• What is the Grayslake Oasis?
• What is my involvement?

The Oasis is a teen center / music venue in Grayslake, Illinois, next door to the ever-popular Tastee Freez (151 Hawley, Grayslake Il, 60030).

I got involved in late 2004, when my insurance agent (Joyce Campbell) she started a new NFP fundraising group, The Grayslake Youth Center. Their goal was to open a music based teen center.

At the time, over 20 local all-ages venues in the Northern Illinois area had been shut down, often due to the lack of village support, so I thought this could be a cool opportunity for the local scene. I offered to help put together a music festival (Rock in the Park) as a fundraiser. This both raised awareness for the cause, as well as started developing the bond with the local music scene. From that point forward, I was the music director for the Grayslake Youth Center board.

We spent the next 2 years hosting various fundraisers to help get us to the objective of opening a facility. In 07, it was announced that the city of Grayslake was to hand over the former Grayslake Park District building to our cause. This kick-started the progress to opening the doors of the student named teen center, The Oasis.

In late 2007, we started the renovations of the building, knocking out walls, and rebuilding it to suit our needs. We took donations from all over the state for things like chairs, desks, tables, booths, and more. By spring 08′, we had a fully functioning social center, with high speed internet, cable tv,
xBox, PlayStation, Wii, pool tables, foozeball, pinball, flat screen tv’s, and the best stage and sound system for any all ages venue that I’ve seen.

I had the task of procuring the sound system, installing it, and training employees how to use it. My close friend Pete Hansen (edge audio services) helped really ensure that it was accomplished on time, and that we utilized every piece of our gear purchase to it’s full potential.

Our doors opened up in April of 2008, and we’ve been a mainstay venue in the northern Illinois area ever since. I’m still involved, and I help oversee operations. This includes event booking, band relations, running sound, and system maintenance.

The Grayslake Youth Center board is still operational and continues to host fun events in the area. In fact, as of writing this blog, there have been two highly successful events within last two weeks. This includes the Grayslake Car Show, as well as the golf outing at Stonewall Orchard. Additionally, our float in the Grayslake’s Got Talent just took the award for Best Use of Theme.

We have some great things planned for 2011, so keep checking in at the Oasis website!

Check it out!

Check it out for whatever price seems fitting to you!!
(free is an option!)

CHECK OUT LYBRIA!

Why did you get into music?

Kind of an odd question huh? I got into music because it’s awesome! I can say things now like “music is the only way I feel I’m truly able to communicate what I’m feeling” but I doubt I would have been able to articulate that when I was five years old, nodding my head quietly to some Bobby McFerrin.

What was your first instrument?

Guitar

What other instruments can you play?

I can play drums, but I’m not that good… yet.

Do you have an education on that instrument?

Not really. I was a music major for about two weeks in college until I realized that it was going to ruin music for me and quit.

Did you take any type of lessons growing up?

I took group lessons when I was 10, then solo lessons for a few months after that. In high school I took lessons for the better part of a year and learned all my pentatonic and diatonic scales and what not–which actually helped a lot.

What impact did that have you on you?

After that second set of lessons I definitely got a lot more “proper” in that I had a clue what I was doing from then on. From that point forth it was a lot easier for me to see patterns emerge and build on them, so I progressed exponentially afterword.

Do you know / use music theory when writing songs?

Not really, I basically just write what sounds good to me, I gave up trying to be all music theory tech a while ago.

Do you still practice things, other than the music your write?

Don’t really practice other things. Every once and a while if I hear a really bad ass riff or chord progression or something I’ll sit down and learn it but those times are few and far between.

Do you still attempt to push forward musically, by learning new instruments, songs, or applications?

The main way that I progress now is by forcing myself to learn crazy riffs that I write. Learning the little bit of drums that I know now has definitely helped me understand how to make drum parts, so I would also label that as progressing musically.

Do you have a method for songwriting? How does it usually happen?

