5,199: Friday • September 26, 1997 Lifestyles i-songronj! 9allas-Fon 1 linking verenceas kips mositf ;angstaraf sriousabo: s on in at)) lyrics ers are del i baddest y exhibit a rat de- fans, nota iew Pirn- oplefrom {'lifelike:' .1 membeis feedback roplewb: Local musician shares at)) H boa: I—J By Rhonda Reinhart Staff writer very day aspiring musicians come to cities like Nashville and Los An geles, hoping to find their names in lights and and their faces on album cov ers. They have stars in their eyes and dol lar signs on their minds. But for one local musician, big city ireams of fame and fortune are over shadowed by the desire to enhance the music scene in Bryan-College Station. Mike McAllister, a 26-year-old College Station native, began playing music at he age of 13. He continued his musical studies at the University of North Texas he calls “music military.” to be than wh ake noli tely rap, ■d with I “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s strict,” he said. When they say jump, you say how high. It’s pretty tough, but it’s definitely worth it. If you :an do this, you can do anything. You come rut feeling you understand music and all the e Against different styles. You see the unity between all >r. Drew music and how they all relate.” After graduation, McAllister returned to College Station where he is pursuing his solo career. He also plays in two local bands, Veil of Veronica and Snook Cats, gives guitar lessons at Holze Music Com pany, and plays classical guitar at wed dings, clubs and restaurants McAllister said there is more freedom for musicians in a city like College Station than in larger cities. “In big cities, there are so many other people just like you that you are not con tributing anything,” he said. “You’re just trying to climb a ladder. Here, you can make a difference. Not too many people are climbing over each other to-get to the top. There is a small family of very close- knit musicians here. It’s a comfort.” McAllister said getting on a record la bel and becoming rich and famous are not part of his goals as a musician. Matt Elsik, McAllister’s drummer, said there is an underground music scene in his desire to expand B Bryan-College Station. “In Austin, there are too many bands and not enough fans,” he said. “Here, there XX In a lesson, when someone ^ ^ breaks through and makes a discovery, that’s the moment I live for.” Mike McAllister Local musician and music teacher aren’t enough bands but a lot of people who want to hear music.” McAllister said his favorite places to play are coffeehouses because they allow more freedom for improvisation and ex perimentation. He incorporates a variety of musical styles into his live shows, playing every thing from bluegrass to 17th century op eras to Pink Floyd covers. “That’s the exciting part,” he said. “You never know what is going to happen next.” Elsik said the mood of the crowd de termines what the live shows will be like. “It’s a give and take relationship with the audience,” he said. “Everything is fu sion. Mixing our energies is soothing and invigorating at the same time.” Even though McAllister said his musi cal style does not fit into any one catego ry, he said the folk movement in music influenced him greatly. “Folk is very real,” he said. “It’s not just the music, but the attitude. These were people nobody ever knew because they played on their front porches all their lives. They were never trying to sell their music. They were just playing songs.” McAllister’s music has a message. His songs are critical of greed and power and in favor of having faith and going with the flow of life. He said people can relate to CS scene the common situations in his lyrics. “To me, music is love,” he said. “It’s about making connections and turning people on to something new. People might actually learn something from my songs.” McAllister plays a variety of instru ments, including all styles of guitar, pi ano, and various reed and percussion in struments. He said he tries to learn a new instrument every few years, and through his guitar lessons, he passes that knowl edge on to others. “Teaching is in my blood,” he said. “I come from a long line of teachers. In a lesson, when someone breaks through and makes a discovery, that’s the mo ment I live for. Giving lessons is not so much teaching, but making someone feel good about himself. It’s like a psychology session.” McAllister said music is his life. “Call me a lifer,” he said. “I love to play. The day I die, it better be on stage.” 7 IN f j 99C Ritas 99