Hey, dude, let's start a band!

I have been very fortunate, in my limited little music career, to have been involved in a number of groups; either as guitarist, guitarist/singer, or singer. I love performing. I love the feeling it brings me to be on stage and feel emotion and energy from stage to audience collide. It really is a unique experience. I enjoy (nearly) every performance. It's like a gift that you not only give, but receive at the same time. I'm sure I'm not the only one who sees it this way. :) And so, being part of a musical group has been a large part of that experience. Over the years (wow that makes me sound like a middle aged rocker), I have discovered a few things about bands, and what IMHO really MAKES a band a band.

When I was 17 and had been playing guitar for a very short time (seemed like a couple of hours), I got together with a good friend of mine who was a drummer. We decided we needed a band. We didn't know who. We didn't even know where to find who. In fact, we didn't know that there would ever be a who. But there WAS a who! (Sorry for the Suessisms here) Kinda out of the blue, the right musicians just appeared to us. A brother/sister guitar/keyboard asset, and a rathe interesting fellow I once saw play bass in a hardcore band stepped up to play bass. We had a band! We played music together for a good while, and in our own rite, were very successful. We never sold out arenas or sold millions of copies of albums, but we played good music and had fun. It was this band, the very first experience as a beginning musician, that I have judged every other band. Why? We were friends. We cared for each other. We enjoyed hanging out after practice more than we enjoyed practice. We melded well as a band because of that I think. See, in a real band, (again IMHO) your relationship determines how good your musicianship will be. As in all things, this band moved on. But our friendships survived and thrived. That's better than going platinum, take that to the bank! So, point one, a real band will employ true friendship to enhance the music.

In college, I played in another group with some friends. It was not, again, a big time group, but nevertheless, I feel it was successful. We had a blast and played for fun. We really pushed the limits of what we could do, or what we have actually done. In other words, this was new and different. We used different instruments than I had ever been involved with. We had a horn section, 3 singers, keyboard, and full rhythm section. It was MASSIVE!!! Obviously, we never really got paid for anything. Who can afford a million piece band! We played to see if we could, and to attempt something new. I loved this band. LOVED it!!! But I learned two big lessons in this band. The first one was obviously "try new things." That was the easy one. At some point in the band's development, it changed from being about new things and fun, to being professional or "trying to make it." In this case, I think it was a bad idea. That is in retrospect. Notice as you drive away sometimes, that when you look in your rear view, you can actually see more than you could in the moment. I thought it was going to go somewhere. Really did. IT didn't. And I had to fire two good friends from this band, in my attempt to "make it." So points two, and three, try something different, and don't try to "make it." It's either gonna happen or not, and you could make bad decisions trying to force it to happen. Be professional about what you do and have fun.

My last band example is probably the one I put the most of myself in. I spent, by far, the most time in it, and had the most visible success. I was literally, pulled into this group without knowing anyone in it. All I knew was that it was a band playing the kind of music I liked, and I needed an outlet. Turned out to be the band that gave me the most experience on almost every level of being a musician. We played a ton. Had a weekly gig. played almost every weekend. Sometimes two or three times!! It was awesome!!! We played for us and not the crowd. But we had fun, so the crowd had fun. It worked. We joked on stage and loved being there. Even when there were only 4 or 5 in attendance. We played together, in total, about 5 or 6 years. (please don't hold me accountable for my year math) We played parties, clubs, festivals, weddings. It was a blast!! After one of my best friends, who was also the manager of sorts, left the group, I stepped up and ran the band. The problem with this band? We all got to the point where we realized that we were making decent money for what we did. Then it seemed that everytime we had something scheduled, at least one of us would say, "how much we gettin?" And at some point, we didn't want to play where we weren't getting paid anymore. We wanted remuneration for what we did. It didn't change the chemistry on stage really, just made it more cumbersome to book gigs and make sure we were getting enough. I don't want this to sound too dramatic, we were and are still great friends. It is really a natural thing as a musician to want ot get paid for your service. It was just a turning point for us. We went from fun loving college band, into the transition of semi-professional musician, and that, for better or worse, changes things. So the last point I'll leave you with, keep in tune to what is important in music; fun, enjoyment, excitement.

