Beem Weeks's Blog - Posts Tagged "music"
Things That Trigger Memories
There are a million of them, those smells, tastes, sounds, or songs that have a way of transporting us back to a time long ago. The smell of fresh-cut grass leads me back to the early 1970s, to a time when I'd watch my dad mow the lawn and dream of a time when I'd be trusted enough to do the chore myself. Of course when that time came, I no longer had that desire to do such a job on a weekly basis. But that smell still takes me back.
Tasting fresh strawberries drops me into summertime 1983 and 1984. Dad's third wife made a mean strawberry shortcake.
During my nightly workouts with my weight-set I play CDs (Yup! I'm still kicking it old-school). Music has that amazing quality of time and era built right in. A song can come on the radio and take us straight back to the first time we heard it, the summer or winter it was released, or stir up memories of that special someone we once were convinced was the ONE.
We lived on Pine Street until I turned three years old, moved out during spring of 1970. And still I have a headful of memories from that house. Many of those reminiscences are tied to songs. Particular songs. Johnny and June Carter-Cash songs, to be specific. My dad loved that outlaw country sound--Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson.
Bob Seger was perhaps his favorite, though. Old Time Rock and Roll. To this day, Seger music has a way of pulling me into summers of the 1970s, when Live Bullet first came out, and Dad played the heck out of it all the time.
My dad passed away just last May. I miss him so much. But in that music I find him again, remembering moments I believed would last forever.
I lost my little brother two years ago. Today he became a grandfather and he's not here to meet his grandson. But there are songs he and I used to jam out to. Any Led Zeppelin album brings my brother back to me. Queensryche, Pink Floyd, Metallica; it all has meaning and memory attachment.
The other day I bought a few new CDs. Eighties metal. Cinderella--the hair band, not the fairy tale--is the one that inspired me to write this particular blog entry. Their first album came out in 1986. That is still my favorite year in my life. Freshly graduated from high school, money in my pocket, girlfriend by my side; it couldn't get any better. Carefree and young, we spent our free time at the local heavy metal club (The Silver Dollar Saloon) or seeing the biggest bands of the era in concert. Concerts were social events nobody wanted to miss out on. I went to dozens of shows, still have all but one of those ticket stubs to prove it.
So anyway, Cinderella. They were the big deal for that summer of 86. I delivered pizzas while playing the heck out of that first Cinderella album.
But somewhere over the years I lost that original cassette tape. Probably hadn't heard it in well over twenty years--until I found a copy on CD the other day. I popped it in the player and immediately my mind drew up recollections of friends I hadn't thought about in quite some time.
Some of those friends are no longer among the living.
We all got married, started having children, and began living our lives in different worlds. We lost touch somewhere along the way. And just how does that sort of thing happen? Usually with a "I'll talk to you later" or "Give me a call Friday" and that call is never made. A week turns into a month, a month becomes a year. We're too busy being married, being parents, living this new adult life where concerts and clubs no longer factor in. We forget the past and focus on the here and now--until a long lost CD is rediscovered.
Often, when I talk with my sister or older brother, the phrase "Hey, remember that time..." enters the conversation. My sister is good for "I forgot all about that." It's never really forgotten, though. It's still there inside the mind, just waiting for that someone, that something, that certain smell, or a special song to pull it into the forefront of the mind. Then it's fondly remembered, examined, and talked about, before being filed away again for another few years.
Thank God for memories.
Tasting fresh strawberries drops me into summertime 1983 and 1984. Dad's third wife made a mean strawberry shortcake.
During my nightly workouts with my weight-set I play CDs (Yup! I'm still kicking it old-school). Music has that amazing quality of time and era built right in. A song can come on the radio and take us straight back to the first time we heard it, the summer or winter it was released, or stir up memories of that special someone we once were convinced was the ONE.
We lived on Pine Street until I turned three years old, moved out during spring of 1970. And still I have a headful of memories from that house. Many of those reminiscences are tied to songs. Particular songs. Johnny and June Carter-Cash songs, to be specific. My dad loved that outlaw country sound--Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson.
