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Author Archives: Danny Steen
Shop Talk With Rascal Flatts Guitar Tech David Graef
David Graef is country at heart, but rock n’ roll in spirit. He was raised on a Texas farm thinking he’d end up a farmer. In the ’80s, he took a chance, moving to Nashville hoping to make a living … Continue reading
Posted in Backstage Pass
Tagged 59, Amp Gizmo, Antiquity P-90 Dog Ear, bogner, Dann Huff, David Graef, Ernie Ball Music man, Fractal Audio, fryette, Giant, Gibson, Hiwatt, Hot Soapbar SP90-2, JB, Jim Dunlop, Joe Don Rooney, Les Paul, martin, P-90 Stack STK-P1, Paul Reed Smith, Rascal Flatts, RJM Music, Sh-1, Sh-4, sh-5, Slinky, taylor, VooDoo Lab
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Reconnecting with Papa Roach
Papa Roach is synonymous with Last Resort, their major hit off their debut album Infest. With their newest album, The Connection, they come out with the ferocity that this is their last resort. They push the envelope to new areas with … Continue reading
Band Basics: Part 4 – The Branding
Now that we have the look, the sound, and the direction, what’s left to do? Probably one of the most overlooked pieces in regards to your band’s success, the Branding. We need to create something that is bigger than music, bigger than appearance; we need to create your band’s distinct brand. As a brand, we need to form an identity that people can relate to and want to be a part of. That identity helps create a loyal fanbase with an unbreakable bond. Continue reading
Band Basics: Part 3 – The Image
We already built the game plan and forged a new sound, but now we need to make you look the part. Never underestimate the power of your Image. That’s why you need to carefully mold it into who you want to be seen as. You can give yourself a persona like Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold or simply a heightened appearance of who you are like Mark Hoppus of Blink-182. Regardless, we need to convey confidence and self-expression. You need to look like a seasoned professional whether you are or are just in a garage band. Continue reading
Posted in The Players Room
Tagged Anthrax, Avenged Sevenfold, blink-182, dimebag darrell, Scott Ian
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Band Basics: Part 2 – The Music
The most important aspect of any band is the music. It’s the reason people even care about the band in the first place. Rarely do you hear someone say, “Yea, I don’t like their music, but they look so cool that I have to be a fan.” That’d be ridiculous. Music creates a connection with people where they can relate to what the group is saying. Without that, it makes all else irrelevant. Continue reading
Band Basics: Part 1 – The Mission
So you want to start taking your band more seriously? First we need to examine why you’re starting the band in the first place and what you’re hoping to get out of it. Money? Women? Fame? Hopefully you have a deeper reason than the superficial rockstar perception. Continue reading
Posted in The Players Room
Tagged dave mustaine, dimebag darrell, mission statement, Slash
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Viewing Your Band As A Business: Introduction
The music industry is a difficult industry to break into. For every successful band, there are thousands of failed ones. Many young musicians sit in their rooms dreaming of making it big, like the idols covering their walls. They see the money, the girls, and the larger than life lifestyle and want it all. The problem lies in that they have no clue how to obtain it or even where to start. Continue reading
Posted in The Players Room, Tips and Tricks
Tagged Avenged Sevenfold, dave mustaine, dimebag, DIY, endorsement, LW-MUST, Megadeth, music business, pantera, Sh-13, SH-8SG, synyster gates
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Testament’s View of Mankind: “Dark Roots of Earth”
Testament does it again! If their last album “The Formation of Damnation” was an exclamation they’ve returned to form, their latest release “Dark Roots of Earth” is their statement that they’ve broke the mold and are recasting the genre. This … Continue reading
Hello Me… Meet the Real Me: Mustaine
Dave Mustaine is universally known as the founder of Megadeth and forefather of thrash metal. Dave made significant contributions to Metallica as a member from 1981-1983, and has writing credits on their first two albums. The Seymour Duncan User Group … Continue reading
Posted in Backstage Pass
Tagged dave mustaine, Joe Layden, Livewire, LW-MUST, Megadeth, Metallica, Mustaine: A Metal Memoir
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Sail the Seas with Metal’s Most Dangerous Pirates!
Summer is here! The weather is getting warmer, the women are getting hotter, and the music is getting louder. What better to do than plan your vacation… for winter? That might sound strange, but when the snow’s falling and everyone’s … Continue reading
Posted in Backstage Pass
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