This entry is to answer fun and interesting questions asked my Jaqz.
Name: Eric Becker
Vocal Abilities: Mid-baritone to tenor range. Yeah. I go up kinda high. I also like to work with 3 and 4 part harmony to the point of overdoing it, which is why I need a good, objective producer for my music who knows when it's okay to let me cut loose on 3 different audio tracks and when maybe I should just do one and leave it at that.
Instrumental Abilities: I'm a 10 year guitar veteran. Well, not really, I just mainly goofed around for the first 5 or so. I've nearly perfected the art of rock rhythym guitar and play folk well enough. I could play metal, and limited jazz 'cuz I'm nifty like that. I've gotten to the point where I can learn just about any song in a short amount of time in terms of chord progressions. I've recently become interested (finally!) in learning how to play lead guitar. So far I'm okay at doing some really basic stuff that's based mainly within the confines of the scales I know. I can also play backing bass, but don't expect any fancy bass licks out of me. I'm trying to learn piano, but I'm probably not patient enough.
Age: 21 as of January 2nd, 2003 (Yeah, I'm a newbie in the alcohol buying world. As of yet, I have not purchased legally for myself or illegally for minors, nor do I really ever intend to become a drinker.)
Do I write songs? Yes. Over 150. Over 200 if you count my work with The Hokie Brothers. (http://www.thehokiebrothers.com)
Music History:
Wrote first song at age 13
First public performance at age 14
First band participation at age 15 (Distraction, fronted by Tim Smith, who currently fronts The Thought Doctors, a band which I will talk about from time to time. They're good. And they need a fan base.)
First coffee house performance at age 16
First band fronted: The Hokie Brothers (starting age 17 with Mark Adams)
No, Really? Well, okay, we became what most people would consider a band when I turned 19.
Musical influences: Brit rock ranging from Beatles to Queen to Radiohead. Influenced limitedly by Bob Dylan and The Doors. I like Jackson Browne and Joan Baez. Jewel is good stuff. System of a Down could become an influence. Silverchair. For a while I liked to write songs like the Smashing Pumpkins. I've recently become a limited Nirvana buff.
Which bands I'd most like to pattern any of my bands after: The Beatles, Nirvana, and The Doors. Here's why: The Beatles integrated 3-part harmony with catchy lyric writing and music that an audience could appreciate. In their later years, however, the emphasis became on the music and the music alone, and revolutionizing that music. I liked that. Nirvana because Kurt Cobain was about the music, and managed to win the fans anyway. The Doors because they were able to keep it relatively simple, but at the same time were able to put out a commercial product.
What are my musical goals for the next month? 3 months? 6 months? Year? It all depends. Currently, I'm negotiating with my old band The Hokie Brothers on reforming in a slightly different format (no word yet on whether the name will remain intact or anything like that.) If that happens, my immediate goal is to teach the two new members, Graham (Rhythym guitar and vocals) and Scotty J. (Bass) the songs, rework myself to be a rhythym/lead guitar player, enhance Scott C.'s vocal ability so that between me, him and Graham we have 3 potential frontmen (see the Beatle formula?), and let Mark "FREAK-OUT!" Adams (Xanga user FreakOutAdams) and Ed "The King of Excitement" do their thing. 3 months from now we should be recording our demo. 6 months from now we should be playing shows. I'd like to be working either under a label or under a strong self-marketing scheme within a year with these guys.
If this DOES NOT HAPPEN, bump up working on my own demo to immediate, be playing shows within 2-3 months, and try to be under a label or under a strong self-promotion scheme within 6 months. Essentially, I've got the material, and one way or the other I'm ready to break it out of the box.
Stay locked in for more information. I hope to be starting to put up information on how to listen to music I'm involved with and where I'll be playing shows at soon.
"Ambition is nothing without drive and focus."
-Eric | 