| Fourth Estate by Brian Vincent McGovern HM #59 Summer 1996 The music of Fourth Estate is most appropriately described as "ethno-alternative progressive instrumental rock," says band leader and guitar virtuoso Dave Beegle, for its very modern, eclectic, artistic brand of rock & roll. Fourth Estate has been around since 1988 or so, and has released three demos and two full-length CD’s. Their latest, entitled See What I See, has impressed critics and fans alike, with many reviewers saying that the music of this trio does not need vocals to stand on its own. Beegle has said that he doesn’t like to be told how to visualize a song, but would rather have the option of creating pictures in his head. The message conveyed by the music of Fourth Estate is somewhat vague and very deep, but none the less, a message. "I think there’s an element of light and truth that I put into the music, and there’s also human elements of longing and melancholy at times. That’s all stuff that I see in the music, that I wouldn’t want to tell people what to think at all. It’s not a clearly defined as a vocal/instrumental piece, and I like the fact that it’s not as clearly defined. "I think when things are clearly defined," he continues, "it eliminates an element of depth that can be experienced." For this reason, Beegle explains that he is not completely impressed with MTV. "I’m not a really big fan of music videos. There are songs that I’ve heard, that I’ve liked, and then I see the video and say, "man, I sure had a lot cooler video in my brain about this song than this thing on TV. It was so shallow and so limited." Dave Beegle is considered a top-notch guitarist by many in the trade, but with all his talent, some credit can to the guitar Beegle uses: a Les Paul modified by TransPerformance. That may not mean much to you but consider that TransPerformance, Inc. is the company that invented the self-tuning guitar. Never heard of such a guitarist’s dream come true? Beegle explains: "What it is, is a guitar that has a built in computer. It automatically tunes itself and it’ll keep itself in tune." Not only can this device prevent a club full of people from having to wait for a guitarisst to tune between songs, but it can also be programmed to alternate tunings. "Doing that actually opens up the sound of the guitar," says Beegle. "It makes it a lot more orchestrated." From a guitarists point of view, it makes you approach things differently, creatively." Fourth Estate is one of those bands that, while the members are Christians, the musical product is considered mainstream. Beegle comments that the band has received nothing but acceptance from both crowds. The Christians that we’ve met, a lot of the inteigent music listeners, and a lot of the people in the press, think it’s great." The band does not necessarily feel called by the Lord to preach from the stage, but they are open to God’s calling, none the less. "We can’t pretend to be anything we’re not, spiritually – meaning that Fourth Estate isn’t a band that’s called to play to just Christian audiences, or have a specific Christian ministry. Trying to do something that you’re not called to do is not good. Beegle explains that the calling of the band is similar to that of mechanics, doctors, writers, teachers and others who are Christians and work among non-believers. "Our ministry is the same as anybody’s ministry who is a Christian and works in not necessarily a Christian work force. It’s basically being a light I darkness. It’s being to people the measure of Christ that’s in you. There’s an element of responsibility to being before God in prayer, and sensitive to the Holy Spirit, so that you can be a vessel of the Lord’s love, light and truth to those people you come in contact with. I think those parameters fit with every single believer on the planet. I’ve never had anybody be critical of the fact that I’m a Christian. I’m not out being antagonistic with my faith to people. Fourth Estate is a good band that commands respect, because we’re good players—and we happen to be good people who are Christians as well. Yes, Fourth Estate is a good band that commands respect. In fact, many people revere Dave Beegle as somewhat of a guitar hero, but he knows enough not to get cocky about it. "The more you know," he syas, "the more you realize you don’t know very much. I’ve met and hung out with some great guitarists like Eric Johnson, Phil Keaggy, and Alan Holdsworth. All really good guitar players are extremely humble. It’s not just a put on. I see what limitations I personally experience, and I know what things I’m able to comprehend being better at, which are overwhelming. I’ve certainly got many years of learning ahead of me." In this age of modern rock, alternative, grunge and other forms of music where extreme musical proficiency is not exactly excessive, and sometimes even frowned upon. Beegle says that he has enjoyed most of the music out nowadays – to a point. "I was happy to see the music scene change and I was glad when a lot of that stuff came out. The first time I heard Nirvana, I thought they were great. I like a lot of those bands, although now, I feel the music scene is about where it was in the late 80’s, where everything was a clone band. In the late 80’s there were all cloned hair spray metal bands that were all rehashing and infesting each other. Now, it’s like assembly line grunge. You know, they’ve got the right clothes, they all kind of look a bit like Kurt Cobain, maybe. They all play their guitars the same way, they al play the same chord progressions, they all write about the same stuff, and they all sing the same. Everything was cool and original when it came out, which was a big rebellion against corporate rock. A lot of it has become corporate rock. So that element is more a reflection on the music business, because the record labels do that. Something comes out, and it gets popular, then the record labels go and sign up everything that’s a copycat of that, and make their quick money. Meanwhile, they kill all the cool elements of it. Now, it’s like, I’m ready for something new to come along." Many feel that modern rock is full of musicians who are "less talented" and "unschooled." Beegle states that while these artists may not be as highly trained musically, they can still, for the most part, demonstrate great artistic talent, and that a lot of technical instruction can stifle this creativity. "I feel a lot of less talented people are more artistic. I absolutely feel that. I feel that a lot of super-schooled musicians lose the art of self-expression along the way of the whole schooling element." Fourth Estate has been known mostly in the Colorado area, but has begun to acquire a following around the rest of the US and parts of Canada. "We’re doing some touring in different places in the country this year. I know we’re doing some stuff in the Chicago area. We’re going to be going out to the West Coast again, and hopefully to Canada. We’ve actually got some interest in a few pockets of people that know about us in different places in the country." In addition to playing the evening Encore stage at Cornerstone, Dave Beegle & band will play the hm tent at the festival and don’t miss Beegles TransPerformance guitar clinic at the tent.
|
