Thanks and Giving

For everything that the music scene in Fairbanks, Alaska may lack, it is made up for, part and parcel, in encouragement and the most highly valued commodity ’round these parts, warmth. I’ve been making an effort not use this blog as a vehicle for promoting my own band and I don’t want to do that now, but being Thanksgiving as well as the eve of Paper Scissors‘ final Marlin performances I’d very much like to take a moment to express my gratitude. It all started in fourth grade when my now ex-step father, a percussionist in a local blues band, gifted me my first drum, a shiny silver snare drum, with which i joined the school band. It was a shot in the dark, to say the least, as I had little to no inclination towards learning to play music at the time. It’s impossible to say whether it was Hot Cross Buns or Three Blind Mice that made me realize there was something about the beat that spoke to me, but either way, the rest is history.

I remember Paper Scissors’ first Marlin gig very well, and in fact still have a recording of it. Listening to those songs, some of which we still play (with significantly more skill) serves to re-enforce my beliefs in the unwavering graciousness of music fans here. In other words we were pretty bad. We weren’t even called Paper Scissors at the time, we were known (for one night only) as the WMDs. My friend and lead guitar for Work, Caleb Kuntz in an interview with me pointed out that one of the coolest things about our scene is that bands are automatically given a number of chances to  get their  live sound dialed it. Over time those bands that can’t, fizzle out and those that can, percolate to the top, and with unwavering support of their fans, continue to perform. Paper Scissors was lucky enough to fall into the latter category and it is something that has changed my life for the better more dramatically than almost anything else ever has. There’s no way i could list the names of everyone responsible for this, but hopefully you know who you are, and from the deepest depths of my heart and soul…Thanks. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and that music continues to satisfy your soul as it does mine, for the rest of your days, even if it’s Bon Jovi. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, and come spend one last weekend of classic Marlin madness with Paper Scissors this Friday (11/27) and Saturday (11/28). Gobble Gobble.

A Contradiction of Terms

If you read my last post you know that last Friday a battle of the bands competition happened at the Hess Rec Center at UAF. What you may not know is that Paper Scissors won. What you most certainly don’t know is that I (Ryan Schmidt, drummer for Paper Scissors) having participated in two, winning one (very much losing the other) hate the idea of competing with local bands that I respect for nothing more than a cash prize. After all the bands had performed I was milling around the venue just shooting the breeze and found out, before it was announced, that Paper Scissors was going to win. Far from the happiness and pride victors are expected to feel I was instead burdened with disappointment knowing that the other bands (many of whose members are friends and peers) would leave feeling much like the majority of American’s did in 1993 six minutes after buying Bon Jovi’s highly anticipated “Keep the Faith”; disappointed (probably pissed). Whereas your typical battle of the bands winner promptly attaches feather to cap and holds no bones about educating all of their fandom (and otherwise) of their new status at the top of the pile, I couldn’t help but feel like Gomer Pile, eating a doughnut while the rest of my unit does pushups. Don’t get me wrong I (we) wanted to win. We wouldn’t have entered otherwise, but doing so, and the way it made me feel, gave me pause.

Being a musician in Fairbanks has many pros, easy to book gigs, receptive audiences, pay, to name a few, but it’s also renowned for its challenges. Paper Scissors can play the Marlin till we’re as blue in the face as its namesake and I would put money on the fact that no representative from any major music label or production company will EVER come and listen. I suppose I could be wrong but I’m willing to take some very steep bets. There are a number of musicians that are happy to jam here and there, but have other plans for their professional lives, but for the bands that aren’t, the bands that put hours, and days, and months, and years of effort into their music in an effort to jam not just here and there, but for the rest of their lives (you know who you are) a decision to relocate to the lower-48 is paramount. Granted it’s no silver bullet (though it may hit you in the foot) but existing in a more heavily saturated music market is a necessary step in making your band your business.  You may argue that Fairbanks needs to find a way to become more noticeable and competitive. Maybe. It would change a number of things for the better, and a number of things for the worse. I like things the way they are. This place is unique, it’s beautiful, it’s weird, it’s great.

I’ll spare you the 500 pages of diatribe about every nuance of our music scene bouncing around my head right now, and make a concerted effort to finally, at long last and without further ado or one more moments hesitation…get to my point. Asking Fairbanks’ local bands to compete against each other for money is inherently at odds with what I see as the most integral values of this scene, and it falls on the bands to recognize that it’s not what we’re about and to decline similar invites in the future. It isn’t the competition that detracts from us, it’s what we’re competing for, money and “status” among respected equals. It’s petty and we should all be above it.