80% of the time I come up with a guitar part first and create an atmosphere around it, but every once and a while I’ll come up with a cool sounding drum part at first. There are also the times where I make a guitar part that ends up sounding lame but then use the drum parts I made and make something cool. Those are cool and surprising.

How much focus do you have on gear? Do you feel that gear has an impact on your songwriting or performing?

Gear not so much, I mean, everyone should have a pretty good guitar if they can–no Mexican Strat knockoff is ever going to sound as good as a nice higher-end guitar. But beyond that it’s mostly just how you use it. A lot of people focus a whole hell of a lot of energy on their gear–and that’s cool I suppose–but does it really help their tone or whatever as much as they think it does? Look at Stevie Ray Vaughan–dude played with an old beat up Strat through a Fender amp and just DESTROYED… because he felt the crap out of it and played balls-to-the-wall every time.

How do you feel technology has impacted music over the last few years?

Well I mean without the advances in technology you wouldn’t give a shit about me or any of these guys who are some level of “internet famous”. I think technology is going to be the great equalizer when it comes to music. The lines are being blurred as to what can be done in a studio and what can be done in someone’s bedroom. Not to mention the whole p2p thing. Kinda sucks if you’re a record label but who gives a shit.

What applications do you use when writing?

Logic Express with mostly stock plugins like EQ, reverb, and various delays.

What kind of gear do you have in your studio?

Vox Tonelab, that green Line 6 delay box, Boss loop station, Boss Super Octave pedal. I use other stuff occasionally but I use the things I mentioned every day.

You’ve had great viral success so far. I feel like I see one new Facebook status each month telling to check out ‘Cloudkicker’. What’s the next step for the project?

Next step: New full length!

What have you been listening to?

Sufjan Stevens, Tool, Explosions in the Sky, Rage Against the Machine, The Books, Jimmy Eat World, Four Tet, etc. (whatever comes on shuffle).

Personally, I don’t take students under the age of 10.

Here is why…

Guitar is a VERY physical instrument. Students of all ages will tell you that. You need to hold the guitar properly, keeping both arms in the correct position, while making sure that left hand & fingers are using the correct posture all before fretting a note. From there, the actual fretting process can be very difficult, as it requires a lot of hand strength that takes time to develop.

More often than not, I see young students who are very inspired to start playing, but lose motivation when they learn how difficult it truly is. They end up quitting, which always breaks my heart. If they wait a few years, and try again, I’m certain the learning process would be far easier, but by then, they’ve lost the inspiration to play.

This is not to say that all young students are bound to have such a hard time, but it is absolutely the majority.

What are the best options?

Personally, I feel that to give any young student the best advantage, they should start on piano. From a physical standpoint, it’s among the easiest instrument for young hands. The coordination challenges are still there, but it’s not hard to sit at the bench, and press a key.

Beyond that, it gives the young student a great head-start into the world of reading sheet music, and music theory. Considering that most sheet music stems from piano, this will open the door to any instrument they want to play in the future.

As a music teacher, I can say that the students I have with a piano background tend to have an easier time on guitar, and are often able to learn at a quicker rate. This keeps the inspiration up, as they are able to get to the more “exciting” things faster, such as songs by artists they like.

I truly don’t like being the bearer of bad news, but I want to make sure that potential students are making informed choices, and are aware of what they are getting into. The last thing I want to see is a student with huge inspiration end up quitting guitar 2-3 months in, as it’s too difficult for them. Obviously, there will be some young students who may be able to handle the physicality of the guitar, but I truly believe, to give your child the greatest musical advantage, start them on piano.

If you decide that piano may be a better option for your child, I can provide some references for absolutely great local piano teachers.

If you are absolutely sure you want your young student to start playing (despite what you just read), here is a suggestion.

Start on an electric guitar instead of an acoustic.

