Category Archives: Music

Music defines my world.

Bob Lefsetz Pisses Me Off

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Bob Lefsetz, a notoriously brutal critic and lover of the music industry, has been one of my favorite daily internet reads, thanks to my friend Gail who turned me on to his Lefsetz Letter three or four years ago. His (fairly regular) daily e-mails are always a source of good industry information, humor, and insight. He’s a former music biz guy – he worked as an attorney and consultant in the music industry for many years, so he provides an interesting perspective on the business aspect that most fans don’t normally see or think about. He’s 90% of the time on point in what he’s saying.

But sometimes, the guy just pisses me off.

You can’t say Bob is unbiased in his rants, but it IS obvious that he loves music. However, what irritates me is that he makes sweeping generalizations about artists and about fans – i.e., that artists don’t know how to build fanbases, that fans don’t pay for music, that fans are flighty and have no loyalty, that neither artists nor fans have the capability of generating “word of mouth” buzz, and that every artist in the world is complicit in helping LiveNation jack up prices and make live music truly out of reach for the average, every-day joe.

Is Bob oblivious?

I know dozens of artists that are make ends meet – not millions of dollars – traveling and playing music to their fans and are happy to be doing so. And they’re GOOD, TALENTED artists, not auto-tuned record-company products. These artists have built RABID fanbases by connecting personally with fans. Just two weeks ago, I had the lead singer of an up and coming little band that I’ve been to see three times this year thank me for coming to see them, handing me a t-shirt of the band and refusing to take money for it. Another artist I know just gave away a free house concert at a fan’s home in a contest, not because he has a CD to hawk, but because he wanted to thank his fans for giving him a great year. I could list dozens of examples of this kind of thing. And I tell you what, Bob-o, this kind of reaching out to your fans inspires the kind of loyalty that makes for life-long fans. It’s the kind of intimate connection that spreads word-of-mouth word about a band. Want a good example? Zac Brown. Zac has been building his fanbase in the Southeast for over six years. Friends in MY music circle were playing Chicken Fried in 2003. They were dragging new fans to his shows when he was playing little bars in Atlanta, talking about the musicianship of his rag-tag little band. And they were the fans that cheered wildly and tweeted and Facebook statused congratulations and “woo-hoos” when Zac and the band took home their CMA for Best New Artist last week.

And another note on Zac, Bob. You’ve talked about him in your newsletter, but I don’t recall you mentioning how Zac started his own label to help record and promote other young, talented artists. THAT is another reason why his die-hard fans love him – because he’s in the music for the music.

I know hundreds of fans who spend LOTS of money, going to MULTIPLE live music events a week in intimate, hole in the wall venues to see up-and-coming artists. Me, and many of my friends, have personally purchased dozens of copies of the same album from an artist to give out to our friends, rather than burning a copy, to ensure that the artist is compensated for their talent (and most of the time, we buy the copies at a show, so that the money goes straight into the artist’s pocket, rather than them having to give some ridiculous percentage to an online retailer). We travel to see musicians, sometimes driving 5 – 6 hour round trips on weeknights, when we have to work the next morning at 8 AM, to see artists that we love. We sell merch at shows, we drag “non-music” friends to see these artists live shows, we shell out big bucks for “music experiences” like Rock by the Sea and Sixthman’s Rock Boat because we know that we will see once-in-a-lifetime musical performances and collaborations.

Sure, sure, there are more music choices today than there ever have been. Yes, there’s a lot of crap out there. But there’s also a lot of really great music that is selling and bringing people out to live shows. You gripe about TV placements, but TV placements are getting these artists heard and driving people to shows. Two weeks ago, a little band from Texas called Sleeperstar had a song called “I Was Wrong” play during a scene of “The Vampire Diaries.” The song went to something like #30 on the iTunes charts. And while certainly not all of those buyers went on to buy the full album, I would bet good money that more than a handful did. And I would bet even more money that it will translate into more people at their live shows.

So here’s my challenge to you Bob: instead of griping about the state of the industry, once a week, solicit your readership and ask them to send you the names of little-known bands. Take some of your time out and listen to them. Find one you like and promote them. People who read your newsletter LISTEN to what you say (seriously, who else could crash a LiveNation server within minutes – oh, wait, the New Kids on the Block/Back Street Boys tour did that this weekend!). Use your powers to promote good music in the world!

Music is alive and well, Bob. The revolution in the industry you rail about needing to happen is already happening.

