We here at Quick Stop Entertainment are true lovers of music, in all its forms. We’re also quite keen on the spirit of competition, and of spurring creativity through said competition.
To that end, we launched a brand new form of creative combat here at the Stop.
In this age of manufactured and painfully earnest talent contests, we’ve decided to instead shine a light on the quirky, quixotic underworld of musicians that don’t get nearly the attention they deserve.
Ah, but I did mention that there was a competition involved…
A week back, we sent out the call for challengers. Many of you heard the call and fought for a slot. You’ll find information about them below.
Like a songwriting version of Iron Chef, these challengers will be presented with a very specific songwriting challenge. They’ll be given one week to complete their songs – however they see fit, within the parameters set forth – after which time the entries will be uploaded to Quick Stop.
So, what do we call this competition?
MASTERS OF SONG FU
For this edition of Song Fu, we’re bringing in a single (well, 2, technically) Master who you’ll be going up against. Think of them as the iron chefs of Song Fu…
PAUL & STORM
Paul and Storm are a comedy music duo, and they have been performing as a duo since 2004. Before that, they were one half of a cappella band Da Vinci’s Notebook for about 12 years. A Paul and Storm show is part music concert and part standup/improv comedy–just enough of both to fit neatly in neither category. They like to engage the audience, and are known to award snack cakes and/or other prizes for good (and sometimes bad) behavior. Their show would be PERFECT as a cable special, and would make lots of money for whichever brave channel decides to air them first.
Official Website: www.paulandstorm.com
In a moment, you’ll discover the details of the holiday challenge. First, though, here is the list of challengers:
THE CHALLENGERS
JEFF MacDOUGALL
Jeff MacDougall 2: Electric Boogaloo – You may know Jeff from his short-lived stint as reigning challenger in MoSF#1 – ultimately losing to master Jonathan Coulton. He’s back and ready to make the holidays his bitch. Because really, nothing says Christmas music like the sweet sounds of Jeff MacDougall.
Official Website: www.jeffmacdougall.com
JASON MORRIS
I suppose I am what you could call a “Multi-Instrumentalist”. That is a nice way of saying “Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none”. I began playing drums as a teenager and spent a great deal of energy during my 20’s trying to “make it” in the music biz. As a drummer, I have had the opportunity to play with some pretty incredible musicians, garnering literally DOZENS of fans over the years. In 2004 I joined the band Celestial Static, and spent several years melting some face with good friends Jeremy and Julie Elzerman. Once that ran its course, I decided to spend more time locked away in my studio, writing my own songs and learning to play guitar, bass and sing. It doesn’t pay the bills, but I have a good time doing it.
Official Website: www.jason-morris.com
JOE “COVENANT” LAMB
My name is Joe Lamb, I’ve been known online as JoeCovenant, or JoeCov, Or just Cov for the last decade or so. I’m 45 and have been performing for 40 of those years. Up until 2005 I was solely a professional actor/singer, but I am now also a Civil Servant and work for Her Majesty. I’ve been playing guitar since I was 10, but still think Bar Chords are things played in pubs. (I can’t do ’em!) I’m not too bad on the Bhodran and can pick out a tune on a keyboard when pushed… really hard. I’ve always been frustrated that my ideas outdistance my abilities, so my output is always rather simplistic… But I like to think that, occasionally, synergy does it’s job well! My last album, a passel of LARP songs written ‘in character’, was recorded in the same way the songs for this contest will be recorded… Analogue, in my living room, through a quickshot stick-mic (Yes, really!) Hearing some of the songs that have been created through this contest I feel privileged to be involved! I’ll do the best I can!
Official Website: None
“BUCKETHAT” BOBBY MATHESON
“BucketHat” Bobby Matheson is an awkward teenage accordionist and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in superhero-themed and “Comedy” music, and who works for minimum wage in the fast food industry. With his style varying from polka to folk, punk to pop, and then again from rock to bluegrass, we’re left unsure what to expect. One thing for certain is that Bobby doesn’t like talking about himself in the third person, and therefore will stop this silliness right now.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/buckethatbobby
CHARLIE WOLF
Charlie Wolf has always been much better at writing songs than at writing third-person biographies about himself. While still a teenager, Charlie Wolf is already an accomplished ‘multi-instrumentalist’, playing guitar, bass, accordion, and keyboards. In the past year or so, Charlie has began playing private parties and coffee-house gigs in the Los Angeles area, which sounds way more interesting than it actually is. His music ranges from hilarious comedy songs to tender ballads, and more often than not, somewhere in between. He would like to thank the academy, but cannot, because he does not know where the academy is or how they would like to be thanked.
