Materion 2014

We recently played the Materion Holiday party and had a ball.   It was probably the funnest gig in our illustrious 3 year "tour."  These photos are not the best but they are all I got. 

Falls Fest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOzpHkAz07c&feature=youtu.be

We played Falls Fest around a month ago.  It went swimmingly!   The above link has a taste of the kind of rock and roll we brought down.

Bayshore 2013

Here are some photos from our most recent gig.  A complete kick-butt show at Bayshore Mall.  It was so much fun.  Thanks to everyone that came out and especially to our wives!.   Thanks to Kaylee who helped us close out very very strong, what a voice.   For some reason. I have no photos of Brian or Kaylee.  Sorry.

Brian was terrific. 

set up

Its like he was always with us.  Nice Job David.

our version of drugs

fountain fun

promotion

magnificent six

lets do this thing

Yeh, thats me, love it or leave it

my awesome family

The Bakers!

fine young women and their fine leader

woodstock?

Whitings, our best fans!

3 awesome chicks!

They all turned our pretty good!

Jordan and his buddy.

Great! as always

Our fearless leader and right-on singer!

only a few more enjoyable things.

Nice Job, flawless as usual.

Before You Accuse Me (Chili Fest)

Before You Accuse Me by the band formerly known as Mental Ward..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DulLBRhR2F4

Wildenfest 2012

This is nowhere near the quality and coolness of the videos on Facebook from Dougfest but here you go anyway....   If you haven't seen those, you have to check "em" out.  This video is from Wildenfest and is horrible quality. It kept getting scratchy around the same time, 1:22.  It doesn't do MW justice!

 Here it is anyway.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fYBUW4AiPsY&list=UUdWB2QVknFiaj2_3jKwxCsw&index=2&feature=plcp

Dougfest

Luke can play anything.

Mental Ward played at a good friend's birthday party on Saturday and rocked the joint.  See the photos.  It was so much fun.  Next gig is the Chili Cook-off in a few weeks.  

Matt steady on the bass

Jeff sang his rear off

Fast fingers Taylor.

Yeh, Mormon can get wild!

Fantastic

Tyler bringing us to a whole new level

FD present!

Cole and Kaleb spent a good deal of time making this for me as an FD present.  I love it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y6KYTjrsPA&list=UUdWB2QVknFiaj2_3jKwxCsw&index=1&feature=plcp&noredirect=1

Rogaine Pitch Song?

Click here for Rogaine

Here is a proposed pitch song for Rogaine!

Snow on a Bayou - directors cut ha ha

Snow on Bayou Debroux copy

I know you probably all saw this already but Eugene gave me another copy of Snow on the Bayou.

So, click, and keep on choogling!

Chooglin on down.................

After weeks of practicing and jamming, probably 20 or hours, Mental Ward pulled off a face-melting performance on Saturday.   It was so much fun.   The band is great and I am looking forward to our next gig!  Thanks to everyone who cheered and screamed for us!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUYu9N-9XDk
Come home for Christmas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6P2MDk3gys&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
Snow on the bayou REHEARSAL

Mental Ward to play at the Church Christmas Party on 12-17-11

Mental Ward has been asked to play at the LDS Church Christmas Party on 12-17-11.   We will be working on a few songs for that gig.   If you want to see Christmas Songs with a new wrinkle, come on over!

Mental Ward unveiled

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!