Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Band Equity Charts http://ping.fm/gnf68
P.A. Basics-Live Sound System Setup, Tuning and Optimization http://ping.fm/78mrh
Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Monday, December 21, 2009

New Years Party!!!!

Hey Rockers,



Time is running out...New Years Eve is just around the corner!!!

The Chip Gall Band is pumped and ready to ROCK the New Years Eve dance at The Moose Hall in Woodstock...!!!

Tickets are ONLY $15.00ea and you can ensure you are there by picking your tickets up in advance. [if not sold out - tickets will be available at the door].

The Chip Gall Band will be playing your fav cover tunes and music from my CD Me, Myself & You!
We will also have for sale brand new CHIP GALL BAND T-Shirts and copies of my CD Me, Myself & You!

Merchandise Prices:
CD Me, Myself & You! - $10.00
T-Shirt - $15.00
CD & T-shirt Combo Package - $20.00

Special guests for the show are none other than long time Woodstock favs MURMUR and DJ Tuxedo Bill who will be spinning your requests to keep your feet tappin' all night long!

Get your tickets today at:
Beaches N' Dreams Tanning Salon - 220 Springbank Ave. Woodstock 519-539-4TAN [4826]
The Moose Hall - 690 Sutherland Dr. Woodstock 519-537-6010
or direct from me at tickets@chipgall.com or call 519-539-8793

This will be THE most rockin' New Years Eve party around... so don't miss it!!!!

Cheers Chip
www.chipgall.com

"The music you love is back!"

Friday, December 18, 2009

New Years Eve

2009 is coming to and end...and The Chip Gall Band is ready to rock in the New Year with a show in our home town of Woodstock Ontario on New Years Eve!

We will be playing with special Guests Murmur and DJ Tuxedo Bill will be craking out your fav tunes!

Tickets are only $15.00ea and can be purchased at my sponsor Beaches N' Dreams Tanning 220 Springbank Av N (Springbank Plaza)in Woodstock (519) 539-4826 or e-mail me at tickets@chipgall.com

Come and join us for rockin' New Years party!

Keep the faith!
Chip Gall

Chip Gall Band T-Shirts are here!!!!!



Hey peeps...the brand spankin' new Chip Gall Band T's are now avaialble for only $15.00ea [plus shipping if applicable].

They look wicked and I'd like to thank Darryl at Twisted T's for doing such a bang up job on them!




You can order your T's by contacting me at tshirt@chipgall.com

Twisted T's can be found here http://www.twistedtsltd.com/

Keep the faith rockers!
Cheers Chip
www.chipgall.com

Monday, November 16, 2009

Sonar seminar tonight...!!!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

News!

The latest News...Big changes for The Chip Gall Band to kick off the fall season!New set List [cover & originals], new band members, new merch, new website design, Chip Gall Acoutsic Youtube page all coming in the very near future....read on!
Upcoming Chip Gall Shows...
Oct 2nd - Private Party Woodstock Ont.
Oct 3rd - Party for the return of Rodney Stafford fom his "Kilometers for Kids Ride"

NOTE: After Oct 17th The Chip Gall Band will be in rehearsals with new members for upcoming shows...stay tuned for more information!

New Music for the show....The new show will as always include my original music from Me, Myself & You! and eventually my upcoming CD "Believe", plus some of your old fav covers tunes by a variety of artists including:Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Poison, Bad Company, Matchbox 20, 3 Doors Down, Sweet, Motley Crew, John Cougar Mellancamp, Grand Funk Railroad and many, many more...!!!
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New Band Members - Live Band

New Band Members....Due to commitments with other bands Jeff Harris [Bass Guitar] and Rob MacEachearn [drums] will be reverting to "back up" players with the band. They are both very busy with there respective bands Brother My Enemy and Helix [as well as several others]. I can't say enough about these two guys...they have been extremely supportive of my music and playing live shows [often for free!!] and I wish them the best of luck with there musical endeavors.

The wicked news is, Chris Caron my long time band mate from SYRE will be stepping in on bass guitar! Chris is a great guy and an awesome musician and I can't wait to share the stage with him as part of my live band.

The other killer news is drummer Steve Pelley will be pounding the kit behind us. Steve is a long time friend who I met during his stint as the house sound technician at The Royal Tavern in Tillsonburg. I didn't even know Steve played drums until he jammed with us one night at The Royal and I was surprised to find out he was a wicked drummer [not to mention a damn good sound man and a great guy!]

Both Steve and Chris are hard at work learning my original tunes as well as the many cover tunes we are adding to the show.

For those of you who don't know Chris Armstrong also joined the band a month or so ago and has played one show with us so far. Chris is a wicked guitar player and will add a great deal to the overall sound of the band thanks to his killer tone and wicked chops!

Monday, October 5, 2009

Friday, August 7, 2009

Hi guys....don't forget I will be acoustically performing at the Academy of Music tent for Side Walk Days in Woodstock Ont. today at 5pm!

Friday, July 31, 2009

My Father...


To friends and family ~ My father Charlie Gall [aka Dr. McJazz] has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is now in a palliative care unit in Georgetown Hospital.
If you call or email and we do not get back to you right away it is because we are with my Mom during this very difficult time.
We will try to update friends and family as often as we can.


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Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sad day yesterday as police confirmed the remains found in Mt Forest was that of Victoria Stafford.

