Truth Fiction and Fantasy
A MUSICAL SECRET by Andy Scott
In addition to writing for this newspaper, I dabble with guitar playing…when I can, I go to the open mics in my neighborhood…And I check out the local bands as well…It seems that no matter where I go, I see the same guy…Over the years I’ve seen him play electric guitar, acoustic guitar, Bass, Drums, and some keyboards…He’s quite the singer as well…Besides seeing him at various clubs and bars, I saw him and another guy “busking” at the subway station…
I told my Boss at the paper (he used to be a Musician) and he suggested writing a piece on him…So I did…
His name is Scott Gecan and he’s been living in Montgomery County since the mid-80s…He’s not famous, but maybe he should be…I sat down with him for an interview at an open mic in Damascus…
YOU SEEM TO GET AROUND A LOT, AT LEAST YOU USED TO…
Well, I don’t have a car right now, but I still love playing, so if I really really wanna go somewhere, I find a way…
I’VE SEEN YOU ONSTAGE WITH A LOT OF LOCAL BANDS, HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN?
Well, if you see me onstage with somebody, chances are I know them socially…or someone I know introduced me to them, that’s how I met the CRIMESTOPPERS…
I’VE SEEN YOU SIT IN WITH THEM AND ALL YOU DID WAS SING
That’s probably because the one time I DID sit in on guitar, I sucked…(laughs) I subbed for their lead guitarist for one song once, because he had something he HAD to do (laughs) and THAT went really well…
MOSTLY I’VE SEEN YOU ON GUITAR, BUT YOU ALSO PLAY BASS DRUMS AND KEYS…
Well, I don’t think of myself as a keyboard player–but I wish was (laughs)
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED WITH MUSIC IN THE FIRST PLACE?
Well, my Mother played guitar and sang…She tried to show me some stuff but I was way too young at the time, I had to wait until my fingers were old enough to form the chord shapes (laughs)
AND THE DRUMS?
(laughs) I used to take Mom’s knitting needles and pretend they were drumsticks, the furniture being the drumset…
SO YOU GAVE UP GUITAR?
No, but the first couple of bands I was in I played Drums…
WHEN DID YOU SWITCH?
In 1976 more or less…
AND YOU’VE BEEN A GUITARIST EVER SINCE?
Yeah…
AND THE BASS?
That’s not something I’ve ever done “officially”–at least, I can’t remember being just a Bass player; But there have been lots of jams and open mics…
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THAT SCENE?
I ran into a former bandmate in a music store and he told me he hosted an open mic–I didn’t know what that was…and it grew from that
YOU SEEMED TO FOLLOW JOHN HARBISON AROUND WHEREVER HE WENT
Yeah…It took a long time, but at some point I felt like a need a break from the whole thing…And the whole time I was doing it, I had hoped that somebody would see me and hear me and want me to be in their band…Which is kinda what happened a time or two…
IS THAT HOW THE DUO OF LOU AND SCOTT CAME ABOUT?
Exactly
BUT THE TWO OF YOU HAVEN’T GONE PROFESSIONAL HAVE YOU?
No, *I* wouldn’t mind, but Lou isn’t able to make that kind of a commitment…and I’m OK with that…
I’VE SEEN YOU IN A COUPLE OF BANDS IN THE PAST, BUT NOT LATELY…WHAT HAPPENED?
(Laughs) *I* dunno…One of my so-called friends told me I was too picky, another one said nobody wants to be in a band with me, THAT kinda hurts…
THAT’S PRETTY HARSH…BUT TOO PICKY?
Yeah, most of my playing has been with cover bands; I still enjoy that. But if by “picky” you mean that I want the songs played correctly, then yeah I guess I’m picky…
NO RE-INTERPRETATION?
Hmm…I came up with a phrase–“Make it your own, but play it right”. But I’m not sure you can do both…(laughs) As a guitarist I’ve NEVER been a “just like the record” kinda guy, and I’m starting to loosen up as a singer as well…Sometimes I think if you are gonna re-invent a song, take it to max…That’s risky though…As for me, I’m just starting to change the melody a bit, not too much, but a little…
AND THE LYRICS?
Yeah, sometimes I change a word here and there…
DO LISTENERS NOTICE ANY CHANGES?
Well, to some slight degree, that’s another reason for changing things–to see if anyone IS paying attention…That’s an ego thing, I know THAT…
AND IS BEING “TOO PICKY” THE REASON THAT NOBODY ALLEGEDLY WANTS TO BE IN A BAND WITH YOU?
I was so shocked when this so-called friend said that to me, I was speechless…I think I just got up from the table and walked away–personally I think alcohol loosened his lips…Just to be clear, the “too picky” remark came from someone else, someone I’d done a few shows with…
THE MOST RECENT BAND YOU WERE IN (MSR) BROKE UP RECENTLY…CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED?
Hmm…Michelle (the M in MSR) started talking about needing to take a break…She said she was spreading herself too thin…So to give herself some breathing room, she joined a Bluegrass band and formed TWO other duos…go figure…
YOU’VE BEEN SEEN “BUSKING” WITH ANOTHER SINGER/GUITARIST LATELY, HOW DID THAT COME ABOUT?
He’s a guy I’ve known for awhile, I was in his Band briefly, I’m not at all sure what happened with that…Anyway, one day I saw him playing in a subway station and gathering up some courage, I joined in with harmonies…He liked the way it sounded, so we went to Annapolis a few times…He asked me if there was any way I could join him during the weekday at the subway station…I worked things out with my Boss and my roomie (so I could drive to work in the middle of the night) and I’ve sat in with him a time or two…
SO BUSKING ASIDE, DO YOU FEEL OSTRACIZED FROM THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUSIC SCENE, AND IF SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE REASON MIGHT BE?
I kinda do, yeah…I thought it was my looks, (seriously) and then I thought it might be my personality–except that everyone I know is, at the very least “quirky”…now I wonder, frankly, if my abilities are intimidating–as conceited as that sounds…I don’t think I’m exceptional, but I do think I’m very good…
SO CURRENTLY YOU’RE MUSICALLY UNEMPLOYED?
Yeah dammit…
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Gecan himself says “Maybe somebody’s trying to tell ME to take a break, so maybe I will…But if the right offer comes up, by which I mean EXACTLY what I want, no compromise, I think I’d go for it…” In the meantime Gecan is considering his Musical future…