Party Like it's 1989, or: A Little Nostalgia Goes a Long Way (Part 1)

Last weekend I attended the Wildflower Festival in Richardson, TX. Three days of art, music, and just a generally good time. This is one weekend every year when my sister and I get together and forget the rest of the world. But, neither one of us are in our teens or twenties anymore!

This is the kind of festival where you bring your own chairs. On Friday night, we literally set our chairs up in a shrubbery. Well, actually on top of some ground cover, but don't you just love the word, "shrubbery?" We had an excellent, unobstructed view of the main stage, up on a wall.

It had been raining all day, so there were some changes to the schedule. Before we settled into our chairs, we headed down to one of the other stages and checked out Horizon, the US Navy rock band. Yes, they have one! And they're VERY good. The lead singer is actually from this area, so it was kind of a homecoming for him. After that, it was time to head back to the main stage.

First up was Frontiers, a Journey tribute band. They were pretty good, but didn't live up to their hype. Next was a brief-brief-brief set by a solo Casey James. Yes, the American Idol contestant. He was wonderful; just him and his guitar. They filmed his set for the show. My personal opinion is he doesn't need American Idol - he'll do just fine on his own. But he's not much of a pop star; he's more bluesy, more Johnny-Lang-esque.

The evening wrapped up with the B-52's. They were absolutely AMAZING! They sounded great and looked great and had all kinds of energy. And thus began the Party.

The next day started out with the Battle of the Bands. This is a feature every year where youthful bands go through rounds of competition culminating with the top 4 bands performing on the secondary stage at Wildflower. Complete with judges who walk around with clipboards and taking notes. This was nostalgic for me, because I fondly remember music competitions in my younger years, although not rock music. It also brought up this little pang of regret that comes up from time to time, that I didn't take advantage of several opportunities to go in the rock band direction when I was young. Anyway, these bands were fabulous. The winning group was a band called Jaci and Those Guys. You should definitely check them out.

Back at the main stage, we once again set up at our shrubbery. This time, though, we looked longingly at the "front row" near the stage, and thought, let's take this all the way back to 1989 and go down front. So we did!! I was a little concerned that there would be a crush, but generally speaking, one of the nicest things about this festival is the good attitude of the attendees.

The first act we saw from the front row was a band from Ft. Worth called Black and Bluez. In spite of their moniker, they actually played quite a variety of music, but with a bluesy bent for sure. I recall their version of "Roxanne." Wow!!

Next up was a reformation of glitter-rock band The Sweet, centering around original bassist Steve Priest. This band was a heavy influence on my favorite music of all time, and I was not disappointed. They played all their hits, plus some, and had a great interaction with the crowd. They even looked the part - the lead singer wearing leopard spandex pants, even. Anyway, I was on my feet dancing around and singing at the top of my lungs to "Love is Like Oxygen", "Fox on the Run", "Action", "Little Willie," I could go on.

Now the worry about the oncoming crush begins. Because next up is Vince Neil of Motley Crue. And yes, it got very crowded down front, but people were really nice. And this reminded me of the very first time I saw Motley Crue in concert. I had tickets in the 3rd row at my now-gone-but-never-forgotten Reunion Arena. They were recording for their Decade of Decadence greatest hits compilation, and so they were actually encouraging people to come fill in the spaces near the front. I was frustrated because I thought, 3rd row, unobstructed view, yet here are all these people, standing on the chairs in the front rows and all these others streaming in. I thought I would cry, but about then, some people partying on the chairs in the 2nd row reached down and pulled me up on the chairs with them, and there we rocked with Motley Crue at one of the best shows I've seen in my entire life.

