AMERICAN alternative musician to guest Tangra Studios!minstrel to guest at the Tangra Mega Rock studio today!!!
Jim Guittard made it big a couple of years ago, after annihilating all competition on his magic carpet ride to the position of English teacher at a Pernik grammar school. He even wrote and sang a song in support of the teachers’ strike.
He then made a live appearance in the Tangra Mega Rock studio and as he was leaving an entire onion fell out of his trousers, which we found rather amusing.
This, in turn, inspired him to write the song ‘Onion Peel’, which has been in rotation at TMR since then. That was back in the Autumn of 2008…
Today Jim Guittard is back and will be guesting in the TMR studio at noon!
Recorded Beck’s song off his 1998 Mutations album back in 1999. I played the 12-string acoustic guitar, sitar, and did the lead and background vocals. This was one of the songs I sent as demo when I applied to go to the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. I attended there for about nine months or so.
The song is lo-fi and made from a Tascam 4-track recorder. Pic was taken in around October 1999 when I first arrived to Hollywood.
Back in 1997, at the Battle of the Bands event at Highland Park High School in Dallas I performed in my brother Bob Guittard’s band as a sitar player. I betcha no one has ever played a sitar there before or after me there at HPHS!!
At the gig, I came out dressed in Indian gear with sandals and sat on a cushion.
Kids in the audience screamed, “What is that!?!”
My brother sang lead vocal and played acoustic guitar. I sang back up and the played the sitar. Another guy named Graham Cathey played the percussion. It was a trip.
The “Rise” album is a set of songs, that I hope, capture the times in which we live.
At the heart of it all is the message to stay true and be happy amongst the chaos in the world that is often pushed at us through the propaganda lense of the media.
The songs were done in a rough do-it-yourself lo-fi Psychedelic folk-freak way because this is what I do. Some of the songs were rather improvised especially with the lyric.
“Rise Up America” was written just about the time of the G20 summit in Pittsburg in September 2009. It is meant to be a sort of wake up call for Americans and also people around the world. It has already been recorded by an artist in Italy.
The album was recorded on my 8-Track Tascam machine in Portland, Oregon, Dallas, Texas, and Sofia, Bulgaria.
Credits:
Jim Guittard: Lead and background vocals, electric lead and rhythm guitars, acoustic 12-string guitar, bass, shakers, percussion, drums, keyboard, and effects.
My wife helped out on the vocal for Roller Coaster Ride.
All music is written by Jim Guittard.
All lyrics are written by Jim Guittard with the exception of “Independence” which the words are adapted from the “Declaration of Independence.”
Back in late September 2009 I wrote a song called “Rise Up America” and recorded it after seeing all the chaos go down at the G20 summit in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. I made a call for anyone who wanted to record this song to do so and to even change the words to their own country so that it is more personal.
It’s been a little while now but we’ve now got another version and from Italy.
Here are the two songs for Italy and America together:
Here is my original song with video from the G20 Summit:
I recently got an email from an Italian artist simply known as Alex or “d0ct0r” who heard my song and wanted very much to record it and make his own version for Italy. He sent it to me and this is what you are listening to. I like it very much.
Now that Italy is involved with the spirit behind the original song, my call still goes out for others to get involved. It’s up to us to take our world back from fear and destruction. We must rise above fear and anxiety!
Let’s keep this song chain going. It is important to get the spirit of optimism out. Thanks Alex!
Simplistic Psychedelic instrumental I wrote and recorded in Portland, Oregon in April of this year. The video was filmed in Simeonovo, Bulgaria by Katia in July.
Simple song that I wrote in tribute a country-wide tradition in Bulgaria. It is on Saturday and Sundays between 2PM and 4PM that it is expected that people are quiet and resting. I find this tradition rather cool and hope that it can be observed in America. I recorded only the singing during this time and at a low level as my wife was telling me the neighbors were trying to sleep.
Very deep lyrics.
Bulgarian Nap time
Are you asleep?
Bulgarian nap time
Are you asleep?
Bulgarian nap time.
Are you asleep?
Bulgarian nap time.
Are you asleep?
Bulgarian nap time.
Are you asleep?
Bulgarian nap time.
Are you asleep?
Bulgarian nap time.
Are you asleep?
