..another quick one (while he's..erm...dead)

...This Good Friday, April 22nd, will be the 9th installment of the fundraiser/ tribute to Joe Strummer, and The Responsibles will be playing it, for the ninth time. Started by local Strummer/ Clash fanatic, Glen "The Hamilton Kid" Faulman as a way to pay tribute to the departed (too early) Strummer, I have had the opportunity to watch this event grow in popularity, numbers, and above all, fun. In fact, it's now stretched over two alcohol-soaked nights, in order to accommodate the amount of bands who want to participate--their time, effort, gear, etc, for free. Otherwise snarky, bitter, grumpy musicians actually getting along with the, let's face it, "competition" for the sake of charity, and, admittedly a sense of community. Speaking of charities, Glen has wisely spread the love and lolly over the years--from buying instruments for music classes in poor schools, to the Tim Horton's children's camp fund, to the Tivoli restoration fund, the focus of this year's tribute (although, in light of recent events, I would have gone for another 1005 Steelworker's benefit).
...but equally, and perhaps more so, this event is arguably one of the most fun of the year. I'm sure many would agree that their "Easter Saturdays" have been lessened in power and thought by the previous night--woe to those who have to play on the second night! Generally, the idea of playing a bunch of covers leaves me cold, but to see and feel the way an audience of like-minded individuals reacts to Clash tunes (regardless of how sloppily played) is utterly amazing, and has made me look more closely at the song writing talents of the band. There is much more under the seemingly simple surface--these fellows had/ have chops and above all, energy. Sometimes, I wish that people would convey even an eighth of their enthusiasm for our originals, but at the same time, I do enjoy "playing" (in my mind at least) Mick Jones...I even have a hat...
..so, if you are in/ near Hamilton on the nights of the 22nd and 23rd, drop into This Ain't Hollywood, on James St. North, to have a bloody good time...chase away the winter cobwebs, and remember Joe Strummer in a way (I would imagine) he would like to me recalled...
...on a side note, Big Audio Dynamite (B.A.D.) have just done a mini-tour of the States, and are now back in the UK for the Festival season. I've watched some YouTube clips of them, and they are in good form--I just wish they would come to Canada...ah well, there's always Carbon/ Silicon...

...in memoriam...

...just a short one this time...

...this Sunday, March 27th, marks the 11th anniversary of Ian Dury's passing. Although he has garnered several biographies, and a film based on his life, along with an increased recognition of his talents, he still remains more of a cult favourite, which is both a curse and a blessing. A curse in that, obviously, he scorned convention, and a blessing in that finally (but perhaps too late) people are realizing what a fascinating career and life the man had. Have a look at the BBC Documentary, made in the early 1980s for a better idea..http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PcZmL1wdaE

..it's about an hour in ten-minute increments. The DVD of the film released last year should be available in North America shortly, and the books are always readily available (they may have to be ordered, but well worth it)...

...he was an entertainer who truly entertained. He has the power to lift me out of almost any nasty, sluggish, or self-pitying mood I can muster. He may be a skeleton now, but definitely NOT in my closet. I wear my admiration for Mr. Lovepants on my sleeve, and everywhere else...

...a diamond geezer...

"Takin' Care Of Business..."

....Gene Simmons could probably teach you how to make millions from being a musician. I can't even come close. This is why I have a "square" job--but no, I do not look like this stock-photo fellow on the right. That being said, perhaps it is time to discuss my own experiences related to the business of music, in no particular order.

1. Gettin' paid--whether one does music for fun or business, getting paid is a good thing. I have never felt ashamed about receiving forty dollars after lugging gear over vast distances at my own/ other band members' expense and time, playing full on for several hours, and allowing every other act to use my/ our gear. I have appreciated each and every beer ticket I have ever received, even if it was only good for "unpopular" brands of dubious vintage/ age. Neither have I felt ashamed of asking for the monies owed. Perhaps more than once, if the "promoter" is still around (See earlier post about band vs promoter). As noted, I am not in this FOR money, but, as anyone who plays knows, gear, and its upkeep costs money. It's just nice to know that perhaps, if nothing else, the cost of gasoline has been recouped. Of course, you can make all sorts of different arrangements--collect at the door, a percentage of the bar, play for booze, etc. To each band, his/ her own. However, for the last eight years or so, virtually all of the money The Responsibles have made has gone into the almighty kitty, which is a damn good (not my) idea. Knowing me, I would have spent it on beer anyway, thus increasing the club/ bar owners hold over my rock n' roll soul. Again, it's a good feeling getting something back, especially when it comes to...

