Firstly, I finished a crazy semester of school that came down to the very last day. The last few weeks of school this semester were some of the hardest and most demanding of my life. I definitely learned a bit about time management and how to study or one of my teachers would put it "work smart". Balancing this semester with working at my job was incredibly difficult, but it also made it so I had to be even more focused on my work when it came time to do it.
I also had the privilege of studying with one of my favorite guitar players at school this semester. Being in a position to learn from who has so much knowledge and passion for the guitar was amazing. Some of the the things he said will always stick with me as inspiration for putting in all the long hours of practice.
Since my last post I've also joined a band. I answered a flyer that i saw up on the wall at school for a "Bassist Wanted" and after reading the requirements i knew i had to do it. The band is called Mondo Gecko. A band specializing in improvisation, experimenting with live music, extended jamming, and playing many different styles. Even though i study guitar at school, i knew that playing bass in a band of this style could be a possiblility. I got a bass for my 13th birthday and it remained my main instrument until i was about 19 when i started taking guitar more seriously. Here is a link to the flyer
http://mondogecko.com/the-quest-for-a-bass-player-is-on/
Reading this flyer I had flashbacks of so many memories from my time playing bass. Sitting in front of the TV playing to Phish's "Live in Vegas" DVD for hours on end when i was 16, staying up all night long to learn the bass line to Phish's "You Enjoy Myself", and listening to the Grateful Dead's "All Downhill from Here" Alpine Valley show trying to imitate Phil Lesh as much as possible, getting hyped up for a gig at Lincoln Sudbury high school cafeteria to play "Weekapaug Groove", and so many more.
I knew that if i could have read that flyer when i was in high school that i would have done anything for a chance at that position in the flyer. But I would not have been ready for it then. Its pretty crazy how these things come back. I'm at Berklee now, studying electric guitar and thinking that the whole Phish/jam band/bass chapter of my life is near closing, and an opportunity like this comes along. Well, after the "audition" practice session i attended i knew that Mondo Gecko was the right choice.
Since being in the band, I've had the opportunity to play a lot of really fun gigs, and had some intense jamming in band practice. I'm more busy than I've ever been with music. Right now i have gigs booked up as far as next February. I've also been welcomed in the Mondo Gecko family and i've met some great people that have been very encouraging and welcoming to me.
All that being said, I'm still very interested in the electric guitar and by no means putting it on the back burner. I will finish school as a guitarist and continue to try to improve and move towards my goals with guitar playing.
Visit the website for more details on our touring. And also an interview with me that was put up recently.
MondoGecko.com
Interview
http://mondogecko.com/mondo-gecko-welcomes-bassist-matt-drummey/
to top it all off, check out this video of a great guitar player! Derek Trucks
