Musicians on Net54

[npa589]

I'm 25 and went to school for music. I'm a baritone/tenor, and have played piano since I was 3.

I know there are plenty of skilled musicians on NET54, and I would like to know who you are!

Please share what instrument, and if there are particular kinds of music you are passionate about. If you have any videos on YouTube, share those as well!

Here is me singing the anthem at local spring training game (got me some free tickets). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBXaGs7cfro

I, for one, prefer classical music - because that's where the beauty is. I suppose that's also why I prefer vintage cards. I also have listened to Eminem...so...yea, quite a variety.


Share away!

Nate

[barrysloate]

You have a beautiful voice Nate....that's a real gift. I can't sing a note.

[Leon]

Nate asked me where this should go. I said the lounge area of the forum, probably. He put it there. I heard his voice and moved it here. Anyone with a voice like that gets a front page thread . Awesome voice Nate.....

[Jcfowler6]

Dude you sang that like it was the World Series. Bravo!

[rc4157]

That was great Nate, thanks for sharing.

As for playing, for personal recreation only, I play accoustic guitar. Love 60's British invasion music as well as other varieties.

Played saxophone in junior high, haven't dusted that off in ages.
RC

[canjond]

Nate - strictly for fun but I play guitar... normally acoustic (I have a Taylor 414 CE which I love). I also have a 12-string Ovation that I've started to mess around with.

[Gradedcardman]

Voice for me. Small scholarship for college but changed majors quickly !! Still love voice and piano. My grandmother was a concert pianist.

[npa589]

Haha, thanks Leon. Yea, I was wondering why it was in this forum. At first I thought, "Crap...made a mistake where I put it".

Jon and RC: Awesome. I've never really tried to pick it up, and don't play a lick of guitar. My brother and sister both do, in addition to the piano.

Adam: That's awesome. I went to University of Miami for voice, and hated that school and the whole year there. I thought about changing majors at Miami, but changed schools instead. Your grandmother must have been incredible. Did she have any favorite composers?

[npa589]

I want to add a few funny details about when I sang the anthem too...

It was the first home game for the Cardinals (Roger Dean Stadium), and was against the Mets. Among the people there was Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld, which is kind of funny because of something else in the story. Anyways, if you've seen what I look for on the board, I love baseball, and have been a Cubs fan since birth. I, of course, wore a Cubs shirt and was planning on getting booed. Before going out onto the field, the coordinator (who I am now good friends with) told me I had to take it off. For the sake of length, I'll just say I said "No." They offered me a free Marlins jersey (yea...right...), and I again explained "Not a chance...", giving a spiel about it being baseball, and the USA, and that the last time I checked, animosity towards another team didn't exactly decrease attendance. They called a GM of either Roger Dean or the Cardinals, and he said I definitely had to take it off because of TV contracts. They then had the GM of the minor league affiliate of the Cardinals come down and tell me to take it off, or they wouldn't let me sing. So, at this point - there are 5 or 6 different individuals looking at me with their spiffy walkie-talkies telling me I need to take it off, and then looking dumbfounded when I calmly said "Um, yea, I'm not going to take it off." They then claimed they would have to pull me from singing and play the recording. I said "If you really want to play a silly recording of the anthem, and have your crowd be disappointed, by all means - go right ahead. I really am not going to take it off, I'm sorry, I'm just not."
Anyone know that Seinfeld episode where Elaine refuses to take off the Baltimore cap?

Anyways, it's palpable that they let me sing, with the Cubs garb fully visible. The thing is, is that about 2 weeks later, I went there to sing another one, and was wearing a Cubs jersey - and was told by the intern that it pissed off LaRussa something awful when I sang the anthem with a Cubs shirt on. Apparently, he called in right after the game, as did the GM and told them that it can never happen again. I would love to be able to fully verify this part of the story at some point. Doubt LaRussa would remember though...

[Bosox Blair]

I am a guitar player. Was one of two guitarists in a rock band called Tripping West for 5 years or so. Although the band is now defunct, you can still listen to our recorded songs from our EP on our Myspace site...I really enjoyed recording these songs:

http://www.myspace.com/trippingwest

(BTW, our song called "Not Today" was the #1 single on Cashbox Magazine's Indie Chart for over a month.)