2. "Merch" ( as they say). Putting stuff "out" is expensive. Whether it is a CD, T-Shirts, etc, good stuff costs good money. I've tried to go cheap in the past, but it has never worked out well. As far as CDs go, there really can be no cheese paring. But, do some homework on different areas of the project--from the actual studio, mastering, pressing, etc. I learned the hard way, in perhaps what is a cautionary tale. In brief, it has to do with an old band of mine, RIOTSTAR's one and only CD, which was on shaky legs to begin with. I wish I had at least some of the money we had earned at hand to pay for this behemoth. For expediency's sake, the experience in one sentence *deep breath* Studio let the meter run, "producer" took off with money destined for owner, I pay for the "tapes" which have been erased, then attempt to "master" the digital mess at another studio, proceed to CD production shack, complete with "art department" who have difficulty, at $75/ hour, telling the difference between "red" and "black", not to mention any popular spelling conventions, then off to the pressers, both the booklet (made $500 more expensive by the sudden appearance of the singer, who wanted every lyric printed in deluxe fold-out style) and the CD itself, then postage and handling, an additional "mastering fee", and straight to my door--at a cost of almost three thousand dollars. I know its a run-on, fragmented sentence, but sometimes that's what my train of thought is like. Besides, the bile is starting to rise, and I remember a certain band member at the "Release Party" casually mentioning to a patron that the CD was something "We just kinda threw together"....I'll stop now, the lesson ended, to be positive about the beautiful fruit that is..

3. FREE MONEY--yes, through contests, government programmes, etc. Whatever it is, TAKE IT! Swallow your pride, as I, and many others have done, and get the scraps. For the Responsibles last release, we were lucky enough to get a Canada Council grant for the arts to produce/ press the CD. For this, I am eternally grateful. Perhaps we "sold out", but for the third time, it was nice to have to pay very little out of our own pockets to get the thing out. All it takes is the motivation and initiative to do the paperwork, which we had done previously, and voila! Plus, this kind of benefit can lead to others, such as increased exposure, etc. It doesn't hurt, really it doesn't. Virtually painless, actually, and I still sleep very well, thank you.

So, I've not given any concrete lessons to those that dream of becoming full-time rock stars, but I think anyone can learn from my many, many, myriad mistakes. Gene Simmons I am not, and do not intend to be, but in a nutshell, every little drop in the bucket counts, especially when paying for a rock and roll life out of your own pocket.

..."You should come over and jam sometime..."

...a difficult question, indeed. As a knee jerk reaction, I would probably go with "no"...the very idea of jamming makes me think of a bunch of people with instruments making a lot of noise, and not getting anywhere. Waiting for two hours outside an apartment building because they went out for dinner, and perhaps a movie, and left their cellphones at home. Or, after a half hour's playing, a "band is born", booked into a bar next weekend for three sets. Of course, every band I've ever been in has started out with, I suppose "jamming"---from the first awkward practice, to actually writing original songs. But just to "jam" for the sake of it..?..I don't know...
My aversion probably stems from the fact that I'm not a very good player. That is, I can't just play a "pick up" "session", I need many practices before I feel comfortable with the other players, as I do with, say, The Responsibles (who after eight years together, have developed a "mind meld" that many musicians possess). That cohesion only took four or five years to cohere...
Also, having been to a few "jams", I know that there is a good percentage chance of the old standbys being dragged out, and beaten into leather.."Louie, Louie", etc, along with the inevitable, and ofttimes unendurable "Blues Jam". Sure, I guess it sounds cool to those involved, much like revving an engine does to a gearhead at 3 in the morning. So many players, guitarists, especially, when left to their own devices, fall back on the ol' 12 bar crutch. Fun, because it's easy. And if you didn't like the solo you played the first time around, chances are that you'll have your chance again. (HINT--if you don't want to be invited back, pretend you are excited for your "turn", and then when it comes, drop your hands at your sides and stare into space--it worked for me!)
...reading this over, I *sound* like a wanker...one that doesn't like music unless it's already packed and ready to go. Maybe this is a result of my New Wave upbringing? Who knows? I should try to be a little open minded, but I draw the line at adding didgeridoos...
In a practical sense, I should have done more "jamming" earlier on, as now, I really don't have the time for it (see previous post). As I pointed out, most of my disgust comes from a feeling of inferiority. So, I end this (less than outstanding--see previous post encore) entry with a vow--to try playing with more people, and to simply have fun.....or, start another band...

