MUSIC IS LIFE!
I want to start by clarifying something from last weeks blog. When I say “Nobody cares about your new song” I don’t mean your songs aren’t good or that nobody will like them, I merely wanted to point out, that your friends and family are not meant to be your core audience. They are there to support you and give encouragement or hassle and headaches on your journey. We at G.R.P. love your music and that’s why we do what we do. To get people to care about you, identify with your art and connect on a consumer level.
One of the things I feel is missing from the music industry (really all industries) is a system that sees things as the end consumer/user/fan would. I have been in grind, trying to get people to notice. Playing every live show we could. Back then it felt simpler to build fans. I know what your struggles are like. We are also super fans of all music and will listen and understand like you would.
Ok back to the story...
My junior year we played the quad twice. Once for international day and once for the end of the year. I also played guitar with some friends during the 1994 Hogan Sr. High talent show. We played “Smells like teen spirit”. The lineup consisted of Me and my friend Reza on guitar. Jason Lamar on drums, Luke Taylor aka BASSLORD on bass and Aza Chatman on vocals! Aza was a passionate, fire driven person. She had more energy on stage than most singers I have ever seen.
I remember during the solo part, Aza ripped the mic cord out when she jumped off the 4 ft tall stage into auditorium seating. I think she was able to make it back up by the end of the song but damn, what a show! I only ever performed with Aza that one time. I wish I had payed more attention to Aza back then. She is an incredible soul.
The grunge scene was the thing that really hit us. Bands like Metallica and Testament were still our main vibe however the sound bands like Pearl Jam and AIC were releasing were so enticing. I think it’s the groove, the soul put in to the music that really tugged.
Senior year was about the same until xmas eve 1994. That saw the end of my time as a singer in the band I was in with Sean, an incredible break and home schooling during the last few months of HS.
Next time:
We shall have fun, eh? “No thanks, I’m rhythm guitar and mouth organ”