It was difficult to watch as they removed Tori's body from the area in which she was found. I am angry as hell that the two pieces of crap that were responsible for that sweet little girls death are sitting comfortably in jail.

One trying to save her ass by supposedly "helping" the police and the other refusing to admit he is a murdering piece of garbage!!!!

Even his new lawyer is spinning that they are going fight this vigerously...without having any disclosure from the Crown [Typical defense lawyer crap]!

I also suspect [just my opinion] that Rafferty's old lawyer quit [or was fired] because he reviewed the evidence and realized he was defending a child murderer and told Rafferty to cut a deal which Rafferty obviously has refused....a testimate to just how stupid this guy really is. My thought is that he is safer in jail than out, he'd be better off in protective custody than anywhere even remotely close to Oxford County.

At least the family can now give Tori an appropriate good-bye and my heart sincerely goes out to the them.

P.S. The Chip Gall Band will be performing at Rodney Staffords' [Tori's father] Event "Kilometers For Kids" on Aug 1st at the The Oxford Auditorium. I will be performing at 8:45pm!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Calling yourself an "indie" artist may be doing more harm than good...


I am dropping "indie" from the description of my music...here's why.The only difference being "Indie" or "major" is that when you sign with a major label you are actually signing up with a huge promotion/advertising company that doubles as an incredibly unfair bank....who in the end will own your music....also 95% of you will never see a royalty cheque. However as far as the music goes the only difference is your ability to promote it to a mass market, that takes a Major Label....PERIOD! There is a hefty price for that service and it's up to you if that is the route you want to pursue.

I understand everyone's [me included] desire to label themselves as "indie" to prove you are against the establishment...but are you actually doing yourself more harm than good? Are people assuming you aren't that good because you never got signed by the big

promotion/advertising/bank? Again...that's your decision to make...I have decided I am a

recording artist....not "indie or "Major". Why put yourself behind the pack from the start...???

I believe most peoples perception of the word "indie" is the recording is bad....the music is obscure...and the artist is selling diddly squat. So why give people that misconception from the start by calling yourself "indie". Aren't we all just recording artists whether signed to a "major label" or not? Why not just call yourself a "recording artist"...that's what you are!
If someone asks you if you are signed to a label politely ask them "would it change your opinion of my music depending on my answer" they'll look at ya weird but it's fun to watch their response...lol?

People's perception of your success is directly related to how they hear about your music. For example: I released my debut CD in 2006. It sold ok for a typical "indie" release [see even I make assumption about indie] and had a song on it called "Come Home" which absolutely know one commented on. The song in mid 2009 ended up on local radio. I did some interviews etc...and suddenly the song was the most requested on the local station. The funny thing was that people who already had the CD [for almost 3 years] were asking where they could get the song. It meant nothing until they started hearing it on the radio so suddenly it was a legitimate song.

This is a micro example however my point is, that ii illustrates the difference between a major label getting your music out there on mass radio, print etc...and creating the "perception of success". People assume you are successful because of the mass promotion of your music which only a major label can provide. When that song was not on radio and just another song on an "indie" CD know one cared.

So are you an "indie artist or a "recording artist"....you decide.

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Friday, July 10, 2009

"Kilometers For Kids"



Keep Aug 1st open on your calendar.....!!!!!
Rodney Stafford [the father of Tori Stafford the little girl who was tragically murdered here in Woodstock on April 8th] has asked me to perform at "Kilometers For Kids" an fundraising event / bike ride he is putting on in conjunction with Child Find Canada.
I don't have a lot of details at the moment, however I know the activities are scheduled to start at 1pm and continue through 1am at The Oxford Auditorium in Woodstock, Ontario.
There will be lots for the kiddies' to do during the day and live bands in the evening.
I have been asked to help organize some bands for the event so I am in the process of asking friends for favors to make the event a huge success.
This man has been through hell and back over the last 3 months and it is incredible that he is taking on such an event in order to help out other families who may find themselves in the same situation he has endured.
It is the very least we can do to support this event and show Rodney and Tori's extended family we support their courage and selflessness.
I will keep everyone posted on details as they come in....

Below is an artcile from the Woodstock Sentinel Review about Rodney's Bike Ride "Kilometers For Kids".

He's a father who wants to make the world a better place for children.
Rodney Stafford plans to bike 3,453 kilometres across Canada to raise money for Child Find Ontario.
"It's all in memory of Victoria," said Stafford.
The "Kilometres for Kids" fundraiser will kick off Aug. 1 with an event at the Oxford Auditorium. The next day, Stafford will set out for Edmonton on his bike.
"I've got it slated so that there will be eight stops along the way to Edmonton," he said.
The stops will be fundraising events for Child Find Ontario. Tori's aunt Rebecca Stafford is organizing one in Edmonton and several families are working on fundraisers in Barrie and Sudbury, he said.
Stafford is looking for local sponsors to pledge 1-cent or 10-cents a kilometre in exchange for company names and logos on "Kilometres for Kids" T-shirts. He's also hoping someone will donate a bike that's capable of a cross-Canada trek.
Stafford aims to reach Edmonton by Sept. 2. After arriving, he plans to release a purple balloon from a mountain in Jasper that Tori visited on a trip with her aunt Rebecca.
"It was probably one of the highest places she ever was, and if it's true she has passed, I want to be as close as I can to release the balloon," said Stafford.
KILOMETRES FOR KIDS
Where: Oxford Auditorium at the Woodstock Fairgrounds
When: Aug. 1 from 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
What: Games, music, dancers, kids entertainment, draws for prizes and finger printing by Child Find Ontario
Admission: $10 for one adult, $15 for a couple, kids are free
All Proceeds Go To Child Find Ontario
Anyone interested in sponsoring Stafford can e-mail r_v_stafford@hotmail.com.

