The CD Vault and How To Avoid It

One thing I have learned this past semester as the station manager for Simpson College's radio station 88.9 KSTM FM is this; the amount of bands that never make it big is astounding. And that is a shame considering many of the bands who don't make have great music and talent.

Currently one of my main tasks is packing up our station for our temporary move across campus while the new student center is being constructed. This packing process includes going through nearly 5-8,000 CD's (estimated) that are collecting dust in the station. It honestly is kind of an overwhelming task.

However it is kind of fun to go through and listen to a variety of bands that have had their stuff sent to the station over the past ten to fifteen years or discs that the station has bought personally over that span. It is truly amazing how many bands have come and gone through that time period. There are a lot of artists that I have never heard of or ones that really only had one or two hits and then died off.

Seeing this mass vault of music only proves to me one point and that is this; building and sustaining a career in the music business is damn near impossible. You have to not only have talent but you have to be able to market yourself and give people something that they don't already have. Many of the bands/artists who have music up in this station must have failed at one or all of those things because otherwise they would probably be getting airplay at our station and others.

As a musician it is kind of unsettling knowing that when I release a CD it could potentially end up collecting dust for ten years in a college radio station until somebody decides to clean and possibly get rid of it. That's a hard pill to swallow for any musician but in the end it is the chance you have to take if you want try and be heard by the public. If you take that chance and are successful then you will most likely be selling out concert venues soon after. However if you try and fail then at least you can say that you tried and maybe you were lucky enough to have your songs played a few times on at least a lowly campus radio station. At least that should count for something.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Upcoming in Des Moines

I wanted to take the opportunity this week to promote a special event upcoming this week in Des Moines. That event is the Belize Dance Marathon being held this Saturday from noon to midnight on the Drake University campus in Olmstead Hall.

This event is a dance marathon in which all money raised will help send children to school in the country of Belize. Registration for the event is $10 and dancers are encouraged to raise more money on top of that to donate to the cause.

There will be many different acts including DJ's, dance troupes, and bands (one of which is one of my bands I am involved with West of E Street along with 2010 Veisha winners EGG and the band Bella Verona). I would encourage everybody in the area to come out this Saturday and support this great cause. The entertainment will be awesome and it should be an all around fun event for all.

For more information visit this link here.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Music Advice Blog

So for anybody out there who has ever tried then they know how hard it is to find a band and keep a band together. I know countless times where great bands have broken up over petty differences or known many great musicians who search forever to find a band they click with and in many cases it is too late when they do find it.

That is where I am at right now with my music. I am honestly at the point where I do not know where to go next. I keep trying to find musicians to start a good, solid blues/rock band around Des Moines that would be committed to playing a lot of the time. However so far all of the musicians I have asked are either playing with a band or not willing to commit to something. It is really frustrating sometimes.

So I guess today I am giving advice to any musician out there who is reading this. If you have a band and you are good then do everything to stay together. Because even in a larger market it can be tough to find musicians to work with and to get started up again. I am hoping that I can soon find what I am looking for before I go insane.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Blues on Grand Gets New Life

Street view of the newly renovated front of
 the former Blues on Grand location in Des Moines.

Hey everybody thanks again for reading my blog here at Music Reviews by a Musician. If anybody has a topic they would like me to blog about please send me a request at jesseastewartmusic@gmail.com.

So recently I was informed that someone in Des Moines is reopening the former Blues on Grand location. The location downtown is being renovated and is set to open sometime in April. For the full article from KCCI in Des Moines click here.

Arguably the former home to blues in the midwest; Blues on Grand was a staple to the Des Moines music scene until it closed in October of 2010. Now new owner Frank Farrell is set to reopen the spot as the Gas Light; not Blues on Grand.

What is my take on this you may ask? Well as much as I loved Blues on Grand and the fact that it was a home to blues in Des Moines; I am all for the reopening of the location under a new name and with a new style. Des Moines is in need of quality music venues and the room at the old Blues on Grand location was one of the best in my opinion. Granted it was not a very big place but the aura that it put off and the sound that came out of that room was tremendous.