Official Website: www.gypsypunk.net/cw/
BRAM TANT
Hello everyone. I’m Bram Tant, a 19-year-old Belgian student who enjoys playing the electric/bass guitar, singing, and writing songs in his spare time. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional musician, and I’m psyched to have been selected for this awesome contest. Having greatly enjoyed the first edition, I want to test my humble songwriting Fu against other (hopefully) great artists. Unfortunately, I do not own decent recording equipment – all I have is a computer microphone. Still, I’ll try the best I can to record the best song I can write. About musical influences – lately I’ve been really awed at/inspired by the work of Jonathan Coulton, and I found out about this contest through his website/forum. Else, I enjoy a bit of everything. My musical style is a bit hard to define: I play a bunch of stuff like soft/hard/classic rock, punk, metal, folk, jazz, lots of improvisational stuff, and I seem to have a knack for writing love songs, probably because of a subconscious yearning for love… Anyway, I wish the best of luck to all the other competitors, and may the best win!
Official Website: studwww.ugent.be/~btant/
RUSTY’S ROCKING JAMBOREE
“Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree” is a one-man, music and comedy show for family audiences, starring Russ Rogers. While in college, twenty-some years ago, Russ Rogers was in a band called, “Buc Blaster and His Ukulele Rangers.” There are several noteworthy alumni of “The Ukulele Rangers,” including Song Fu Master Michael J. Nelson. Later, Rogers and Andy LaCasse (also a Ukulele Ranger) partnered to form the almost near famous, children’s music and comedy duo, “Kit and Kaboodle.” After ten years and three albums (still available on iTunes and CDBaby.com), “Kit and Kaboodle” broke up over musical differences. LaCasse was musical … an d Rogers was just different. Now, “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree” has been entertaining family audiences around Minnesota for the past five years.
Official Website: www.rockingjamboree.com
THE MASKED STRANGER
The Masked Stranger (a.k.a Neal John Mac Rae), is a self proclaimed noise/folk artist from Nova Scotia, Canada. Although his work has gone completely unnoticed on an official level, he has still managed to garner several fans from Australia and amoungst his close friends. The Masked Stranger project started in 2004 when Neal John recorded “The River Song”, a simple panflute tune he furiously augmented and destroyed on his computer. Since then he has created roughly 30 other distinctly more destroyed and demented tracks under the moniker of The Masked Stranger. His music has been described as “a total disregard for musical theory”, “aaaaaaaah!”, “raw and grating”, “annoying”, “Twisting is a word I want to use to describe it… Very natural and earthly”, and “disturbing and yet… strangely enjoyable”. His most well liked and most consistant piece “Rue The Red” was described by Cape Breton goregrind artist Devin Meaney as “a posessed man jigging out on the strings of his creator. Like a puppet, devouring the flesh of god. And this is exactly what it reminds me of, no joke.”. This awkward and soil laiden musician’s journeys into the abrassive and the tribal only threaten to continue.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/themaskedstranger777
HEATHER HENDERSON
Heather Henderson has been entertaining America since she was seven years old. She got her start as a mini dancing superstar and co-host on Dance Party USA. Her career then made the natural progression towards Sesame Street and most recently a principal role in the Disney film Annapolis. Striving constantly to develop as an artist, The Big H sings with the bad-ass 60’s retro soul group SOULAMITE!, performs with the Revival Burlesque troupe in philadelphia, makes short films, writes funny songs, and is always looking for the next good audition. She hopes to have her own totally crappy and misquoted Wikipedia entry one day.
Official Website: www.HHenderson.com
NATE SHIVERS
Fun, Zesty, Acoustic, Energetic, Crunchy. Some of these words describe the Baritone-Ukulele-wielding N8 Shivers (the others describe Taco Bell’s newest food-like invention). He began writing songs at the age of two, and taught himself to play the uke a mere 17 years later. N8’s Family members claim he’s the best uke-playing song writer they’re related to. He enjoys Stand-up Comedy, Coen Brothers movies, Chilly sandwiches, and Canadian sitcoms. His Turn-offs include Banana Flavored Things, Republicans, and Mountain Dew. N8 is currently employed as a Wizard in southern Ohio.
Official Website: www.myspace.com/ncomma8
SCOTT WOLFSON
Scott Wolfson has been performing and recording since he was 13 years old. For more than half of his life he’s been a part of the New York City music scene – most notably, as the guitarist and songwriter for the “freak pop” band The Right Bastards, and most recently as the front man for The Buzzkill All-Stars. A graduate of NYU, he majored in musical performance and minored in music theory and composition. His songwriting strives to combine the wit and wisdom of Elvis Costello, Paul Simon, and Tom Waits with the pop sensibilites of Squeeze, XTC, and Crowded House. His unique voice and stylings add another dimension to the already strong songwriting.
Official Website: www.bc2music.com
BRYCE JENSEN
Bryce Jensen has been writing songs off and on for over twenty years, but he has rarely shared any of them beyond his friends and family. His styles range from a capella to heavy metal with a lot of wimpy finger picking stuff in between. As most of his songs are horrible, Bryce has agreed to enter this contest as a service to the other contestants, making them appear even more talented by comparison.
Official Website: None
JEFF FARDINK
Jeff began playing guitar in 2003. He wrote his first comedy song in early 2004, and later that year, he wrote a song that was actually funny and in key, unlike his earlier works. He began playing shows after accidentally opening for a local band while passing through a bar. He continues to play because nobody has told him to stop.
