Artist Spotlight: The Blue Ribbon Bluegrass Band

1. You guys play a different brand of bluegrass, how would you describe and what other acts do you liken it to?
I guess we all come in with our own vision of what we consider the ultimate form of bluegrass. The band has a wide range of influences including Bill Monroe, Jimmy Martin, Flatt and Scruggs, Del McCoury, The Darlins, Chris Thile, Jerry Garcia, and Sierra Hull to round out the traditionalists, while more modern bands such as Milwaukee's .357 String Band and North Carolina's Chatham County Line offer some "new style" bluegrass insperation.

2. Who are the artists that inspired you to start playing? Is there any particular moment that sparked your fire?
"Because we are a newer bluegrass band I think we have all kind of had a moment in time that we can say sparked us to play bluegrass, and those moments are not that long ago (Matt) a parking lot jam at a dead show which kept me looking in amazement was my first exposure." Or their own moments when a Blue Ribbon song comes together and crowds go crazy, the sparks seem to keep flying.
3. What's the most memorable venue or event that you've played at?
Recently we played a show at The Spot, an independent art gallery in downtown Akron. "We had no idea what to expect, its an art gallery ya know, who knows what to expect man" (Adam) By the end of the first song there was artwork getting knocked off the walls and if people were not picking the art off the ground, it was their jaw they were picking up off the ground. "It was one of those moments where it all came together and everyone in the place was going nuts" (Jake) "We also had the chance to play a spur of the moment unannounced campground show over the summer, and to see people out there dancing around with their kids and just letting it all go was a moment for me, I think our form of bluegrass just tugs at peoples soul's and they just kind of forget about everything at the moment and do what feels natural" (Larry) As for Fiddlin Frank, "that first show at Nemeth's Lounge 2/24/2011 in Painesville was crazy, I did not know what to expect from the crowd, the roar from the fifty people in the bar that snowy night sounded like a freight train....crazy" "Playing Canton's Froth Fest on Jan 6th was kind of a moment for me, we showed up and had to make some on the spot changes as to where we were gonna play, we ended up playing on a tiny stage, running into one another and sharing a mic, it went amazingly well, and for me it showed that even though we can be set in our ways, we can break it down anywhere, because once the music takes over, whatever else is going on in life no longer exists...it becomes a blur man, and it is fun" (Adam)
4. For the gear geeks out there: What's your rig? Guitar? Amp? Pedals?
"When it comes to our current set up, it is an ever changing process" (Larry). Morgan Monroe and Andersen Mondolin's, Deering and Nechville Banjo's, Parkwood "hole and all" to Blueridge guitars, and whatever Frank can get his hands on to rip in half on the fiddle is just fine with him. And Larry, well he could make a cardboard box sound good, so the fact that he does not know the make and model of his bass comes as no surprise. For the guys, the rigs will forever change, but one thing is for sure....Fishman Amps are here to stay......
5. What advice do you have for the younger players that haven't had an opportunity to play out yet?
"Go slow, be precise" (Matt), "Play it like you mean it, from the heart" (Larry) "Jam with locals" (Jake) "Stick with it" (Frank) "Do what feels right, traditionalists will tell you we are wrong, but to me it feels right" (Adam). Being a newer band Blue Ribbon is still looking for advice, but now kind of understands that with the combination of the five current members, advice is something you have to take with a grain of salt sometimes. We don't feel like we need to impress anyone, because we are already doing enough of that on our own.

Artist Spotlight With Derek Pincombe of the band "Conceded"

I think Derek may have more guitars than most of us have t-shirts! I have had the distinct pleasure of repairing and setting up many of them.  He and his band-mates (including another regular of ours, Caleb Kirkpatrick) are some of a dying breed of youth chasing the rock and roll dream, and boy are they going at it.  They are always working hard whether it's practicing, recording, or promoting their upcoming shows.  Here's where you can check them out online:

concededrock.com

1. What guitar(s) do you play on stage?

I use my Jackson Dxmg with 81-85 emg's and floyd rose. I use this guitar because it feels  comfortable and it sounds really good and jackson has that name loyalty  in metal it just feels right.

2.What is in your amp/pedal set-up? 

My amp pedal setup is a Line 6 tube amp with behringer cabinets which i have to say line 6 is perfect for metal there so much you can choose from its endless. I also use a 

line 6 short board which is perfect it has a built in wah along with  other multiple effects.

3.What brand and gauge of strings do you play? 