It will definitely be different to step foot in the old Blues on Grand once it reopens as the Gas Light. Judging by the changes to the outside of the building I can only guess the inside will be changed as well. Nothing in my opinion will ever replace the history and vibe of Blues on Grand. However when one tradition dies it allows for a new one to rise. Hopefully the Gas Light can start its own tradition in that location and help further the music scene in Des Moines.

Live music is where it is at and the more venues there are for it in Des Moines the better it is for all of us eager musicians out there just chomping at the bit to play as much as possible. Kudos to Mr. Farrell for trying to add to the Des Moines music scene; hopefully this works out for the best.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,

JAS

Photo credit goes to  fellow friend and musician Josh Tilton

Another Online Discovery

Hey everybody I'm back after a hiatus here with another blog post. Today's post is about an artist I once again stumbled across online who I think many of you will like if you have not heard of him. His name is Jake McVey.

Jake McVey is an interesting story because he gave up his lucrative guitar building business in order to chase his dream of becoming a professional musician. I must say that was a wise choice because McVey is very talented. His sound definitely fits that mold of today's country music sound.

After listening to McVey's music for a little while I was very impressed with not only the musicality but the song quality. Many of the songs that McVey plays are capable of being hits in my opinion. And although his music may not be innovative it is very catchy. I feel like I am listening to country music being sung by a southern rocker from the 70's who just got back from church. There is definitely a gospel feel to his music and that just makes for catchy material.

I am going to go out and say that this is another artist who will breakthrough soon into the country music scene. The guy has catchy music and a great sound that will carry him a long way in my opinion.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Update

Hey everybody thanks for continuing to read my blog Music Reviews by a Musician. For this Friday there will be no new blog; I'm sorry, I have been extremely busy and have not had time to review anything. Plus this next week I will be on vacation so hopefully I come up with some new things to review. Blog posts for next Monday and Friday are up in the air because I do not know if I will have Internet where I am going so if anything make sure to read again in one week as I will begin resuming blogging once I am back from vacation.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

My Experience at Ryan Bingham and The Dead Horses

Ok so last night I had the pleasure of attending the Ryan Bingham and the Dead Horses concert in Des Moines with my fellow classmate/blogger/musician/good friend Grant Rodgers. The concert was moved from the original location of the Vaudeville Mews to People's Court due to a high volume of ticket sales.

Well let me just that I understand why. After last night's show all I can say is WOW!!! I have been a Bingham fan for a little while now but his concert in Des Moines last night was phenomenal. It was the first time in a long time that I have been in the audience at a live performance and have simply been blown away from start to finish.

For those who don't know who Ryan Bingham is shame on you because you should. He and his band The Dead Horses are very talented and their brand of alternative country/blues/rock is simply a joy to listen to. There are no frills and over produced garbage here; this is straight forward, in your face, rocking music.

There are definitely a lot of people who know Ryan Bingham. People's Court was jam packed last night and for some there enthusiasm got the best of them. Grant and I had the fortunate to be right at the front of the stage to watch Bingham and Co. but I had a few times where some drunk, over zealous hippie super fan literally tried forcing me out of my spot. However since I realized that a) the dude was drunk and or high and b) he was probably in his 60's and it wouldn't take much for my 275 frame to knock his block off; I put up with him and he eventually left so I could reclaim my spot. I figured if it was that important to him then he could stand there for a little bit.

However not to get too of topic I must once again say how great the concert was. Even the opening act Liam Gerner from Australia was phenomenal. He provided a great opening to the show and he even jammed on a couple songs with The Dead Horses to end his set.

This was definitely a great experience with my great friend Grant and if anyone reading this ever hears that Ryan Bingham is coming to town in the future; GET TICKETS!!!! His show is one that you do not want to miss if you can help it.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Update

Just an update to my readers I've been having technical issues lately with the blog and time constraints have really been on me. So starting Monday I will resume blogging every Monday and Friday only. Thanks and make sure to check back Monday!!!

JAS

Another YouTube Discovery!!!

Well as I was messing around on YouTube last night and not doing homework I came across a very good young blues/rock band out of all places Texas. Although there are not many videos up on YouTube, the videos that are up showcase a very tight, soulful band from San Antonio. This band is Forty Six.