It's really interesting to look back at the things you've done in life and see how you've grown.... even in a short time. I look forward to learning more and being more as a musician each time I play. If you're not a musician, these points still apply. Develop friendships, try something different, be professional but don't force things, and remember why you do what you love to do. I promise it will make you better and more appreciative of what you do.

Get fawnky, fawnky, fawnky!!

As I sit here listening to Ivan Neville and his props to The Meters, I can only think of one thing: MAN, I love great music!!! Talk about your soul! All day today I have been Pandora-ing (yes that's a word.... look it up in Websters... ok seriously, don't!) my favorite New Orleans artists and some I've never heard of. It is truly amazing how music affects us.

I also just read an article in Relevant, more of a blurb really, about the importance of the historical "record store" and the magic it evoked. All these wonderful artists all gathered in one spot, rubbing elbows, sharing stories, until one gets taken in order to share these tells with a new owner. Taking the music somewhere new. Ever see that movie Crossroads?

Not the Brittani one, so don't get your ho

pes up. The one with Ralph Macchio where he plays guitar?! My favorite movie probably! Anyway, there is a scene towards the end where Joe Seneca, the karate kid's mentor in the film, says to him," You got to take the music somewhere new." It is that magic of music that is so intriguing. If it ever was good music, it always will be, and will continue to go new places.

It's not real secret that I am a fan of New Orleans style funk. Not Boogie Shoes, not Play That Funky Music, or Brick House. I'm talking about FAWNK!!! As I sit now and listen to The Bamboos (God Bless Pandora) and hear the rhythms and grooves that are coming from my new iMac speakers (:) ) it inspires me to write this. To tell you to listen to more music. To take it somewhere new. To let it inspire you. We're not all funk fans. But maybe jazz, rock, pop, celtic, polka, country, western swing, or whatever that it is that drives you, find it. Let it inspire you to write, to think, to talk, to "take the music somewhere new."

Hope this wasn't too random, but I was feeling the need to share. :) Have a good one!!!

Lamp unto my feet...

I'm not a churchy guy. In fact, I really don't like being around people who use churchy lingo or say things in such a way ALL THE TIME so that you know they go to church. It's just not me. I like to think that my approach to walking the walk, so to speak, is much more natural. I mess up a lot. I do the wrong things. Speak the wrong words. You know... I'm just a dumb guy ;). So the rest of this post I want you to weigh for yourself, knowing that a flawed, imperfect human being wrote this to challenge you and give you something to think about.
I have grown up in church; Baptist boy through to the core. I was taught through my whole life about Christ, God, the Bible. I've heard most of the Bible stories at least twice and, most, I can tell you a good deal of background on and we could have good conversation about them. I am NOT a Bible scholar and I know there is a ton of things I DON'T know. But I tell you all of this so I can let you know how my thinking has evolved over the years. When I was a kid (and for a good majority of my teenage years) I thought of the Bible as a set of rules and some good stories. Not that I didn't believe them, I just didn't understand all there is to what the Bible has to say.... I guess I still don't, but I have a better understanding, and hopefully I can share this with you and you can benefit as well.
"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path"-Psalms 119:105

It wasn't until today that I actually put this verse of scripture to my philosophy about the Bible. Now I really understand this verse. "A lamp for my feet and a light for my path." The Bible is not a set of rules written so that our life can be carefully watched for any mistakes we make. Not a way others can look into our lives and see where we screw up so they can feel better. It's not something to be scared of, or find daunting to live out. That's not it. We miss this so easily.

It's an instruction manual.

