Up & Coming Jazz Blues Group's Drummer Talks Music Industry
Steven Patrick Roybal
Drummer MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND!
Up & Coming Jazz Blues MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND Drummer Talks Music! Steven Patrick Roybal Drummer for Mark Christopher Band What made you get into music seriously?
"Well, in elementary school I was offered to learn to play the clarinet, so I became part of that group. I won my first music scholarship when I was 10 years old with Capitol Records. I still played clarinet all through school, but I also started playing the drums when I turned 12. At that time it was the Beatles and the whole rock thing came to town, not many spots in rock for clarinet players. At that time I loved the music of Louie Bellson, Gene Krupa and Buddy Rich, they turned drums into a solo instrument, and it was exiciting when I saw the drummers taking on solos. It was exciting to me to see, feel and experience that."
Steve Roybal has been inlfuenced by classical music, but why? "I was a clarinet player player and that's what we played. I playing in the Los Angeles Junior Philharmonic Orchestra. Because of my exposure to that, it supplied me with a foundation in music. I'm a musician, I just don't bang on the drums, I read music, that 's where my classical music training comes in handy. I can relate to other musicians because of my classical music background," says the experienced and seasoned musician.
"Being a musician, not just a drummer, I have an understanding of music, to be part of something like a 100 peice orchastra, it's very gratifiying to be part of something I love and am passionate about," he says honestly and with energy. But most classically trained musicians can be compared with learning to speak and write Latin. which is the root of all a languages. As a metaphor for classical music being the "Latin language" of music; it's the universal language, you can go anywhere in the world and it is the same, except maybe the Orient or Arabic, but as Steven Roybal stated, "it is very basic. I can go anywhere in the World and fit right in became I read music and I have a great foundation." Keep in mind that with music even in the Orient and Arabian countries it's whole and beautiful and understandable.
What drew you to music?
"I was involved in sports when I was a kid but I wanted to express myself better so I thought music would be the thing, and I was always the quiet one in any group or social situation, so I let my music do my speaking. I learned classical music and played the clarinet in that large musical setting which allowed me to have a greater understanding of how music works. There is nothing as gratifying than doing my music in front of people. First of all, I am an entertaining musician and secondly, it is my job to entertain on stage," he says.
Steve further observes, "When you work with the big music acts and play venues at places like, The Music Center, The Greek Theater, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and The Hollywood Bowl, but doing it when I was ten years old, I became totally immersed and involved in it. I knew what I wanted to do at a very young age. Nothing moves me like music, music makes us cry and laugh, But the weird thing is that my parents never played music. My dad had an extensive record album collection, so in a way my parents influenced me by making the music available to me in the albums. I was into the music scene before the Beatles hit America. I was into R&B, like James Brown, all the Latin and jazz music going around during that era."
What was or is your favorite instrument, even if you can't play it, and why, and how could it be used with Mark Christopher Band?
"My favorite instrument is the human voice, Because that was probably the very first forms of music, even before the drums!"
As for Mark Christopher Band where Steve RoyBal plays drums/percussions: We are an instrumental band. There is plenty of room for the right vocalist, and I can sing backgrounds. Even though I cannot sing great, the voice is my favoritie if I had my choice of what I'd like to have.
Are you happy with the name Marck Christopher Band & Why? Did you have other names in mind for band?
The experienced drummer says that the name is a means of identifying. "I'm happy with Mark Christopher Band. We are a good band. We had to decide on a name, that's the leader's name," he admits. There's definitely no ego there, and that's a plus for Mark Christopher Band because this drummer is splitting his time and has to be focused on many projects. This writer feels Steve Roybal drummer extraordinary, has a good grip on his sticks for sure!
Any other bands you have been in?
"I've been doing this all my life almost, so I lost track. Here's a few big names: The Midnighters, The Coasters, The Drifters (drummer), The Intruders (oldie but goody band), Junior Walker and The All Stars, Ike Cole (brother of Nat King Cole) Natalie Cole's uncle, I played with Ike Cole when he had a little Jazz trio in 1972. It was my first experience being in a working Jazz band and at that time I was starting to be the drummer for a lot of 'well knowns'.
Cannibal and the Headhunters. Land of 1,000 Dances. I was with them for 2 years or so, then I moved on. Once I got a great deal working for "Don Sugarcane Harris", electric blues, Don and Dewey 'That's Why I'm Living Up To You'. He and his brother wrote that. Surgercane toured with Zappa. Papa John Creach. Freddie Fender. Kid Frost, and the Latin Alliance. I was the drummer for all those bands at one time or another."
"Oh, and a really popular band called WAR where I was their drummer/percussionist in 1994 when they toured and headlined, but there was a lot of other bands I was in as well. I remember playing drums for a band called Redbone.and even REDBONE came out with 'Come On And Get Your Love.'
I was also with 'The Friends Of Distinction that was discovered by Jim Brown the football player, and I got to work with the them. and as well as the legendary Blues player Lil Milton, who wrote "The Blues Is Alright!' he wrote that. That's when I got to see Europe because I went on tour with him to Europe and Switzerland, then landed in Vegas. We had gigs all up and down The Mississippi River and the Chitland Circuit too. Also I went on tour to Canada and Japan with a band called Hiroko (before the big earthuake) She can be compared to the Japanese version of Madonna," rattles off Roybal!
