The League of Rock

  If you’re reading this, you probably know me; and if you know me, then you’ve probably heard me mention “The League of Rock”, and probably more than once!

  One Sunday morning in 2008, I awake to the sound of the police at my door.  Turns out there was an gold SUV complete with bullet holes, parked a couple houses down with 3 dead bodies in it.  With all the police activity on the street my wife Carla and I decided to get out to the movies, just to escape.  On the way back, we wondered if the police had finished their investigation and reopened the street; so we turn on 680 news and there we hear Rudy Blair talk about this thing call the ‘League of Rock’.  Sounded pretty cool!  We got home, Carla looked it up online and joined.  She liked it so much she went back…. 5 more times!  Tonight, at the Silver Dollar on Spadina it will be her 6^th showcase as the League 15^th session comes to a close.  Yes, people it’s that good.

  The League of Rock was founded in 2006 by Terry Moshenberg as a chance to let adults get together and jam and so much more. Along with business partner Topher Stott, they’ve created an amazing outlet for that inner musician that many adults have.  The League is for the everyday “9 to 5” type of adult that just wants to get together with like minded adults for musical growth and a ton of fun along the way.  It’s for musicians of all levels; those who are just starting out and want to apply what they’ve learned at a beginner level; to those that are more proficient.  But, leave your ‘diva’ attitude at the door; this League isn’t about who’s the better musician; it’s more about ‘let’s see what we can create collectively as a band within 10 weeks’, and trust me , you’ll have a ton of fun along the way!

 

  It’s a 10 week process that starts off with a “JAB” (Join A Band) session.  From there, you and your new band mates come up with the band name, and collectively come up with 3 songs for you to work on over the following weeks.  The weekly sessions are coached by professionals; people that know their music and come in for some constructive help as you and your band hone your skills and songs.  Past coaches included Dan Clancy of Lighthouse fame, Blair Packham from the Jitters, Terry Brown producer extraordinaire of Rush and Max Webster, Jeff Jones from Red Rider, Steve ‘Lips” Kudlow from Anvil, Zack Werner from Canadian Idol,  David Barrett, Michael White and so many more.  These guys know their stuff, and if you give them a chance they’ll help you and you band in ways you never even thought of.

  Halfway through the session, you do a couple of ‘live’ workshops.  It’s a chance to get out of the regular rehearsal space and play your songs in front of the other bands.  This is also a great learning experience; the bands are always learning from each other as they watch each other perform.

  By week 9 you’re ready to take one of your songs into a world class recording studio to record!  Each band receives a professionally recorded cd with each band’s song on it.  This ain’t no K-Tel product, you’re gonna be proud of this!

  Week 10 tops the whole session off with a ‘live’ showcase!  It’s time to show your friends and family what you’ve been creating with your band over the last 10 weeks.  I look at it as a celebration.  It’s celebrating what’s been created.  Yes, it’s music, but it’s also so much more.  You’ve learned new skills from listening to your professional coaches and even new friendships have developed. Keep in mind, 10 weeks ago, these people didn’t really know each other; now they’re a band!  They’re a team. They’ve had to rely on each other to do their part for the collective positive outcome; it’s teamwork.  They’ve learned more musically, but they’ve also learned more about themselves.

   I’ve met a lot of really cool, genuine people though the League of Rock, and I’m not even a musician!  They’re friendly and welcoming.  It’s all about adults having fun together through music. 

   I’m a music junkie, to me there is seriously no inappropriate time for music of some type.  Soft and mellow to set a mood, or cranked to 11 to melt the bad day you just had away.  I had my own dj business for 10 years, and maybe that was just an excuse to play more and more music.  Ya just gotta have music!

  The League of Rock has actually changed the way I hear music; and I mean that in the best possible way.  That comes from seeing and hearing the songs being recorded in studio as well and listening to the coaches and their constructive criticisms.

  Just about every song I hear on the radio, I think of how it would sound as a League of Rock presentation.   I think ‘man, I’d love to hear Kenny McNally sing that one out of the park’ or ‘‘ Shiva Van Halen’ could play that no problem’.  Music is dissected in my head more than ever.  It’s pulled apart and analyzed.  I think of how someone, or possible myself would perform that song in a League of Rock setting. 

   Just when I thought I couldn’t appreciate music anymore, the League of Rock has actually made me appreciate not just the music more, but the actual musicianship. The bands and the collective creative process.

  Well done Terry and Topher, you’ve got a real cool business going on here that brings a lot of happiness to music minded adults regularly.

   I invite you to come one out and see what it’s all about.  My wife and I have met some very cool people though the League of Rock.  People we now call friends.

  For more info, just ask me, or contact Terry & Topher through http://www.leagueofrock.com/

  Some day, the musical stylings of ‘Diamond Dave’ Wood will have to venture onto the League of Rock stage…  For now, I’ll stick with my karaoke, and maybe being the League of Rock’s unofficial photographer, but it’s coming…