Here is an excerpt from the band's official website:

Born out of a high-school music theory class in San Antonio, Texas, Forty-Six has created a genre of music sure to capture the soul of anyone who listens to them. Comprised of Steven Marcus (Lead vocals and Guitar), Matt Franke (Bass and backing vocals), Chuck Costello (Guitar), and Jonathan Carter (Drums, Programming, and backing vocals), Forty-Six is on the verge of creating music history. Drawing on Marcus' passionate, soulful vocals, guitar and fresh song writing, Franke's smooth bass styling, the powerful guitar riffs of Costello, and Carter's precise rock style beats, Forty-Six's commercial style of blues/rock/pop music and lyrics provides something for fans of all ages.

After watching every video on the band's YouTube channel I can say that I am now a fan. As if it took much however. Blues/rock is my favorite type of music and these guys can definitely play it. The sheer power and soulfulness that are in these songs, it is no wonder why the band won a summer long battle of the bands competition at Sunset Station in San Antonio.

Of their original material songs like "Free Again"and "Mexico Blues" are just a taste of the immense musical talent and songwriting ability these four guys have. Also on there YouTube channel are a few covers that are very good as well. Most notably their take on the ever popular Los Lonely Boys song "Heaven" is one of the best I have heard.

Hopefully these guys can branch out of Texas and make it big soon. They definitely have the talent to do so. Make sure to check these guys out if you are reading this, I think you may just like them.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Say What!?!?!?

Ok everybody so this one will be short but I just have something to touch on here today.

Apparently according to comments by Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett the band will enter the studio in May to record a project in a matter of a two week period. Say what!?!?!?

Metal icons Metallica are set to record a project in
a two week period this coming May.

According to Hammett:

"we (Metallica) had planned on doing it in March, but we pushed it back to May. I don't want to give too much away, but it's not really 100 percent a Metallica record. It's a recording project, let's put it that way. Without getting too deep into it, it's more a recording project than a bona fide Metallica album. Whether or not we can pull it off in just two weeks remains to be seen."

So Metallica is going to do a recording project that is not a 100 percent Metallica album and they will try to do it in two weeks. I don't know whether to be worried or excited for this "recording project." I am not a die hard Metallica fan but I do enjoy most of their music. After the poor reviews they had with their release of the album "St. Anger" and their recovery with the ever popular album "Death Magnetic"; one begins to wonder are we going to see another "St. Anger" or what?

I would like to think that this project could be interesting if they manage to do it in two weeks. However I also feel like it could be a bad thing to try and record something in that short of time. Artists spend months upon months, or years if you are Axl Rose, to try and perfect an album. So why would Metallica go and do this?

Well I guess it just follows with who Metallica is, rough and in your face. From their early years on they have not tried to be perfect but rather play from their heart in my opinion. I believe that is what they are trying to accomplish here. So I say best wishes Metallica, hopefully you come out with something that your fans will enjoy and not have another mess like "St. Anger" ended up being. That would not be good for the music industry right now.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo from Flickr/Creative Commons-Esparta Palma

I Am Shocked!

Lady Gaga at the piano at a concert
in Toronto. Her piano skills are featured
in her new song "You and I".

Hey everybody thanks for your continued support of my blog. Once again if you have any topic you want me to blog about then e-mail me at jesseastewartmusic@gmail.com.

As I was searching around the web today I came across a Rolling Stone article talking about Lady Gaga's new album "Born This Way." Now why I read this I do not know because I am not a fan of Lady Gaga's music at all. I have felt for the longest time and I still feel that her music is nothing more than the typical pop garbage of today. I want to hear music created by people not by a drum machine and crazy techno effects.

However in this article I found a video of her new song "You and I" and I must say I AM SHOCKED! The version of this song she played featured Gaga on piano and vocals with a basic band behind her; drums and guitars. Also the lyrics are very catchy and the song in my opinion is a damn good rock ballad.

Where has this been all along? That's what I want to know. If Lady Gaga made more music like this instead of her over the top pop music; I would listen more. Granted she is making millions right now off her current music but I feel like she could shine even more if she keeps making music in the style of "You and I" or in other words rock music.