Official Website: www.JeffFardink.com
EAST CAROLINA
East Carolina was formed in 2006 when friends Aaron (vocals, keyboards, accordion, etc) and Stuart (electric guitar, bass, keyboards, etc.) realized that, though often praised individually for their musical prowess, together they would be a virtually less-stoppable musical force. Combining in their music elements of alternative and classic rock, comedy, jazz, hilarious banter, polka, and more, East Carolina creates music that is unique, pleasurable, and often unclassifiable. Their original songs range in topic from Spanish love gone wrong to social anxiety to properties of gasses, and beyond. East Carolina is thrilled to be participating in the Masters of Song Fu competition and looks forward to sharing their songs with all of you.
Official Website: www.worldofarcana.com
HOLIDAY CHALLENGE
Tis the season and all that, right? Well, your challenge is to create a brand new character for this holiday season, and write a holiday song for him/her/it. Think Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty The Snowman, etc. Now you can add your own musical contribution to the festivities.
That’s it. The only other directive is that your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 45 seconds. Your song must be submitted in mp3 form (128-192kbps) either via e-mail (to songfu @ asitecalledfred.com – remember to remove the spaces) or a file upload service (like RapidShare or YouSendIt). Deadline for submission is 11:59pm EST on Monday, December 15th, 2008.
The songs will be unveiled on Thursday, December 18th, 2008.
Good luck, and bring on the Fu.
Comments: 25 Comments
December 4th, 2008 at 12:10 am
I’m the only girl!!!!
Can’t I just show my tits for the win???
December 4th, 2008 at 1:10 am
Only one way to find out!
December 4th, 2008 at 1:22 am
I believe you can. I’m pretty sure it’s in the rules.
December 4th, 2008 at 1:24 am
It couldn’t hurt…
December 4th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
I fear that if getting naked becomes part of the competition, I just won’t compare well, especially to Jeff Fardink! (Sorry, Jeff. I couldn’t help myself.)
December 5th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
Somebody should fix poor Neal’s website address!
(And if we have to get our Moobs out…. Hmmm.. let’s not go there…) ;’)
December 6th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
Tell you what Heather, if you show me your boobs, I’ll write my song about them. Heather’s Henderson’s Titmas Avengers. I think that’s a good character. And Russ, not many compare well to me naked, but not many have three testicles either, so really, its just not a fair competition.
December 7th, 2008 at 11:31 am
I have the body of a forest troll that I often cleverly hide underneath the clothes of homo-sapiens… If I were to unveil myself, I couldn’t ensure the safety of your mortal eyes. However, I have no objections to Heather’s breasts being revealed to the contenders of this fine contest. Has anyone considered how that might affect male voters? I think it’s a sacrifice we’re all willing to make.
December 8th, 2008 at 12:35 am
Just because she’s the only girl, doesn’t mean she’s the only one with tits. If it was “best breasts” I’m sure some of the guys could win.
December 8th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
I am saddened by the lack of JoCo and Rifftones.
December 8th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
Why did my soundcard chose this week (half way through mixing and polishing) decide to go, (seeing as how its the topic), Tits-Up !?!?!
I’m afraid my entry is going to be a little sub-par unless something drastic happens… SH*T !!!
December 8th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
I assume my bark-flesh doesn’t particularly shock anyone… Trolls are far too socially accepted these days…
December 11th, 2008 at 11:37 pm
So..Ummm.. When is the deadline UK time ???
December 13th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Crazy time zones…
December 13th, 2008 at 4:41 pm
Eastern is -5 GMT
December 13th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
So thats Monday, 5am, UK time then?
Just wanna be sure !!! ;’ )))
December 14th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
No, Covenant, that’s Tuesday 5 A.M. GMT
And no, I’m not trying to sabotage you.
On second thought, the deadline is next week. Yeah… 🙂
December 15th, 2008 at 12:12 am
heh heh heh !!!
Just as well that, after all my glorious problems, I thought, “Ach what the hell… Let’s just send it!”
;’ ) Orrabest!
December 15th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
Why wait to send it in the first place?
December 15th, 2008 at 8:02 pm
Because I was fighting with my computer to get it into a state where I could actually hear what I had recorded and what the mix sounded like ‘properly’ and not totally distorted, and not able to add additional content.
December 15th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Does your computer have any particularly frightening techniques in combat?
December 16th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Hey Song Fu people, bad news, I am unable to participate for the holiday fu. Resy assured I do have a song but my voice is temporarly put on hold do to weather. I do however have a song about a fetivas ferret named Filliam but I cant throwdown the lyrics on tape for at least another week. So good luck from Nate and I cant wait to hear the songs.
-Nate Shivers
December 16th, 2008 at 6:48 am
Oh it does indeed.. Its a Master of Passive Resistance!
(Nate… Sorry to hear that… Put the lyric up somewhere though !!)
December 16th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Horrifyingly effective the art of Passive Resistance is…
Best of luck next time Nate!
December 16th, 2008 at 4:54 pm
Nate, croak out “Filliam the Festivas Ferret” and post it to your MySpace! We can make Filliam the Holiday Mascot for the Rest of Us!