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Songs vs. Videos 

Thursday, July 1, 2021  

So, let's talk about music. Musicians, nowadays, always tell you to watch their videos before listening to their songs. What kind of sense does that make? I remember talking to one artist who put up their band's video and asked me if I watched it. I said, well, no, I didn't, but I heard the song. See, what I did was, I turned the video on and went to another page. I’ll admit it, I got a little distracted. So, this artist said, so you didn't even watch the video? Again, I said, no, I don't care about the video. I'm more interested in hearing the song.  

Let’s get real here. It’s the record labels who decide what musical route the artist will eventually take. They love your rawness and realness in the beginning, but as soon as you're signed on you’re under their control. What really made you unique, now have you floundering like a fish... trying this new thing and that new thing, until you’re a former version of yourself. A great song has longevity, a music video sullies that vision. But, as long as you have a music video that goes along with the song, that's all that matters. I mean, most albums need a video to cover up the fact that the song is absolute crap! I mean, I think that's the problem because you have this idea of an artist who sounds really good raw and, then, when you watch the video everything is all cleaned up and polished.  Now, who’s the poseur? Honestly, a concert will tell me more about what a band is supposed to sound like., than a video. 

I know you guys are probably tired of hearing this story, but when I listen to AC/DC’s, “It's A Long Way to the Top,” it changed my life!  Now, when I first heard that song in 1976, sitting on my porch, I didn't realize that they made a video for it. And honestly, I didn't care. It's the song that affected me. It was more about the song and less about the music video. I’m from the old school of live performances. I was influenced by Don Kirshner's Rock Concerts, The Midnight Special, and TV shows that showcased bands playing live. I suspect I’ve lost a few, hell, maybe more than a few friends because of what I know to be true. Listen, if you’re going to be in the music industry, you have to stick to your guns as Waylon did, but you ain’t no Waylon. There ya’ go! 

 

07/01/2021

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“Sweat Fest”  

Friday, September 3, 2021 

You know what really pisses me off? Extreme heat! Now, I’m not a hot weather guy, and I can tell you that every time it gets hot, I have a meltdown, literally. My aversion to heat started back when I was a kid. I remember back in 1983 when I went to a Southern Rock music festival featuring Molly Hatchet as the headliner, as well as a bunch of other bands that were on the roster. Anyway, when I got there, I wasn’t in the best condition. So, in my inebriated state, I looked around the room, totally messed up on substances, drunk, high...you know the deal, and I was like, man, oh, man! It’s hot! Everybody was sweaty and everything. and I said to a friend of mine who was standing next to me, “This is Sweat Fest 1983!” I made a joke out of it. That's basically how I came up with the name. Like, I don't like hot weather. I mean, to me, even as a kid growing up, I always had a problem with the heat. I don't like extremes. Now, if I had to pick between cold and hot weather, I'll take the below zero temperatures. Not that I love extremely cold weather either, but I can control it by layering my clothes. There's no way you could do this during the Summer. Like, you can't take your skin off and hide in the closet. And, on top of all that, I have to wear these thin black pants, because my Wranglers are too hot. You know what else sucks about the hot weather?  Riding the subway...People smell the absolute worst! Don’t they know what a shower is? 

Damn...usually on these trips, I’m talking to my friend who lives in the Northwest, and she’s always bragging about how cool it is. Well, about a few months ago it was 114 degrees there. Who’s laughing now? Seriously, I'd say in the last 5 to 10 years, it's been harder for me to deal with New York’s weather and I don’t give a f--k what anybody says! As it stands now, I’m preparing to move where it’s cooler, and where there are actual seasons...

 

"The man that hates everything except the real thing!"

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