How did you up with Mark Christopher Band, and how long have you been in?
"I met Mark Christopher Band when I was playing drums for Redbone. And Mark Christopher Band were big fans of our group, so they started inviting me to parties and jam sessions and that is how we all became buddies," he said easily.
Right Steve is doing music projects as a drummer with other working bands doing some recording. And how does Scott work with so many bands? In his explanation: "Two are strictly recording contracts, and the other two are Mark Christopher and I gig with another live band!" So how does he balance it all? The drummer said that, "so far it has not been a problem, it's been good."
As far as support, where does he get it? Well, mostly from my family, the whole family, even my kids are a big support to me. My children are entertainers as well. My oldest boy is an inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He contributed to the whole Hip hop movement thing. The rapping, the dancing, the songs, the whole thing. He's in the Smithsonian Institute as well for the same reason: For his contribution to Urban Culture. His name is Zulu Gremlin, Google it."
What is your favorite aspect of a gig?
The drummer took no hesitation in saying, "When that curtain opens, and when you know you are and can do a great performance and people appreciate you! But the money is fine too, that's my favorite aspect of it too."
Is the drug for you, the music, the band group thing, or the final frontier of the record deal, or even the money end? What is it for you?
Originally it was the music, but ya' gotta' pay the bills you know. So the money figures in. Things are not the same in the old days when the club owners would actually pay for the band for the entertainment, but now everything is showcasing, and we have to put out money. You don't know how hard this is for me, I've been a professional musician for most of my life and I always got paid very well in the past, And now the way the music industry has changed, it's hard to make a living as a professional musician because they want you to work for free! No pay. I don't think it's the bands job to bring the crowd in. I'm a musician, not a promoter.
I remember how it used to be you would go to the music club and have a good time and hear some good bands. So now that most bands on the norm play for free, it is ruining it for the rest of the groups like me out there, because those mediocre bands are willing to work for free, the club owners are wiling to pay them nothing. And that means we don't usually get paid either. In other words, it's set a low ceiling on the issue of making money in the clubs playing in a working band. It's simple, if the club owners have 5 free bands, that fills up two nights of free music, and more revenue for the club, so the only way Mark Christopher Band seems to sometimes have to play is to basically play for free. "That's why it is so hard for drummers like Scott. As he puts it, "It's like taking a couple of steps backwards for me because I've already paid my dues."
What do you family think of your music career choice and do they figure in to it?
He got thoughtful for a moment then answered, "They've been behind me since the very beginning . Before my kids were even of school age, I took them all on tour with me. My kids learned geography from reading road maps, (laughs)! They know the name of every capital in the USA because I was there doing gigs and on the road with them. We traveled by bus, car, airplane, train, you name it, all modes!"
IN CLOSING the Drummer Knows the Future and IS READY TO ACCEPT IT!
Steven Roybal, drummer/Percussionist is an an enertainer and a first rate musician. "But I see myself as an educator down the road," he says of his future. "I can see myself one day being a music teacher," the expert drummer confided. "Or maybe start a retirement home for musicians and artists. I can see myself getting involved in something like that," says the able musician. "That's the future I see for myself," but for now he forges ahead and plays the music circuit, still loving what he does. The future looks bright. So check out Mark Christopher Band, and keep your eyes peeled on Steve Roybel the drummer, he's bound to be standing at the pinnacle of his career in the blink of an eye. Check out your local listings on the Internet, just Google MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND or Steve Roybal and see.
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
DYNAMIC SOULFUL ABSTRACT BLUES GROUP MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT "WHAT'S IN A NAME"!
DYNAMIC SOULFUL ABSTRACT BLUES GROUP MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND DOESN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT "WHAT'S IN A NAME" Mark Christopher Band Stands On Not Just Name Alone Dynamic soulful abstract group Mark Christopher Band went through the the same as many other bands do, actually on the prowl for a name that was available for their existing and growing fan base. They needed something dynamic, yet showed their band as soulful and in touch with the music. In other words, Mark Christopher band wanted to play abstract, but not distract in trying to be a step apart from the other groups playing the circuit. After listening to Mark Christopher Band, I'm sure many of their rising fans tried to pick a name that they could have easily settled on, even securing an entertainment attorney to file it with the Office of Trademark, or Library of Congress office.
The Super Internet Highway has surely become a battle ground for music groups over picking the exact same name or moniker. Hey, it happens. So it's much easier to keep a band name of a very dynamic nature like Mark Christopher Band, and keep it real. I mean, how many abstract dynamic soulful jazz blues groups are going to name themselves MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND? The versatile group always says that the name is their representative and is pretty much everything they've strived and slaved for. In the end, it's not the name, it's the music that becomes important. Likely when you hear or download a song from an unknown group you may catch halfway through on your way to the supermarket, you're more apt to remember the tune rather than the name of the band.
Mark Christopher band doesn't want to put out the monies to secure a top-notch trademark attorney, but if trouble arises, they are willing to do anything to keep their name safe. The band is already a "stand-alone" and hold their own in the music arena called Los Angeles CA! The bottom line here is that if there is another abstract, soulful, dynamic musical group out there named MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, I guess they'll just have to co-exist.
