October 2007
Out and About
By Rachel Rocks
Well here we go into the “Journal of My Life” for the past month. I had a lot of fun enjoying so much different types of live music, from hip/hop to rock, from solo acoustic acts to 8 piece bands. It’s always amazing to me how many different types of bands I see and the wonderful people I meet in the process. I never know what my night, day, week, or month, might bring, but that’s what makes my job so interesting.
Over Labor Day Weekend, the Independent Music Conference was held at the Holiday Inn-Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. It was a 5 day conference filled with workshops, panels, networking, and entertainment. We, the PA Musician Magazine and Racetrack Sound Studios, were lucky enough to host an Open Mic Stage right on the trade show floor. Racetrack Sound Studios recorded 2 songs right from our stage and gave the artists a free CD with their recordings. How awesome is that! We might be doing it again at the MMC12 in Camp Hill, PA, but we have to iron out all the details.
The first panel I jumped in on right away was “Breaking Down the Myths of Copyrights” I never realized before how important, yet how easy, it is to get your work copyrighted. I know I get a lot of demo CDs that have no copyright info, burnt from home computers, and that’s now very scary to me. Another artist can get a hold of your precious lyrics, and there’s nothing you can do about it if you don’t have them properly copyrighted. Check out the copyright laws online.
Thursday nights entertainment started off very intriguing with Coole High, an emcee from Brooklyn, NY, and DJ Polarity helping him out with the beats. Coole High raps about “9 to 5” and he can truly appreciate what most of us go through everyday. At one point they were having some technical difficulties, so Tah Phrum Duh Bush and Coole High filled in with some “freestyle rapping with Tah on beat box.” Crazy amazing stuff, unbelievable really. They didn’t let it stop them, they just kept the show going. I never got the chance to really hang out with an emcee and truly appreciate their music until this weekend. Thanks guys for such a great introduction into the world of Hip Hop.
The Tokyo Tramps are a rock/blues band from Boston, MA. They used to be a 3-piece but they are currently working on finding a new drummer. Satoru and Yukiko are an amazing duo that sing a song, “Don’t Wanna Live in a House with No Love.” It’s a very heartfelt love song, and when you have such a cute couple singing it, it makes it even better. They also played a couple songs with one of their friends from college on the Mandolin. The Mandolin was an interesting instrument to hear, and it really added to the sound. The Tokyo Tramps won an Immie for “The Best Indie Artist of the Year!”
Homeboy Sandman came on stage with some more hip hop. My favorite song of his was “Everyday Love,” about a girl he fell in love with at a pizza shop. His hip hop was so fast I ran out of breath listening to him.
The largest band of the night was the Bill Monaghan Band. There were 6 band members on stage. What a “thick” sound. They even had 3 way harmonies that were absolutely amazing. My favorite song was “Paper Plate Tragedy” but their whole set was pretty unbelievable. Friday night they played again with a 4-piece version of the band. This time Bill was on keys. They played a new song called “Little Bitty of a Love Song Ditty.” They can play huge, musical sounding productions, to the simplest little song. They are extremely versatile with their music.
Karen and Amy Jones are two girls I found on myspace and then they followed through and came to the IMC. They became a selected artist, and they took full advantage of all the included panels and workshops. They are an acoustic duo that sing “love songs, hate songs, and songs of old times.” My personal favorites were “The Stranger” and “These Things.”
When I saw a keyboard put up on stage next I got pretty excited, but when Lori Citro started playing I was amazed! She’s a solo act that definitely compares to Carole King. She sometimes has a band, but for the conference she was solo. She plays acoustic/folk songs, but they range all the way from “Rockstar, Rock N Roll Blues,” to “Thirsty” which is a prayer to God, and of course my favorite, “You Were Made by God.” I finally met someone as bouncy and energetic as I am. Watch out for Lori and Rachel on a future season of the Amazing Race. LOL!
HUGE came all the way from Australia to check out the IMC. When he performed, he came out wearing these funky pants, that made you think he’s a little crazy, but then he starts singing and you realize how cool he is. With all the “Ooooo! and Ahhhhh! he had the crowd doing I believe everyone was amazed by Huge. You barely walked down the hall till you heard his name being yelled. He was definitely a big hit at the conference.
Also playing at Benny the Bums down the hall from the Ballroom was Star 69. A 3 piece cover band from Philly. They were playing some awesome cover songs so it was nice catching a glimpse of them on trips to the bar. They have some great talent in the band including Steve McKnight formerly of The Sharks, and Leon formerly of Emily’s Toybox. They are hoping to work their way into the Harrisburg Area, and so am I.
