THESKINI.COM

March 2005

Todd Beeson

by Martina Priadka

Pursuing your dreams is something we all wish we could do but very few of us take the steps that lead us in that direction. Whether it is fear of failure, fear of poverty, or just getting caught up in the day to day routine of survival, many of us find that time has buried those dreams that made our hearts beat strong and our spirits soar. All it takes to actually revive those dreams, however, is a little inspiration a little encouragement and a few examples of those who are doing it. Todd Beeson in one such example.

Beeson is a Minnesota grown musician who still has that Midwest demeanor despite the fact that he relocated to Los Angeles a few years ago. His casual attitude and sense of humor reveal his twin cities history and his love for the city of lakes. Sitting down for a casual chat, his Hollywood smile can not hide the soul that was nurtured by the sounds of the Minneapolis music scene. As we discussed the last ten years of his musical career it became clear that Beeson follows his heart and shares an energy that brings out the confidence to do the same in everyone he encounters.

TS: Describe the moment or experience that made music so
important in you life?

TB: My senior year of high school. I thought I was in love for the first time and had many great friendships that I was going to lose because I was 'going away to college.' There was a bit of mystery to life all of a sudden. I experienced a lot of emotion...and I felt the need to start writing songs to have a place to put my feelings.

TS: What was your first show like and where was it?

TB: My first rock n roll performance-- New Band Night- 7th Street Entry, August 21, 1990. I was just barely 20 years old, rather late for most musicians standards, and had to hope and pray that they would not ask me for my license. I still remember what it felt like to have the stage lights shine on me. I loved it from the very first note....It seemed like home to me. I actually still have a tape of that performance. I've never let a girlfriend have that tape just in case it got lost in a divorce so-to-speak. I treasure that night.

My first rock concert- Nov. 1987- U2 Joshua Tree Tour- St. Paul Civic Center-- The first song was "Where the Streets Have No Name." I get chills to this day every time that I hear that organ intro.

TS: Where did you learn how to play?

TB: I would have to say that I learned to play at my long-time music collaborator Craig Teiken's parent's basement in Eden Prairie. Craig and I went to high school together--we were jocks then...and went to college and became musicians. We spent our summers playing together because we went to colleges 90 miles away from each other (Craig-St. Thomas...Me-Personkato State). He was learning guitar and I learned bass by mostly by listening to the "easy to hear" and simple bass lines of Adam Clayton from U2.
Craig booked a gig before we even had a full band together so we HAD to learn our first batch of songs in a hurry, like 5 weeks-- and it just seemed so easy and fun.

TS: What has influenced you most in your playing?

TB:
What: Life. My mood.
Who: U2, REM, Trip Shakespeare/Semisonic, literally because I played with Matt Wilson and had to learn bass lines that he, his brother, and John Munson wrote. The Cure, INXS -- yes, I am a product of the 80's. Other mpls artists-- The Jayhawks. Paul Westerberg, Prince.

TS: What has influenced you most in your song writing?

TB: The people that I write with. We merge ideas together...and trust that the best thoughts migrate to the top and surface as sonic love (is that an over the top answer--haha!!) No, really, writing with others takes a lot of trust and chemistry.
When I write my songs I just have to give over to what has to come out of me--- usually about:
a relationship on the decline (easy to write),
a relationship on the up-and-up (harder to write because you just wanna LIVE during that time)
a moment in time
or a dream - daydream want or nightime wonder.
So...i guess that I write whenever I need to go within to satisfy some need for healing or ecstasy. I look to find an answer that makes all the bad stuff go away for a while...or blabber about all the great stuff that came true.

TS: How would you describe yourself as a musician?

TB: Taller than most.

TS: Now that you are not permanently living in the Twin
Cities what do you miss about them?

TB: The energy that jacks you when spring hits its first warm day- the lakes in the summer- the first kiss of autumn...the clean air.
But not the 6 months of winter and darkness. The seasons in Minnesota really do help compartmentalize memories. In California, it seems pretty much the same day every day (although we do have sweet winters that are much like Sept/Oct in MN)
I miss being able to get together with great friends (whom I have such history with) on a Sunday night for a sweet dinner party and then not having far to drive home. Due to cell phones and email, I do have quite regular contact with my closest friends though.