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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Why I need 1,000 True Fans...


Still want to be a DIY musician....you need 1,000 true fans?

As the number of artists on Myspace grows exponentially the market share of indie musicians shrinks exponentially.This reflects directly on your ability to reach your niche market and sell your music, t's and live tickets. With over 10 million artists and countingon Myspace, I was getting to the point where I never even logged in...what was the point? One tiny fish in a massive ocean of music.

Here's a scary stat for you...according to Nielsen Soundscan, a total of 105,000, new full-length albums were released in 2008, a fourfold gain fromthe earlier 2000s. And of that pot, just 6,000 releases sold 1,000 units or more in the first year. [Source ~ Digital Music News]

So 99,000 releases sold less than 1,000 units. I guess that stat actually makes most of us feel pretty good and that we are not alone in the under 1,000 units club. But just think about that for a moment...what if those 1,000 fans became true loyal fans and bought everything you put out there.[IE CD, T's Live Shows etc...].

I got to thinking about the above statistic...
Let's just do that math for an example:
1,000 True Fans:

CD $10.00 x 1,000 = $10,000.00

T's $20.00 x 1,000 = $20,000.00

Live Shows $5.00 each x 2 shows a year [minimum] = $10.00 x 1,000 = $10,000.00
Total Gross: $40,000.00/yr

As you can see 1,000 true fans can provide you with a decent gross income without asking a whole lot from them.

Buy one CD and T- shirt a year plus attend two live shows at $5.00 each....and this is only your core true fans. There would also be income generated from "fringe" fans...those on the outer circle who will buy a CD but not a shirt or maybe attend a live show to "check you out"...those fringe fans could eventually become part of your core true fans... each worth to you approx. $40.00 annually.

Instead of trying to rule the world am concentrating on local awareness of my music which seems to be garnering some results. When I did this there was much more interest in what I was doing...it was more focused....and I felt like I was making progress. Instead of trying to turn the entire world onto my music, I concentrated on the little more centralized things.

Facebook and other social networking sites are a great way of finding a core group of true fans. On Facebook you can create lists of people you know...go ahead and create a 1,000 True Fans list and ask people if they wanna be on it. Focus your attention and your posts etc...on them. They will be your core true fans who will buy your music, t's and attend your live shows.

Something to think about the next time you log into Myspace and start swimming in that great big sea!

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I am looking 1,000 true fans......are you one of them?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Acoustic Jam at Jackie's B-Day Bash


Courtney Love...letter to recording artists


Below is an open letter to recording artsist from Courtney Love...this is not recent however still very valid and I thought I would share it with you.

Courtney Love's Letter to Recording Artists - ARTIST RIGHTS AND RECORD COMPANIES
Dear Fellow Recording Artists,

I'm writing to ask you to join the chorus of recording artists who want us all to get a fair deal from the record companies. R.E.M., the Dixie Chicks, U2, Alanis Morrissette, Bush, Prince and Q-Tip have called me with their support and we need your participation as well.

There are 3 basic facts to all recording artists should know:

1. No one has ever represented the rights and interests of recording artists AS A GROUP in negotiations with record companies.

2. Recording artists don't have access to quality health care and pension plans like the ones made available to actors and athletes through their unions.

3. Recording artists are paid royalties that represent a tiny fraction of the money their work earns.

As I was working with my manager and my new attorneys on my lawsuit with the Universal Music Group, we realized that the most unfair clauses in my contract applied to ALL recording artists. Most importantly, no one was representing artists in an attempt to change the system.
Recording artists need to form a new organization that will represent their interests in Washington and negotiate fair contract terms with record companies.

Here's what you should know:
THERE IS NO ONE WHO REPRESENTS RECORDING ARTISTS
Recording artists don't have a single union that looks out for their interests.

AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Artists) has a contract with major labels for vocalists and the AFM (American Federation of Musicians) has a contract for non-singing musicians and session players. If you're in a band, your singer is represented by a different union (AFTRA) than the rest of your group (who are represented by the AFM). AFTRA negotiates contracts for TV and Radio performers. They don't pay very much attention to the recording business; it's not their priority. The AFM acts like band members are sidemen and session players because that's mostly who the union represents.Record companies like this system because neither union represents all artists.

AFTRA and AFM only negotiate session fees and other minor issues for the singers or the "sidemen." Who looks after our interests in Washington? Until very recently, Congress believed that the RIAA spoke for recording artists. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) is a trade group that is paid for by record companies to represent their interests. The Napster hearings last summer and a few other issues have let Washington know that NO ONE speaks for recording artists right now. We have their attention and must act quickly to make sure artists have a voice.