I use ernie ball (Regular Slinky 46,36,26,17,13,10)strings i would trust my life with  these string best strings in the world i tried using DR strings but the  string broke on stage and after that incident i will never use another  string other than ernie ball strings.

4.How long have you been playing? 

I've been playing passionately for 4-5 years i got my first guitar in 2001 but i never really played over the past 4-5 years ive been playing almost non-stop.

5.Any advice for players that want to play out, but haven't tried/had  a chance to? 

My best advice is for your first show go with a battle of  the bands thats what conceded did we did a few of those till we felt  comfortable enough to play with bigger crowds. the trick is not to get  nervous, haha i know easier said then done but you have to focus and  have a good time. Also if your band is not ready to play live don't  push it you want to sound your best.

Artist Spotlight With Mike Gregory Of Local Band "Pilgrim"

What's your "go to" guitar when your on stage?
I primarily play an American Telecaster. I used to play a Les Paul, but after a brief stint with a country band I fell in love with the Tele. The Telecaster is a very basic, rugged, durable, guitar without a lot of moving parts. It's basically just a slab of wood with a neck bolted to it. The electronics and wiring are simple as well. Sonically the Telecaster seems to cut through all the madness on stage. I think Telecasters stay in tune better than most guitars also. Although the Stratocaster is a much more versatile guitar due to the pick-up scenario, the Telecaster can be used to play just about anything from jazz, blues, and rock to metal and country. (plus I just think that there is something very cool about telecasters!)

What's your rig like? What kind of pedals, effects, and amp are you using?
I never have been a big fan of using effects. Although I have went through stages where I have experimented with them. My rig is a Fender Telecaster played through a Fender Deluxe Reverb amplifier that has had some modifications done to it by Mike Perkheiser. I also have used a Roland JC-120 extensively over the years. As far as effects go I try to keep it simple. REALLY SIMPLE! I use a tuner of some sort and a Marshall Blues Breaker Distortion pedal. That's it. Every now and then I will buy a new pedal or effect and try to implement it in some form or fashion, but it never seems to last long. The older I get the more all those tricks and gadgets just seem silly to me. Plus the kind of music that turns me on doesn't require all that mumbo jumbo....

What kind of strings do you play? Why?
I have tried every kind of electric guitar string there is over the years. S.I.T., D'Addario's, Slinky, Ernie Ball, ect. ect. In my opinion DR makes the best electric guitar strings. PERIOD! They last longer without breaking. They stay in tune longer. They sound newer longer. Strings are very under rated. There have been times when I haven't been able to get my hands on DR's so I've had to use another brand and it was terrible! Such a big difference! I like to use 11 gauge strings because they sound better than those light gauge strings. I would play 12's or even 13's if I was strong enough too. Trust me I've tried. I'm not into tapping or playing supper fast so the added string girth doesn't bother me.

When did you start playing?
I didn't start playing the guitar until I was in my Twenties. I'm a late bloomer. I'm just grateful that I decided to start playing. Now it's such a big part of my life and so integral in my happiness. Never too late, Never too soon......

Any advice for the younger players?
My advise to anyone who is starting down there own guitar path would be to stay true to yourself. Don't follow any trend or fad. Do what makes YOU happy. If you want to play cover music and be in a Warrant tribute band then DO IT! If you want to write your own music then DO IT! If you want to hustle the bars and make a little cash DO IT! If you just want to hang out in your basement and record your own ideas and stuff THAT'S COOL TOO! There really is no Right or Wrong way to do this. Just remember that you are only going to get out of this what you put into it. If you aren't going to practice much then it will show. I have found that my happiness is directly proportional to my guitar playing. If I'm playing well and the band is doing good then I'm happy as a clam! When I don't practice and am not playing well I am miserable. In just a few short years anyone can learn to play well enough to be in a band or whatever. It's really all up to you......

What's on the Horizon for Pilgrim, and where can we check you guys out?
www.pilgrimband.com We are wrapping up our Second studio CD in Cleveland right now so we don't have to many shows booked. 2012 will begin to fill up shortly. On December 17th Pilgrim is playing at The Village Inn in Chippewa Lake. (my stomping grounds) And on December 23rd at The Winchester in Lakewood, Oh. Last year I think we had our busiest year and played Thirty Eight art playing?shows and I'm sure next year will get even busier.

Woodsy's Newest Addition

Teacher Spotlight
We have a new edition to the Woodsy's family, Jessie Rowe. Jessie will be learning the art of woodwind repair from Greg. Her extensive knowledge of the instrument has already given her a big head start, and we are very excited to see her progress as a repair technician. In edition to doing repairs Jessie will also be our newest woodwind teacher. So we're going to take some time to get to know a little more about her.