Cheers,
Blair

[forazzurri2axz]

Hey Nate--my brother is a classical concert violinist for the last 30 yrs in Germany; my aunt was one of the first Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall; her husband arranged lots of scores for TV shows and barber shop quartets; I took piano as a kid and quit when it interfered with baseball...Bill---and one of our relatives 100-200 yrs ago played for one of the Popes, but I don't know which instrument

[triwak]

Been playing drums for ~35 years, semi-professionally for ~15 years. I've recorded around 10-11 albums with lotsa different bands. Currently playing with an Indie Folk-rock group called Brother Wiley. Several clips on Youtube.

Ken

[novakjr]

Great voice. Anyways, I had a thread just like this in the forums a while back. There were a few pretty good responses.

I had a band for a while up here in the Cleveland area called Asphalt Juke. www.myspace.com/asphaltjuke We were just a bunch of guys having fun, and kept things on the local level. I played some rhythm guitar and was the lead vocalist. Our lead guitar player also sang lead on a handful of songs.. We put out one cd. Well, actually it was just a cd's worth of rough demo quality recordings. Shortly after these recordings we started to find our groove, figure out our limitations and play to our strengths but things fell apart. One day I plan on getting together with the guys and funding some better recordings of basically the material that was shaping up to have been our second album, plus a few songs that I've written since. I still play and write acoustic material, but with the family and everything, I really don't think I have it in me to put the effort into handling another full band project.. Ya never know though.

[AndyG09]

Nate,

Great story about standing up for your Cubs and great voice. Great dealing with you as well! I only wish I had an ounce of musical talent.

Best,

Andy

[npa589]

These are some awesome details. Like I figured, NET54 has some musically talented individuals.

Asphalt Juke is some good stuff David, listening to it now. I've tried to write things, yet can't seem to focus enough to ever finish a song, so - well done.

Ken: I looked up Brother Wiley on YouTube and watched that awesome compilation of live video of some of your guys songs. I love the implentation of a stand-up bass.


Blair: Also, very good stuff. Listened to "Not Today" - awesome song. "Hurt Like I do" was awesome too. Are you still playing guitar anywhere?


Bill: your brother isn't Stefan, is it?

[Leon]

Nate- my wife listened to your National Anthem. She said "great voice", and that is something coming from her. Her and my daughter have really good voices. As for me, I can't sing a lick. Never could. It's funny listening to me if I try. I play the air guitar really well though!!

[npa589]

I appreciate it Leon.

Everyone can sing, just prolong one syllable when you're talking without really thinking about it...

I play a mean air drums, especially when listening to some "Chicago" (25 or 6 to 4 comes to mind).

Together, we might make a heck of an air band. We just need an air vocalist, and air bass. I've already got an air cowbellist lined up.

[Leon]

Did someone say, Cowbell?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjsUf...eature=related

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[doug.goodman]

I've made my living as a roadie for touring bands for the last 27 years. Nate's story reminded me of this one :

I went to a D-Backs game vs SF in mid-September of 2007, with a band who were going to throw out the first pitch. When we got to the game, the band members were presented with jerseys by the team rep. The drummer threw his on a thanked the team guy. The singer was holding his like it was a dead baby. You could see the gears spinning in the team guy's head, wondering what was wrong, like maybe they spelled the name wrong. The team guy asked what was wrong and the singer pointed to the Cubs hat he was wearing and said "Cubbies, baby, if I put that thing on and the Cubs lose in the playoffs, I'll be the next Bartman and they'll string me up on Rush Street"

After the drummer threw out the first pitch (that was the plan all along), we went to our seats, which were about 4 rows behind the D-Backs dugout. While I was filling in my scorecard before the game started, a guy climbed over the row of seats in front of us and introduced himself to the singer, I wasn't really paying attention, but the conversation was something to the effect of :

Guy who climbed over seats : "I heard there was a problem with our jersey"
Singer : "Once the Cubs knock you guys out of the playoffs, maybe we can talk"
Guy : "That's not going to happen"
Singer : "We'll see about that"
etc, etc

When the guy left, the singer nudged me with his elbow, causing me to draw a line across my neat (up until that point) scorecard.

Me : "Hey, what the f..."
Singer : "How cool was that?"
Me : "What?"
Singer : "Trash talking the owner of the team in his own stadium!"
Me : "Ok, that is kind of cool, even though you messed up my scorecard"

Unfortunately for the singer, the D-Backs swept his beloved Cubbies in the playoffs, so the story doesn't really have a happy ending.