I know you've probably heard it before, because it is one of the, all too used, Christian cliches. But it IS your instruction manual. The definition of instruction manual is simply "a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it." This is what the Bible is for you. Think of all the "thou shalts" and "thou shalt nots" that you may have read or encountered in the Bible. Or Christians rebuking you for doing some simple "misdemeanor" because they don't understand what it means either. An instruction manual is written, or at least inspired, by the manufacturer or inventor. They know what a product is supposed to do; what it's not supposed to do. They don't write," Don't stick this microwave" because they want to ruin your fun, they just don't want you to cause a mushroom cloud of an explosion right there i your kitchen! God doesn't say,"Don't get drunk!," because He hates to see you have a good time, He hates to see you give something control of your body and reactions! He doesn't say," Don't cheat on your wife!," because he wants you too miss out on an opportunity that you think you have, He doesn't want you to ruin your life and hurt you AND your wife! I could go on and on and on with different do's and don't's in the Bible, but maybe it's best if you look for yourself and weigh them against what I'm telling you. It's a manual that tells you how your body, mind, soul, and spirit are DESIGNED to work! He's the manufacturer, he should know. The most important thing He tells you that you are designed NOT to be able to live without is," Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." You're not designed to work without this. Now, understand that I have not mastered this skill, but I know it to be true. You're not designed to work without God. But the Bible is NOT just a manual.... read on... please...

I am a proud graduate of Louisiana Tech University, where I graduated in Marketing. GO DAWGS!! I digress... In my Marketing classes we looked at tons of case studies. We looked at businesses that succeeded. We looked at businesses that failed. Inventors. Innovators. Flops. We looked at all these to see what worked and what didn't. When you want to do something the right way, it helps if you see how others did it both right AND wrong.

Joseph, Mary, David, Goliath, Pharisees, Moses, Isaac, Abraham, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John. On and on and on the Bible tells of these "case studies" where folks did things right and succeeded. Where folks failed miserably. Some learned from their mistakes. Some just kept on experiencing failure and destruction. The most prominent and successful life chronicled in the bible, is of the One person whom we can model our life after: Jesus Christ. The perfect example. He was rejected. He was beaten. He was killed. Through his life, though, He succeeded. He showed us how we are designed to "work." He knew the manufacturer intimately. This was the key to his success. He had read the case studies; the manual. He would have been a great business man, but He was only concerned with His Father's business.

Check out the Bible sometime. It's been a best seller for years. Look at it with fresh eyes. I will too. Maybe we can both understand how we are designed, and we can set ourselves up for success. Let this manual be a lamp for your feet and a light for your path.

Outside the Box...

^"19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. ²⁰To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. ²¹To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. ²²To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. ²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."

I Corinthians 9:19-23



Outside the box...

I heard a great alto sax player last week at the Pioneer Pub in Natchitoches, LA. Unlike most groups that frequent the joint, these were "jazz cats." In fact, it was Them Jazz Catz. My friend, Carlos Ortiz IV, headed the band and brought his friend, the sax player, to the show. They all played great. It was truly a great set. One thing I listened to, was the sax players ideas and improv. What made it so interesting was how unorthodox I found it. It wasn't what I expected to hear at all. When he improvised over the progression, it seemed as though he eluded to the main idea, but never played it directly. That would be too direct and uninteresting. No, he played "outside the box."

David Walliman says this about playing outside the box:

Playing outside of the original key can be used to add tension and interest to your improvisations.

"Tension" and "interest." Why on earth would anyone want to add something like "tension" to something that they want people to appreciate or at least hear? Simply put, tension IS interesting! Whether in day to day life, or on stage at the Roxy, tension makes people listen. It piques interest. It may irritate some, sure, but that doesn't mean they didn't take notice and have a chance to appreciate it. If it were something easy to listen to, or standard, or ordinary, or overdone, it may never change people. Never make them smile, or like I do when I hear something extremely musically interesting, laugh.

