Rockin' into the night....
Friday night saw us playing our regular venue; the Dunn Bros on Grand Ave. Thanks to them for inviting us back once again. Many of us were out of coffee, so it was a welcome performance. I missed informing you of our fantastic holiday function in Wisconsin this past December. All I need to tell you is that it was lucrative. And that we need to expand our setlist to appeal to a wider demographic. A song about Brett Favre would have indeed brought the house down.
"Rock Band" weekend occurred the past two days for Jennie and I. After rescheduling twice, we were finally able to get together with friends and Rock! out. If you are unaware, Rock Band is a video game were you emulate the experience of creating a band and rising to stardom. It is an amalgamation of karaoke, drumming, and Guitar Hero. I found the virtual experience of moving a band foward much easier and hassle-free than in real life. "Mr. Pants and the Corps de Roys" were more popular in 5 hours than in the 3 years of Up 'til 2's existence. It is quite a proud feeling to be trying it in real life, however.
Anyone else notice that the recent popularity of music rhythm games such as Rock Band and Guitar Hero coincided with the decline of music in our schools? Extracurricular music groups (Jazz band,quartets, etc) are the first programs looked at to be cut; even entire music programs are axed in the elementary and middle school settings. I find it quite humorous that "video games" are now our surrogate music teachers. I know for a fact that many middle school children would not otherwise be exposed to something that rates your "musical" performance. The guitars have a long way to go in emulating the real instrument, but you learn actual rhythm patterns by playing the drums. For singing, you have a constant arrow that is your "pitch-finder", telling you if you are flat or sharp. Obviously these games are not a replacement for a music teacher and music program, but if they get someone interested enough to pick up a real instrument or join a choir, I would be absolutely thrilled. I really don't want our nation's children to grow up tone-deaf and rhythmically challenged. The Karaoke bars are bad enough already.
Dono