Monday, March 01, 2004
I Love it When a Band Comes Together
So I'm in this band. We're a trio called Muso ("moose, oh"... which would be a cooler name, come to think of it). We're official now because we have a basement-esque practice space in Los Feliz. It's made of concrete and dry wall and scored by the low buzz of a device you mount to keep rodents and bugs away. Until we perform some makeshift soundproofing surgery, we're doing our best to play light so as not to piss off the neighbors whose only expression seems to be a disapproving furrowed brow. I don't really know how to describe our sound, but if I wrote for Rolling Stone I'd say something like "quirky indie pop".
Anyway, I'm excited. Yesterday, when I suggested that "the song should start with drums for 2 measures, and then the bass should come in after 2 instead of 4", and we all shared an "exactly!" look, I knew we'd clicked as a group. Our set's coming together, the music's tighter, and there's talk of a first show in late March. It's kinda like when you start dating someone you really like and can foresee taking roadtrips and vacations with her/him, or how I imagine it is for Stacey and Lisa when they see the Robinsons-May Christmas trim-a-home go up in August -- a sense that good times are comin'.
So I'm suddenly nostalgic for being in a band. The shows, practices, traveling, putting CDs out, etc. And to prep you for the up-coming box set, I present you with
Soikatron: A Complete Discography
Group: Sound Virus
Sound: Loud and bad
Year: '91 (8th grade)
The Dillio: We sucked hard. I mean, we were called Sound Virus. None of us knew how to play very well (I bought my drum set -- an all white thing called The Warrior -- a week before we ever got together). But that didn't stop us from looping "Smells Like Teen Spirit" over and over to the best of our abilities, and the great dismay of my neighbors.
Best/Worst/Only Memory: We entered Air Band, a contest that consisted of otherwise lip synched performances. We thought we were a shoe in for first place, 'cause like, we were live. We lost to a group of girls who dressed in pajamas and danced to "It's my Party And I'll Cry if I Want To", among others.
Group: Quickdumb
Sound: Punk Rock
Year: 91 - 92 (8th and 9th grade)
The Dillio: We kicked out a guitarist and the other singer from Sound Virus. We still sucked, but we played really fast so it didn't matter as much. Our new front man, Arnold Graham, howled about social inustices. His egomania was only outdone by our guitarist, Matt Harrison, who kept his hair long specifically to swing it around while we played.
Best Memory: Entering a real recording studio for the first time to make a demo.
Group: Loophole
Sound: Started as pop punk, ended as indie rock
Year: 92 - 97 (9th grade through freshman year at USD)
The Dillio: We started as a foursome but then our staunchly anti drugs/alcohol singer left (he later became an acid freak and is now a hare kirshna). The three of us (me, Terry, John) celebrated and fought like a family. Played countless shows in countless venues, including
-a 24 Hour Fitness parking lot
-Terry's VW bus
-Adobe Bluffs Elementary
-A hippie desert get-away called Mental Physics
Traveled all over the state (and to Lake Havasu for a stint as the house band for an SDSU, Greek-exclusive spring break), and generally hung out as best friends. But John became an increasingly depressed stoner and moved to Humbolt. He also grew to loathe Terry (who also suffered a severe swollen head syndrome).
Worst Memory: So many empty shows, it's hard to choose. I mean, it might've been that shitty coffee shop 45 minutes out in Lemon Grove where we played to one of our friends. But who's to say the show at the Largo in which we drove 20 people away and short-circuited the south side of the bar (after driving to LA from San Diego), wasn't the lowest point?
Best Memory: Unwrapping our CD after picking it up from the mastering place/Opening a show at The Soul Kitchen with Blink that was so crowded people had to come up on stage with us. They seemed to love it, despite the disapproval of Fire Marshals everywhere.
Group: Engagement
Sound: Mopey emo
Year: 97
Dillio: Terry and I were on the rebound from Loophole. Hooked up with these dudes who slicked their hair and had tattoos ("sensitive" tough guys). Wrote some intricate songs, but in the end they were just too gay.
Group: Juniper
Sound: Stereolab meets The Smiths
Year: 98
Dillio: We practiced for months, but only played out twice. Our life was cut short when the singer bolted 'cause her boyfriend picked a fight with Terry during band practice for looking at her wrong.
Group: Soika
Sound: Indie Rock
Year: 99 - 2000
Dillio: Terry and I wrote some great songs. His girlfriend, Candace, was in the band, too. Their relationship was less than perfect. Tension. Lots and lots of tension. We faded away.
Best Memory: Spending almost two consecutive days in our garage/studio writing music just 'cause.