But even more famous music acts come to mind when a name change is in order. A good example was when Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones started a new group. The music was fantastic and sounded like a cool running stream, flowing out nicely, but the real struggle here was picking a name for the new band. I think they ended up calling themselves "Them Crooked Vultures" or something like that, but the name had no connection to John Paul Jones, it was again, the music that counted more than a name, so why didn't he just do as Mark Christopher band had done, and name his new group The John Paul Jones Project?
It's not easy to find a name for a new band, or change a name of that band. Just Google your prospective music group names and you'll find someone in the far reaches of Africa has taken the very same name. Odds are that Mark Christopher Band is not taken except by Mark Christopher himself. It's amazing how every name is taken! Go to MySpace, Facebook, ReverbNation and other music spots and you'll probably see a chosen new band name you might have had in mind for your music project or group, and that's from Abba to ZZ Top!
Actually, if you are as dynamic and soulful like Mark Christopher Band, then you will have no need for the unavailable supplies of catchy musical group names, and that goes for 2-word band names as well. So a lot of new groups are starting to take on funny nonsensical marque type names. Again, it's the music, not the name of the band that will be the ultimate crowd pleaser who will walk away humming the tune rather than the name of the band.
Did you know that The Beatles were once The Silver Beetles? It was in honor of their music hero Buddy Holly and even Jerry Garcia found his group's name in a dictionary, so they said. And Jerry didn't call his group "Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead"!
The band agreed that the music was very open and fresh, and music veterans would certainly agree that Mark Christopher Band was already gaining momentum. They were starting to get known as The Mark Christopher Band. They know that changing a name can be disastrous. A great example would be a very unknown band who were invited In 1992, by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana to come on a worldwide tour with his band. The band was called Captain America and that is how the concert promoters set it up and printed it before the tour started. At that time, Cobain was at the height of his career, so Captain America was on their way to being signed by Atlantic Records, except one problem! Marvel Comics who owned the name "Captain America" sent a legal letter telling the band to "...cease-and-desist with the name", but the band had already released it's first record in the States so they quickly changed their band name.
That band's career was clobbered within 24 hours of the group name change. According to an A & R man, "Music listeners are given the chance to like a band 2 times, but most of the time those fans will not feel the same about the band or its music," he says. "Fans become confused and are not quite as sure as the first time, it's human nature," thus Mark Christopher Band keeps the group name abstract, interesting and even soulful as they are.
Mark Christopher band doesn't want to put out the monies to secure a top-notch trademark attorney, but if trouble arises, they are willing to do anything to keep their name safe. The band is already a "stand-alone" and hold their own in the music arena called Los Angeles CA! The bottom line here is that if there is another abstract, soulful, dynamic musical group out there named MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, I guess they'll just have to co-exist.
But even more famous music acts come to mind when a name change is in order. A good example was when Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones started a new group. The music was fantastic and sounded like a cool running stream, flowing out nicely, but the real struggle here was picking a name for the new band. I think they ended up calling themselves "Them Crooked Vultures" or something like that, but the name had no connection to John Paul Jones, it was again, the music that counted more than a name, so why didn't he just do as Mark Christopher band had done, and name his new group The John Paul Jones Project?
It's not easy to find a name for a new band, or change a name of that band. Just Google your prospective music group names and you'll find someone in the far reaches of Africa has taken the very same name. Odds are that Mark Christopher Band is not taken except by Mark Christopher himself. It's amazing how every name is taken! Go to MySpace, Facebook, ReverbNation and other music spots and you'll probably see a chosen new band name you might have had in mind for your music project or group, and that's from Aerosmith to ZZ Top!
Actually, if you are as dynamic and soulful like Mark Christopher Band, then you will have no need for the unavailable supplies of catchy musical group names, and that goes for 2-word band names as well. So a lot of new groups are starting to take on funny nonsensical marque type names. Again, it's the music, not the name of the band that will be the ultimate crowd pleaser who will walk away humming the tune rather than the name of the band.
Did you know that The Beatles were once The Silver Beetles? It was in honor of their music hero Buddy Holly (& The Crickets)! Even Jerry Garcia found his group's name in a dictionary, so they said. And Jerry didn't call his group "Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead"!
It's about getting an identity going on due to the digital age coming of age. A band must now identify their act by the name first, so Mark Christopher Band seems to not have that problem and even the name of the group gives them a certain abstract soulful dynamic aura.
And after creating online profiles, joining all the social networks and making a MySpace page, the music will prevail. Now listeners are being reached worldwide. I don't think Mark Christopher Band will have a problem with their neutral name, it works for them, and is getting them gigs and other music projects. There is a great buzz going on with the band in general, and they are playing out a lot more than ever. Watch for them. You may hear or see them on Itunes really soon, but they will not rename their band "I Tunes" so relax and enjoy!
The Super Internet Highway has surely become a battle ground for music groups over picking the exact same name or moniker. Hey, it happens. So it's much easier to keep a band name of a very dynamic nature like Mark Christopher Band, and keep it real. I mean, how many abstract dynamic soulful jazz blues groups are going to name themselves MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND? The versatile group always says that the name is their representative and is pretty much everything they've strived and slaved for. In the end, it's not the name, it's the music that becomes important. Likely when you hear or download a song from an unknown group you may catch halfway through on your way to the supermarket, you're more apt to remember the tune rather than the name of the band.
