence, Credence Clearwater. Wishful thinking. He did not wear his goofy hat or the Hawaiian shirt to the first rehearsal.
I sounded bad. I played a new charcoal black Ibanez. I played catch up. I struggled finding the location of the song and did not know scales well enough to play riffs that matched what the guitar was doing. Tiffany sounded good. She made up most of the lyrics she sang, but was rarely, if ever, off key. DW was fine. Jay got excited each time he got the chance to sing or play a solo. He loved playing the blues.
[Nobody leaves this place without singing the blues…]
Out of the first 11-12 songs only one sounded good. Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone. Was a little messy, but sounded good enough to demonstrate our potential and give us hope. Manager Craig burned a CD of the first rehearsal. I listened to it and decided that I needed to practice before our next session. And that Jay should not sing too much.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Kingfisher: A Small Account of the Struggle (1)
The Formation:
Craig called me on my office phone and asked me how interested I would be in joining a band. He outlined for me how the idea came to him. He acquired for a very reasonable price a 16-track mixer with 2 large speakers, several mics, XLR cords, amp for the mixer, 1/4 inch guitar cords, mic stands, extension cords, lights and other things he did not know what to do with. While storing things at his sister’s house they decided to turn her spare room into a recording studio.
Craig phoned me because he knew me to be a musician. He gauged my interest and assured me my lack of band experience would not be a problem. He asked me if I wanted to be the bass player. I am a guitar player and had little experience playing bass, but Craig’s idea of forming a band intrigued me enough to attend the first band meeting.
We met at Tiffany’s house. Tiffany is Craig sister and recently moved back to Texas to be closer to her family. Craig wore a Hawaiian shirt and a goofy straw hat, even though it was September. We sat around the table waiting for the musicians to show up. While we waited, Tiffany passed out beers and dealt a deck of playing cards with naked men on the back of them. The naked men held their cocks in their hands and posed in an 80’s macho, smug sort of way. Many of the men had mustaches and some of them wore cowboy hats. None wore Hawaiian shirts with a goofy straw hat. Tiffany laughed at us because she could see how distracted and uncomfortable we were playing “hi/low” with this deck of cards.
After everyone showed up, Craig called the meeting to order and introduced the prospective members of the band to each other:
Tiffany: Singer. 34. Single and living with her dog Maverick. Background in theater. Charismatic singer with a strong voice and an outrageously fun personality. She loves football and playing hi/low. Never played in a band before. Can win anyone over with her smile and her positive energy.
Jay: Large guy. Blues guitar and singer/songwriter. Introverted, perverted, and talented guitar player. Unemployed screenwriter. Experienced working on B-Movies, low-budget indies, and porn. Plays on an old amp. Guitar named Albatross. Nasally voice. Spills beer on his shirt. Does not feel comfortable in crowds larger than five people, but will dominate a group less than five. He chews gum when he is on stage. Always wears black jeans and a black t-shirt. Has a brown tweed blazer when it is too cold for a t-shirt.
DW: Professional quality drummer playing in several bands. Wants to make money playing music and is good enough to do it. An attractive guy who took one look at this project and knew there was no chance. He did not take this opportunity seriously, but was polite to the group.
Hardy: Guitarist changed to bassist. Out of his league. Never played organized bass before and very little experience playing organized music.
Craig: Manager. Getting his business off the ground. Many irons in the fire. Motivated. The only one of us with a child. A serious love of music. Enjoys the technical side as well as the artistic.
We sat around the table discussing our goals, inspirations and skills. Occasionally the conversation would be broken up by Tiffany flipping over a card picturing a naked man holding his penis in a humorous pose.
Craig called me on my office phone and asked me how interested I would be in joining a band. He outlined for me how the idea came to him. He acquired for a very reasonable price a 16-track mixer with 2 large speakers, several mics, XLR cords, amp for the mixer, 1/4 inch guitar cords, mic stands, extension cords, lights and other things he did not know what to do with. While storing things at his sister’s house they decided to turn her spare room into a recording studio.
Craig phoned me because he knew me to be a musician. He gauged my interest and assured me my lack of band experience would not be a problem. He asked me if I wanted to be the bass player. I am a guitar player and had little experience playing bass, but Craig’s idea of forming a band intrigued me enough to attend the first band meeting.
We met at Tiffany’s house. Tiffany is Craig sister and recently moved back to Texas to be closer to her family. Craig wore a Hawaiian shirt and a goofy straw hat, even though it was September. We sat around the table waiting for the musicians to show up. While we waited, Tiffany passed out beers and dealt a deck of playing cards with naked men on the back of them. The naked men held their cocks in their hands and posed in an 80’s macho, smug sort of way. Many of the men had mustaches and some of them wore cowboy hats. None wore Hawaiian shirts with a goofy straw hat. Tiffany laughed at us because she could see how distracted and uncomfortable we were playing “hi/low” with this deck of cards.
After everyone showed up, Craig called the meeting to order and introduced the prospective members of the band to each other:
Tiffany: Singer. 34. Single and living with her dog Maverick. Background in theater. Charismatic singer with a strong voice and an outrageously fun personality. She loves football and playing hi/low. Never played in a band before. Can win anyone over with her smile and her positive energy.
Jay: Large guy. Blues guitar and singer/songwriter. Introverted, perverted, and talented guitar player. Unemployed screenwriter. Experienced working on B-Movies, low-budget indies, and porn. Plays on an old amp. Guitar named Albatross. Nasally voice. Spills beer on his shirt. Does not feel comfortable in crowds larger than five people, but will dominate a group less than five. He chews gum when he is on stage. Always wears black jeans and a black t-shirt. Has a brown tweed blazer when it is too cold for a t-shirt.
DW: Professional quality drummer playing in several bands. Wants to make money playing music and is good enough to do it. An attractive guy who took one look at this project and knew there was no chance. He did not take this opportunity seriously, but was polite to the group.
Hardy: Guitarist changed to bassist. Out of his league. Never played organized bass before and very little experience playing organized music.
Craig: Manager. Getting his business off the ground. Many irons in the fire. Motivated. The only one of us with a child. A serious love of music. Enjoys the technical side as well as the artistic.
We sat around the table discussing our goals, inspirations and skills. Occasionally the conversation would be broken up by Tiffany flipping over a card picturing a naked man holding his penis in a humorous pose.
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