Passing the Torch

Remedy returns to the Fred on Friday, May 7th to officially kick off the venue’s 2010 ‘Open Mic’ night competition. As last year’s winner of the competition, we won’t be allowed to participate in this year’s competition but have been given the opportunity to get the crowd fired up in preparation for the rest of the evening’s participants. Showcasing a wide variety of local talent in all musical genre’s, the Fred will be hosting the annual event for the second year, and hopes to garner a tremendous amount of interest from local bands and residents. In addition to opening the event, we’ll also have the honor of serving as a guest judge as well.

Playing at the Fred was the highlight of 2009 for the band and we look forward to playing at the venue once again and passing the torch to another great local band. Here’s a recap of our 2009 performance at the Fred.

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To view photos from the event, be sure to visit the Remedy photo gallery.

Remedy iPhone Application

Remedy has finally made the big time. Nope, not Madison Square Garden, Royal Albert Hall, or the Grand Ole Opry; the Apple iTunes store! The official Remedy iPhone application is now available for free in iTunes and for an Apple fanatic like me, seeing the application in the app store was like gazing into the eyes of my children for the first time.

Sad, I know.

I’m still utterly shocked that I was able to secure the name ‘Remedy’ in the app store and that no one had previously snatched it up. Who knows, maybe someday Preparation H® will offer us $10,000 for the name and we can go buy Andy B. a second set of drums. A guy can dream.

So how’d we do it? With the help of 4 programmers, 3 graphic designers, 5 marketing gurus, 9 investors, and 1 Starbucks barista. Alright, alright, the honest answer is, without much difficulty or cost, and 1 Starbucks barista. Oh, that and a Scott McDaniel, who actually advised me on all of this stuff! Thanks Scott!

Here’s what you need if you want to do this for your band or business.

A Website
Sorry MySpace band page owners, that junk just won’t cut it. I won’t go into what a cyber train wreck MySpace is or my thoughts on it being an archaic wasteland for teeny-boppers and stalkers as I don’t want to appear judgmental.   That said, if you are currently hosting a band page there and directing your users to that location so they can digest your content, run away as quickly as you can, and bring your band equipment and followers with you to your own hosted website.

Now I know that building a website is not the easiest thing in the world for most people to do and I certainly won’t provide a tutorial on how to build one here, particularly because it does require some time, effort, and skill. But buying a domain name, securing a hosting provider, and building a website is easier today than ever before. You can either pay someone to build one for you (likely about $300 – $500 for basic sites), or purchase a template on one of the many template websites available online. With a little knowledge, effort, and skill,  you can typically modify a template and have it up for viewing within a few days.

The route I chose to go for construction of the Remedy site, thanks to the advice of my buddy Scott, is Wordpress. Wordpress is a free, open source web-authoring platform that is incredibly easy to install, use, and maintain. With thousands of developers contributing helpful plugins that make authoring a snap, it’s a no-brainer for folks looking to create a quick and easy website. For out-of-the-box implementation of a template, it requires no programming or .html skills and even the novice user can begin authoring content in minutes. The reason I chose it over other open source authoring tools, or .html, or flash, is because I wanted something that would be easy to maintain, help with search engine optimization, and allow our friends and fans to interact with the site.

RSS Feeds

After you have a site in place, you’ll need to make sure you develop RSS feeds so that users can consume your content without actually needing to be on your website. The iPhone app you develop will be heavily dependent on RSS feeds and the wonderful thing about using Wordpress is that most templates already have them built in! Remedy has RSS feeds for latest news, gigs, video, images, and user comments, as well as RSS feeds from external social networks like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Flickr. All of these RSS feeds are essential for feeding content directly from your website to your mobile device.

Build Your iPhone Application

You would think this would actually be the most difficult part of the process but in fact, it’s the easiest. Once you have your website and RSS feeds in place, building your iPhone application shouldn’t take you more than an hour or so. There are several websites available online that take the pain out of creating and submitting applications for mobile devices. My buddy Scott and I built our apps using AppMakr but there are others online that offer similar services. Upon arrival to the site, you can begin plugging in your RSS feeds and building your application, testing as you go along via their slick online ’simulator.’ When the application is complete and you’re thoroughly satisfied with the end result, AppMakr submits the app to Apple for processing on your behalf and you sit back and wait for it to be published. The application cost $100 to construct and was live in the iTunes store within two weeks following my submission.

Please feel free to leave comments for others on the page and ask questions if you’re looking for a little guidance. I’m always happy to help those in need of a little advice as I’m extremely thankful for having received it myself.

Good luck!