There's a great book, for those who haven't read it called Blue Like Jazz. It's a book that Donald Miller wrote about his life experiences in his Christian walk. Sound churchy? Nope. He seems to ramble sometimes, but not in a pointless way, about his journey as a beleiver. I find it very interesting and an "outside" way to show the world, one reader at a time, that seeking God is not about pageantry and tradition, but about learning and growing and failing and LIVING. Here's what he says about his book:

Sting has this song where he says that he is alone on an island and puts a message in a bottle and throws it into the ocean, only to wake the next morning and have a hundred million bottles washed upon his shore. He sings "I guess I'm not alone at being alone," and I think that sums up how I feel about Blue Like Jazz. It feels like I thought I was alone but woke up one morning to discover nothing could be further from the truth. And people have been incredibly kind.

We all need to know that we're not alone. That we each go through hard times. That we need people. That we need God. That we need Love. The only way to show those who don't realize they are in need, that they ARE in need, is to do something different. Being all things to all men. There are times to be quiet, and there are time to slap someone in the face. As Christians, we need to realize these times. we need to realize how very FEW in the world respond to churchy lingo and confusing terminology and theology. Living outside the box means, and I want to capitalize so you don't miss this, MEETING PEOPLE WHERE THEY ARE. It's what Jesus did. Ain't that good enough for us? The pharisees were the ones involved in pageantry and tradition. Telling folks everywhere they went about how they've kept the law and are essentially above it.

Jesus lived outside the box. Met people where they were. He still does it. He uses your hands. He uses your words. He uses your actions.

Be creative. Be a Christian and don't think you have to wear shirts or necklaces or stickers on your car to be recognized as one. They will know we are Christians by our LOVE.

Love outside the box.

A Rose by any Other Name....

First of all, I'd like to say welcome! Welcome, my R&D team!!! It is wonderful to have you aboard. Thank you for signing up and paying the necessary dues to be a part of this prestigious board. I know that we will all be well pleased with the outcome of these proceedings and, at the end of the day, have a deep sense of satisfaction as we plunge into the future in this new venture! So thank you, thank you, thank you!

Confused yet?

What's in a name? Mothers, fathers, when you contemplate names for your children, do you consider options? Do you try your best to give your child a name that they will need to live up to in hopes that they can actually live up to? My brother, for example, Roubert, had big shoes to fill. My grandpa, even though I never had the pleasure of knowing him personally, was a great, well-respected man. The pillar of the community kind of a fella. I am proud of that. My parents were proud of that. And gave my brother a name he could "grow into." I think that makes sense. Start your child in a direction. Name him or her appropriately.

What about cars? Chevy AVALANCHE! Does that say something about the vehicle? Does it sound like a sports car? Hmmmm.... that would be kinda odd. Now Chevy CORVETTE! THERE's your sports car name. (Even though I don't know if anybody knows what corvette means) Lincoln Navigator, Chevy Trailblazer, Pontiac Firebird, Ford Taurus (really taurus? what is that?!), Ford Mustang (much better Henry). All these names leave us with a certain idea about what this vehicle is-with the exception of taurus. One of the best and newer names that accomplishes this: Chevy VOLT. It's an electric car.... appropriately named I think. Point is, car companies spend lots of time and effort to appropriately name their vehicles. All part of their masterfull scheme to sell these vehicles to folks who can't wait to own a vehicle named for a natural disaster.... avalanche. :)

Children, music genres, vehicles, all have this in common, which brings me to my dilema and the reason that I assembled this R&D brainstorming meeting- GUITARS. Guitars also should be aptly named.

For some time I have been playing guitars and have built a couple. One of my goals in life is to be able to build and sell guitars. I have always been mechanically and musically inclinde, so it seems like a natural progression to me. So, I find myself at the creative roadblock of naming a guitar company. Now sure, I could be boring and name it "Jarrett Bailey Guitars" or "JLB" or "JB" or "Bailey", but that's just not me. No, I need something that fits my personality and something that can convey that in my instruments. So, R&D team, let's brainstorm ideas for names.