Friday was back to another full day of networking and learning more amazing things about the music industry. My favorite panels were: “Digital Delivery,” “Is Rock and Roll Perfect? Should it Be? And “What’s my Line, all about Job Descriptions.” Even though I’m not a musical artist, it was still amazing what information you could learn and use by attending these workshops.
I had an amazing conversation with John Lilley from The Hooters all about how the music scene has changed in the past 20 years, for the artist and the listener. The Hooters have been reunited since November 21, 2001, and are about to independently release a long awaited new record. John is also working on a solo project that is soon to be released. John was an Immie Award winner for being the “Ultimate Band Mate.”
Tah Phrum Duh Bush from Flatbush Brooklyn, NY was our next hip/hop performer. He had all kinds of props and ideas to keep his crowd entertained. He started out by running around with a sign with his name on it and started singing it, so we would all join along. Let me tell ya, you’re definitely singing his name for at least 2 days afterwards, it’s one of those things you just can’t get out of your head. When he thought we needed some more energy he came out with his “Ghetto Sequins” coat. Not to mention we all found out the proper way to “Lay That Pipe,” thanks to Tah and his new friend, Rudy Schmehl. Tah, and a lot of the indie artists have the D.I.Y approach to their music. They do it all themselves. He not only of course writes all his own lyrics and beats, but he also produces all his music to CD. He does all his own bookings and tries to keep all that together while holding down a full time job. I think my life is tough until I look closer at the lives of musicians.
The Anthony Lattanze Band from Philadelphia really made the sound guys work for their doughnuts. They are an 8 piece band. They had 2 sets of drums, a sax, trombone, keys, bass, and 2 guitars. Wow!! That’s definitely the thickest sound I’ve heard so far. It was awesome hearing the brass section live and on stage. I’ve heard it added into a CD, but never on stage, except a trumpet once in a while. There one song called “Wasted in the Afternoon,” really caught my attention. They were originally from the Lancaster area, but now they are headed more down towards the big city.
I want to add in a quick pat on the back, great job, to the sound guys, Mike and John. They came all the way from Connecticut, and they never did sound together before. Everyone who heard their great sound assumed they’ve been doing sound together for years. Great job guys. You really helped the conference move smoothly, plus you were great guys to hang out with.
Santalina was up next. She is a solo act, but man that girl can sing. You might have seen Santalina before on msn.com. She’s been featured on their home page 19 times because of all the hits she generates. I forget the huge number of times, but I do know it was well over 1 billion.
Saturday night Tim Miller stopped by while touring through the area. He sang an unbelievable song about what a young guy witnessed while fighting in Iraq. He also has a song out called “This Life” that you can download for free online.
Charlie Phillips a solo act from West Chester, PA was up next. He sang a couple amazing songs, “Dreams Come True” and “Every Time You’re on My Mind.” Not to mention my favorite, “Springhouse” about his Grandmother. He said one thing very interesting about his music and he said he often wonders if an original is really an original, or are they just part of a song hidden deep in your memories. That’s a pretty deep thought.
Westcott still made it the IMC even though their lead singer was held at gunpoint at a bank robbery earlier in the day. Some musicians are very dedicated to what they do. Their song “Hot Red Lipstick Kisses,” was pretty amazing.
Privileged Few from out of Philly are a much different sounding band with the awesome Steel Slide Guitar with pedals, and a 20-year-old girl on an electronic drum kit. They have a rock/blues feel to them, with a lot of experienced musicians.
Sarah Guild gave a great performance even with some harsh critiques earlier in the day. I wouldn’t even have been able to get up on stage, but she took the advice that was given to her, and let the show go on. Kyle Ober one of the producers, even grabbed a mic and started playing the harp. It really put a smile on Sarah’s face.
Sunday, I went to a fantastic workshop called “Unleashing Absolute Power-The Ultimate in Building Your Music Business,” with Xavier Powell, behind the table. Xavier, also known as “Slow Jam” was filled with so much knowledge about the music industry. He gave great advice on the simplest things like business cards, to portfolios to of course making your show be the best that it can be for you and your fans. Wow! Thanks “Slow Jam” for all your knowledge!
I headed out early Sunday night to get home to my family, but all in all it was an extremely entertaining conference that helped me learn a lot more information about everything dealing with the music industry that I would’ve never known before. I met too many amazing people to list all of them, but they know who they are. Thanks also to Noel and Elaine for hosting this wonderful conference. They are doing another IMC out in Los Angeles in October. Have fun out west!!
