“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’ ‘BlackHand’ ‘‘BlackHand’

APRIL 2013

VOL 3, ISSUE 4

4 5

From The Nest…

HEY NOW…

BlackHand is very excited this month!!

The season has OFFICIALLY kicked in, and we have many wonderful performances, events, and projects planned for this summer!! We put aside a part of our performance schedule each year to work

within our community, & support causes important to the members of the band, as well as our society & environment. This is an important endeavor to ‘BlackHand’, & we are fortunate to be able to donate our time, energy, & craft to help these efforts!! We have several ‘benefits’ scheduled that we are proud to help with, and ask that you please support these events & causes

with us. Please further become part of charitable efforts in your OWN, as well as

OUR GLOBAL communities!! Folks like YOU can & DO make the world a better place

for all of us through these efforts!! We are proud to stand with you, and thankful of

your support not simply of BLACKHAND, but of a more caring, accepting, helpful, & healthy Universal Community!! Don’t be

afraid to speak out…get involved!! This issue, we’ve tried to give more

insight as to who we are…by taking time to speak to our ‘Musical Influences’ along

the lines of our instrumental styles! We’ll continue next month with ‘Vocal,

Philosophical, & Band Influences’!! THANK YOU for your continued support,

and please invite your friends to be recruited into the “BlackHand Army”!! Be Well…Stay Blessed!!

ZZ, Alex, John, & Kyle ~ “BlackHand”

“BlackHand” …is an American band which plays

PsychodelicFolkRock in central PA,

northern MD, & entire east coast.

The 'players' are:

ZigZag-Guitar & Vocals;

Alex-Percussion & Vocals;

John-Piano & Vocals;

Kyle-Bass & Vocals

www.blackhand.us

This is a ‘Forest-Friendly’ publication!!

“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’

APRIL 2013 VOL 3, ISSUE 4

1

Stringz-n-Thingz…

I had been a performing musician for a number of years before I

finally ‘turned on’ to the techniques & spirit of Jerry Garcia!! My

guitar heroes to that point were chordmaster Pete Townshend of The

Who, soaring soloist David Gilmore of Pink Floyd, & Master Jimi

Hendrix…but something was missing! There was a limiting lack of

‘exploration’ in the restricted Rock & Bluegrass I was listening to, &

had it all occur to me in a brilliant moment watching Jerry & the Boyz

deconstruct, dissect, & reassemble an “All Along the Watchtower”

(Dylan) live! I finally felt validated in my need to ‘continue forward’

when the song’s structure insisted I focus & return to the verse!

HOW RUDE?! In my exploration of Jerry’s guitar techniques, I was

fortunately somewhat forced to recognize his incredibly

appropriate, & possibly equally as unique partner Bob Weir! Bobby

nothing short of redefined the role of ‘rhythm guitar’ by being

unaccepting of the traditional mooring of strumming chords behind

the ‘lead guitar’ solo. What he creates behind Jerry’s famous

exploratory lead work, was a supportive but continually changing

patchwork of chording that added layers of depth not seen in Rock

guitar!! Maybe Jerry’s greatest lesson to me was his insistence on

NOT limiting my influences…EVER!! Explore EVERY type of music

you can…it’s ALL worthwhile!! I will need ALL of next issue to speak

to my ‘Singing Influences’!!

THANK YOU for your support!! ~ ZigZag

The Key is…

I remember driving around with my Father when I was 8 years old,

he used to sing those old 50's songs and I would harmonize with him,

not even realizing it. I remember him slowing down and looking at

me in amazement. He said "You have perfect pitch!" I was so young; I

didn't even know what that meant. My Mother and I used to go to

the grocery store listening to ‘Top 40’ radio & when we got home, I

used to play the songs I liked on the piano. Shortly after that I began

piano lessons with Mary Harris twice a week for years, actually until

she suddenly passed away…from there, the flood gates opened!