“Nobody tells you anything…” – Shane Hines

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Last night, I watched a girl get so drunk that she passed out on the floor at the bar (and then proceeded to vomit everywhere). It took a team of us – who didn’t even know her – to get her cleaned up and outside for some fresh air. This poor girl had been left alone at the bar by her friends. She had no one there but the bar staff and three strangers who cared about her getting home safely. Who leaves their friend at a bar? We eventually tracked down a friend of hers using her cell phone. He walked to the bar to get her and was so flipping cavalier about it I wanted to smack him. Two other girls and I hailed a cab for them. I’m pretty sure her friend was a big jerk.

This morning, I’m sitting here having my cup of spiced cider and thinking about that girl. I don’t know what her story was, but there were things she said and clues that maybe things weren’t going so great in her life. I hope she got home okay, and I hope she doesn’t wake up this morning feeling too badly, or feeling embarrassed about what happened. We’ve all been there…well, maybe not there, but we’ve all done things that we’re not too proud of. You live and you learn; sometimes the lessons don’t come easily, sometimes they hurt emotionally and physically, and sometimes they come with a hangover…

At 36, although there are always things I wish I could improve, I’m happy with my life and proud of the person I am. But I’m still learning lessons, and still reminded daily that life is precious. This year has been a testament to the fact that you never know where your life is going to take a big fat right turn. When my Mom was diagnosed with cancer this summer and then had serious complications from the treatment, I was touched by the outpouring of love from our family and our friends. And I was reminded over and over again how lucky I am to have my Mom; she really has given me, my brother, and my sister everything. I was blown away by the kindness of strangers, too – when you hear all these negative media reports about the health care system, go sit in an ICU unit for a few days and watch how the nurses care for people. Then there are the “little things”… Like that I tend to hang onto things I shouldn’t – anger, sadness, hurt feelings – too long. So I’m trying very hard to let things go – “put it in a little red balloon and let it float away,” as Shelia says. And although I still take everything too seriously, I’m finally learning to laugh at myself. And just recently, I started writing again, something I had thought I’d lost the ability to do. Still learning about myself, and still surprising myself…

My friend Shane Hines released a new record this week. It’s called All the Quiet, All the Chaos. And it’s a record about this very thing – life’s curveballs, surprises, and little victories. One of the tracks is called “Nobody Tells You Anything.” I loved it the moment I heard it three or so years ago when he first started playing it, so I’m happy it found its way onto this record. I thought I’d share the lyrics here, because they’ve been running through my head this morning. And because it’s just a reminder that life can always surprise us, and that we should never take what we have for granted.

Nobody Tells You Anything – written by Shane Hines

When you wake in the morning, who knows what the day brings
The sorrow comes on without warning, and she spreads her wings
You either rise or you give up, a change in who you are to who you want to be
It’s hard to admit what is and what once was, and not to live in the space between

Cause nobody tells you love is gonna come and go
Nobody tells you God is someone you’ll never know
Nobody tells you friends will take the other side
Nobody tells you scars are usually on the inside
Nobody tells you wars inside will always rage
Nobody tells you that you can’t outrun heartbreak
Nobody tells you why you have to know the pain of watching someone you love suffer and slip away
Yeah nobody, nobody tells you anything

When you wake in the morning, who knows what the day brings
Cause happiness comes on without warning and she spreads her wings
Cause nobody tells you ’bout watching the sunrise
Nobody tells you how good it feels after you cry
Nobody tells you ’bout staying up all night with friends
Nobody tells you ’bout the first snow of the season
Nobody tells you that pain eventually goes away
Nobody tells you the best things can never be explained
Nobody tells you how a heart ripped and torn knows nothing but joy when your child is born
Yeah nobody, nobody tells you anything

Cause nobody believes, no matter how hard you try
The one thing that we cannot control is time

“City of Night” Free Download

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Bruce Springsteen the PromiseIf you know me at all, you know that the release of Bruce Springsteen’s The Promise is in the running for the most anticipated event of my year. For those not in the loop, The Promise is a 3CD/3DVD combo set that includes the “lost” recordings from the sessions that led to Springsteen’s Darkness on the Edge of Town. I have loved Springsteen since I was knee-high to a grasshopper, and while Born to Run will always be my favorite album, Darkness on the Edge of Town is the one where I figured it all out – the record where, at the grand old age of 11, Springsteen went beyond a pop culture phenomenon for me. It’s the first record that I remember listening to the songs and the stories on, the one where I truly fell in love with him as a songwriter. It’s a brilliant, magnificent piece of art and if you don’t own Darkness, or if you’re one of those people that always says, “I really should know Springsteen more than Born in the USA,” this is the album to get.

So…with that long, rambling intro… Amazon has “City of Night,” one of the outtake songs on The Promise up for free download today. Go grab it and love it.

Concert Etiquette with a Diehard Fan

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May I gripe for a moment?

Well, you actually don’t have a choice in the matter…I’m going to whine.

