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Zak Schaffer
Classic Rock / Alternative / Powerpop

"The Immensely Talented Zak Schaffer"

LOS ANGELES, California
United States

Profile Views:  9300




Last Login:  7/19/2008
View My: Pics | Videos

   Contacting Zak Schaffer

 MySpace URL: 
  http://www.myspace.com/zakschaffer  

   Zak Schaffer: General Info
Member Since10/22/2005
Band Websiteimmensetalent.com
Band MembersI did the record mostly by myself, but a few of my friends came in to help out. For shows, I'm backed by White Belt:

Mark Noseworthy, Guitar
Scott Seiver, Drums
Josh Lopez, Guitar
InfluencesI like music that's simple but sophisticated. I came from a pretty wacky family, so I tend to listen to stuff that's orderly. So, not a lot of free jazz.

I got really into the Beatles when I was eight. The Cars when I was ten. The Police when I was 12. Just about everything sucked in the eighties, except Prince. I went through a long XTC phase at the end of the decade. Then Nirvana came along and gave us all hope.

In the early nineties I got really into super violent movies like Bad Lieutenant, Man Bites Dog, and Laws of Gravity. With that, came Steve Albini records like PJ Harvey's Rid of Me and The Jesus Lizard's Goat. Around that time I also developed a new found respect for AC/DC. God, those guys are tough.

But I knew there was more to life than music by and for angry white men, and Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder and Al Green got quite a few spins over at Club Schaffer. And Charles Mingus showed me that there is jazz out there for pop fascists like me.

I was, like most Earthlings, seduced by Radiohead toward the end of the nineties. Around that time, Pet Sounds, First Band on the Moon, I Should Coco really pulled me back into Smart Pop. I've kind of been there ever since.

In the last couple years, Wilco and Gillian Welch have allowed me to rejoice in my folky roots. Like most children of the seventies my dad taught us to play pretty young, and I grew up listening to him sing folk and blues (not to mention Neapolitan arias and Bob Dylan).

Lately, I've discovered the joys of Cole Porter and Rogers and Hart. I figured that there had to be some good songwriters before the Beatles, right?

Whatever it is I'm listening to, it's probably a few minutes in length, contains more than four chords, has a few cool lyrics, some emotional content and is played by decent musicians. Things just haven't changed that much.
Sounds LikeI think the ingredient list is something like this

Beatles White Album
Elliot Smith, XO
Ben Folds Five, Whatever and Ever Amen
Todd Rundgren, Something/Anything
Beach Boys, Pet Sounds
Wilco, Being There
Stevie Wonder, Songs in the Key of Life
Record LabelAll in good time...
Type of LabelNone




Zak Schaffer's Latest Blog Entry  [Subscribe to this Blog]

Hotel....Sir.....Please  (view more)

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   About Zak Schaffer
Well...

My debut album "Maybe It's Me" is available for download at www.fonogenic.com. Why listen to some lame stream when you can have it on your Ipod?

Also, you can now go Here to watch "Why is Zak Schaffer Making the Great American Rock Album?"

It took us a while, but the entire movie is viewable at google videos. Watch it with someone you love.

Furthermore, go Here to listen to the 2005 Holiday CD. All your favorite hits of the eighties done with out all those stupid drum machines and synthesizers!

Anyway...
For the last five years or so, I've been a bassist, guitarist, drummer, vocalist, songwriter, producer, engineer, whateverer. I've worked with Richard Butler, Pete Yorn, Minnie Driver, Peter Himmelman, Minibar, Jukebox Junkies, and a bunch of other folks.

I have made one of the great works of American Pop Music. Bar Talk is 11 songs of pure pop mastery. Clever songs, impeccable musicianship, lush harmonies, full tilt rockers, eight minute epics, jazz-pop for your parents. There is no better record recorded in a garage mostly by one dude during 2005.

I've recently started gracing the stages of the Southland. Josh Lopez, Scott Siever, and Mark Noseworthy are my partners in crime. Stay posted.

