MuteMath
Switchfoot
Muse
The Police
Afters
Seal
Downhere
U2
Coldplay
The Clash
The Darkness
Queen
needtobreathe
Snow Patrol
Angels & Airwaves
All-American Rejects
Fall Out Boy
The Panic Channel
Jimmy Eat World
any band that combines elements like punk-pop, brit-rock and brit-pop
Songwriting
Paul McCartney
John Lennon
U2
Sheryl Crow
Rob Thomas
Adam Duritz
Ben Folds
Bebo Norman
Bryan Adams
MuteMath
Jon Foreman
Hootie & the Blowfish
Fountains of Wayne
any great songwriters who write catchy songs while still holding on to the idea that great art doesn't necessarily have to be something new - it just needs to be great
Playing/Performing
MuteMath
Muse
Aerosmith
Guns & Roses
Rolling Stones
Black Crowes
U2
Jamiroquia
Steve Vai
Gnarls Barkley
Audioslave
any performers who do a great job of engaging an audience throughout a show
Classic Rock that Turns Us On
Aerosmith
Van Morrison
Rolling Stones
The Beatles
Queen
The Eagles
Faces
The Beach Boys
Led Zeppelin
Ray Charles
Chris Sligh has officially rejoined Half Past Forever.
HALF PAST FOREVER:
(Behind the Music)
With Chris Sligh, what started off as a simple love for music and
a desire to be a songwriter, has slowly transformed into something
bigger. "Over the last few years, I have worked hard at the craft
of songwriting, and even harder at becoming a great singer. I'm
not saying the work is paying off, but I am starting to see some
dividends...finally."
When you sit down with the members of Half Past Forever, it is a
welcome breath of fresh air from the expected. The band, made up
of Chris, Adam Fisher and Cole Edmonson, is polite, concise and
funny. It seems that the only things the band takes seriously are
their faith and their music. Otherwise, nothing is taboo - from
politics to what they call religion to just simply cracking jokes
on each other, it’s all part of their genuine friendship .
“We feel like rock stars should be fun. For way too long, people
have been taking themselves way too seriously when it comes to
music," says Cole, the band's bassist.
The band's lead guitarist, Adam, chimes in. "We take our music
seriously, but we certainly do not take ourselves seriously."
Adam is also the resident drummer; they hire out for live shows.
"The vision of this band, from the beginning," says Sligh, "was
for me to write good songs that we could put together in a way
that would not only rock, but would encourage our audience to take
part in our music. There are not a lot of bands now-a-days that
walk that fine line between art and commerce - not that we're
successful at that - but we wanna be."
When pressed for more meaning on this, Adam says, "There is
nothing wrong with a band aiming to please audiences while still
being true to themselves. No one is just one thing: no one is all
artist. We are all complex - why do we expect for musicians to
limit themselves one way or the other - making art or making music
that isn't so artful?"
Chris responds: "Yeah, I mean, why do we look down on certain
bands because they make accessible music? Obviously, the goal of
art is to transcend, but really - when it comes down to it - we
make music for the audience, and if we make self-indulgent crap
that only we like...well, we've failed. The greatest way to make
music, the way you see great bands like the Who and the Beatles
and Pink Floyd is that they make music that the audience can
connect with, then surround it, or perhaps infuse it, with stuff
that is perhaps a little more self-indulgent...a little more
'strange', if you will"
Cole, who at age 19 is the youngest member of the band, injects
his version of the concept it takes many musicians years to figure
out. "We want to make music that we like. But we want to be
successful and we don't think there's any thing wrong with
'selling out' - as long as 'selling out' doesn't change the way we
make music."
The band's "way of making music" has always been to write great
songs that audiences can sing along with, then "smarten them up"
by adding in as many elements as they can. They are never
satisfied with the sound that would be expected.
On this sophomore album, set to release February 20, they have
taken this process and, in their own way, nearly perfected it.
Take a Chance on Something Beautiful is a cacophony of catchy
songs that will have audiences singing along interspersed with
odd, esoteric instrumental tracks and effects. The 14 tracks come
together to form an album that is an experience from start to
finish. Half Past Forever seems to be a long-lost band that makes
albums instead of singles.
"I would say that I write more from an album standpoint that I do
from a single standpoint," says lead singer and main songwriter
Chris. "Don't get me wrong, I think a song like Know or In a
Moment are both singles...but as I write and as we produce and
record, I am thinking about how to tie in a whole album together."
Adam concurs, "An album is a lot bigger than a simple song. Lots
of people can write great songs, but it's tough to put together a
full album that ties together and is a call-back to the days of
making great albums, like the late 60's and 70's."
"My goal with this album," says Chris, "Is that people would come
away with a sense that there is more to hear with each successive
listen...yet there is something familiar in the way I write. I
think when I listen to my favorite writers, that's the feeling I
get. With my favorite artists, I want to hear more in the turn of
a phrase or listen for distinct musical performances, yet the
songs feel familiar. I really hope that the listener feels the
same with this album."
Hey! just wanted to take the time to invite you to Chords for Kids Saturday April 25th at Finlay Park in Columbia!! 12-6 PM Come support a great cause - The Nurturing Center - a non profit org and treatment center for child abuse and neglect!! and FREEEEEE MUSIC ALL DAY from LOCAL BANDS including Justin Smith and the Folk Hop Band and also a new Kids area this year!!! Hope to see you there!!! www.myspace.com/tncchordsforkids
Author/filmmaker - Chau Van Truong asks visitors to check out 'THE NAISA MAFIA: Chronicle OF The Godfather'..... Call 1-800-431-1579 to get your copy deliver to your home/bookstore... Visit http://www.NAISAMAFIA.COM if you want to read the scripts... ---- Watch this clip - NAISA, SECRETS KEPT'S PITCH, RELENTLESS PURSUIT, THE EXCHANGE @ google video:::: join me at http://www.myspace.com/chauvantruong
Help me make 'THE NAISA MAFIA' a household name.
Fans have ask for ‘SECRETS KEPT’, ‘A KILLING STAR’ the scripts, and 8 chapters of THE NAISA MAFIA at http://www.novelmaker.com/ …. Read, enjoy, review, comment, and spread the hype.