Bob Seger was perhaps his favorite, though. Old Time Rock and Roll. To this day, Seger music has a way of pulling me into summers of the 1970s, when Live Bullet first came out, and Dad played the heck out of it all the time.
My dad passed away just last May. I miss him so much. But in that music I find him again, remembering moments I believed would last forever.
I lost my little brother two years ago. Today he became a grandfather and he's not here to meet his grandson. But there are songs he and I used to jam out to. Any Led Zeppelin album brings my brother back to me. Queensryche, Pink Floyd, Metallica; it all has meaning and memory attachment.
The other day I bought a few new CDs. Eighties metal. Cinderella--the hair band, not the fairy tale--is the one that inspired me to write this particular blog entry. Their first album came out in 1986. That is still my favorite year in my life. Freshly graduated from high school, money in my pocket, girlfriend by my side; it couldn't get any better. Carefree and young, we spent our free time at the local heavy metal club (The Silver Dollar Saloon) or seeing the biggest bands of the era in concert. Concerts were social events nobody wanted to miss out on. I went to dozens of shows, still have all but one of those ticket stubs to prove it.
So anyway, Cinderella. They were the big deal for that summer of 86. I delivered pizzas while playing the heck out of that first Cinderella album.
But somewhere over the years I lost that original cassette tape. Probably hadn't heard it in well over twenty years--until I found a copy on CD the other day. I popped it in the player and immediately my mind drew up recollections of friends I hadn't thought about in quite some time.
Some of those friends are no longer among the living.
We all got married, started having children, and began living our lives in different worlds. We lost touch somewhere along the way. And just how does that sort of thing happen? Usually with a "I'll talk to you later" or "Give me a call Friday" and that call is never made. A week turns into a month, a month becomes a year. We're too busy being married, being parents, living this new adult life where concerts and clubs no longer factor in. We forget the past and focus on the here and now--until a long lost CD is rediscovered.
Often, when I talk with my sister or older brother, the phrase "Hey, remember that time..." enters the conversation. My sister is good for "I forgot all about that." It's never really forgotten, though. It's still there inside the mind, just waiting for that someone, that something, that certain smell, or a special song to pull it into the forefront of the mind. Then it's fondly remembered, examined, and talked about, before being filed away again for another few years.
Thank God for memories.
The Bloody Nerve
I get them quite often—even though I’m an indie author. I’m talking about the tweets from indie musicians asking for a shout out, or if maybe I wouldn’t mind having a listen to a song or two from a recently released album, EP, or single. I always oblige. I can’t help it. I’m a massive music fan! I once—though briefly—played in a metal band way back in 1984. I sang lead vocals—though my first love was and still is guitar. My true calling, though, is writing. So I’ll gladly leave the music-making to those who actually know what they’re doing; which brings me to the most recent band to contact me via Twitter.
The Bloody Nerve is a duo currently based out of Nashville, TN. And the mere fact that I’m taking the time to write a blog post about them ought to let you know my opinion of this amazing pair. This doesn’t mean all of those other musicians that have contacted me for a shout out aren’t worthy of a blog post—several are, and may get their own if I can find time to squeeze them between work on my second novel and the myriad short stories I’m currently putting together.
The Bloody Nerve consists of singer/guitarist Stacey Blood and vocalist Laurie Ann Layne. The two came together after years of stumping through places as diverse as Dallas, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; New York; and Miami. Blood arrived in Nashville first, back in 2004. Layne followed two years later. It was producer David Norris, a long-time friend to Blood, who steered the two into a working relationship that translates well into tight harmonies, stellar melodies, and poignant lyrics.
Both Blood and Layne are incredible singers. Their vocals complement each other in the same way an old married couple will finish one another’s sentences. The track that drew my attention is the haunting “Find Ya Love,” which can be viewed on their official website as well as on YouTube. This is one of those tracks that really puts the listener into a dreamy sort of mood, conjuring images of a stormy night somewhere deep in the American South. A second track, called “Place To Hide,” offers the true genius of simplicity: a guy, a girl, and an acoustic guitar.
