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2nd System: With a One-Arm Guitarist and a Divergent Complexity to Their Sound, This Band is More than a Novelty Act By Randy Chandler 2nd System For young up and coming bands doing their own material, there are few greater achievements than copping the warm-up spot for a national act at a high profile club. But for at least one member of Saginaw's 2nd System, the recent opening stint at Harpo's for Superjoint Ritual (the new project led by Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and featuring bassist Hank Williams III) will most likely stick in his memory for a long time to come. "So, we're playing," recalls lead guitarist Don Lajiness, "and I look over to the side of the stage and there's (Superjoint guitarist) Jimmy Bower with a camcorder! He recorded our whole set! Afterward, he says to me, 'I was hoping to see something cool tonight - AND THERE YOU ARE!' " Perhaps what amazed Bower the most was that Lajiness, unlike most guitarists, only has ONE ARM! Lajiness' left arm ends just past his elbow joint, a condition he was born with. He plays upside down, fretting the notes with his right hand, while his elbow joint, with a pick duct-taped to it, serves as a substitute picking hand. And its not like he's 'just getting by' either - this kid is cranking out solos! Upon witnessing this strange and unnatural act, the last word that comes to mind is 'Disability'. "It was something I've always really wanted to do," Don said of his guitar playing at one of our first meetings. "And you can't let things stop you from doing what you really want to do." Of course, the System would only be a novelty act if Lajiness were the only point of interest. On the contrary, 2nd System have been in the trenches since 2001, rising from the ashes of two other prominent young bands, Forklift and Holding Seven Down, and Lajiness was one of the last to join. Vocalist Patrick Brennan and guitarist Derrick Fisher formed the group. Soon after, they recruited bassist Jeff Schock and drummer Jack Masters. After recording a fine, if under-appreciated CD, Lajiness entered the picture, along with a second vocalist by the name of Troll. When Schock bailed to join TorMent (and ultimately, the Miscreants), Sean Haller replaced him. The group, now a sextet, is currently putting the finishing touches on their second offering at the all new HIGH Concept Studios in Saginaw. "We used High Concept last time, "explains Brennan, "and we had a really good experience. This time, though, they're in a new location, with new gear, and the new material is sounding even better than last time!" While the sound of the band is somewhat familiar, it is difficult at best to categorize. Are they Death Metal? Yes, there is the obligatory guttural screams (courtesy of Troll), but would a death metal band write a song so hauntingly beautiful as "Unscene"? Doubtful. It IS very dark music, and more than a bit cynical and pessimistic, yet there seem to be these little rays of hope filtering through. "I've found a new faith," intones Brennan in the song "Systema", "But it doesn't strike Me down/everytime I'm wrong/I find out what it would have taken." One of my favorite elements of the band's music is the fact that Brennan can actually SING. Plus, he has a commanding stage presence, with an alien/vampire vibe that adds nicely to what is already something of a freakshow to witness. And they're not just up there playing a bunch of songs - there's a belief system built into their material that each member shares a piece of, that unites them. They write about what they believe in, and believe in what they write. "We're all a bunch of misfits," laughs Fisher, "people that don't really belong anywhere else. We all found each other, and it's like we've all found a home. Take Sean, for example-here's a guy who's been playing in death metal bands all this time, and he's been doing this longer than most of the rest of us. He wanted to broaden what he was doing, and he came in at a time when we really needed a kick in ass. I don't know whether we found him or he found us-the important thing is that we're all here now." Fisher acknowledges that his band is very much like a family, "and like most families, we have our share of dysfunction! What holds it all together is the music we write, and at the end of the day, its all that really matters anyway." Haller is one of those rare bassists who try diligently to add something to each song instead of merely riding the root note. His playing on the song "Answer", in particular, is especially revelatory - his deft two-handed approach blends seamlessly with Fisher and Masters to create something intriguing that hooks you in just before all hell breaks loose! Overall, he imbues the music with the proper amount of weight, supplying the anchor when Masters' parts get overly complicated. For his age, there are few drummers in the area quite as accomplished as Jack Masters, with his polyrhythms and lightning-fast footwork. Surprisingly, a quotient of the bands original material comes from Jack! As 'second' vocalists go, Troll seems to be coming into his own, weaving around Brennan's lines and punctuating the lyrics with demon-screams. As any regular reader of this column knows, I like 'Cookie Monster' vocals about as much as I like Creed, but I do have to give the kid credit - he's beginning to branch out into other areas, and while he's doing the growly bits, you can actually understand him. He is young and passionate about his music and it will be interesting to witness his evolution. Which brings me to Derrick Fisher. Sometimes referred to as the 'backbone' of the group, it is his 'wall of guitar' that drives much of the music home. He is an ardent practitioner of a truly lost art-rhythm guitar. His gigantic riffs and eerie little passages, as well as his imposing stage presence, could well define the band's sound, were it not for the stellar contributions of his bandmates. There are no stars in 2nd System. They are a team, a family, and a unit. And when the memories of their onstage freakshow fade from your memory, their hooks and riffs haunt you, as if to say, "we won't be going away ANYTIME soon..."
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