Hey yo

Ben Collins-Hamel | November 8, 2008

Greetings Red Herring community!

Dave and Ben here (Dave typing, Ben watching Dave type, having a mutual amount of input). Just sitting here, toasting a late-night coffee, thinking of you (not so creepy, really). Well, we're thinking a lot about ourselves too.

Anyway, we had a show last weekend. It was the first one in about...six months? We didn't promote it as much as we would have liked to. It was a house party (Halloween). We were blue - as in blue Smurfs (I don't think they come in any other colors). We also had a new face upon the drum throne. Jeff Elberling filled in at the last minute. He did an amazing job. Jeff had about 36 hours to learn 21 songs (yikes). For all you mathletes out there that's ... one song every 1.48 hours (bam!). Fun show. I mean, we aim to please and overall, we feel we achieved our goal.

Thanks Jeff. A BIG THANKS JEFF. And thanks to all for coming out and having a good time with us.

There will be more shows popping up soon, so keep your eyes and ears alert.

Back to what we're currently doing:

Sitting here at Grand River Cafe, drinking coffee (Ben just got us waters to go along with that). You see, we enjoy late-night coffee runs ( I mean, that sounds weird, ew). *We like running out for coffee late at night. Actually, we prefer driving - I drove. There is a category on this blog thing called "General Rantings" - I'm pretty sure this part of the blog is just that. So, here you go.

Funny story:
Ben hates animals. He killed four squirrels today - w.....Wait. Libel. Blatent libel (btw, this is Ben now). It's obvious that statement isn't true. How ridiculous. Especially coming from someone, who just last week bit the head off a ferret. A ferret!

OK Ben. You're done. And yes, so what if I did? It wasn't raw. I cooked it.

Oh. That's not so bad. I heard Aborigines do that. (Ben again)

OK. Done. We've gone down "a dark, dark road" - Ben's words (Dave typing again here, and from NOW ON).

I could stop here. I could have stopped way back. But, I hope you're glad that I didn't, and don't officially plan on stopping any time soon (Soon, as in, days).

OK. For those of you who continued to read, wow, cool. I'm sorry??
Here's your prize: email us at redherringband@hotmail.com, with the subject "devoted readers", and we'll send you an exclusive video/secret track/hidden treasure... etc. - basically something band-related that you won't be able to get unless you get it directly from us.

THE END??????????

Yea - Dave (and Ben?) Yea.

Replay Entertainment Exchange

Ben Collins-Hamel | October 29, 2007

I need to say something.

The Replay Entertainment Exchange on Michigan Avenue in Lansing is awesome.

We played a couple shows there the past two weeks. Everyone there was super cool. The bands rocked and the atmosphere was just...nice. I can't stress enough how enlightening it is to find a venue that's all about the music. The Replay is a place all about THE MUSIC.

I walked in the place for the first time three weeks ago. I immediately was impressed by their music selection. I should mention to those that haven't been there that the REE is a store/venue. You first walk in the store side, and then there is a room next to it where the bands can set up. There is actually a decent amount of space in the "band" room for an audience.

During shows, the management let's bands select a movie from the store's racks to be projected on the wall behind the "stage" area. That's a really cool idea in my opinion.

The management is extremely chill, yet still very professional. The guys know what they're doing and, like I mentioned before, they seem to be all about letting people get their music out there.

I'm impressed to say the least.

In other Red Herring news...we're recording again. It's sounding great. I am excited for this. We all are. Hopefully we can get it done before we see yet another band member move across the country...or something...we miss you Alan.

But...life is a roller coaster, but that cliche's overused so I'll put it in my holster and say bipolarism is the new sane....


Yours always (and I do mean always as forever)

- Dave

so long

Ben Collins-Hamel | September 25, 2007

Okay, so it's been forever. There hasn't been much news about Red Herring. There hasn't been really anything to rant about either. But now... there are actually things for me to write about.

We started practicing again. The past few weeks have included some of the best jam sessions we have ever known as a band. Everything has sounded great.

We moved all our stuff into my basement (the "chop house"). The room is really small but makes for a great jam room since it holds in all noise. Once we ignore all the giant spiders, we can get a great rock session going. There are a ton of spiders - I should really get down there with a vacuum.

We've been modifying some awesome tunes Ethan and Ben put together. The Red Herring river of creativity flows once again. This time, it's more fun than ever.

We're hoping to get some shows soon. I can't wait to get back on stage and see us all do our thing. There's been talk of some recording sessions coming in the near future - this is good talk.

Until next time - sooner than four months - keep living the dream everyone... who reads this.

- Dave

friday baby

Ben Collins-Hamel | April 5, 2007

This friday, April 6, 2007, is a special day. Not only is it Good Friday, it's actually even better - more like great friday...or something. Anyway, we're going to be at The Rock Spot. We know a lot of people will be gone for the weekend, but those who decide to stay will be treated to a great show. So come out, we love you...in a non-creepy way.

Right now, as I type on this cold Thursday afternoon, Ben, Ethan, and I are all going over the setlist at Ethan's house. Thanks to this awesome website Ben found, wheresthegig.com, it's been a pretty fantastic time putting the setlist together. That's about it. I got a hold of Ben's laptop and decided to just type some stuff. Blog - count it. I'll be back to tell everyone about tomorrow's show, and about how sexy Ethan is.

-Dave

Ben's simple songs

Ben Collins-Hamel | January 26, 2007

Ben: Ok guys this one is simple, it has only 4 verses, like 5 different rhythm changes, a bridge, a pre-chorus, but both those change a few times, the second bridge goes into a half-time then followed by a break down and then the 4 choruses are all different progressions, and remember the key change on the last chorus before the outro, and then we'll just jam out into a solo and then back into the original key followed by the first verse and of course back into the original chorus...but its progression is tweeked a bit since we'll end on the C#m instead of an E. Ok?

Dave and Ethan: Aaaaahhhhhhhh...yea...

-Dave