Album Notes

Written, Performed and Produced by Chip Symonds with his instruments of mass creation: Keyboard, Guitar, Bass, Sax, Flute, Vocals, Drums and Percussion, Harmonica.

For more info and lyrics check out the Life Trip "American Dream" CD website! Click "official website" link below track listing.


Testimonials:

"I took a listen and immediatly starting smiling...I like it!"-Vicki (Elliot's Review)

"Ultimately American Dream is a pretty solid collection of well written and performed songs and Life Trip is certainly worth checking out. Nice job!"- Ryan Sparks (Sea of Tranquility)

Chip Symonds “American Dream” features social and political commentary with a twist of humor:”Bring back the $1.99 six pack McDonald’s has brought back the McRib. I want to buy a $1.99 six pack” Symonds declares on the opening track. The album does, however, have its serious moments, covering themes of war, religion and economic struggle without being preachy. Symonds reminds us to find humor even in times of distress. (News & Record Greensboro, NC)

Artist history

Hello and welcome to the world of LIFE TRIP.
In 2008 Life Trip released a new CD “American Dream” with social-political songs about the state of our nation and the world. Live performances as well as a radio appearance on the Guilford College radio show “The Carolina Show” helped to promote the new CD. I also made a couple of guest appearances playing sax and flute with The Pranksters from Greensboro, NC at The Blind Tiger and sax with Marsupial from Asheville, NC at The Rhino club. Thanks to everyone who stopped by to visit my CD baby page. I have started a new recording project and hope to release a new CD sometime in 2010.

*LIFE TRIP was started in Greensboro, NC by Chip Symonds (vocals, keyboard, sax, flute, guitar, bass) [1993]. Originally a solo project, LIFE TRIP released two cassettes (full length) and an EP (7"vinyl)." Life Trip" EP-1993,"
Astrolabe"-1994," Passage"-1995.

*In 1996 the "Adobe Ride" cassette was released with the help of Rob Brame on bass and guitar. Rob co-wrote the song "Zero Gravity" along with Chip. For the 1st CD "Mental Travelers" Chip wrote some of the material with Rob as well as percussionist Mark Wagoner [1997].

*In preparation for the next CD "Tranquillity" (2000) LIFE TRIP did some shows with original Grateful Dead keyboard player Tom Constanten, and members of the now defunct Ashville, NC based band WHEREVER IT GOES, influencing the highly jam based sound now developing in the group. Over 100 shows followed, a radio appearance on the Carolina show-Guilford College, and web cast from the Brewery Raleigh, NC on the Digital Club Network (www.digitalclubnetwork.com).

*The "Cosmic Boogie" CD (2001) has a "psychedelic jazz-rock-folk" feel recorded live with Raphael Schiavone on drums, Malcolm Fields on bass and background vocals, and Chip Symonds on guitar, sax, flute, and vocals.

*Also in 2001 LIFE TRIP released "Chronicles" a compilation CD of unreleased songs as well as songs from the first three cassettes remixed to 24 bit digital.

*Another live CD with guest appearances from members of NONE THE WISER and The SKELLINGTONS called "World of Evil" and a follow up to "Chronicles" "Chronicles II was released in 2002.

*In 2003 LIFE TRIP celebrated it's 10th anniversary with the CD "Unknown Journey" a compilation of the most progressive songs from the two Chronicles CD's and the new four part title track. Also a compilation "Live Edition" from the LIFE TRIP live CD's with the unreleased mega jam "Sound of Life" from "Tranqullity" era LIFE TRIP.

*2004 and 2005 saw the waning of the band format and I decided to go solo using a drum machine and loop station. Live Shows were billed as "LIFE TRIP ONE MAN SHOW" or "CHIP SYMONDS" or just "LIVE MUSIC with CHIP" as in the recent 16 weeks Sunday night's at Ham's restaurant in Winston-Salem, NC.

*2006-2007 finished up the new CD "American Dream". Now doing promotions and marketing for it. Hoping to play some live shows as well.