So, yeah. That's about it. Rock on.

   Zak Schaffer's Friend Space (Top 0)
Zak Schaffer has 211 friends.



Zak Schaffer's Friends Comments
Displaying 50 of 73 comments  ( View All | Add Comment )
kristin





Jun 6 2008 2:02 PM

Loved your message! We miss you & think you should bring the girls up here for a weekend this summer. Wading pools! Zweiback toast! We've even got a portable crib and a highchair! Think about it...
Bryan Master





May 10 2008 4:22 PM

hey Zak -
Hope all's going well man...just wanted to drop by and say hello. Recording w/ Evan and Doc and things are sounding great...will keep you posted and hope to see you soon man.

bm
Darius Minaee





Jan 23 2008 12:42 AM

you missed it. They played Santana's Maria Maria. unreal.
Darius Minaee





Jan 6 2008 12:20 AM

'Twas nice grooving with you brother!
Robert Anthony Navarro





Dec 11 2007 4:21 AM

CRITICIDE





Oct 20 2007 12:24 PM

Congratulations!
Pixie





Jul 6 2007 11:34 AM

how's the babe? bbq at our house next sat, (july 14)
Kittybandaid





Jul 3 2007 6:06 PM

God, I love Awakening. I miss you zack! xxxxxxxxx
Brendan Buckley





May 15 2007 9:51 PM

Hey immensely talented one. Nice bumping into you the other day. Still loving your record!

take care,
BB
Stevil Knievel





May 9 2007 10:28 PM

Jesus Tap-Dancin Christ! What's going on down dare?
JB ®





May 9 2007 4:10 PM

Hey Great Page, Stay Cool, Keep The Faith, JB
Pixie





Apr 29 2007 7:59 PM

nothing like saturday afternoon at the standard.
Stevil Knievel





Apr 9 2007 7:02 PM

Hi Zak! It's been a while - how's everything going? Get lucky on any of those exacta boxes? Man, I gotta get Gail and the kids out for another day at the track!
Sarah Hethcoat





Apr 8 2007 9:23 PM

Happy Easter Zak Schaffer!! :)
Danny DeLaMatyr





Mar 27 2007 7:36 PM

Hey Zak! You done did Andy proud!

Enjoyed playing with you. hope we can do it again soon.
Trampoline Records Fans


Is Online


Mar 25 2007 3:49 PM

Thanks Zak!
Biirdie





Mar 23 2007 2:55 PM

ELETRONS





Feb 17 2007 3:27 PM

Hiii zak, thanks for add our band, Ascuse me, because I heard the 4 music and I want to do comments with whole the respect, well I began hearing "Silicon Chip" beautiful melody, excellent drums, beautiful steel-guitar, she is all beautiful, the singer in that music has something half David Crosby, very cool; "Amelia" is a very pleasant, melodic music and dancing, very strong that music; "Bar talk" beautiful intro, that it sounds me more intimate, very good also, beautiful combination of voices and the excellent isntrumental; "Awekining" already sounds me one more lament, but in the second part of song, he grew majesty,,, my interesting favorite também,a of the moment is "Silicon Chip", congratulations for the high-level sound, Cheer from Brazil
Kmart supports Kucinich and Wexler for Impeachment





Feb 4 2007 5:58 PM



thanks for the addy!! your tunes sound excellent. really nice.
Pixie





Jan 30 2007 4:42 PM

nice to see you and the damsel
Yogi





Jan 4 2007 9:31 PM

Zak Schaffer ~

Hope your New Year is filled with Happiness, Health and Prosperity. Come out to my show Friday 1-05-07 at Hotel Cafe @ 10:45 pm.


Peace and Love,

~ Yogi
Ralph Farris





Jan 2 2007 11:55 AM

Best wishes for a healthy, prosperous & PEACEFUL new year!