What high school and college did you attend?
I went St. Joseph Academy in Cleveland for high school, and I earned my degree in instrumental music education from Ashland University with clarinet as my primary instrument.

What ensembles did you participate in at school?
I played the clarinet in the symphony orchestra at St. Joseph's. I had a lot more performance opportunities once I got to college though. At Ashland I was in the marching band, concert band, woodwind ensemble, and clarinet ensemble.

What experience do you have with other woodwind instruments?
In addition to playing clarinet for 14 years, I have also been playing saxophone and flute for 10 years.

What's your favorite part about playing?
I really enjoy playing in a group. Concert band was my favorite, but I really enjoyed being a field commander in marching band.

What made you want to pursue teaching music as a career?
Believe it or not I was actually inspired by a bad experience that I had with a teacher. That made me realize how critical quality instruction is to the progress of the student, and inspired me to help guide students to a true understanding of their instrument through dedication and self-discipline.

Briefly, what is your teaching philosophy?
I believe that music lessons should be an empowering experience. Everyone is capable of learning, and I enjoy cultivating the natural talent that is present in all of us.

Ben's Home Made Acoustic Sound Treatment Panels

With plenty of space in our newly rennovated basement for group lessons and jam sessions we are ready to get rockin'. There's just one problem...It's too darn loud down there! Well, nessecity is the mother of invention and our resident carpenter Ben Miller was on the job. Keep in mind that sound proofing was not the main objective here. It would take way too much material and time to do that, and total sound proofing is nearly impossible to acheive. We just wanted to take some of the edge and echo out of the space to make it more bearable for those that are actually playing in the space. Ben's acoustic sound panels are made to do just that.

Each 2'X4' frame is packed tight with rock wool insulation to provide as much sound dampening as possible. The frames are then covered with cloth to hold in the insulation and make them a little more attractive. Strategically placing the panels around your studio or practice space can do wonders for the sound qualities of the room. Since panels are light enough to hang on the wall like pictures it's easy to use trial and error to find just the right spots.

You can stand them up on the floor in the corners of the room to use them as bass traps. Even if you're not recording but just looking to treat a room for listening to music they are quiet effective as well. Stan in the area where you'll be listening and have someone run a mirror along the wall and mark the spots where you can see the speakers in the reflection. Place sound panels in those locations to dampen the "first reflection" of the sound and your listening experience will greatly improve. For serious treatment use the same method on the ceiling as well.

Ben has already been busy making dozens of the frames for some of our teachers to use in their home studios, and we are making them available as a new product in the store for $40.00 each. You can even choose the color of fabric you want... it'll really tie the room together.

2011 Summer Programs At Woodsy's Music!

Below is a list of the summer programs that we will be offering at the store this year. If you are interested in any of the programs or just have questions please don't hesitate to give us a call at 330-725-8575.


Summer Program Descriptions

Rock School- Learn the art of Rock at Woodsy’s Rock School! Form your own band or let us help you put one together and we’ll pair you with one of our Rock School “coaches”. Bands will practice once a week for six weeks to prepare for their performance in a real rock and roll show! This program is recommended for students 13 years of age or older. Participants must have a rudimentary understanding of their instrument as the focus of this class will be on playing together as a group and not how to play their instrument. The program runs from the week of 7/4 through the week of 8/8. The performance will take place on the square in Medina on Saturday 8/13

Guitar 101- Guitar 101 is a basic introduction to the fundamentals of guitar in a group setting. Students will learn proper technique, basic chords, and some familiar songs. This is a great way to get introduced to the guitar without the cost or commitment of private lessons. The class will take place once a week for 6 consecutive weeks and last for 1 hour. This class is recommended for children ages 12 and older. The class will meet Wednesdays from 2:00PM-3:00PM from 6/22-7/27.

Songcraft Workshop- Many people think that songwriting is a talent that you are born with when, in reality, it is a craft that must be honed much like learning to play an instrument. The Songcraft Workshop is a six week course that culminates with a performance in a public venue for family and friends. The ability to make simple chord changes is the only skill requirement for the class. It’s creativity centered curriculum lends itself to all levels of skill.

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/December-Newsletter--Travel-Guitars-Ukulele-Class-20--off-select-repairs.html?soid=1103550698563&aid=kQ4QvIRXsnw

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/December-Newsletter--Travel-Guitars-Ukulele-Class-20--off-select-repairs.html?soid=1103550698563&aid=kQ4QvIRXsnw