General Music Chat

The end of one is the beginning of another.
With each door that closes more will open.

The only constant is change?

Last night our front man Ray Jackson resigned from the band.
He sited that he felt called to do something else and no longer shared in the burning desire of the rest of the members of the band.

Ray is the individual whom came to me in my Kwoon back in 2005 to ask me to play guitar with him.
Most of you know the story.
Today I'm too sad to recount ... not that it would matter.

We have parted ways in the best of terms and I respect him all the more for his forthright way and honesty.

His personality will be greatly missed as I know I will spend less time in his presence.

The four of us whom remain will carry on. After about an hours meeting and reassignment of band responsibility we played.

And we played WELL despite the rather drastic changes we have undergone in the last three months.
We will meet our obligations to our host for all the gigs booked thus far.
We will continue on our mission undaunted.

If a rock vocalist comes to us we will consider an addition. But we will not actively seek a replacement as Jordan is to our consideration a natural front man.

Rock on!

Good luck Sans! I know your band will make the best out of the situation.

Sorry to hear about Ray. I hope things work out and there is no doubt they will!

Thanks gentlemen.

I felt as if it's been mule kicked when Ray left last night.
The boys displayed tremendous resolve in the meeting.
After we played, I knew we'd be OK.

Today I'm sad more for the change of a relationship than any concerns for the future of the band.

Twice weekly rehearsals on the bill now to regain our footing.

I'm one whom believes the are no coincidences and that things like this occur for a reason.

God has a plan ... kind wish he let me in on some of the details though.

You've already got the wagon rolling. If a spoke comes off a wheel it can be replaced. Perhaps not easily, but it will be replaced.

Shoot that ain't good news Sans. It's horrible when a mainstay leaves no matter how nicely it's done. I don't suppose he'll hang around until you find someone new? That would be a gentlemanly thing to do.
He might even help you look, if you ask him no? If he was a lynchpin, then he'll know what you are looking for.

Good luck

Best to cut ties and move on. Our bass player retired last fall and we haven't missed a beat. We've played shows with no bass player, with fill-ins and now our engineer Pete is playing bass. Tomorrow is his first show with us! Keep on keeping on.

Sometimes change can be good even if unnoticed at first. Look at how similar events effected Genesis after Peter Gabriel left. A co-writer and myself parted ways not too long ago. His vision and mine differed too much and if anything, we were actually holding each other back from branching out in those different directions.

Just play towards your accumulated strengths. It is sad to hear, but as you stated, it will work out fine. As long as no one allows it to languish for too long and the activity remains constant. There is nothing quite like turmoil and inactivity, to make folks second guess their conviction. Keep fluid and keep rocking Sans.

Being a guitarist George this is your opportunity to do more solos and instrumentals.

Someone will come along, just keep you guys chops up.

Or you might do some of those praise and worship type gigs with guest vocalist.

I hate to hear it, but the most important thing is that you guys split amicable, you never know what Rays calling will tell him to do a yr or two for now.

Good Luck

The end of one is the beginning of another.
With each door that closes more will open.

The only constant is change?

Rock on!

That sucks man .... losing a bud always brings me down.
But maybe there is a great addition to your band out there somewhere ...
Who knows what great collaborations are too come ?
Could be a opportunity possibly ?
My old band - mostly original stuff - recently asked me to help fatten up their sound ....
There is only 1 remaining original member left ... it is quite different then the last time I was in the band - 1998
The only constant is change like you said

Being a guitarist George this is your opportunity to do more solos and instrumentals.

I like how you think !

I always say that there are roadblocks and speedbumps...speedbump slow ya down a bit, and then you go on. Roadblocks force you stop, go backwards or to seriously adjust your course.


BUMP.

Keep moving forward, bro. We all know your drive and dedication.

George is full steam ahead, hes the biggest gear head on here these days, arent you George?

You gotta use all them there toys!

Good Luck George

Confusion will be my epitaph
As I crawl a cracked and broken path
If we make it we can all sit back and laugh
But I fear tomorrow I'll be crying...

Thanks again.

Ray had given notice that he had been praying and unsure about the situation several months ago.

I feel he hung around intentionally to allow for Jax to get up a full head of steam.

Ray jumped from a rolling train ... we'll not look back.

The biggest challenges for me personally will be becoming more fluid with my rhythm playing, more versatile in leads and ( gulp ) filling in the geek gap.

Ray did all our online stuff (except here of course).
Though he said he'd be glad to help.

I feel really strong about it all today.

Two rehearsals a week has been a desire of mine for a couple of years.
We are there now so the positive aspect is already showing itself.

I tell ya true JW.
I been looking listening and learning from y'all these several years.
May not be the strongest guitar player around, but my accumulated knowledge will make me a formidable band member just the same.