Memory Lane: Matt's Barbershopin' Days

This was forwarded to me by Garret Finley. The local paper (The Signal) misprinted our name. It should read "Sings With the Fishes."

Four Part Harmony Scores Musical Win

`Sleeps With the Fishes' barbershop quartet named Far West
District High School champions.

Singing in perfect harmony does have its advantages. Just
ask four fabulous 17 year olds, Garrett Finley, Casey
Theule, Robert Davis and Matt Walberg.

They've taken barbershop quartets to a new level by
becoming the first group from the Santa Clarita Chapter of
the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of
Barbershop Quartet Singing in America in 28 years to win top
honors at the "Far West District High School Barbershop
Quartet Champions." The talented foursome, better known as
"Sleeps With the Fishes," competed among 13 other high
schools at the Far Western District Spring Convention held
in Fresno on March 17 and 18. In addition to winning the
championships, Finley and the barbershop quartet will be
featured on KABC Channel 7 at 9 p.m. Sunday.

Prior to winning the competition, Finley, a junior at
Valencia High, was nominated by his dad Greg Finley, and
chosen to be the "Cool Kid," of the month on the station's
special "Cool Kid," segment of the show hosted by newscaster
Henry Alfaro. The crew of Channel 7 paid a visit to Finley's
home on March 5, where all four boys were interviewed by
Alfaro. As a reward for being chosen as "Cool Kid," of the
month, Finley will receive a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond.

Finley's mom Patti Finley said she couldn't be happier with
the success of the boys and their barbershop quartet. "It
was just a coincidence that Garrett was chosen as the `Cool
Kid,' at around the same time the boys won the competition,"
she said. "I'm so proud of them." Finley explained that the
boys were sponsored by the Santa Clarita Chapter of the
Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber
Shop Quartet Singing in America (S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.).

"All of their hard work and rehearsals have paid off and
now offers are coming in for them to perform as the guest
quartet at other S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. chapter shows," Patti
said. "Now they're ready to take their act on the road."

The boys were equally as enthusiastic about their success.
Finley said winning the contest in Fresno was a great
thrill. "We knew we had a good sound and I think the reason
we won is because we put so much of our heart and soul into
the music," Finley said. "We showed the audience the love we
have for the music and they really picked up on that. The
harmonies are so great, and the people you meet in
barbershop and the S.P.E.B.S.Q.A. are the kindest,
friendliest people around."

Finley first met up with the members of the
S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A., during his freshman year when he was a
cast member in "The Music Man." As one of the barbershop
quartet singers, Finley received coaching from the local
chapter of the S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A. Later, Finley formed his own
quartet at Valencia High School with the help of an outreach
program geared toward introducing students to the art of
barbershop quartet singing.

Meanwhile, at Canyon High School, Walberg and Theule formed
a quartet of their own. Both groups met with success at The
Far West District competitions held in Fresno last year.
Finley, Theule and Walberg would learn of each others'
mutual interest while appearing in the Canyon Theatre
Guild's production of "Joseph and the Technicolor Dream
Coat," during the summer. During the breaks, the three would
break out the pitch pipe and sing in harmony together.

The trio would later recruit bass singer Davis to round out
the group. They began preparations for this year's Fresno
Competition in February with the help of singing coach,
Keith Goudy, of the Santa Clarita Barbershop Chapter. They
also received the help of professional singers, Jerry Lovell
and Kelly Shepard of the barbershop quartet, "Countdown."

Canyon senior Davis said he has enjoyed his experience as a
Barbershop Quartet singer as well. "In retrospect, I don't
at all regret the vigorous rehearsal or late nights that we
spent preparing for the contest," Davis said. "Joining the
quartet has brought me some of the most enjoyable times of
my life."

For Canyon High School junior, Theule, becoming a champion
barbershop quartet singer has been a dream come true.
"Singing barbershop has been one of the greatest things for
me," Theme said. "It really trains a person musically and
the friendships you develop along the way are incredible,
and hopefully life-long."

Walberg, a senior at Canyon High enjoyed his experience as
well. "It was amazing and exhilarating experience to sing
with such a mature sounding quartet," Walberg said. "It made
me feel like we were a professional quartet, which in
reality, we now are." Walberg explained that the foursome is
already being booked for some paying gigs coming up in the
future. For now, the boys will continue to practice their
craft, while encouraging others to give barbershop singing a
try. "Anyone can do it- guys, girls, young and old-everyone
should try it," Walberg said. "Singing in a quartet has been
one of the most enjoyable experiences I've ever had."

"Cool Kids" will air on KABC Channel 7, Sunday at 9 p.m.

The Release of Mt. Change

The epic-ness has arrived ladies and gentlemen, and it smells of meteors and burnt leather. We are rounding that proverbial corner and are a few months away from releasing our first full length album. Though long overdue by many a standard, we hope this amped track will tide the masses over while we finish up. Hope you enjoy, friends. Let the healing begin.

