Groove Oriented Tracks

Well, it appears--@ least for the time being--that we gigging musicians are back to live performance once again! Woo-Flippin'-Hoo!! 
Of course, there's the inevitable Covid-based caveat in effect here:  public (especially indoor) activities will proceed down the “Return to Normalcy” path, providing new outbreaks don't rear their ugly head.
With that in mind, I've released this version of a hallmark tune popularized by none other than rock guitar legend Jeff Beck, from the “Wired” album which debuted in the mid-'70s.
Beck has been an influence on my guitar direction since his days doing straight-up rock and roll with Rod Stewart and the later Beck, Bogert and Appice project. 
Nothing quite prepared my for his foray into the Rock/Jazz/Funk Fusion thing he got into just after the B,B & A work, though; “Wired” being the follow-up to the ground-breaking “Blow by Blow” album.
This is one of my favorite tracks from the “Wired” album; and one that is a natural fit for my live loop based improvisation performances.
I placed special emphasis on the drum track—especially since drummer Narada Michael Walden is credited with writing the tune. With the recent addition of an excellent electronic drum kit to the Mountain Offensive recording studio, getting the sound I wanted was finally possible! 
As virtually always, I'm responsible for all the sounds you're hearing (including the arrangement and instrumentation); as well as all of the studio production required to get it from the studio to your ears, here on my soundcloud page.

Come Dancing (FlashingAmberSignal Version) - Groove Crater Method (Jeff Beck tribute)

Well, it looks like the “Natural DisasterTrend” continues to play out in new and exciting ways:  the latest being unprecedented flooding in disparate locations around the globe.
I've always liked pretty much everything about the Led Zeppelin rendition of the McCoy/Memphis Minnie tune “When the Levee Breaks” (a tune originally written in response to the then record setting flooding along the Mississippi River c. 1927). 
With the musical situation that I have going on right now, I'm able to get music addressing current topics out in a fairly unobstructed and immediate way...like my take on this particular topic and tune.
A few highlights you may enjoy are my use of a phrase from the Jimmy Driftwood song “Battle of New Orleans” (popularized later by the Johnny Horton version) early in the tune, as well as the use of a Wah Pedal to simulate a “Jaw Harp” in the rhythm loop; not to mention the “audio wonk” I used in the Intro (as opposed to Zeppelin's use of their own brand of “wonk” @ the end of their version).

When The Levee Breaks (LookMaNoSlide Version) - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method  (Led Zeppelin)

Speaking of the '70s, another of the many artists which got my attention during that period was Harry Nilsson. He had a lot more to do with Pop/Rock music during that period than many are aware of. 
The track featured here is one of my takes on a cut from his hit album "Nilsson Schmilsson", which was also released as a single.  Since I'm really interested in performing music featuring "loops", any good tune that can be easily adapted to this approach is right in my wheelhouse. Herbie Flowers' mother-of-all-basslines is the unshakable (and irreplaceable) foundation for this song. All of the sounds you hear I performed, along with all production tasks. This is another track where I've performed lead work along with the rhythm loop in a straight-through, "live" fashion. There are no overdubs, and editing only to get it to proper "single" length (under five minutes).
There's a useful message here too:  When attempting a move to improve a given situation, one should be careful that said move doesn't take them out of the "frying pan" and "into the fire"...

Compilation

Jump Into The Fire (Single Version) - (Nilsson Cover) - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method

During the '60s and '70s--my musically formative years--the diversity of what was available has proven to be truly unprecedented. Fortunately, living in the SoCal metropolis of Los Angeles (South Bay)at that time, I had access through AM and then FM radio, older friends and peers, and hang-out sessions at local record stores. 
Of course, Jimi Hendrix and Funkadelic came onto my radar in a fairly timely fashion.  It's funny, but only until more recently in life, I've finally felt like I could use my longtime experience with their tunes (as well as those from many other influential artists from that era) as a foundation for some of my personal expression.
Regarding this particular work:  I'm bouncing off of the fairly universal nature of Hendrix's "Third Stone from the Sun" (I can think of a bazillion different ways to "frame" this tune; it's just so, uh, "universal"...), and the deep groove and anti-drug vibe of Funkadelic's "Loose Booty". I feel they go well together.
Rather than tell you what I had exactly in mind as far as how the theme matches the music (or vice versa), I'd much rather have you interpret that. - Thrust

Loose Booty On 3rd Stone (Single Version)- Groove Crater Method (inspired by Funkadelic)

