We here at FRED 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 unique form of creative combat.
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…
Like a songwriting version of Iron Chef, the competitors 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 FRED to be voted on by you, the audience.
At the end of the 3rd Challenge, the two Challengers with the most votes will face off, mano a mano for the title of…
MASTER OF SONG FU
However, there may yet be one final challenge for this newly crowned Master – for they very well might (if the stars align and schedules permit) face off against one of the LEGENDARY MASTERS – artists like Jonathan Coulton, Paul & Storm, Neil Innes, Doc Hammer, & The RiffTones. Think of them as the iron chefs of Song Fu – one of which may or may not be revealed as your ultimate challenge. Only the wheel of uncertainty can predict (and even then, not).
So what was the first Challenge?
ROUND 1 CHALLENGE
Write a song that is about (or at least has key to the central narrative) RAIN (the meteorological phenomena). At some point (or throughout) the song, you must utilize an instrument (or vocals) that represent the rain. You are free to write your song in any style that you choose.
That’s it. The only other directive is that your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 30 seconds.
And then our Challengers were given their Round 2 Challenge…
ROUND 2 CHALLENGE
Write a song that does not rhyme.
CLARIFICATION: Your song can be in any style, but must not contain any rhymes of 2 dissimilar words within a traditional verse structure. Exact repetition of a phrase or word is permitted. Your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 30 seconds..
If you want some inspiration, here’s a number song from The Muppets…
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/rhymingsong.mp3]
And then came the Round 3 Challenge…
ROUND 3 CHALLENGE
Write a song that involves a recipe for something.
This recipe can be for anything – not just food. Your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 30 seconds..
If you want some inspiration, here’s a recipe song by Queen Ida…
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/queen_ida-zydeco_taco.mp3]
And then, the votes from all 3 Rounds were tabulated, and the TOP 2 VOTE-GETTERS went head-to-head in the Final Round Challenge. The winner of that battle will be declared this edition’s MASTER OF SONG FU. So what was that Final Challenge?
FINAL CHALLENGE
Let’s call this one Challenge & Victory
Your task is to write a single tune that is actually comprised of two individual songs – the first half details a problem to be conquered or a battle to be fought, and the second half is a victorious, triumphant resolution. Both of these halves must feel independent of the other, but may contain an element that bridges the two. Your song must run no shorter than 3 minutes..
If you want some inspiration, here’s Queen…
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/queenrock.mp3]
Below, you’ll find the songs from our final two Challengers, plus the form for you to place your vote for your favorite. In addition, you’ll be able to listen to the out-of-competition Shadow Entries submitted for this Challenge. If you’d like to hear all of the Challenger songs from this edition of Song Fu, CLICK HERE.
THE FINAL CHALLENGERS
MIKE LOMBARDO
Mike Lombardo is a piano-playing geek-pop-rock singer-songwriter who likes to use hyphens when describing his occupation. He has been known to write songs about just about anything, including rocks and SAW 4. When not banging on a piano, Mike spends most of his time playing way too many video games or teaching small children how to bang on pianos. A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Mike is currently finishing up his second album with his piano rock band, the Mike Lombardo Trio.
Official Website: www.mikelombardomusic.com
Twitter: twitter.com/mikelombardo
ROUND 1 SONG: “Sit And Watch The Rain”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/mike_lombardo-sit_and_watch_the_rain.mp3]
ROUND 2 SONG: “I Found You”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/mike_lombardo-i_found_you.mp3]
ROUND 3 SONG: “We Don’t Have Any Eggs (from Man In Kitchen – The Musical)”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/mike_lombardo-we_dont_have_any_eggs.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SONG: “This Song Is Meta (And So Is This Title)”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/mike_lombardo-this_song_is_meta_and_so_is_this_title.mp3]
LEIGH & HOOVER
Dave & William have been writing songs together for decades, yet have still managed to avoid finding a clever name for themselves. William writes the words; Dave the music… which is good because it doesn’t really work the other way ’round.
Official Website: www.cratchit.org/music
ROUND 1 SONG: “Summer Rain”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/leigh_and_hoover-summer_rain.mp3]
ROUND 2 SONG: “We Do What We Do”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/leigh_and_hoover-we_do_what_we_do.mp3]
ROUND 3 SONG: “Primordial Soup (Traditional Recipe)”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/leigh_and_hoover-primordial_soup.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SONG: “Yesterday Hero – Someday”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/leigh_and_hoover-yesterday_hero-someday.mp3]
To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the FINAL CHALLENGE songs, CLICK HERE.
To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the ROUND 3 songs, CLICK HERE.
To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the ROUND 2 songs, CLICK HERE.
