Blakenstein

ABOUT

Keyboardist turned drummer, back to Keyboardist, back to drummer, back to keyboardist...can't seem to make up my mind... and struggling guitar player - still trying figure out how to grow another set of arms/hands!
I grew up in the music scene of Asheville, NC. After I moved to Georgia in '91, I was the drummer in a Contemporary Country band called “The Renegades” for a couple of years and I came back to the keyboards when I started Autumn Haze. Other bands I've performed with: “Beggars Opera”, “Alter Ego”, “Vinyl Radio” and "Final Answer Band" all playing throughout the southeast.

I studied and trained as an audio engineer/producer for several years then I built my recording studio - "Long Cane Studios" in LaGrange, GA and produced/recorded/mastered several albums for local artists. I've also participated in studio sessions in Macon, GA and a studio in Salem, AL in which I helped build.

In the past few years, I've scaled back playing shows and put on my recording/producer/engineering hat; I started Sonic Trinity Studios here in NH that offers recording/engineering, mastering and mobile recording services. If you are interested in this service, please contact me at sonictrinitystudios at google mail or go to sonictrinitystudios dot com for more information.

I currently play keyboards, guitar and sing with the Shawna Jackson Band out of Auburn, NH, I also play keyboards with the worship team at Granite United in Haverhill, MA and work on recording projects in my studio. Check out the tracks on this profile from my latest Gospel project released in Dec 2023.

I am open to do temporary side projects; either sit in/fill in with a new/old country band playing covers and/or contemporary Christian cover band as much as my schedule will allow.

Screen name:: Blakenstein
Member since:: Aug 31 2010; Active within 24 hours
Level of commitment:: Very Committed
Years playing music:: 25
Gigs played:: Over 100
Tend to practice:: 1 time per week
Available to gig:: 1 night a week
Most available:: Nights

Influences

Billy Joel, Dream Theater, Styx, Rascal Flatts, Journey, TOTO, Collective Soul, Elton John, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Allman Brothers, Lynard Skynard, Zac Brown, Jonathan Cain, Gregg Rolie and Bruce Hornsby

Instrument experience:

Acoustic Guitar:: Moderate
Drums:: Moderate
Other Percussion:: Moderate
Keyboard:: Moderate
Piano:: Moderate
Background Singer:: Moderate
Vocalist:: Moderate
Vocalist - Baritone:: Intermediate
Rhythm Guitar:: Intermediate
Bass Guitar:: Intermediate

EQUIPMENT

Korg Kronos, Korg Nautilus and Yamaha MODX7 keyboards
Guild GF-55 Acoustic
Yamaha acoustic
Fender Squire Stratocaster
Epiphone Les Paul Studio
Line 6 HX Stomp
Fender Jazz Bass

In the Studio:
PreSonus Studio One Pro and Universal Audio LUNA DAW
Two 8 channel Universal Audio Apollo interfaces
Slate Microphones
Neumann microphone
Shure Microphones
Alesis Surge E-Drums - MIDI'd Superior Drummer software

Live Sound/Lighting Equipment
QSC TouchMix 30 mixing console
Alien Ears IEMs and Audio Technica transmitter/receiver
Mackie Thumps
Computer controlled stage lighting (American DJ and Chauvet Lighting).