Fast forward to Wildflower 2010. Vince Neil takes the stage. If I thought it wasn't possible to have more energy and look better 20 years later, Vince proves it is. Yes, I know he's had work done. But, I'd have work done, too, if I had the bankroll and especially if I was in show business. He was so full of energy, I could barely snap a photo. He had a huge smile on his face the entire time, and his sidemen were fantastic! Dana Strum from Slaughter played bass. I didn't catch the name of the guitarist, but he actually took over the vocals for some Zeppelin covers. The drummer - also missed his name - was like a tasmanian devil on the drums! How the kit didn't fall over, I'll never know. I've never seen more physical drumming. In any case, I danced, sang, fist-pumped along to most of the hits from the "Dr. Feelgood" album as well as many other mostly-Crue gems.

Sweaty, and happily exhausted at the end of the set, Sis and I decided to open up our front row seats to those waiting patiently behind us, and have a more relaxing time for the next act, .38 Special.

I Love my iPhone; or: To Not Kill a Mockingbird

It seems like just about everyone has an iPhone these days. And I, for one, can't imagine my life without mine. I can't even remember how I got by before I had it.

There's some really cool music gear applications available. I've got one called "Pocket Guitar" - which is basically a way to play actual guitar chords on the phone. I use that one when I'm trying to figure out a new chord. I've got a guitar tuning application. A metronome. And...something called "Gig Baby" - it's actually a 4-track recorder! On my iPhone! It's way too cool and even has some built-in drum beats.

My iPhone lets me keep up with Facebook, have a flashlight always on hand, be way-too connected to work, and always have a book at the ready. All my music is on there, I can play Diner Dash, check my stock prices, get the latest headlines, edit photos, make my own backgrounds, figure out how to get where I'm going. Truly, I've found an application to do just about anything I want; I just wish it could go pour me a glass of wine instead of just recommending a cabernet.

So, what's this about not killing a mockingbird?

Well, last night, or should I say early this morning, some mockingbird started singing outside my window. It sang and sang and sang and sang and sang and sang and I was wide awake. I tried to sleep. I fired up my Kindle for iPhone to try to get my mind off the singing. Sort of would drift off, then the singing would pick up again. This went on for over an hour. So I got up for a bit. Went back to bed. Still the constant singing. I was pretty sure the only way to shut the dadgum bird up was to put it out of my miser.

Then it dawned on me. Headphones and white noise or ocean sounds would do the trick. I had headphones, really nice soft ones. But no ocean sounds. Bummer. Wait!! The App Store has everything. 2 minutes later, I had an ocean sounds application downloaded, headphones in, and - JOY! - no more mockingbird song.

Oh, and did I mention the iPhone also has a functional phone?

Playing What I Want

Last night, I recalled one of the main contributing factors that led to me quitting music the first time around. I actually majored in flute performance in college. All went well until one day I walked into my flute professor's studio and she handed me the Prokofiev flute sonata and announced that would be the centerpiece of my work that semester. Well, I had come in with my own idea: I wanted to play the Chaminade flute concertino. I had fallen in love with that piece during the previous semester and wanted passionately to perform it. But it was to no avail. My professor had already decided that another student in her studio would be performing the Chaminade and I would be performing the Prokofiev. Nevermind that I didn't even care for the Prokofiev. And trust me, I grew to hate it. And I did not perform it well because I hated it so much. As a musician, I knew good and well that there would be times I'd have to perform pieces that I didn't like so much. But the fact that, as a soloist, I had no say in what I would perform that semester, really burned me. Music was supposed to be about expressing the soul, not fitting into some cookie-cutter world. This incident started a chair reaction that ended with me giving up the flute.

Today things are much different. I threw myself into a career that I initially loved, and over time became disillusioned with, but sucked up when the economy turned poor. A 17-year career with a company ended with a devastating layoff. But that certainly put things into perspective. And in many ways that event turned out to be the best thing ever - because now I have music back! Because one thing I learned through that whole trying time is that I'm in charge of my decisions. And I decided that I would play the guitar, and that I would play what I want.

So I walked into my guitar instructor's studio for the first time last December. And what was the first thing he said to me? He said, "what do you want to learn?" A far cry from "thou shalt learn this!!" from 20+ years ago. Instead of wanting to produce a carbon copy of himself in terms of style and artistry, he wants to help me produce me. When I bring in a song I want to work on, he doesn't laugh or dismiss it summarily (although he may gently suggest it's not quite within my skill range yet). Finally! I'm playing what I want.

