Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 – 9:13am
Hey Buddy. I have managed to get myself into a Rock Band Competition at work. I don't know how this happened. I was standing chatting with a couple of guys at our company’s General Meeting, and rock band came up (the company is participating in a United Way campaign, and the theme is Rock Band). I thought it would be appropriate to tell my '7 hour of Rock Band' story (I told you about this one right? Where I was on the drums all night, blistering up my hands and wearing down my arms – I don’t regret it for a second, the pain was worth it, and in no way am I embarrassed that I played Rock Band for 7 hours straight… on a Saturday night… with two other dudes… ). Well next thing I know, one of the guys I'm telling the story to has stopped some Random and casually said “Oh hey, here's a guy for your rock band group”. That guy talked to another guy who talked to some other guy who needed a guy but hadn’t be able to find a guy, and they all figured I could be that guy and should be that guy. Just say no right? Wrong, I’m That guy now. Anyway, this morning I was sent a list of songs. I'm playing guitar. Do you have any suggestions as to which might be easier for me to play on Medium. My ‘Band’ is going for the gold and basically told me to make it happen, ‘no pressure of course’, but yeah, make it happen. And when I say ‘easiest to play’, I mean ‘the song that will disguise the fact that I have no idea what I’m doing and I’m doing it in front of all my co-workers’. Oh right, and more importantly, can I come by your place on Monday next week to practice just a little. If we’re being honest, at this point, I am somewhat concerned.
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 – 10:30am
Hey dude, that is quite the pickle you are in. Do you mean this coming Monday? Because I might have some bad news. To be 100% honest I think I'm going to be going on a hike during the day and then of course having a big Thanksgiving dinner, so probably no go there. As for the difficulty level of the songs you should be alright on Medium for any of those. Weezer is good, Garbage, Hole, one of my favourites is the Fallout Boy one. Hahaha, I cant believe they have an actual “band”…
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 – 10:34am
I’m not panicking, just throwing out suggestions here: Would it be possible to borrow your PS3? I'm out of town until Sunday night, so Monday is really my only opportunity to make sure that I don't Suck on Tuesday. Because between 'Suck' and 'Not Suck', I'd prefer the latter. The 'Band' has decided to play ‘Garbage - I think I'm Paranoid’. And I am now playing Base. I was told not to worry ‘it’s much easier then Guitar’ – perfect easier then impossible, now I’m in great shape (a lot of sarcasm there, sarcasm with a strong hint of terror). We do get to dress up in costumes, which I'm sure I will excel at. I just don't want to go onto the stage cold (that's right, there is an actual stage).
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 – 12:57pm
Yeah I guess we could swing that…. Is this some sort of competition? Like how is there a stage?
Wednesday, October 8th, 2008 – 1:02pm
It is definitely a Competition. People are taking this waaaaay to seriously. The pressure is on. They have the PS3 hooked up to a projection screen and it's all on an elevated platform (stage, a freakin stage, crap I need to stop thinking about this) in our main building’s atrium. There were hundreds of people watching on Day One (which was yesterday), hundreds!! Day two (which is when my band, 'Dude Where's My Band', is performing) is on Tuesday. You would be saving my Rock Band life if I could borrow your system on Monday. I would take very good care of her. I know how much that bad boy means to you. I think with some practice on Monday I'll be ready to destroy the competition (I am trying a new approach to this whole thing; forced confidence).
A series of phone calls were made. A pick up was scheduled. Several hours, one blister, and one Rock Star later the big day came. The following is a message sent out to all the Fans (I needed to update Mom and Dad)…
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 – 1:27pm
Hey Team, We came, we performed, and we were chased off the stage. The reality of the situation was that we failed out twice and never completed more then 30% of the song. The spin that we're putting on it is that the system did us in (Blame the Man!!!!). Both runs at Garbage's "I think I'm Paranoid" had our Vocal Lead failing out quickly, and we hadn't had the chance to bank any Star Power, so we couldn't save her. Look at this, I'm truly embracing my inner Rock Star as I start throwing band members under the 'tour bus'...
A few positive points:
1) I was quite awesome. I challenge the song with the Hard level, and for the minute or so that we played I was really on top of things.
2) It was a tone of fun. I was glad that I got up there, in front of the masses, and gave it a go.
3) Excellent stage presence. My costume really sold the persona, and I was movin to the groovin, tossing out cheers and getting the crowd going.
I only wish that we could have played for a bit longer. In the end I'd like to send a special thanks to my Rock Band coach and mentor, you know who you are, for giving me the opportunity to reach for the (rock) stars. Realistically I'm just glad it wasn't my fault that we Failed miserably...
John 'Bon Jovi' Webb
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 – 2:01pm
That’s really good news. As long as it wasn’t you failing out then you did your part. Did the vocalist do it on hard as well?? Because hard difficulty for vocals are very very difficult and you have to be very accurate. But that’s sweet, I cant believe they put this on. How were the other “bands”. Hahahha and I appreciate the shout out, that’s usually all I ever ask for.
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 – 2:24pm
I was definitely the most excited about our 30% completion Failing, my goal from the beginning was to 'not suck'... mission accomplished. It really was all about the Sunday-Monday practice sessions (and by 'practice' I mean 'study' – my brother and sister have midterms so I was approaching my big Rock Band debut like a test, they did not like this comparison). I think our Vocalist may have been on Hard. It was funny, cause she’s actually a fairly accomplished singer, and was really confident. She wasn’t very confident after getting destroyed by a video game, twice, in front of hundreds of people. In the end it was probably for the best that we burned out quickly, cause all the other bands were made up of full-time gamers, gamers with Mullet Wigs. Thanks again for lending me the PS3, you saved the day.
I learned two things from my Rock Band Competition experience: I make a great rock star, as long as I don’t have to play a real instrument, and by the time you are performing for people, on a stage, in a costume, Rock Band is really just a small step up from ‘competitive air-guitar’… a line I will never cross.
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