I’m Not The Only One
Never thought I was the only one but busking is a funny experience. You have to pick yourself up by the scruff of your own neck and drag your stuff out there, not asking permission and Do it. I never considered myself part of a community. Never belonged to a support group. My experience has been in bands and part of playing in a band is an “us against the world” mentality. It’s always nice to find people who think like you do. Its even better when you can respect and admire what they do. The icing on the cake is learning from them while maintaining your own unique orientation. And so it is with this awesome group from SF called Clangin’ & Bangin’ I subscribe to a “music business insiders” newsletter called TheLefsetzLetter. It has lots valuable insights into the music biz and the world of music as a business which has lost its soul. The Clangin’ & Bangin’ guys gave a thoughtful response to one of the articles in the newsletter. I contacted one of the guys and asked if I could reprint his response as it was so refreshing to find a kindred spirit. A drummer friend and I were frustrated with all these issues being discussed and decided to do something about it. We’ve been in bands for a few years, played bars, decent venues, small festivals, etc. But definitely no $ or major recognition. So over the last year we’ve been dragging an upright piano and drum kit all around the Bay Area. We started playing on the streets for free, in winter, (with hand warmers!) and it has led to all kinds of gigs. We still play on the street often, but those initial gigs led to private parties, MLB baseball games, NPR recognition, and actual paid gigs. Our drummer quit his job a few months ago and has subsisted on playing gigs ever since. Granted, he does have some loans and grants for music school, but he makes more money playing music than in his previous jobs. His classmates can’t believe how many gigs he plays. But they weren’t handed to us. If you put yourself out there you never know what can happen. http://music.clangnbang.com/ -Kirby Lee Hammel Well said. And kudos to anyone who pushes a piano out into the street to play. I promise to never bitch about lugging my drums ever again. ...
A Man Without A Country – Vonnegut
I subscribe to this newsletter and saw this Kurt Vonnegut quote in it from A Man Without A Country, which I haven’t read, which I’m gonna run out and get Reprinted with no permission of anyone but me. “If you want to really hurt your parents, and you don’t have the nerve to be gay, the least you can do is go into the arts. I’m not kidding. The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possibly can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.” “A Man Without a Country”,...
Death Of The Rockstar – Rockin The Deathstar
The other day, one of my bandmates made the comment “It seems like people are becoming more and more nervous every day” This should be obvious to everyone. It’s not just a political situation. Its not just an economic situation. It’s a world situation. It comes with the death of the rockstar. It should be obvious also that the potential power of music to move masses of people is not a small thing. “The 60’s”, that great mystery period where large numbers of people began to question the status quo and the powers that be, was at least coordinated by and with, music. Music said something. It no longer does. Music’s ability as a cultural force to mobilize people has been marginalized by the business interests which once helped foster it. Record companies which once helped record, select and develop the artists they signed with have been bought out by electronics and media companies. This has not been a successful marriage. It used to be that no musician was “In it for the money” And they didn’t really know how to make it with this unique product called music. So some businessmen cam along and took care of that side of it. Then there was money involved and the musicians began to demand it as part of the package. Then the business guys used other business tools called marketing to make more of it. Technology advanced and soon we had videos explaining what the music meant. And then it became unnecessary for the music to mean anything because the business side got more “efficient” The playing field is supposed to be evened out these days with this mass communication tool called the Internet. Theoretically, anyone can make music and market it themselves and they don’t need” the music business or record companies of the past. But, they do need to do all that themselves, instead of making the music that moves people. Again, the rockstar has died because he now has to become the business man as well. Originally music was the thing you did if you had a creative impulse to inspire people to have faith in themselves, or the future or to question the way things are around you. It was originally the purest form of rebellion. Now the Rockstar has become part of the Deathstar. He wasn’t so much lured to the dark side by greed or by the dark forces, for the dark side exists in all of us. Becoming his own business minded self managed DIY solo artist blogger merch guy all adds up to the musician doing his music for something other than...
No Regrets Living & Drumming
On tour with the Zeppelin2 show. Shows going great. Saw an old friend/fan the other night in Bloomington In. He’s seen us about 5 times. In different cities. Came to St Louis, Cleveland House of Blues, Bunch of other shows, and last night Bloomington In. Honest to god Zeppelin fan, loves us. I come off stage, recognize him, start talking. Very nice, very complimentary. He says “If I had a million dollars, I’d give you guys half just to keep doing what you’re doing” Later he upped it to a billion dollars. He went on to tell me about “…when he was younger he played drums” followed by “…I wish i kept at it” followed by “…I bet your life is so fun…” This is not the first time i’ve heard this line of thought from people coming to see bands I’ve been in. Actually happens quite a bit with Zeppelin 2. While I graciously accepted his compliments and thanked him for his kindness and enthusiasm, I also said ” You have an awesome life too. You have a great wife (who was with him) who puts up with you dragging her all over the country to see us” It really got me thinking about the choices we make in life. I’ve made many and I’ve made many bad ones, like most people. It’s always interesting to me to see how people view a career in music. When It’s successful, like the Zeppelin2 band is, it seems to truly inspire people. Which I love. However, not all people see the amount of work and struggle it takes to actually persist and make your dream of playing music a reality. Maybe there’s a serous lesson in here somewhere, although I’m not sure I have it defined yet. The simple version is “Never regret your life. Make decisions the best you can with the information you have at the time. But never regret your own life” The reason this conversation struck me was that nobody has yet to walk up to me on the street while playing and say the same thing. Few people walk up to a street musician and say “I wish I could do what you do” Yet this comment is common when you play in “approved theaters and music venues” And I understand it because in the back of my mind, when I’m playing in the street, I’m thinking to some degree “These people walking by, probably assume I’m homeless, or crazy or I’ve got some agenda or, or, or” Yet, the most satisfying thing I’ve done in recent times is playing in the street. Interesting....
Baby Likes To Rock
Seeing the reactions people have to a guy setting up a drum kit in the street is really what this blog is all about. I’ll start a new category with this post, because there’s one group of people who really dig on the drums. Kids. I think its safe to say that KIDS LOVE DRUMS. Another theme here is that communication solves everything. This especially applies to kids. The trick with communicating with children is reaching THEIR reality. And apparently, rhythm is a reality that kids will communicate to and with. The other day while playing in Golden Gate Park, I had an interaction with a total stranger that was amazing. Today, I got the following email from her mom. Hi Ian, Thanks for entertaining us on Saturday! Violet was rockin’ out from around the corner and got very excited when I brought her closer to see you and listen. When I played these videos back in front of her, she started dancing again. I think it was good exercise for her because two days later she started walking. At 13 months old, she’s probably one of your youngest fans! Cheers, I think the video says it all. Notice that when I play a groove, she moves, and when I play a solo, she gets all messed up. This email and video brought a tear to my eye. I hate to admit to myself sometimes how jaded I am. When you play drums in the street, you need to be willing to experience anything, good and bad. Its these kind of interactions that make life worthwhile. Thanks to Violet and her...
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