Original Songs: SP?T demo (1993)

Yes, those are my vocals.

My friend, Kenny Al Sluiter took the ADAT on which we recorded the basic tracks in Dan’s basement, then tracked my vox, Jamie’s lead guitar, and his backup vox in Chicago. It’s nice to have talented friends with free studio access.

Lucky you! Tonight I am posting a three-song demo tape I made with SPOT, a Chicagoland progressive (think Rush-wannabes) power-pop band in 1993. That’s me on bass and lead vocals. My buddy, Jamie Mock played guitar and sang backups, and Dan Frieders was our Keith Moon-inspired drummer extraordinaire.

As far as songwriting was concerned, everything was always birthed in a jam. We would practice, go off on tangents, and sometimes take an idea and flesh it out. The chord changes are mine but this was a unified trio, so you can hear how organic the compositions were. I wrote the lyrics later, and made a concerted effort to take advantage of my my English degree, so actual effort and thought went into them.

Our first gig was in Chicago, in a massive loft, for a Halloween party. Fog machine. Lights. The whole nine yards. I remember seeing an eight-foot Grim Reaper enter my field of view, thinking, “THAT is cool,” until later a ten-foot Grim Reaper appeared, with glowing red eyes, and the Beta-Reaper lowered his head in shame and abandoned the room. Chicago is awesome.

We played a few gigs, opening up once in Iowa City, Iowa for a popular area band, “These Days,” in which my old band-mate, Randy Payne played drums. The crowd was Frat boys & Sorority girls – not our demographic – but again, the show must go on. Later that night, Jamie decided not to pay the fee in the parking garage, crashed the gate, and drove four hours straight home.

Yeah. Rock & Roll. We ran like hell.

Dan was wooed away by a talented singer-songwriter, Rob Holland, but without Dan, Jamie and I absolutely knew there could be no replacement, so that was that. We broke up and such began my “Lost Decade,” the ’90s, during which I quit a job I did not love, a girl I did not love, and a life I did not love. Sound familiar? At least this time I am transitioning TO something rather than AWAY from nothing.

So, I hope you enjoy 1) Don’t Blame Me, 2) [3:56] Apples from the Light, and 3) [7:43] Some Unkind Design. Odds are these will not be fodder for TATANKA, but I tagged a few old pals in case they’re bored and interested.

#OriginalSongs #SPOT #SP?T #ProgressiveRock #ArtRock #PowerPop #MusicDemo #IndieRock #MusicProduction #JamieMock #DanFrieders #RobHolland #KenSluiter #RandyPayne #TheseDays
@Jamie-Mock @julie_c_payne @kensluiter @chamberdrums @karensouzaofficial @elvis.jim @winedup