Soon, I was playing ‘Axle F’ on the portable synth I received for

Christmas that year and a bunch of other 80's songs I'd rather not

mention! One fine day, I stumbled across the Grateful Dead's

"Workingman's Dead" cassette. I was forever changed and learned

all of the songs on the piano, figuring out all the chords, and

recording them on my cassette recorder. I spent a lot of time in that

room with Jerry Garcia, & I always knew from that young age that I

would be a performer...if Mary could see me now! ~ John

Umm…DUH!! As a guitarist, I cannot

deny my biggest influence &

continued source of inspiration!!!

www.blackhand.us

NO TREES were harmed by this Enewsletter!!

Happy 42nd Birthday,

Johnboy!!!

“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’

APRIL 2013

VOL 3, ISSUE 4

ISSUE 4

The Drum Circle…

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and

never dies." ~Edward George Bulwer-Lytton…It started at a very early age for me, & I have been playing drums in some shape or form since 4th grade, but it was in junior high that I

discovered "Rock and Roll"...I knew immediately that I wanted to be a drummer! ‘Rush’ was new on the scene, (to me at least) and of course, every drummer said you HAVE to listen to Neil Peart. While I must give Neil his due, I much preferred and was

influenced by the "in the pocket" guys. Tommy Aldridge, an

immensely underrated player, was a huge influence in the way I decided to play. Dave Weckle, who you may not know by

name, but who did studio work for almost every name in the business, was also big influence on my "style". I must, however,

give mad props to the guy who I was lucky enough to see live almost every weekend from the time I was 19 until I took a break from the business in 1995 - the incredible Billy Veitch!! He

is a local Albuquerque musician, but has also done national touring and tons of studio work. Bill made it look easy - no

fancy show, no big kit or newfangled equipment - just solid, in the pocket, playing. Ironically years later, Zig had the most enviable fortune to play with Billy in one of the best bands in the country - "Saturn Return"! Not only did I get to see Bill play

and rehearse, but also got to meet and know him. He is as great

a friend, husband, & father as he is a musician!! ~ Alex

The Bomb Shelter…

My musical inspiration started with my great-grandmother

playing piano for me while she would watch me as kid. She always played and sang in the living room and gave me a love for Big Band, Rag, & Gospel that I still carry with me today. She went on to put me through piano lessons, and bought me my

first bass at 13! She always pushed me to stick with music, even when my tastes in music started to make her cringe. I have always been a big Led-Zeppelin fan (something she always

hated), and John Paul Jones has always embodied my musical

aspirations, but BlackHand and the Grateful Dead have

exposed me to a new world of music over the last two years.

They have changed the way I perceive what music is and can be, and that has been redefined and solidified in many ways with "The Music Lesson" by bassist Victor Wooten. He writes, "I found out that when I listened to the other musicians more

than I listened to myself, I played better. I realize that listening is a choice." I hear that echoed almost daily, and hope to one day understand it. Until then, I suppose there is nothing to say

except, "Thank you, Nana..." ~ Kyle

www.blackhand.us

Alex feeling at home on her

Trap Set again!!!

Who’s that on yer T-shirt,

YoungBuck?!?

GO GREEN…or go home!!

APRIL 2013

VOL 3, ISSUE 4

“The IN”…the official Enewsletter of ‘BlackHand’ We cannot begin to thank each one of you nearly enough for your

unwavering support of & commitment to ‘BlackHand’!! Your attendance & enthusiasm at our live shows is contagious…and we

hope to always be worthy of that kind of deadication!!

Our mission is to bring happiness to ALL…through music !

“BlackHand” Performance Schedule

• Every Wednesday!! - ‘Blue and Gray Bar & Grill’ “Wood & Steel” (acoustic)

8-11pm! Gettysburg, PA

• The Gettysburg Eagle Riders “Relay for Life”

Saturday, 4th May 5-7pm @ AmVets picnic grounds

Fairfield, PA

• ‘The N.E.W.A-ville Inn’ Sunday, 5th May

*Family Friendly* 3-7pm! Arendtsville, PA

• ‘Garryowen Irish Pub’ Saturday, 11th May

10pm-1am! Gettysburg, PA

• ‘The N.E.W.A-ville Inn’

Friday, 17th May “Electrified” 8:30pm-12am!

Arendtsville, PA

(717)677-4978 zigsblackhand@gmail.com booking@blackhand.us www.blackhand.us www.reverbnation.com/blackhand

Ph.#