Mark Christopher band doesn't want to put out the monies to secure a top-notch trademark attorney, but if trouble arises, they are willing to do anything to keep their name safe. The band is already a "stand-alone" and hold their own in the music arena called Los Angeles CA! The bottom line here is that if there is another abstract, soulful, dynamic musical group out there named MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, I guess they'll just have to co-exist.
But even more famous music acts come to mind when a name change is in order. A good example was when Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones started a new group. The music was fantastic and sounded like a cool running stream, flowing out nicely, but the real struggle here was picking a name for the new band. I think they ended up calling themselves "Them Crooked Vultures" or something like that, but the name had no connection to John Paul Jones, it was again, the music that counted more than a name, so why didn't he just do as Mark Christopher band had done, and name his new group The John Paul Jones Project?
It's not easy to find a name for a new band, or change a name of that band. Just Google your prospective music group names and you'll find someone in the far reaches of Africa has taken the very same name. Odds are that Mark Christopher Band is not taken except by Mark Christopher himself. It's amazing how every name is taken! Go to MySpace, Facebook, ReverbNation and other music spots and you'll probably see a chosen new band name you might have had in mind for your music project or group, and that's from Abba to ZZ Top!
Actually, if you are as dynamic and soulful like Mark Christopher Band, then you will have no need for the unavailable supplies of catchy musical group names, and that goes for 2-word band names as well. So a lot of new groups are starting to take on funny nonsensical marque type names. Again, it's the music, not the name of the band that will be the ultimate crowd pleaser who will walk away humming the tune rather than the name of the band.
Did you know that The Beatles were once The Silver Beetles? It was in honor of their music hero Buddy Holly and even Jerry Garcia found his group's name in a dictionary, so they said. And Jerry didn't call his group "Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead"!
The band agreed that the music was very open and fresh, and music veterans would certainly agree that Mark Christopher Band was already gaining momentum. They were starting to get known as The Mark Christopher Band. They know that changing a name can be disastrous. A great example would be a very unknown band who were invited In 1992, by Kurt Cobain of Nirvana to come on a worldwide tour with his band. The band was called Captain America and that is how the concert promoters set it up and printed it before the tour started. At that time, Cobain was at the height of his career, so Captain America was on their way to being signed by Atlantic Records, except one problem! Marvel Comics who owned the name "Captain America" sent a legal letter telling the band to "...cease-and-desist with the name", but the band had already released it's first record in the States so they quickly changed their band name.
That band's career was clobbered within 24 hours of the group name change. According to an A & R man, "Music listeners are given the chance to like a band 2 times, but most of the time those fans will not feel the same about the band or its music," he says. "Fans become confused and are not quite as sure as the first time, it's human nature," thus Mark Christopher Band keeps the group name abstract, interesting and even soulful as they are.
Mark Christopher band doesn't want to put out the monies to secure a top-notch trademark attorney, but if trouble arises, they are willing to do anything to keep their name safe. The band is already a "stand-alone" and hold their own in the music arena called Los Angeles CA! The bottom line here is that if there is another abstract, soulful, dynamic musical group out there named MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, I guess they'll just have to co-exist.
But even more famous music acts come to mind when a name change is in order. A good example was when Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones started a new group. The music was fantastic and sounded like a cool running stream, flowing out nicely, but the real struggle here was picking a name for the new band. I think they ended up calling themselves "Them Crooked Vultures" or something like that, but the name had no connection to John Paul Jones, it was again, the music that counted more than a name, so why didn't he just do as Mark Christopher band had done, and name his new group The John Paul Jones Project?
It's not easy to find a name for a new band, or change a name of that band. Just Google your prospective music group names and you'll find someone in the far reaches of Africa has taken the very same name. Odds are that Mark Christopher Band is not taken except by Mark Christopher himself. It's amazing how every name is taken! Go to MySpace, Facebook, ReverbNation and other music spots and you'll probably see a chosen new band name you might have had in mind for your music project or group, and that's from Aerosmith to ZZ Top!
Actually, if you are as dynamic and soulful like Mark Christopher Band, then you will have no need for the unavailable supplies of catchy musical group names, and that goes for 2-word band names as well. So a lot of new groups are starting to take on funny nonsensical marque type names. Again, it's the music, not the name of the band that will be the ultimate crowd pleaser who will walk away humming the tune rather than the name of the band.
Did you know that The Beatles were once The Silver Beetles? It was in honor of their music hero Buddy Holly (& The Crickets)! Even Jerry Garcia found his group's name in a dictionary, so they said. And Jerry didn't call his group "Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead"!
It's about getting an identity going on due to the digital age coming of age. A band must now identify their act by the name first, so Mark Christopher Band seems to not have that problem and even the name of the group gives them a certain abstract soulful dynamic aura.
And after creating online profiles, joining all the social networks and making a MySpace page, the music will prevail. Now listeners are being reached worldwide. I don't think Mark Christopher Band will have a problem with their neutral name, it works for them, and is getting them gigs and other music projects. There is a great buzz going on with the band in general, and they are playing out a lot more than ever. Watch for them. You may hear or see them on Itunes really soon, but they will not rename their band "I Tunes" so relax and enjoy!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
EDGY ROCK JAZZ BAND BASS PLAYER PLAYS HONEST ON MUSIC SCENE ONLINE AND IN CLUBS!
