Biography

A musical outline of my life. Scroll down, enjoy.

Childhood:

1977: Born in Washington, D.C. Lived briefly in a closet in P.G. County but failed to develop a taste for WPGC-style music for at least twenty more years.
1979: Moved with family to the Appalachian town of Frostburg, Maryland. Early urban influence possibly an inoculating factor in rejecting mountain-based country music.
1983: Due to older brother’s influence, claimed in first grade that favorite band was Judas Priest.
c. 1985: Began taking piano lessons. Effectively learned scales and arpeggios and music notation, but never progressed much beyond the most basic of etudes.
1986: Learned to play the flutophone in third-grade music class. Despite the limited possibilities of this instrument, could play a mean “Joy to the World.”
c. 1989: Quite enjoyed playing the crash cymbals during a school Christmas program.

1991: Received a CD player for Christmas and began to buy music somewhat more intensively. Early purchases proved to be slightly less embarrassing than the cassettes bought at a younger age, but still included at least one Winger CD.
1993: Found mother’s classical guitar and became quite attached to it. Bought new strings and began a Mel Bay book. Struggled with F chord for many months.
1994: Incredibly, paid a friend $5 for guitar lessons once or twice, practicing songs like “Aura Lee.” Also:

Sang a solo in high school musical as Guys and Dolls’ sexy Arvide Abernathy. Later was unable to remember the title of this song but perhaps it was “Roses I Will Wish You.”
Played “Alive” approximately 500 times at junior retreat.
Borrowing classmate’s book, was able to master nearly the entire Green Day canon.
Played an electric guitar for the first time — a satisfactory substitute for the first sexual encounters so many classmates were experiencing, especially in hindsight.
Jokingly discussed forming a band called Emma’s Death with friend, which presumably would have performed Pearl Jam and Eagles songs. This would actually be much more impressive if done now, ten years later.
Apparently wrote a song called “Halcyon,” at least according to a yellowing page found in a notebook of old songs. Kind of sad that this perhaps-first-song-ever was completely forgotten, but then it probably completely sucked.

1995: Sang a solo in high school musical as Damn Yankees’ comical old Joe Hardy. This one was called “Goodbye Old Girl.” Also:

Began writing songs from time to time. Recorded some of them on a cassette labeled “Jeff Gerhard Demos '95.”
Got a harmonica and enjoyed it but never really did much with it.
Moved to D.C. for college. Had a musically prodigious roommate who became a lifelong friend but, oddly, never a musical collaborator, although often a great source of musical information and names for unusual chords.
Began attending rock and roll concerts regularly; became aware of music considerably more obscure than what was on 120 Minutes.
Discovered the fledgling Internet. Printed out reams of tablature in campus computer labs.

1996: Recorded a version of “Goodbye Horses” with roommate, four-track, and drum machine. Machines and cassette later stolen — recording would now be worth a princely sum indeed. Also:

Bought some books on guitar scales which sat and gathered dust for years before finally disappearing, scales still unlearnt.
Jokingly discussed forming a band called St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

1997: Discussed forming a band with various friends.
1998: Began recording straight to tape recorders much more often under the moniker Discount Boy Genius (Listen to a sample, “Reveille”. Also:

Spent four and a half months in Germany. Wrote many songs, burned and smashed a guitar.
Discussed forming a band with various friends.

1999: Took a Music Theory class in last full-time semester of college. Learned solfege and a tiny bit about melody from bizarre Beatles-loving professor; spent a great amount of time composing ditties in the vein of “Mi Mi Re Mi So La Do” and singing “Big Old House in New Orleans.” Also:

Moved into musically-inclined apartment. Played around with drums and cool guitars. Spent enjoyably goofy times with roommate playing Radiohead and that “Take a Picture” song by Filter.
Discussed forming a band with various friends.

2000: Finally became gainfully employed, purchased own electric axe and rig for first time. Also:

2001: Bought a four-track on eBay and began learning how to record (DC demos 2001). Also:

Recorded “Machinehead” as Phantom Limb and sent cassette copies to some friends.
Discussed forming a band with various friends.

2002: Received a trumpet from a friend. Had great fun trying to make music with it but rarely had the opportunity to just let it blare; still hope to play with it in the future. Also:

Learned enough about recording to do a few proper demos (Frostburg demos 2002).
Moved to Poland, leaving behind all that musical equipment but finding favorite acoustic guitar ever for cheap in a shop in Warsaw.
Became baffled by Polish notes and chords; struggled for a while to successfully identify “H.”

2003: Began recording on computer with mixed results (Kraj). Eventually got the knack of it but plagued by chronic equipment problems. Also:

Attempted to write some synthy, laptop pop stuff with some guitar bits, but found it painfully difficult without better software and shelved it.
During summer in Frostburg, drank parents’ Coors Light and recorded some old songs (Let’s Make the Prequel First)
Discovered to much chagrin that those Polish songs don’t burn to CD very well.