HOWEVER, when Elektra records organizes a battle of the bands here to determine the next band it’s going to sign…it’s game on!

Battle of the Bands

The superstition that there is bad luck associated with Fridays that fall on the 13^th day of the month will provide for an interesting atmosphere surrounding The Battle of the Bands happening this Friday…the 13^th, at The Hess Rec Center. Work, Paper Scissors, Eating for Two, Something Evil and 12-Year Stretch will compete for bragging rights and a cash prize of 250 big ones. Attendance of the event is open to everyone so you don’t have to be university student to attend, though if you arrive on a steel horse with a six string on your back you will be immediately and forcefully escorted from the premises. Tickets are three dollars for UAF students or seven dollars otherwise. The Battle begins at 7pm sharp so be sure to get there ASAP and pour your heart out for your favorite. A good band knows (and shows) that their efforts day in and out are for your delight at the end of the week. The Battle of the Bands is about bragging rights, but it’s also a chance for the fans to show their love in a tangible way. Good luck to all! For more information check Facebook.

Though this is usually an informational blog I’m going to digress from that and share with you the sad, pitiful and thus, funny story about my band (Paper Scissors)’s first Battle of the Bands experience.

It’s the summer of 2006, and Godsmack is scheduled to play at the Carlson Center in a few weeks. They decide they would like to have a local opener and so, get in touch with a venue, the now defunct Hide Out Lounge, and asked them to organize a Battle of the Bands, the winner of which would be selected to open the show. The obvious question here should be a resounding, why? I fully agree that the musical prowess and integrity of Godsmack is at best debatable, but at least it wasn’t you-know-who. Regardless of our feelings towards Godsmack we were a brand new band with no credibility, but we were proud of our work and grabbed immediately at the chance to play anywhere that would let us. Not to mention the hilarity value in the assuredly dumbfounded looks on Godsmack’s collective face were we to win. A few days before the show I attended a meeting of the participating musicians to hash out logistics. The host of the meeting (and the event) asked, very seriously, that any bands who weren’t seriously intending to compete for the prize please resign themselves from the competition. It hadn’t escaped me that I was the only person wearing at least one piece of clothing that wasn’t black, and it seemed that that question may very have been meant specifically for Paper Scissors. I said nothing. I guess we weren’t exactly sure how serious we were but we can be a stubborn, if not proud bunch and were definitely not backing out. The day came and we showed up pumped and ready to rock a million faces. However,  we got the hard rusty shaft instead and were scheduled to play last, immediately after Turbid North who, both in hindsight, and at the time were the obvious choice for winner. That same shaft was given a nice sharp twist when all of the bands, especially Turbid North, went long, and so by the time we were up, we had something like 12 minutes to set-up and play before the event (which was outside) had to shutdown because of noise regulations. We set up with the quickness and jumped right into it, but we weren’t quick enough. What was a packed house emptied twice as fast as we could set up. We played for one person (I counted). The icing? Before we could start our second song we were politely asked by an officer with the Fairbanks police to “shut it down.”  There aren’t any places other than first in a Battle of the Bands, but I can assure we came in last.

First Friday

On the first Friday of every month art galleries everywhere host free viewings of current hangings and often unveil brand new shows accompanied with free wine and tapas. “First Friday” as the event is usually referred to, brings out droves of  family and friends, amateur art critics and average-joe art (and wine) enthusiasts each month to a variety of galleries here in town. Represented at these galas are all types of art, painting, photographs, video and multimedia installations, ceramics, sculpture and more. What is rarely showcased, however, is music. Granted, its not as if music doesn’t have ample opportunity in Fairbanks (and elsewhere) to be seen. There is some sort of inherent difference between the traditional art gallery show and a live concert. Both are public art displays yet they each possess a certain je ne sais quoi about them that results in being presented in their traditional formats most of the time.

In the art world though, tradition is for the birds. Earlier this fall Caleb Kuntz organized and hosted a meeting to which he invited everyone involved (in any capacity) with the local music scene. One of the ideas discussed there was the possibility of putting on a music oriented (either party or entirely) “First Friday” event, hopefully as early as December. The design and execution of said event, at this point, is still very much in the air, but if you have any comments or ideas, they are most welcome either here or at Kuntz’s blog, fbxshows.com.

Last month at The Marlin hosted a combination gallery and DJ show. Instead of somber mingling and sophisticated discussion over fine wine and cheese, show-goers were treated to fast-paced dance music, flashing lights and a full bar. Not everybody’s cup of tea I know, but far better than Bon Jovi and certainly out of the ordinary and, of new and different, this author is a fan. Of Bon Jovi, this author is not.