EDGY ROCK JAZZ BASS PLAYER SUGGESTS INTERNET PRESENCE BUT STILL PLAY THE CLUBS In these times of the explosion of the Internet there is plenty of room for anyone to make it in the music business, play the clubs, cut a record, and even have some fun. But what makes musicians want to do it? According to Phillip Friedland, bass player for the edgy rock jazz band MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, "I can't get the music out of my soul," says Friedland, who also works a full time 9 - 5 job. "I need an outlet. It's like eating, drinking, exercising, sleeping and breathing. I need to express my self creatively," he adds.
Mark Christopher Band is a group with fine equal mixture of blues, rock and jazz. They are a guitar driven machine, or as Phillip says, "A different kind of blues with a kick!: To put a label on it, it's a modern type of blues with high energy, not normal blues, more like high end blues. The band is guitars, bass, drums and keyboard, along with lead and background vocals. They've been playing out together for some time now.
As far as losing that creative flair because of the vast technological advances, Friedland seems to think that it's become even more important to keep the creative juices flowing than ever before because of the Net. "I see it as an avenue to get our music out there in its creative form. I know that 10 years ago, that wasn't possible."
Musicians like Phillip Friedland were feeling stifled and at the mercy of the record companies, distribution houses or managers in those days. Many bands were stuck, especially if there is talent and the label decided not to to distribute the music, "then you're basically shelved," said Friedland. Musicians and bands like Friedland are quickly finding out that online his band has more control over what the public hears or sees. That's why a lot more musicians are using online means for the worldwide audience to have a listen to the music in a more public arena.
"Our band has many fans we've picked up across the country and abroad. These people are listening to our music, people that probably would not have had a chance to hear us 10 years ago," marveled Phillip, whose band plays many gigs a month, but has a small online following according to ReverbNation, an online listening site becoming more popular for serious musicians and groups.
Online you get the songs out sort of in a quick fix and everyone you want to hear it, hears it. The live club is not dead yet, it's still a great scene, but more independent promoters are cashing in on these clubs and just 'renting' them'. "You'd be surprised how many of these clubs are for rent now," said the bass player. "It's sort of a racket with the clubs, they are up for rent to the band promoters, then those promoters find bands to sell tickets to their own shows, and then the band play."
According to this writer's research, promoters ask each band for around $500 a pop. If they are doing it, than you can rest assured these shady companies are making something for themselves. As Friendland explains, "...Clubs have become increasingly difficult to play in comfortably because there's more money involved and that money overshadows the creativity and of playing in a live band. Owners of clubs have high operating costs, we all know that, so if you as a band can't deraw in a crowd, then the club loses money."
Now clubs more than not are hiring these independent promoters. What's really sad, according to music band sources is that if you are in a crappy band and have the cash to pay the promoters, it doesn't matter to the club or the promoters if your music stinks or you are a bunch of 'posers' or Bozos, because if you can bring in say 50 people, it's doesn't matter what you sound like.
On the other hand, if you have a sound like MARK CHISTOPHER BAND, who Phillip Friedland plays bass for, YOU WILL DRAW A CROWD! "Everyone that hears our band is usually blown away. Even fellow musicians," says the bassist. "We are skilled musicians, that's why! We go out and play, we are very aware of the dynamics," he adds pridefully.
Phil has seen the young bands play a few songs and then he notices they get louder and louder until... "my ears go deaf!" He suggest doing what his band does for every show live or otherwise. "We start out low key, then little by little we'll begin to peak and valley, then a cresendo, and finally winding down our music, so as not to be so in your face." He asks us this, if at all: "If you know how to lower down, than the loud becomes more meaningful!"
After careful consideration and listening to the musical group Phillip plays bass in, MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, this writer feels that the band can excel online by having more and more listeners hear them on a more worldwide basis. Anyone can see and hear that this band is skilled in their musicianship. It's a 4 piece band, which adds balance, not too little, not too much, just right. Phil said, "We are better than any backyard band they've ever seen," jokes the bass player.
"But seriously, we have played so many shows and parties and jams where I've seen so many other brands, and all they seem to do is brag," that did not surprise this writer when Phil told me his band goes on, but doesn't talk! "We get up there and all of a sudden everything on the club floor stops and all the bands and musicians come up and listen to us. They seem to me to be speechless. It's almost comical, because our band can predict it, it happens at almost every show. They brag, we don't brag, and you don't have to brag if your good," he says honestly.
If they were to give any advice to those starting out it would be this: Just keep going, keep practicing together, keep playing and refine your skills," explains the bass musician. "Remember that you have to spend a little money to make a whole lotta' money with the band. I see too many bands spending money foolishly on drugs and beer, but I say to spend it on your band, be constuctive! Do the online thing like getting a website or Internet Publicist, that's the way to go. But you'll have to invest a small amount of money to achieve that.
For the future and in closing, you have to start to appear in different clubs, start to branch out with the music. Be heard by as many people, managers, agents, actors, other famous musicians l ike John Mayer. Mark is great, but Mark isn't known yet, but he will be, you can count on that.
