Scrubb's Sonic Soapbox #1

You can’t touch music…but music can touch you. 

Whether you’re an avid audiophile, a musical prodigy or just a casual listener, you’ve no doubt felt the mysterious power that music possesses. The way that a particular song can instantly trigger a memory, good or bad, and transport you back to that time in your life. It’s probably the only true form of hypnosis and the closest we’re going to get to time travel (in our lifetime).

I bring this up because, as some of you may know, Baldo and I recently lost an old friend to cancer. Over the past 15 years, the three of us have been a part of a tight-knit family of local musicians. We all share the same love and passion for music. After his passing, we got to talking about a lot of our old bands, side projects and experiences; and it really got me thinking about how much music affects our lives.

As a kid growing up in Podunk-Hick-Mormonville, Utah, music played a vital role in my upbringing. I have so many, vivid memories of driving in the car with my mom, rocking out to Heart & Roxette. As well as being tempted to the “darkside” by Iron Maiden & Judas Priest, courtesy of my uncle. From a very early age, I learned to appreciate all different types of music; be it Pop, Rock, Country or Disco….

Good tunes is good tunes!

I guess what I’m getting at is, How is it that music has the uncanny ability to hit that nerve and have such a profound impact on some people? How is it that you can play the same song for 10 different people and end up with 10 different emotional responses? How is it that a well-placed guitar solo can bring a man to tears? Every time I hear ‘The Floods’ by Pantera, I am instantly taken back to the 8^th grade, hanging out at my buddy Ben’s house. He had just picked up The Great Southern Trendkill and we were blown away by the sonic assault on our senses. We had never experienced anything quite like it at the time. When we got to ‘The Floods’, it immediately gave me goosebumps and the moment the solo hit, I looked over at Ben and said “Holy Fucking Shit!” That was it, game over. Still to this day, there is no other song that hits me like a tranquilizer dart to the neck quite like that.

The list goes on, man. There are so many songs from all genres that take me somewhere else.

I remember the first album I ever bought (Skee-Lo “I Wish”), the first time I heard Black Sabbath, the song I played at my Grandfather’s funeral (“Epiphany” by Staind), the moment I knew I wanted to be a drummer (“Motorbreath” by Metallica), and even the song my wife and I danced to the first time we kissed (“Hero” by that Spanish dude….don’t judge me). I know this all sounds sappy and cliché, but this is my life. It’s who I am. If I didn’t have music as an outlet, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

So I guess the moral of this scatter-brained story is this…

Stop and listen to the roses… err…. Life’s a garden, dig it…. I don’t really have a cute little inspirational quote, but you get the idea. Life goes by in a blink of an eye. And just like any motion picture, it’s way better with a kick ass soundtrack.

…and if you’re not down with that, I’ve got three words for you…

Crank It Up!!!