The band-episode three Return of the So nigh

This here is Rick. He is the reason I am an Ohio Briar. We met one night at a local wing joint while I was playing NTN music trivia. He was watching and trying to coach me on the answers. I have never met anyone who can beat me on music trivia-and Rick ain't one of 'em. So impressed was Rick that he started asking me how I knew so much about music. I 'splained to him that I am from Memphis and it is part of the requirement to live in the city and surrounding area. He said he and his son had a little band together with him playing trash cans and his son playing a guitar he did not know how to tune & would I like to hear a recording of it. Heck yeah I would. So out to the car I go and what I hear sounds like an early recording of Velvet Underground/Grifters/Guided by Voices/Tom Waits. It was stinkin beautiful. We met up at Rick's garage for a hootenanny and turned out a song that ended up on a GbV tribute CD the first day. Common Rebels. From there it's been all downhill( isn't that the best part of the roller coaster) and I count on Rick to keep me in & out of line, to keep me on time (his time) & I depend on his as a surrogate father/crazy uncle. I have grown really close to this extended family and I hope it never falls apart. With me, Rick, Adam and Jim there is a chemistry that is explosive and caustic and beautiful and encouraging all at the same time. Rick has since slowed down his outings with the Briars ( he is in his 50's) but the hard hitting beats are still there as of last week when we played together again. And for this I salute you Rick---Briar for life. word.

SF

As for the title of this post----It never fails that Rick calls me so nigh instead of sonny--so as in so and nigh as in the time is nigh. SO NIGH. Hey it sounded like Jedi. Just trying to keep a theme here....jeesh.

Self Indulgence

I am, at this moment, immersing myself in music. If you didn't already know I am a big fan of music. I like to go see bands from the biggest rock stars & bands to the smallest solo acoustic guy/gal busking on a corner. I don't buy much music just because I don't want to spend the money. I also do not illegally download. It is not a morals thing, but most of the music I wanna buy is by someone who could really use the money and is probably not on limewire or whatever the kids are using these days to pilfer someones art. I also love to play music. I have probably mentioned this before but it is my golf. I'll think nothing of dropping a couple of hundred on a guitar but I cannot see dropping over $20 to go hit a little ball around a huge lawn. I like golf, I just don't love it. I also might have mentioned I have a band. we are called Ohio Briars. For those of you not from Ohio, you should know that a briar is, basically, white trash. It is derived from the fact that at the beginning of the auto manufacturing boom in Detroit, many people from Kentucky started moving north towards that area. A large portion of them broke down in southwest Ohio and some couldn't get hired or did not like the harsh winters on the lake. They were uneducated, uncouth and lived in the sticks-or briars. Hence Ohio Briars. It is kinda the same as any other ethnic slur. They can call themselves briars but you cannot.

So we are called the Ohio Briars and we do not sound like anything I have heard-well...we have some songs that sound like George Jones, some that sound like Sonic Youth. Some of em sound like Def Leppard outtakes and some that sound like audio test patterns over an am radio whilst passing under a bridge. I dig it because I can write anything and usually it gets recorded. We are a self contained band. I play Guitar mostly, some bass, lots of synthesiser, organ and drum machine, I sing some leads and lots of backup vocals.

So right now I am going through our last release called "Punch The Red". It is 101 songs that we are too lazy to finish, mix , master or mess with anymore. If you like Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, the Grifters, Guided by Voices, White Stripes, Neil Young, The Cars, Beck, Beastie Boys Rock albums, Pat Green, Rolling Stones, Byrds, The Kinks, R.E.M., or Pavement. Give us a listen. If you don't like the song you are listening to at the time...wait, it will turn on a dime and be a whole different type of song on the next track. The website is http://www.ohiobriars.com/ .There is almost no cursing in it, most of the words I can't understand anyway & I didn't write. I apologise to anyone who is offended, in advance. So if you get a chance, listen, evaluate and give me a comment back, good , bad or otherwise. We are working on mastering a new one called "Bliss Press". By mastering I mean getting all of the levels generally the same for each song. We are also working with a new rhythm section and recording another more alt/country CD. So far it sounds great. Thanks for your comments in advance. nighty night.

SF

The band-episode two empire strikes back

So here's Adam. Adam is an enigma. He is stubborn and hard to work with and knows that you are an ars*h*le in the first 30 seconds of meeting you. He also is one of the smarter persons I know. He treats his friends extremely well and started this band and has threatened to finish this band on many occasions. When he started getting interested in music he wanted to emulate the rough, raw sound and bring elements of arena rock, pop and pure poetry to the forefront. Even though the forefront he was trying to bring it to was about 3 friends. He does it outta love for playing, creating and throwing a chink in the works. He has learned more from magazines and websites about recording than I learned in 2 years in a recording studio. He is the producer, lead singer, songwriter and much, much more to Ohio Briars.If there is a fire in the guitar parts, he throws jet fuel on it. If there is too much mutual congratulations, he suggests we do something to muck up the works. He is not happy with mundane. It works great for me and I couldn't think about being in a silly cover band.(unless I am making a bundle) His lyrics and placement are the best I have ever seen & I hope he wants to keep doing this until I am old(er) and grey(er). Here's to you Adam...up yr but joe boo!!!!---sf

The band-episode one

I have not mentioned that I am in a great band and I wanna profile the guys and gals that make me sound like I know what I am doing. I have had the honor to play with some great people over the years, in North Carolina, Memphis, Mississippi, Knoxville and Ohio. The guy I click with the most Has taught me more than I would have ever learned by being in a cover band. we will call him Jim, 'cuz that's his name. Jim has been around and played in many nearly famous bands. He is a successful salesman and can play your butt under the table. I have learned how to mangle, manipulate and strangle guitar leads from him and I thank him for it. He is a true friend and if he ever wants to quit playing I will gladly take his tele and les paul from his kind but firm fingers. I salute you Jim.