Festival Season is Upon Us! Finally!

We finally got that long, cold, weird wet winter behind us and are full-steaming it ahead into spring. And that means one thing: Outdoor festivals! And live music on patios at bars and restaurants all over. What is it about hearing music outside that's so, well, festive?

I kicked off my outdoor music season at Berryhill Baja Grill last night, featuring guitarist extraordinaire, Vic Duncan, who also happens to be my instructor. Berryhill is a cool place, because they have the kind of doors that slide all the way open, literally bringing the outdoors in. Kind of a weird setup for a "stage" for Vic (we actually ended up sitting behind him) but hey, the Dos Equis was cold, and the music was live! Trade Frankford Road for a beach or a lake view, and nothing could be more perfect. Well, unless drinks were on the house...

Thus began my month-long warmup for the ever popular Wildflower Festival in Richardson. This is its 18th year, and my 6th consecutive year. It's an annual weekend event for me and my sister, and it's by far the best outdoor festival I've ever been to. It's situated in, of all things, a corporate campus. There are banks, hotels, "urban-style" aparments, and various corporate headquarters on site. But they nestle 3 outdoor stages, one indoor stage as well as a laser show inside a theater into it. Then they mix in a food court, beverage stations, artisan tents and other vendors and it makes it one big, three-day party. A festival, even! And it's so cost-effective. A three-day pass is only $25. That's for *all* the shows!

A couple of years ago, thanks to some artwork my brother had donated, my sister and I managed to score VIP passes. Well, that spoiled us, and so now we plan to spring for the "Friends of the Festival" package which gets us reserved seating, free catering and beverages, as well as rooftop viewing. And that's even relatively cost-effective: $250 for 2 people. So $125 apiece. I paid $150 for one Van Halen ticket. It's a bargain!

This year's lineup features noteable local as well as national acts, like: Journey tribute band Frontiers, Le Freak, the B-52's, Candlebox, Los Lonely Boys, Vince Neil, and many, many others. Including .38 Special, who I've always wanted to see in concert, but never have. In addition, there's a singer/songwriter competition, and a street dance. The fun is non-stop! I've even considered checking into the on-site hotel so I don't have to miss a minute (and can always get to a private restroom...)

I'm already planning what to wear...

Suffering for my Art

So they told me all about how I'd get callouses on my fretting fingers when I started to play the guitar. What they didn't tell me was how much it would hurt - and continue to hurt. I just got finished playing a few minutes ago, and decided to start typing, which wasn't such a good idea. Each stroke of a key my left hand is responsible for sends a zinger up my finger.

I figured, well once the callouses are there, it won't hurt anymore, right? Wrong. I've been playing every day now since December. Every day after practice, my fingers hurt. And not just some surface pain, it goes pretty deep within my fingertips. It hurts for several hours after I'm finished, and then they continue to be numb.

Always numb. I can't even pick up paper or small things with my left hand anymore. So I'm thinking - are all guitarists out there, all the ones in bands and ones that jam at home, and all the classical players - are they all walking around without feeling in their fretting-hand fingertips? How long has it been since Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, or Jeff Beck had non-numb fingertips? And how does it affect their daily lives?

For me, it makes it difficult to work my office job sometimes. But at least I'm beginning to understand why "they" picked the non-dominant hand to play the frets. I always wondered about that - I mean, why wouldn't you use your "stronger" hand to do the hard part? Well, it's because your fretting hand is rendered semi-useless in the process, so best go with the non-dominant hand. For that, I am thankful.

And I have a whole new appreciation for Bryan Adams' lyric, "...played it 'til my fingers bled..."

Now I'm off to soak my fingertips in Palmolive...