To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the ROUND 1 songs, CLICK HERE.
FINAL CHALLENGE VOTING
And now, it’s time for the voting. For this FINAL CHALLENGE round, you can CHOOSE ONE Challenger song. Be sure to choose carefully. VOTING CLOSES AT 11:59pm EST on SUNDAY, MARCH 28th.
THE FINAL CHALLENGE WINNER WILL BE NOTIFIED VIA E-MAIL AFTER VOTING CLOSES
If you are having trouble voting, CLEAR YOUR BROWSER’S CACHE and try again. PLEASE NOTE: This voting system bases voting eligibility on your IP Address. If there are other computers on a home or business network that share the same IP address through a router, it may say you’ve already voted. Unfortunately, there is no way around this, and still be able to prevent ballot stuffing. It’s just the nature of the online voting beast.
FINAL CHALLENGE VOTING
[poll id=”27″]
FINAL VOTE TALLY FOR ROUNDS 1-3
* Mike Lombardo – 444 Votes
* Leigh & Hoover – 301 Votes
* Denise Hudson – 276 Votes
* Edric Haleen – 228 Votes
* Gorbzilla – 223 Votes
* Godz Poodlz – 190 Votes
* Caleb Hines – 187 Votes
* Inverse T. Clown – 170 Votes
* Kylie Petto – 166 Votes
* Jeff MacDougall – 151 Votes
* Governing Dynamics – 135 Votes
* Buckethat Bobby Matheson – 132 Votes
* Glen Raphael – 131 Votes
* Ian “Two Shades” Johnson – 120 Votes
* Common Lisp – 103 Votes
* Zer0guy – 98 Votes
* Jutze Schult – 93 Votes
* Boffo Yux Dudes – 88 Votes
* Taryn Miller – 84 Votes
* Spencer Sokol – 76 Votes
ROUND 3 VOTING RESULTS
[poll id=”26″]
ROUND 2 VOTING RESULTS
[poll id=”25″]
ROUND 1 VOTING RESULTS
[poll id=”24″]
SHADOW ENTRIES
JOE “COVENANT” LAMB
I’m Joe Covenant. I’m Scottish. And never have enough time to do everything I wanna! Been singing and perfoming for over 40 years… (yes, I am 46.)… and I’ve nearly learned a 6th chord! Everything I do. I do for Song Fu. (If not for this ‘contest’ I would have never met and collaborated with so many talented people.)
Official Website: joecovenant.bandcamp.com
Twitter: twitter.com/JoeCovenantROUND 1 SHADOW SONG: “Rain”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/shadow_song-joe_covenant_lamb-rain.mp3]
ROUND 2 SHADOW SONG: “The “Jay Is Awesome” Polka”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/shadow_song-joe_covenant_lamb-the_jay_is_awesome_polka.mp3]
ROUND 3 SHADOW SONG: “Devil’s Fu Cake”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/shadow_song-joe_covenant_lamb-devils_fu_cake.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SHADOW SONG: “New Mombasa – Finish the Fight”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/shadow_song-joe_covenant_lamb-new_mombasa-finish_the_fight.mp3]
GOVERNING DYNAMICS
Governing Dynamics is the name of Travis Norris’s eternal sideproject, where all the stuff written by him goes when his current band (whatever it may be) refuses to play it. The music has been favorably compared to such bands as Eels, Radiohead, The White Stripes, and other bands that cool people like. It has been unfavorably compared to the tactics used by the FBI against the Branch Dividians at Waco. If he has to describe his music by genre (and refer to himself in third person) Travis calls it “alternative/shoegazer with a liberal dose of Midwestern rock”.
Official Website: governingdynamics.bandcamp.com
Twitter: twitter.com/travisnorris
ROUND 1 SONG: “Rain in Chicago”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/governing_dynamics-rain_in_chicago.mp3]
ROUND 2 SONG: “Restrictions”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/governing_dynamics-restrictions.mp3]
ROUND 3 SONG: “Broken Boy”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/governing_dynamics-broken_boy.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SHADOW SONG: “Deconstructive Witticisms – Try”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/shadow_song-governing_dynamics-deconstructive_witticisms_try.mp3]
DENISE HUDSON
Denise Hudson is a musician of non-determined hair-color from Austin, Texas who is married to an musicaphile Australian. She hopes that she typed up her bio correctly (alas, she cannot spell!); and additionally hopes she amuses you, but she is done apologizing now. 🙂 If she happens to make you slightly uncomfortable, she supposes there’s nothing to be done for it…
Official Website: denisehudson.bandcamp.comTwitter: twitter.com/RangerDenni
ROUND 1 SONG: “Rain”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/denise_hudson-rain.mp3]
ROUND 2 SONG: “Something Very Horrible (Bluebeard’s Lament)”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/denise_hudson-something_very_horrible_bluebeards_lament.mp3]
ROUND 3 SONG: “Duality Cupcake (‘Why’)”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/denise_hudson-duality_cupcake_why.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SHADOW SONG: “Keys and Lies (feat. Joe “Covenant” Lamb)”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/shadow_song-denise_hudson-keys_and_lies.mp3]
GLEN RAPHAEL
Glen Raphael is a Manhattan-based software geek, circus performer, and guitarist/singer/songwriter who counts Jonathan Coulton and Paul & Storm as influences. He has recently written songs that featured killer robots, exploding pants, and the Statue of Liberty having a mid-life crisis. Though not all at once. Yet.