Doug


PS - I play pretty good air drums, but I'm more Clive Burr era Iron Maiden than "25 or 6 to 4" era Chicago

[Big Ben]

Nate, you have a wonderful voice. Are you pursuing a career in music?
As for me, I am a very amateur tenor saxophone player who likes classical, jazz, and alternative rock music.


Best of luck to you.

[npa589]

Doug, that's an awesome and very funny story.


Ben: I've been mulling that decision. I'm engaged, so, maybe once I'm more settled, I'll begin to pursue it a little bit.

I did send in an audition to the Cubs, but, they apparently enjoy choosing people who can't sing. I watch practically every game, and just sit there shaking my head when they get someone who can't sing. Some of them are really really bad... I think you all have probably seen the evidence of people having no idea what they're doing when they pick someone to sing the anthem. The biggest events in the world still manage to have people that can't sing at all, yet are famous. Usually hockey is the only sport that gets it right...

By the way, I really dislike when the anthem is sung with an incredible amount of melismas. IMO, it should be sung with respect, in a traditional, straight-forward manner - so that the point of the song is not trivialized. Very rarely does someone depart from that and still keep it special. There are very few Marvin Gayes. His was awesome. The focus should be on the country, on the flag, not on the person singing the song. When it is ""popularized"", that focus becomes misplaced and distracts from the purpose of the song. I grew up singing stuff like Boyz II Men, and teach at an inner-cities school where I thoroughly enjoy teaching and singing songs that require popular, melismatic singing - i just don't think the national anthem is the place to do it.

Anyways - I'll get off my soap box. Oh, and Leon, I was hoping someone would pick that up! "Before we're done here, you'll all be wearing gold-plated diapers!"

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by npa589

By the way, I really dislike when the anthem is sung with an incredible amount of melismas. IMO, it should be sung with respect, in a traditional, straight-forward manner - so that the point of the song is not trivialized. The focus should be on the country, on the flag, not on the person singing the song. When it is ""popularized"", that focus becomes misplaced and distracts from the purpose of the song. I grew up singing stuff like Boyz II Men, and teach at an inner-cities school where I thoroughly enjoy teaching and singing songs that require popular, melismatic singing.

Nothing bothers me more than the Anthem being sung diva style...
I much prefer it Enrico Palazzo style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyCc1DzRAgQ

[HOF Yankees]

Been a Professional Elvis Tribute Artist for 4 years now, I competed in the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest this past summer in June, also went to Las Vegas last summer and played there for 3 weeks and been traveling all over the US and playing at different venues. I do all eras of Elvis and every song. I enjoy it, have lots of fun and realizing a dream I thought would never happen. If anything I am on tour almost everyday now, or busy with rehearsals.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

Been a Professional Elvis Tribute Artist for 4 years now, I competed in the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest this past summer in June, also went to Las Vegas last summer and played there for 3 weeks and been traveling all over the US and playing at different venues. I do all eras of Elvis and every song. I enjoy it, have lots of fun and realizing a dream I thought would never happen. If anything I am on tour almost everyday now, or busy with rehearsals.

That's awesome. I'm not picking on you, but I just love the way you worded that. This is an honest question though...Amongst "Professional Elvis Tribute Artists", is it considered insulting when people say Elvis Impersonator?

[npa589]

Awesome stuff man. I love when I hear that people are realizing a dream. That "Wait, you mean I can get paid to do this?" realization is always incredible.

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

Been a Professional Elvis Tribute Artist for 4 years now, I competed in the 2011 Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest this past summer in June, also went to Las Vegas last summer and played there for 3 weeks and been traveling all over the US and playing at different venues. I do all eras of Elvis and every song. I enjoy it, have lots of fun and realizing a dream I thought would never happen. If anything I am on tour almost everyday now, or busy with rehearsals.

[4815162342]

Nate, my Christian brother, you have a God-given talent. Thanks for posting that video!

I'll sing a little tenor in some old 4-part harmony gospel songs, but I can't play anything (I can't even play the radio without getting static!). My wife, on the other hand, plays piano in a jazz group made up of her old college professors, teaches elementary music, and plays at church. Her life revolves around music.

[uffda51]

Nice going, Nate.

