4th of July
Sunday, July 5th, 2009 | Uncategorized | No Comments
I performed for the “Tea Party” in Brookville, Ohio last night. Nearly 5000 people showed up in a grassroots effort to stop “out of control” spending by our government. I’m hoping these events continue, and I hope more people start to pay attention and get involved in the process of electing our representatives in the government.
But, more important than that, I hope our “elected” representatives actually start representing the interests of the people. What if congressman had to use the same “social security” system as the average American. Perhaps any program that they concieve to “help” the general public they should have to use themselves. Like the proposed Universal Healthcare, (which I oppose completely), not because I don’t care about people, but because I do care about people. If socialized healthcare is good enough for the public, it should be good enough for congress too.
Contrary to what many “imagine” about the Tea Parties is the fact that Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, and others are all in attendance. These are not just Republicans ranting and raving. Our governments policys affect us all. Over taxation, and inflation are gradually destroying our ability to live.
I had a lot of fun, the music was appreciated by all, and we even had fireworks to top off the event. So, I’m looking forward to more events like these in the future, and I hope they have a positive impact on the political process in America.
Trying to find the connection
Thursday, November 13th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Back in the 1970’s (yes, I still recall), I saw many great concerts. Led Zep, the Who, ELO, ELP, Yes, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention (on mother’s day at Cobo Hall in Detroit), Ted Nugent, Robin Trower, and the list goes on and on, Deep Purple, David Bowie. I saw a lot of shows, and it was all about the music. Aerosmith, was amazing, all these bands were great live performers. The music was the “bond” that brought us together. Of course it was the Vietnam era, and things were certainly different than they are today.
For musicians trying to “connect” with an audience things are a bit tougher today. It’s hard to find the emotional connection with audiences because the music industry is no longer about the music. It’s about the look, the fashion, the lights and glitz. People hear with their eyes and don’t really engage deeply enough to become too actively involved in the listening process. If you “politicize” your music you will certainly polarize your audience, and if one of the most powerful aspects of music is to bring people together it seems a little odd to do that.
So, I think about the things we may have in common with the general public as musicians. How long do we allow technology to be shelved because it threatens the “status quo” of energy companies and auto makers?
When do we really begin to pursue the alternate energy opportunities? Wind, solar, geothermal, tidal etc. Where are the “maglev” trains or even the people willing to talk about the possibilities?
Are these polarizing ideas? or divisive ideas? Is there potential for artists to really draw audiences and create a groundswell of support to really begin to move forward on energy and environmental issues. Does anyone care? or have we become too busy, or too jaded, or too cynical to explore possibilties for the future?
Can we do it with new music, or do we have to be relegated to the power of nostalgia to draw audiences with yet another cover band, tribute band or “seasoned” veteran performers who can’t even perform their own new material, without being a disappointment to “nostalgia seekers ” ? You have to have the ‘faith’ to believe it can be done, what other choice do you have? I guess you could quit. But, I can’t.
I played a show for “Veterans Day” and it felt good on some level to connect with fellow Veterans. But, it’s disturbing at the same time because the nostalgia factor was certainly in play, and much of it is the Vietnam Era veterans who still feel a sense of disconnection from the country they served, and many of their wounds will never heal because they are an afterthought in America. We have a “new batch” of combat veterans coming home, and I sure hope they get better treatment than our Vietnam Vets, but I fear they will not. Because it’s already evident in the way many are left to wither away in solitude in VA Hospitals. When the wars are over, whether deemed victorious, or misguided, one thing stays the same. The Veterans will be forgotten for the most part, the funding for their care will be cut if it ever existed to start with, and most people will not even notice or pay any attention. With the possible exception of Veterans Day. But, most veterans can’t even get the day off anymore. Is this something artists should address?
Is our money worth anything? Are our lives worth anything? Are we showing it in our actions? Or, just getting good with manipulating words in various mediums for entertainment?
another day in the life of….