RECORDING ARTISTS DON'T HAVE A SAFETY NET
Compare yourself to actors and baseball players. Like the music business, the film and the sports industries generate billions of dollars in income each year, but those industries offer far better benefits to the men and women who create their wealth.
The Screen Actors Guild offers a fantastic health care plan to its members.
That health plan is paid for by the contracts that SAG has negotiated with film studios.
The baseball player's union has negotiated a pension plan that ensures that NO major league player ever finds himself without an income.
Why shouldn't recording artists get the same benefits?

RECORDING ARTISTS DON'T GET PAID Record companies have a 5% success rate. That means that 5% of all records released by major labels go gold or platinum. How do record companies get away with a 95% failure rate that would be totally unacceptable in any other business?

Record companies keep almost all the profits. Recording artists get paid a tiny fraction of the money earned by their music. That allows record executives to be incredibly sloppy in running their companies and still create enormous amounts of cash for the corporations that own them.

The royalty rates granted in every recording contract are very low to start with and then companies charge back every conceivable cost to an artist's royalty account. Artists pay for recording costs, video production costs, tour support, radio promotion, sales and marketing costs, packaging costs and any other cost the record company can subtract from their royalties.


Record companies also reduce royalties by "forgetting" to report sales figure, miscalculating royalties and by preventing artists from auditing record company books.
Recording contracts are unfair and a single artist negotiating an individual deal doesn't have the leverage to change the system.

Artists will finally get paid what they deserve when they band together and force the recording industry to negotiate with them AS A GROUP.

Thousands of successful artists who sold hundreds of millions of records and generated billions of dollars in profits for record companies find themselves broke and forgotten by the industry they made wealthy.

Here a just a few examples of what we're talking about:

Multiplatinum artists like TLC ("Ain't 2 Proud 2 Beg," "Waterfalls" and "No
Scrubs") and Toni Braxton ("Unbreak My Heart" and "Breathe Again") have been
forced to declare bankruptcy because their recording contracts didn't pay them
enough to survive.

Corrupt recording agreements forced the heirs of Jimi Hendrix ("Purple Haze,"
"All Along the Watchtower" and "Stone Free") to work menial jobs while his
catalog generated millions of dollars each year for Universal Music.

Florence Ballard from the Supremes ("Where Did Our Love Go," "Stop in the Name
of Love" and "You Keep Me Hangin' On" are just 3 of the 10 #1 hits she sang on)
was on welfare when she died.

Collective Soul earned almost no money from "Shine," one of the biggest
alternative rock hits of the 90s when Atlantic paid almost all of their
royalties to an outside production company.

Merle Haggard ("I Threw Away the Rose," "Sing Me Back Home" and "Today I Started
Loving You Again") enjoyed a string of 37 top-ten country singles (including 23
#1 hits) in the 60s and 70s. Yet he never received a record royalty check until
last year when he released an album on the indie punk-rock label Epitaph.

Think of it this way: recording artists are often the writers, directors and
producers of their own records. They write the songs, choose the producers and
engineers who record their music, hire and oversee the photographers and
designers who create their CD artwork and oversee all parts of video production,
from concept to director to final edit. Record companies advance money for
recording costs and provide limited marketing services for the music that
artists conceive and create. In exchange, they keep almost all of the money and
100% of the copyrights.

Even the most successful recording artists in history (The Beatles, The Eagles,
Nirvana, Eminem) have been paid a fraction of the money they deserved from sales
of their records. This is a very big and very important project and we're in the
early days.

Here's what we're looking for:

1. Artists who are willing to speak to the media to publicly lend their support
to the idea that recording artists need an organization that represents our
interests in Washington and with the record companies. We also would like you
tell your managers and attorneys that you support this cause and that you expect
them, as your representatives and employees to do the same.

2. Anyone who can tell us specific stories about how artists have been ripped
off by record companies like the ones I told above.

We're going to have to educate the public and the media and Congress and the
only way we'll do that is by giving them examples they can relate to. NOW is the
time for action. Artists like Garbage and N*SYNC have have joined me in
questioning bad contracts and have also gone to court to change the system.

Record companies have merged and re-merged to the point where they can no longer
relate to their artists. Digital distribution will change the music industry
forever; artists must make sure they finally get their fair share of the money
their music earns. We need to come together quickly and present a united front
to the industry.

Your managers and attorneys will probably tell you not to rock the boat and not
to risk your "relationship" with your record company by taking a stand. Most
attorneys and managers are conflicted. Almost all entertainment law firms
represent both artists and record companies. Lawyers can't take a stand against
record companies because that's where they get most of their business. Even the
best managers often have business relationships with labels and depend on record
companies to refer new clients.

Think about Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam's stand against TicketMaster. Everyone
knew he was right and yet no other artist took a public stand against a company
that we all knew was hurting our business because our managers and attorneys
told us it would be a bad idea.

Attorneys and managers are your employees. Make sure they know how you feel and
that you want them to publicly support the idea that the terms of recording
contracts are unfair and cover too long a time period. You also want them to
support an organization that will negotiate health and pension benefits for all
recording artists.

Artists have all the power. They create the music that makes the money that
funds the business. No one has ever harnessed that power for artists' collective
good. And remember something equally important: Actors had to fight to end the
studio system that forced actors to work for one employer and baseball players
had to strike to end the reserve clause that tied a player to one team for his
entire career. Even though "experts" predicted economic disaster once actors and
athletes gained their freedom, both the film business and baseball have enjoyed
their greatest financial success once their talent was given its freedom.

