Life on Yavin IV: FIREBRAND ROCKS!

Life on Yavin IV

Hello there. I'm Jedi Knight G. Since the creation of the New Jedi Order by Master Skywalker, the Jedi have been free to take part in previously forbidden activities. One of those being Marriage. The following are the tales of my experiences being married with children. May the force be with you...G.

4.03.2006

FIREBRAND ROCKS!

I just wanted to take the opportunity to give all my loyal readers a 'heads up' on an extremely talented local Arkansas rock band. Whew...that wil take the breath out of you. It was brought to my attention during my last Kmax post that Firebrand wasn't mentioned. (Thanks Jason for keeping me staight) Well, I must say that...well...Kmax is still my all time favorite singer/performer. But now you have a goal. The bar has been set guys. Go for it!

Seriously though. This is a great band. These guys are really committed to what they do and do it with all humility and passion.
I met them a few years back in Paragould during an all day music festival. Crossroads Music Festival if my memory serves me right. I was a green producer with lots of ideas and visions yet to be marred by the realism of paperwork, beuracracy and the endless obsticle course that is broadcast televison. Anyway. I wanted to get some footage of various bands and also get some 'liners' for the station. {Liner- when a person or persons gives a station ID for said station} ex: "Hi, we're Firebrand and you're watching VTN." I thought it would be good to get some local faces on TV. Everyone like to see themselves on TV. So off I go with my mini-DV cam and a friend of mine to hear some good music.

Most of you who know me know that I'm a child of the 70's as far as music goes. Hendrix, Clapton, CCR, Ozzy, AC/DC, The Doors, Zeppelin, Stevie Ray, Skynyrd, etc. I'm a big guitar guy. Can't play a lick, but my wife says I'm a huge encyclopedia of useless guitar/music trivia. So I was hoping for some good guitar rock. I wasn't dissappointed there were several good bands there. One of which was Firebrand. What got my attention were the Guitar riffs. There was a fairly lengthy guitar solo so I snatched up my cam and started recording. Still have the footage too. Overtaken was the name of the song, and for the record is my favorite. Aaron was tearing it up with his guitar. Standing at the front of the stage demanding the attention of the crowds ears. One of the things I like about their music was that it was long. It just flowed...if it flowed for 3minutes or 7 that was fine. They let the music decide. Not the typical 3 1/2minutes demanded for radio play today. Back in the day a song was as long as a song needed to be...freebird, stairway..etc. Now it's so programmed and templated that it takes the life out of the music. Now don't get me wrong, there are still good songs out there. I just think they could be better if they were allowed to be free-formed instead of made to fit your raido friendly template. {Bang} ok, rabbit shot.

Anyway, Aron kinda looked like a 70's rocker up there. Wind was blowing his hair all over the place as he stood their in the classic guitar solo stance. You know the one I'm talking about. If not...well then you obviously listen/watch too much pop music. Now let's not forget the other guys, Jason & Nathan. A band is not just one person. They were great as well. They were all on the same page and it showed. After their set I made a point to find them and get them on camera. I also went and made a photocopy of a flyer that I did on the spot after hearing the bands there. It was for a contest that I had worked on with a promotion company called FLY. The winner would open their annual music festival "Vertical Fest" in Pine Bluff. Anyway, I wanted these guys to have one, so I wrote all the info down and gave it to them. They did a liner and one of them, not sure who, let out this loud "aiiiiaiiiaiiiiaiiiiyeeee!" at the end. It was hiliarious, I left it in the spot. These guys knew who they were and enjoyed what they did. I could tell that just by the few minutes I met with them. So months later as I'm getting several CDs from bands wanting to win the contest ( I must say that 90% of the music that came through my desk was nowhere near the quality to perform on a stage at an event that hosted bands like Pillar, Audio A, Superchick, GRITS, Hawk Nelson, Disciple...etc.) My boss and I were a little disappointed. I figured that the bands that actually had the talent to win were probably playing gigs and just didn't want to bother with it. Thank goodness Firebrand decided to send in there demo. At the end there were about 3 bands that were in the running. Firebrand being one of them. I choose the finalist. Then my boss made his recommendations, then the promoter made his decision. Firebrand was the winner.
It was a real treat to call the guys and tell them that they won. I think they nearly lost their minds...and a lot of sleep. LOL. They deserved it.

Well we have kept intouch and I'm still trying to get them on TV. It's a slow, tedious process. They're currently working on a full length album. It's going to rock. I was privilaged to be able to hear a track off of it called "Shape Me". I wish I coud let you guys hear this music. When the album is done, I'll be sure to give you all the info you need to purchase a copy. It's money well spent supporting great music and a great ministry. That's what they see themselves as. God has given them a talent and they intend to use it for His glory. Rock On guys. Just make sure that I get an exclusive backstage interview when ya'll go on your nationwide tour.

Firebrand is Aaron Wilkin, Jason Baird and Nathan Cole.

Check out their website here.

When I find the footage of them performing at the crossroad music festival, I'll post a clip of it. They won't mind. (right Jason?)

posted by G. @ 10:49 AM

2 Comments:

At 9:47 PM, Anonymous said…

paul, we (FIREBRAND) CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR SUPPORT. WE LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE IN OUR PRAYERS CONSANTLY. BY THE WAY LOVE YOUR BLOG.

JASON
At 2:12 PM, Unknown said…

G,

thanks for keeping it real and promoting music that is Christian and not hokey. The greatest plague on Christianity today is hokiness. Just read the church signs on your way to work, or watch VTN...oops, did I write that?

B