Motorheads Debut

Remedy had the pleasure of playing at Motorheads in McDonough, GA for the first time on January 15th, 2010 and thoroughly enjoyed the experience, playing four sets over the course of our four hour stay. Our first time at the venue, we did our absolute best to make the most of the opportunity by endeavoring to put on a flawless show, with lots of crowd interaction and participation, in addition to playing a whole lot of songs during the course of the evening. We received many compliments throughout the night for doing just that!

We also had an opportunity to celebrate a very special occasion, bringing together a bunch of folks who gathered to join in celebrating Elisa’s birthday party. It was a very special evening for Elisa as it brought together two things she really enjoys; the band and her friends. Be sure to check out the photo gallery to check out some of the action from the night’s festivities.

We had a great time at Motorheads and hope to return soon. As always, please be sure to check our list of upcoming shows for a complete run down of where we’ll be next and a huge thank you to all those folks who came out to join us at Motorheads. You made it a very memorable evening for all of us!

A Night to Remember

Remedy had the pleasure of playing to a packed house at the Twilight Bar and Grill on December 31, 2009 in Newnan, GA. Filled with friends, family and lots of Twilight faithful, hosts Molly and Glenn Veasey kicked off the evening’s festivities with a fantastic steak dinner, set against a wonderfully decorated bar that was perfectly arranged for the big party. Molly personally visited each table, checking on her guests as they enjoyed their meal and making sure everyone was having a great time.

The band began playing music just before the nine o’clock hour, kicking off the first set with Eddie Money’s ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’ and finishing with off with the ever popular Allman Brother’s ‘Whipping Post.’ The band added several new songs to the mix during the evening, including tunes by Santana, The Doobie Brothers, The Jeff Healey Band and Joe Cocker.

At midnight, the bar counted down in unison as the seconds ticked away, followed by lots of hugs and kisses as the clock struck twelve. The band played on as the celebration continued, playing lots of material that kept the dance floor packed and visitors singing along.

Check out the photo gallery for more action from the event.

We’d like to send out a heartfelt thanks to both Molly and Glenn for allowing us to play during one of their biggest parties of the year. It’s no secret we love playing the Twilight and a big part of that is because of them. We’d also like to thank all the Twilight faithful that made the choice to spend their holiday with us. We know there are LOTS of choices when it comes to New Year’s Eve parties and we’re honored you choose to spend yours with us. Lastly, many thanks to our families and friends who came to join us. We’d likely not accept invitations to play holiday parties like these were it not for you coming to celebrate with us. It means so much to us to have you there!

Hopefully we’ll see you all again next year!

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The Great Chili Challenge

Start the Halloween festivities early this year and join the Remedy Band at the “Great Chili Challenge” in support of Peachtree City’s, Line Creek Civitan Club on October 31st at Shakerag Knoll, beginning at 11 AM. In addition to live music from Remedy, the event will feature a costume contest, rides, games, prizes, giveaways, dance exhibitions, and lots of great chili to sample from some of the best chili makers in the local area.

The Line Creek Civitan Club is devoted to supporting local charities and, through Civitan International, to improving the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities. This focus began in the 1950s when Civitan funded some of the first special education training for school teachers. That commitment continues today through local and international efforts such as summer camps, vocational programs, Special Olympic Games and cutting-edge research into Autism, Cerebral Palsy and Alzheimers at the Civitan International Research Center.

Programs and organizations supported by Civitans in Peachtree City and our surrounding communities include the Sams School, the American Cancer Society’s ‘Relay for Life,’ Special Olympics, Special People of Fayette County, DART (Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation for Teens), Christian City, Southwest Christian Care, and the Civitan International Research Center which brings together top scientific minds, and the latest technology, to create innovative therapies and treatments for people with developmental disabilities.

Proceeds from this event will be donated to charity and Remedy is thrilled to be able to participate in kind to support these wonderful causes.

Come on out and join us for a great event!

Date: Saturday, October 31st @ 11 AM
Location: Shakerag Knoll
Address: 191 McIntosh Trail, Peachtree City GA 30269
Website: www.linecreekcivitan.org
Cost: $5 Adults, $2 (6-17)

Chris Sisson Joins Remedy

The Remedy Band welcomes Chris Sisson to the band as the group’s keyboard player and vocalist. A long time solo artist and member of several bands throughout his musical career, Chris brings a wealth of experience, talent, desire, and ability to the group.

A life long fan and student of music, Chris feels comfortable playing just about any style and genre, but particularly enjoys playing the blues, classic rock, and southern rock, which fits in perfectly with the band’s style and direction. Whether adding some hard-nosed blues to classics like ‘Leave My Little Girl Alone,’ tearing up the ivory on ‘Jealous Again,’ or contributing subtle harmonies to slow classics like ‘Old Love,’ Chris’ ability to adapt to the nuance of each and every song makes his presence invaluable. With a combination of skill, experience, knowledge, and intelligence, Chris adds the perfect mix of ingredients to help the band get cookin’ and stay hot!

