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Finally writing music and playing with a band... (2 Viewers)

jdoggydogg

Footballguy
Some of you know me - for as long as 22 years. For those that don't, it's an honor to meet you.

This post will definitely have plenty of " ME ME ME!", but speaking as someone that's worked in education for 15 years, I hope we can all teach each other from our experiences. If you've even watched Bill Maher, he never misses a chance to call young people lazy, privileged, and weak. How do I know this is nonsense? Because I know my son. I know his friends. I've known dozens of brilliant, honest, capable, and kind students over the years, and I learn from them all the time.

Briefly, I taught myself how to play the guitar back in 1979 by listening to Boston, Led Zeppelin, Journey, Rush, and Jimi Hendrix. My life was forever altered when I discovered a used copy of Black Sabbath's "Master of Reality" cassette at my favorite record store. Little did I know that there was music that gave cathartic relief to my trauma and pain. In Junior high through college, I played in various brass bands, concert bands, vocal groups, jazz bands, and small jazz combos. In college, while I loved playing the guitar, my strength was ear training, sight-singing, and theory. Loved theory so much, I tutored the subject.

For years, I've been trying to put together a heavy band. I played once a month in a trio that was jazz, rock, experimental, but it wasn't a heavy band. Finally, after years on Craigslist, and auditions and meetings and the occasional ghosting of people I thought were reliable, I've formed an instrumental trio. We aren't adverse to adding a vocalist, but we are enjoying the music we're creating. If you've ever heard Pelican or Russian Circles, that's a little close to what we are doing. We've purchased amazing cover art, I designed the logo, and we are booking recording time at my college's studio.

This is a sample of rehearsal. Sound isn't great, but it'll give you an idea what we're aiming for.

A few years back, someone on this board posted a question. Paraphrasing, his son wanted to start a career in hip hop. and dad was asking advice. I can remember almost exactly what I typed. I said that few of us will reach the end of our life and regret taking a chance at a dream. Sure, once I die (I'm 57 - you start to really think cleary about these issues) I won't exist, and aside from the family and friends that loved me, it'll be as if I never existed. Most of us aren't curing cancer, so in a nihilistic sense, nothing matters. But what does matter is to be kind to people. What matters is that despite our inevitable clock ticking towards non-existence, we have access to enormous beauty in this world. Nature, art, music, food, culture...these are all gifts. 

If you ever start a restaurant, form a band, begin a career in fine art, open a salon, or just fill in the blank with something you love and believe in, then do it. What’s holding you back? Failure. I reject the label. What is failure? Trying something and realizing you aren’t good enough? Then get better. Try harder. Fail better.

You know who never fails? People that never try.

"Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” ~Basil King
 
That is so cool Jdog! I’ve really enjoyed your music and talent over the years. Also the range from electronic to jazz to metal. I’m so psyched for you to see this all culminating in a project you are passionate about. Super cool sound and reminded me a bit of The Sword. Wishing you all the best and please continue to update this thread with your progress and clips of the band!
 
That is awesome, rock on. My dad has been playing in rock bands and recording music for 50 years. He is 75 and still going strong. Never made real money off it, just a hobby for fun but it's been something he has always been passionate about. He's always getting new recording equipment, learning new techniques, figuring how to fix different equipment and upgrading to different platforms: reel to reel to cassette to CD to MP3 and Spotify. I hope this conitnues to bring as much joy and creativity and inspiration into your life.
 
That is so cool Jdog! I’ve really enjoyed your music and talent over the years. Also the range from electronic to jazz to metal. I’m so psyched for you to see this all culminating in a project you are passionate about. Super cool sound and reminded me a bit of The Sword. Wishing you all the best and please continue to update this thread with your progress and clips of the band!

Your tenacity with your band was always inspiring to me. Thanks for the encouragement and have a great weekend!
 
That is awesome, rock on. My dad has been playing in rock bands and recording music for 50 years. He is 75 and still going strong. Never made real money off it, just a hobby for fun but it's been something he has always been passionate about. He's always getting new recording equipment, learning new techniques, figuring how to fix different equipment and upgrading to different platforms: reel to reel to cassette to CD to MP3 and Spotify. I hope this conitnues to bring as much joy and creativity and inspiration into your life.

That's dope! Is your dad's music on YouTube so I can check it out?
 
Go for it J! Im a little shocked cause I didnt know you like this over rapping but I liked what I heard. Keep it up man. Make it your everyday thing and it will take care of itself.

I've always been big into hip hop! Love it. Hip hop is a gift, because if you're willing to learn, you'll better understand the lives of people other than yourself. So much poetry and creativity.
 
Love it jdog. Gave me a We Lost the Sea vibe. I've been loving those guys recently. Can't get enough.

Glad you mentioned them. I've been wanting to check them out. Favorite album?

Departure Songs is a masterpiece that will make my top albums list in the other thread. It's from 2015.

First of all, that is a beautiful album cover. I'm listening now and I love it so far. Reminds me of a mellower Russian Circles.
 
That is awesome, rock on. My dad has been playing in rock bands and recording music for 50 years. He is 75 and still going strong. Never made real money off it, just a hobby for fun but it's been something he has always been passionate about. He's always getting new recording equipment, learning new techniques, figuring how to fix different equipment and upgrading to different platforms: reel to reel to cassette to CD to MP3 and Spotify. I hope this conitnues to bring as much joy and creativity and inspiration into your life.

That's dope! Is your dad's music on YouTube so I can check it out?
Sure, he doesn't promote anything or play live so it's just all there because what the heck I guess. But check it out,I am sure he would love feedback.

Killing Time

Detroit Riot

Kaos
 
That is awesome, rock on. My dad has been playing in rock bands and recording music for 50 years. He is 75 and still going strong. Never made real money off it, just a hobby for fun but it's been something he has always been passionate about. He's always getting new recording equipment, learning new techniques, figuring how to fix different equipment and upgrading to different platforms: reel to reel to cassette to CD to MP3 and Spotify. I hope this conitnues to bring as much joy and creativity and inspiration into your life.

That's dope! Is your dad's music on YouTube so I can check it out?
Sure, he doesn't promote anything or play live so it's just all there because what the heck I guess. But check it out,I am sure he would love feedback.

Killing Time

Detroit Riot

Kaos

Nice! That's a really solid recording. The sound is well balanced and it makes me think of George Thorogood.
 
Congrats, jdoggydogg. Good to hear you're pursuing one of your life's dreams. It's always freaking extra cool to hear about people doing that.

Now if I ever start playing piano, look out!
 

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