TS: How often do you get back to your fans in the Twin
Cities?

TB: "Fans"-- wow, I like that word. I guess that I did once have a girl in Minnesota ask to have her picture taken with me- and I had no idea who she was. So, I must have one!
I have had a couple performances recently. Last July, I did perform a reunion show with my old band- WOOD- our first show in 7 years-- played with Marlee MacLeod too...and I even opened up the show with a short solo set. It was a night that was quite overwhelming-- so many people I loved in one place at the same time-- and I had just stepped off the plane only a few hours before the show. I had no time to really prepare for it or for what crazy emotions that I would feel-- I can be so sentimental-- it can be both thrilling and paralyzing.
In November-- my band, The Lift, came thru town for a couple shows over Thanksgiving...It was wild to walk on-stage in my old hometown and be greeted by a sold out crowd and have them shout at us about being from California...it was like growing up wanting to be a Twin, but playing for The Dodgers...or the Yankees(being prejudged due to our city of choice to live in)-- we got a great review and a scathing review!!
http://www.howwastheshow.com/reviews-2004/the_lift-11-24-04.html ****Good Review
http://howwastheshow.com/reviews-2004/ike_reilly-11-24-04.html ***** I hate 'em cause they're from LA

TS: What has been your best show so far?

TB: Playing First Avenue Mainroom-- three times-- with WOOD, Marlee MacLeod and Matt Wilson. I have played many shows at many venues including in front of R.E.M in Athens, GA, ...and all those world renowned Hollywood clubs-- Viper Room, Whisky, Roxy, Troubadour-- but playing the Mainroom takes the cake- -hands down.

TS: Tell us about the craziest show you have had.

TB: Oh...I don't know-- there have been so many Spinal Tap moments-- getting paid $6 by a club while touring many, many hours away from home, playing for the "Almighty" in Charleston, WV on a Super Bowl Sunday, Showcasing in LA with WOOD while our supposed lawyer failed to show up, playing a club in Moorhead, MN while it was -24 degrees ACTUAL temperature--and then getting rejected by their promoter to play there again because we didn't draw!!
Just name a state and I can probably tell you a crazy show.

TS: What about your hours on the road between shows?
Anything interesting happen during those moments?

TB: Yes--- being blown off the road near Albert Lea on the first day of a 17 day tour. I am lucky to be alive. I was driving during the winter time--Jan 98. Somehow I regained enough control of the van to not cut across the ditch to the other side of the freeway...and swung back to the other shoulder and took out part of an exit sign.
I do believe that may have been the beginning of the end for me in Minnesota.
Are you fishing for other types of stories....because I will deny them!

TS: What would you most like to say to your Twin Cities
fans that you will be seeing soon?

TB: I would love everyone that reads this article to come see my band, The Lift, on April 2nd at First Avenue, 7th Street Entry. We have exciting songs and sweet production -- a projector-- we are different than most Minneapolis bands that you'll see. It might be fresh for you. We love adding entertainment to our show. Our music can be-- as we are told-- uplifting. And if you did come because you read this in Theskini, I may have to reward you in some sort of way!

TS: Any advice to those aspiring musicians?

TB: Play music because you love it. It is its own reward. Only do something (or someone!) that you love to do. Don't waste your time. Life is really precious-- Enjoy the process! Life is magical-- who knows, you might see an awesome band that inspires you...and then a few years on down the road, you might get a call to be in that band-- it happens-- it happened to me! Believe in yourself!!

www.theliftstation.com

MIDWEST TOUR
M	Mar 28th	SURFSIDE 7 Ft. Collins, CO
T	Mar 29th	THE BONE St. Joseph, MO
W	Mar 30th	ELBO ROOM Chicago, IL
Th	Mar 31st	COWBOY MONKEY Champagne, IL
F	Apr 1st	DUCK ROOM St. Louis, MO
S	Apr 2nd	7TH ST. ENTRY Minneapolis, MN
Su	Apr 3rd	DUFFY’S Lincoln, NE
M	Apr 4th	BENDERS TAVERN Denver, CO
T	Apr 5th	URBAN LOUNGE Salt Lake City, UT
Th	Apr 7th	KING KING Los Angeles, CA

...Now That's Theskini!::permalink

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