-Ralph
Luxury Edition





Nov 30 2006 10:21 PM

hey, we have the same last name =)
Make Friends With Myspace.com/JonahMatranga





Nov 8 2006 7:44 AM

ps - You need to mention in your (great) musical loves story that your friend since 3rd grade has always been right about Zeppelin, but you just didn't get it til recently. Also, that you left out Look Sharp, Beat Crazy, 10,9,8.. and Red Sails..., after all of those stoned, tennis-ball karaoke evenings (afternoons? mornings?) is sort of wrong.
Make Friends With Myspace.com/JonahMatranga





Nov 8 2006 7:35 AM

Happy b-day. Sorry I didn't get in touch yesterday, I plead Houston.
Turns out a guy called Jason that's on this tour (Hotel Cafe tour, on for a few days) knows you, Holmes, Norbert, etc. Nice. Talk soon - Love, Jonah
~ Karissa ~





Nov 7 2006 1:20 PM

Happy Election Day!!!!
...er, I mean, birthday.
antenna





Nov 7 2006 12:39 PM

happy birthday to you....call me up sometime, will ya?

xx
d
najha





Oct 26 2006 3:08 PM

ok, so you didn't sleep with papuda! does this mean i get to stay in your comments' box now? lol
Ted Brown





Sep 10 2006 7:34 PM

Chappy?
Chappy Salazaar?!
antenna





Sep 6 2006 2:17 PM

signed, sealed & delivered....

you rule.
sharpe





Aug 30 2006 7:29 PM

sharpe





Aug 30 2006 7:27 PM

Sarah





Aug 17 2006 8:31 PM

You are possibly too immensely talented.
GET OFF MY CLOUD





Jun 14 2006 11:51 PM

the kibbitz room is not worthy. does their insurance policy cover you blowing the roof off?
Seth Rothschild





May 4 2006 10:07 AM

"Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" - Richard & Michael
Devious Damzel





Apr 25 2006 4:42 PM

sorry couldn't make it to ur gig at cinespace, how was it? hope it went well!
(PC)Sweet Pea





Apr 18 2006 10:56 PM

Sorry I can't make your upcoming show--but I live in Chicago! You make me wish I lived in LA!
Brian Kahanek





Apr 4 2006 8:56 PM

Zak,

Thanks for dropping by.
That profile pic is crazy.

Rock Hotel Cafe!
BK
Sunia Boneham





Apr 3 2006 12:16 PM

ElvisChrist





Mar 31 2006 2:50 PM

Nice geetar work on the Morello stuff Zak!
Dave in Philadelphia





Mar 21 2006 12:51 PM

Thanks Zak!
A great show last night!!! (yes, I made the trip to Chicago!)
You guys sounded like you been playing those songs forever!!!
See you again over the weekend!
DiP
GET OFF MY CLOUD





Feb 24 2006 10:44 AM

So good to see you on the drums brother!
Greg





Feb 16 2006 10:34 PM

I know you rocked the house tonight. I wish I could have been there, but I have a strict policy of never supporting my friends. If I make an exception for your show, I've got to do it for everyone. I'm sure you understand.

Greg

PS - Are you washing my car this week or next?
Ralph Farris





Feb 10 2006 5:50 PM

Thanks for finding me! Have we met via Vic? Your name is familiar. -Ralph
Devious Damzel





Feb 8 2006 1:01 PM

WELL UR SITE STILL SUX, BUT UR MUSIK AINT BADD...AND MY HAIR LOOKS DOPE RIGHT NOW...
Sunia Boneham





Feb 7 2006 11:54 AM

Pixie





Feb 1 2006 10:15 PM

zak rhymes with.... barbecued pork?
Kittybandaid





Jan 24 2006 8:05 AM

Your music is like crack and I need another fix! All im asking is where and when and WHYYYY does silicone chip get stuck in my head for days? meowwww
Leiah





Jan 23 2006 11:21 PM

You are quite a talent, me and my best bud are thinking about relocating out there in May, hope to encounter you at the local coffee bean...
Chris Joyner