About Me
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Hello everyone, First of all, the track..."Bad Monkey" got its title due to me changing it from "Sloppy Drunk Monkey" That title was derived as an excuse for the sloppy playing. I wasn't drunk, just real rusty. Many people on here have paid me some very nice compliments regarding that track, suggesting i call it "Smokin Hot Monkey" etc, etc, etc Some have even left comments saying they dont hear any sloppy playing. So I went ahead and changed it for the sake of not being to hard on myself that may be taken the wrong way by other guitar players. I guess we all have our standards and limitations, and i certainly dont want to offend any one with my idea of whats sloppy! I recorded that track while visiting Zack at Guitar Center...Dallas "LBJ" location in their pro audio department so I could demo pro tools. I simply walked in, sat down and played, Zack just asked what key, I said G and about 5 minutes later, he handed me a disc. I recorded that "one take" G C D shuffle with no idea what i was going to do...the licks just feel out of my head. So now, the new title is justifeid with the excuse... that a "Bad Monkey" stole my guitar, went to G-center and convinced Zack that HE was ME!! ;-) So what you hear is what you get...very RAW, unrehearsed jams! I did buy the pro tools, and I'll be posting new tunes here in the near future from time to time. Right now I'm trying to figure out how to run all of it and be a recording engineer at home, yikes!!! A couple of these "guitar" tracks were recorded using my little Fender G-DEC 10 watt amp with built in models that I use to give lessons with. Zack sold me a "magic" ;-) send return cable that made it compatible with pro tools. (I just got access to 50 more amp models for a 5 dollar cable :-) The volumes may vary on these tracks, so you might need to turn your volume up on your computer and speakers in order to really hear them. I'll figure this mixing thing out one of these days...maybe, =/. In case you're wondering...these tracks are "experiments" / jackin' around with pro tools, more of the same old improv... set down and jam while trying to get some chops back after a 20 year break from playing out. I'm not doing re-takes on these little sit down and jam tracks. Perhaps, if I had the time to figure out how to punch in and out, fade, etc... I could/would edit some things. So if you want RAW.... your listening to it...bloody raw!! Attention engineers / producers...HELP, HELP guitar player pushing buttons and twisting knobs on the console!!!!! LOL Really focusing more on the "recording - learning" process right now. MUCH to my surprise, I have had many request/enquiries from people as to "where they can get these instrumental tracks I recorded. So, I have opened an online store for people to purchase them.
I have been giving guitar lessons for the last few years and I am still welcoming new students. Click on the "Lessons" banner above for additional info (MANY referrences available upon request.) I'm also available for session work, or any freelance guitar playing needs....sub work or a permanent position, in the RIGHT ready to work mature band, signed or unsigned. I just want to play!!! P.S. NOT interested in playing in any "dance" cover band...EVER! Covers are no problem as long as they are classic rock, new country or certainly original music "anything" besides the over done retro disco or hip hop covers that Waaaaay too many of the local clubs/club owners allow to be played here in Dallas. However its starting to look like they are"finally" realizing, this overdone/tired & tasteless cover stuff is NOT necessary in order to sell drinks. Patrons can actually work up a good thirst watching great performances by bands who play the hell out of their instruments...including great vocalist! Patrons can, and actually do, dance to classic rock. More and more of these "A" room club venues are setting asside two or more nights a week for classic rock cover bands (this is GREAT to see, because when i am out and I hear a band start to play anything close to rap or hip hop...I leave immediately!) Most or all of my friends re-act the same. I would rather be home than put myself through that punishment. My early to mid twenties students, all ask me...."why do most of the live music clubs here in DFW have bands playing all that disco/rap stuff"? I sadly give them the obvious answer! "dance, dance, dance, equals drink, drink, drink"! Attention club owners....a revolution is coming...even my youngest students all want to learn the blues / classic rock, lead guitar....Thank god!! You need to get proactive on this! Your current and more importantly, "FUTURE" patron$ are paying attention to musicianship and wanting real music in your establishments, they're starving for it!!! I tip my hat to these young people who want melody/talent back in thier music. They are VERY sick of the same old (c)rap you have playing in your place! No offense to any of the bands playing this stuff, in fact many of my friends play in some of these bands and are killer players and singers! Yes, I give them hell about it...LOL ;-) They're just a little too gun shy to break away and change up the material...(don't want to rock the boat when bills are due)...please pardon the pun! ;-)
Okay let's get to this bio thing. I guess I'll start at the beginning, duh...isn't that where they all start. I was born in Connersville, IN and got my first guitar when I was 10. Played with my first band at 14, by the time I was 15, I was playing in a band made up of four other guys. I guess I was recruited because I could play all the lead parts to Free Bird...(remember this was the 70's). We covered just about any southern rock tune you can think of....Skynyrd, Allman Bros, 38 Special, Molly Hatchet, The Outlaws, Black Foot, etc. We also did some Aerosmith, Nugent, Clapton, Pat Travers, Zepplin, etc...all that good stuff from the glory days of album rock. I moved to Dallas around my (16th birthday?) and made friends quickly. Played around town with some guys from school...parties, mini warehouses, we didn't care just as long as we were playing. I drifted off from music for a while, diving into my career in sales and marketing. Moved to Tampa in late 80's hooked up with a talented singer/song writer and recorded a couple of demos, I don't think she ever shopped them? Moved back to Dallas in 92. Got back into the sales training business, eventually I found myself in the advertising/television biz, producing "business" TV on a national level as well as film....very long story made short! I'm currently a marketing PR consultant, if you're interested, and enjoy a good read, you can find out more about that at my company's web site ... www.pr1agency.com .
