Posts Tagged ‘ashdown’
Back on stage again.
Tonight is the first show I’ve done with Doug Morrison since Summer 2008. It’s been far too long. Doug played with the likes of Neil Turbin, Pete 
Way, Fred Coury and tons of others during his lifetime in the LA music scene. he moved here to Austin, TX right around the same time I did in late 2006.
I fell into a band pretty quickly after moving here and only did one show with them before parting ways. Doug and I were in contact that whole time and started playing together in May 2007. We went through a handful of drummers and found Larry. Larry was great. Hard hitter, good drummer, cool dude and great timing but circumstances dictated him leaving the band in 2008. We auditioned several drummers in 2009 and just couldn’t find the right one. Then comes this new kid in town, Ryan who started playing with us around November 2009. Nice guy, good drummer. He learned the stuff quickly and we’re doing our first show with him tonight.
I’m excited. Doug is easily the best guitarist I have ever played with. After 3 years I’m used to playing in an instrumental band and it’s nice not having to deal with a singer. He’s a GIT grad and former instructor and is really just an incredible player.
I think this is the beginning of a brand new chapter with this band that should be fruitful and successful. Adding lots of new songs all the time. I’m finally excited about music again. You can hear some stuff on the Myspace page, but it’s not a good representation of his/our sound. There’s also some clips on YouTube. We seem so different than when those were made. we have a Facebook fan page as well.
One unique thing about Doug, especially in this town, is that he uses Strats. Everyone here is primarily a Les Paul player. Doug will be using one 
of his Hendrix Anniversary stacks tonight. I’m likely using 2 of my Ashdown 4×10 cabs and my rack (heavy bitch!) and my mid-80s Japanese Fender P-bass.
It’s going to be fun. Wish you could be here!
A little self-indulgence about one of my bands
So my main band is really getting things fired up again and I am pretty excited about it all. I just moved (again) and am now all settled in and can devote more time to playing music again…original music. Sure I love doing my Motorhead tribute band but there’s nothing better for me than to be a part of an original band.
The main project that I have been a part of for almost 3 years now (*gasp* has it really been 3 years?) is with a phenomenal guitarist named Doug Morrison. Doug was one of those LA guys his whole life until moving to Austin, Texas right around the same time I did a little over 3 years ago. I think we both arrived here within a few weeks of each other. Doug’s background includes playing in Neil Turbin’s post-Anthrax band in the mid 80s which also included Dave McClain from SA Slayer and Machinehead. There are a few good big hair shots of him on Neil’s page. Doug was a graduate of GIT in LA and graduated with Paul Gilbert and taught there with him around the same time.
We’re an instrumental 3-piece and I would say the best comparisons to the music are to Eric Johnson, Steve Vai with flashes of Allan Holdsworth and Akira Takasaki (in our heavier moments).
So if you’re into instrumental guitar rock, shred etc, check out the stuff @ our Myspace page.
We finally secured a great drummer and will be playing out again hopefully by the end of this month. Our last gig was over a year ago and it’s about time again. Auditioning drummers was a bitch. What a bunch of monkeys. I was a drummer for most of my musical life and damn if I would have ever shown up to an audition as unprepared (or untalented) as many of these guys did. What was great was the lashbacks we would get when Doug would let them know they wouldn’t get a 2nd audition or accepted into the band. Hilarious stuff.
We’re finally getting the album done as well. Drum tracks have been completed for over a year and Doug is finally laying down guitar tracks. My bass stuff should follow soon for the tracks that I am to appear on.
The Metal Files 
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