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Ta Tonka's Profile
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Ta Tonka - BigDfromqpdb
Miles- Chilltouch85
~ by Michael Polis
I met Daniel and John about eleven years ago. I hated them and they despised me at first. But seeing that we were in the same predicament, being taken out of public school and brought into the home schooling circle, we didn't have much time until we became good friends. Over time we put a side our differences and mingled our beliefs. Matthew, my brother, and I were the scientific dork-asses and Daniel and John were the trendy cool kids but less then a year after meeting we were the best of friends. One summer day in 1998, I went over to the Heron's house and there was Danny, playing...or trying to play a guitar. I soon found out that Daniel's mom signed him up with a deal at a local music store "Pay for six months of lesson and receive a free guitar." About a year and a half later, I traded some stuff to my cousin for a bass. I was thinking, if a get good enough Daniel and I could form a band! Well no more then one season later, a good friend of ours, Robert Sw., did the same deal as Daniel, the "six months-free guitar". Instead of a guitar, Robert went for a bass. With lessons and a huge musical background, he surpassed me in no time. So I took the knee and stopped practicing and went on to singing. I joined the youth choir at my church in search for my voice. Which I still haven’t found! Hehe…While all this was happening, my sister Ariana was dating a guy named John Garrido. I hated him. I thought my sister was to good for John, this guitar playing party animal. At the time he was in a band call "The Stryf Addicts" as singer/guitarist. John G. was over a lot and we started to kick it. One day he brought John H. and I over to jam in the Stryf Addicts shed. John Heron was playing a makeshift drum set with a shovel head cymbal and wire sticks, John G. as playing guitar and singing, and I was just sitting on the couch, listening. I looked up and John G. was there with the mic, handing it to me. At first I was really nervous but after a few shots of liquid skills I just took the mic, closed my eyes and I felt the music. Screams, distorted guitar, and off beat snare drum hits resonated through the darkness. A few hours later I left, belligerent with blown vocal cords. I never felt more calm ‘till that day. Years went by and we grew, each one doing his own thing. John G. married my sister and had some kids, Daniel made music with Robert Sw., John H. bought a drum set off a friend of mine, and I sung in the shower. We all wanted to be part of a larger whole but we never seemed to come together. Finally in the last week of summer we arrived at the conclusion that we all need a outlet, something to focus our emotions towards, something to be made great, something beautiful. All jamming into Daniel and John’s front room we came together. Barely any room to move, we plugged in and began to collaborate. And a “electrical fire” broke lose. Seriously. John G.’s surge protector ignited into a ball of flame. After the two hour session we had the makings of three songs: Patient 957, Stummies, & Electrical Fire. Since then we have been a band, practicing weekly, bringing new material to the table, and growing in music and in brotherhood.
Ta Tonka here… Well, Thank you for all the people who came out and saw us play at El Dorado. And I would like to thank the other bands playing. I’m sorry I didn’t get to stay and watch them all, but my transportation was going to leave with or without me. It was a good show besides the fact that I biffed it! I broke my B string in “ Lasagna Ocean.” Man that song is cursed! First time we tried to play it for people we didn’t get too. Then we played it for a couple of guys and the “Johns” Kept messing up, but I think that was because they had a few too many beers. And finally when we tried to play it at El Dorado “Bamm!” I broke my string. Oh well… A lot of people said that they liked us, but some said we sucked. Most likely because we were not punk enough. I would like to thank the two huge beefy black guys, who were the security guards. They were cool and nice. Oh yeah, I am still sorry that I whacked the bald one upside the head with my pedal board on accident. Sorry again… It felt a little weird because every one there was dressed like (for lack of a better word) “punk-ish.” And there was I with my sweat pants. Even the security guard noticed that. Example: I went outside and didn’t get a stamp to come back in. well when I went back to the door I was trying to explain to him that I just went out. But he said, “yeah I remember you. You are the only guy here wearing a sweat suit.” Anygays we have as show coming up, and we need to sale all these tickets now. So that we can get more tickets to sale. Yeah… Let me know if you want some. ~ Ta Tonka
Hello, this is Ta Tonka. I first would like to thank everyone that came out to see and listen to us play, yesterday. We really appreciate it. Next I would to thank everyone at “Melody Music and Computers” for letting us put together this show. Also I have to say a huge thank you to Clarence and KIIS for all the Radio Airtime they gave us. Last but not least, I would like to thank “Long Walk Home” for playing with us. It made me feel more comfortable.
Overall I cogitate that it was a good show. It had its highs and lows, but lets not talk about the lows. Clarence from “KIIS FM” I guess really liked us, because he always mentioned 7th gift at every time they went live. Then He pulled me aside and said he wanted to give me interview. So I went and grab Miles, because “The John’s” left early, and we took the live interview. Anygays, Yeah that guy was cool. Why! Some may ask? I tell you why. He knows Henry Rollins (I don’t know if that’s how you spell his name). Well thanks again to all those people.
We (our Drummer, Singer, Myself - Guitarist 2, and my friend Erick) went to Schooners and listened to the rules and crap for battle of the bands. Heidi the lady we listened to for half an hour. She said it that battle of the bands is going to be different this year. Hey I found out what it was now selling tickets is only 50% of your score! Haah Oh well at least were getting paid 2 dollars out every 5 dollar ticket we sale Sweet better than nothing. Getting paid for it amazed me, because we get to play a show and get paid for it. We didn’t even care if we got pay going in, but now my greed is saying YES MONEY FOR ME!