Join us now in taking a public stand. Your name will help get the attention that
artists rights deserve. If you're willing to speak to the media or testify
before Congress, you can help make our goals a reality.

Do it for yourself, for your children and do it for the artists who inspired you
to make music in the first place.
Email us at: Artists@theredceiling.com

Give us your stories and your support. Tell us we can add your name to the list
of artists who support this organization. And let us know how to contact you
directly as we move forward on this project.
If you're interested in learning more about my case with Universal, visit my
manager's website: http://www.theredceiling.com.
You can download a copy of our cross-complaint and press releases that describe
the issues we're taking to court. Thanks in advance for your support.
Best regards,
Courtney Love

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Where has all the money gone...???

In the 1980's artists at the club level were actually paid for their services and paid pretty well I might add....

Yes, it may be a joke to laugh at those 80's bands with the "big hair and eyeliner" but there was a benefit to going to that
much trouble to put on a solid entertaining show. We actually got paid for our hard work!

My band SYRE regularly played [at our peak] over 250 shows a year and "grossed" a substantial amount of money year after
year. Those days are unfortunately long gone...these days clubs are barely willing to hire live entertainment... let alone
"indie" recording artists who play their own music [god forbid]. I think their are serval reasons for this...

Back in the day, there was genuine excitement about seeing bands who "may get a record deal", people would flock to their
local club to see the next "big thing". Nowadays with the onset of the internet and arguably declining music "sales", record
label A & R reps are rarely [if ever...] leaving the sanctity of their label shrine to check out bands in the local clubs... unless they are going to see what they believe to be a "sure thing".

"A sure thing" is defined as an artist who has sold 50,000+ units on their own, a track record of selling out clubs on a
regular basis, have at least 5,000+ fans on their Myspace/Facebook and have a finished "broadcast quality" recording to hand the record label. Oh yeh and they must be willing to tour relentlessly for very [and I mean very...] little personal income.

Label reps are also rarely [if ever] signing "development deals" where they bring the artist's along and mold them into what
they need at the time. Again...those days are long gone. Now they are looking for a complete package ready to go out of the
box.

For the average indie artist, it's tuff to get a club to pay you particularly if you only play your own original music. To get around paying these artists to play, club owners are hosting "Jam nights or "Open Mic' nights so they can have musicians come in and make the club money by playing for free!

Young bands flock to this type of event just so they can play a gig. This was [and continues to be] the beginning of the end for payment in return for the performance of live original music. As soon as artists devalue their services it sends a
dangerous message that they [and others] are willing to play for free just to get a gig. This tends to snowball and suddenly artists that were being paid for their services in a clubs are now being asked to play for less money... or even free.

Many artists will justify [to themselves] playing for free by saying well "we'll sell some CD' or T's at the gig" and make money that way. Only to find that it's tuff to get people to part with their hard earned cash these days.

It's very much part of the current "free society" mentality flamed by the internet...where the general public is starting to believe everything should be free. Unfortunately, our economy doesn't work that way folks and the music business is no different. It is called a "business" for a reason...artists, producers, studios, managers etc all need to make money for
their services. Without those arms of the industry making money there will be no music [or to even give away...]. Club level artists [which includes me...]have become slaves to the clubs themselves. Begging for gigs, playing for free, devaluing the very "profession" they have worked so hard to succeed in.

Now just to play devil's advocate...and in the clubs and music fans defense. Rock music [in particular] has become boring and the live presentation of music even worse. Artist have faded into that garage band mentality of the 90's and are still paying the price for boring shows and poor live attendance.

Rock music is supposed to be about excitment...not going up there and
going through the motions...if that is your mind set then don't expect to get paid for your services. If you are not excited about what you do then how can you expect others to be?
What we all need to remember is that music is a form of "entertainment" and like it or not we are "entertainers". In order to
be paid for a service you have to perform that service well....and part of being a recording artist is to "entertain" people.
Even the greatest guitar players can't juts go up there and display their chop's...even that becomes boring without some form of showmanship or in the least banter with the audience.

My message is don't be afraid to ask to be paid for our services...the clubs will make money if you draw an audience and that will happen if you are entertaining and provide a service worth the money you are [hopefully] being paid.
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Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Upcoming shows I will be playing:


July 4 - The Chip Gall Band - Grand Bend Desiree Benefit [Special guest drummer Chris Spiers from Brother My Enemy]
July 11 - Solo Acoustic - Private Party
August 7 - Solo Acoustic - Academy of Music Woodstock - Sidewalk Days 5pm - 6pm
Sept 26 - SYRE Cambridge - Benefit
Oct 9th - SYRE Brantford Benefit
Oct 17th - The Chip Gall Band - Private Party @ The Moose Woodstock

Full Band Rehearsal....


We had out first full band rehearsal last night for the July 4th benefit show in Grand Bend July 4th.


I was very happy with how well it went considering I am breaking in a new guitar player [Chris Armstrong] and using a fill in drummer [Chris Spiers - Brother My Enemy].

It was cool to see Chris Spiers play music that was some what out of his element as BME's music is quite a bit heavier than my tunes. Chris did a GREAT job and add his own
chops to some of the songs which was refreshing.


It's always nice to play with guys that have a professional attitude and can come in an do a gig with only a week or so notice.

Chris Armstrong is also adding his unique chops to my songs. His Van Halen style guitar playing fit right in to my style of music so it is no surprised that Chris found his pocket very quickly within my band.

