I recently discovered that Butch Trucks (drummer for the Allman Bros) has a blog. I was excited because I love their music. So, I started reading it, hoping for great musical stories but instead got a bunch of political yuck yuck! I am not even sure what his point of view is because I just click out when I see the post is political. Why do I keep reading? because he throws in a post here and there of some great story from the Allman Bros hey days.
Now if I ever had a blog. Wait I do have a blog! and now I am going to post about the greatest rock band in the Wisconsin North Stake of the LDS church. Ha Ha. They are called Mental Ward or The Band formerly known as Mental Ward since they are in the throws of a name change.
Jeff Arvoy is the lead singer and guitar player. He can sing the blues real well for a white guy!
Not too shabby when it comes to Rock and Jazz as well.
Luke Spanton is the drummer. He can play anything! Luke makes it so easy to keep time. He is really good.
Jordan Collard is the bass/guitar player.
Jordan can play bass, guitar, and can sing also. He can learn a song in nothing flat. He is a natural.
Brian Taylor is the keyboards player. Brian can also play bass and sing. He is an amazing piano player and seems to be able to pick up anything right on the spot. Did I mention he is the church organist also!
Oh yeh, I'm the guitar player. I know my way around the blues scale.
It all started 5 months ago when the church talent show was announced. Luke solicited for musicians. I thought about it but Cole and Kaleb told me I should do it. After a couple days, I sent Luke a message. He then told me Jeff and Jordan were in as well as Bryan Taylor and Billy.
So we had our first practice. It was kind of weird because we were all so spread out in the church gym. We didn't know what to play so I recommended Wild Thing because it is so easy. Yeh, that was ok but boring. So somewhat else asked me what else I had. So, of course, I went into Before You accuse Me, a Bo Diddley song covered by Eric Clapton in the early 90s. It went pretty well so the fire was lit. When you play in a band and it kind of comes together. Its just an amazing feeling even if to outsiders it may not be that great. I think we then tried Sweet Home Alabama and Taking Care of Business. We then practiced quite a few times before the talent show adding Stray Cat Strut and a Collective Soul song.
The talent show came and we did pretty good. The audience seemed to like us alot. I think they were slightly caught off guard. It was awesome but what I like the best is playing with other people. Its just special, like this weird kind of brotherhood. Its euphoric when everyone locks in together. Well, after the talent show, I couldn't just let it go so we have been practicing 2-3x a month, adding songs and getting better. Stay tuned for our next gig. It will be musical fusion!