My Inner Guitar Hero

So, I used to be one of those "musician-types" who scoffed at those that took Guitar Hero and Rock Band seriously. I mean, I thought, cute - if you want to pretend to play instruments and be in a band, fine; it's just not for me. The music is good, and it's fun at a party. But I had people actually tell me, "oh, my boy Timmy is so awesome at Guitar Hero, that we're going to get him guitar lessons!" Um...well, that's not always going to be a direct translation from one to the other. Guitars have frets and strings, need to be tuned, are bigger than guitar controllers, the list goes on.

Nine times out of ten "Timmy" gave up quickly, especially when they realized how much time away from Guitar Hero guitar practice was taking...

Still, I like to sing, so I got Rock Band to be the singer. The singing part on that game, while not displayed exactly as typical music notation, is actually quite a good visual of pitch, and gives you a pretty good idea of whether you're on pitch or not. So I'd say Rock Band can help you train as a singer, at least where pitch is concerned.

I decided if I was going to make the most of my Rock Band game, I'd better try the drums and guitars. I'm happy to report that the drums, while definitely not set up like a "regulation" kit, do a great job with rhythm and timing. I'd definitely recommend parents start their kid out with Rock Band drumming and see if they take to it before investing a full-blown drum kit, and the headaches that accompany a beginning budding drummer.

Finally, I picked up the guitar controller and tried my hand. Having played the actual guitar, I thought it would be a breeze. What's pushing little buttons down compared with the agony of developing callouses on my left-hand fingers? Well, certainly there's very little callous-building happening in Rock Band and Guitar Hero. It doesn't help you read tablature or understand chords. It doesn't help you find out what notes are on what strings, where. No barre chords. No hammer-ons or pull-offs. But, not unlike the drums, I find that those games help me a lot with rhythms.

The little "fret lines" that slide down the screen toward you as you play are actually set at eighth-note intervals. I've seen some pretty complex rhythms coming down, even on the easy levels. Some fast transitions. Some combinations that work better with up-and-down strokes rather than just down. And even though you're never really playing along with the lead guitar on the music track, if you listen well, you can really tell how the rhythms fit in with the guitar lines in the track.

Oh, and there's a whammy bar!!

So now, I'm a convert. I say, "Let them play Guitar Hero!" kids of today can be exposed to some amazingly legendary classic rock while we "older folks" can learn to appreciate the music of today. It's always good for the generations to understand one another. And, if you learn a little about music in the meanwhile, all the better for society as a whole.

Just remember - it's a game - have fun! And if you do find that you're musically inclined, don't be afraid to try out the "real thing."

Sing Along with Me!

I think one of the very best things about rock concerts and festivals is the feeling of a temporary community. The energy of the crowd feeding off one another, singing together, enjoying one of their (hopefully) favorite bands together. There's something about a sea of people fist-pumping in one accord that really moves me. Community. Then it's over, and you move on. Temporary.

Temporary communities can exist in large-scale, like a stadium-sized concert, or small venues, like a birthday party at your home, or anything in-between. Basically anytime 3 or more people get together to all do one collective thing; celebrating something is always a plus!

One of my objectives in learning to play the guitar is to be able to create temporary communities, in the form of sing-alongs. Seriously - I'd love to be able to get out the ol' acoustic guitar in a group setting, start to play, and have everyone join in. Like around a campfire, except that I don't camp, so more like around a fireplace. :)

To reach this objective, I've started selecting songs that I want to learn to play by considering if they are sing-along-able. Perusing my iPod, I notice that it does include many that meet the criteria, but many that don't. The main reasons being that they either don't translate well to the acoustic guitar (although sing-alongs could certainly spring up around an electric guitar, but I'm not sure I want to haul around all that equipment all the time), or the fact that it's a song that not everyone knows well enough to sing along with. I guess I have some obscure taste...

So, what better way to find out what songs everyone knows than to ask everyone? To everyone who's reading this, please comment with what your favorite sing-along songs might be. I'm not asking for your favorite song, per se - just those that you think would be fun (and easy) to sing in a group, that others would enjoy singing just as much as you do.

Just as an example, I've recently been working on "Every Rose Has its Thorn." I think it qualifies - do you?

Let me hear from you!