A Field Guide to Chamy Bands
(Or: "Why do I keep getting so many Facebook event invites from Amy?")
Technically, Chad and I are currently in four bands. Hell, maybe even five depending on how you define "in." That stat is rather misleading, though, as one band is set to expire tomorrow and another only has a likely lifespan through August 27. Still, at this very moment in time they all exist and a little marketing (er, explanation) seems in order.
All of our bands have origin stories that begin with Twin Town Guitars. This amazing local music store has an awesome instructional program (which we so wittily call "band camp") in which one signs up for six weeks of lessons with other aspiring musicians that culminates in a recital of six songs at the Whiskey Junction. Yes these shows are free to attend and booze is sold.
Since May 2013, Chad and I have been members of at least 14 Twin Town bands and have loved it.(Huge shoutout to Ben Glaros and Mark Wade for being our fearless leaders!) In addition to the awesome community we've become a part of and the amazing friends we've made, we've learned so much.
During these band classes we frequently heard mythical tales about class bands that morphed into "real" bands...bands that continued to play after the class ended and got gigs outside of a Whiskey Junction recital.
Finally, last spring one of our bands, the Pretenders cover band Pigeons from Hell, made that magical transformation. We're actually so real that we've even gone through a line-up change and switched drummers, but thankfully with no spontaneous combustion or Behind the Scenes drama involved (No, I'm not and never have been the drummer for Pigeons, although that is my usual post, I wanted to try something new and have more freedom to dance during a show).
Then just this spring another one of our Twin Town bands also stayed together and went out into the big wide world. To keep things interesting (and confusing) this band also has a avian-themed name (Painted Birds) and shares half the band members with Pigeons from Hell (Chad and me and our bassist, Tom) and we sometimes do a double bill with Pigeons. And in Painted Birds I AM playing drums. Unlike Pigeons from Hell, Painted Birds is not dedicated to covering any specific artist, so our motto (thanks to our lhas become "a clusterflock of covers."
Our third band is our current Twin Town class band and is really just Painted Birds minus our keyboardist and with an extra guitarist. We signed up for another Twin Town class so we could learn some new songs and have an excuse to go to Vo's on Tuesday nights. This band also has what is perhaps the coolest band name ever: Bandy McBandface. We have our FREE recital tomorrow and then will most likely be subsumed back into Painted Birds, existing as Bandy for only this brief moment in time.
So mark your calendars, tattoo these dates on your loved ones foreheads, or do whatever you need to do to make it to our shows. Not only do we love performing for all our amazing friends, but getting people in the door leads to us getting more shows, and our shows only have a $5 cover (except for Bandy which is FREE).
And what of bands four and five? Chad got so inspired by being in band camp that he decided to lead some band camps at our church, one for adults and one for kids. These "Club Servetus" bands will actually be rocking a backyard party at the end of August. I'm so impressed with how Chad is able to lead and teach and bring the Club Servetus bands together with the skills he's learned from Twin Town. (My self-appointed job is to buy him sandwiches and yell at the kids not to break the equipment).
Since May 2013, Chad and I have been members of at least 14 Twin Town bands and have loved it.(Huge shoutout to Ben Glaros and Mark Wade for being our fearless leaders!) In addition to the awesome community we've become a part of and the amazing friends we've made, we've learned so much.
During these band classes we frequently heard mythical tales about class bands that morphed into "real" bands...bands that continued to play after the class ended and got gigs outside of a Whiskey Junction recital.
Finally, last spring one of our bands, the Pretenders cover band Pigeons from Hell, made that magical transformation. We're actually so real that we've even gone through a line-up change and switched drummers, but thankfully with no spontaneous combustion or Behind the Scenes drama involved (No, I'm not and never have been the drummer for Pigeons, although that is my usual post, I wanted to try something new and have more freedom to dance during a show).
Then just this spring another one of our Twin Town bands also stayed together and went out into the big wide world. To keep things interesting (and confusing) this band also has a avian-themed name (Painted Birds) and shares half the band members with Pigeons from Hell (Chad and me and our bassist, Tom) and we sometimes do a double bill with Pigeons. And in Painted Birds I AM playing drums. Unlike Pigeons from Hell, Painted Birds is not dedicated to covering any specific artist, so our motto (thanks to our lhas become "a clusterflock of covers."
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| Come to our shows or I'm totally going to lose it! |
Our third band is our current Twin Town class band and is really just Painted Birds minus our keyboardist and with an extra guitarist. We signed up for another Twin Town class so we could learn some new songs and have an excuse to go to Vo's on Tuesday nights. This band also has what is perhaps the coolest band name ever: Bandy McBandface. We have our FREE recital tomorrow and then will most likely be subsumed back into Painted Birds, existing as Bandy for only this brief moment in time.
So mark your calendars, tattoo these dates on your loved ones foreheads, or do whatever you need to do to make it to our shows. Not only do we love performing for all our amazing friends, but getting people in the door leads to us getting more shows, and our shows only have a $5 cover (except for Bandy which is FREE).
Date
|
Time
|
Band
|
Venue
|
Friday, Aug. 12
|
10:00
|
Bandy McBandface
|
Whiskey Junction
|
Thursday, Aug. 18
|
8:00-10:00
|
Painted Birds & Pigeons from Hell
|
Driftwood Char Bar
|
Thursday, Sept. 15
|
7:00-8:00
|
Painted Birds
|
Driftwood Char Bar
|
Thursday, Sept. 29
|
7:00-8:00
|
Pigeons from Hell
|
Driftwood Char Bar
|
Friday, Oct. 14
|
9:00-midnight
|
Painted Birds & Pigeons from Hell
|
Minneapolis Eagles #34
|
And what of bands four and five? Chad got so inspired by being in band camp that he decided to lead some band camps at our church, one for adults and one for kids. These "Club Servetus" bands will actually be rocking a backyard party at the end of August. I'm so impressed with how Chad is able to lead and teach and bring the Club Servetus bands together with the skills he's learned from Twin Town. (My self-appointed job is to buy him sandwiches and yell at the kids not to break the equipment).
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