Do-it-yourself album with various artists who are mainly lo-fi. I’m the 9th track.
1. Waterplea – That One December’s Eve 04:14
2. Left Limb Stef – About You (with The Left Limbs) 02:59
3. Solarein – Cube (Reprise) 02:30
4. Project Bluebird – Firewatchers (with BlackHeart) 05:53
5. Bill Strange – Dance On Fire 02:59
6. brokenkites – wood between the worlds 05:13
7. Fili O (so cool) – shakespeare’s sonnets 04:10
8. Karl Mundt Project – frivolous and spurious 03:26
9. Jim Guittard – You Can Not Knock Me Down 02:37
10. Hippocrypt & The Metro Gnomes – I Fell Off Bonnie When I Was Young
11. half past sun – What I usually hide 03:36
12. Le Cirque Hanté – Surya 04:54
13. Artwood – While I was waiting for you
14. Quint Baker – Hand 02:20
15. The Peach Tree – For Marie 03:13
16. aiRless pRoject – baby you can drone my car (lowly trip) 07:54
Here are a couple of albums recorded by JIM GUITTARD, currently living in Portland, Oregon, USA.
His music is an interesting mixture of folk/folkrock and country rock with some psychedelic undertone. As one of his influences he mentions THE BYRDS, and I think that one can clearly hear that (e.g. Beach).
If you like the genre, his albums are well worth checking out!
Enjoy!
Jim also worked with Henry McGuinn, the son of BYRDS co-founder Roger McGuinn in a project called THE RAGAS (to be posted later), while living in California.
Q: Where exactly are you from?
A: I am originally from Dallas, Texas. But have lived in various places, thus soaking up the vibes of wherever I have lived. I went to college in a small town called Gunnison in Colorado. After that I worked the corporate world of insurance and got fed up and struck out for Hollywood to attend a music school. After 3 years in Hollywood I traveled back to Texas and became a caretaker for my grandparents. After two years of that, I applied for the Peace Corps and was accepted to teach English in Bulgaria. I was there for almost three years and came back to the States and to Portland, Oregon.
Q: Do you want your real name mentioned? If so: What is your real name?
A: Jim Guittard is my real name and what all my solo music is under.
Q: How recorded?
A: I have been recording myself really since 1994 when I got my first 4-track machine. It was a Tascam. In the early days, I recorded myself mostly doing Beatles, Tom Petty, or other classic rock music. – My favorite guitar to use is a 6-string 330 Rickenbacker. I also have a 12-String 330 Rickenbacker. For some songs I used a Dr. Groove drum machine and make shift shakers (beer can filled with rice taped up). On my earliest album 96/98 I had a friend, (Jim Seagroves) play pots and pans drums. He was a drummer but didn’t have any drums so this is what we did. – In California, I had a lot of gear that was stolen that I used. – I had a Telecaster B-Bender guitar, 12-String Acoustic Guild, and a Fender Jazz Bass. Hope the thugs that stole it are making some good music. – While in Bulgaria, I used a 12 String acoustic guitar.
Q: When recorded?
A: “Busted in Bulgaria” was recorded between July 2006 to July 2008 on my dell laptop using Adobe Audition 3. – “The Notorious G.I.D.D.” was recorded in 2004-2005. It was when I lived at my grandparents and I used the Tascam 6-track recorder and Cool Edit Pro for editing and mixing. I used some kind of keyboard for a few of the tracks. Can’t remember what kind. – “California Daze” was recorded in 2001 to 2002 and on the 6-track Tascam recorder. Brian McKay engineered some of the songs like “Beach (Acoustic)”. But otherwise I recorded it myself. – 96//98 was recorded during the years 1996 – 1998 on my Tascam 4-track recorder.
Q: Who involved? Who played what?
A: “Busted In Bulgaria”: I played all acoustic guitars, all percussion or drum machine, all lead and back up singing. There are various background noises that I got from various real news events like: on “Survival Mode” the Andrew Meyer Taser scandal at University of Florida John Kerry Rally. – On “Gangster” I used some of my students for background talking. – On “8A Class”, you can hear me “trying” to instruct my students over the loud classroom noise.
- “The Notorious G.I.D.D.” is all me with acoustic and electric guitars and lead and background singing.
