This is part of our "2007 Reflections" series looking back at 2007 and ahead to 2008 through the eyes of Madison bands, politicians, business owners, and more. To read them all click "2007 Reflections" above.

Band: Kyle Motor (and the Motorz, August Teens, the Arkoffs, the God Damns)

The Motorz Website: http://www.themotorz.com/
August Teens Website: http://www.theaugustteens.com/
Motorz on MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/themotorz

So...2007...how was it?

2007 was weird.

The Good:
Huge goals were accomplished, namely simultaneously recording and releasing two new Motorz albums. At the same time we finally got a bunch of August Teens songs down on tape.

I've had the pleasure of sharing the stage with a broad range of musicians, many of whom I hold in very high regard, so that was a blast. Drumming for M.O.T.O. was a dream come true, I don't think I've ever had more fun onstage. Anytime Pupy and the Big City boys call me to help with something, I have a ball and I usually get a great story out of it.
The Motorz played a handful of great gigs with the Box Social, so its nice to have some new rock'n'roll friends in town. We also got to share the stage with out of town friends Kwang (Minneapolis) and The Safes (Chicago), which doesn't happen often enough. We won over some audiences with The August Teens, which is always nice. The Arkoffs have gotten ourselves into shape as a true garage-rock behemoth, and I get to play songs that I never ever thought I'd get other band mates to agree to. The God Damns might have played one of the best shows of the year at the Crystal Corner: my guitar wore a hat, there was an impromptu cover of "Back In Black" until Darwin had his fill and dropped his bass and staggered to the bar.

The Bad:
In September, Dan Motor (bass) quit The Motorz. All is amicable, we still go out for beers, but I miss sharing the stage with the guy I've been playing rock'n'roll with for a decade, the person that got me to move to this town in the first place. I'll miss him up there, standing between me and my guitar amp so I can't hear myself.

Recording the Shabelles album got stressful; a situation of disagreements with friends, pushing and pulling at each other this way and that. It was tough, but we all clamped down and got the album done, and with some really great tracks.

Our van got vandalized. Three windows were smashed out, but thankfully nothing was stolen. This happened right after we put a bunch of money into it for new tires and some repairs. It is hard to keep a good attitude through things like that.
Unfortunately, catchy non-modern Rock'n'Roll doesn't seem to be very popular. That's just the way it is. It can get disheartening to work hard promoting a gig, only to get the same die-hard fans/friends to show up (which I still greatly appreciate). Maybe I gotta get more gimmicky.......nah. Hey, The Motorz are already "indie-er" than any other band in town, everything we do is DIY. Eat it, Radiohead.
I am happy to be so involved in music on so many levels; its what I've always wanted to do. But I've gotta work a full-time job to support my music habit. Going through the cubicle grind all day followed immediately with a practice/recording session/gig isn't too conducive to a hoppin' social life (maybe I'm doing something wrong?). All in all, I haven't seen my non-musician friends as often as I'd liked. I'm so used to rushing through so many things that a day off leads to complete apathy; "What am I supposed to do with all this downtime?".

Things I've done this year:

• Member of 4 bands: The Motorz (lead vocals, guitar, songwriter), The August Teens (bass, vocals), The Arkoffs (drums, vocals), The God Damns (guitar, vocals)
• Recorded and released two full-length Motorz albums: All Day Long and All Night Long
• Recorded an August Teens album and EP (20 songs total, not mixed yet, should be ready for 2008)
• Recorded and mixed The Shabelles latest album, Making Love With The Shabelles
• Played guitar and sang in YARRR!!! (REUNION!!!)
  * Filled in on drums for The Midwest Beat/Orange Whips for a few gigs
• Played drums with M.O.T.O. for a gig
• Professional stand-in for Pupy Costello and his Big City Honky Tonk: sat in on drums for a gig, sat in on guitar at various gigs, roadied and chauffeured them at the Duck Pond
• The Motorz continued tradition and played a wedding (this annual tradition is now endangered)
• Stand-in sound man at the Crystal Corner, and became official sound man for Marcus King & Thee Royalty
• Started recording an album for Road Agent Spin (should be finished in early 2008)
• Gave guitar lessons to a bright young lad

On tap for 2008?

• Mix and release The August Teens recordings. These sound so good, they are going to turn out great. Its a shame I haven't gotten to mix these yet.
• Finish recording and mixing the Road Agent Spin album. Great guys making great music. What more can I say? This is gonna be one very rockin' record.
• I'm slated to record a full-length for The Midwest Beat at a special location.
• The Motorz are going to try to get out of town more often, starting with January 5th at Cal's in Chicago. We've got Brad Blazer (of Road Agent Spin) on bass now, and we're slowly working on some new songs. Also, I'd like to sell some CDs/iTunes/etc (go here and click the "BUY MUSIC" link: http://www.themotorz.com/).
• Go fishing.

Bob Koch Memorial Top 5 Records I Bought This Year Because I Don't Listen To Much New Music:

1. The Sorrows - Teenage Heartbreak (Pavilion/CBS, 1980): Probably the best late 70s/early 80s power-pop album I've ever heard. Damn near every song is a knockout.

2. The Beau Brummels - Volume 2 (Autumn, 1965): Folk-rock underdogs. I like 'em better than The Byrds. "I Want You" is a killer song.

3. Sir Douglas Band - Texas Tornado (Atlantic, 1973)/ Sir Doug & The Texas Tornados - Texas Rock For Country Rollers (ABC, 1976): This is the Doug Sahm Memorial Western Tie. No one ever moved so effortlessly between rock'n'roll, blues, country, conjunto, cajun, funky Tex-Mex; the man did it all well. Cry in your Lone Star beer to "Give Back The Key To My Heart".

4. The Wildhearts - PHUQ (Eastwest, 1995): A rare compact disc entry. Such catchy songs, and great lyrics. "I Wanna Go Where The People Go" has the Wildhearts' trademark "more hooks than necessary" (and that's a good thing). "Caprice" is as melodic as it is crushing. Turn it up REALLY LOUD.

5. Crash Street Kids - Little Girls (Fat City, 1982): This Minneapolis band filled their sole album full of great, moody power-pop and rock'n'roll. To my ears they beat the 1984-era Replacements to the punch by a couple of years, and for my money they did it better. "Into You" is, dare I say, perfect.