Commander erniepaul profile picture

Commander erniepaul

About Me

This profile was pimped out at PimpWebpage.com PimpWebpage.com
Myspace Layouts
Myspace Generators
Myspace Codes
After several years of being the side-man in various bands, I became a solo artist in 2007. I started writing my own songs and performing them at assorted open mikes around town. I have made a lot of new friends through these open mikes in the past year.
I sing songs of heartbreak and sorrow, many of them inspired by women I have either dated or been rejected by. Some are serious, some sad, and some simply comical. I also sing songs of fantasy and escape. My style ranges from folk to country to rock and punk.
I am a rare breed, an actual Portland native. I am thrilled at the influx of musicians that have been coming to Portland in the past few years. It is amazing that Portland is becoming a major indie hot spot. I would not be surprised if a number of the people on my friends list make it big in the next few years. I hope that I am one of them.
Some of my favorite toys!
About The Jams:
I play at least two jams or open mike sessions a week. If you play any instrument, come on down and join the fun. It doesn't matter what you play. I have seen acoustic and electric guitars, both 6 & 12 string. All manner of basses with 4 to 8 strings, long or short scale. Hand percussion, as well as congas and bongos. I have also seen mandolins, banjos, violins, dulicmers, and sitars. Keyboards with classic piano and organ tones are frequently heard as well. Maybe wind is more your style. We can fit you in! Trumpets, trombones, flutes, saxophones, harmonicas and even a didgeridoo have made more than one appearance at these jams. If you don't play, we can always use more vocalists. Chances are, one of us will know how your song goes. If not, most of us can be taught! Guitar players will need to bring an amp. A bass amp and drum set are provided. Check upcoming shows to see which jams I will be at during the week.
A couple definitions are in order here. An open mike means that you will usually perfom solo or with limited accompaniment. Well suited for singer/songwriters. You will typically be given about ten minutes to perform, about two or three songs usually. A jam on the other hand, focuses more on the banding together of compatable musicians. Most likely you will be teamed up with two to four other musicians at one time. This works well for cover tunes or simple songs that can be quickly taught to others.
Here is the current jam/open mike schedule: (updated 11/25/08)
This list is by no means complete. The jams I have listed here are ones that I have personally attended and thus can state what type of jam it is. As I attend new jams in the future, I will add them to the list. If you know of one that I should add, please let me know and I will endeavor to check it out. These are subject to change without notice. If there are any questions, contact the venue or host directly.
Due to the recent closures of Albina Green and Nine Muses, those listings have been removed.
Sunday 7 pm.
Rock Creek Cafe & Pub
18515 NW West Union Rd, Portland
Hosted by Dave
(503) 645-8225
Acoustic Open Mic
Sunday 8 pm. Sign up at 7 pm.
McMenamin’s White Eagle
836 N Russell St, Portland
Non-smoking venue, Ages 21+
Hosted by John
www.mcmenamins.com
(503) 282-6810
Acoustic Open Mic
Sunday 8 pm.
M&M Lounge , 137 N Main, Gresham
Ages 21+
Hosted by The Beaver Boogie Band
(503) 665-2626
Rock & Blues Jam
Wednesday 8:30 pm.
The Blue Diamond, 2016 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland
Ages 21+
Hosted by The Danny Hey Davis Band
(503) 230-9590
Rock & Blues Jam
Wednesday 8 pm. Sign up at 7:30 pm.
Suck My Open Mic
Alberta Street Pub , 1036 NE Alberta, Portland
Non-smoking venue, Ages 21+
Hosted by Tamara J. Brown
(503) 284-9600
Acoustic Open Mike & Spoken Word
Thursday 8 pm.
River Road House , 11921 SE 22nd Ave, Milwaukie
Ages 21+
Hosted by Scatter Brain
(503) 653-5885
Rock & Blues Jam
Thursday 8:30 pm.
Mojo's Bar & Grill , 1819 Main St, Vancouver
Non-smoking venue, Ages 21+
Hosted by The Sinners Club
(360) 694-0518
Classic Rock Jam
Thursday 9:00 pm
The Gotham Tavern , 2240 N. Interstate Ave, Portland
Non-smoking venue, Ages 21+
Rotating hosts
(503) 517-9911
Acoustic open mike and jam

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/12/2006
Band Website: http://www.myspace.com/commandererniepaul
Band Members: Cinematic Magic Moment

I could be your band mate. If you need hand percussion, bass, mandolin or rhythm guitar, I am available. I am always interested in new and off beat projects. I have recently started a solo venture, playing guitar and singing original songs. I have also been a part of a number of different bands throughout the years. I played bass and sang backing vocals for Bad Intelligence. I have played mandolin and percussion with my friend Brent, billed as Swanson & Nichols or as Blue Sunday. I have slapped the congas with The Sinners Club. I have also permformed a number of limited edition gigs with a variety of artists, ranging in styles as varied as new age, jazz, calypso, hard rock, blues, folk, country and heavy metal. I don't care, as long as its got a beat that I can groove to.

