How to be in "Rock Band" without really trying

[mpbrockman]

So this is a band I played sessions for a while back (actually just a couple of kids from San Antonio). They called to tell me several of the tracks are on the "Rock Band II" game and two of them are going to be in John Carr's new indie film "American Anthem". One of you film people tell me who John Carr is.

http://www.roseofjericho.com/music.html

I'm on pretty much all of these tracks (although I'm often buried behind walls of guitars), but the track getting the most buzz is "Wrong Side of the Sky" - you can hear me pretty clearly there. You can really hear me best on the title track "These City Lights", but that was a weird song since we did the whole rhythm section first with no idea what the melody was going to be. The producer just told me to wander around in space and that's pretty much what he got. It doesn't really all fit together to my ears but hey... not my song.

Anyway, check out the band's site if you wish and click on a song. It'll take you to YouTube - if you click on the dropdown info bar under the screen you'll see me in the credits along with Phil and Glen from the Dixie Chicks (no, this band sounds nothing like the Dixie Chicks).

I just had to laugh. I've also got to learn how to get back end cash when weird sh*t like this happens.

[bradisntclever]

They called to tell me several of the tracks are on the "Rock Band II" game.

It looks like "Buried Cold" and "Wrong Side of the Sky" are the two songs available on the Rock Band Network, which is a pretty interesting concept itself. The RBN allows record labels and bands with access to master tracks and a little technical know-how to upload their songs and turn them into Rock Band tracks. People can play 30 second samples all RBN network tracks for free before buying them. The draw, other than added publicity, is that the band gets to keep 30% of the profits made. RBN tracks tend to fly under the radar, so it would be interesting to see what the actual sales numbers for those songs are like.

[mpbrockman]

It looks like "Buried Cold" and "Wrong Side of the Sky" are the two songs available on the Rock Band Network, which is a pretty interesting concept itself.

My current theory is that Harmonix (the makers of "Rock Band") are trying to set themselves up as a record label. If they could break a band, it would be a whole new paradigm.

[mpbrockman]

Hey, they just made their first big budget video. Of course Andrea is faking playing my piano parts...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bUyB2_- ... ture=share

Kind of cool.

We're recording their next CD next year when I get back from touring.

[mpbrockman]

Holy sh*t. Someone got my piano parts to an older ROJ tune on "RBII", got them 100% correct and posted it to YouTube.

Perhaps no-one else gives a crap - but the idea that someone, somewhere bothered to learn my parts, nail them and tape themselves doing so makes me feel nice.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iauk3cplkaQ