I’m continually amazed at how much music can attach one to a place, a situation, or a person. I’ve written before about music as inspiration, but it’s been seven or eight months since I wrote an article for Chorus, so I figured I`d go with a topic I`m familiar with. I apologize if things seem disorganized, I`ll try my best, but I fear my point won`t be made until the article has aged a wee bit. Like a fine wine, which I`ve also come to appreciate. Oh, how things change! I can`t think of a creative segue, so the paragraphs in this article are assigned to these subjects: Introducing the article (this paragraph!), naming songs after places and failing at naming songs after places, new songs I`ve written that don`t fail at naming songs after places, a musical situation I had in a giant bathtub, my neglect of how much music I have that already has the power to inspire, comedy as another medium of self-discovery, and another paragraph about how music and comedy are similar. Then an outro.

The last time I wrote about the inspiration I receive from music I remember I was specifically enamoured with the physical, real places I was in when I heard certain songs. This began a period of naming every song I wrote after the place which inspired it. Most of what I wrote still centred on a particular subject, so I now think it`s a bit unfair to name those songs after locations. I was in Sheridan, Montana and was thinking about a past relationship that had nothing to do with Sheridan, Montana. I wrote a few songs that I thought of while on a ferry between Horseshoe Bay in Vancouver and Departure Bay in Nanaimo, but again, those didn`t have much to do with being on the ocean.

I`ve written new songs, however, with the aforementioned titles, that do indeed entwine themselves between my thoughts and the locations in which they form. Departure Bay is now about leaving my two neices in Nanaimo after a visit.

I’m Growin’ Up

The past few months have been a revelation for me, and the more I think about the new progress my mind has made, the more I realize how enormous a role music, as well as other creative mediums, has played in the development of my perspectives both of myself and those around me. Last September I was sitting in a hot springs pool outside of Jasper, Alberta. It had been an extremely cold morning, so the water was soothing, despite the gloomy, grey sky. In an instant the sun screeched around the clouds, one ray at a time to bounce off the surface of the water and into our eyes, transforming everything into a blurry, bright, dreamlike place. The lady I was with started to hum a song by Good Old War called Just Looking For Shelter, and the moment remains fused in our memories. The sound was set off by the moment, the location, and the meaning in the lyrics was too coincidental for us to take the situation for granted.

Fast forward nearly a year and I realize I`ve been neglecting that side of me, the musical nature of my heart that is able to discover deeper meaning and the synchronicities that fuel my goals. The amount of music I already possess that describes perfectly the way I`m feeling is astounding; be it joyous, lonely, determined, jealous, or just straight up content, there`s something that describes my mood and usually the location I happen to inhabit.

Wait, what?

I`ve also realized that while music is (usually) a pure and honest form of communication, there are other mediums that can unite and explain the inner-workings of one`s motivations as well. The other major one for me is laughter. Obviously positive in nature, comedy can still be a cruel beast, intimidating and oppressive. Comedy has recently taught me a lot, and without trying to be too metaphorical, the union of comedy and music has taught me much about how important each are to one’s progression as a human being. Sometimes both take effort; naturally funny people who are dedicated to the importance of laughter still take the time to hone their craft and refuse to rest on their intrinsic talent, and people driven by music need to buckle down and work hard if they truly want to enjoy their medium through writing songs.

Music and laughter can cure. Tastefully making light of an argument or an intense emotional situation can take the edge off and help people to work past their struggles, while listening to the right song in the right place (depending on your individual definition of `right`), can help one to express thoughts and feelings that otherwise would remain tragically buried.

Thanks for reading my well thought-out and incredibly organized article. Anyone else have another medium they use to accomplish inspiration and self-discovery?

Photo by Flickr User dirkjanranzijn.

Be Yourself

Speaking of successful stage banter, do we really feel like acting out a sonnet in between songs is going to endear us to an audience? I’m a giant fan of The Tragically Hip, Gord Downie in particular, but if I’m on stage frollicking around and talking about this killer whale that I know then chances are the 14 people that came to watch the show at STARS (i.e. oldschool pub on Whyte Ave) aren’t leaving with any new-found respect for me or Free-Willy (haha! Get it?). Allow your banter to come naturally, maybe think of a story or two you might want to convey that actually pertain to your life and thus your music. Going off on a giant political tangent or bemusing the folly of the local sports franchise is just annoying.

