Make some noise

by Bucky Driedger and Aaron Epp, Guest editors

Guest editor, Bucky Driedger (centre), playing with The Liptonians

We love music a lot. Maybe too much.

I, (Bucky) used to put all the couch cushions near the coffee table and turn on my Audio Adrenaline tape. Hockey-stick guitar in hand, I’d climb atop the table to play along. And, when it really got rockin’, I stage-dived onto my adoring, pillowy fans.

In 2004, I (Aaron) collected more than $300 in speeding tickets in seven days. With that blow, I barely had enough money to pay my university fees. But I spent $130 for a third-row-centre seat for Van Halen’s reunion tour anyway.

So when Geez was looking for Issue 11 ideas, we excitedly turned to each other. Then grinned stupidly. We knew exactly what Geez should do. We drummed up these 11 reasons why Geez Issue 11 needed to rock out.

1 Music’s in us all. The urge to tap our toe to the beat. Who can’t relate?

2 Joe Hill, the late 19th-century labor activist and songwriter, said,”A pamphlet, no matter how good, is never read more than once, but a song is learned by heart and repeated over and over.” Neil Young, however, told reporters at the Berlin Film Festival, “I think the time when music could change the world is past.” Tension alert! Geez loves tension.

3 The church has spent a lot of time doing music. They’ve made some pretty important stuff. And some wretched, pop-culture-y fluff.

4 Most music magazines are full of music-related ads. They can’t really critique the music industry because they’ve got their advertisers to please. Geez has no ads, so it’s up to us to offer some honest exploration.

Guest editor, Aaron Epp (centre), with one hit wonders
Aaron and the Apostles

5 People will wanna read this stuff. We promise.

6 The timing is perfect. Issue 11 would come out right before the business fourth-quarter – that magical time leading up to Christmas when music labels release their big-name CDs.

7 Radiohead just let fans choose how much to pay for their new record. A whole whack of bands are touring and manufacturing albums in more environmentally friendly ways. Geez is into alternative business models and going green, right?

8 Music pacifies us. And we’re way too enamoured with music celebs. But music creates community and can be a voice of critique. That’s plenty of Geez-y fodder. Oh, and we can have an article by Carrie S. Martin, too. She’s great. (See page 41.)

9 Can’t think of a ninth reason. This list seemed like a bet-
ter idea 10 minutes ago.

10 [Guitar solo.]

11 Nigel Tufnel, of fictional rock band Spinal Tap, shows off his collection of guitars and amplifiers in the 1984 mockumentary This is Spinal Tap. He is particularly proud of his Marshall half-stack, with volume knobs that push past the conventional 1–10 setup. “These go to 11,” he announces. In 2008, just like Tufnel’s amplifier, Geez goes to 11 with the music issue.

******

The folks at Geez said yes. So pull out your hockey stick, broom, tennis racket or whatever, put being cool aside for a second, and just rock out.
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WARNING: Self-promotional bionotes

Geez 11 guest editor Bucky Driedger is one of the frontmen and key songwriters in the Liptonians, a rock quintet based in Winnipeg. Their self-titled debut CD was released in March, earning rave reviews from local media. Alternative weekly Uptown called it an “earnest little pop-rock gem,” while the Winnipeg Free Press praised the songwriting which “never falters and is strong throughout.” The band will head to the Western Canadian Music Awards in Edmonton, Alta. mid-October to find out if their nomination for Outstanding Pop Recording turns into a win. Hear The Liptonians here.

Bored in math class in the 10th grade, Geez 11 guest editor Aaron Epp decided to write a rap about growing up in an area of Winnipeg dominated by Mennonites. What resulted was “Straight Outta North Kildonan,” a two-and-a-half-minute ode that attempts to skewer many Mennonite and rap music cliches. Two years later, Epp recorded it with his band, Aaron and the Apostles, a short-lived Christian rock band notable only for featuring a future member of major-label Canadian rock quartet The Waking Eyes. Aaron and the Apostles disbanded shortly after recording this one-hit blunder. Hear guest editor Aaron Epp’s comic hit with Aaron and the Apostles here.

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