So I'm in this band. We're a trio called Muso ("moose, oh"... which would be a cooler name, come to think of it). We're official now because we have a basement-esque practice space in Los Feliz. It's made of concrete and dry wall and scored by the low buzz of a device you mount to keep rodents and bugs away. Until we perform some makeshift soundproofing surgery, we're doing our best to play light so as not to piss off the neighbors whose only expression seems to be a disapproving furrowed brow. I don't really know how to describe our sound, but if I wrote for Rolling Stone I'd say something like "quirky indie pop".
Anyway, I'm excited. Yesterday, when I suggested that "the song should start with drums for 2 measures, and then the bass should come in after 2 instead of 4", and we all shared an "exactly!" look, I knew we'd clicked as a group. Our set's coming together, the music's tighter, and there's talk of a first show in late March. It's kinda like when you start dating someone you really like and can foresee taking roadtrips and vacations with her/him, or how I imagine it is for Stacey and Lisa when they see the Robinsons-May Christmas trim-a-home go up in August -- a sense that good times are comin'.
So I'm suddenly nostalgic for being in a band. The shows, practices, traveling, putting CDs out, etc. And to prep you for the up-coming box set, I present you with
Soikatron: A Complete Discography
Group: Sound Virus
Sound: Loud and bad
Year: '91 (8th grade)
The Dillio: We sucked hard. I mean, we were called Sound Virus. None of us knew how to play very well (I bought my drum set -- an all white thing called The Warrior -- a week before we ever got together). But that didn't stop us from looping "Smells Like Teen Spirit" over and over to the best of our abilities, and the great dismay of my neighbors.
Best/Worst/Only Memory: We entered Air Band, a contest that consisted of otherwise lip synched performances. We thought we were a shoe in for first place, 'cause like, we were live. We lost to a group of girls who dressed in pajamas and danced to "It's my Party And I'll Cry if I Want To", among others.
Group: Quickdumb
Sound: Punk Rock
Year: 91 - 92 (8th and 9th grade)
The Dillio: We kicked out a guitarist and the other singer from Sound Virus. We still sucked, but we played really fast so it didn't matter as much. Our new front man, Arnold Graham, howled about social inustices. His egomania was only outdone by our guitarist, Matt Harrison, who kept his hair long specifically to swing it around while we played.
Best Memory: Entering a real recording studio for the first time to make a demo.
Group: Loophole
Sound: Started as pop punk, ended as indie rock
Year: 92 - 97 (9th grade through freshman year at USD)
The Dillio: We started as a foursome but then our staunchly anti drugs/alcohol singer left (he later became an acid freak and is now a hare kirshna). The three of us (me, Terry, John) celebrated and fought like a family. Played countless shows in countless venues, including
-a 24 Hour Fitness parking lot
-Terry's VW bus
-Adobe Bluffs Elementary
-A hippie desert get-away called Mental Physics
Traveled all over the state (and to Lake Havasu for a stint as the house band for an SDSU, Greek-exclusive spring break), and generally hung out as best friends. But John became an increasingly depressed stoner and moved to Humbolt. He also grew to loathe Terry (who also suffered a severe swollen head syndrome).
Worst Memory: So many empty shows, it's hard to choose. I mean, it might've been that shitty coffee shop 45 minutes out in Lemon Grove where we played to one of our friends. But who's to say the show at the Largo in which we drove 20 people away and short-circuited the south side of the bar (after driving to LA from San Diego), wasn't the lowest point?
Best Memory: Unwrapping our CD after picking it up from the mastering place/Opening a show at The Soul Kitchen with Blink that was so crowded people had to come up on stage with us. They seemed to love it, despite the disapproval of Fire Marshals everywhere.
Group: Engagement
Sound: Mopey emo
Year: 97
Dillio: Terry and I were on the rebound from Loophole. Hooked up with these dudes who slicked their hair and had tattoos ("sensitive" tough guys). Wrote some intricate songs, but in the end they were just too gay.
Group: Juniper
Sound: Stereolab meets The Smiths
Year: 98
Dillio: We practiced for months, but only played out twice. Our life was cut short when the singer bolted 'cause her boyfriend picked a fight with Terry during band practice for looking at her wrong.
Group: Soika
Sound: Indie Rock
Year: 99 - 2000
Dillio: Terry and I wrote some great songs. His girlfriend, Candace, was in the band, too. Their relationship was less than perfect. Tension. Lots and lots of tension. We faded away.
Best Memory: Spending almost two consecutive days in our garage/studio writing music just 'cause.
