Los Angeles Musician Spotlight Interview with Brendan Salamon

LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!

Today we spotlight Los Angeles based musician, Brendan Salamon. Brendan one of our favorite musicians from The Replicas Music. Brendan is one of the many musicians that the The Replicas Music represents professionally. Anyone who knows Brendan knows that he is a highly skilled live music entertainer and always puts his heart and soul into his performances. Let’s get started!

1. When and why did you start playing?

I started taking piano lessons when I was in the second grade, but I really didn’t get into music fully until I started playing the drums and guitar and could interact with the rock and pop music I loved.

2. Which instruments do you play? 

Gibson Les Paul Studio (DR strings), Seagull 3/4-size acoustic (DR strings again), short-scale 5-string Ibanez bass (weird, I know — Ernie Ball strings), micro KORG for weird sounds and basic MIDI control. For recording and engineering I work primarily in Logic through a Focusrite Scarlett interface and a Daking preamp.

3. What was the first tune(s) you learned?

On the piano, I believe it was a highly simplified version of the Star Wars main theme.

4. Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

The Beatles and George Martin for pushing the boundaries of recorded music, The Who for their energy and off-the-rails virtuosity, Bruce Springsteen for always leaving it all on the stage, and Led Zeppelin because they rock.

5. What’s your favorite era of music?

Late ’60s/early ’70s rock.

6. Cake, Pie or Ice Cream?

Ice Cream, no question.

7. Favorite non Network Show?

The Americans

8 Best undiscovered band?

Depends on what you mean by “undiscovered.” Relatively recently (last August), I saw Gothic Tropic at the Satellite, and their songs are super cool.

9. Describe your first instrument.

My mom’s old short-scale Seagull acoustic guitar: easy to string too tightly, tough to play, and great for learning.

10. Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

The Beatles (the white album), Bruce Springsteen‘s Born in the USAPink Floyd’s Meddle and Wish You Were HereDylan’s Desirehttps://www.youtube.com/embed/lZD4ezDbbu4

11. Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD’s?

The BeatlesThe Who (Sell OutTommyLeedsQuadrophenia), Led ZeppelinPink Floyd (MeddleDark Side of the MoonAnimalsWish You Were Here)Jimi Hendrix (the Experience years), The Velvet Underground (…and Nico, self-titled), The Kinks (especially Village Green), Bruce Springsteen (The Wild, The Innocent & The E-Street ShuffleBorn to Run, Live at Hammersmith, Born in the U.S.A.), R.E.M. (MurmurAutomatic for the People), Weezer (Blue, Pinkerton), Rage Against the Machine (especially Evil Empire), RadioheadNirvanaThe Pixies (Surfer RosaDoolittle) — I’m probably forgetting some, but I think I’ll stop there.

12. How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

Acknowledge it (at least to myself), think fast about how to move on, then move on. Afterward is when I agonize and wring my hands.

NERVES ARE GOOD!

13. Do you get nervous before a live performance or a competition?

Indeed I do.

14. What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

Underneath it all, it means you care about the quality of both your performance and the audience’s experience. Use it.

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