I've shared about this before in some of the "What Do You Do" threads. I'm the black sheep in a family of scientists and preachers. I'm a composer, orchestrator, and conductor in Hollywood who has worked with everyone from Angela Lansbury to Metallica. I also write chamber music, choral music, etc. although my original inspiration was jazz. I played sax, clarinet and flute in a previous century.

For way more than you want to know there is info here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003618/

(along with a lame picture).

[npa589]

Much appreciated Daryl. I lead worship at a presbyterian church. We blend traditional with contemporary, which I think is very important.

Originally Posted by 4815162342

Nate, my Christian brother, you have a God-given talent. Thanks for posting that video!

I'll sing a little tenor in some old 4-part harmony gospel songs, but I can't play anything (I can't even play the radio without getting static!). My wife, on the other hand, plays piano in a jazz group made up of her old college professors, teaches elementary music, and plays at church. Her life revolves around music.

[npa589]

What an impressive resume Bruce!

If you have a recording of the song cycle "This is What I know", I'd love to hear it.

My e-mail is npa589@yahoo.com.

Originally Posted by uffda51

Nice going, Nate.

I've shared about this before in some of the "What Do You Do" threads. I'm the black sheep in a family of scientists and preachers. I'm a composer, orchestrator, and conductor in Hollywood who has worked with everyone from Angela Lansbury to Metallica. I also write chamber music, choral music, etc. although my original inspiration was jazz. I played sax, clarinet and flute in a previous century.

For way more than you want to know there is info here:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0003618/

(along with a lame picture).

[theseeker]

Wow! What a voice.

Besides having the worst singing voice known to man, I was a mullet wearing drummer during the new wave era and picked up some keyboard skills along the way, as both are struccata (yeah, I know, my spelling is horrible) instruments. Loved rock thru the early '80's and Jazz. Jazz drummers are the greatest after all. Still enjoy getting together with some old grey beards just for kicks.

[HOF Yankees]

I just like to go out and entertain people and make them feel happy, it doesn't really bother me to much when people call me an impersonator, anyone can call it what they want but in the end I am still me. I don't do it for the money, I do it to keep Elvis' spirit, legacy and music alive for generations to come as the other ETA's do.

[novakjr]

Originally Posted by HOF Yankees

I just like to go out and entertain people and make them feel happy, it doesn't really bother me to much when people call me an impersonator, anyone can call it what they want but in the end I am still me. I don't do it for the money, I do it to keep Elvis' spirit, legacy and music alive for generations to come as the other ETA's do.

Cool. Like I said, I wasn't trying to make fun. It was an honest question that I was having trouble finding a way to word properly, and thank you for not taking offense. Are there any videos of your performances?

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by Bosox Blair

I am a guitar player. Was one of two guitarists in a rock band called Tripping West for 5 years or so. Although the band is now defunct, you can still listen to our recorded songs from our EP on our Myspace site...I really enjoyed recording these songs:

http://www.myspace.com/trippingwest

(BTW, our song called "Not Today" was the #1 single on Cashbox Magazine's Indie Chart for over a month.)

Cheers,
Blair

You guys were good... I can listen to that one over and over.

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by slidekellyslide

You guys were good... I can listen to that one over and over.

Thanks, Dan - the positive feedback is much appreciated! Glad you enjoyed.

Cheers,
Blair

[Bosox Blair]

Originally Posted by npa589

Blair: Also, very good stuff. Listened to "Not Today" - awesome song. "Hurt Like I do" was awesome too. Are you still playing guitar anywhere?

Thanks, Nate! Not officially in a band these days, but still playing a lot of acoustic guitar. I'm trying to form a little acoustic ensemble now to play smaller cafe-type gigs.

Your anthem video was great! I played it and my girlfriend asked why you were so good...must be the talent .

Cheers,
Blair

[gashouse34]

Originally Posted by triwak

Been playing drums for ~35 years, semi-professionally for ~15 years. I've recorded around 10-11 albums with lotsa different bands. Currently playing with an Indie Folk-rock group called Brother Wiley. Several clips on Youtube.

Ken

Wow thats fantastic stuff Ken....I live close to the springfield area and am going to have to make it a point to see you all...Where could I check your tour dates? We enjoy seeing Big Smith as well in this area. Regards, Brandon

[BCD]

MY parents lived in Port St.Lucie....home of the Mets for years before passing.