And don't forget the hours of recording in the studio, tours, getting the online thing happening and of course the live shows at the clubs. But Phillip sees himself and his band mates making it good and winning a grammy one day, maybe garnering the respect of musicians and the music industry and the people who have already taken their spot in the music biz world.
If you had to classify Mark Christopher Band, think of a 21st Century band a' la Jeff Beck, but the band does have a core message for their fans and future fans:
May the blues rock with you! That means the music that you listen to has a feel, not mechanical. It has to have heart and soul, not getting up on the stage and playing a 3 chord menagerie with the finger on the 'reverb' button. You want to keep it real! Good Music, especially blues and jazz, is filled with notes and licks for the soul!
What Bands Play Fusion Rock Music Mark Christopher Band Tells All!
TOP ONLINE PROGRESSIVE ROCK GROUP Mark Christopher Band Online Group Pays Their Dues, What is MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND. According to Mark, "We're Fusion progressive Rock. My band mates are ALL quality musicans," he says. "Because I can tell from my own experience playing with other musicians. I think we are able to feed off each other's energies and creativity, It makes it easier to do arrangements and write," says Christopher of his Jazz progressive rock blues group. "Because we pick up the slack, and they are what I would call a band that I can work with, which is hard to find in this town. Let's face it," says Mark. "We gel, it's like a spiritual fusion rock connection."
From this writer's view, I believe there are so many bands out there that fake it. Bands that just pretend, go through the motions. This is not the case of MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND. According to Mark Christopher, "We really play, we listen to each other, but lots of other bands just jam, they don't listen, and most of them are in their own little world, and as a band, we want to be worldwide, not in our own little world!"
Paying their dues online is a progressive rock band making a big online splash, the group Mark Christopher Band talks paying the piper and where they find the energy and power to play and keep the fusion music going. I started with the name of the band. Why name a band by your own first and middle name like Dave Matthews band? There are more reasons than ego or originality, right? Mark Christopher himself told us that "We named it Mark Christopher Band because I wrote most of the songs and at the time I guess we would call it a 'snap decision'." He explains easily, "I guess we didn't really think about it. I was a solo act at the time, I didn't know what else to call the group," Christopher added, scratching his head. "It's hard to think up a name for the the band, so I just went with MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND and it had nothing to do with my ego, there's not a real reason other than we all agreed it just fit," he said honestly.
When asked the biggest influence in Mark's life decision to spark him to pursue his dream of music, I was not surprised to find out the soft-spoken musician's influence in music was his father. "My dad was a professional jazz pianist, and I grew up listening to him do his thing," says Mark. "He showed me the first chord on guitar. He wanted me to enjoy music as much as he did growing up, and he grew up around it!"
What puts Mark Christopher Band in the best mood to play their fusion progression jazz music? The answer was simple: "To know I've been doing this for so long that it's a part of me, and I need to do it, but it's the creative juices the band brings out, it's a feeling of elation and a natural high for us when we play our music!"
As for seeing the future of Mark Christopher Band making an impact in some way online with their unique brand of fusion rock jazz and blues, it can be done as easy as Justin Bieber or even Lady Gaga, especially with a blogger and the viral video worldwide open for a worldwide buzz on an up and coming online top fusion blues band using YOUTUBE to do it. Mark Christopher said, I can see it. I can see it in media venues online, like Justin Bieber did, but we are not Justin Bieber, we are Mark Christopher band..."
Exposure to various viral video sites seems to be the key, and Mark Christopher Band wholly approves of using the Internet medium to make an even bigger impact one day, perhaps even bigger than someone like Bieber who may even be a flash in the pan, who would guess? Besides going viral, which most of the articles on Mark Christopher band have ended up, the word gets out to other countries that wouldn't normally have access to their music, now they do!
What about all the other Rock Fusion bands out there? All the other Edgy blues bands? Are they like Mark Christopher Band, what sets these guys apart. According to Mark Christopher, "It depends on a lot of things, but pa"It's like we feel what they want to hear, and play according to what they want, and then after a while you get a flowing energy, and they love us, and we love them, it meshes!"
What makes a good band, how do you know? "Play attention to guitarist! I always do that to learn what they are donig, see what they do, How they approach it," he reveals. "Honestly, most groups like my band, who do same music, I would rate them about a "7" on a scale from 1 - 10." That's pretty nice of Mark Christopher, did someone pay him off, NOT! Why? He answers and continues: "Everyone musician or band is different and has different styles and certain styles appeal to me," he says. "Some bands do not appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying other bands like our group are better or worse than the others! I am just going on my own likes and dislikes of Jazz o rock or blues."
After hearing a few tracks from their blog http://Mark-Christopher-Band.blogspot.com, I wondered what set them apart from the others? What can Mark Christopher Band say to make their audience really care about them and be followers? Mark answered, "The band and the guys I play with are all from the same city of Los Angeles, CA. We all grew up; listining to same music, influences are similar and we have the magic that it takes to make a really great band," says Mark. "Playing with this group is amazing for me and it spreads to the audience, who in turn, love to hear us and see our energy."
This writer is not a huge jazz music fusion rock fan, but Mark Christopher Band caught my ear, and they are different because they are all playing on the same vibe, I see the group working as I work on another blog while listening to their blog on another browser, they are fantastic.
