Morning Friend,
Have you tried any of the interactive marvels out there like “Rock Band” or “Guitar Hero”?
They are hugely popular, quite likely with you or someone you know.
As a former singer/guitarist ( of heroic ambition let’s say vs. any noteworthy virtuosity), I am none surprised at the popularity of such musical interactive technology with its’ nearly lifelike stage environment; the frantic crowd, the rambunctious colors and flamboyant excitement are the meat and potatoes of what makes performing, one of the greatest natural highs I’ve ever known.
But as viscerally fulfilling as much of today’s computer-generated realities may be, they’re not quite the same as blowing up a real ammo dump, mowing down a real platoon of n’er-do-wells nor....
...windmill riffing a Gibson through a blazing Marshall stack whilst bellowing one of your fan favorite Clash tunes ( and sounding not half-bad thanks to the 10K p.a. and a sound man who’s a professional and not your buddy ), wearing sweat-soaked fashionable threads; reflective of your persona (and limited wardrobe), under the always surprisingly hot blast of colored spotlights that exaggerate your provocative leaping, emphasize your statuesque posturing and spotlight the nakedness of your creative self under the rain of instantaneous feedback ( and the odd feminine undergarment), as upon a real stage.
Of genuine interactivity, there is no equal.
My band memories are a nostalgic recollection of a fantasy brought to life and nurtured over a few years in the early 80’s.
Co-founded with my friend and “soul brother” Darren Duke, You Whut!? ably facilitated a healthy release of the exhibitionist tendencies and musical passion of several young dudes - now lifelong friends - over the course of a good little run of gigs and adventure.
We were noisy, and we made a little noise.
Given my own already well evident extroverted bent at the time, my reverence for the trappings of “guitar rock”, my proximity to some truly talented and inspiring musician/friends, my burgeoning creative nature, and access to parental basement practice facilities ( thanks Mom for “...at least I know where he is.” ), You Whut!? was a perfect fit.
The alternative in that “pre-Sega” era would have been the primitive ancestor of today’s Guitar Hero....Air Guitar.
“Start with good instruments”, was the advice of our stoically brilliant mentor and friend Gord Zubrecki ( Gord Zubrecki Band ), as opposed to the oft out of tune department store bargain I had been earnestly thrashing bar chords upon.
A Strat and a Les Paul later, we were poised to “learn songs and rehearse”, with Gordie providing the drums, some vocals and a healthy back beat of encouragement.
A rough rendition of Gen X’s “Ready Steady Go” became the first of many “three-chord-specials-with-a-solo” that would be the staple of our diverse set lists of “all ahead full” original and cover tunes.
About fifty astonished friends and family in my parent’s basement witnessed the inaugural You Whut!? gig on a Friday summer’s eve.
It was to be the first of many imperfect performances marked by a wide range of “tightness” yet consistently energetic, none-too serious and always full of fun.
I never bit the head off of or otherwise maimed any props during shows.
About the only risqué thing I ever did was sport some somewhat revealing ( and tremendously uncomfortable) tie-dyed green one piece long underwear as we opened a set with “Theme from the Friendly Giant” ( You Whut!? style....fast)
As to that name?....
After days of a struggled search; literally through the entire English dictionary, and finding no noun or verb worthy of heralding our band and its’ soul purpose, I offered up a fairly common catch-phrase to the boys, which reflects some basic elements of surprise: shock, wonder, disbelief, amazement....elements that make life’s stage such an improvisational and entertaining gig.
Someone uttering the phrase is usually seeking some sort of redemptive truth, great explanation or grand illumination; or may just simply be expressing vigorous exasperation.
It turned out to be a good choice not just because of its’ versatile nature and broad interpretation, but because it didn’t brand us to a specific genre of music or trumpet too loudly like say, “Maggot Breath”, “the She-Satans” or “the Parlor Dandies”!?!?
And, it turned out to be more memorable than a lot of band names given the verbal exchange it usually provoked.
Usually someone asks a musician, “What’s your band’s name?.....oh, The Vandalays?....COOL!”, and then immediately forgets it.
Try this exchange.....
“What’s the name of your band?”
“You Whut!?”
“What?”
“You Whut!? is the band’s name.”
“You Whut!?”
“Ya, You Whut!?”
“Is that like U-2 ?”
“No, You WHUT!?...exclamation...question mark...like what you’d say to a person who’s told you they’ve won the lottery.....”
“You Whut!?”
“Exactly!....or what a father says when his daughter tells him she’s pregnant....”
“YOUUU WHUUUT!?!?!?”
“That’s it!”
“Cool!”
“Not as cool as dodging undergarments from admiring females....real ones too!”
“OUT-standing!”
“Truly.”
love tImMy:/
Laugh as much as you breathe....
Love as long as you live ( heroically )