Today is November’s first Friday and all over town galleries are opening their doors and inviting us all in to enjoy some of our local artisans work. If you’re interested in a great collaborative display of artistic talent, make sure to check out Chartreuse vintage clothing store on 1st ave & Wickersham where you’ll find beautiful (if not eclectic) painting on display, a large selection of vintage clothing and special musical guests, Paper Scissors.

Keep an ear out for news and details about next month’s first friday music show.

 

“Work” on the Fairbanks Music Scene

Most of you music fans in Fairbanks already know (or have at least formed an opinion) about what the music scene here is, and represents to you. It could be anything, in fact, it could (and i hope is) so many things that I dare not even attempt a list. But what is it like for the musicians, specifically the ones trying to create something new, trying to “make it”? To use a tired cliché, it really is only once in a blue moon (and i mean have you really ever seen one of those?) that a band appears in Fairbanks who is actually trying to create a new sound, or, one at least we haven’t heard before. There are plenty of bluegrass bands (i love bluegrass) and enough old timers getting drunk and playing Bon Jovi covers (and I mean MORE than enough) so when a band like “Work” (Eric Lonn, Caleb Kuntz, EJ Skinner & Chad File) comes along, it’s a welcome breath of fresh air. Click on the audio above to hear what one band really trying to be different thinks of our humble music scene.

Halloween is the Best “Holiday” to See a Rock Show

There are ten federally recognized holidays in 2009, and for you fact checkers out there, Halloween isn’t one of them, but in the music world it may as well be, it’s certainly held in high enough regard. Halloween and live music are like peaches and cream, pork-chops and applesauce, ketchup and toast…maybe not ketchup and toast (although i loved it as a kid). Think about it, the main ingredients for any good rock show include, wearing crazy clothes, make-up and hair, flagrant delinquency, and all the free booze the band can drink. Now look at Halloween; crazy clothes, make-up and hair are a given, there’s flagrant delinquency abound (eggs, toilet paper, even a little extortion for kicks), and all the free candy the kids can carry. Halloween gives us all a night rebel against some of our daily monotony and engage in a little civil disobedience while having a great time and usually only causing minimal damage, which is a soap box upon which, every great rock band has stood. Therefor, I hereby, hitherto and forever, claim Halloween as the greatest rock holiday of the year. To be fair I’ve compiled an extensively researched,* painstakingly documented,* and brilliantly comprehensive* list of our federally recognized (big whoop) holidays with details explaining why they can’t hold a candle to All-Hallows-Eve.

* not really

New Year’s Day (January 1st) – Your first rebuttal of my “greatest-rock-holiday” proposal might have been to point out New Year’s Eve as a definite contender for the belt, however, New Year’s Eve’s not a holiday. (right, neither is Halloween). New Year’s Eve is a fantastic night to go to a rock show (which should make it easy to copy and paste this post after Christmas and change Halloween to New Year’s) but for now there can only be one. As for New Year’s Day, if you were unfortunate enough to wait too long to find a babysitter and had to stay home watching Dick Clark’s clone (no way that guys still alive) count it down, then maybe you’ve got the energy and gumption to gather the family for one last holiday concert in the park. If, on the other hand, you did New Year’s Eve right, you’re not going anywhere until the drummer stops playing solos on your frontal lobe.

Martin Luther King Jr./Civil Rights Day (January 19) You think MLK took a day off to go see a rock concert? Come on! This is a day to get out a make a stand for what you believe in (if that happens to be a rock concert, rock on). But seriously, organize a march or protest, volunteer, get civic! Make the reverend doctor proud!

Washington’s Birthday/President’s Day (February 16) The primary consideration in disqualifying Washington’s Birthday was that the active observation elements of this holiday leave A LOT to be desired. Apart from a day off from school and work (though not for this college student) how does anyone observe this holiday, or is it a glorified teacher workshop day? Either way any day off from school is a good one. There’s evidence that George Washington had an inner-rocker, he fought against government tyranny and oppression, had interracial sexual partners and rumor has it, a pretty impressive “hemp” farm, but celebrating his birthday with anything more than a joint rolled in a copy of the constitution is probably overkill.

Memorial Day (May 25) An all around wholesome holiday, first barbeque of the year, some little league baseball, maybe a friendly game of badminton that gets a little out of hand after half the keg of Coors Light is drank. You wouldn’t want to spoil a day of good, clean all-American-fun by ditching your family and participating in some heathen communist ritual like a rock show.