Thursday, October 16th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
I’ve been working on a little theory book, as if anyone really wants or needs one. But, I’m doing it anyway. I’ve met too many people attempting to play music these days who are confused by all the resources on bookshelves and on the internet. So, I figured why not continue the madness by writing even more stuff for people to ponder. Actually, I’m trying to help. I keep hearing the same stuff over and over. Is so and so a great lead player? is it better to play rhythm guitar or be the soloist ? Who cares? How about trying to find a way to connect with people on and emotional level. That’s the only thing that seems to really work. So, what are folks actually feeling. In an election season they’re probably feeling confused or frustrated or demanding. Some demand change, some are confused about what that means, some are worried about what it could mean, others are frustrated by the entire process. Place me in the frustrated category. I’m not sure I understand how we end up with the limited choice in candidates every electon cycle, and it seems that they’re never individuals that I would have chosen to begin with. Then they each go round after round of telling us all why the other is the wrong choice for America. What if I trust and believe them both? they’re are both clear on that issue, trust and believe in me, I can fix it. That means neither of them are qualified, or correct at this time in this country, or in this world of politics. So, we’re left with supposedly the lesser of the two evils, and as long as it’s different or better than the last evil, or good depending on who’s opinion you’re hearing, (right now I don’t hear much positive info from anyone on either side of Mr. Bush). Back when Bush was elected many voiced frustration and even declared they may have to leave the country. I ask where can you go? Where is the America that everyone can believe in? Where is the freedom we all speak about? Apparently this country has been way off course from the very beginning, and there isn’t much hope to correct it anytime soon, at least not if you listen to both arguments. So, where does that leave me? Blogging away and soon to be posting yet another music theory book. Because, at least as far as I know politicians can’t mess with the laws of physics, I hope anyway. So, these things that govern music can’t be messed with too much, unless we base the music industry on pure emotional stratifications of the market. Aw..crap!
A Day In The Life Of…
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
It’s more “life of the indie musician” plate spinning today. I did get some sleep in last night, but only after teaching 4 hours of private music lessons and a dinner meeting to network for things that may have potential for the future. I had dinner “late” with an old friend who is not only fun to chat with, likes food as much as me, is a great musician, and teaches at a University nearby. So, it’s always nice to hear about the reorganization of programs and the potential for opportunities in those area’s if I wanted to go that direction at some point. I’d have to prepare, but it’s a thought. After that I went home, took care of my “Great Dane” Susie, who was of course hungry and ready to go for a walk. Then I found out that this new “blog” site was ready to go, so I decided to start being more diligent in posting what will hopefully become relevant to somebody, so this is a start.
As I write this I’m having coffee, I’m not turning on the television, I’ll soon play a few notes on the guitar that I keep near my chair in the living room. This facilitates “noodling” around while I sit here and decide what really needs to be done. I find tv to be among the biggest wastes of time and energy ever devised. I try not to watch it at all, but sooner or later I’ll turn it on just as a diversion for awhile, or to watch a movie. But, today i will not because I’m getting ready to get out of the house for a bit to run errands.
1. dog food, (the pup needs 6 t 8 cans per day) (yes, that’s alot, she also eats dry food too, and lots of milk bones)
2. I’ll hit the gym for an hour to two hours, because if I don’t I’ll be mad at myself for being a lazy slug who can’t get to the gym to exercise at all.
3. I’ve got to go by a performance theater to try to set up and begin promotion on a Concert I’m planning in March 2009. I’ll keep you posted as it develops and let you know what it is going to be.
4. I’ve then got to come home, feed and walk the dog (again), mow the lawn, and prepare to do some work on the recording project I’m finishing this week. Which means overdubbing electric guitars, and adding synth tracks, so that the final vocals can be done on Thursday when the singer comes over.
5. Artwork on my Christmas cd, which is mixed and ready to master and be duplicated, and the paperwork, SR copyright, Harry Fox etc.
So, it’s 8:45 (EST), if I get in gear now i can make it to the gym by 9am, and hit the Theater promoter by 11am. Better get at it.
See ya!
Circus Management for Indie Music
Monday, October 13th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
Sometimes I feel like I’m spinning plates, I can hear the circus music with ever increasing tempo, I hope I’m the lion tamer, but I’m most likely the clown. It’s hard to pick me out of the “clown crowd” however, because 17 of us just managed to climb out of a volkswagen on one of the side stages to the main or center stage. Center stage is where the most amazing acts are because they are a most spectacular draw and the side stages are merely a diversion while the sets change constantly in the center. Of course this is one of the primary plates the Indie musician must spin, along with all the phone calls and work it took just to be a footnote on the side stage with all the other clowns.
