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I
think BEGGARS, ROGUES & THIEVES is a new chapter in your musical
career. It`s a new kind of style in your music. Rock, Blues, Southern, and
a wonderful singer…
Well, yes it is different in many ways than my previous Cds, however I
started out playing lots of bluesy rock stuff, from AC/DC to the Allman
Brothers. So really this is just getting “rootsy”! Yeah my si
nger is just amazing! If only we could all sing like that! :o) He has so
much natural soul in his voice, and comes up with great melodies as well.
PAWN SHOP or DIG where also
Blues influenced. But they sound more like a combine of
Instrumental Jazz rock,Funk and Blues.
I agree. Pawn Shop had elements of where this new CD was forming back
then. But as an instrumental CD you have a bit more space to fill up and
something has to sort of carry the tune, so there is a bit more playing on
it.
Tell me a little bit of your
Guitar heroes in music business…
Well it started out with Randy Rhoads as one of my first favorites. Then I
got really into more stuff like B.B. King, SRV, and more Rock guys like
Steve Vai. Now I am listening a lot to Jimmy Herring, he is fantastic. I
have always dug good guitar players, no matter what style they play, as
long as it is good and tasty.
Guitar player like you, Jay Hooks ,Chris Duarte,or Joe Bonamassa and
and..are the future of Rock and Blues. But too much people say-Eric
Clapton is one of the greatest. Ok I love his music he had made in the
60`s, 70`s and early 80`s….
But what has he done for Bluesrock the past 15 years. Pop Ballads for the
Charts and a lot of covers. But the most new influences and styles
came from young players like you. Muscians like yours
brings fresh elements in the old blues tradition. He makes the
money and you have the ideas.
Yeah,
I really dig Joe Bonamassa, not only can he play and sing great, but I
really like his songwriting. I guess Eric has done so many things that he
is sort of a “Hall of famer” - he was ahead of his time way back when,
and while he still plays wonderfully, I don’t think he is too concerned
with doing anything that is not in his element. I would imagine he really
loves what he plays and is happy with that.
Europe
is a bad place to sell good music. BMG,SONY
and EMI are not interested in good handmade music. The charts are
filled with Rap, HipHop and Techno. It`s a wonder that a man like John
Mayer climbed the charts. What`s happened in the USA…
Well I think that music has gotten too segregated. I mean there are too
many categories of musical styles. It makes it hard to reach as many
people because they are all just looking for their favorite style and
forget to try new things. And as far as the music biz goes, they are not
interested in promoting art - just making money.
You are a guitar virtuoso. How Do you find out the best guitar for you.
Thanks. I feel like I am just a player who loves to play and am trying
to get better all the time. I just pick up a guitar and start to play -
usually within the first few notes I can tell if I am going to like that
guitar. Sometimes it can sort of “grow” on you - but usually if the
flame isn’t there from the start - I pass.
There are so much good influences like GOV`T MULE, ALLMANS and DOOBIE
BROTHERS on your new CD. Your Top Five CD`s of 2003 ?
That’s awesome! I am so glad you hear those influences because I really
dig all those bands and have for years, so I would like to think that our
stuff could be in the same vein. EEEEks - Top 5? How bout some that I
listened to a lot - not necessarily new ones? Maybe, Joe Bonamasa, So
it’s like that -
Frogwings, Croaking at toads - Aquarium Rescue Unit, the Calling -
Hellecasters, Return of - Liquid Tension Experiment 2 -
You
have a great new band. How do you pick up these guys?
Well both the drummer Kent Burnham, and the keyboard player Ted Gardner
have both played on a couple of my previous Cds, so when it came time to
put a band together they were the first choices. The singer/bass player
Matt Waddill was actually a guitar student of mine at one time. He also
played bass so he joined as the bassist, and then one night after singer
auditions he sang a song and just blew us all away with his voice - so
that was that! :o)
Without the internet a lot of musicians without a record company could not
exist. Do you think so ?
Absolutely! The internet, for all of it’s bad things, has certainly
allowed many underground bands to flourish.
The most unknown bands and musicians I found at CDBaby, CDStreet
and other Independent Labels.
And the rest after a lot of long nights with the help of google.
These Online Dealers are the greatest for music freaks like me.Tell me a
little bit of your experiences with CDBaby.
CD Baby has been great! Not only do we sell lots of Cds there, but these
guys are very pro - they pay you on time, keep you posted as to inventory
and do a great job. Derek at the Baby has really got it going on.
I`m 48 years old. I need new
music everyday like a junkie his drugs. But the most of my generation are
not interested in new bands and musicians. They live in their world of
Oldie music. They love Jimi or Little Feat .But they don`t know that the
Feats alive and well and have made a lot of new music behind the 80`s.And
the teens are not able to hear a full length CD. The most of them love
Samplers only with the newest music sensations. Yesterday was Mariah Carey
is Christina Aguilera. I think it`s a great problem for music
business. How do You think ?
You are right on again! I think the WOW Cds have pretty much killed any
interest in young people listening to whole Cds and deciding what THEY
like. They just get the hit song from everybody and keep swallowing
whatever the machine feeds them. And that is so true - all of the
“classic rock” radio in the US plays the same old songs by the same
old bands - even though there are NEW bands that play that style of
music!!!
You also your own sound engineer. What`s the most important things for a
perfect sound.
That is a tough one. I guess it is different with every project.
Engineering and mixing are an art to themselves just like playing, so you
have to develop mixing chops just like playing chops.
And you mixed the new Crunchy CD. It`s dirty good old Rock`n Roll with
humor and punk influences.
Tell me more about this project.
It’s Monty Colvin from the band the “Galactic Cowboys”. Monty is a
great writer and wrote
most of the cowboy’s stuff. His new project is “Crunchy”, and it is
kind of punky, but with really clever lyrics and twists. Really good
stuff, and aside from the drums Monty pretty much did all the playing
himself.
You are a great Britney Spears Fan
?
Hehehehehe - have to go to the website to check that out! ;o) www.jeffscheetz.com
Stereo was yesterday. What Do you think about the new sound standards like
DVD Audio,Dolby Music Surround and SuperAudioCD ?
Wish they would quit switching so I wouldn’t have to keep replacing all
my music!!! :o) I think Surround is going to really take off - I mean that
is the real way that we hear, with lots of depth. It may take awhile, but
I would guess we will be in a “surround world” in our lifetime.
Which
future plans do you have ?
Just to keep making music! I really want as many people as possible to
get to hear the new CD. I really think that it is one of those Cds that if
people would just hear it, they will like it. It appeals to anyone who
likes just good music. I am also doing a CD with a friend of mine from
Wales- world renowned fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. It is a CD based on
his artwork - real 70s prog band sounding stuff, so that is a lot of fun.
Should be some very cool prog rock guests on it as well. Hope to get over
there and play sometime also!! We can hook up then! Thanks for the
support!
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