Guest Blog: Spencer Tweedy, former camper, current ROCK STAR!
Recently I asked former camper Spencer Tweedy to tell me a little about how his camp experience has played into his current gig of "professional musician."
He certainly talked about his camp experience, but being the low-key guy he is, didn't mention much about his current endeavors, so I'll do that real fast!
Spencer recorded an album with his dad Jeff Tweedy, released under the band name Tweedy. They played shows recently both in the U.S.A. but also a string of concert dates in Europe. It thrills me as the music director of camp, having known Spencer since he was 11, that he is on tour, recording professionally, and that I can hear songs that he played on when I turn on the radio in my car in LA. To find out more about Spencer's endeavors both with his dad, and his other bands and projects, check out spencertweedy.com and wilcoworld.net
And now, without further ado, here's Spencer himself, on his camp musical experience:
#Music at Beber Camp
When most people think of summer camp, they think of the outdoors, the waterfront, the bright summer sun… and mosquitoes. But anybody who’s been to Beber Camp knows there’s another side to camp, and it’s just as fun as waterskiing or biking.
Music: Rock Band, Recording Studio, Songwriting, DJ-ing… SONG SESSIONS! Music is a founding pillar of Beber camp, right alongside Judaism and all the other, famously camp-ish activities we like to do there. It’s hard to imagine camp without it.
When I think back on my time as a camper, my nights at the Recording Studio sneak-out with Russell Wiener stick out as some of my funnest. Later, when I was invited back to camp as an “artist-in-residence-for-one-day,” I had the opportunity to help kids work through songs in the Rock Band hobby. All throughout my time there, whether as an aspiring lil’ drummer Makor, or as a (slightly!) more experienced PIO, music remained at the center of my camp experience.
Of course, that wouldn’t have been so easy without the Crown Hall recording studio, the instruments in it, the music hobby programming, and the fearless leadership of one Russell Wiener, who continues to generously bring his talent and expertise to Beber Camp every summer.
And that’s the beautiful thing about Beber Camp: there, everyone is your family, but within that, it’s easy to find a special place that feels like it’s all yours. For me, that was music. For you… What will it be?