I performed in West Baden Indiana at the Hotel and Resort there Saturday evening. It’s a beautiful place built in the early 1900’s, (was the largest “dome” ever built in the US until the famed “astrodome”). It was an odd gig, as gigs go, but that seems to be the norm these days. A 16 piece “big band” jazz ensemble with the capability to perform everything from Frank Sinatra standards to Dwight Yoakam, we even horrified the hotel management by actually playing “Freebird”. I’ve recently gotten tired, or over tired I suppose with the jovial heckling of audiences who have been yelling “play Freebird” at any band that performs at any function with live music they’ve ever attended. So, I decided to heck with it, and I played and sang “Freebird”. Of course everyone including the band was stunned at this point because the majority of the horn sections in the ensemble had endured the barage of jokesters yelling for Freebird over the years but many didn’t even know the song. (Or perhaps couldn’t remember it for one reason or another). Many of us have selective memories from the early to mid 1970’s, but I digress. So, after being told to turn down by hotel management we immediately got back on track with Michael Buble’ and Willie Nelson. (?) Yes, that’s right Wynton Marsalis and Willie Nelson, but that’s another story for another day.
Basically this is the story of making a living out of playing music in the new millenium. I had know idea the smartest thing I ever did when I was a kid was ignore my parents. I was always told to have something to fall back on like a “real’ job, but these days I feel pretty fortunate that I have a job as a musician. Since most of my friends with “real” jobs are being laid off, and having a tough time.
The Most Amazing Band You’ve Never Heard!
Monday, October 13th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
We’ve all heard it before. Wow!!! You’ve got to hear this band, they’re amazing! They’ve got fantastic vocal harmonies and the guitarist’ play faster than humanly possible, but still manage to be melodic etc. So, you go listen to them and voila’ they are pretty good, but they are not original, even if they claim that they are playing their own songs. Because what they’ve done is regurgitate music in the style of their favorite band or bands. So, they come off sounding like a band you may be familiar with, but with songs you’ve never heard before.
Oddly enough, there are those who believe this is good and as it should be, because after all the last 10 bands that sounded that way sold cd’s and got signed to major label xyz and on and on…But, is it really good. IMHO maybe not. What about being creative, and making something of your own for a change? Being true to yourself as an artist, and making the sacrifices to promote the music, the band, and build your fanbase in the good old fashioned way. Playing shows that move people.
Too many young musicians are waiting for their big break, think they should be instantly rewarded for their amazing talent, and feel discouraged and unhappy when it doesn’t happen instantly. The internet is highly overrated for actual networking and promotion, but it is supposed to be the magic medium that will solve all promotion problems for music and musicians. But, it is not, and it won’t, and it can’t. The only thing that can, is live performance and building a fanbase person by person. Establishing relationships with an audience is critical to success, and finding your own musical formula that resonates with that audience is the key. At least this is something you have very direct control over.
It doesn’t matter how great your cd sounds, or how many hours per day you practice. Get out and put on a show that makes people say yeah!! and do it with your original music. If you are playing other peoples music to make money, you’re actually infringing copyright on somebody else’s property if you don’t have permission to use it, and in many cases the clubs are not even properly licensed by BMI, ASCAP, or SESAC for live performance. I’m surprised that there is not a more vibrant original music scene in U.S. clubs and venues considering the legal issues surrounding copyright infringement. But, I think it smacks of laziness on the part of musicians, club owners, and primarily listeners. Listening requires active involvement, which appears to be sadly lacking in most clubs because we’ve bred a culture of instant gratification and miniscule attention span. So, if we are not interested via nostalgic feelings of days gone by, or the excitement of the familiar, we just can’t be bothered with staying engaged long enough to appreciate the unfamiliar. So, bring on the cover bands, tributes bands, and stylistic homogeny, and keep it coming until we give up. I’m not saying you shouldn’t play a cover tune or two, but it should be something you really enjoy, and not just a way to please audiences in the easiest possible way. I’m not opposed to making money with music, but hopefully that is not the only reason driving why you do it.
So, we cannot give up, and if we are truly artists with a vision and something to say we have to get out there and perform, use whatever skills we can muster to engage an audience and captivate them with original music. Be the one that goes against the rising tide of the mediocre or the insanely nostalgic, and the next time someone suggests you listen to the best band you’ve never heard, find out if they are original before you go, and start supporting the originality of musical art at least as much as you support the same old stuff.
If you just hear another cover band, have you really heard anything?
copyright 2008 Cousinotes
Hello world!
Monday, October 13th, 2008 | Uncategorized | No Comments
I’ll be posting my opinions about music, the music industry, music business, gigging, music theory etc. I may chat about bands I enjoy, or don’t enjoy, live performances of my own band and music, or the performances of performers I listen to. I may even leave some thoughts about live performances I attend.
for example: I was fortunate enough to hear a performance by Tommy Emmanuel a few weeks ago. All I can say is if you enjoy acoustic guitar and you haven’t heard Tommy, you’re missing out on one of the best guitarists and entertainers working. You owe it to yourself to check him out right away you won’t be sorry you did.