What I've been up to...not car related :)

[tcrews]

Been busy, I check the forums regularly and help with question when I can but I haven't been doing much with the Cobra(s). The '97 is still at my mechanics (a tick developed after the last SCMC drag day I attended....4 years ago) but it should be back on the road this summer. Lack of funds, lack of time (mechanic) and almost a lack of desire to do anything with it but I'm itching to drive it again.... :)

Anyway....keeping myself busy with another hobby of mine. I've been playing guitar on and off for years....and my former guitar teacher (best friend) has a band and he lets me get up and play a few songs with them. Pretty intense experience getting up in front of a live audience but a total blast. Kind of like the first time you go down the 1/4 track :) Nervous, a little scared and then you do it and it totally rocks LOL

Here are a few videos.....if you want to check them out. Pretty much an 80's cover band.

Talk Dirty To Me (http://www.tomcrews.com/gallery/v/rockvids/Talk+Dirty+to+Me.wmv.html)
Hit Me With Your Best Shot (http://www.tomcrews.com/gallery/v/rockvids/HitMe.wmv.html)
Jessie's Girl (http://www.tomcrews.com/gallery/v/rockvids/JessiesGirl.wmv.html)
Round and Round (http://www.tomcrews.com/gallery/v/rockvids/RoundandRound.wmv.html)
Detroit Rock City (http://www.tomcrews.com/gallery/v/rockvids/DetroitRockCity.wmv.html)

Anyway....lots of fun.....the band plays about 3 weekends each month and I assist with the setup/teardown and then get up and play about 8 to 12 songs with them.

[blk04cobra1]

That sounded pretty good...I tried to pick up a guitar a long time ago, got frustrated and never picked another one up...might have to give it another shot now that I have more patience :D

[tcrews]

It's frustrating, especially watching my friend play. He can play anything.....and he makes it look so effortless and easy. I struggle to learn what I do and then have to practice continuously to do well.....he'll hear a song and can then pretty much play it.


Go for it again....you have to practice and practice and practice. And as my instructor said...don't practice wrong, slow it down until you can play it right and practice that. Then build up speed. He compared it to driving a road course, you don't go out and go full throttle and "hope" you don't hit anything....you go through it and build up speed as you get familiar with the course.

[nckissfan]

they sound good. The KISS song sounded real good, I just really wished the guy would have sang the whole song, instead of the girl singing the first part. She has a good voice, but the song sounded empty with her singing. I am a huge KISS fan, by the way;)

[tcrews]

they sound good. The KISS song sounded real good, I just really wished the guy would have sang the whole song, instead of the girl singing the first part. She has a good voice, but the song sounded empty with her singing. I am a huge KISS fan, by the way;) The guy singing is my best friend, the girl singing is his wife. He usually sings all the KISS songs (he's a huge fan as well) but she recently started singing parts of Detroit. I never asked why.....I guess she wanted to so he let her. They do Shout it Out Loud, Rock and Roll All Night and occaisionally Cold Gin.

[nckissfan]

I wouldn't mind seeing some video of them doing Cold Gin, and Shout It Out Loud

[tcrews]

I wouldn't mind seeing some video of them doing Cold Gin, and Shout It Out LoudI'll have to see if I have a video/dvd of them doing either of those...

[97whitevert]

Very cool tom! sounds like this band thing may be a new career for you!;)

Good to hear from ya! Was talking about you just the other day!

[tcrews]

Very cool tom! sounds like this band thing may be a new career for you!;)

Good to hear from ya! Was talking about you just the other day!I've been pretty quiet in the car scene lately. Work has been keeping me busy and then helping out with the band (doing their website, mailing list, setup/teardowns and playing) has taken all my free time.

[red04svtcobra]

I am a huge KISS fan, by the way;)You don't say!! LOL I always wondered what your screenname meant. :D

[Lumpydogs]

COLD GIN :headbang:

[Big Daddy]

Tom, good to see you're doing well and enjoying life!

Remember....be excellent to each other AND PARTY ON DUDE! :D

[SVTSnak]

Tom,

I thought Detroit was really good too...lacked a little punch/depth in the beginning. Might be a bit better if she was a little louder when singing...maybe that was part of it. Seems like the instruments were overpowering her. Otherwise, it did sound great... :thumbsup:

PS Remember...I'm no fancy critic and can't play a lick...so you get alllll the credit in the world from me for bein' up there! :eek: :cool:

[tcrews]

Thanks for the kind comments everyone :) I don't have any videos with my newest toy....so here's a pictures of it.

It's an Ibanez JS1200CA (Joe Satriani Signature Series) guitar that sounds incredible and has a great feeling neck making it easy to play.

http://www.tomcrews.com/images/js1200ca.jpg
and my new guitar with my old guitar (Ernie Ball Music Man Axis Super Sport).
http://www.tomcrews.com/images/my2guitars.jpg

[nckissfan]

those Satch guitars are awesome. Have you played a John Petrucci model Music Man?

[tcrews]

those Satch guitars are awesome. Have you played a John Petrucci model Music Man?Nope, I've had a Fender Stratocaster, a Kramer, a Chavel #5 and some off brand cheapo's......

What's cool about the Satch guitar though is that it reproduces a lot of the tone and sounds that Joe does. Plus it looks really cool!

[nckissfan]

they are very comfortable guitars, too.

If you are ever at a Guitar Center, check out that Music Man John Petrucci model. It is a great guitar.

[tcrews]

I wouldn't mind seeing some video of them doing Cold Gin, and Shout It Out LoudThe set list for this Friday (6/27) has them doing the following Kiss songs...

Detroit Rock City (I'll play on)
Shout it Out Loud (I'll play on)
Cold Gin
Love Gun
Rock and Roll All Night

I'll see if they are taping and get a video of it and post them on my site.

[nckissfan]

I wish I lived closer, I would come see y'all play. I would have to request one thing, though. Drop Rock and Roll All Nite, and add something like Rock Bottom, or Black Diamond, or my favorite 100,000 Years

[tcrews]

heh...I have very little control over what they play :)

The crowd loves "Rock and Roll All Night" and he always tries to gear the songs to what the crowd "gets in to" vs. just what we all like.

There are quite a few songs I hate that they play, but the crowd loves it so they play it every gig.

The drummer absolutely hates "Jessie's Girl" (because he's played it in every band he's been in.....over and over and over) but it's one song that as soon as we start playing it the crowd (the girls in the crowd) just scream :)

We played a gig for a young crowd (we're all in our 40s, the crowd was 19-24 college kids) and I was worried about doing "Jessie's Girl". Once again....as soon as we started playing it, every girl in the club screamed and sang along with it......totally cool!!! :thumbsup: (very unexpected for that crowds age...)

[tcrews]

I wish I lived closer, I would come see y'all play. Well you can always check out the calendar and see if a date meets your ability/desire to travel :)

Hijacked (http://www.hijackedband.com/)

and go to the calendar section, we have most of the bookings through the end of the year up there.

[nckissfan]

RnR all nite is my least favorite KISS song. I know, all the people in the crowd will get into it. I would just rather hear something more off the wall.

[SVTSnak]

I don't know anything about guitars....but I do know that the red on the new one is awesome! :cool: :D :thumbsup: Congratz