Eight Track Revival

It seemed like a good idea at the time, maybe even a revolutionary one: portable music for the car. So it was in the mid-1960s, when car makers included 8- track players on their new models.

 

Suddenly, people were toting what looked like suitcases out to their Ford Pintos. These were storage cases for Stereo 8, or 8- track, cartridges. Each of these tapes was about the size of a paperback book. They were big and bulky and they had a unique quirk about them.

 

Let me get ahead of the curve here -- I am not making this up. The music would sometimes stop mid-song, followed by a clunk as the tape switched tracks, and then things would take up where they'd left off.

 

This took some getting used to. But it was a different era. Today, portable means a device that fits comfortably in your shirt pocket, and which contains several months worth of music.

 

An 8- track cartridge is not what Matt White had in mind when he named his Internet music project Eight Track . His Eight Track is an altogether simpler, more elegant affair. It is a W eb page, a revolving showcase for local music. So far t here have been three Eight Tracks, each comprising songs by eight different Richmond bands and musicians.

 

Visitors listen at their leisure and then vote their level of enthusiasm for each song. You get three choices: Great, Good and Eh. When the votes are counted, the most popular track earns bragging rights for the chosen band. The top four vote-getters are also part of an Eight Track show, which in the past was held at Cous Cous .

 

White is a busy local musician, a guitar player for both The Great White Jenkins and Fight the Big Bull . The Eight Track project was the result of RVA News ' desire to highlight local music. White sent out feelers to friends and acquaintances, asking those interested in participating to send him their MP 3s.

 

Initially, the Eight Track was limited to bands White knew and liked. But this being the   I nternet, it soon grew legs and starting walking on its own. So far, 32 bands have provided songs for the Eight Track.

 

After he ran through his address book, White turned to bands that had a track record and had worked hard over the years to get their music out there. Some were a little hesitant to be included in what was essentially a competition. It is a competition of sorts, but it's low-key, non-threatening and done with a sense of humor.

 

The voting has sometimes been surprising. White mentioned that the most enthusiastic responses have been not for relatively well-known Richmond bands, but for side gigs, or small projects by established musicians.

 

"Side projects get a good response and a lot of votes ," h e explained . " Because people want to see them play; it ' s kind of an underdog thing. [They think] 'I can't see them play every weekend so [I'll] vote for them.'"

 

Bio Ritmo 's bass player, Eddie Prendergast , who entered a song under the name Amazing Ghost , did very well in the last round of Eight Track. His track was essentially a solo recording project. But the nature of Ei ght T rack means he'll have to assemble a ghost band for the upcoming show.

 

White has made a conscious effort to include as much diversity as possible, hoping to accurately reflect the Richmond music scene.

 

Even so, he wants to spread the love even more. He would like to include more hip hop, for example. But, the Eight Track was started as and still is an improvisation in progress.

 

"It just happened that way. At the end of the day I'm sitting there waiting for MP 3s from a band . S ometimes it's just who responds," he said.

 

White's day job is teaching music, mainly to youngsters. This gave him the idea for the next Eight Track -- songs by kids, future rock stars. It should be interesting to hear what concerns the youth of today. Bands and young songwriters are encouraged to participate. For now, the deadline to submit a song is September 15.  

 

The future of Eight Track is still being decided. After the kid's edition, White hopes to have one more round before year's end but he  has lots of ideas for future installments .  

"One idea is to have DJs remix the same song, or take four songs and get them to remix them ," White said. " Another thing I want to do is to include one member from each of the bands who've won, and together write a larger piece of music. There will be 24 different winners by the new year."

 

White's band Fight the Big Bull is charging full steam ahead. In September , they have a new record coming out on Portugal-based Clean Feed Records, a well-known and highly respected label in the international jazz community.

 

Being on this label has significantly raised the profile of both the band and of the Richmond scene in general. Sometime in the fall, Fight the Big Bull will lock horns on National Public Radio with Terry Gross on her program Fresh Air .

 

So if you are feeling nostalgic about a certain kind of 8 - track tape, let me know. In the back of my AMC Matador, I have a Corinthian leather suitcase full of tapes, mood music from a sexier time. Think bell bottoms and shirt collars the size of a toilet seat.

 

On the other hand, if you want to hear what's new and exciting in local music, Matt White is your man.