From last week's recording session with Jonathan, I mentioned him being the first person I recorded with. I asked if he had the recordings and he didn't, but to reach out to Andre, who does.
In high school, Andre was a year ahead of me and was the school's shredder. He was in the cool kids band, called the Unexcused. They always closed out all the school talent shows. Aside from being the only decent bassist at school, I'm not sure how he and I hooked up. Maybe it was through Todd, who was the school's baddest drummer. He and I did play together in the jazz bands throughout school. But, maybe he was in the Jazz Ensemble (think varsity) and I was in Jazz Band (think JV).
Anyway, somehow, the three of us hooked up and recorded some songs at Jonathan's house. I super-duper vaguely remember practicing at Todd's house, about 2 miles away from where I am now. I do not remember whatsoever recording any tunes, other than doing it at Jonathan's house. I think we did record separately, building it up Lego-style.
I reached out to Andre today and he sent me a link to a Dropbox that had all the stuff he did in high school, including the stuff he, Todd and I did, called DTG ('Dre, Todd, Gwon). I forgot about that name (did I even know about it?) and definitely forgot that we did more than one song (called Marsupials).
Looking through the Dropbox files, there are 5 songs! Marsupials, Fire in the Hole, For Always, Shadows and Hot Potato(!). For now, I've heard the first three, though For Always is a guitar instrumental. Well, they're all instrumentals; that one is guitar only.
In hearing Marsupials, though I remember the main riff, as I was listening, some of the stuff came back to me. But the wildest part was hearing this from 35 or so years ago. I must have been 15-16? And Joe Satriani was big at the time and it was pretty clear that Andre had that influence going. All three of us were pretty dialed in for our age; I've heard adult bands that were worse than us.
I started Fire in the Hole and I do not remember that song at all. But, as I listened (and got confirmation from Andre that it was me), just based on the bass part, I knew I played it. I still do the same stylistic things and parts. Though the song is sort of dated (late 80's instrumental guitar rock), we were pretty dang good. Sure, we overplayed, but who didn't at that age?
I'm gonna listen to Shadows now and do a stream-of-consciousness reaction.
- only 2:48. Minor arpeggiated guitar, no bass or drums. Could be cheesy; hearing potential bass parts in my brain right now.
- And I come in early, ahead of the beat; what else is new.
- Pretty contrived part. Trying to stay simple, but busy enough, and it's sort of there.
- Second time through "verse" is OK. Adult me might straighten it out a little more.
- Bridge part: it's passable. Sort of boring, but it works under Andre's soloing.
- Chorus part: not loving it. Choppy, not smooth enough for what the song needs.
- Overall, 6/10. Song was short, one time through the chorus. Given a teenager was recording it (me), it's not that bad.
- 4:01, here we go.
- And there's the EVH riff with high hat. Lots of chromatic guitar. Blues based progression.
- Really reminiscent of Let's Go Crazy by Prince.
- A little loose when bass and drums come in.
- Some punches, nothing crazy.
- Beat kicks in, riff repeats. I tried to come up with a nifty bass line to go under the first guitar solo. Todd drops out to high hats.
- Back to a verse/main riff and I am behind the beat; trying to get too tricky. Really pulling the beat back. Sounds like Andre does too on his rhythm guitar at times.
- Ok, to the bass drum punches part. Off time!
- And now the riding the E part. Pretty loose
- And we are done
