Some updates!
It has been a LONG time since I posted anything new here, so I figured I'd post a quick update.
NEW MUSIC PROJECTS
Music has kept me VERY busy recently. At the end of last year, I started to work on music for a local independent movie called "The Lard Boys," which will resume later this summer. The songs recorded so far are nothing like my usual style - as a hint, I even play some banjo on one of the tracks!
ROCKIN' AROUND THE TOWN SQUARE 2012: RED WHITE & BLUE
Of course, the 2011 "Rockin' Around the Town Square" (RATTS) Christmas concerts were a success and a blast - so much, in fact, that for the past few months I've been working on new music for a brand new SUMMER show! The "Rockin' Around the Town Square: Red, White & Blue" summer concerts will take place June 22-24, 2012 at the Main Street Theater in Columbiana, and as suggested by the title, will have a patriotic theme. The summer RATTS show will feature many brand new, exciting things to honor and pay tribute to those who have served or are currently serving in any branch of the U.S. Military. It's certainly been fun taking songs that are as old as 230 years old, reworking them, and giving them a hard rockin' twist - hopefully others will enjoy the new arrangements. If the demos serve as any indication, the summer shows should be even more fun than ever before! The 2012 Christmas RATTS concerts are already scheduled, as well - for December 14-16, 2012. Be sure to check out baydamusic.com for all the latest updates and upcoming performances.
STUCK ON REPEAT: BLESSED BY A BROKEN HEART'S "FEEL THE POWER"
I never thought I'd admit to enjoying an album with any type of screamo/deathcore/metalcore/hardcore/whatever-'core'-the-scene-kids-are-calling-it-these-days leanings... until a few days ago after buying "Feel The Power", the latest album by Blessed By A Broken Heart. Before elaborating any further, I certainly understand musicians' needs for expression and totally respect their artistic freedom. I also try my best to be open-minded and set aside my opinions when checking out new music, which can admittedly be challenging at times. However, since the screamo/metalcore/etc. scene first started to sneak out of the underground in the early- to mid-2000s, I've not been able to relate with most of the music... because I tend to be a positive, happy-go-lucky individual, the angst present in the vocal delivery of much of that music doesn't really connect with me on an emotional level. In addition, as a huge fan of musical variety and growth, I haven't noticed much of either of those traits within that particular genre. Most of the bands sound very similar to me at first listen. Then I stumbled upon Blessed By A Broken Heart's "Feel The Power." Finally, a modern North American rock/metal band that's unafraid to be different from everyone else! "Feel The Power" showcases a band eager to continually learn from, expand on, and improve upon its past experiences and experiments - and, unlike BBABH's previous 2 albums, it successfully blends together elements of Journey, Def Leppard, Racer X, Yngwie Malmsteen, Underoath, Avenged Sevenfold, Dragonforce, and more. Loaded with impressive musical chops, irresistible vocal melodies, layers of vocal harmonies, and a nod to old-school 'feel good' rock, while also possessing a modern edge and intensity, "Feel The Power" has something for ALL open-minded music lovers to enjoy. And it may just inspire me to play guitar FAST again! Check it out!
That's all for now - until next time!