Chris Bio/Blog

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February 14th, 2012:

‘Tis an exciting time to be in The Cla-Zels. This year is going to be full of new adventures and unexpected twists and turns. Last year, I personally felt like the band began to sound fully cohesive from continuous shows and rehearsals. As a band, we stretched out our legs by introducing our material in a solidified, acoustic format, allowing us to take on new venues and introduce our music to new audiences.
Creativity is something I think we have always pushed and played with; I think it is only expected of The Cla-Zels to be able to handle whatever situation is in front of us. That’s the good fortune of being in an ensemble that is as well-versed as it is experienced; we may not know what is ahead for us, but I believe that as a band, we will always be able to face it.

2012 marks the year of the Dragon. Coincidentally, it marks the year where The Cla-Zels begin to test our road legs. Like our acoustic-formatted shows, which allowed us to open new doors, getting out of Cincinnati and into a much bigger and bolder world will allow us to flex our musicality and personal strengths. Regional outings at first: Louisville, Chicago, and by the end of the year… who knows where this thing is going to end up? If there is one certain about this whole thing that I have learned to understand, is that no matter where we set the bar, no matter how far we push ourselves, by the end of it, The Cla-Zels will end up in a weird and wild beautiful place that none of us would have ever expected to be. Where will you be?

October 15th, 2011:

Dialogue from Bill Hicks' Revelations (1993)

"...The world is like a ride in an amusement park, and when you choose to go on it you think it's real because that's how powerful our minds are. The ride goes up and down, around and around, it has thrills and chills, and it's very brightly colored, and it's very loud, and it's fun for a while. Many people have been on the ride a long time, and they begin to wonder, "Hey, is this real, or is this just a ride?" And other people have remembered, and they come back to us and say, "Hey, don't worry; don't be afraid, ever, because this is just a ride." And we … kill those people. "Shut him up! I've got a lot invested in this ride, shut him up! Look at my furrows of worry, look at my big bank account, and my family. This has to be real." It's just a ride. But we always kill the good guys who try and tell us that, you ever notice that? And let the demons run amok … But it doesn't matter, because it's just a ride. And we can change it any time we want. It's only a choice. No effort, no work, no job, no savings of money. Just a simple choice, right now, between fear and love. The eyes of fear want you to put bigger locks on your doors, buy guns, close yourself off. The eyes of love instead see all of us as one. Here's what we can do to change the world, right now, to a better ride. Take all that money we spend on weapons and defenses each year and instead spend it feeding and clothing and educating the poor of the world, which it would pay for many times over, not one human being excluded, and we could explore space, together, both inner and outer, forever, in peace..."

I am truly blessed to be where I am. Sustained in a musically rich city, getting by, being in love; having full days and fulfilling nights. Meeting new faces on the street-the "in" crowd. Making choices that may or may not be right or may or may not be wrong. Hearing new sounds from new and familiar faces. Now seems to be a very crucial, yet liberating time for me and my immediate Faburden family, The Cla-Zels and everyone else caught up in the evenflow of Cincinnatus. We should enjoy these things while we can.

Delight in youth.

Saturday, July 23rd, 2011:

Nashville, TN: the Summer NAMM Showcase. I came down here with the intent of networking and soaking up a VERY different scene than what I'm used to in Cincinnati. I heard SOOO many talented musicians, ranging from pianists and guitarists to bassists and DJ's.
I met some wonderful individuals as well; reps for Lemur Music (lemurmusic.com), Thomastik-Infeld (thomastik-infeld.com) and Gator Cases (gatorcases.com). Such a different vibe down here... I can see what Baverman is talking about now. All in all, I wish I could stay down here for the evening but alas the Nati is calling me back. Strange how I can never spend more than a few hours down here...should probably start working on that lol.
Until next time...

Christov.

Wednesday, April 6th, 2011:

Young St. Cincinnati, OH. 730a. Boom-boom-clack. Boom-boom-clack. Who disturbs my slumber!? Not the infamous Rollercoaster Buckeye, but our wonderful neighbors expressing their devotion for modern hip-hop…at 730a. I love this city. Sincerely, I do. I’m finding more and more of myself around each corner each and every day.

This past weekend was a blast! Roh’s St. Café for the 4^th annual Clifton Heights Music Festival=GREAT SUCCESS! Btw, check out the Marmalade Brigade. Great people, even better musicians. The Buffalo Killers are not too bad either (winkity-wink-wink). I found myself in Indianapolis the following evening, playing jazz to a packed room of nicotine. The Chatterbox. These late nights NEVER end. What does it mean when you’re a night owl, a morning person AND love to sleep? Is there a word for that?

Another composition down, off to another rehearsal. School (Jesus)? I’m in the home stretch now. I want to be done so bad it hurts to think about. At least the weather is getting warmer (kinda). At least the Reds are kicking ass (definitely). Things are looking busy. I’m anxious for the summer. I’m anxious to start sweating my ass off in this house. I’m anxious to stay busy. No more unfulfilled potential. Charlie Sheen Mode ACTIVATED.

My summer is getting so full I can barely see light in between the days. Work=work=stability. At the very most I won’t have to work for ~~WendysSKFCriticalMassMediaLevisBP~~ this summer. And I actually get a vacation this summer! Mmm… Frau Tovey. The Faburdens. Hopefully nuclear winter and the shutting down of the American govt. won’t put too much of a dampening on the forth coming months…but who knows? God knows I’ve been wrong before...

Until then…

Christov.

Christov Barlow (Electric and Upright Bass)

Under the harsh tutelage of his NKU masters, Chris has become an
accomplished bassist, well-respected throughout the Hogwarts School
of Magic. As he finishes up his degree in music, he will finally attain the
title of Jedi Knight and be able to enter the Chamber of Secrets. He
hopes to someday destroy the Golden Snitch with his lightsaber and
restore his father Voldemort's good name throughout the galaxy.

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