Green Day vs. Nirvana
Two iconic rock bands: One that defined Punk Pop, one that invented Grunge, both among the top selling bands of all time. Green Day rose to prominence in the early '90s as one of the largest bands in Punk Rock. Mixing Pop-style songwriting with Punk Rock aesthetics, Green Day has continued to be one of, if not the most, successful act in the sub-genre of pop-punk with their early album "Dookie" to "American Idiot" to "21st Century Breakdown." Nirvana skyrocketed into mainstream success in the 90s with tracks like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “Come As You Are”, and “In Bloom” - crowning them the kings of Grunge.
The Green Day material will offer a wide variety of guitar parts which are perfect for beginner and intermediate players. Advanced players will be challenged with marrying musical accuracy with stage showmanship. Drummers will be challenged to gain the endurance necessary to power through high tempo songs while more beginner players can build their chops with some of the slower more ballad centered material. Vocalists will focus on Billie Joe Armstrong’s fast staccato delivery, the use of chest voice and belting, as well as exploring the use of the major scales. In addition, proficient vocalists will be challenged by the various harmony concepts. When it comes to punk-style bass parts, Mike Dirnt lays down solid punk rock bass tracks, ranging from driving root notes to dynamic riffing.
The Nirvana material combines elements of Punk, Metal, and Pop, Nirvana channeled teen angst into Rock’s last sweeping mainstream movement. Beginner and intermediate guitar players will learn power chords and melodic lead guitar in this show, while any drum student will be challenged by David Grohl’s powerful, technical drumming. The Nirvana show is a solid show for all levels of playing and is packed with crowd-pleasing '90s anthems.
Taylor Swift
One of the most successful musical artists of all time, Taylor Swift has inspired legions of fans and musicians around the world by writing compelling songs that draw from a remarkable variety of stylistic influences. Taylor Swift’s “eras” of music incorporate elements of Pop, Rock, Country, Folk, Emo, Disco, and more, all tastefully arranged around her well-crafted, confessional lyrics that often explore themes of vulnerability and resilience. She has sold more than 200 million records in her career, and has more than fifty Top-40 hits to her name. Beyond her music itself, Taylor Swift has revolutionized the music industry by re-recording her first six albums to reclaim ownership of her creative work. This show is a great fit for all instruments and experience levels, and is not just a theme for up-and-coming vocalists. An incredible artist is at their best when supported by an incredible band, and Taylor Swift’s band features some of the most accomplished musicians on the planet, playing challenging and highly detailed arrangements.
Arena Rock
Arena Rock refers to the emergence of rock ‘n’ roll as big business in the 1970s and early 1980s. Advances in music production technology, along with the proliferation of higher fidelity FM radio stations, resulted in the arrival of a slicker, more commercial rock sound, popularized by bands such as Journey, Boston, Styx, Heart, Queen, Foreigner, Kansas, Fleetwood Mac, REO Speedwagon, Grand Funk Railroad, Toto, Cheap Trick, and more. These artists, and the growing music industry behind them, brought Rock ‘n’ Roll out of the clubs and into the arenas and stadiums. No matter the bands, the songs of the Arena Rock show are the true stars, and anyone who’s had the joy to sing along with this music in its intended environment will surely agree. This is catchy music that is meant to be turned up loud! Guitarists will find challenging parts lurking around every corner. Keyboard players will be showcased heavily. Vocalists will be challenged with belting leads and rich harmonies. Drummers will learn the true meaning of bombastic, over-the-top performances. Bass players will get their hands on powerful and melodic bass lines which compliment their 6-string counterparts. This is a great show for all instruments!
Black Sabbath
While the phrase “Heavy Metal” had been thrown about during the '60s, it took the arrival of Black Sabbath to fully realize the genre. Considered the pioneers of heavy metal, Black Sabbath are rock and roll legends. Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward created some of the heaviest music of the 1960s and '70s, and have influenced practically every metal band who have emerged in their wake, including Metallica, Slayer, System of a Down, Slipknot, and Soundgarden. After 50+ years, despite lineup changes (Ronnie James Dio as vocalist being the most notable), band names (including both the Polka Tuck Blues Band and Earth), and inter-band personality conflicts, Black Sabbath have still emerged as the first and most influential heavy metal band in rock history. Major musical concepts employed by Black Sabbath that the students will learn include alternate tunings, changes in tempo and feel, and improvisation. This show is sure to be incredibly fun for your student rocker, and will aid in their development to the next musical level.
BEST OF 2000's
The 2000s Show offers a huge variety of music that is sure to satiate any student’s musical appetite. The 2000s has produced more and more artists whose music blends and defies genres, and draws from a greater variety of influences than was available at any previous point in history. At the same time, more traditional bands and artists, including some who started making music in the twentieth century, have adapted to the changing times and continued to thrive. Though it is impossible to place the varied music of the 2000s into one definable style or category, certain themes emerge: 1) an interest in and revival of ‘retro’ sounds using modern technology and sensibilities, and 2) songwriting that draws from a huge diversity of genres and styles, making 21st-century ‘rock’ bands even harder to pin down to one style alone. Examples of blockbuster artists that might be in the setlist include Foo Fighters, RHCP, Evanescence, Fall Out Boy, The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Paramore, White Stripes, Adele, The Strokes, Jet, System of a Down, The Darkness, Tool, and many others. This is a perfect show for students of all ages and experience levels and will offer many opportunities to perform across all genres!
