Here's what we're working on in rehearsals.
GOODY TWO SHOES - not as easy as it sounds apparently
HUNGRY HEART - with Darin even happier than Bruce Springsteen
ONLY THE GOOD DIE YOUNG which may never see the light of day after May 31
Plus the COUNTRY GOLD EXPLOSION which is classified.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 8, 2008
The Man With Perfect Attendance (And Hair) - by Darin
SKYROCKET has been around for seven years now, with changing lineups and sub players throughout. Out of the 140-plus shows we've played, only one member has taken the stage for every single one. His name? Mike Belile.
Our first appearances ever were on September 9th and 10th of 2001. If the following morning's historic events were really the wrath of God as some maintain, it was because of us. We were awful. Back then it was just Paul and Kyle on guitar, me on drums and Mike on bass. We had no front man - I sang from behind the kit and Paul sang too. Still, everyone at Hole In The Wall that first night got the jist and had fun. But it was clear we needed a lift, so we called in the best front man in town, Benjamin Hotchkiss. Instantly we had more focus, charisma and vocal strength, and a new name, K-Tel Hit Machine. What more did we need?
Johnny Goudie would answer that question for us after coming to Hole In The Wall. He immediately declared us his favorite band in Austin and asked to join (read Johnny's side of the story here). Eventually we said yes, and he debuted with us at Antone's in February 2002. [For those keeping score at home, Ben has missed two gigs and Johnny three or four, the rest of us zero] My sister Trish was there that night and was knocked out.
By the end of '03 we were cult favorites in the punk scene around town, which meant we weren't getting paid much. We got our first money gig in the form of a corporate Christmas party. That meant we needed more material...and a girl singer. So we brought Trish in and it worked right away. We became not just a band, but a force of nature.
Since then several of us have missed a few shows. I sat out most of 2005 to do an acting job and was replaced by Tripp Wiggins and Nina Singh. Johnny and Kyle have missed the most for touring and recording projects, and even Paul missed a couple of gigs last year, so our de facto eighth member Cory Glaeser has been on hand for over two years to fill all of those slots.
But Mike Belile, the Cal Ripkin of bass players, has never missed a gig. Mainly it's because he's afraid we'd replace him permanently. Not a chance. Where are we gonna find another guy with hair like his? I saw him the other day drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. His hair was perfect.
Our first appearances ever were on September 9th and 10th of 2001. If the following morning's historic events were really the wrath of God as some maintain, it was because of us. We were awful. Back then it was just Paul and Kyle on guitar, me on drums and Mike on bass. We had no front man - I sang from behind the kit and Paul sang too. Still, everyone at Hole In The Wall that first night got the jist and had fun. But it was clear we needed a lift, so we called in the best front man in town, Benjamin Hotchkiss. Instantly we had more focus, charisma and vocal strength, and a new name, K-Tel Hit Machine. What more did we need?
Johnny Goudie would answer that question for us after coming to Hole In The Wall. He immediately declared us his favorite band in Austin and asked to join (read Johnny's side of the story here). Eventually we said yes, and he debuted with us at Antone's in February 2002. [For those keeping score at home, Ben has missed two gigs and Johnny three or four, the rest of us zero] My sister Trish was there that night and was knocked out.
By the end of '03 we were cult favorites in the punk scene around town, which meant we weren't getting paid much. We got our first money gig in the form of a corporate Christmas party. That meant we needed more material...and a girl singer. So we brought Trish in and it worked right away. We became not just a band, but a force of nature.
Since then several of us have missed a few shows. I sat out most of 2005 to do an acting job and was replaced by Tripp Wiggins and Nina Singh. Johnny and Kyle have missed the most for touring and recording projects, and even Paul missed a couple of gigs last year, so our de facto eighth member Cory Glaeser has been on hand for over two years to fill all of those slots.
But Mike Belile, the Cal Ripkin of bass players, has never missed a gig. Mainly it's because he's afraid we'd replace him permanently. Not a chance. Where are we gonna find another guy with hair like his? I saw him the other day drinking a pina colada at Trader Vic's. His hair was perfect.
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