Official Website: youtube.com/glenra
ROUND 1 SONG: “Can’t See The Sky”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/glen_raphael-cant_see_the_sky.mp3]
ROUND 2 SONG: “Song That Doesn’t Rhyme”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/glen_raphael-song_that_doesnt_rhyme.mp3]
ROUND 3 SONG: “Big In Japan”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/glen_raphael-big_in_japan.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SHADOW SONG: “When The Prozac Kicks In”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/shadow_song-glen_raphael-when_the_prozac_kicks_in.mp3]
INVERSE T. CLOWN
Inverse T. Clown is a jack of many entertainment trades, songwriting being one of his favorites. He has an album half-ready to be recorded, and is looking forward to garnering the patience to sit down and do it. Even more so, he’s looking forward to Song Fu 6. There is an ongoing series of internet covers of Inverse’s song “Today’s The Day” – and he loves them all – but it would nice to get some steam behind the endless REST of his genius, and Song Fu seems just the place to start it up. He’s funny, he’s clever, his music is synthetic, and he’s champing at the bit to throw everything he’s got to his clamoring fans. Stick around, and see why Salemites everywhere call this musical genius “The Future of Greatness”.
Official Website: toomuchawesome.ning.com/profile/InverseTClown
ROUND 1 SONG: “Sexy In The Rain”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song1/inverse_t_clown-sexy_in_the_rain.mp3]
ROUND 2 SONG: “An Angry Rant”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song2/inverse_t_clown-an_angry_rant.mp3]
ROUND 3 SONG: “Devastator”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song3/inverse_t_clown-devastator.mp3]
FINAL CHALLENGE SHADOW SONG: “Manic Depressive”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/shadow_song-inverse_t_clown-manic_depressive.mp3]
GINYU
From TV to the internet and more, I first got into music back in 1998 doing my own music show. It was around that time that I became a DJ at WRTC 89.3 FM. Music has been in my family for many years. My father is a singer. I, on the other hand, do a little bit of everything, from YouTube to my travels around the US and the UK, entertainment is in my blood. Making a song for Song Fu has been fun. I hope to do it again.
Official Website: www.youtube.com/user/Ginyu2007
FINAL CHALLENGE SHADOW SONG: “Quest For The Fu”
[audio:http://asitecalledfred.com/songfu/06song4/shadow_song-ginyu-quest_for_the_fu.mp3]
If you triumph, not only will you win remarkable (and potentially off-putting) bragging rights and a clutch of fantastic mystery prizes, you will also become the proud owner of the magnificent, one-of-a-kind MASTER OF SONG FU TROPHY.
Good luck, and bring on the Fu.
[ad#contestbox]
Edric is a returning veteran of the Masters of Song Fu competition. He has been writing music (off and on) since the early nineties. He wrote and directed a musical, The Pushcart War, based on Jean Merrill’s wonderful novel. He has written and/or arranged a number of songs for various friends – some commissioned, some as surprises. He loves acting in community theatre, and is inspired by the music of Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. Also – feel free to check out (and add to!) the “Happiness Board” on his web pages!
Legends foretell of a mighty duo, born in the frozen North. Two neighbors and friends will unite to form “Godz Poodlz” and battle the Mazters or Song Fu for glory and bragging rights! Godz Poodlz are Rüss Rogers and Rod Durre. Russ Rogers was once a member of “Kit and Kaboodle” (still available on iTunes) and currently performs in “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree!” Rhod Durre was in the Goth Rock Band, “Sear!” Beware the Godz Poodlz Ear Worm! Godz Poodlz songs are bright, funny and tenaciously catchy. Come join Godz Poodlz Legionz of Fanz!