I have recently started recording and performing shows with my fiance, Mary Wright . Check out her page to hear some of my percussion work. She is learning my songs as well. Look for new recordings of my music with Mary playing lead and singing backing vocals.

Influences: Growing up my father played a lot of folk artists like Jimmie Rogers and Woody Guthrie. There was also a good deal of bluegrass and old time country played. Dad played the banjo and guitar quite a bit when I was a kid. I didn't start playing myself until I was a junior in high school. By that point I was listening to a mix of blues rock artists such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughn, & George Thorogood; progressive artists such as Yes, ELP & Pink Floyd; classic rock in the form of The Who, Rolling Stones and early Elton John; early 80's rock in the form of The Police, U2, and Asia; and heavy metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Def Leppard, and Quiet Riot. Another favorite is early Scorpions guitarist, Uli Jon Roth. I listen to and play just about anything, including jazz, classical and world beat.

Here are some cool movies about bands trying to make it big.

Sounds Like: I have been favorably compared to Tom Petty. The first time I was told this was from a friend on his birthday. He had five or six drinks in him by the time he heard me singing. He couldn't remember my name, so I wasn't sure about how valid the comparision was at the time. However, I have since been told the same thing by a couple of other friends who were quite sober. I don't know if I quite agree, but I like Tom, so I think it is a good thing. More recently I have been compared to the Violent Femmes, and a cross between Neil Young and Kurt Cobain.
Record Label: Unsigned

My Blog

Jay Brannan at the Doug Fir

I am not known for being an autograph hound.  I have a total of four autographs in my collection, such as it is.  The first is from Norton Juster, author of the children's novel 'The Phantom...
Posted by on Sat, 26 Jul 2008 09:46:00 GMT

First gig for Mary and Ernie

Last night Mary and I had our first full gig together.  It was an incredible success!  We played at a familiar location, Nine Muses Acoustic Pub.  The band Huge Sally opened.  We c...
Posted by on Thu, 01 May 2008 13:41:00 GMT

Celebration of Life

Wow, what a night. I've had about five and a half hours of sleep as I write this, so you will have to forgive any typos or ramblings that occur here. Last night was the Celebration of Life at KJ's Ba...
Posted by on Sun, 10 Feb 2008 11:23:00 GMT

Bagpipe Night at Mojos?

Wow, what a night! Our usual leader, Dan Golden, was unavailable tonight. He is in Memphis to attend his niece's wedding. Of course we all know that is just an excuse to go to Graceland. In his place...
Posted by on Fri, 28 Sep 2007 01:39:00 GMT

FEAR ME PUNY MORTALS!

BOW DOWN BEFORE THE MIGHT OF THE BEING KNOWN AS THE COMMANDER! FOR I NOW POSSESS THE POWER TO KILL WITH THE BLINK OF MY EYE! ALL NATIONS OF THE EARTH ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO LAY DOWN THEIR ARMS AND SUBJ...
Posted by on Mon, 24 Sep 2007 06:15:00 GMT

Welcome Home

  From Dallas, LA, Alaska, Santa Fe,seems everyone's coming Portland way.Some are passing thru as they roam.Some now calling Portland home.I used to want to see the country,but now the country's ...
Posted by on Sun, 15 Jul 2007 23:11:00 GMT

My first solo gig!

  .AOLPlainTextBody { margin: 0px; font-family: Tahoma, Verdana, Arial, Sans-Serif; font-size: 12px; color: #000; background-color: #fff; } .AOLPlainTextBody pre { font-size: 9pt; } ....
Posted by on Tue, 15 May 2007 15:12:00 GMT

Happy New Year!

Played a New Year's Gig for the Outsider's Motorcycle club in SE Portland.  Had a great time.  Hoping to get a chance to play for them again.  Fun bunch of guys and gals.  It was a...
Posted by on Mon, 01 Jan 2007 03:06:00 GMT

My first (and only!) song uploaded

I have uploaded my only original song that I have recorded.  Bounce was recorded in the Spring of 89 while I was a junior at Oregon State.  I was influenced by Geoff Downes' New Dance Orches...
Posted by on Sat, 30 Dec 2006 10:41:00 GMT

The Show Must Go On!

So I'm at work yesterday putting away stock.  I manage a warehouse for a heating & cooling company.  Virtually everything we make or stock is galvanized steel.  I come across a brok...
Posted by on Sat, 30 Dec 2006 08:56:00 GMT