I go to a lot of concerts. It’s my thing. Some people golf. Some people get manicures and pedicures. Live music…that’s my love. A lot of times, I hit shows solo. But sometimes I have friends that go along. And there’s the rub.

I love meeting up with my buddies at shows or taking them to shows. I love watching a friend who has never seen an artist before fall in love with the music. I love singing along with my friends and sharing that smile during a show like, ‘Heck yeah, this is the greatest concert ever…” However, there are RULES to going to a concert with me. When the rules are violated, I get irritated. And it makes me not too much fun to be around. So, just to set the record straight, let’s set them out in print, shall we?

1) I get to the show for door time, unless otherwise stated. Why, you ask, when there’s always downtime prior to the show actually starting? Well, quite frankly – you can’t trust venues and artists. Arrival at door time means that I guarantee I can see the act I came to see. You never know, especially on co-bills, when the venue is going to switch around who is playing first. Or, the artist could start before the venues “suggested” start time. If I show up late, I could MISS something. And who knows, I just might like the opener. Or if you get there early, you might catch the tail end of sound check, or hear an artist jump in with the opener on a song, or get to chat with the artist at the bar before the show. YOU JUST NEVER KNOW. This means a couple of things: If I’m picking you up, I am picking you up at the stated time and expect to leave within five minutes. If we’re meeting for drinks or dinner before hand, I will leave our little party in order to make it there for doors. You get the idea.

2) Don’t ask me what time the show will start. See #1. Venues and artists are unreliable. They start when they feel like it. I can make an educated guess, but frankly, if you’ve been to a concert before, so can you. Don’t expect me to do the work for you. Look up the start time on the website and do the math. Opener starts 30 minutes after doors open. Plays 45 minutes. 15 – 30 minute downtime between sets. BUT THERE ARE NEVER ANY GUARANTEES.

3) Holding seats/spots is a right limited to quick runs to the bar or bathroom. I loathe this almost more than anything, but especially when shows are crowded. Don’t ask me to hold your seat or spot because you want to go outside and smoke a cigarette or go chat with your other friends. Between set times is okay, but make sure you do it with plenty of time before the band or act starts. I came to watch the show, NOT to worry about whether or not drunk girl and her frat boy boyfriend behind me are going to push into the 5 x 2 piece of cement that I’ve contorted my body to stretch over. You can only hold off the vultures for so long. I can tell someone once that my friend went to the bathroom, but if you’re not back 30 minutes later, they are likely to push into the spot/seat – and I’m likely to let them. Plus, if you’re leaving in the middle of the set, that’s just rude to the artist.

4) For the love of God, don’t talk to me (or others around me) during the show! This should really go without saying, but let me clarify: Quick observations about the artist, the song being played, etc., are acceptable. Trying to talk to me about what’s happening between a mutual friend and her boyfriend while the artist is performing is not. Talking loudly to someone else while I’m trying to watch the show is also sure to irritate the living piss out of me.

5) Excessive woo hoos/requests/singing along/over zealousness. So you’re a fan too? That is awesome. Applause – good! A “Hell yeah” when the artist plays your favorite song – completely respectable. Singing along so loudly that I can’t hear the performer? UNACCEPTABLE. A shrill “WOOOO HOOOOOOOO” after every song? UNACCEPTABLE. Continuing to yell “Play [INSERT SONG NAME HERE]!” over and over again? UNACCEPTABLE. Keep it cool, kids. No amount of alcohol null and voids this rule.

6) Leaving before the show is over. I’m a diehard fan. I want to stay until the very last note is sung. That means when the music stops, I’m going to wait to see if there’s an encore. Or a double encore. And then, I’m most likely going to try to go look at merch or get something signed, so (especially if you’ve driven with me) don’t expect to leave before the last song is over to beat traffic. Not going to happen.

That’s it, really. I realize, after reading this, that I sound like a total bitch, but really, I’m putting these out there for your benefit as well as mine. I don’t want to be grumpy at a show. I want to have fun with you, my friends, and leave saying, “Best.time.ever.” The rules are fairly simple…let’s all play along.

Acoustic Gareth Goodness

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We all know I adore him, so no need to torture you with a long post.

My good friend and fantabulous musician Gareth Asher made a stop by 106.5 The End when he was here in September. He and another favorite, Michael Tolcher, performed a bunch of acoustic songs. The good folks at 106.5 decided to record and share them. Since I left town that morning to go home because my Mom was very ill, seeing these videos makes me way happy. You can check out the whole series of five songs, but I thought I’d post my favorite of them here – a new song called “Holy Train.”

All I have to say is, “Wow.”

Thanks 106.5!

Gareth Asher: Website | Facebook | Twitter | MySpace
Michael Tolcher: Website | Facebook | Twitter | MySpace