Keep It Short

Remember why your audience is in attendance, so keep the Kelly Clarkson covers coming focus on the music that you and your band have worked so hard at and the crowd will inevitably care more about what you have to say in between songs. Prepare for the event that someone breaks a string or something is outta wack; make sure you have extra guitars so people don’t get bored. These switches usually take time anyway, and it will give you a great chance to tell that hilarious story about the milkman and that dog wearing a sweater that you TOTALLY JUST MADE UP ON THE SPOT.

Self-Deprecating Humour Gets Old Real Fast

A couple digs here or there at yourself or someone else in the band can be funny if they’re light and used in good taste, but people usually just get uncomfortable when they’re not sure whether or not a joke was intended. “Should I laugh? Applaud? Fall to the floor in an awkward joke-induced epileptic fit?” That last sentence is exactly what I’m talking about (YOU’RE SUPPOSED TO LAUGH). So unless you’re prepared to tell an audience precisely when to laugh, which is a pretty cheap method for getting a few chuckles, ease up on the blatant insults toward eachother/grandparents (again, insert laugh here. WHAT HAVE I BECOME?). Constantly telling your audience that the new girl in your band has AIDS might be stepping over a line in some establishments, so be respectful. And by stepping over the line, I mean HILARIOUS. *ESTABLISHING ANTI-AIDS JOKES RULES+PROCLAIMING THAT AIDS JOKES ARE HILARIOUS=OPPOSITE OF ARTICLE CREDIBILITY.*

The introductory paragraph of this article is inherently flawed; what constitutes successful stage banter? Success is obviously defined in countless ways, so how do we clarify whether or not our stage banter was successful? In my opinion, successful stage banter means that you’ve tied together your songs quickly and efficiently with a couple jokes, your audience appreciated what you had to say, and they were more endeared toward your music, which is the whole point. If they leave with a smile, you’ve been successful. However you reach that milestone is up to you.

Photo by Flickr User bfick

While it might sound tedious to have to take the time to train a new member, sometimes this sort of change can be positive, leading to new arrangements of old songs and bringing fresh energy to the writing process. Other times, this sort of change leads to the end of the band entirely, especially when auditions don’t go so well and the weeks stretch into months and nobody seems willing to step up to the plate. A floundering band quickly loses momentum and ends up like so many other broken musical dreams, smashed to pieces upon the cruel rocks of apathetic procrastination.

But luckily, there are a few ways to avoid these types of laissez-faire burnouts and keep those rock-band dreams a-rolling.

Start Writing New Material with the New Member

The best way to inculcate a new member into the already existent dynamics of  your band is to simply start jamming new material right off the bat. Don’t focus too much on teaching them the old songs right away because that sort of approach is frustrating to everyone involved. Give the new member a chance to feel their way around the old songs and figure things out for themselves. You will never be able to recapture the same feel that you had with the outgoing member, so why try to force it? Nobody (except session musicians) want to be told exactly what to play, so accept the fact that the new member is bound to put their own unique twist on the old songs and let them play around for awhile. Songs should be allowed to evolve and change as the band grows and mutates, taking on new perspectives and different layers of musical interest. Don’t worry if the songs don’t end up sounding the same in person as they did on the recording; it only adds to the live experience. Hopefully, as you jam on new material, the new member will feel more comfortable and take the initiative to tackle the old material on their own, potentially coming up with something unexpected and amazing.

Switch Instruments and Change Things Up

It’s a known fact that it’s often easier to find a new guitarist than it is to find a new drummer. No offense to guitarists, but everyone and their dad plays guitar — it’s an unabashedly popular instrument. So what do you do if you lose a drummer or a bass player? Another way to reinvigorate band dynamics is to try switching instruments. If your guitarist is also a budding drummer, then maybe think about giving him a chance to hone his craft by taking over the throne. Even if he’s not as good as the departing member, at least he’s already familiar with the songs and has a rough idea of what to play. Or maybe have your guitarist switch to bass in order to free up that easier-to-fill guitar spot. Another option is to bring in a keyboard player instead of a bass player, using the synth to fill out the low end in a different way, thereby lending a new feel to the old songs. Or maybe use a drum machine if you’re really desperate; midi players can do everything these days. There are plenty of options if you’re creative and open to new ideas and approaches — don’t let the dream fizzle just because you’re too stubborn to branch out.