...a question of taste...

...firstly, an announcement...my son was born this past week. Everyone is happy healthy, and home safe. No real need to go into details here..
...musically speaking, the little fella has had no real opportunity to "groove" yet..mostly my warbling and good ol' CBC Radio 2. Amongst music fans, of course, the question of a child's musical future is a natural one..so here are some answers...

1. No, there will be no pictures taken in the style shown. Hopefully, there will be no "mohawks", studded wrist bands, or mini band T-shirts either. I am not one to pass judgements on others, but I do have my own opinions.
2. Have I decided what instrument(s) my child is going to play? Huh? I mostly try to decide which hand to hold the dirty diaper in during changing. If he expresses an interest later on, he will of course be encouraged. Otherwise, he has other things to do first.
3. What kind of music will we let him listen to? What? Am I his programme director? Is there a CanCon minimum here? For a while, I think he will be listening to what most other infants listen to. I'm not sure if there is an alt-kiddie scene, and I won't be looking to hard for it if it indeed exists.
4. Of course, he will grow up around music--most people these days do, in one way or another. Do I think he'll "dig" my favourite artists? Probably not. In fact, I hope he doesn't. That's the way it works. During his teens (can't even think about that right now!) I expect that he will positively hate every band his farty old Dad likes, and revel in music that I just can't understand. Perhaps, given time and experience, he may come to enjoy things other than what's "in" for he and his contemporaries, which is the best hope I can have.
5. If Dad is still in a band when he is of age to go to bars, again, I doubt he will want to see his sad old pops "rockin'" on stage, much less drive him home after the gig.
...still, there is always hope....(please form a boy band, please form a boy band, please form a boy band...Papa wants to retire!)...

...Nook O' The New Year...

*please read the "Disclaimer(s) at the very top before proceeding*



First, let me wish one and all a Happy New Year...

...of course, after every party, there comes the denouement...the long, protracted sigh. This is my sigh. I declared verbally, and digitally, that 2009 was our worst year as a band (The Responsibles) for gigs. 2010 was only slightly better, but marred by numerous instances of exponential flabbiness in regard to pushing forward. Let me be the first to say that I was as involved as anyone...all circumstances really beyond our control. I had hoped that we could have at least recorded our 3rd full-length CD, but no dice, as they say. We barely practiced, we barely wrote, and we barely played. Mind you, we are all, erm..seasoned gentlemen with busy lives, and gigs (for us anyway) are few and far between. If a marital analogy may be used, and I believe it can, this was our mid-life crisis, our "time away" from each other--the CDs were grown, out of the house, and it was just the four of us rambling around in the basement, wondering if/ could/ should we have another recording. I certainly did/ do. It would be nice to make this release our "London Calling"...a culmination of eight years of work and partnership, which I do not want to see go to waste. We have outlasted many other, perhaps initially, more exciting, musical marriages, and still pull it together quite well. I just want this to work out...stop me before I get weepy...I couldn't imagine myself with anyone else...I'm too old to go looking at band notices in music shops...
...still, who knows? This could be our year, for once. We don't ask for much, and usually get something similar in return...no point in being bitter...better to abide by our four guiding principles...
1. Write Songs
2. Record Them
3. Play Them Live
4. Don't Suck!
..how's that for a pre-nuptial agreement, huh...?