This is a Rock band.

Source

Okay, enough memories…let’s fast-forward to today’s Rock band. Hmm, that’s weird; I’m not looking at live people anymore. In fact, I’m not even at a concert hall. Where’s the fog? Where are the lasers? Where are the amps? Instead, I’m in a living room, staring at a television screen. I see these colored blobs heading towards me and animated figures of my Rock and Roll heroes belting out the tunes that made them famous. Is that Steven Tyler? Animated? Man, he’s uglier than in real life! But, I have to admit, at least they made his mouth big enough. Instead of just hanging out, listening to great music, I see people desperately trying to keep up with the music on a plastic guitar that was built for someone about the size of Verne Troyer. Or, even more entertaining, I see folks beating the piss out of a tiny drum set…again a slave to colored blobs being lobbed toward them by the animated drummer. Is that Lars Ulrich? Wow! I can even buy upgrades and extras for my instruments. The problem is, of course, the instruments are not real instruments! They’re just bad, plastic replicas.

Oh, how the guitar gods of the past must be rolling over in their graves. They’re staring down at us from above, six-string still slung around their backs and picks in hand, just laughing. Please forgive us Jimi!!! We mean no harm or disrespect! Oh Stevie Ray, please look the other way! No wonder the sky is crying!! I wonder what Joe Satriani thinks of Rock band? Can you even imagine Neil Peart drumming to Rock Band? I think he’d rather give up drumming all together! So, here’s what I’m thinking needs to happen…

Let’s take all the time, effort and money collectively spent on chasing those colored blobs with make-believe instruments and put it to a different, and better, use. Are you ready? Wait for it, wait for it…let’s actually learn how to play the instrument! What?! Did he just say what I think he said? Yes. Learn how to actually play the guitar, or drums, or whatever. Pick up the actual, full size instrument and start your musical education.

The real thing.

Look, I love music. I love listening to music. I love playing music. I wouldn’t be blogging about music if I didn’t love it so much! There is something extremely gratifying about playing an instrument and producing sounds and notes that come together in a good harmony and form a kick-ass melody. You don’t want to make original music? That’s cool. You won’t believe how satisfying it is to learn a song from your favorite band and then nail that song spot-on! I guarantee you; you’ll be playing it over and over again until someone tells you to stop. There is really no comparison between actually playing an instrument versus pretending to play an instrument. I love a good air-guitar solo as much as the next person, but you’re still not playing the guitar. (Besides, just between you and me; you look like a dork-wanna-be when you play air guitar in public) Get out there and play! Besides, I can barely put into words how freaking cool it is to perform on stage in front of real people. You talk about a rush! There is no comparison between playing live on stage and playing a bad imitation in your basement. Oh yeah, and remember what John Mellencamp said; “Forget all about that macho shit and learn how to play guitar!”

Vodes has just joined the meandthestereo community. He’ll be writing weekly columns for us about his experience with music, so keep coming back for more. Help us welcome him to the blog by sending him angry comments about how much you love video games! Comment below!

Go read the bloody thing!!!!