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12/25/11 |
            
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(Scroll to the bottom of the page for pics & vidya clips...)
To sample (and hopefully buy) some music, please check out my 'store' here:
My brothers in music, Joe and Jay Rocha, and I had the time of our lives recording this album in Hollywood in 2005, with guitar hero of mine, A-List LA session musician, and guitarist of the band, Supertramp, Carl Verheyen producing....
My very first CD (as opposed to my 'kinda' first CD), is "Another Working Class Dog". No, the music doesn't sound like a Rick Springfield CD. Although he's a big influence on my music, this CD is an instrumental-guitar album. You got yer rock, pop, funk, blues, heavy metal, ballads, etc, etc... Just click on the album cover (yes, it's an homage to Rick's album) and you'll open the album's page on CDBaby.com where you can sample all the songs, buy a physical, hard copy of the CD (which they'll send to you), download the entire CD, or even just download the songs you like - again, all safely and securely!
My 2004-ish CD, "Somewhere Near Flagstaff" is my pop/rock/Steely-Dan-ish/smooth-jazzy/thing. You can check out samples of all the songs and (hopefully) buy a copy or download the album or even a few songs.
"Swingline Stapler" is the CD I did in late 2004. It's back to being a mix of pop, rock, country, country-rock, and a little bit of everything else thrown in (one of those "you gotta check it out for yourself to determine what style it is" CDs):
After recording the "Swingline Stapler" CD, I sent it to guitar hero, A-List session guy, guitarist for Supertramp, and friend (BIG-time name-dropping here, sorry), Carl Verheyen for his thoughts. He likey! He suggested (knowing that I was looking to use my music as a way of promoting myself to someday get a job as somebody's guitar player on a pro tour) that I come out to LA, have him produce my next CD and even have some of his pro-player friends come play any other instruments (drums, keyboards, bass, etc). Well, at the time, my long-time friends and brothers in music, Joe Rocha (bass) and Jay Rocha (drums), and I were all after that same pro-touring gig dream. I asked Carl if I could do the CD with them. That way, the three of us could split the cost and then we could all use the CD to promote ourselves as a band and as individual musician's for hire. Carl said, cool and we were on our way! Long story short, we recorded our self-titled debut BUMP album at the legendary Sunset Sound recording studio ( www.sunsetsound.com ) where bands like Led Zepplin, Van Halen, the Doors, and soooo many others have recorded! We were so excited we peed ourselves - but just a li'l bit. We actually recorded in Studio 3 where The Wallflowers recorded their mega-smash debut album and where Prince recorded tracks for "Purple Rain"! Well, like our musical tastes, the BUMP cd has songs (some with vocals!) covering pop, rock, metal, laid-back jazz, and even a punk cover of the Tom Jones classic, "It's Not Unusual". Another awesome feature of the BUMP cd is the addition of two tracks of outtakes from the band rehearsing and recording the actual album (totaling about 22 minutes of side-splitting goofyness, mistakes, and the occasional fart joke). :) I'm really proud of this record. Not just of the coolness factor (everything listed above) surrounding it, but the fact that I think there's some great music here that you'll enjoy. I've also been floored by how many people have complimented the songwritting on it! I mean some people really love the music on here and for that, I'm honored and grateful. Please click on the link below and check it out, fall in love with it, and maybe buy it or at least the tracks you like!
I just wanna start with a group of pics that I love. A few years ago I went to go see Rick Springfield play in St. Charles, IL at the Arcada theater. I bought myself a ticket and let Roger Carter (Rick's drummer who's the drummer on my current CD project and an all-around great guy) know that I'd be there. Well, Roger said that he'd take care of me and that I should just go to the ticket booth, give them my name, and I'd be all set. Turns out, there was a little mix-up and they didn't have anything for me when I got to the show. No biggie, I had my own ticket and I figured I'd just go to the backstage door after the show to ask if someone could see if Roger had a moment to come out and say hi. Well, long story short, Rick's tour manager (and fellow all-around great guy) Ronnie, spots me in my seat, says hi, and tells me to follow him. He apologizes for the mix-up, brings me back to say hi to everyone, and hands me an all-access pass. (VERY cool.) As the band gets ready to go onstage, Ronnie points to the big drum case on the left side of the stage and asks if that'd be okay for the show. I, of course, ask, "you mean, me sit here for the show?" He said, yes and for both shows (the band was in town for 2 nights). I, of course, said "yes, that would be fine." So, for a guy who's life-long dream is to play in a great band like theirs, to be able to enjoy a show from their point-of-view to the audience, I was in heaven. And here's what I saw...