Mark Christopher further explains, "Our audiences really care about us as a band because we feed off of them, and they, in turn, feed off of us, so it's like a love affair without sexual contact," he explains easily.
Mark Christopher Band is a group with fine equal mixture of blues, rock and jazz. They are a guitar driven machine, or as Phillip says, "A different kind of blues with a kick!: To put a label on it, it's a modern type of blues with high energy, not normal blues, more like high end blues. The band is guitars, bass, drums and keyboard, along with lead and background vocals. They've been playing out together for some time now.
As far as losing that creative flair because of the vast technological advances, Friedland seems to think that it's become even more important to keep the creative juices flowing than ever before because of the Net. "I see it as an avenue to get our music out there in its creative form. I know that 10 years ago, that wasn't possible."
Musicians like Phillip Friedland were feeling stifled and at the mercy of the record companies, distribution houses or managers in those days. Many bands were stuck, especially if there is talent and the label decided not to to distribute the music, "then you're basically shelved," said Friedland. Musicians and bands like Friedland are quickly finding out that online his band has more control over what the public hears or sees. That's why a lot more musicians are using online means for the worldwide audience to have a listen to the music in a more public arena.
"Our band has many fans we've picked up across the country and abroad. These people are listening to our music, people that probably would not have had a chance to hear us 10 years ago," marveled Phillip, whose band plays many gigs a month, but has a small online following according to ReverbNation, an online listening site becoming more popular for serious musicians and groups.
Online you get the songs out sort of in a quick fix and everyone you want to hear it, hears it. The live club is not dead yet, it's still a great scene, but more independent promoters are cashing in on these clubs and just 'renting' them'. "You'd be surprised how many of these clubs are for rent now," said the bass player. "It's sort of a racket with the clubs, they are up for rent to the band promoters, then those promoters find bands to sell tickets to their own shows, and then the band play."
According to this writer's research, promoters ask each band for around $500 a pop. If they are doing it, than you can rest assured these shady companies are making something for themselves. As Friendland explains, "...Clubs have become increasingly difficult to play in comfortably because there's more money involved and that money overshadows the creativity and of playing in a live band. Owners of clubs have high operating costs, we all know that, so if you as a band can't deraw in a crowd, then the club loses money."
Now clubs more than not are hiring these independent promoters. What's really sad, according to music band sources is that if you are in a crappy band and have the cash to pay the promoters, it doesn't matter to the club or the promoters if your music stinks or you are a bunch of 'posers' or Bozos, because if you can bring in say 50 people, it's doesn't matter what you sound like.
On the other hand, if you have a sound like MARK CHISTOPHER BAND, who Phillip Friedland plays bass for, YOU WILL DRAW A CROWD! "Everyone that hears our band is usually blown away. Even fellow musicians," says the bassist. "We are skilled musicians, that's why! We go out and play, we are very aware of the dynamics," he adds pridefully.
Phil has seen the young bands play a few songs and then he notices they get louder and louder until... "my ears go deaf!" He suggest doing what his band does for every show live or otherwise. "We start out low key, then little by little we'll begin to peak and valley, then a cresendo, and finally winding down our music, so as not to be so in your face." He asks us this, if at all: "If you know how to lower down, than the loud becomes more meaningful!"
After careful consideration and listening to the musical group Phillip plays bass in, MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND, this writer feels that the band can excel online by having more and more listeners hear them on a more worldwide basis. Anyone can see and hear that this band is skilled in their musicianship. It's a 4 piece band, which adds balance, not too little, not too much, just right. Phil said, "We are better than any backyard band they've ever seen," jokes the bass player.
"But seriously, we have played so many shows and parties and jams where I've seen so many other brands, and all they seem to do is brag," that did not surprise this writer when Phil told me his band goes on, but doesn't talk! "We get up there and all of a sudden everything on the club floor stops and all the bands and musicians come up and listen to us. They seem to me to be speechless. It's almost comical, because our band can predict it, it happens at almost every show. They brag, we don't brag, and you don't have to brag if your good," he says honestly.
If they were to give any advice to those starting out it would be this: Just keep going, keep practicing together, keep playing and refine your skills," explains the bass musician. "Remember that you have to spend a little money to make a whole lotta' money with the band. I see too many bands spending money foolishly on drugs and beer, but I say to spend it on your band, be constuctive! Do the online thing like getting a website or Internet Publicist, that's the way to go. But you'll have to invest a small amount of money to achieve that.
For the future and in closing, you have to start to appear in different clubs, start to branch out with the music. Be heard by as many people, managers, agents, actors, other famous musicians l ike John Mayer. Mark is great, but Mark isn't known yet, but he will be, you can count on that.
And don't forget the hours of recording in the studio, tours, getting the online thing happening and of course the live shows at the clubs. But Phillip sees himself and his band mates making it good and winning a grammy one day, maybe garnering the respect of musicians and the music industry and the people who have already taken their spot in the music biz world.
If you had to classify Mark Christopher Band, think of a 21st Century band a' la Jeff Beck, but the band does have a core message for their fans and future fans:
May the blues rock with you! That means the music that you listen to has a feel, not mechanical. It has to have heart and soul, not getting up on the stage and playing a 3 chord menagerie with the finger on the 'reverb' button. You want to keep it real! Good Music, especially blues and jazz, is filled with notes and licks for the soul!