Independence Day (July 4) This is the best contender for runner-up “Rock Show Holiday” by far. It is our nation’s most passionately celebrated holiday (Christmas being fueled by materialism, not passion, there’s a difference), brilliant decorations everywhere, huge gatherings, fireworks, summer in America at…Its…Finest…However, its overall feel doesn’t quite mesh with rock. If Halloween is Ozzy Osbourne then Independence Day is Bon Jovi. It’s rock and roll, but is it really?

Labor Day (September 7) We all deserve a break sometime. Stay home, eat fatty foods, drink and be merry. You earned it America!

Columbus Day (October 12) In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue. We all heard the rhyme about the great navigator who “discovered” our country. What we had to wait until high school to find out, was that he actually discovered the Bahama Archipelago (just north of Cuba), and while there(and on successive trips), murdered, raped, pillaged and took for slaves, the area’s indigenous people. What a jerk.

Veteran’s Day (November 11) This holiday falls on the day it does to commemorate the end of World War One, far and away one of the most costly and brutal wars in modern history. The triumph of peace over war (though triumphant has never seemed an appropriate word to describe any aspect of war) is a feat worth celebrating with every bone in your body. It is a goal of music and musicians from every corner of our world and a rock show is an excellent way to celebrate. Veteran’s day is simply missing (for good reason) many of a “Rock Show Holiday’s” key ingredients.

Thanksgiving (November 26) I just ate four plates of turducken with heaps of mashed potatoes and gravy, a mountain of cranberry sauce and stuffing and somehow even found room for two slices of pumpkin pie! Who wants to dance? BLLLEEECHHHHHHHHHH!

Christmas Day (December 25) Take it from a guy born on Christmas Eve, no one wants to go out to a rock show on Christmas. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone having a show, even on “The Night Before…”, much less Christmas Day itself. Christmas is a classic (material motivation and religious freedom debates aside) and should be enjoyed as such. Bathrobes, slippers, coffee, cinnamon rolls, stockings, free shit you probably don’t really deserve, but comes from someone you love and who loves you…it’s beautiful, just the way it is.

If that’s not indisputable proof that you need to pull out that toga, or ghost costume (same thing, really) and get your rock fix this weekend than you’re a zombie, in which case you really have no excuse what-so-ever. See you out there!

Shameless

For Fairbanks’ local music scene, plug into the Art Machine! 

Don’t let this happen to you (the audio & the picture to the left). There are a number of great resources in town other than “The Art Machine” you can use to hunt-down the shows you want to see. If it’s not here (though it should be)  head to Caleb Kuntz’ site, fbxshows.com. Even without the internet god music is easy to find.  Check out, Latitude 65, our local newspaper’s offshoot dedicated to all things artistic and entertaining in Fairbanks, or just keep an eye on the myriad bulletin boards on campus and at local businesses. See you in the front row!

Keep on Rockin’ in The “Freeze” World

So it’s finally starting to feel a little more like winter in Fairbanks. It’s been a strange October weather-wise, record high temperatures and beautiful sunny days abound. Of course, no one around here is complaining but I think everyone knows that we’re definitely on borrowed time. It’s possibly the first legitimate autumn our little arctic refuge has ever seen and its been most welcome, but with temperatures finally falling down to around where they should be, the days getting significantly shorter, and our first snowfall (albeit a meager dusting) we must now all come to terms with the inevitable. In just a few short weeks at most, bicyclists, Chacos, and warm breezes will be replaced by snow tires, bunny boots, and ice fog.

Despite (and often in spite of) the ridiculously cold, dark, thirty-degrees-below zero winter days, Fairbanksans (or Fairbanksians? Fairbanksters??), yeah, Fairbanks-ters, rarely allow their daily lives to be interrupted. Life rolls along pretty much as usual, however, certain adjustments must be made.