Establish a Timeline and Become a Cover Band

Unfortunately, there’s always the outside chance that you won’t find a suitable replacement — or any replacement for that matter — but don’t let that fact drive the band off a cliff. Give yourself a realistic timeline from the very beginning, something like: “If we don’t find a new bass player in 6 months, then we become a double-guitar, ZZ Top cover band and we grow long beards and get lotsa ladies.” Joking aside (unless that actually sounded rad to you), playing covers is a great way to keep your musical endeavors afloat while you search for that elusive new member. By inviting your friends to join your Jimmy Eat World cover band instead of your faltering punk-nu-metal band, you just might get more people out to play with you. And plus, after bonding over this common musical interest, the potential new member might be more amenable to playing along with blast beats and off-tempo chugs. Try playing a couple live shows under this cover-band moniker and feel how awesome it feels when a crowd starts singing along with you, then bring that energy to your next jam session and make a fresh start.

Ultimately, the future of your band comes down to your willingness to make the best of this change. It’s not the end of the world, but it certainly changes the look of it. So, with that in mind, remember to ruthlessly harangue the departing band members until they feel really bad about choosing to move on with their lives, whatever the reason — it’s their fault that your band is about to go through a whole boatload of existential turmoil.

Photo of Sheeps Getting Along by Flickr User Paraflyer

Communicate

Daniel Klassen has written here before about the necessity of communication as it relates to your band’s goals and intentions, and this rings true whether you’re hitting the road for that quick Western Canadian swing or sailing the ocean to tower above all the crowds in that city in Japan that has the deer that live harmoniously with all the people. Metaphor? Yes. Talk about what you want to accomplish on this specific tour rather than proclaiming that ROCK COLOSSEUMS WILL BECOME OUR LIFE STADIUMS. Set realistic expectations, like how much money you want to make, how often you plan on setting up a tent on some sketchy dude’s lawn in Kamloops, or how you’re going to deal with that pesky driving situation. I’ve been in bands where no one could decide on where to eat, and everyone was too nice to take the lead, and it just melted into petty, unreasonable frustration. Just state your heart’s (and belly’s) desires, and understand that it’s a-ok to disagree, and people might just have to go their separate ways for a wee bit.

Go Your Separate Ways For a Wee Bit

Taking some time for yourself is an essential component to this list of essential components. While finding opportunities to be alone with your thoughts might seem too emo for some of you, uh, I mean us. Me. Right guys? Guys? Anyway, it’s important. Seriously, your mind needs solitude from the mobile apartment that you share for a month with four other dues and a girl, and they all require the same. Take a break, wander off, and take account of how the tour is going at that point and what your personal successes and areas of growth might be, and you’ll be amazed at how refreshed you’ll become. You might even realize that yeah, you wouldn’t mind listening to Every Time I Die for the 7th time that morning. I knew of a band that had a rule where one person got a day off every day; no loading in or haggling with venues, just some time to check out the city or to do whatever they desired. Sure, it might have made things a little tougher for the members on whom the remaining responsibility fell, but each individual was sure greatful when it became their turn to relax and tear up the town and get lost before the show and spend the night in jail. What?

Be Mindful of Others

No longer just the most important rule on that giant Everything I Learned in Kindergarten poster that hung in your sister’s bedroom, now a noble creed meant to stave off the desperate pull of intrinsic angst that tags along with everybody while they’re on tour. Above all else, try to pay attention to the moods of your bandmates. I believe that touring in a beat-up van with good friends is the ultimate team-builder, so contribute to the team rather than your own immediate desires. Delayed gratification becomes your mantra as you strive to place the comfort of others above your own. Here are 3 scenes which you are welcome, nay, encouraged to speak out on:

• The dash is not a appropriate place to dry your socks.
• No, I don’t want to smoke your second hand smoke all the way from Vancouver to Vernon.
• Non-volunteer punch-in-face is not a game I covet at the moment.

