Ok….now some of you may disagree with me, but in my household, The Usley Brothers got a lot more play than Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. No disrespect to them, but they were just not very popular in Black households in the 70′s. As an end result, I wasn’t even aware this song was a cover! I remember listening to this album and being blown away, and especially this track! Ronald Isley’s voice is just so dramatic! Anyway, if you’ve never heard this before, you’re welcome!
Dirty Loops, a band from Sweden, combine amazing technical prowess, a vast knowledge of modern music technology, an ear for catchy pop melodiesm and a sense of humor! I think they have a huge future. This is musicians music, so I don’t expect to hear them on the radio much, but…..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KjVGJ3YFDc8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p0liJrxyyM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQaWN5ODdVY&feature=related
My previous posts in this blog have been music videos, with very little editorial content. I decided to change up for this entry. I hav had a long and illustrious career, but have never achieved the kind of fame, or fortune I would have liked, and felt I deserved. Some of it has been career mismanagement, but a lot of it has been my own poor choices. I don’t regret anything, but I thought I should share some of my 20/20 hindsight! I hope some of this will make you laugh, make you think, and most importantly, keep you from making the mistakes I made!
1) Don’t play for the money, play for the love. But when you do get the money, save it!! When I was working in Las Vegas, and again, in Laughlin, I was spending almost as much as I made. It was kind of a necessity, cause I was not provided a meal allowance. However, if I had it to do over again, I’d try to work harder to find less expensive food options, and would stay completely away from buffets. Even once a week costs a lot. If you are in a band that breaks through, and you see fat checks coming your way, put the money into repairs on that raggedy Honda you’re driving, instead of getting a new car. Why? Don’t I deserve a new car? Yes! But with a new car comes a new car payment, and you’ll still have to pay that when the big money gig ends! The best kind of car for a musician to drive in any situation is the one that’s paid for!
2) Realize that the agent or booker who tells you “The money will get better. This is just for now” s usually lying. The money won’t get better. If you think your band is worth $2000 a night, hold out for a clun that will pay you that. If you’re freelancing, $100 a night is not unreasonable. If someone calls you for a gig for less than that, Take it at your own risk, but subconsiously, you are only worth what you got paid last gig. I don’t fault club owners or band leaders for that, but now, I’d rather stay home than take less than I am worth.
3) Play what you believe in, and the audience will find you, or “If you build it, they will come”. What I mean by that is, I have spent a lot of time, energy and thought trying to figure out what a clubgoing audience will like, and will pay to see, and you know what I have figured out? Absolutely nothing! I do know this: If you put together a great band, with a killer show, audiences will find you, word will get out, and people will book you, your CD will sell, and the shows will get bigger etc. It’s not easy, and it doesn’t happen overnight, but if you don’t believe in it, and are just doing it to make a buck, audiences can smell it, and it turns them off.
4) Don’t quit college. You’ll never go back! Plus, staying in will get you a degree. Seems self-explainatory, but seriously…..When I ran out of scholarship money, and had to quit school to support myself, it was always with the intention of finishing my degree. It’s been 34 years now. When I said I don’t regret any of it earlier, I forgot this tidbit. I do regret not finishing college, and I regret not choosing North Texas State over UNM, just because of the contacts I would have made.
5) Of you cannot afford to record it well, don’t settle! it’s worth the money to get it down right! Having said that, a bad recording is better than no recording. If I had it to do over again, I’d take a little portable recorder to everything!! There’s a whole lot of great playing I have done over the years that got missed.
6) Get half the money upfront, and if there is not contract, don’t go.
7) Show up on time. Early, if possible!
8 ) Don’t back out, don’t send a sub, and be extremely careful wuth yout gig calendar.
9) Fill up now, even if it will make you violate rune number 7. You never know when you might run out of gas at 3 AM in the inland Empire, miles away from anyone you know, and get your gear jacked while you’re walking to a gas station!
Sorry to submit two blogs in one week, but every now and again, something comes agross my radar that I just have to comment on. I have been in several groups that I thought were great, and lots of people thought were amazing
I have worked with some real talented people on some great music, that didn’t catch fire for one reason or another. For the most part, I have no regrets. As Areek Marshall said, when I asked him about his brief tenure as a Red Hot Chili Pepper, “It was funk while it blasted!” So, I have no regrets…….
Until I see something like this! Really? This is a critically acclaimed group? This is a record that is selling?? You’re kidding me, right? I can’t get on Conan, but thses guys can?? WTF????
