Give Banks!

Written by Jenni McEwen

Just when you thought nothing cool happened where you live, something awesome comes to town. Nike (that's right THE Nike) is heading out to Newark Valley this weekend to hold it's annual 6.0 Banksgiving Jam at the newly built Nicholas Wilson Memorial Park.

What makes this event even more special is that not only is Nike throwing this bash, they also pitched in and helped the great people of NV build the skate park.

Nicholas Wilson was an NV resident and avid BMXer who lost his life in Iraq while serving our country. The community has been working hard to build a place to bring people together as well as honor his memory.

Local rider Nick Marzolino helped bring light to the efforts of the people of Newark Valley. Marzolino entered an online contest and had originally won a miniramp, but the guys over at Nike 6.0 decided to go all out and help bring the park to completion.

"I was really excited when Nike told me that I had won the contest and they wanted to bring Banksgiving to town and help build the park. There is a growing BMX scene in Newark Valley, and they all deserve a place to ride without being hassled," said Marzolino. "Nick Wilson would have been proud to see the community work together to accomplish something that benefits so many people."

Many companies donated to the cause including the Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation, Tioga County Dept. of Public Works, Broome Bituminous as well as local businesses. With the extra support from Nike the park, which has been in the works for 4 years, has finally reached completion and will be open for business this weekend.

The Nicholas Wilson Memorial Park is located at 83 Whig Street (a tract of land donated by the Village of Newark Valley) and the Banksgiving festivities will be happening Saturday Oct. 10th from 1 to 4. The awesomeness includes shredding, music, food, and also appearances from Nike 6.0 athletes, Dennis Enarson of CA and Todd Meyn of Australia. Riders and skaters of all experience levels are welcome to attend and tear it up, but anyone under 18 will need a signature from the parentals.

This is a great way to get the community together and pay respects to a fallen hero. With that being said so turn off the PS3, break your board or bike out of retirement and get your asses out to Newark Valley this weekend for some killer shreddage!

Derek Sivers Returns

Derek Sivers did his best to hide the smirk he had on his face at some point in the middle of the night. He looked around to find a fairly packed house at the Blind Tiger Pub with many familiar faces among them. In a venue that doesn't see too many music shows, there stood Derek Sivers in the corner on a small setup stage with many familiar eyes on him. This was clearly Derek Sivers' night.

For most of the night Sivers stood up there alone with his guitar, belting out covers of Oasis, Kings of Leon, and Dave Matthews among others. A perfect soundtrack for the intimacy of the bar and the many people coming out to kick back and drink a few beers in the meantime.

It wasn't long before Sivers took advantage of the surroundings and pulled up a few familiar friends of his to join him on the stage. Trish Sandell joined him for a version of the Eagles "Hotel California" that had most of the bar joining in as well.

Long time friend Eric Hadlick also joined Sivers' on stage to cover "Plush" (STP), "Mama Said" (Metallica) and "Loser" by Three Doors Down. Hadlick has a voice that makes you ask why he isn't with a local band right now or performing himself. The two were joined on stage last night for the first time in eight years. The last time they paired up, they were both students at Chenango Forks High School and participated in a Coffee House Open Mic Night.

Around ten after eleven Sivers announced he'd be closing it down. Two seconds later he was into a full out jam of Gin 'n Juice. As the song drew to a close he finally allowed himself to smile as he said "Thank you everybody for coming out. I'm Derek Sivers it's been a great time. You've been absolutely amazing tonight." With that the night had ended and Derek Sivers had caught up on a lot of lost time.

Derek Sivers' MySpace: myspace.com/dereksiversmusic
Photo Credit: Jennifer Pecka JP Images

Derek Sivers:

Blind Tiger Pub, Johnson City, NY

Random Rants: Guitar Zero

Written by Ian Daddybones

So after years of hating on Guitar Hero mainly due to today’s gamers complete lack of respect for the groundwork that paved the road that became today’s endless highway of notes, I have recently been playing a couple versions for my Wii.

I have never really given a Barbara Fiala fart about the series because it seemed silly that this Guitarmania clone was being shoved down the throat of the industry. With its seen it before style gimmick controller, to endless marquee scroll of button commands, and the official licensed songs (with the exception of some shitty covers). To me it seemed whack that so many people were running out to buy this game.

I mean this genre wasn’t new. I mean think about it. If your 18-21 in 2009 - that means that 10 years ago you were 8-11 and I was 20. So while ya’ll were having kiddie crack attacks just to collect every Pokemon, and watch whatever incarnation there was of Power Rangers, I was playing games like Parappa The Rapper, Bust A Groove and Um Jammer Lammy.

These titles introduced the concept of pressing buttons on point with the beat, The Good to Bad meter, catchy songs to make you want to play the game in the first place etc. Back then we had to use the D Pad - you know the cross looking thing that they didn’t hang Jesus on along with the buttons to play the game. Not these flimsy drop it once and your done cheap guitar controllers. Before Guitar Hero (and later Rock Band) Harmonix put out the PS2 titles Amplitude and Frequency and nobody really bought them. I did (Thank you Boscov’s bargain bin) and played the hell out of them.