- “California Daze”: “Beach” is co-written by Dominic Campanella of the neo-..psychedelic band the Quarter After. I wrote the first verse of the lyrics and he wrote the other verses and chorus. I put the song to music. – On “Beach – Acoustic” Vladimir Maskoff played the jazz fender bass. – On “Confusion, Lies, Guns, and Drugs” Vladimir Maskoff played the jazz fender bass. – The songs “Swing Tune” and “Jazz Tune” were instrumentals songs I wrote while attending the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California. The recordings of these songs were an actually playing test that I did. I came into class with charts for the musicians that I had written out and they sight-read the 2 songs. The back up electric guitar is a Brazilian guy named Reginaldo. He was a friend of mine. I do not know the name of the drummer. The teacher you can hear in the background is Lupo Groinig who gives a critique.
- On 96/98 I played the acoustic guitars, electric guitar, sitar, tambourine, sang lead vocals unless noted otherwise. My brother Bob Guittard played bass on Chapatis, and electric guitar on “Once Around the Moon.” – Warren Barry played keyboards and drums on “Once Around the Moon.” I played bass on “Once Around the Moon.” – Jim Seagroves played pots and pans drum on many of the tracks as well as sang or talked some backgrounds.
Q: Any more releases? Any “official” releases?
A: No other official releases but I am constantly working on new material.
Q: Since when does this band/project exist (are you into music)?
A: I have been fascinated by the tape recorder and sounds since a small child. I think the first song I learned on the guitar was George Harrison’s “Don’t Bother Me.” I guess I related to George the most because he was the quiet Beatle and often overlooked.
Q: Any previous bands worth mentioning?
A: While in California, I had a duo with Henry McGuinn called the Ragas. We recorded a bit and had a few shows. The music can be found here: http:../../..www…jamendo…com/..en/..artist/..The_Ragas It is pretty raw. – He is the son of Roger McGuinn co-founded the Byrds. – Here’s a little piece I wrote on the Ragas: http:../../..jimguittard…com/?p=6
Q: How’d you “label” your music?
A: I don’t like labeling myself because my music may be heard differently to everybody and labeling is rather meaningless sometimes. To me, my music is honest optimistic, psychedelic, folk-rock, country-rock, “figure it out as you go” hopeful music or experimental. A kind of travel life diary music or who knows it may be just crap music.
Q: Influences?
A: I was a child of the 1980′s and I was not into Motley Crue or Def Leppard at the time. I was the guy with sideburns since I was 16 and looked up to Elvis and the Beatles. I got turned onto the Byrds while in California and Bob Dylan. Bob Dylan is probably who I am influenced the most by. It is really his philosophy of life that has influenced me. The rebelliousness of Johnny Cash has also influenced me quite a bit. In that he does his own thing and does not need to please anyone. – And lastly Anton Newcombe of the Brian Jonestown Massacre has heavily influenced me in the music and again mostly for his philosophy of life to keep at it and never give up no matter what jokers are attacking.
Q: Anything that you think is interesting, that you’d like to inform the blog readers about…
A: Only thing I have to say is that every one should find their own voice through art, music, writing or whatever. The world needs more idealists to express feelings to bring about change. We have been told what to think for so long and we don’t need to be told. As George Harrison said, “Think For Yourself.” Experience things for yourself. Be open-minded and get out of your back yard and experience things that may be out of your comfort zone. – I had a live interview just months before coming back to the States on Tangra Mega Rock Radio Station in Bulgaria: http:../../..jimguittard…com/?p=241
(J. G. via email)
I’ve got to figure out which are my strongest 20 songs. I’m submitting it for some project and want to get your input.
Let me know which songs you enjoy the most or think is unique high quality interesting or whatever. You can list 5 or so so that it is not so overwhelming.
The albums are:
96/98 (1996 – 1998)
Busted In Bulgaria (2008)
The Notorious G.I.D.D. (2005)
California Daze (2002)
I wrote the music and first verse while living in Hollywood, California in 2001 or 2002. The rest of the lyrics was written by Dominic Campanella who plays with the Quarter After.
JIM GUITTARD is a 4th Generation Musician and 2nd Generation Writer.
Disclaimer:
MP3s on this site are for sampling purposes only. If you are an artist or represent an artist featured on this site and would like a file removed contact me.
02.08.2010