Being a bit of a worry wart myself it was big relief to finally get together with all of the guys and hammer out the tunes...my mind is at ease now about playing the show on the 4th.

Actually I am really looking forward to it....this version of the live band is really gonna smoke!



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Monday, June 29, 2009

Chip jams with HELIX!!!!!!



Over the weekend I had a opportunity to jam with two musicians I have the utmost respect for....Brian Vollmer and Brent Doerner of Canadian rock icons HELIX.

I have known both Brian and Brent since the early days of SYRE and had the privilege of opening for HELIX at the Sault St. Marie Gardens several years ago.

This weekend we met up again at a close friends' private birthday party where I was performing acoustically as an opening act for The Ugly Step Sisters [Rick Mead - SYRE, Chris Caron - SYRE, Rob MacEachern - HELIX / THE CHIP GALL BAND]. I brought along my "electric" gear as I knew the night would consist of some preplanned and off the cuff jams.

The night started out as planned with me churning out acoustic versions of song from Me, Myself & You! [as well as some covers tunes].

Brian [unexpectedly but most appreciated] joined me for an impromptu jam of Alice Coopers "18" and "Be My Lover" as well,as CCR's' "Traveling Band". Brian was his charismatic self and belted out the tunes with the vocal power we have come to know him for.

After my set The Ugly Step Sister's were to take the stage....but not before a wicked jam of HELIX's "Dirty Dog". On bass guitar was my old friend Chris Caron - SYRE and on drums was HELIX / THE CHIP GALL BAND's drummer Rob MacEachern. Brent jammed on Rock Meed's rig, Brian grabbed the mic and off we went.


This was particularly a thrill for me as I have never played this song with Brent & Brian together before. We rocked it out as hard and heavy as humanly possible....it was awesome! That guitar riff is the coolest ever written.....I was in awe playing one of my fav tunes with two of my rock idols.

The crowd went wild snapping pics and rocking out to one of Helix's top rock anthems and I was proud to be part of it [and I manage not to screw it up too badly either!!!].

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Friday, June 26, 2009

Michael Jackson - R. I .P.


With the sudden death of Michael Jackson... so died the era of "entertainers" in the music industry.

Like him or hate him Michael Jackson was the consummate performer and entertainer. He represented what music and the music industry is all about....entertainment. MJ was the entire package...great songs, vocals, stunning live performances and yes personal controversy.
He became bigger than the industry itself and more than likely new he could never live up to that monarchy. The stress of his career, legal battles and financial challenges had obviously taken it's toll on him both mentally and physically.

Michael was more than a product of the music business....he was the music business. The world will never see another talent such as Mr. Jackson and despite all of the controversy surrounding his life...his music touched each and every one of ours in some way.
R.I.P MJ
CG

Thursday, June 25, 2009


What I wouldn't do to find a full time job doing something I love [preferably related to music].

Not that don't appreciate the current full time job I have had for the last 15 years...it has been very good source of income for my family. However, it is a "pay the bills" kind of job...get up go to work...do what ya gotta do and go home... and hate every minute of it! I regret that I didn't have enough foresight [at a younger age] to pursue music on a full time basis. Yeh I toured Canada and US for about 15 years full with SYRE but when that slowed down and eventually stopped...for all intensive purposes I left the music biz. Instead of sitting back and making a plan for my next music biz move, I did what most people do when suddenly finding themselves out of work....panic and take whatever job comes their way. This is what I did and haven't changed jobs for the last 15 years. I have climbed the company ladder over the years but it has never been enough for me. Music is the only profession I truly love.

What I have come to realize recently is there is more personal satisfaction in doing something you are passionate about rather than something out of convenience. Maybe it's my age [47] but now I look back and wish I had done things differently and really pursue what I love....music, both from a performance standpoint and a business standpoint. It the only thing I really know how to do. [lol] I have had a passion for music since a very young age....it is in my blood. Why on earth I didn't re-organize myself [until now] after SYRE and start a solo career is a mystery to me. Even on the business end I could have managed artists after accumulating a wealth of experience from years of road work and surviving every possible situation an artist can be confronted with. Maybe I didn't want to be part of the music biz leaches we experienced....always "painting the garbage can gold" and doing what was good for them and not for the band....would I have turned out like them???

I now realize life is not about 9 - 5 punching a clock and doing something you hate for 8 - 10 hours a day. It's about pursuing your dreams and making them a reality. As corny as that sounds it is very, very true....Would you rather make $50,000.00 8 hours a day doing something you hate day in and day out or $30,000.0 14 hours a day doing something you love....I should have opted for the latter....but I didn't.

Today, I find myself playing catch up with my music career. Not many musicians are starting their solo career so late in life however what I have found is that I have garnered a lot of respect over the years from musicians and music biz people. This surprised me to some degree...lol...maybe they are just humoring me, but their interest in what I am doing seems genuine. I still have that burning in my gut about writing and recording music...more than that ever. But I look at it differently than I did in the SYRE years. Those days were all about the party. We were young, naive and more worried about partying than really writing great music. the down side to this new found passion for music is that I hate my day gig even more...feeling like I am wasting 8 hours a day that I could be spending writing and recording new music or working on various music based business opportunities. This eats at me every minute of the day.