Spencer is trying to do things. Music is one of those things. It is painfully obvious to him, if not others, that he has absolutely no idea what he’s doing. In the past he has been musically inclined with a guitar and occasionally with a piano. He is trying to be musically active once again, but this time he is attempting to do so while on the Internets. Creating music is a large part of his 40×40 list and he thinks this competition seems like “a Super Mega Happy Fun way” to rekindle his musical desires.
My name is Kylie, and I’m your everyday 17-year-old girl with a passion for music. I’ve been writing my own songs since I was ten years old, and nothing is more fun for me than to sit down with my guitar and unwind. Now I thankfully have a violin to add to my arsenal, and I’m armed and ready for my second go at song fu!
Caleb is a software engineer who pretends to be a musician on the internet. Self-taught in music theory, he is more comfortable writing a four-part instrumental fugue than he is writing a verse-chorus-bridge song. His favorite style of music went out of style at the end of the 18th century, but after discovering the likes of Weird Al, Dr. Horrible, and especially Jonathan Coulton, he realized that “omodern music” can be fun too. Now he is on a quest to update, expand, and diversify his musical knowledge and experience. In addition to singing, he plays a whole family of recorders, baroque flute, ukulele, melodica, pretends to play keyboard and guitar, and most recently, bass. He also uses virtual instruments because a real orchestra costs too much.
The Boffo Yux Dudes began in the 80’s and 90’s doing radio comedy, and promptly fell asleep for the next 15 years. Tom Giarrosso and Allan Morgan (Pop Machine) continue the tradition of trying to recreate their lost youth with exceedingly torturous music, instead of spending the money on therapy like normal people having a midlife crisis. Tom blames Mike Lombardo for showing him the Fu way of doing things, and now he has to listen to the voices and write songs instead of doing his actual day job.
I’m “BucketHat” Bobby Matheson. I used to make cartoons for the internet, and sometimes still do, but mostly focus on my music right now. I write and record my songs solo, in my little make-shift studio, and when I play live, I often get some help from friends. Some of my music is funny, and some isn’t. More often than not, the humour is unintentional. My Influences range from Klezmer to folk, to punk and back again, which ends up sounding more like Zydeco than anything else (who’d have guessed?). I’ve been described as a “Cajun Buddy Holly” and an “Optimistic Elvis Costello”. It’s been said that I sound like “That guy from the Barenaked Ladies” and a “Nasaly Bob Dylan”. One of these days, I hope to have a description that is accurate.
Ian is a guitarist/singer/pianist/other-stuff-ist. He was a participant of Song-Fu #5, and is a member of Too Much Awesome. His songs have been described (by himself) as “probably not as funny as I think they are.”
Gorbzilla is a musician/band teacher in Mid-Michigan. He has been in a few bands over the years, most notably as the bass player/vocalist for the band “Satin Jones” and the guitarist/vocalist for the band “Jimmy Likes Pie”. The proud father of two future rock maniacs, Gorbzilla has been writing music for the past twenty years, and is currently working on his first musical Beer ““ Finally a Musical for Men based on the Haiku by Patrick “Horkmeister” Sweet entitled, “I Think I Threw Up”. He has been happily married for eight years, and is looking forward to this competition.
Two brothers from the midwest return to Song Fu with their brand of eclectic musical ideas. They don’t like to stick to a genre, and sometimes they suffer from swarms of bees.
Johannes “Jutze” Schult (from Germany) likes to live in a dream world where there has been no Grunge and where he is a talented singer. Sometimes his little folky pop songs find their way into the real world. Here they suffer from his hoarse voice and the do-it-yourself home recording production, struggling to appeal off and on beaten musical paths.
Common Lisp is the name for the music projects of yours truly, Paul R. Potts, and any collaborators I may be able to drag into participating. I am a middle-aged software engineer with four children, some home recording gear, and too many guitars. I have never written an original song. It’s about time, don’t you think?
Coming in at twice Mike Lombardo’s age, Jeff MacDougall is back and ready to throw some Fu! When asked about the competition, he had this to say: “Yeah. That’s right. I’m back. *coughs* *mumbles*” This will be a Song Fu for the ages!
Taryn Miller is an 18-year-old, gluten-intolerant, crazy-hat-wearing guitarist (and other stuff too, but she’s played guitar longest). She hails from Winfield, Kansas – Home of Bluegrass.
Bram Tant is a Belgian coputer science student with a distinct love for music. Ever since going to music school as a kid, he’s enjoyed singing and playing the guitar, and has been writing songs for some years now. While he’s still learning to play the guitar, sing and write songs better, he improves with each attempt, and he makes up for it (and the lack of proper recording equipment) with his passion and enthusiasm. He would like to become a professional musician someday, but for now he’s satisfied with writing and performing for friends, family, and strangers on the internet.
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.
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.
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.
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!
“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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.