Never/Again... again.

Benjamin Strange · #1 06-21-2008, 10:27 AM

It appears that I'm headed west to rejoin my old band, Never/Again. You should check them out - they're really good.

myspace.com/greatbetrayal

I haven't been playing music is really "me" for a good while now - it will be nice to rock out with my genitals safe and secure in my pants once again. I've got a lot of gearing up to do; I've sold off all my effects (damn you, I.R.S.!), and don't have any big cabs anymore (a Walkabout and two single 12s will NOT cut it with this band). I'm going to be back in mad scientist mode here; I will be playing bass, synth bass, keys, providing vocals, and possibly playing some sort of percussion, hopefully without making my head explode. I'm really looking forward to it.

The downside? This isn't a full time gig yet. I'm going to have to get a day job... Sure it sucks, but at this point I think I'd rather have a part time job than be forced to play music that's nothing more than a soundtrack for people to get drunk to in extremely unglamorous bars.

San Francisco seems like a good place for me to be right now. There's tons of places where I can perform my solo stuff (plus I'll be opening Never/Again shows), and I'm going to try to join and play in as many bands that will have me. Hopefully I can get to a point where I'm playing full time out there, but in the meantime, I may have to sell Slushies at the QuikieMart.

I should be headed out west within the month or so. I can't wait - wish me luck!

toytech · #2 06-22-2008, 09:52 AM

welcome back!
Chris

Visirale · #3 06-22-2008, 10:14 AM

Does me liking your solo projects make me a woman

?

Like this band too though. I hope when I finally get an original band going, I'm doing a "mad scientist" role switching back between bass and synth. I love them both!

Benjamin Strange · #4 06-22-2008, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

Does me liking your solo projects make me a woman

?

Huh?

fenderhutz · #5 06-22-2008, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

Does me liking your solo projects make me a woman

?

If you need an excuse, I guess that COULD work.

Humblerumble · #6 06-22-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

If you need an excuse, I guess that COULD work.

LOL

Matt Till · #7 06-22-2008, 04:52 PM

So, did you leave that Deltafunk band? Did you get sick of music that makes people feel happy?

Creating music that musicians rarely coincides with financial security, but this music sounds fairly "mainstream," it has a Goth Nu-Metal type of vibe, I could see it being your job at some point.

I've been in a cover band, I know about "a soundtrack for people to get drunk to in extremely unglamorous bars." There is money to be had, but after a while, it stops being worth it.

Benjamin Strange · #8 06-22-2008, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt Till

So, did you leave that Deltafunk band? Did you get sick of music that makes people feel happy?

Creating music that musicians rarely coincides with financial security, but this music sounds fairly "mainstream," it has a Goth Nu-Metal type of vibe, I could see it being your job at some point.

I've been in a cover band, I know about "a soundtrack for people to get drunk to in extremely unglamorous bars." There is money to be had, but after a while, it stops being worth it.

I'd much rather depress people, yes. I haven't left DeltaFUNK yet, and I'm sure I'll still accept fly dates for it (getting paid to go to the Virgin Islands kicks ass).

I would say that the stuff on N/A's myspace doesn't do the album justice. I've got the whole thing, and it's pretty amazing - lots of color, interesting textures, and lots for me to sink my teeth into. I'd say it's pretty far from being anywhere close to nu-metal; if anything, it makes me think of a blend of the best parts of NIN & A Perfect Circle. Good stuff.

And yes, I pretty much hate playing in bars already. Last night I played at a place that, when we launched into Led Zepplin's No Quarter, the crowd that was previously ignoring us went nuts. Afterwards I discovered that they thought we were playing a Tool song...

Visirale · #9 06-22-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benjamin Strange

Huh?

My comment stemmed from:

"I haven't been playing music is really "me" for a good while now - it will be nice to rock out with my genitals safe and secure in my pants once again."

Benjamin Strange · #10 06-22-2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Visirale

My comment stemmed from:

"I haven't been playing music is really "me" for a good while now - it will be nice to rock out with my genitals safe and secure in my pants once again."

Ah... I get it. Err... sort of.

**SoComSurfing** · #11 06-22-2008, 09:01 PM

Best of luck to you, Mr. Strange! Its odd thinking about you recreating the large rig, or some variation of it, in a time when so many people are going smaller. Hell, if I'd gone smaller (ie - lighter), I might still be able to play right now. Damn you and your Jedi mind tricks, making me buy those heavy Boogie cabs!

On the plus side, does this mean your Strangeberger (tm) basses have a secure future? Its just not Benjamin Strange without the Strangebergers!

steve21 · #12 06-22-2008, 09:46 PM

Sick ass, Strange. Your band sounds interesting.

Benjamin Strange · #13 06-23-2008, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoComSurfing

Best of luck to you, Mr. Strange! Its odd thinking about you recreating the large rig, or some variation of it, in a time when so many people are going smaller. Hell, if I'd gone smaller (ie - lighter), I might still be able to play right now. Damn you and your Jedi mind tricks, making me buy those heavy Boogie cabs!

On the plus side, does this mean your Strangeberger (tm) basses have a secure future? Its just not Benjamin Strange without the Strangebergers!

Actually, I parted out and sold one of the Strangebergers. It was my first one, and it had a bunch of problems since the day I got it. Once I got the new one I was able to dissect the first and discover all the problems - the bridge was placed incorrectly, which then required the tuning posts to be turned too much to get it in tune, which then ruined some of the screws in the tuning posts, etc., etc., etc. So I took all the best parts and put them into one Strangeberger, and sold the other one. I'm pretty happy with it - it's my "Blackie".

**SoComSurfing** · #14 06-23-2008, 07:42 AM

I was thinking you'd already moved one of them. You're still playing the fretless, right?

Benjamin Strange · #15 06-23-2008, 08:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoComSurfing

I was thinking you'd already moved one of them. You're still playing the fretless, right?

Yup.