There is an old wives tale that students should start with an acoustic guitar, as it will make them “better, faster”. The reason they say this is because the acoustic guitar is far more difficult to play. The body is bigger, making it hard to hold, the neck is generally larger, the strings are thicker, and the strings are further away from the fret board (making it hard to press down).  So, by that logic, yes, you’d develop stronger hands on an acoustic. That is to say, if you can play it!

Because of this, it makes it much harder for young musicians. Inversely, electric guitars are much easier. Thinner bodies, necks, and strings all help with the early learning process. Additionally, they make child sized (1/2 or 3/4 scale) electric guitars, which can be even more beneficial for the tiny guitarists. Good options are the Fender Squier Mini, or the SX child sized guitar.

Go check it out, read up, and subscribe to the RSS!

Unlike other musicians who seem to ride one or two bands to rock stardom, you worked your way up by jumping from band to band. Can you list all of the bands you’ve been in?

Yikes.

Glazed Baby, Unsane, Season To Risk, Shiner, Reggie and the Full Effect, Fire of 1666, From Autumn To Ashes, Every Time I Die, & The Damned Things. I’m sure I’m forgetting one or two…

I know you’ve switched between guitar and bass a lot over the last few years, which do you consider to be your primary instrument?

Until ETID, I considered guitar to be my primary instrument.

What was your first instrument?

I tried drums initially, but after breaking all of my stuff, I got a guitar.

What other instruments can you play?

I tend to stick with bass & guitar.  I can make a noise or two with a bunch of other instruments, but I’d never claim to play them.

Did you take any type of lessons growing up?

I did. Sadly, the guy I took lessons from tended to spend our entire session soloing. It was rather discouraging.

What impact did that have on you?

I don’t really know a ton of theory, but my disappointment with my teacher made me really develop my ear.

Do you know / use music theory when writing songs?

I do more so for coming up with new tunings.

Do you still practice things, other than the music your write?

I learn most of the records I listen to.  You never know who’s gonna call…

Do you still attempt to push forward musically, by learning new instruments, songs, or applications?

Constantly. Be it learning other band’s songs, messing around with piano, or learning how to use recording applications, I’m always doing something music related. I also try to play with people other than my bandmates. I think this is key for looking at things a bit differently.

Do you have a method for songwriting?

I generally start with a beat or rhythm and then build on that.

You are a notorious gear nerd. How much focus do you have on gear? Are they just tools, or do they cross over into inspiration?

I am indeed obsessed with gear. All of the bells and whistles tend to really matter to the musician, not the listener. A good song is a good song. 95% of the audience could care less what year your Les Paul is.

Do you feel that gear has an impact on your songwriting or performing?

I think it has less of an impact on my writing. If my gear makes it through a show, I’m happy.

Any favorite pieces of gear lately?

My current setup is my favorite. Orange AD200’s, Aguilar cabinets, a Fulltone OCD, & Sandberg California P basses.

Lastly, you’re now in a band with Scott Ian from Anthrax. seriously, how sick is that?

It’s insane. The first time I walked into practice, he was playing his Jackson Soloist with “NOT” inlaid on the fretboard. I freaked inside. I bought his tapes when I was in middle school. Who’d a thunk it?

They just posted some killer pictures on their website.

If you’re a fan of old school chicago indie rock, or you just like creepily looking at strangers pictures, this is right up your alley.

Interviews

• There will Q&A’s with great musicians regarding their musical upbringing and practice habits!

For Sale

• Music gear that I have for sale, or students are trying to sell.

Events

• Gigs, field trips, and other fun events I feel are worth attending!

Around the Web

• Cool news, videos, and updates I have found while wasting countless hours surfing the net!

So be sure to check back often, or subscribe to to the RSS feed for updates!

Not familiar with RSS subscriptions? Read up, here.

A big thanks goes out to he-hf for the redesign, and Arthur Schroeder for the killer pictures!

I couldn’t be happier with the results!

So, make yourself at home, have a look around, and subscribe to the RSS feed to get all of the latest updates!