We musician-folk approach it no differently. There are still roofs to be raised and crowds to be wowed. In fact, as far as crowds go, bars and clubs often end up even busier during the winter, perhaps you can imagine why. The biggest factor, and this is true for everyone in Fairbanks, is finding the motivation to do, well, anything when it’s minus forty and the stars are out at five o’clock. All the more reason it’s vital to keep the creative musical juices flowing, write new songs, and keep playing shows. If you’re unaware of good music’s power to keep you warm you’ve either got a great down jacket, or you’re just cold. There’s nothing like rockin’ out (on stage and in the audience) to get the blood pumping and keep the heart happy, two ESSENTIAL tools for surviving a Fairbanks winter. Aside from the challenges of staying active and productive, there are myriad little details that bands have to pay extra attention to during the winter months. Electronics and sub-zero temperatures are not good friends, in fact the combo makes Notorious B.I.G and Tupac Shakur look like Bert and Ernie. It sucks having to break down all of your gear at two or three in the morning after a gig, but in the summer you can at least get away with leaving it in the van over night and dealing with it in the morning. In the winter, this is a VERY bad idea. Amps, guitars, keyboards, sound boards, lights, microphones and even cables will never work the same (if at all) again after a night outside in the cold. Drums too, are adversely affected by cold; heads fall way out of tune and taking a drum stick to a drum head, or cymbal before its had a chance to warm up is a great way to end up with a big hole or crack that can cost anywhere around 50 to upwards of 500 dollars to replace. Also anyone who has ever had the experience of grabbing a handful of drum-set hardware that’s been sitting in the back of a truck at 20 below without gloves, once their hand was pried loose and their skin grew back, I can assure you never did it again.

Winter in Fairbanks, Alaska is tough, but it also fosters a new and adventurous, if not exciting way of life for all of us. For those of you on the cusp of your first experience with it, first off let me wish you luck, and second let me impress upon you how much more tolerable it is if you refuse to let it trap you in your house for six months. Get up, get out to some shows and let the music (and the booze) inundate you with warmth and joy. Otherwise, you’ll never make it.

“Pick-Up-Band League 2″ [10/10/09 @ Ivory Jack's]

Last Saturday a group of 30 musicians tossed their names into a hat and from that were re-arranged into 6 new, never-before seen bands. It all went down out in beautiful Goldstream Valley at Ivory Jack’s’ Free Parking Jam. With only four short hours to produce 3-4 songs (originals and covers) and the coveted “Golden Uke” on the line, competition was intense, and the results were both hilarious and beautiful. Be sure to check out the photos too.

Craig Brookes of Turducken

Caleb Kuntz hoists "The Golden Ukulele"

The cool as Miles Davis, more animated than Disney (far less obnoxious), friendlier than Mr.-F@#%ing-Rogers Punks!

I’ve simply got to editorialize for a minute, but before I do there is an item even MORE pressing than that. It has come to my attention that, on the upcoming events page here at The Art Machine, I have failed to announce a fantastic show happening this Saturday, Oct. 17th. (It is posted now!) The show is The Casualties, The Scurvies, 58 Roadsigns and Eating for Two at The JP Jones Community Center. Ok, I still feel bad, but a little better.

Earlier tonight, I was having a conversation with my friend James about the tour his band, The Good Daze, recently returned back to Fairbanks from. He had (as most touring bands from this town do) a list of great stories about people they encountered, bars they played at, trials, tribulations and wild successes (be they musical or otherwise, “wink”.) The conversation, at one point, began to focus on the especially satisfying responses received from unusual sources and unexpected crowds along the road. It got me thinking about scenarios like that that I had experienced with my band on the road, as well as at home in Fairbanks. What immediately occurred to me was how receptive and excited and friendly those who could generically be described as punks, were to us, no matter where we played.

The Scurvies, a group that has been stirring up the rowdiest mosh pits and crazed anarchist tendencies like no other for many years in the frozen north, were my first introduction to punk music in Fairbanks. There’s no doubt that if you are a punk fan in the golden heart city, you’ve heard (and love) The Scurives. It was a good length of time before I had established myself in the music scene here and got the chance to not only meet but share the stage on a number of occasions with them. When I finally did meet and spend some time with them they revealed themselves as some of the coolest guys I’ve ever come across, anywhere, ever. I’m no bookie, but I would put smart money on those Vitamin-C-deficient rockers to be some of the nicest guys who ever smashed a drum set. But by no means are they the only example of a kind, expressive, honest, open-minded punk band (or fan) in Fairbanks and beyond. Paper Scissors has always received great feedback from the punk demographic. Some of our best received shows on tour were to “punk” crowds in Bremerton, WA.

Unfortunately, I’m sure I don’t know about a number of bands playing punk-rock in our town, but of the ones I do I have nothing but good things to say about their work ethic, enthusiasm, and above all love for the music and the fans. When it gets down to it that is what keeps a small community music scene alive, probably every music scene.

Ok then, before i give away too much of their secret identities I’ll simply remind you again, the show I’ve failed to mention until now, a show which without a doubt deserves more publicity, The Casualites, The Scurives, 58 Roadsigns and Eating for Two is happening THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH at The Jp Jones Community Center (2400 Rickert St.) Bring your helmet!