The Music
For your listening pleasure:
1) "Push.mp3" My former band 3 Ton Jack
2)"Rockit.mp3"- A small jam written by Scott Holmes with the use of Garageband software.
3)"Satcheroniclp.mp3"- Another small jam written by Scott Holmes with the use of Garageband software.
4) "High School Band mp3s" My first rock band experience with friends in high school, and a tribute for two friends.
Music related Photo Albums:
1)3 Ton Jack photos and art -->Here<--
2)Check out photos of some of the instruments I own -->Here<--
Equipment Used by Scott Holmes:
Line 6 Flextone II head
Mesa Boogie 4X12 Cabinet
Peavey 2X12 Cab
Fender Lead III Guitar
Fender Jap-Strat
Fender Bullet
Jackson DR7 (7-string)
Schecter Scorpion baritone detuned (B to B) 6-string
Takamine Acoustic (mostly for song writing)
Ovation 12 String acoustic
Echo electric 12 string
Memphis Bass Guitar
Rougue Mandolin
Yamaha Ludwig 5 piece drumset
Boss DR-5 Drum Machine
Assorted effects: Vox Wah, Boss Loop station.
Danelectrro pedals - Daddy O & Fab Tone
Influences:
John Petrucci(Dream Theater), Joe Satriani, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Zakk Wydle (Ozzy & Black Label Society), COC, The Jayhawks, Howlin' Wolf, Alice in Chains, Sound Garden, and my family.
My Musical History:
I suppose I was a musical kid to begin with, at least that's what Mom and Dad say. I use to dance to my Granddad Holmes' harmonica playing when I was very young. Maybe it engrained itself in me then.
The first time I had my own hands-on experience with music was probably in elementary music class. We had the little recorders and some beginning guitar lessons. I didn't have any luck with the guitar. I couldn't get the fingerings, so I didn't pick up the guitar again until much later.
I actually wrote my first piece of music there in music class called "Cats Eye". I didn't really know then how I would later get hooked on writing music. I still have that piece of music though, as a piece of my own music history.
Band Geek:
Then came 6th grade band. I decided to go with the alto saxophone as my instrument of choice. My parents supported me by getting the sax, and probably ended up regretting it later. A beginning sax player is not that easy on the ears! *Grin* I played with the concert bands all through high school, sometimes switching to baritone or tenor sax to fill in for needed parts. My music teacher talked me into taking an alto sax solo piece to contest, and I then became familiar with solo performance. That was when, I suppose, I decided that music was not just another extracurricular activity, that it was an outlet for my emotions. I wanted to learn more.
If you hadn't figured me for a band geek already, then this will confirm it for you: I went to band camp. I went a couple summers when money would allow, and had another experience that heightened my interest in music even more. (And no, it didn't have anything to do with a flute) *Grin* I made it into the jazz band, and discovered "improvisation". This was such an amazing discovery, the fact that you can "make up" a solo over what the band is playing. Pure creativity, it opened a new door to music that seemed to be just waiting there for someone to start plucking notes out of the air. This is probably what later gave me my initial interest in playing the guitar.
Call of the Six Strings:
I answered the call of the six stings one day while hanging in the band room after class. Two upper classmen were jamming on electric guitars. It just seemed like so much fun, of course they made it look easy, but I was patient and willing to spend the time it took to learn. I voiced my interest to my parents, and as it turned out I had guitarists in the family, my Grandpa Armstrong (whom I later inherited an acoustic guitar that is now my main song-writing guitar) and a couple of my uncles, Jim and Leo Armstrong. I had it great really, having so much help right from the start. I got my first guitar from my uncle Jim for $100, and still play that guitar today. Many friends helped me along the way as well. All of them I learned from in different ways just by jamming with them. That's the beauty of playing by ear, everyone develops their own style and technique through what they feel and hear. We all find different ways to play things. A beginner might find a different, more interesting way to do something just because of their fresh perspective on the instrument. I love that I had the chance to learn both by note with my sax and by ear on my guitar. It gives me two very valuable perspectives that aid me every time I write music.
College:
I ended up going to Peru State College, and continued to learn more and more about music. Alto sax was my main instrument, but I did some guitar work with a jazz combo as well. Everything I learned about music with my sax, I would apply to my guitar. Even though I couldn't play guitar by note, the theory of how things work musically was the same. I even had my first experience playing guitar on stage while I was staying in Lincoln for a music convention. One of my good friends took me out to this bar that he frequents were they allow you to get up and play with the house band for drinks. He kept saying I should get up and play, and I finally caved in and did. I was terrified at first, but after the first song I started loving it. I remember playing this blues tune that house band just started grooving on. A man from the crowd came up with a blues harp, and then a lady came up a started ad-libbing vocals. This real-time creation process was exactly what I needed to make my improv chops shine. I had the time of my life flinging blue licks out behind her vocals and then having my own lead solo to wail on. This made me want to form a band even more.
I took some independent studies courses in the last years of college specializing in music composition, these gave me the opportunity to write some music of my own and learn to apply the theory from my classes to the instruments. Then I got to go to California with the Jazz Band. We got to play gigs at Disney, Universal, and Sea World. I had many fun years at Peru, made a lot of good friends and good musicians. I had many experiences that elevated my playing to new levels, and eventually, I graduated with a Music Marketing degree and a head full of dreams.
I worked several different jobs after college, trying to make the money I needed to realize my dreams. Well a few years down the road, I took a job in Omaha trying to widen the crop of musicians I had to choose from to start a band. I met most the guys at work and things took right off. I've always wanted to create a mature music collective of people I could make great music with. It's always been about creating something great, that I can be happy with. When I hooked up with James and the music came so naturally, I just had to see it as a sign. I'd finally found a band that might make those dreams come true. I played with 3 Ton Jack for almost 5 years probably, and I learned much about making music and playing with a group. Playing on stage is a blast. I never realized just how addictive it could be to play music in front of people and see their reaction. There are many ups and downs in the music business, sometimes you have to remind yourself the reasons you got into it in the first place. If you keep the love of the music foremost then the other things should fall in line. If they don't then the time invested for love of music doesn't seem so wasted anyway, not if you truly love playing and writing. I will always be writing music, if I'm writing it for my digital recorder just to archive in my personal compositions, so be it.
I'll be posting songs that I wrote and possibly some from my old band here from time to time, so stop in and give a listen. Let me know how you like my music in the music section of the forums.