Alright, that last one probably didn’t happen that often, but you pick up what I’m puttin’ down. Sometimes rage takes over and people simply cannot handle being in close proximity with anyone. Your awareness will go a long way, especially if you step up and offer your help. Be careful though, this can backfire:

• Thanks for that free haircut, but can you wake me up first next time?
• You thought what would increase fuel efficiency?
• In Soviet Russia, van drives you!

If you’re willing to move gear so someone can skip soundcheck and grab a nap, everyone will be happier in the long run. If you work hard and contribute to loading up the van right after a show, then you and your friends can relax afterward. Small details make a big difference. Be that difference, son.

Some of this may seem like common sense, and I’m certainly not free of blame when it comes to flying off the handle for no good reason. For example, all of my ex-bandmates might tell you that I love to pack the van, an accusation to which I respond with a glaring NAY. Not true. My OCD loves to pack the van, which is a totally different monster. Still, eventually they became mindful enough to permit me to satisfy the tiny tetris nazi that lives in my brain by assembling the instruments, hardware, cabs and merch in such a specific manner that Houdini himself wouldn’t be able to solve the puzzle. And in return for their gracious offering of van-loading, I let them sleep in that time we were all slumbering in the van and I woke up before everyone and got scared of that huge dog that was looking at me and just drove to the next town before anyone woke up and realized that they slept for three effing hours while their luxury pleasure craft whisked them away to Nokomis without as much as a sharp turn or pothole that may have disturbed their well-earned respite.

Anyone else have any tips to prevent Event Horizon on tour?

Photo by Flickr user Alex E. Proimos

In July 2008, many bands traveling in gas guzzling vans were biting their lips when they had to fill their tanks. This was due to the fact that the price of oil had sky rocketed to $145 USD a barrel. The price of oil had doubled in the past two years. Due to a collapse in the American housing market and depressed consumer confidence, the World Economy entered a recession in 2009. This caused the price of oil to drop back below the $35 a barrel mark, wreaking economic havoc in resource dependent Alberta. While at the time this article was written the price of oil is below $100, as the global economy recovers so will the price of oil. These volatile price swings should be clear indicators to touring musicians that nothing is consistent and preparing for peak oil is crucial. While the price is at a comfortable low, recent happenings such as the BP Gulf Oil Spill, Nigerian pipeline bombings and fuel riots in India keep the price of oil climbing. Without going into further geopolitical detail, let’s discuss what this means to the average musician. It takes a lot of energy to transport a band. There won’t be any Toyota Prius’ or Honda Civics hauling bands and gear around any time soon. The most common form of transportation for a band is the van with trailer. The gas tank size on any decent van is at least over one hundred litres and will cost over a hundred dollars to fill at the gas pump. The gas prices are set by a number of factors, primarily scarcity. Trendhunter.com describes a scarcity situation which Hurricane Ike provided,

“Hurricane Ike has put gas prices at over $5 in middle America. As more and more service stations tell their customers that they are all out of gas, some of those customers have become increasingly angry, and in some cases, have threatened to kill the store managers.

Hurricane Ike struck Galveston, Texas and exorbitant gasoline prices struck Nashville almost exactly at the same time. Gas immediately went to $5.29 per gallon.  Hurricane Ike shut down oil rigs and refineries, but the storm was 800 miles away and it never rained in Nashville because of Hurricane Ike. The perceived shortage even caused some shortages of gasoline.”

Scary stuff. Imagine being a band from Canada, stranded in Nashville due to a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico. You may not budget for having to pay four times what you are used to paying at the pump. Situations like this not only display the interconnectedness of our globalized world but also provide an example of why awareness towards Peak Oil is critical. Even a small drop in the continuous supply of oil will cause drastic spikes in fuel prices. Now you may be asking yourself, what can I do to protect myself against this? Let’s examine some solutions.

