Jam "Band"/Friends/Opportunities/Vibes

Pickens SC

Description

I have recently started getting my groove back through music and the grace of God which leads me to music. I'm starting to actually call myself a musician of sorts since I play so much now that it's like a part-time job. Day in and day out even if it's only 5 minutes I pick up my guitar. I take comfort and solace in it. I've been going to a couple of jams as my work schedule permits. It's kind of hard when you work as many as 90 hours 7 days a week except for days you put in to have off but that's what we have to do to merely exist out here anymore it seems. But enough with the negativity. I've recently taken a positive spin and I'm looking for positive people in my life to jam with. I'm tolerant of all forms of music but generally I'm not about death metal or anything negative. If I can't understand the lyrics or if the music is technical crap and dissonant I'm not into it. Good musicians know good music when they see it and there is a lot of crappy music out there, but I suppose that's a matter of opinion. Anyway on to the about me as well as what I'm looking for Me:. Pretty much 40 years old, been playing since I was 13 on and off, initially trained by a classically trained guitarist but I am out of practice with his discipline. Basic knowledge of musical theory that comes back to me like riding a bicycle. I know most of the chords and the ones I don't I look up on a chart. I'm hugely into improvisation or jamming and right now I'm working on improving working within keys and key changes, relearning my Pentatonix and other scales instead of just trying to find a place on the fretboard to fit in with whatever everyone else is playing. I'm more of a singer-songwriter type and I am a word smith. I'm getting to the point where I want to make some money doing music but that's not what it's about. I'm not happy with this corporate grind and it's killing my soul. I have no aspirations of making it big in music but I would like to make a little extra money doing it. And I'm willing to restructure my life around it if I find the right group of people. It could be a calling. But I'm not going to entertain myself with the illusion that it is at this point. I'm also a high-functioning autistic so that makes me weird to a lot of people. I don't do well with large groups of strangers or strangers at all but most of the time I can overcome it. I have major stage fright especially if I'm performing a difficult piece. I was always in the church choir and School choir as well as jazz band in school and I've been in a couple of bands in high school and college. It was hard to keep anything together because everyone had bigger goals then. Also egos. And my skill set wasn't yet developed enough because I was just like them. I have a wide variety of music tastes I'm into. I know a little about a lot of bands. I definitely love the deadhead scene as well as phish but I would be lying if I said I was a deadhead or phan. My favorite band in the world remains the Dave Matthews band and I'm hoping to create something like If it gets serious. If you're diametrically opposed to Dave Matthews band or covering them then this is not going to work and I'm sorry. I really don't understand people's reasoning for that other than being envious that Dave Matthews band is arguably the most successful jam band of all time. I would say they're right up there with the grateful Dead in terms of their following. Hell I don't even like their politics but as long as they aren't too preachy about it I'll still go to their show. I've been to 13 of them now. Some legendary venues like Madison square garden, their hometown of Charlottesville, and the beautiful upstate New York performing arts center. Summer of 2005. There are much bigger fans than myself. If budget wasn't a concern I would have went to way more shows but I really enjoy listening to their shows on lossless audio. It always takes me back when I listen to a show that I went to. I can transport right there to that moment and remember the vibe. That's the power of music Other bands that I'm into include progressive bluegrass or new grass. Again I know a little about a lot. But not a lot about a little. Railroad earth, nitty gritty dirt band, yonder Mountain string band, leftover salmon, and lately I've really been craving the gangstagrass subgenre. There's an eponymous band you should check out. I very much enjoy how they mix two separate worlds that would normally collide into harmonious music and everyone is heard. We need more of that in the world. I'm a hippie at heart with a fighting streak a mile wide. I don't like to bring politics into music that much but if I'm called to do it I will. Politically I am a libertarian and I'm tolerant to all but the extreme left and right so if that's you it's not going to work. Get off the cross we need the wood. I'm all about synthesis and synergy. In the vein of the last paragraph I also enjoy a lot of old folk and country. Everything from Woody Guthrie, Bob dylan, anything from the Woodstock era, Crosby stills Nash with or without Young. Hell I'll even take Stephen stills by himself. And Crosby and Nash ain't bad either lol. I really like them because of the harmonies in their vocals. In that vein I also enjoy the Doobie brothers. I want to make music that makes people feel good, that feeds their soul and is an emotional release. I have no