These two serve up old-school rock and roll that sounds fresh and exciting in today’s often-stagnant music world. There’s no auto tune in this mix, just good old fashioned talent. Their newly-released EP entitled Red is available through their web site at http://www.thebloodynerve.com. I highly recommend this dynamic duo.
In case you need more convincing, have a listen and a look for yourselves:
“Place To Hide” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T7qtd...
“Find Ya Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cb-P9...
“Red” promo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3vIf...
The Bloody Nerve is a duo currently based out of Nashville, TN. And the mere fact that I’m taking the time to write a blog post about them ought to let you know my opinion of this amazing pair. This doesn’t mean all of those other musicians that have contacted me for a shout out aren’t worthy of a blog post—several are, and may get their own if I can find time to squeeze them between work on my second novel and the myriad short stories I’m currently putting together.
The Bloody Nerve consists of singer/guitarist Stacey Blood and vocalist Laurie Ann Layne. The two came together after years of stumping through places as diverse as Dallas, TX; San Luis Obispo, CA; New York; and Miami. Blood arrived in Nashville first, back in 2004. Layne followed two years later. It was producer David Norris, a long-time friend to Blood, who steered the two into a working relationship that translates well into tight harmonies, stellar melodies, and poignant lyrics.
Both Blood and Layne are incredible singers. Their vocals complement each other in the same way an old married couple will finish one another’s sentences. The track that drew my attention is the haunting “Find Ya Love,” which can be viewed on their official website as well as on YouTube. This is one of those tracks that really puts the listener into a dreamy sort of mood, conjuring images of a stormy night somewhere deep in the American South. A second track, called “Place To Hide,” offers the true genius of simplicity: a guy, a girl, and an acoustic guitar.
These two serve up old-school rock and roll that sounds fresh and exciting in today’s often-stagnant music world. There’s no auto tune in this mix, just good old fashioned talent. Their newly-released EP entitled Red is available through their web site at http://www.thebloodynerve.com. I highly recommend this dynamic duo.
In case you need more convincing, have a listen and a look for yourselves:
“Place To Hide” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7T7qtd...
“Find Ya Love” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cb-P9...
“Red” promo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Px3vIf...
This Is Rip 'N Time
I started my Twitter account @voiceofindie with the idea of helping indie authors and their work reach potential readers. It quickly morphed into a platform that includes indie musicians, photographers, and artists. Basically, I’ll tweet links and retweets for just about anybody with a creative endeavor needing a little extra word-of-mouth promotion. Because that’s all Twitter really is: word of mouth.
Recently, an EP came into my possession. This recording contains three fantastic tracks from a metal band called Rip ’N Time. But this isn’t your average band with the standard formation story.
Rip ’N Time began as a class project at a West Los Angeles high school. The course, taught by seventh period instructor Gunther Parigaliy, is called Multimedia Studies. The students in this small class were encouraged to create separate projects that would come together as a single affair. What they’ve accomplished deserves an A+ and the opportunity to record a full-length album.
Rip ’N Time consists of Riley Ripintyme on lead and rhythm guitar, Langston LaBelle handling vocals and rhythm guitar, and the strong rhythm section of Vincent Tarrega and Akemi Lee on drums and bass respectively. They cite bands as diverse at The Beatles, Queen, and Smithereens as influences. Toss the Bangles and the Byrds into the mix and you’ll get a pretty good feel for this band’s sound.
The EP, entitled Playing Her Guitar Suite, is just a sample of Rip ’N Time’s potential. It’s a taste of dreamy guitars and rock-steady rhythms. I hear hints of eighties rock mingled with classic sounds reaching further back through the seventies and dipping into the sixties. These two girls and two guys bring it all together into a cohesive sound that takes listeners on a journey into a faraway land—perhaps even to another world.
“Playing Her Guitar” is the lead-off track, setting the mood with its haunting melody and layered textures. The guitar work here is stellar, playing loose and sassy against the lead vocals, calling to mind a conversation taking place somewhere in the ether.
The middle track, an instrumental called “Twisting Road,” marches in on a great 1980s vibe with a twist of the modern. It’s the longest of the three songs, clocking in at just over eight minutes—and still not long enough. This one is my favorite of the collection.
