Click On Pic Above To Read Traci's First Report

“Hello Traci Nubalo, welcome to the Easy Rock Guitars & Music Open House! Please feel free to try a guitar, a bass, or drums. Hang out and have fun. There is free play space available, just jump down the hole in the guitar!”

Huh?

There I was minding my own business when my editor IMed me with an assignment. Next thing I knew I was being asked to jump into the sound hole on a huge acoustic guitar. I knew then that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore!

I was actually in the shop and nerve center of Easy Rock Guitars and Music meeting with Orion Deezul and Lisa Michelle, owners of this fascinating new entry onto the Second Life live music scene. Seems that they have set up a combined sales studio, demo shop and performance area (with four gorgeous stages). Why? I can hear you asking.

Ms. Michelle and Mr. Deezul have created and are marketing a new line of musical instruments that can be actually played inworld. That’s right, I said played. Within minutes after my arrival I had a great-looking candy apple red electric six-string cradled in my arms. After a surprisingly-brief learning curve I was strumming some chords and quickly enjoying myself.

I happened to mention in passing that while I play guitar my primary instrument is electric bass and in less time than it would have taken Wonder Woman to click her bracelets together, I was playing Orion’s bass. It was a lot of fun and the instruments look marvelous and sound very accurate!

LisaMichelle1: So, now I am going to ask you to follow me and we are going to jump down the sound hole of the guitar.

Huh?

I took the leap.

I dropped like a rock; faster and faster through a colorful tunnel of some sort. I plummeted for what felt like an eternity; then dusted myself off after a most unlady-like landing.

I asked for some further explanation.

Orion: Sure. The guitar contains a sound engine that I created. When you touch it, your arms will move to hold the guitar and the chords are mapped to the movement keys on your keyboard. The arrow keys change the chords and the e and c keys change progressions.
Lisa: You got it!
Orion: Yep, she can play! LOL
Lisa: Hahahahaha! I love it!

By this point I was strumming one mean version of “Louie Louie”, and was already picking out which outrageous rockstar clothing outfits I could buy to go with my new SL obsession.

Orion: The bass is part of the new engine and has a built-in dance chim.
Lisa: Yes, people in the audience can touch the guitar and choose from a menu of options.
Traci: Cool! In a sense, this reminds me of the massively-popular interactive games “Guitar Hero” and “Rock Band” where non-players can quickly learn to have fun with instruments. This is a very cool concept that you are working with!
Orion: Thanks. I can’t play in RL; thats why I designed these instruments. I’ve always wanted to play because I love music. But my professional life went in another direction and I just could never practice.
Traci: Really. So you’re not a musician?
Orion: Nope. More of a dreamer. But who doesn’t want to be a rock star?
Traci: I think a lot of people are in the same boat. There are far more non-musicians than actual players. And yes, we all want to be stars!
Orion: Yep, I envision this as “Guitar Hero” off the rails!

Earlier I mentioned that Orion and Lisa have also created a huge performance area with four unique stage structures. They hope that as SLers begin to visit Easy Rock and sample their unique products, impromptu jam sessions might begin to take place. I’d imagine it would be great fun to hook up several Second Life players and see what they can do jamming with these new instruments.

In fact, at the Open House a few adventurous souls tried jamming with these new creations and enjoying the thrill of performing together, some for the first time in their lives. At one point Orion messaged me to thank me for participating in the grand opening of their business. I commented to him that it looked like those present were very quickly catching on to the mechanics of playing. “You have no idea how happy that makes me”, commented Orion. “And the Tribune article was like lighting a powder keg for us. Lisa can barely keep her screen clear of all the friend requests.”

Orion and Lisa seem to have identified a sweet little niche in SL product marketing. Their instruments could become a major hit here, with both musicians and non-musicians buying them and jamming on them, adding yet another layer of musical joy to our already-healthy Second Life art scene.

I hope you’ll head over to Easy Rock Guitars & Music and see for yourself the latest in SL technological developments. And while you are there, grab a guitar and begin your new role as an apprentice SL musician.

Party Hearty, Garth!

easyrockmusic@gmail.com.