In 2006 I did some publicity work for and managed former Allman Bros/Gregg Allman Band world class guitar player ..."Dangerous" Dan Toler". Still doing some marketing work for Dan, when ever he needs me. I guess I have un-officially been promoting Dan for over 25 years, (prior to our agreement/arrangement) since he and I are from the same home town in Indiana and I hold him close as a true mentor and friend. He and his brother Frankie used to play in my dad's bar when I was just a little sh**, way before the Dickey Betts days. I am now in the process of getting serious about my music again...after 20 years and it is a process, as you can hear ... lol. Too many years in the corporate world, while only hacking around on the old axe. Went for a couple of years without even picking up a guitar in my early thirties ... not good!! I could go on, but I won't for the sake of running long and not enough space.
However, hehehe...I must thank Zack, Austin, Spencer, Robbie, John, Chris, David and all the guys at Guitar Center, Dallas "LBJ" location. John Hernandez is a great store Mgr a real pro and certainly goes above and beyond regarding outsatnding customer satisfaction standards!! Also my congrats to Austin who has been promoted to Sales Mgr. His sales skills that i had recognized a long time ago have really paid off for him, he'll go far in the business..I'll bet on it. Robbie Gustin is the "Platinum Room" Manager, where you will find very rare and ventage guitars, private stock PRS, buotique amps, etc... and he knows his gear very well!! David Underwood is their Guitar Manager and is extremely knowledgeable with just about anything with strings on it! The LBJ Guitar Center is the first "Platinum" Guitar Center in the world. There are plans of having a "Platinum Room" Guitar Center store, eventually in every major market. The guys at Guitar Center take excellent care of all my gear needs. If you're in the Plano area, you need to see Paul Garrett at the G-Center on Central Expwy in Plano. He's a great guy and very professional, easy to work with. Rob Rienhart is thier Store Mgr and just as professional as they come...a tru gentlemen. I certainly can't forget about my old pal Jeff Williams at the new Lewisville store...AKA... "mega Jeff".. congrats to Jeff, he really deserved his own store to manage. Never met anyone who didnt like jeff! When you're heading to the Lewisville store, you need to see Trey Crisson, thier Sales Mgr and a real nice guy, he'll take excellent care of you. A special thanks to Paul Smith and Winn Krozack at PRS Guitars for being such good people and friends. And building the highest quality, hand-made, absolutely beautiful guitars that money can buy!! While achieving their status of being a major manufacturer. Also thanks to Junior (Mike) Clark, PRS Rep for all Guitar Centers, for with out him, DFW would not be a major leader in PRS world wide sales!...(when Junior is not playing with the Stratoblasters, you can catch him out playing in his own band..."the Junior Clark Band, he is a monster guitar player and a must see! PRS Guitars has without a doubt, raised the bar and set a new precedence in the guitar manufacturing industry since thier inception in 1985! They truly deserve all the success they're having. Visit ... www.prsguitars.com or go play one at the Dallas "LBJ" Guitar Center in Dallas, they're consistently one of the top ten PRS dealers in the world and usually have a fabulous selection. I recorded what you're listening to with my PRS (Brazilian rosewood unfinished neck) "McCarty" model guitar ... "tone monster."
All the best to you and yours. Be sure to check back for updates on band, venues, show dates and tunes.
Thanks for visiting,
Brent