Another instrumental closes out the EP. Entitled “Suite Dream,” this song is big and thick with sound. The press release that arrived with the CD refers to this track as a guitarchestral symphony. I’d have to agree with that proclamation.
The instrumentation on this project is solid. Riley Ripintyme can hold her own as a guitarist. Her style draws me back to another great female axe slinger named Lita Ford. Girls can play. Period. Riley seems poised to carry the proverbial torch into the next generation of guitar heroes.
Akemi Lee on bass and Vincent Tarrega on drums provide the very foundation on which this band rests. Good rhythm sections often take years to jell. These two sound like seasoned professionals.
The art work for the EP incorporates a storyline into the music via a graphic novel included as liner notes with the CD. This is a wonderful example of the talent that flourishes within every aspect of this project.
If you’re a music fan, this is one you’ll want to check out. If you just enjoy the creative process, here’s a fantastic example of the finished product.
I would like to thank Emily G. Woodbind, the band’s publicist, for alerting me to Rip ’N Time’s existence. This is a very cool endeavor. I only wish my high school had offered such a class way back in those long-ago days of the 1980s.
Show a little love and get this CD. You won’t be disappointed.
Get your copy right here: http://playingherguitarsuite.com/stor...
Recently, an EP came into my possession. This recording contains three fantastic tracks from a metal band called Rip ’N Time. But this isn’t your average band with the standard formation story.
Rip ’N Time began as a class project at a West Los Angeles high school. The course, taught by seventh period instructor Gunther Parigaliy, is called Multimedia Studies. The students in this small class were encouraged to create separate projects that would come together as a single affair. What they’ve accomplished deserves an A+ and the opportunity to record a full-length album.
Rip ’N Time consists of Riley Ripintyme on lead and rhythm guitar, Langston LaBelle handling vocals and rhythm guitar, and the strong rhythm section of Vincent Tarrega and Akemi Lee on drums and bass respectively. They cite bands as diverse at The Beatles, Queen, and Smithereens as influences. Toss the Bangles and the Byrds into the mix and you’ll get a pretty good feel for this band’s sound.
The EP, entitled Playing Her Guitar Suite, is just a sample of Rip ’N Time’s potential. It’s a taste of dreamy guitars and rock-steady rhythms. I hear hints of eighties rock mingled with classic sounds reaching further back through the seventies and dipping into the sixties. These two girls and two guys bring it all together into a cohesive sound that takes listeners on a journey into a faraway land—perhaps even to another world.
“Playing Her Guitar” is the lead-off track, setting the mood with its haunting melody and layered textures. The guitar work here is stellar, playing loose and sassy against the lead vocals, calling to mind a conversation taking place somewhere in the ether.
The middle track, an instrumental called “Twisting Road,” marches in on a great 1980s vibe with a twist of the modern. It’s the longest of the three songs, clocking in at just over eight minutes—and still not long enough. This one is my favorite of the collection.
Another instrumental closes out the EP. Entitled “Suite Dream,” this song is big and thick with sound. The press release that arrived with the CD refers to this track as a guitarchestral symphony. I’d have to agree with that proclamation.
The instrumentation on this project is solid. Riley Ripintyme can hold her own as a guitarist. Her style draws me back to another great female axe slinger named Lita Ford. Girls can play. Period. Riley seems poised to carry the proverbial torch into the next generation of guitar heroes.
Akemi Lee on bass and Vincent Tarrega on drums provide the very foundation on which this band rests. Good rhythm sections often take years to jell. These two sound like seasoned professionals.
The art work for the EP incorporates a storyline into the music via a graphic novel included as liner notes with the CD. This is a wonderful example of the talent that flourishes within every aspect of this project.
If you’re a music fan, this is one you’ll want to check out. If you just enjoy the creative process, here’s a fantastic example of the finished product.
I would like to thank Emily G. Woodbind, the band’s publicist, for alerting me to Rip ’N Time’s existence. This is a very cool endeavor. I only wish my high school had offered such a class way back in those long-ago days of the 1980s.
Show a little love and get this CD. You won’t be disappointed.
Get your copy right here: http://playingherguitarsuite.com/stor...
