Chris Boss

Chris Boss goes from covers to originals
Web Posted: 12/29/2006 07:57 PM CST
Jim Beal Jr.
Express-News Staff Writer
Chris Boss and the Fuss are one of the state's top cover bands. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Boss and the Fuss also have original music that they showcase through songs on the CD "One Hot Night" and during gigs they play as just The Fuss.
Since he came out of Holmes High School, the 30-something Boss has done an excellent job of juggling originals and covers, the guitar hero trip and sideman stints, a teaching side and a performing side.
Q. When did you start playing guitar?
A. When I was about 11 years old. I was listening to bands like Kiss. They were big influences on me. They still are. My first gig was when I was a junior in high school, and it was a battle of the bands competition.
Q. You've had some success in music battles, haven't you?
A. I won three of the Alamo Music Guitar Wars competitions.
Q. Does winning a contest help a career?
A. It was really gratifying. I consider myself a late bloomer, and maybe it will help with longevity. It was cool to win them. When the dust settles, you really haven't done anything, but it was cool and it helps with publicity, that's for sure.
Q. Did you go to college?
A. No. I had music theory in high school, and I took private lessons from Mark Stone at Caldwell Music. I opted to become a full-time musician after high school.
Q. And you teach?
A. I taught guitar at Alamo Music for eight years, but it's been a long time since I've taught. I taught Luke Olson, I taught Jake Owen, I taught the guys from Meek. I have people come up to me and tell me they took lessons from me and they're still playing. It's cool to see them stick with it. When you teach guitar lessons you can tell who's really into it.
Q. Have you ever gone the hired guitar slinger route?
A. When Luke Olson told me he was recording an album I helped him out. I was like the 65th member of the Max, and I've always subbed in bands when I've had the time.
Q. Has making music full time been all you've expected it to be?
A. Once you decide to do it full time you have to wear many hats. You have to be a sound engineer, a purchaser, a driver, a booking agent. I've had to learn to do a lot of things I didn't sign up for. I just wanted to be a guitar player in a rock band. It is work.
Q. How do you balance being a guitar hero, a singer and a bandleader?
A. It's tricky. I grew up wanting to be a guitar hero, but the music sort of shifted away from that. I've had to reinvent myself, but a lot of my influences struck a balance. Jimi Hendrix was a singer, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, they're also singers. On this record there's not a lot of guitar pyrotechnics. I've always tried to play what was appropriate for the songs. I'm not going to show off just because I can. I wanted this album to be about the songs.
Q. Why this CD now?
A. For me it represents more what I'm about. I went through a lot of phases and wore a lot of different hats, one of which was even a country hat, before I discovered what I wanted to do. Playing in the bars has given me the chance to meet a lot of people. It's been too long since we had something to promote. It's for the people who go to the bars we play. I like to think the tunes on this record would be able to be covered by another band. How cool would that be?
Q. How do you describe the style of music on "One Hot Night"?
A. I guess it's a little bit of everything I like. Playing live is a lot about the attitudes songs project. In the bars, when everyone is juiced up, people want to hear songs that are energetic, even aggressive. I tried to carry that feeling to tape. I get pumped up. I think, "What's going to sound good after 'I Wanna Be Sedated' and before 'Santeria' by Sublime?" I wanted to write songs that would stand up in that situation. I also wanted good hooks and choruses. If a song stands out on acoustic guitar you know you have something.
Q. When did you decide to put a lot of time and energy into a cover band?
A. I learned a lot when I was in the Max about what makes a band go. The Max is still going. I do the cover thing to support myself doing music. It keeps my chops up, I get to perform, I earned the money to fund the original record, and I learn what works live.
Q. How's the crowd reaction to the original songs?
A. I'm surprised. People are digging the original songs as much as the cover songs. Having people say they really like track three ("Run Away") is really cool. I'm not trying to blow people away. I'm just trying to do songs people like.
Q. Is it difficult to jump from covers to originals?
A. Performing original music is tricky. With covers, you get instant gratification because people recognize the songs and, if it's their favorite song, that's a winner right away. When you do original music you expect listeners to be more open minded and you don't always worry about getting paid. There's - Jim Beal music critic San Antonio Express News

Chris Boss goes from covers to originals
Web Posted: 12/29/2006 07:57 PM CST
Jim Beal Jr.
