By Scott Pam
At 15, Derek Jordan Gregg picked up a Johnson acoustic guitar and used a piece of blue hay bailing wire as a strap. At 23, Derek is doing what many up and coming musicians only dream about: playing paid gigs every week, writing songs and recording a new album.
The Hive Minds is Derek’s new project and their album Paradise is due out by Christmas of this year. His goal in playing and recording is to bring real music back to America, with honest, naked and true musicianship. Listening to a number of Derek’s original songs reminds you of a simpler time, before the electronics, Garage Band, and gadgets being used as instruments instead of real people and real skins.
During his sets, you can hear the early influences of Bob Dylan, Huddie William Ledbetter more commonly known as Lead Belly, Stevie Ray Vaughn, John Mayer, and Jimmy Page in the songs. His first song learned on guitar, “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”, by Lead Belly, is a straight blues tune that became iconic when Kurt Cobain / Nirvana covered it during their Live Unplugged MTV session.
“The Cowardly Lion’s Firewater ; The Tinwoman’s Black Blood”, which was published last December, is an original with a folky, bluesy, down-home sound with layers of musical and lyrical intricacy done on one acoustic guitar. “Well I’m not brave but you, you’ve got no skin, the vessel that encompasses your soul is made of tin,” from that song, gets the listener thinking and feeling about the need for “Firewater” and the pain felt, the essence of a good bluesy song. Derek says, “That’s my most favorite song ever written.”
It is always a challenge for any performer to engage his or her audience and take them on a personal musical journey. The more an artist can relax and be comfortable while performing, the more engrossed the audience will be. For a musician who plays a simple Fender acoustic getting the audience’s attention, and getting them to stay on the journey as the set progresses could be a challenge. Performers with millions to spend can rely on special effects to entertain even if the song and the music might be less than meaningful.
Derek has no special effects, no lights or fog, just straight up guitar and vocals with some backing musicians. Derek’s inspired sound is true to its roots and Derek can convey a message and carry the tune vocally and musically while engaging his audience. In his playing and writing, there is a Dylan-esque style mixed with some of his more recent musical nuances such as Sublime, that comes through. His other influences can be felt in each of his songs as he plays the hooks that grab your attention.
Mostly listening and playing to records of his favorites as he grew up, Derek taught himself how to play guitar and sing. His earlier instruments, drums at 4 and saxophone in middle school, helped him develop his own style.
“I play every day or I feel guilty.” Devoting 80% of his time to music – clubs, bars, private parties, writing and recording new material – Derek gets a small amount of time to spend with friends and get to the gym. “I’m super unbalanced. If I want to hang out I have to trade sleep time.”
From Palm Springs to Palm Desert and beyond, Derek spends his evenings and weekends playing at local clubs and restaurants with the various musicians that work with him to create the sound that he has worked to achieve.
Depending on the locale, his sets vary from mostly covers to a mix of originals and cover tunes to cater to each crowd. “Breathe, by Pink Floyd is my favorite Floyd song,” Derek said after his set at Eureka! last Sunday. It was an impressive cover with just a guitar, bass, drums and vocals – easily a good sing along for fans who also love Floyd.
“Playing around bars is like washing dishes to me,” said Derek when asked if he gets nervous before sets. “I do get a little worried because you never know who is in the audience.”
If you would like to be in Derek’s audience and experience a down home musical journey, you can find him regularly at Clinic Bar and Grill on Wednesdays and at Eureka! on Thursdays.
Wednesday’s from 10:00 P.M. – 1:00 A.M. @ Clinic Bar & Lounge, 188 S Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262. Performing an eclectic mix of 80’s 90’s and current rock and reggae covers as well as a contemporary blend of original music.
Thursday’s from 6:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. @ Eureka! 74985 Highway 111, Indian Wells, CA 92260. Performing a mix of covers and new material.
www.facebook.com/TheHiveMinds
Derek Jordan Gregg – (760) 774-1446
