Greg Koch - Past and Present (2000/2021)

A cauldron of sonic malfeasance has been simmering for some time now and this kettle of
gristle-icious gruel is served, in it's various states of preparation, on the musical selections
contained on the new release "Past and Present" . To combine all the elements that motivated me
into a life of axe-wielding might appear to a contemporary music business pundit as "schizo" or
"all over the map", but I find it not only logical, but deeply satisfying. I've always tried to
emulate my idols, from B.B. King to Jimi Hendrix from Merle Travis to Allan Holdsworth, by
learning from them, then mutating the music so it could become something I could call my own.
The seventeen songs included on this collection illustrate a progression, both in terms of writing
and performing, from trying to dwell in the shadow's of my influences, to finally, as in the five
previously unreleased tracks, finding my own twisted, little, neck o' the woods. The idea of
instrumentals combined with vocal tunes, is not particularly new, but I feel they compliment
each other well and provide a most interesting listening "excursion", if you will.
"Past and Present" includes remastered tracks from the now out of print "Greg Koch and the Tone
Controls" c.d., featuring the savage keyboard antics of Dixie Dregs keyboardist, T Lavitz.
A remixed, and keyboard and dobro augmented version of "Fall From Grace", originally on
"Defenestrator", is included on "Past and Present". This radio ready song that reflects on Mr.
Momdom, is the clear favorite of my daughter Grace.........hmmmmmm.