Express-News Staff Writer
Chris Boss and the Fuss are one of the state's top cover bands. Guitarist, singer and songwriter Boss and the Fuss also have original music that they showcase through songs on the CD "One Hot Night" and during gigs they play as just The Fuss.
Since he came out of Holmes High School, the 30-something Boss has done an excellent job of juggling originals and covers, the guitar hero trip and sideman stints, a teaching side and a performing side.
Q. When did you start playing guitar?
A. When I was about 11 years old. I was listening to bands like Kiss. They were big influences on me. They still are. My first gig was when I was a junior in high school, and it was a battle of the bands competition.
Q. You've had some success in music battles, haven't you?
A. I won three of the Alamo Music Guitar Wars competitions.
Q. Does winning a contest help a career?
A. It was really gratifying. I consider myself a late bloomer, and maybe it will help with longevity. It was cool to win them. When the dust settles, you really haven't done anything, but it was cool and it helps with publicity, that's for sure.
Q. Did you go to college?
A. No. I had music theory in high school, and I took private lessons from Mark Stone at Caldwell Music. I opted to become a full-time musician after high school.
Q. And you teach?
A. I taught guitar at Alamo Music for eight years, but it's been a long time since I've taught. I taught Luke Olson, I taught Jake Owen, I taught the guys from Meek. I have people come up to me and tell me they took lessons from me and they're still playing. It's cool to see them stick with it. When you teach guitar lessons you can tell who's really into it.
Q. Have you ever gone the hired guitar slinger route?
A. When Luke Olson told me he was recording an album I helped him out. I was like the 65th member of the Max, and I've always subbed in bands when I've had the time.
Q. Has making music full time been all you've expected it to be?
A. Once you decide to do it full time you have to wear many hats. You have to be a sound engineer, a purchaser, a driver, a booking agent. I've had to learn to do a lot of things I didn't sign up for. I just wanted to be a guitar player in a rock band. It is work.
Q. How do you balance being a guitar hero, a singer and a bandleader?
A. It's tricky. I grew up wanting to be a guitar hero, but the music sort of shifted away from that. I've had to reinvent myself, but a lot of my influences struck a balance. Jimi Hendrix was a singer, Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, they're also singers. On this record there's not a lot of guitar pyrotechnics. I've always tried to play what was appropriate for the songs. I'm not going to show off just because I can. I wanted this album to be about the songs.
Q. Why this CD now?
A. For me it represents more what I'm about. I went through a lot of phases and wore a lot of different hats, one of which was even a country hat, before I discovered what I wanted to do. Playing in the bars has given me the chance to meet a lot of people. It's been too long since we had something to promote. It's for the people who go to the bars we play. I like to think the tunes on this record would be able to be covered by another band. How cool would that be?
Q. How do you describe the style of music on "One Hot Night"?
A. I guess it's a little bit of everything I like. Playing live is a lot about the attitudes songs project. In the bars, when everyone is juiced up, people want to hear songs that are energetic, even aggressive. I tried to carry that feeling to tape. I get pumped up. I think, "What's going to sound good after 'I Wanna Be Sedated' and before 'Santeria' by Sublime?" I wanted to write songs that would stand up in that situation. I also wanted good hooks and choruses. If a song stands out on acoustic guitar you know you have something.
Q. When did you decide to put a lot of time and energy into a cover band?
A. I learned a lot when I was in the Max about what makes a band go. The Max is still going. I do the cover thing to support myself doing music. It keeps my chops up, I get to perform, I earned the money to fund the original record, and I learn what works live.
Q. How's the crowd reaction to the original songs?
A. I'm surprised. People are digging the original songs as much as the cover songs. Having people say they really like track three ("Run Away") is really cool. I'm not trying to blow people away. I'm just trying to do songs people like.
Q. Is it difficult to jump from covers to originals?
A. Performing original music is tricky. With covers, you get instant gratification because people recognize the songs and, if it's their favorite song, that's a winner right away. When you do original music you expect listeners to be more open minded and you don't always worry about getting paid. There's - Jim Beal music critic San Antonio Express News