Then 2 years later everybody and their step kids are playing nothing but Guitar Hero. I didn’t understand it. Of course being a father, it was only a matter of time before my oldest was asking for Guitar Hero. I wound up getting a hell of a deal thanks to Circuit Shitty closing so I picked her up the Aerosmith Bundle for the Wii. She loved and it and I tried playing the game and seeing what the big deal was. I can only play on Easy cause I lost the tip to one of my fingers and have no feeling in it anymore so it’s tough to know if I’m really pressing the Red and Yellow fret buttons. Most recently I stumbled upon another Guitar Hero bundle. This time at CVS of all places - yeah I said it CVS.

The good news is that it was only $39.99 with an Extra Care card, and it was Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock. So bet, now I got two guitar controllers and 2 of the games. The bad news is that of all the random face plates I could have copped, I wound up with another Aerosmith faceplate. I don’t really remember what the point of this was supposed to be but then again if you listen to my show this is pretty normal. Guitar Zero.

Ian Daddybones is a local rapper, entertainer, and hosts the Original Geeks Podcast @ originalgeekspodcast.com

Derek Sivers Comes Home

All of the playing music in front of people, performing on stage, and working on becoming a musician was supposed to end for Derek Sivers back in 2003 when he moved to the Tampa, Florida area. A long time resident of the Southern Tier since the age of 5, the move had made Sivers question whether he'd ever get to play music in front of people anymore.

Those feelings didn't last very long. Sivers began playing gigs in the Tampa area almost immediatly and has worked his way on becoming a working artist - uh, that means like, full time job people. He doesn't wake up and punch a clock, he tunes a guitar. Something every musician works for and something Sivers has accomplished with much hard work and sacrafice.

We caught up with Derek a few days before he plays his most anticipated show of his young career, his homecoming show at The Blind Tiger Pub in Johnson City on Saturday night

This gig coming up on the 3rd has got to be one you've circled a long time ago. You're living and playing a pretty healthy schedule in your home of Tampa, Florida but you're from the Chenango Bridge area originally. What emotions do you have going into the show at the Blind Tiger Pub?

Its quite surreal actually.I moved down to Florida and I never expected to play on stage ever again in my life. I got so involved so quickly in the Music scene in Florida that before I could blink, I found myself on beach bar stages and Ybor City Night Clubs. didn't musically blossom until I left Binghamton and I think alot of people are going to be surprised. Its definetly the most motivated I've ever been for a show.

You're 27 years old. Musically you still have a lot in front of you. To what would you attribute your success in the Tampa area?

Tampa has been very accepting of Musicians in a sense that its not a musical competition. Everyone has something they can offer and teach and everyone has something they can learn. I found myself in the first two years after I moved surrounded by some world class musicians who's dedication showed me what it was like to really appreciate the "art" of music. The network structure in Tampa Bay is alot like Seattle of the 90's. Everybody is very supportive of other bands and we help each other out as much as we can.

Just one look at your MySpace page shows that you're calendar is booked solid. When do you sleep?

Its quite crazy, I would've never guessed in a million years I'd be playing this many shows.... I was hoping to get a Fri night or a Sat night show here and there when I first started and the more business cards I passed out, the more people called and the next thing I knew I was playing 5 nights a week and had to quit my job to pursue my hobby.. I'm very blessed.. a bad night out at a show sure beats a good day in the office.

You write a lot of original material based on real events in your life. Have you ever got on stage and thought, "You know, this song may be too personal to share?"

Everytime I play a song I wrote for the first time on a stage theres alot of anxiety.. All my songs are too personal to share, but thats what makes music such a guilty pleasure sometimes. I can write a personal song and share it, but once its out there for the people to hear it, it no longer becomes your song. People will interpret the song in a way that they hear the song, not you. So once you get over that fear of "Rejection" and realize it won't sound to them how it sounds to you, it makes it easier to sing it.

What was the most memorable show you've played and why?

Spring Break out on the Beach at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill in Clearwater, Florida. There must've been 250 people in the general outside area in waiting to get in - standing room only inside - and we were in the middle of "Superstition" by Stevie Wonder. A ninety-five year old lady leaving the "family" portion of the bar comes over by the stage and starts busting out a dance move and the entire place went nuts. For five minutes she stole the show and it was by far the best thing I've ever witnessed at any show I've ever played. It set the tone for such a great night.

Coming back up to the 607, what have you been doing to keep yourself busy so far?

Just driving the hillside looking at the leaves change. Catching up on Family and Friends. Its been a great vacation so far. Every memory I've ever made from the time I was five til I was twenty-one was here in the Binghamton Area and its good to be "Home"

Alright so you've won us over. How do we see you live in the 607 this weekend?

Stop out to the Blind Tiger Pub in Johnson City from 7-11 on Saturday Oct 3rd. I'll be the guy with the guitar!