Click a dee mousie mouse here for da Mt. Change!

Yo Hablo Ingles.

Below this blog of our own spat of opinionation is where H-Beam goes to get ideas of morons to sing about:

I'm sure these Nazi's are all for eliminating sign-language as well.

Now, I'm not the biggest fan of our public education system. I find that we leave a little too much out at times when it comes to detail, screwed ourselves with standardized testing, cutting the arts, and we can't seem to stop leaving kids behind. But going waaaaaaay way way back in the old elementary active recall, my memory reminds me that God-fearing, English speaking, wine drinking white people did not spring up from the fertile North American soil like moles at Chuck-e-Cheese. They came, across borders, across continents, from oppressive nations, to kick their feet up on the most comfortable Ottoman owned by their giving and gracious neighboring civilization. I do remember something about a "NATIVE AMERICAN" coming up somewhere in third grade. Now, I personally did not get the chance to meet any original natives, but I read in some school sanctioned book of knowledge that the people cared about family, each other, surviving, giving back. There music was pretty bangin', too. Lots of masks, drums, smoke. Sounds kinda like an H-Beam show. Anywho, as far as I know (even by "Dances With Wolves" standards) most of the Native Indians who resided in America, English was not a first or a second language.

So what happens if some nation decides to come on over and setup shop in our backyard because they can. Do we speak Mandarin now? French? How about those damn cunning Swedes. Will we slap each other with fish all damn day when they are the majority? Here is an idea America (and I mean you, the ignorant ones): Let's be an example for unity, compassion, and chilled-out behavior. Open a book and learn a second language. Hell, I've met quite a few Americans who can hardly read more proficiently than a fifth grader. So let's work on getting our kids more cultured, and not give them the impression that this is only our America (God's white-Englishspeaking-coffeedrinking-Superbowlhaving-modelpuking-gimmethatbackit'smine society). We are a melting pot that has no limits as to who or how many may come to these ever-depleting lands. With so many states and accents, I could hardly understand a Southern drawl when I first moved out here. Spanish is actually a great language in my opinion. It's easier to understand than our fucked-up English system, there aren't three theirs, and quite a few words en espanol actually helped shape the English language. If everybody living in America would take the time to learn some simple greetings or phrases in other "common" languages, I think we'd be better off. I don't want to be lumped into the same group as the "Americans" who put the video together and I try to distance myself from it. English is not the best, and neither is America. Let's stop giving that impression that it is. The rest of the world hates it.

As far as the "number one" song/video in English speaking America goes, the artist couple currently referred to as "Looked What I stepped In, Honey" is as ignorant and lame as the mainstream music industry. They will probably be forgotten about as fast as the ladies awful haircut, bless her heart. If that is what's popular in America, then H-Beam doesn't wanna be. I'm sure the Swedes will understand us.

The next show will be translated into Spanish, Mandarin, Swiss, Panda, Frog, French, and sign-language for your listening/viewing pleasure.



This kid should be the number one video in America:

Signed~MitchHuffman

At Least We Still Have Music, Beer, and Super Bowls

First of all, thank you for live music. Whomever is solely or jointly responsible for such creation, hats off. It is what we here at the H-Beam Workshop believe to be a "recession-proof" industry. We didn't make much money before, and we haven't made much after the results of the "sad-panda" bear market. Nonetheless, people are still going out and enjoying live music, or free studio music for that matter. Grooves are dug, beer and libations are consumed, super bowls are had. We still are going out and taking part in a scene.

Amidst the global crisis' that are plaguing this little blue planet, many below even our uber-wise and benevolent mainstream news sources radar, we as a global people aimed at peace and goodwill to our fellow man we believe are the majority. No matter how much some want us to panic and think that the world is headed towards the demon days (and how some may believe they are already upon us), positivity, hanging out and letting loose every once in a while will persevere. God and Dog willing, H-Beam will still be freaking you out.

We, H-Beam would like to send our thoughts, hopes, and prayers to those in trouble right now, whether it be job-related, family, or otherwise. It's a mess we're in and no one is safe from it. We will always do our best to try and furnish something that makes you laugh, smile, cry, or shout.

A few weeks ago, Kelly Fenton and Mare Camuso from the RedGorilla Music Fest and myself went up to St. Louis to present the last leg of the "Road to RedGorilla." We met up with Jimmie Jazz a.k.a his Holiness Senor Eddy and took a tour of the St. Louis Anheuser Busch Beer Factory. They laid an astonishing fact on us during our elaborate free tour: If AB stopped production of Bud beer and its relatives, the Mid-West would run out of beer in 18 hours. Now that, my friends, would lead to panic in the streets.

Music is what the world has in common. We will be alright... as long as we have beer, live music, and super bowls.