The ArtProject

SEEKING

Bass Guitar, Violin, Drums, Mandolin, Piano, Keyboard, Fiddle.

ABOUT

I just moved to Michigan from Oklahoma a few months ago. I've played in 2 bands over the past few years, both recording and some touring, and have been playing guitar and writing for around 15 years. I am married now with two kids, so i can't live the "on the road" life anymore, but music is still in my blood, and i am wanting to get out and play. some traveling is okay, but seeing as i have a family to support, traveling will be limited to weekends.
I love recoring and writing, and i want that to still be a major part of my life. i have been playing acoustic shows in coffee shops and churches for the past few months, and i'd like to up the ante a few notches and do other venues, possibly on rosters with other bands.

I've always loved to just mess around in practice, and see where the music takes you. Some of my favorite songs I've written have come from jamming in a relaxed setting, instead of feeling pressured to run through the set list six times before we finish, so c'mon, let's jam. Speaking of writing, I prefer to do mostly originals, with a possible cover or two thrown in, but i like to keep the cover options limited to obscure songs to keep people on their toes. But my policy is that if I'm making money playing music, it needs to be for my own songs.

I am a serious musician, but again, my family is top priority. I am also a Christian, and I will not do anything that comprimises my beliefs or the integrity of my personal life as a husband and father, but i have no issue whatsoever with playing clubs and bars, so long as they're not "THOSE" types of clubs and bars.

Feel free to contact me via email at TheArtProjectOklahoma
or /TheEasterliesMusic since I'm not paying 10 bucks a month for this site, and therefore am deprived of member to member contact. :)

Screen name:: Rocktheprojet
Member since:: Mar 31 2009; Active over 1 month ago
Level of commitment:: Moderately Committed
Years together:: 1
Gigs played:: Over 100
Tend to practice:: 1 time per week
Available to gig:: 2-3 nights a week
Age:: 41 years

Influences

My influences are all over the chart- in the "music genre" section, i selected mainly acoustic and folk, but that's a very small percentage of what i actually play, so i also selected the "other" option to cover everything else. i am very influenced by what i see, as far as nature, Literature, landscapes, and People and the way they react to things. I love to observe and write from my observations.

Here are a few styles that i currently write in and would love to play, but it is not limited to this list. i am constantly expanding my horizons.

surf
country
southern rock
ska
reggae
indie
rockabilly
Americana
irish tunings
worship

As far as bands or musicians i'm influenced by, these are some of my biggest influences

Wovenhand
Sixteen Horsepower
mewithoutYou
Ester Drang
Explosions in the Sky
Bowerbirds
John Moreland and the Black Gold Band
Neil Young
Denison Witmer
Iron and Wine
Starflyer 59
Dear Ephesus
Damien Jurado
Bruce Springsteen
Steven Delopoulos
Burlap to Cashmere
Gipsy Kings
Thrice
Over the Rhine
Kansas
John Michael Talbot
Johnny Cash
Dustin Kensrue
Neon Horse
Aaron Sprinkle
Waterdeep (older stuff mainly)

The List goes on and on, and I will add to it from time to time

Members Of Band

So far, just me. I play guitar, sing and write mainly. i also play some harmonica, some drums (very limited), piano, bass, and other random things that i can get my hands or mouth on.

In previous bands I've been in, I have done my best to keep strong ties with my bandmates and remain close friends, and i strongly believe that friendships in a band come above the music. great music isn't created from negative feelings and tense relationsships, it's created between friends and good times, and i will always carry that belief into any musical project i venture into, so BEWARE! :)