Much like Tim Briscoe (lead guitar), Chris also has the capacity to take the vocal lead with just about any song the band plays and can skillfully harmonize on everything else, adding much needed vocals to songs requiring three part harmony or a little extra power. Consequently, you’ll see Chris taking the lead vocal on a number of songs, adding to the variety and range of songs we’re able to add to our set list.

Any band will readily admit that chemistry is every bit as important as musical ability and Remedy has historically enjoyed a great sense of camaraderie, respect and friendship amongst its members. That said, we’ve been tremendously pleased to see Chris quickly connect with the rest of band, exhibiting a great sense of humor, outgoing personality, and willingness to contribute and work as an equal member of the group.

Chris will be joining the band permanently at future gigs and has been invited to play at the upcoming show at The Boardroom on Saturday, November 7th, 2009.

Welcome Chris!!

A Special Graduation

The Remedy Band had the pleasure of performing with the graduating students of Peachtree City’s ‘Guitars not Guns’ organization on Sunday, August 30th at the Bridge Community Center in Peachtree City, GA.

Surrounded by family and friends, the graduating class of nine students began the ceremony by demonstrating their basic knowledge of chords before moving on to play full songs with the band. The first song, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival, was a song the students worked on for weeks leading up to the event with their teacher and mentor, Robby Jackson. It was clearly evident to all in attendance the students had been putting in some practice time because they performed wonderfully on the song, traversing the chord progressions like seasoned veterans. The band played two more songs with the students, finishing up with ‘Can’t You See’ by Marshall Tucker and ‘Born On The Bayou,’ another Creedence Clearwater Revival tune. The students had very little experience with these songs but truly showed their skills with chord changes, moving up and down the fret board as Tim Briscoe (lead guitar) called out the chords. Smiles could be seen throughout the entire room as they played the last note of the final song and walked off amidst cheers and applause.

Established in 2000 by local Peachtree City resident Ray Nelson, Guitars not Guns provides underprivileged youth in the community with guitars and lessons, in an effort to help them discover the positive influence of music and the impact it can have on their lives. In addition to teaching kids how to play guitar, instructors emphasize ancillary life skills such as discipline, hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Consequently, it provides them with an enjoyable hobby and keeps them constructively occupied, instead of potentially falling prey to destructive influences like drugs, gangs or alcohol. The ceremony was the culmination of an eight-week program that taught the students the basics of playing guitar, in addition to hopefully building a strong foundation for love of both music and the instrument.

Ray, his wife Louise, teacher Robby Jackson and event organizer Vicki Blair all had words of congratulations for the students and were beaming with pride watching them play. Lunch was provided for the students, along with gift bags, cake, graduation certificates and, most notably, a guitar that the students were able to take home following the ceremony.

The band had a tremendous time playing with the students and hope to collaborate further with the organization in the future. The kids were nothing short of fantastic and it was thrilling to see how far they had progressed in such a short period of time with hard work and dedication. The confidence they gained by the experience was extremely apparent, which will undoubtedly carry over to other areas of life, leaving the students with more than just guitar lessons during the eight week program, but a few life lessons as well.

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Don’t Judge a Book

Reading the home page for Newnan’s Twilight Bar and Grill website, viewers will notice a very candid description regarding the establishment…

“Don’t let the funky exterior fool you.  Inside is a first-class neighborhood bar full of nice people having a great time.”

Driving past the Twilight, some might lean towards being apprehensive about the establishment based on the aforementioned rugged exterior and although we’ve all been in situations where we’ve prejudged people or places only to find we were right on the mark, those that judge the Twilight before experiencing it are doing themselves a tremendous disservice. In this case, judging the book by its cover leaves you missing out on a great story.

The Twilight Bar and Grill may not be the newest or fanciest place in town, but it consistently draws a great crowd of incredibly nice people who know where to look for top notch entertainment and a friendly atmosphere. Owners and hosts Molly and Glenn are always talking with patrons and frequently sing along and dance with the music being played. They enjoy themselves so much, you get the distinct impression they built the bar not as an investment, but more as a wonderful opportunity to hang out and party with 300 of their closest friends.

The ‘friends’ that visit are knowledgeable about music, supportive of those who put in a solid effort on behalf of their enjoyment, and LOVE to have a great time. As a band, the energy and enthusiasm they exude is incredibly contagious and you routinely find yourself applauding them following a song because they add so much to your enjoyment while playing. During sets, (when neither dancing or clapping) they routinely hand you beverages and between sets, approach you to offer a kind word of thanks.