Choose Your Fuel Wisely

One of the biggest innovations in motor vehicle technology was the flex fuel engine.  Flex fuel technology has actually been around since the Ford Model T.  Whether it’s the GMC Savana, Ford Econoline or Dodge Caravan, there is a wide variety of options that may attract touring bands towards choosing a flex fuel vehicle. When faced with a fuel shortage, a flex fuel engine may run on gasoline, diesel or ethanol, depending on the make and model. Gasoline is usually the first fuel to go as it has the highest number of consumers. Diesel is plentiful, especially in rural settings. Ethanol is gaining popularity, especially in the Corn-Belt of the USA which encompasses several states. You would have to be in an apocalyptic situation to be unable to obtain gasoline, diesel or ethanol. If that happens, drop your gear and start running for the woods. Another option is natural gas, or propane. There is enough natural gas to last humanity hundreds of years at the current rate of consumption and is often quite cheaper and more cost effective than gasoline. The only tour capable van powered by propane for sale in North America is the Ford E-250. Keep your eyes open as more manufacturers may provide propane powered vehicles as the price of gas rises. One solution for bands that can’t afford a flex fuel vehicle, especially for those from the prairies, is to obtain a fuel card from either UFA or Co-Op. Fuel from card lock locations, used by farmers, truckers or others doing business, may only be accessed by members of the association. This protects users from price gouging, gas shortages or public panics. Having a gas card could mean the difference between being stranded on some lonely highway and making it home safely. Though there is an activation fee, quite often you’ll save at least 3 cents per litre on fuel so these cards pay themselves off in short time.

The End Is Near

Peak Oil will not only effect transportation. Every facet of our modern life will undo dramatic changes. Think about it, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, the instruments you play and all the tools necessary to stay organized and safe on tour require oil in production, packaging and quite often usage. Soon a scarcity in oil will drive the price of consumer goods through the roof. Making a stock pile of some essential goods now while the price is low will help save you a lot of grief and money down the road when Peak Oil really begins to make a difference in your life. As a drummer, I have made my own stash of equipment that I feel will become expensive or unattainable in the future. This includes drum heads (I prefer the Japanese models), drum sticks (hickory imported from the USA) and cymbals (all the way from Turkey). For guitar players, stocking up on strings, pick-ups, picks, tubes and cords is advisable. Anyone into recording should make sure to have a well maintained computer, mixer or recording device as it takes a lot of fossil fuels to produce these products. Making an emergency plan for your band in case of fuel shortages is a good idea. Ensure that everybody can pitch money for fuel if the price skyrockets within the course of your tour.  Having basic survival, camping and orientation skills is essential not only for touring musicians but for anybody living in these uncertain times. Investing in a solar generator for AC appliances, notably cell phones or laptops, could help you stay in contact with loved ones if you’re stranded. Xantrex is the leader in portable, off-grid power generation.

If you are given the opportunity to tour Europe, Asia or Australia, don’t even consider the financial or environmental consequences and take it. Go there. Experience other parts of the world because according to airliners.net,

“There will be social unrest and a strong reduction of business and government activity and very serious unemployment. Eventually, a large proportion of the demand for air travel will be almost completely destroyed, with the risk of the aviation adventure going out of business, with the exception of perhaps a handful of airlines. Once again, air travel will be reserved for the rich and for government business and the world will become a larger place again.”

If there’s two things that don’t go along with being in a band, it’s having lots of money and government business. As the years go by and the supply chain gets tightened, less bands will be able to travel overseas each year. The only major airline projected to make significant gains in near future is Air Emirates, whose Middle Eastern base profits from oil scarcity. While traveling via boat is an option, it’s feasibility is extremely limited. Sea travel cannot compete with air travel when it comes to convenience, timing, and right now, affordability. Only the most elite of popular artists will be able to tour overseas in a timely and comfortable manner once peak oil stalls the global economy. The window of time in which we are able to travel around the world cheaply and quickly is shutting. All musicians should take the chance and tour on a different continent while the good times are still burning.

Global depletion of not only crude oil but of all non-renewable energy sources will severely strain the ease and ability for bands to tour extensively but with changes in both technology and life style, limited touring will be possible. Being prepared both physically and mentally will make the greatest transition in industrialized history easier to bear for the average musician. Knowing the stats, being independent and having a stash of essential goods are critical peak oil survival tips. The coming years will be tough but this author is confident that human ingenuity, adaptability and sheer tenacity will see us to the point where bands can comfortably tour while making a profit once again.

BIBLIO:

http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/529-gas-prices-hurricane-ike
http://industry.bnet.com/auto/
http://www.ufa.net/petroleum/cardlock.html
http://www.xantrex.com/
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-articles/read.main?id=81