problem screaming at the top of my lungs if it's cathartic and helps others. Wrapping it up for me, I mainly play guitar and do right now. I don't own any equipment at all except for my guitar and a mandolin that needs to be set up. I've also been trained to play keys but I'm well out of practice. I mainly play from tabs but I'm capable of reading music but not sight reading it. As long as I can go through the music and sketch out the chords and notes and practice I can learn any song from the sheet music with the right amount of discipline. The point is if someone has the instruments and the time I can fit in wherever. I can do lead vocals and rhythm guitar, I can do lead guitar to someone's lead vocals and rhythm guitar, I can pick up the mandolin once it's set up and play along like that, and I can even relearn the keys. If money was No object I would have all the instruments. If Time was No object I would master them. Or at least attempt to lol. How big of my ego to think that I could Master an instrument. Eric Clapton says he hasn't even mastered guitar. I'm just looking for my people. Positive people who want to jam from the pit of their soul. If you've written stuff that's awesome. I just want to find some people I can fit in with and if I'm the center of that and unite people who otherwise wouldn't have met I'm all for it. I like being exposed to different ideas and philosophies when it comes to music. Any styles from reggae, ska, country, classic rock, alternative rock, indie rock, electronica or acid Rock, really just style bending stuff is what I'm a fan of. And of course nice long jams whether it's banging on drums or taking turns playing lead and rhythm. I'm also a huge fan of the blues and I really need to brush up on the finer points of that. Things like riffs and turn arounds and endings etc. Nothing like some simple 12 bar. Artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan are people who I aspire to. All those guitar God guys as well but lead is something I need a lot of work on. Learning things like modes and scale transitions and whatever it is they call it I only have certain conditions for people that are going to be in my life and I ask that they are being respected. Absolutely no hard drugs or alcoholism. I've had my time with that s*** and I'm done with it. I don't care if you smoke a little green every once in awhile but it shouldn't dominate your life. I don't care if you drink every once in awhile. I enjoy craft beer and rarely do I drink that or liquor unless music is involved. Also if anyone has major mental health issues I'm only willing to work with that so much. I can promise you music if it is truly your calling will help with that. And I'm willing to help out as much as I can but I can't be dragged down anymore. Basically I need people who are serious about jamming And discussing music and aren't going to bring their bad vibes into the mix. What I offer is a empty living room with good acoustics and a place to jam as much as seven nights a week. My house has been in a permanent state of transition since my roommates left and I've been working insane hours even through the whole covid bs. Bring a folding chair and any equipment you have and we can see where it goes. I'm open to duos, trios, full jam sessions, multi-instrumentalist, classically trained musicians as long as you're not a dick about it and our patient enough to educate others, really open to a lot as long as it's positive energy. I like doing weird things with common instruments like a bow on a guitar, thinking about buying me one of these fancy capos that actually makes a chord, and even though I want a fancy new electric guitar I think I can do a lot with acoustic and the right equipment so that's the direction I'm going. If you're looking to start a band today because baby needs a new pair of shoes this probably isn't for you. If you're just looking to jam if nothing else and see if it goes anywhere then you're in the right place. It all starts here. I should have done this years ago. Again I'm under no illusions of anything but maybe we could play locally as a hobby. We always have to think about The bottom line unfortunately. A wise remaining myself once said do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life. Well I love music so let's see where this goes. I'm also willing to join a band if I can fit in but I'm not sure about jumping right into anything at this point unless it pays more than my two jobs right now. They're always be those worse off and better off so I'm not about being judgmental but constructive criticism is good. Classically train musicians can often be bad with constructive criticism. I definitely understand that when you have aspired to perfection but that is an illusion. As long as we can all stay remotely in key and rhythm and just feel good I think it's a good vibe. Thanks for attending my TED Talk. I'm also interested in many things that are ancillary to the music industry including providing security to regional touring Acts or directing it, managing a band, writing songs and giving creative ideas and direction, etc. Outside of music I also enjoy writing, hiking, sightseeing and travel when the energy is right, and just working toward being a better person. I occasionally bowl or go to a VR arcade. But if I'm being honest I don't get out much. Can you blame me in this crazy world? So tell me what's on your mind -Chris