Here's Roger (and Rick's great guitar player George Bernhardt) - typical day at the office:
Here are George Bernhardt (guitar) and Derek Hilland (keyboards). Roger, George, & Matt are also know as The Squirts - a KILLER band with some of the best pop/rock music you will ever hear! Click here for more Squirts info: www.MattBissonette.com or www.TheDoghouseStudio.net
So, here's a rare thing - a picture of me that I like! As much as I thing that melon poking out of the top of my shirt is pretty funny-lookin', but I like the shot of me enjoying a moment with one of my babies (my Tom Anderson guitars) while wearing one of my favorite shirts: my Doghouse Studio t-shirt.
Here's the GP issue I'm honored to be in:
VIDEOS! Here's a little video I threw together with photos showing the evolution of my guitar career. Its set to the song, "The End Of The Road" by my friend (and one of my favorite songwriters of all time), Dustin Parker. The video culminates with pics of what I hope is waiting for me at the end of the road - the chance to reunite with my angel, Gypsy. The song features my friends (name drops in 5, 4, 3, 2,...) Lance Morrison on bass (on loan from Don Henley) and Rodger Carter on drums (on loan from Rick Springfield).Sorry for all the name-dropping, but would you watch/listen to these if I didn't mention these guys? If you probably wouldn't, it's okay - that's why I mentioned them. :)
"The End Of The Road"
Here's a 'video' (well, it's a picture with music) of my
cover of the great John Rzeznik
(of the Goo Goo Dolls)
song, "I'm Still Here". Also featuring Lance
and Rodger.
"I'm Still Here"
To me, And, don't ask me why YouTube's video thumbnail software SUCKS. I know. Why it doesn't at least use the first image that appears in the clip below (or the others above), I have no idea. "Dragon"
Here's my performance from the And....a note to all guitar players out there (and an explanation for my SHOCKINGLY LOUD and NASTY lead guitar tone): I take FULL responsibility for this harsh tone. Ask Brodie (one of the other contestants) or any of the folks at soundcheck - I had a nice, fat, warm, smooth tone. I spent a good amount of time dialing in my tone here in Chicago, wrote down my settings, then replicated the tone at soundcheck. But... Then just before going onstage, one of the crew asked if I remembered what wattage we had the amplifier at. I had forgotten, and my amp 'notes' were back upstairs in the green room. Ok, so do I literally stop the show to go upstairs and get my sheet? No, so I told him that since I was thinking that I could've used a weeeee-bit more volume still after soundcheck, why not just go up one from where we thought it was at. BIG MISTAKE! You can just make out (in my slight facial expression) the point where my heart sinks knowing that this is not going well. Its just a few seconds after hitting the heavy lead tone. But, I played my tune, made a few mistakes, but yet still had the greatest performing night of my entire life! I got to play for a packed house, play for (and meet) some of my guitar HEROES, play with the best band I've played with in a LOOOONG time, got to be IN Guitar Player Magazine, make some awesome contacts for my move out to LA, got some awesome swag, and become part of the Guitar Player magazine family. And they truly treat me and the guys from the competition like family. Anyway, enjoy it, but take into account what I mentioned above. And again, you guitar players out there, learn from my mistake!! =) "It's All Ball Bearings Nowadays"
Here's the GP issue I'm honored to be in:
While living in LA, I got to perform at an awards ceremony/party in Beverly Hills. Here's a clip:
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This site was last updated 12/25/11