The reality is... I am way too old for major labels [but it's hip to be indie anyway...] and too stubborn to quit performing, recording and writing music. My personal goal was to still be performing live shows and recording new music at the age of 50...I am approx. 2 years and 5 months away from reaching that goal. The lesson for you younger artists out there is to persue your dreams to the fullest....do not quit and settle for a mundane day job you despise. Create your own business....network...do everything you can to reach your potential at something you are passionate about. Don't spend you life making someone else rich...spend it making you happy.

"Bratt" - Me on the far left... [sometime around 1984.







Wednesday, June 24, 2009


Hey thought some of you local musicians [Southern Ontario] may find this link useful. Looks like a sweet place to rehearse. Cheers Chip


The Chip Gall Band - Desiree Benefit 1


Shows this weekend and beyond....


Beautiful summer day here in Woodstock Ontario Canada...

Can't give you too much detail about the show this Saturday June 27 except it is a b-day party at The Moose Hall in Woodstock Ontario. I am playing an acoustic set to open the show and The Ugly Step Sisters will be belting out all your fav cover tunes. The Step Sisters consist of Rick Mead from Syre, Chris Caron - Syre and my drummer Rob MacEachern - Helix & The Chip Gall Band. There will also be a "surprise" jam ...all I can say is don't miss it. Doors are at 8pm and the "mystery" guest of honor is arriving at 8:30pm.

On Saturday June 28th I will be performing an acoustic set at a BBQ for my day gig Vuteq Canada. They are holding an open house for friends and family members to come and see what we do all day. lol
Lots of stuff for the kiddies at this one so it should be a real fun day....p.s. I hear some of the bosses are getting dunked in the dunk tank so I am lining up for that one!! lol

Rehearsals for the upcoming July 4th show in Grand Bend Ontario are going well considering I am breaking in our new guitar player Chris Armstrong and working with a fill in drummer Chris Spiers from indie sensations Brother My Enemy. As much as I love playing guitar it will be nice not to have to try to play and sing through and entire show...lol Chris is doing a wicked job on the tunes and adding in his own Van Halen'esque fills....it is really adding some additional excitement to the live show. His guitar sound is killer!

I'm really looking forward to playing with Chris Spiers....I have witnessed his awesome power with BME and it will be the first time my tunes have been played live by a drummer other than Rob MacEachern [Rob double booked the gig by mistake...thus the need to a replacement drummer for the show]. Chris is learning the songs at a frantic pase and will only have two full band rehearsals beforte the show...hey that's what make rockin roll so exciting!

That's all for now peeps.

Chip

Friday, June 19, 2009


feeling better after a pep talk from Darren....

the more I struggle with the DIY concept of writing, recording and producing music.


As I get deeper into the recording of my new CD "BELIEVE"...the more I struggle with the DIY concept of writing, recording and producing music.

With my debut solo CD "ME, MYSELF & YOU!" I was very excited to be doing it all myself...recording , producing performing.....I did it all. This time around I am finding it harder to be happy with the results. Part of that is listening back to my first record and hearing all the things I felt were acceptable then, that I can't accept this time around. I guess that's all part of the learning curve particularly when you are doing it all yourself.

The other part of that discontent is listening to some of the new releases by major label artists....for example the new Chris Daughtry song "No Suprise". I listened to that song last night and then to my demos for my new CD and immediately got depressed. Now I know that is a multi-million dollar production and I am comparing it to my home DAW demos and it's not a real comparison. However, I also know when music fans are listening they really don't know the intricacies of the recording process [no disrespect to the fans...but most don't] nor do they care...they just know that Chip Gall's CD sounds shitty and Chris Daughtry's sounds great.

So how does someone like me compete with the Chris Daughtry's of the world. Well I am finally starting to realize in order to compete even close to that level you have to do some of the things the "big boys" do. So this time around my demos will be done in my home studio on a DAW, however the final product will be recorded at Big Room Studios in London Ontario. Big Room is also a home project studio but with much better gear than I use on my demos. Darren Morrison is the owner of the studio and is a solid engineer/producer in his own right. So that is how I am trying get the sound quality closer to the major players.

So the challenge now is to get the songs and performances up to a major label level. My first thought is what don't I like about my music. This is not a tuff call for me as I am very critical of my own work however I tend to settle on things just out of the need to "get it done". One part of that is becoming board with my own performances....solos start to sound the same....parts become to familiar and easy to write because they are all similar. To address some of this I am soliciting the services of a couple of my good friends who are incredible musicians and have played at the level I am trying to achieve. An old friend of mine [who will remain nameless for the moment] currently plays on many major label releases....the latest being Chris Daughtry's new CD [hey ya gotta go to the source]. I was chatting with him on Facebook about the Daughtry tune "No Suprise" and I told him I was working on my next CD. I mentioned it would be great to have someone like him play on my material....and his response was "shit man send me the rough mixes and let me know what you want". Needless to say I freaked...here is a guy getting paid big bucks to play on major label recordings, willing to lay parts down on my "Indie" tracks for nothin' else but the fun of it! The lesson I quickly learned was "just ask"...all anyone can say is no. I plan on putting this to the test with a few more of my musical friends and see what I can dig up.

My other internal fight is producing the CD myself. This [I have learned] is an impossible chore....you just cannot be objective when it comes to your own writing and performances. This time around Darren Morrison will Co-Produce the CD and I am considering soliciting the input of another friend who is a well know Canadian major label producer...again applying the "just ask" concept.

