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Archives for 2014

Alex Mills Song & Critique Review Video

by Backstage: Music Makeover Videos Greenroom: Leave a Comment

It’s rehearsal, Tom says, so you poke around and try things out and see if you can take something that’s already pretty sweet, and make it even sweeter. And because it’s rehearsal, if something doesn’t work well — you don’t have to do it that way! Alex Mills, a Barbados artist, made a splash at […]

One In a Million: Charles Walker Band

by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Their fusion of sounds — funk, pop, R&B, Motown — into a unique, soulful feel, makes the Charles Walker Band one in a million! Though compared to an array of musicians (Prince, Chaka Khan, Stevie Wonder, James Brown), their music retains deep gospel influences and positive lyrical messages. Charles Walker, on sax and keys, was […]

AJ Jansen: Creative Drive in a Winning Package

by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Talented. Edgy. Driven. Singer/songwriter AJ Jansen, whose style and voice have been compared to Jewel, Shania Twain, & Stevie Nicks, grew up in New England, being influenced by music at an early age. She began performing at age 6 and writing songs at age 10. At 18, she performed to an audience of 500… then […]

Boot Stompin’ Roots: The Welch Brothers

by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Brothers David, Nate & Jonny Welch, have been singing together for as long as they can remember! Growing up in a musical family, and living in both North Carolina and California, the The Welch Brothers developed a taste for both country and rock. That combination, along with their tight, 3-part harmonies, has created an easy to […]

Is It Possible to Over-Prepare Your Show?

by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 5 Comments

I’m not a big fan of early sound checks. Yeah, I know — sometimes it’s necessary. But whenever our band would arrive at a venue 5 hours early, set up, and do our sound check, it seemed like the day would drag on. When it was time for the show, I’d feel uninspired and tired. […]

Multiple Lead Singers: Welch Brothers Makeover

by Backstage: Music Makeover Videos Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Distraction, misdirection, shiny objects… it’s easy to lose focus on what’s important. So imagine your poor audience watching your show, never having seen you before, trying to figure out what’s going on. It can be tough for audiences to know what to pay attention to (they’re not musicians, after all) — so you need to […]

Why You Should Use a Headset

by Backstage: Materials, Tools & Skills Greenroom: 3 Comments
This entry is part 3 of 4 in the series Your 5 Onstage Tools

“I can’t do that — it’s goofy, cheesy, hokey. And besides, (insert name here) uses one! I’m original. What would my friends and peers say?” That’s the usual response I get when I ask an artist to consider using a headset for one of their songs. Frankly, I don’t care what artist has used a […]

Indie Artist Brings in $150K for Charity & $10K for Themselves

by Backstage: News & Shout Outs Greenroom: 2 Comments

“Over 70 sponsors today, Tom!” The call came in after indie artists Doug and Linda Tidwell did a concert in a San Antonio, Texas elementary school for about 200 kids. As artists who work hard on their onstage appeal and advocacy for ChildFund International, it was no surprise they got a great response! But let […]

4 Rules to Follow So You are the Opening Act they Remember

by Backstage: Sneak Peek Greenroom: 8 Comments

In 1991, Pearl Jam opened for the Smashing Pumpkins and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. In Kim Neely’s Pearl Jam book Five Against One, drummer Dave Abbruzzese said, “We’d play for 30 minutes, and it was like the Smashing Pumpkins had to earn their 30 minutes, and the Peppers had to earn theirs. By the […]

Southern Rock Roots: The Remedy

by Backstage: Spotlight Greenroom: Leave a Comment

Friends and brothers growing up on the same street in the same rural Georgia town, The Remedy connected as a group through a string of events. Although the boys had known each other for a lifetime, it was actually their passions that brought them together onstage for the first time when guitar player, Josh, needed […]