Forge in the View

Ric Taylor talked about The Forge in View Magazine this week. The Article starts with:

In the midst of planning their spring cross–Canada tour, the members of Garner are also planning on offering up a monthly round table to help other musicians.

Meanwhile, Thomas Wilson has released his own debut CD and is in the process of expanding his band The Wilson Family Forgery, but he also takes on a monthly songwriting workshop night to help area musicians.

They both are happening at The Freeway Coffeehouse on the first and second Wednesday of the month and while the nights are geared to musicians, fans can get an intimate look at the craft behind some great music and performances.

“The Freeway Coffee House’s purpose is also something that we’re excited about,” says Matt McKenna. “They’re trying to foster arts and community, and charity there and we want to be a part of supporting a place like that."

You can check out the rest of the article at:
http://www.viewmag.com/viewstory.php?storyid=5955

Brian DeBoer: Fear In Our Eyes

Brian DeBoer of The Savvy Fools will be featuring his song "Fear In Our Eyes" at The Forge tonight. Thanks Brian for including the chords so we can all strum along! Just kidding we won't butcher your song while you're playing.

Fear In Our Eyes
© Brian DeBoer

Crushed velvet power suit
Trustworthy parachute
She’s dressed to kill
Top marks and highest honors
Were all bestowed upon her
While at McGill

C-7 A D- D-/C
No one will give her lip
E-7 A D
As she drops on the Lippe
C-7 A D- D-/C
She knows this is her time
E-7 A D D/C D/B D/Bb D/A
Ready to storm the Rhine
G D
Through the two gaping holes
B- F- C
In her unshakable disguise
G A B-7 A D G
I see fear in her eyes Eyes
D A G- D
I see fear in her eyes

Young kid within adult pants,
Part of the new resistance,
The ghetto scene
He is down to his last straw
Time to rise up in Warsaw
Against this regime

Marching he’s listening to Snoop
To take on Jurgen Stroop
He’s going to loose his chains
Not going to board those trains

Through the two gaping holes
In his unshakeable disguise
I see fear in his eyes Eyes
I see fear in his eyes

The cause worth dying for
Leads through the unexplored
Heroics hesitate
Before they crash the gate
And the huge gaping hole
When social justice does arise
Shows the fear in our eyes

Randell Neudorf: "Little Light Bulb" & "The Things You Do"

So here are a couple of songs I will be opening up for critique this Wednesday (Feb 13/08). I don't have them recorded yet so no MP3 links for you. If you want to hear some of my other songs you can check out my 2x the Mono myspace page.

I'm currently in the middle of recording my Christmas album. The two songs I'm posting are the last ones left that I need to start recording. I'm a little unsure of a couple timing issues in both songs, so if you come out on Wednesday I'll play them for you and mabey I can hear some input on which version you think is the best.

Little Light Bulb
© Randell Neudorf

Christmas lights sparkle, In the night on the snow
All the passers by, Are warmed by their light

Twinkling like stars, In my daughters eyes
Teaching her to look, Up into the sky

Electric light, Filament
Shine long, shine bright, Shine into my heart

Little light bulb, Did you ever dream?
That you’d herald, A message fit for stars

The Things You Do
© Randell Neudorf

A virgin gives birth
Step dad’s dream comes true
Angels sing a song
For shepherd rabble

I don’t know how
I’m not always sure why
But I sure do like
To hear all about the things you do

Wise men seek a king
In a dirt poor town
Death comes like a plague
And a babe’s tucked away

I don’t know how
I’m not always sure why
But I sure do like
To hear all about the things you do

The next time you hear of a Miracle
Pass it along; I’d like to hear about it
My guess is that they happen all the time

I don’t know how
I’m not always sure why
But I sure do like
To hear all about the things you do…

Next Workshop: Wed. Feb. 13th, 7:30pm

So our next songwriting workshop is quickly approaching. We will be meeting at The Freeway Coffee House Wednesday February 13th, 7:30pm.

Our host Thomas Wilson isn't able to be there this month but he has asked me if I could be the guest host for February.

If you would like to feature one of your songs at the February workshop and open yourself up to a helpful critique, you can email me at randell@frwy.ca

So for those of you who don't know me I thought I would give you a little history on this guest host.

About Randell Neudorf:

I currently play under the name 2x the Mono. My music has been described as Beck meets Neil Young, and falls in the Art Rock or Experimental category. I love all kinds of music and have gone through a lot of different phases in my music (a grunge 5 piece, a Folk Duo, an alternative 3 piece, singer/songwriter, and finally a one man looping band).

I have a Bachelor Of Fine Art from York University, with a major in visual art, so I am in good company (many famous musicians have come out of art school, i.e. John Lennon). I think my art background has really helped me in thinking about sound and music in broad terms. The art community uses sound as texture and emotion, and often lets sound envelope the listener in a created enviroment; that is something I love to bring into my performances and recordings.

Like most musicians I have a day job, mine is Manager for The Freeway Coffee House. Part of my job as the manager of the Freeway is to book bands and musicians for our weekly concerts. I get to listen to a lot of emerging and established talent in a wide range of styles. Thinking about songs is a daily part of my life, and I believe that good songwriting and creativity always shines through regardless of production values or past touring experience.

On Wed Feb 13th we will be talking about song structure, playing with tried and true formulas like "AABA" or "verse chourus verse "as a technique to be used or avoided, as well as continuing some of our discussions on obscurity verses clarity, and delving into our lyrical content.

Hope to see you out to The Forge, and talk about your tunes.