By giving up a little control and applying the "just ask" concept, I believe I can start to take my music and the CD to the next level...will I be in Chris Daughtry's league....certainly not! But it will be closer to giving me some sort of personal satisfaction that the CD will be better than the first and closer to what music fans expect for their hard earned cash.

Wednesday, June 17, 2009


Every day I get e-mails, blog posts, Facebook comments etc...about the latest and greatest places on the web to host and promote your music. Most of which do what they say they do...allow you to upload your music and create an artist page. That is all well and good...I have several of them myself and they look great when I google my name and it comes up with 530,000 results [most of which are not related to me whatsoever...lol]. I agree every artists should promote their music wherever and whenever they can....however the disturbing thing is the emphasis these days seems to be on how many artist pages you create on the web rather than getting out there and playing live shows.

For the most part many of these pages generate very little to zero digital sales unless you are with a major label [that's an entirely different blog post...lol]. That's just the way it is my friends. Myspace for example...has millions of indie artist all following the same "internet music guru" advice and setting up these pages all over the net. It easy to get lost in the crowd and have very little sales results let alone anyone actually hit on your artist page. The other pit falls of these types of sites is that many artist don't take the time to read the fine print and may inadvertently sign their digital right away!

I will guarantee you that you will sell more music playing live show regularly than you will by having artist pages all over the internet. By playing live you create a "captive" audience paying all of there attention to you for the time you are performing. Not surfing through millions of bands on the net....actually watching and more importantly listening to you! It may only be 100 people on a Friday night in Woodstock Ontario but I will bet the farm as an indie artist you will sell more music in that one night than in 6 months of digital download sales on the net if you market yourself correctly to those 100 people.

My point is...don't rely solely on those internet net distributors to sell your music. Get out there and play live...meet for fans [yes shake their hands in person]...win over new ones...make then feel like they are part of something special.

Tuesday, June 16, 2009


Hey my friends...just wanna update you on what's been going on with The Chip Gall Band and the recording of my new CD "BELIEVE"...the last few months have been hectic for a very unfortunate reason...

As most of you know on April 8th, 2009, 8 year old Victoria "Tori" Stafford from my home town of Woodstock was abducted and ultimately murdered on her way home from school. Since that day I have been involved in many of the vigils' and other activities to help bring Victoria home. My involvement started by my personal dedication of my song "COME HOME" [a very personal song for me] to Victoria's safe return. The organizers of the first candle light vigil heard the song and asked if I would perform it at the vigil which I was happy to do.

Performing at the vigil itself was the absolute highlight of my musical career. I have never been moved so much by an event and the heart felt love from the thousands of citizen's of Woodstock who attended the vigil in support of the families. Local radio station 104.7 Heart FM hosted the event and asked if they could play my song COME HOME on their station. I agreed as long as it was dedicated to Tori's safe return. The song became their most requested song over the weeks that it was played and in some way seemed to bring some comfort to the community. I also did an interview at the station talking about my musical career and the how the back ground of the song COME HOME...

To date Tori has never been found and 1st degree murder charges have been laid against two individuals from our own community. The families and the community is torn apart by the tragedy and I have been personally scared such a senseless loss on innocence. I continue to pledge my support to the families and the community in any way I can. The goal now is to bring Tori home to her family and ensure the two people responsible for this pay the appropriate price.

Needless to say I have not been able to get too much recording done over the last few months setting my release schedule back... However, I have been inspired by my brief involvement in Tori's life and I am dedicating my next CD "BELIEVE" to Tori's memory. Two songs on the CD "Final Last Good-bye" & "One More Lonely Day" will be dedicated individually to both Rodney Stafford and Tara McDonald [Tori's parents].

On to the "Live " band business....I have added Chris Armstrong [13 Aces] to The Chip Gall Band line up. Chris is great talent and will be taking over most of my "live" guitar chores, freeing me up to concentrate on singing and putting on a show for you wicked rock fans! I'm really excited to have Chris in the line up as he is a great guy and will help take the band to a higher performance level. I will still strap on the old "Wolfgang" for a couple of tunes and be playing some acoustic guitar as well...so I ain't hangin' up the axe just yet!

Other projects I am working on..I am also still planning on releasing an acoustic version of Me, Myself & You! entitled "Chip Gall - Stripped"...and hope to have that completed in the next few months. I also intend on starting a [better late than never...lol] Chip Gall - News Letter and also hope to have that up and running in the next few months.

Busy days ahead...thanks for your ongoing support and I look foreword to seeing you all soon!

CG

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Hey peeps....check out my new "guestbook" here http://ping.fm/lHHG9 drop by and try it out!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009


Acoustic show this week: May 8 - The Royal Tavern Paris Ont. 6 - 9pm , May 9 - The Moose Lodge Woodstock Ont. 9pm - 12am, May 10 - Woodstock Museum Woodstock Ont. 12:30pm - 1:30pm

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Great info on home recording can be found here http://ping.fm/KOudL

Monday, April 6, 2009

Just finished recording...short but productive session. : )



Cleaning up my Facebook "Group" memberships...time to clean house...




Sunday, April 5, 2009


turning some musician friends on to ping.fm...big time saver!
Beautiful day here in The Great White North...