Now, as far as criteria, I have only a couple of ideas. One of the names that I really like that I came up with was SoulTree. Now the reason for soul is fairly obvious, since I tend to use it regularly in this blog, but, as for tree, the rationale is obvious and symbolic. Obviously, guitars are made of wood.... wood comes from trees... you see. Symbolically, trees are a sign of growth, prosperity, and I would like to convey that. They are also firmly rooted and therefore convey a certain amout of confidence. I like the ideas "soul" and "roots". Kind of an earthy feel with that emotion that I love so much. One other idea I had was based on a song that was popular in Christian music several years ago called boogiroot. I just think that's a cool name. :) So I thought maybe a variation like "bugirut" or "bugi-rut".

So here's where you come in. Brainstorm and help me decide on a name. Either give fresh ideas or enforce the ones I've already consider. I appreciate your help!

My favorite shade...

It's almost cliche to write about it or even sing about it. Even though many people still write and sing about it. Well I guess that goes to show you just how cliche it truly has become. It has found it's way into artists' abstract and poets' pentameter. In the fashion world it is staple and each and every day we look up hoping to see it...

surely you've guessed by now.....

......................................blue......................................

I was jogging earlier this week, and thinking about music, life, and assorted mysteries (that's right people, my jogs are very intelligent and thought provoking journeys) and somehow landed on the word blue. It has been part of culture, as more than a color, since the late 1700s, believe it or not. Obviously, it has been a part of life since there was a sky. It is arguably the most descriptive, all encompassing color on the market today.

Blue Eyes Cryin in the Rain, Am I Blue, Everyday I Got the Blues, How Blue Can You Get... We could go on and on and on and on.... in music, blue or blues has been used to describe feelings of sadness or loneliness and some bordering on depression. Many times at unrequited love or hard times, these feelings have overwhelmed writers and singers and musicians so much that it had to escape somewhere, and that somewhere was through fingertips, through a pencil, or through a microphone. Wikipedia has this to offer about the blues:

"The term "the blues" refers to the "the blue devils", meaning melancholy and sadness; an early use of the term in this sense is found in George Colman's one-act farce Blue Devils (1798). Though the use of the phrase in African American music may be older, it has been attested to since 1912, when Hart Wand's "Dallas Blues" became the first copyrighted blues composition. In lyrics the phrase is often used to describe a depressed mood."

The ironic thing is, this "blue" feeling is so strong that years after these folks felt their pain, upon hearing their morose lyrics, or hear a guitar cry, we also feel, even if in the tiniest of ways, the pain that they have experienced. Amazing. But, to look at it another way, our spirits are often lifted listening to "the blues." Not because we feel better knowing someone suffers more than we do, although that can unfortunately make us feel better at times, but because we realize that we're not going through hard times alone. Maybe we didn't lose our love, but to know that other people have hurt, it makes us feel like it is OKAY to hurt. To express that hurt. To move on. But enough about sadness and heartache, since that is only one side of the blue.

To look up at the sky is not to feel heartache or pain, but to feel a sense of freedom and adventure. To realize how vast the blue is, and how pure; quite an opposition to the feelings we get when we're "blue." This was the thought I had while I was jogging. I feel happy and as if nothing in the world is wrong when I walk outside and look up at a ceiling of blue with no clouds in sight. Like the world is perfect. Yeah, I know it's not, sure; sure feels that way though. Do you not feel that way. It's like nothing is in the way, just the wild blue yonder. I love that feeling because many times it helps to clear my own mind.

Then there's my favorite shade of this magnificent color...
A year ago this month I lost my brother. He was 33. He had the clearest, bluest, purest eyes you can imagine. In his life I saw all the attributes of this color: sadness, freedom, joy. When he was sad, those blue eyes made your heart ache. When he was happy, it was like looking into that ceiling of blue. You couldn't help but be happy and smile with him. The most brilliant collection of hues existed in his eyes. One of the most impressive things about this shade? It was true blue. Devoted and loyal, the most brilliant of all bluedom. Everyone was his friend, and noone was thrown away or cast aside. He was true blue.

Lonely, Sad, Happy, Free, True... what's you're favorite shade?