Today we’d like to introduce you to Scrapegoat.
Hi Scrapegoat, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I have been a musician my whole life. Piano lessons and choir in elementary school and jr. high, and then rock & roll bands in high school. I attended McNally/Smith School of Music in the early 1990’s. That’s when I opened up to many different styles of music. I played bass in a variety of heavy metal bands for 12 years after that. Had a lot of fun. But eventually made it back to my roots.
One of the biggest influences in my musical journey was my father. He came to America in the mid-1960s from Germany. A musician himself, he loved old-time rock & roll but was also a big fan of country music. My father pursues life as a musician, a western/wildlife artist, and also, a cowboy. He is part of the old West society and was a major part of the Northfield, Defeat of Jesse James Days re-enactors. He owns the chuckwagon.
Every year, for many years, after the re-enactments of the day, all the cowboys in their old 1880s cowboy outfits, the horses and the guns, would all gather at the chuck wagon, eat, and sit at the campfire and play music until dawn. That is where I get my roots and current musical life from. Sitting around the campfire. So many years sitting at the fire playing along with the cowboys.
There were more than a few years my father and I failed to get along. But no matter what was happening, every year we could still meet at that wagon, around the fire, and still find common ground in our mutual love of playing music. My father and I have a great relationship these days and still play music together when time allows. The other major influence in my musical journey is my lovely and amazing wife. She has an uncanny and amazing ear for great music. One of the best I have ever known in my life.
When I parted ways with my old heavy metal bassist self, I was kind of lost. Then Mandy introduced me to a whole bunch of artists I had been missing out on. Like Son Volt, Lyle Lovett, Bob Dylan (I was never a fan of him until she made me listen to him), and others. She made me remember where I came from. I said to myself, “I can play this kind of music.” I decided if I couldn’t take just my guitar, and my voice, and entertain a room full of people, I was in the wrong business.
So, I became a Scrapegoat. It seems to have worked because I have been Scrapegoat for the better part of 20 years now and still going. Mandy and I are still discovering new and inspiring artists that also help me shape my style of original music.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I don’t believe any musician of character can say it has been a smooth road. Rough terrain builds character. Be it brought on by the industry, others, or self-detriment. First thing. The music business is a nasty business. Very unforgiving.
The competition is endless. Booking shows is a relentless, complicated effort, and is often unpleasant before landing some good venues to develop good, long-lasting relationships with. Developing a sales package, running social media, promoting, being creative, writing new music, recording, and producing a product. You truly have to love music completely while doing it all or you won’t survive.
Secondly, I was a solo artist for the first five years of my life as Scrapegoat. Eventually, I formed my band Scrapegoat Skin & Bones. I have had the pleasure of working with some amazing musicians. A good few, I love to this day. We have made, and still make, many great memories with each other over the years.
But often, I have worked with some unreliable, unskilled, or let’s just say, unsavory musicians, whom I will simply say, made the journey quite unpleasant at times.
Finding the right group of musicians to work with can be quite a struggle. With the right people, it’s like pure magic. Get a few bad eggs and life can get pretty ugly. So, I guess, no. It has never been a smooth road and I don’t expect it ever will be. But I love this musical journey and I will never quit.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
As a musician of over 30 years, I have never allowed myself to be defined by a genre. Although my oldest roots go back to singing and playing guitar around the campfire with my father and his cowboy buddies of the Old West Society. Mostly classic/outlaw country, I have also spent many years of my youth and my days as a young adult performing many different styles of music.
People see my performances and try to classify me as country, American, or bluegrass. But no single genre can truly identify my unique sound and style that I have chosen to define as Highclass-Hoedown Music. I believe as an artist, one should not be afraid to allow any roots to bleed life into any music. Be it the anger of my heavy metal days, the wild, campfire country of my youth, the jazz influence of my music school education, or simply the influence of current artists that inspire me today.
This, in my opinion, is being true to self and true to this beautiful adventure of being a musical artist.
What do you think about happiness?
What makes me happy? That’s easy. My wife Mandy. She is the light of my life and fills my days with an immeasurable amount of joy. Her intelligence is rivaled only by her compassion for others. Her inner beauty is truly reflected in her outer appearance. I love her with all of my beings and thank God she is my wife.
Other than that. Yes, music makes me happy. obviously. I enjoy it even through the struggles. My music defines me, and I am proud of that. I love living simply and honestly. Being a light and an inspiration to others and lending a helpful hand if I can.
I live my life in the understanding that all things, down to every day, every breath, and every heartbeat, are a gift from God. Take nothing for granted. Life is short. Live it well.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.scrapegoatproductions.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/scrapegoatmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkMjrlH6Bp9dl2dTWvoGvZg