Where would all of us artist-types be without "The Wizard Of OZ"?!!
There have been so many interpretive artistic expressions based on this work, I'm sure I haven't heard anywhere near the half of them!
Considering the multi-faceted problems facing humanity (many of which the present pandemic situation has only highlighted), I really didn't have any trouble coming up with my dystopian take on all of it, employing inspiration from none other than the aforementioned movie.
One of the main reasons I enjoy expressing myself through instrumental music is that a wide "door" of interpretation is left open for the listener's imagination.  That said, I'll only tell you a few of the basic elements of my work:   I'm playing a riff based on the marching chant of the Winkie Guard over a reversed chord progression for the verse section of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", with a marching rhythm I coaxed (ok, more like "beat") out of my Danelectro Hodad electric guitar (an "oddball" instrument, which is proving itself quite adept at performing in such roles) by raking a serrated metallic implement across the strings. I'm improvising in real-time over that "loop"--including the crazy special effects heard toward the end of the piece. As always, I'm responsible for all sounds and production tasks. There was very little post-production work involved in getting the sound you're hearing. 

The rest is up to you...

Meanwhile, Under The Rainbow (dystopian theme)- Egregious Phil's Bin (The Wizard of Oz inspired)

Well, 2020 seemed to continue to deliver in the "natural (and man-made) disaster" department right up to it's end. (It's looking like 2021 is going to continue with that theme...)
This tune seemed pretty relevant when it was released by the Pat Travers Band, way back in 1980. No argument that it's a lot more relevant today!
I've always liked the chord movement (Travers an excellent Hammond / Keyboard player, too), as well as "The Beat Goes On" bass line; but I have felt that there was room for more "crash" and  "burn" in the sonic department. 
I think I've taken care of that in my interpretation.
I'm using the chorus melody as a one-time intro theme: "We can't stop the World from it's..."

Crash And Burn - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method (Pat Travers inspired)

The topic of "Monsters" is a wide and varied one, to be sure. From portrayals in literature and cinema, to real-life ferocious animals (including the two-legged variety)on land, sea and air, they attract our attention to some degree or another. 
The "Monster" giving inspiration for this work is from none of these sources, though.
This one has appeared throughout my life only on occasion, and seemingly at random and uncontrollably during sleep time.
It has taken on different forms, although never in Godzilla-like proportions; in other words, never a threat to humanity in general...just me.
It turns out that the trigger for it's visits stemmed from personal relationships that were not going well (or about to not go well); and I eventually used such visits as a wake-up call to address those issues.
The "Monster" actually became an attention-grabbing ally!
I've attempted to capture all those factors in this work, to some degree or another--maybe especially at the end, when part of me doesn't want to see an end to the "visits", as frightening as they were.

With the way things are going these days, I wouldn't be surprised by another visit sometime soon...

Fright Creature - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method (Medeski, Martin & Wood inspired)

Considering all of the heavy circumstances laid upon us in the Calendar Year 2020 (which I've used as themes for many of my posted works herein), it somehow seemed refreshing (and downright righteous) that I'd get inspired near the conclusion of the year to do a piece driven by nothing more than a malfunctioning dryer at the local Laundromat!
This tune is the second in the "Ritmo Secadora" (Dryer Rhythm)Series; which I intend to rotate as I create new tunes based on the same rhythm. They will all be titled as "versions" of the "Coincident 25" theme. 
The previous--and first in the series--is entitled "Coincident 25 (NoWaveDesertLandscape Version)". Eventually, it will be readily accessible, along with other tunes previously posted here on soundcloud.

Thanks for listening!

Coincident 25 (FEZ meets F.V.Z. Version 2.0) - Instrumental by Groove Crater Method (Zappa inspired)

Howard  is a guitarist, writer, arranger, multi-instrumentalist, live performer, producer, studio engineer and online/onairwaves radio host; emphasizing musical communication through instrumental interpretation in various forms--at times employing spoken word, storytelling, reading or other audio sources in complement or contrast. 
His solo live performances feature real-time multi-instrumentalism employing live recording and synching of loops and subsequent improvising over them.

Check out "Howard Thrust - SIDE 2"  https://soundcloud.com/howard-thrust-2/tracks for recent and future postings here on soundcloud.
Check out "Howard Thrust - Musical Monologues"  https://soundcloud.com/howard-thrust-monologues/tracks for "story" with Music here on soundcloud.
Check out "Howard Thrust Radio"  https://soundcloud.com/howard-thrust-radio for complete Music shows, also here on soundcloud!
Check out "Escape Velocity with Howard Thrust" on KRHV every other Monday from 9P - 10P @ www.mammothfm.com or @ KRHV 93.3 FM in the Owens Valley, CA.
Check out "Howard Thrust" on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpAfG_aFKB0dDyp5mNl35sQ/videos !

AND NOW (massive drum-roll, please):  You can visit my WEBSITE by going to  www.hthrust.com

Thanks for looking and listening!