Wandering Man
04-01-2006, 01:02 AM
Redjack sent me an email today telling me a bit about how he first really discovered Janis' music and the Rudies...and how both basically 'found' him (a great story if you haven't heard it). Then, being the newby that I am to this board, he posed the question to me: "so what was your defining Janis moment?"
Well...he asked. So here goes...
About 15 years ago I was going to college in Utah (I grew up in a small town in southeastern Idaho...just a few hours north of Salt Lake City). I was a poor college student who enjoyed playing guitar and was just beginning to discover its potential. At the time, my father was a hopeless audiophile. Hopeless because he had a wonderfully critical ear and appreciated quality music whatever genre, but he never had the money to buy his 'dream' stereo system (who really is able to throw down $50,000 - $100,000 on a stereo system anyway??! (yep...HIGH-end). So, instead, he loved to look and listen to all the new hardward and then talk all "techy" with the salesmen. A true audiophile.
Anyway, one weekend he drove down from Idaho to visit me and to spend an afternoon at the local high-end stereo shop and see what new toys had hit the market. The owner had just set up a new sound room for a $100,000+ system that he had just acquired and was trying to sell to some kajillionaire who knew of nothing better to do with his money. The leather sofa was perfectly centered between the two huge towers/speakers on either side of the room. The corners had baffling to deaden any unwanted reverb. It was quite the setup!
Dad and I took our seats as the man walked over to the huge amplifiers sitting on the floor and turned them on. They made a brief 'thunk' as he flipped the on switch and then briefly to a hum...and then silence. It sort of reminded me of when Bill Murray flipped the switch on Dan Akroyd's 'ghost ray' thingamajig on Ghostbusters. POWERFUL!
He then walked over to the CD player (which probably cost at least $5000 just for the disc player) and plopped in a disc. What we heard was almost a spiritual experience. The sound that this system was reproducing with amazing volume and fidelity was astounding! Man! If I had money to burn...this would be how! BUT WHO WAS THAT VOICE??!!! It was so crisp, clear, and untainted. And the guitar work was powerful and edgy...obviously played by someone who knew the instrument. WHO WAS THIS ARTIST THEY WERE PLAYING??!!
Well, my dad and I drove back to my apartment without the stereo.:( But we weren't empty handed. We had a copy of "Breaking Silence" that we were listening to on the drive home.
I've been a huge fan ever since. Janis' songwriting, singing, and guitar playing has been instrumental (pardon the pun) in my own songwriting and guitar playing. So being invited to play with her for a few nights this month at places like The Birchmere, Rams Head, and others was a REAL treat...something I'll always remember. (There's a bit more to tell about all that, but I'll save that for another time :) )
http://www.markaustinguitar.com/Gallery/albums/Rising-Sun/TFFM_Janis_Mark_Ryans_1.jpg
So, I guess I've been a Rudie for some time...I've just never been diagnosed until now :D
Mark
Well...he asked. So here goes...
About 15 years ago I was going to college in Utah (I grew up in a small town in southeastern Idaho...just a few hours north of Salt Lake City). I was a poor college student who enjoyed playing guitar and was just beginning to discover its potential. At the time, my father was a hopeless audiophile. Hopeless because he had a wonderfully critical ear and appreciated quality music whatever genre, but he never had the money to buy his 'dream' stereo system (who really is able to throw down $50,000 - $100,000 on a stereo system anyway??! (yep...HIGH-end). So, instead, he loved to look and listen to all the new hardward and then talk all "techy" with the salesmen. A true audiophile.
Anyway, one weekend he drove down from Idaho to visit me and to spend an afternoon at the local high-end stereo shop and see what new toys had hit the market. The owner had just set up a new sound room for a $100,000+ system that he had just acquired and was trying to sell to some kajillionaire who knew of nothing better to do with his money. The leather sofa was perfectly centered between the two huge towers/speakers on either side of the room. The corners had baffling to deaden any unwanted reverb. It was quite the setup!
Dad and I took our seats as the man walked over to the huge amplifiers sitting on the floor and turned them on. They made a brief 'thunk' as he flipped the on switch and then briefly to a hum...and then silence. It sort of reminded me of when Bill Murray flipped the switch on Dan Akroyd's 'ghost ray' thingamajig on Ghostbusters. POWERFUL!
He then walked over to the CD player (which probably cost at least $5000 just for the disc player) and plopped in a disc. What we heard was almost a spiritual experience. The sound that this system was reproducing with amazing volume and fidelity was astounding! Man! If I had money to burn...this would be how! BUT WHO WAS THAT VOICE??!!! It was so crisp, clear, and untainted. And the guitar work was powerful and edgy...obviously played by someone who knew the instrument. WHO WAS THIS ARTIST THEY WERE PLAYING??!!
Well, my dad and I drove back to my apartment without the stereo.:( But we weren't empty handed. We had a copy of "Breaking Silence" that we were listening to on the drive home.
I've been a huge fan ever since. Janis' songwriting, singing, and guitar playing has been instrumental (pardon the pun) in my own songwriting and guitar playing. So being invited to play with her for a few nights this month at places like The Birchmere, Rams Head, and others was a REAL treat...something I'll always remember. (There's a bit more to tell about all that, but I'll save that for another time :) )
http://www.markaustinguitar.com/Gallery/albums/Rising-Sun/TFFM_Janis_Mark_Ryans_1.jpg
So, I guess I've been a Rudie for some time...I've just never been diagnosed until now :D
Mark