We had a fantastic time, greatly look forward to returning to the Twilight on September 25th, and hope those that caught the last show come back and join us again. We’ll be working extra hard to make sure we learn more new material and put on an even better show!

Guitars not Guns

One of life’s lessons I’m routinely reminded of is the importance of consistently putting forth my best effort, regardless of the activity. As a child I remember mundanely raking leaves and hearing my mom say, “Do your best, you never know who’s watching.” It’s a character trait we possess as a band and a quality that has helped us become successful in other areas of our lives as well.

Remedy recently had the opportunity to play at the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater in Peachtree City, GA on July 10th, as the opening act for the World Classic Rockers at the venue. Unbeknownst to us, among the many spectators watching that evening were Ray and Louise Nelson, founders of the Guitars not Guns Foundation, and GnG’s Marketing Director, Victoria Blair. Following the performance, the band received an incredibly kind e-mail from Ray, complimenting our performance and thanking us for being a part of an evening he truly enjoyed. Contained within the signature of his e-mail was a reference to a website entitled www.guitarsnotguns.org.

Ever curious, I promptly clicked the link and began trolling through the various pages on the website. What I discovered was truly inspiring. Established in 2000, Guitars not Guns provides underprivileged youth in the community with guitars and lessons, in an effort to help them discover the positive influence of music and the impact it can have on their lives. In addition to teaching kids how to play guitar, instructors emphasize ancillary life skills such as discipline, hard work, perseverance, and dedication. Consequently, it provides them with an enjoyable hobby and keeps them constructively occupied, instead of potentially falling prey to destructive influences like drugs, gangs or alcohol.

It was a great surprise then, when we received a second e-mail from Victoria Blair, GnG’s Marketing Director, asking us if we would like to participate in the upcoming graduation ceremony for GnG’s current students. After learning more about the organization and how GnG serves the community, each member of the band agreed to participate without hesitation. Originally asked to perform a few songs and speak to the students about our experiences with music, we’re hoping to have enough time before the event to practice a few songs with the kids so they can play with us at the ceremony.

As it turns out, all that practice, effort and hard work leading up to the concert at the Fred was beneficial on a number of levels. And if there’s one message I’ll be trying to advocate while speaking with the students, it will be for them to always put forth their best effort, regardless of the activity.

You never know who’s watching!

Remedy Returns to the Fred

The Remedy Band made their triumphant return to the Frederick Brown Jr. Amphitheater on Friday, July 10th in front of what turned out to be a nearly sold out crowd for the World Classic Rockers concert event. The band performed for nearly forty minutes, managing to squeeze in nine songs during the short but eventful set.

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Despite being very warm throughout most of the day with temperatures peaking in the high 80’s, the sun was beginning its descent as the band took the stage, leaving much of the venue shaded and cooling as Remedy began to heat up. Although the band estimated having more than 100 friends and family in the crowd, it was fairly evident that the majority in attendance had not heard of Remedy and were likely unsure of what to expect as the set got underway.

We quickly grabbed their attention with the Stones classic ‘Start Me Up’ and moved right into ‘Hard to Handle’ by the Black Crowes which had people both singing and dancing. ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ turned out to be a great choice as many in attendance applauded after the very first few notes of the song and sang along with the chorus as well, providing some backup vocals to the band as we played. As the set continued with ‘Leave My Little Girl Alone,’ ‘Pride and Joy,’ ‘Johnny B. Goode,’ and ‘House is a Rockin,’ it quickly became evident to all in attendance the band had showed up with the intention of leaving a lasting impression and left no doubt by finishing the audience off with Led Zeppelin’s ‘Heartbreaker’ and the Allman Brothers’ classic, ‘Whipping Post.’

Tim left mouths agape with Jimmy Page’s solo in Heartbreaker, garnering wild applause following the song, while Danny’s piano solo in Johnny B. Goode had them movin’ and shakin’ in the isles. Andy B. and Jon Weakley were in perfect sync throughout the evening and Andy R. provided powerful vocals that complemented the outstanding instrumentals all night long.

As the last notes we played on ‘Whipping Post’ the crowd rose to their feet and rewarded the band’s efforts with a standing ovation. Several regulars of the Fred’s concert series commented that they’d not seen such a reception for an opening band before and that we had clearly exceeded their expectations with the performance. We left feeling incredibly satisfied with our effort and extremely confident that we’d gained a lot more fans than we had showed up with. As evidenced by the patrons who stopped and congratulated each one of us on our performance as we tried to make our way to our seats for the World Classic Rocker’s portion of the concert, the night turned out to be a memorable one for more than just the band.

To view photos from the event, be sure to visit the Remedy photo gallery.

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