[bmarlowe1]

With the likes of Blair, Nate, Ken and Bruce Babcock having posted I hesitate to say anything, but I've been a guitar (and bass) player for decades, though I was more interested in the recording/engineering side of it having set up a 4-track (tape) home studio decades ago. Of course I have long since graduated to digital which allows for processing that almost makes me sound good.

Photos below span a long period of time.

[jbbama]

I play the drums, started playing when i was 21 (weird huh?) was in a "band" on and off for about 12-13 years.......guys got married, started having kids and people moved. It was cool while it lasted, now i just jam with headphones, when i i am allowed.

[slidekellyslide]

Originally Posted by jbbama

I play the drums, started playing when i was 21 (weird huh?) was in a "band" on and off for about 12-13 years.......guys got married, started having kids and people moved. It was cool while it lasted, now i just jam with headphones, when i i am allowed.

Not weird at all...my brother started playing drums at 19 or 20..he's 40 now and been playing in bands for the last 20 years...my son is 10 and just started taking guitar lessons..amazing how quickly he's picked it up...also amazing how well my wife is playing guitar from just watching the guitar lessons my son is taking. I have no musical talent at all.

[npa589]

If anyone watched the National Anthem at the beginning of the Bears game, now you know why I say "Hockey is the only one that gets it right anymore." Chicago seems to be one of the only major cities who knows how the anthem should be sung.

That anthem, with the chants of USA after...............wow. Chills, tears, clenching of the jaw, closing of the eyes - all things that happened across the USA as that was going on.

Democrats, liberals, republicans, conservatives - who the crap cares on this day. I just hope the country can begin to rekindle that unity we felt 10 years ago. Only together can we turn this country around. Different viewpoints are healthy because they usually blend together for good. Right now, our government needs to remember this more than anyone ---- BOTH sides.

God Bless America, and my prayers are with all that lost a loved one on this day. They are sorely missed.

[Wayne]

Back in junior high I played the trumpet. I was first and second seat most of the time.
I havent played since 1988. Mainley I used my oldest brothers trumpet and then my little brother used it. When my litltle brother got finished with it he gave it back to me. When I saw my oldest brother when I was a sophmore I gave him his trumpet back. Mainly because this trumpet was made in the 40's and I had no right keeping it because it belong to him. He still playes it from time to time.

[Matt E.]

Spent several summers in my youth at Interlochen playing trumpet.

A truly memorable experience.



Matt E.

[CubsFanCurt]

I play bass guitar and love Johnny Thunders, Motley Crue, and Guns n Roses. few pics of the bass:

[Streetsideguy]

Hey there. Just finished doing four shows today at the Kansas State Fair with my group. We are an Acappella group and started the group at Kansas State University in 1988. Have the same four guys in the group and we have done nearly 2,000 shows since then. Just started recording our seventh album and have opened for the Doobie Brothers, Leann Rimes, Spyro Gyra, the KC Symphony, and numerous others over the years. Mainly do shows in the midwest. Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Colorado, and Missouri. Still fun after 24 years of performing. Have done the National anthem numerous times for the KC Royals, and Kansas State University. If you get a chance check us out at.

www.facebook.com/streetsideguys

www.streetsideguys.com

Jason

[leftygrove10]

You have a great voice, Nate. I listened to you sing the Lord's Prayer as well. Very, very nice.

[npa589]

Thanks Brad.

Wow Curt, that may just be the best bass I've ever seen.

Jason - when I get a chance, I'll definitely check it out. That's awesome that you have been together for so long.

[Streetsideguy]

Hey Nate. Here is a link to our info page on facebook. You can listen to four songs from our last album at the bottom of the page.

Jason

http://www.facebook.com/Streetsidegu...deguys?sk=info

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Streetsideguy

Hey Nate. Here is a link to our info page on facebook. You can listen to four songs from our last album at the bottom of the page.

Jason

http://www.facebook.com/Streetsidegu...deguys?sk=info

Wow, Jason. You guys rock too. Absolutely top notch professional. And I bet ya'll have a ton of fun doing it too.......just great stuff.

We really have some talent on the board. All of you musicians should be commended.

[Streetsideguy]

Hey Leon. Thanks for the Kudos. It is still fun to travel and perform. The problem is my real job tends to get in the way. HA.

Jason