What Bands Play Fusion Rock Music Mark Christopher Band Tells All!
TOP ONLINE PROGRESSIVE ROCK GROUP Mark Christopher Band Online Group Pays Their Dues, What is MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND. According to Mark, "We're Fusion progressive Rock. My band mates are ALL quality musicans," he says. "Because I can tell from my own experience playing with other musicians. I think we are able to feed off each other's energies and creativity, It makes it easier to do arrangements and write," says Christopher of his Jazz progressive rock blues group. "Because we pick up the slack, and they are what I would call a band that I can work with, which is hard to find in this town. Let's face it," says Mark. "We gel, it's like a spiritual fusion rock connection."
From this writer's view, I believe there are so many bands out there that fake it. Bands that just pretend, go through the motions. This is not the case of MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND. According to Mark Christopher, "We really play, we listen to each other, but lots of other bands just jam, they don't listen, and most of them are in their own little world, and as a band, we want to be worldwide, not in our own little world!"
Paying their dues online is a progressive rock band making a big online splash, the group Mark Christopher Band talks paying the piper and where they find the energy and power to play and keep the fusion music going. I started with the name of the band. Why name a band by your own first and middle name like Dave Matthews band? There are more reasons than ego or originality, right? Mark Christopher himself told us that "We named it Mark Christopher Band because I wrote most of the songs and at the time I guess we would call it a 'snap decision'." He explains easily, "I guess we didn't really think about it. I was a solo act at the time, I didn't know what else to call the group," Christopher added, scratching his head. "It's hard to think up a name for the the band, so I just went with MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND and it had nothing to do with my ego, there's not a real reason other than we all agreed it just fit," he said honestly.
When asked the biggest influence in Mark's life decision to spark him to pursue his dream of music, I was not surprised to find out the soft-spoken musician's influence in music was his father. "My dad was a professional jazz pianist, and I grew up listening to him do his thing," says Mark. "He showed me the first chord on guitar. He wanted me to enjoy music as much as he did growing up, and he grew up around it!"
What puts Mark Christopher Band in the best mood to play their fusion progression jazz music? The answer was simple: "To know I've been doing this for so long that it's a part of me, and I need to do it, but it's the creative juices the band brings out, it's a feeling of elation and a natural high for us when we play our music!"
As for seeing the future of Mark Christopher Band making an impact in some way online with their unique brand of fusion rock jazz and blues, it can be done as easy as Justin Bieber or even Lady Gaga, especially with a blogger and the viral video worldwide open for a worldwide buzz on an up and coming online top fusion blues band using YOUTUBE to do it. Mark Christopher said, I can see it. I can see it in media venues online, like Justin Bieber did, but we are not Justin Bieber, we are Mark Christopher band..."
Exposure to various viral video sites seems to be the key, and Mark Christopher Band wholly approves of using the Internet medium to make an even bigger impact one day, perhaps even bigger than someone like Bieber who may even be a flash in the pan, who would guess? Besides going viral, which most of the articles on Mark Christopher band have ended up, the word gets out to other countries that wouldn't normally have access to their music, now they do!
What about all the other Rock Fusion bands out there? All the other Edgy blues bands? Are they like Mark Christopher Band, what sets these guys apart. According to Mark Christopher, "It depends on a lot of things, but pa"It's like we feel what they want to hear, and play according to what they want, and then after a while you get a flowing energy, and they love us, and we love them, it meshes!"
What makes a good band, how do you know? "Play attention to guitarist! I always do that to learn what they are donig, see what they do, How they approach it," he reveals. "Honestly, most groups like my band, who do same music, I would rate them about a "7" on a scale from 1 - 10." That's pretty nice of Mark Christopher, did someone pay him off, NOT! Why? He answers and continues: "Everyone musician or band is different and has different styles and certain styles appeal to me," he says. "Some bands do not appeal to me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying other bands like our group are better or worse than the others! I am just going on my own likes and dislikes of Jazz o rock or blues."
After hearing a few tracks from their blog http://Mark-Christopher-Band.blogspot.com, I wondered what set them apart from the others? What can Mark Christopher Band say to make their audience really care about them and be followers? Mark answered, "The band and the guys I play with are all from the same city of Los Angeles, CA. We all grew up; listining to same music, influences are similar and we have the magic that it takes to make a really great band," says Mark. "Playing with this group is amazing for me and it spreads to the audience, who in turn, love to hear us and see our energy."
This writer is not a huge jazz music fusion rock fan, but Mark Christopher Band caught my ear, and they are different because they are all playing on the same vibe, I see the group working as I work on another blog while listening to their blog on another browser, they are fantastic.
Mark Christopher further explains, "Our audiences really care about us as a band because we feed off of them, and they, in turn, feed off of us, so it's like a love affair without sexual contact," he explains easily.
Monday, January 3, 2011
HOT UP & COMING ROCK JAZZ BAND TOP RATED ALL THE WAY SEE THEM PLAY!
This Hop up and coming band MARK CHRISTOPHER BAND has the energy and experience to rock out any club or arena. Check these guys out. They come from great musical backgrounds and sound like a full unit of rock and jazz. Find out more about them. Here them play, watch them move and bookmark their site and videos. You will love Mark Christopher Band!
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