I know I’ve talked to a lot of “cover bands” and other musicians who don’t really get “invited” to these conferences. Even though you don’t get to actually perform, it would still benefit anyone involved in the music industry. These conferences are filled with education in all aspects of the music community. I know “Slow Jam” pegged me pretty good when he said I’m still not “tainted” by the music scene, and I’m pretty blind to what actually goes on, but to me it’s still some “priceless” information. The MMC12 going on in Camp Hill, PA is only $55 for 3 full days and 4 nights of entertainment. That’s 300 Showcase Acts and Artists, 3 days of music business panels, clinics, workshops, mentoring and demo listening sessions, and the trade show. The early conference registration ends on November 30, 2007, so go to mmc12.com and get registered today!!
Finally back home I was able to head up to a new venue, The Dutchmen in Pine Grove, PA to see Screamin’ Daisys. The Dutchmen is a couple miles outside of town, but don’t lose hope, just when you think you should turn around, you’ll find it. It’s a nice big building with plenty of room to dance and have a great time. We definitely did have a good time with Screamin Daisys. Unique recently left the band to have a baby, but Allison, has filled the void, with Missy taking the lead. The Dutchmen is just getting started out there, putting in a lot of great bands, so when you need your next night out on the town head to Pine Grove, or if you’re a band looking for a gig, call and talk to Rob.
Funny Money graced the stage at Tubby’s to help raise money for the Duncannon Fire Dept. Steve Whiteman was one of my brother Chris’s idols, so it hits a soft spot in my heart when I see him on stage, but he is an amazing, talented singer, with a higly talented band. Hearing him belt out his songs is an awesome experience. My big brother, Josh, was with me which helped make my night extra special. Thanks Joshy Boshy ;-)
The next weekend I headed up to Sorb’s in Liverpool to see Piece of Me and Leadfoot. Piece of Me are a 4 piece band that knows how to rock. Bill the lead singer is plastered in tattoos. I think he said he has 93!! Wow! That’s a show in itself. Piece of Me, opening for Leadfoot was a great combination. Piece of Me was going so great that LeadFoot themselves cheered for Piece of Me to play “one more song.”
LeadFoot was up next and ready to rock. James was running throughout the crowd getting all the ladies excited. Pat recently fell and broke his wrist requiring screws and plates, but yet the “Metal” continued. These guys don’t give up and they’ve been loving all of their fans they’ve been acquiring recently throughout the Harrisburg area and now even out into Altoona. The guys of LeadFoot always makes sure the crowd has a great time every time, playing to their full potential. Space once again had an amazing drum solo, later telling me that he has special “laser” sticks on order. I can’t wait to see those in action. LeadFoot is ready to rock your world!
My final night of the month I headed to Tubby’s on a Thursday night to see Jackyl. Real Be Easys opened for the entire show, but unfortunately I was too late to catch them in action. This month they’ll be heading down to PA for a couple different dates, so make sure and check out their schedule in this issue.
Adrian Blitzer was up next, they are heavier metal, but they know how to get the party started. These guys were rockin’ out, sweating, and getting the crowd excited for the next big act. Adrian Blitzer plays at a couple different places in the area, get out there and support them. They’ve been pushing their music for quite some time and would love to have you at their show.
Jackyl was the final band of the month, and that’s a good thing, since I think I totally messed up my hearing at their show!! They not only had Tubby’s regular soundboard, but they also had 2 extra soundboards! That place was insanely loud. Even though the music was excellent, I still had to soften the sound by stuffing toilet paper in my ears, sometimes safety has to come before pride! Jackyl really did put on an entertaining show getting the ladies wound up right away by having a drummer in only his bikini briefs. These guys were intense and they really knew how to rock. When they left the stage the first time my friend Glen said, “They can’t be done they didn’t play Chainsaw yet?” Sure enough they came back on stage carrying the Stihl Chainsaw. Wow! That was terrifying. With all the alcohol, and people standing only a couple feet away, you’re just asking for an accident to happen. Luckily nothing did go wrong, and the crowd all had out their camera phones trying to get a good shot, but wow. I never knew a chainsaw could sound just like a guitar if you wanted it to. Crazy!
Well, that’s all for this month. I’m cruising up to 10,000 views on myspace so please keep those views coming. I either have a lot of friends or one really great stalker. Either way I appreciate it! I’m trying to hit 10,000 views in less than a year. I think that’s pretty awesome, but maybe some of you are laughing at me, I don’t know. Anyway, come check it out for yourself at www.myspace.com/pamusician and if you really want to, become my friend!! Thanks for reading!!!!!! Email RachelRocks@pamusician.net