I also see that on her new album she taps Bruce Springsteen's saxophone player Clarence Clemons to play on her new album. That is also something that intrigues me. So as much as I never thought I would say this; I will give Lady Gaga's new album a chance.

I highly doubt that the rest of the record will be like this and I will probably hate most of it, but maybe I will be proved wrong. However I feel that if Gaga can write more rock songs; she could take up the role of somebody like Janis Joplin from the 60's or Pat Benatar from the 80's. Granted rock music needs a new over the top women figure to pump some life into. Maybe Gaga could be the one if she can make more music like this. If anything I would hope she would so I don't have to hear anymore "Bad Romance" or crap like that.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo courtesy of Naomi Lir, Flickr/Creative Commons

Soundgarden; Back For The Long Term?

Cover art from Soundgarden's 1994 album
"Superunknown"

Hey everybody thanks for checking out my past posts and I hope you keep on doing so in the future. Once again if there is a topic or an artist you would like me to check out and blog about please e-mail me at jesseastewartmusic@gmail.com. With that it is a nice day outside here in Iowa so this will be a short Friday blog but an interesting one at that.

As many music lovers may know the band Soundgarden, ever popular for their great music from the grunge movement in the 90's, have decided to reunite for some live performances this year after a long split. Now according to a Rolling Stone article it appears the band may be back for long term with a potential new album in the works.

What does this mean for the music world? It is hard to say. However I am excited to see what Soundgarden does. I am a fan of what Soundgarden has done in the past and I think a new record is an awesome idea and could lead to some great music.

Will their past sound succeed in today's commercialized music world? Its hard to say. I think they can definitely get away with being the Soundgarden of old and pumping out some high octane grunge rock and roll. Look at what fellow 90's rockers Alice in Chains did with their 2009 album "Black Gives Way To Blue." That album was highly successful on rock radio and with fans. They did not stray too far from their roots and sound and it worked out marvelously.

Soundgarden in my opinion can have the same success they had at the peak of their success; even if we are in this age of Justin Beiber's and Lady Gaga's. I am looking forward to what the guys of Soundgarden have in store and I will be anticipating that album to come out before year's end.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons; Guille. 17

Country Music's Next Star?



Tyler Barham hails from the great state
of Montana.

 So it's Wednesday; hump day as many affectionately refer to it as, and I have another new artist for people to check out. This guy is one that I feel could be country music's next big thing. His name is Tyler Barham.

Barham is quickly becoming recognized for his immense talents. Below is a little background on Barham from his official website:

"Montana native Tyler Barham describes himself as an aspiring Country Singer/Songwriter, but with one look at his online Youtube and Facebook following, you’ll see that his aspirations are quickly becoming reality.

Born in Bozeman and raised in Florence, Montana, Tyler began singing when he was nine. Although he enjoyed singing different styles of music, it didn’t take him long to realize his heart (and eventually his baritone voice) belonged to country music. In his early teens, Tyler competed in various talent competitions in and around Montana winning several high profile competitions. But the majority of his popularity has come by way of YouTube and his covers of popular country songs which have introduced him to a world wide audience.

In 2008 Tyler made the leap from computer screen to TV screen on Great American Country’s nation wide talent search, "Next GAC Star", a competition in which he ended up placing 6th.

In September of this year, with the help of the songwriting/production team of John Griffin and Dave Flint, Tyler released an independent self titled EP that reached No. 39 on the iTunes Country Album Chart beating out several notable major label country music acts including debut CDs by Jerrod Niemann and Justin Moore. The following month, the song “17 & Young" broke into the iTunes Country Singles chart at No. 84.

In an industry that claims it takes 100 thousand dollars to break a new artist, Tyler is becoming a real Cinderella story in country music, all of which he credits to the support of his online friends and fans." (Courtesy of tylerbarham.com)

One can definitely see this talent when they check out his great number of YouTube videos featuring many covers of popular country songs and some of his latest original material. It is easy to see that this guy can sing and he definitely has that "look" that record companies covet so dearly.

Also his first self released EP is not bad. There are some great songs on there that could be on country radio as we speak. Songs like "17 and Young", "Tennessee Girl", and "Love For a Little While" are reminiscant of 90's country blended into today's sound. That is something that country music needs in my opinion; less emphasis on the rock aspect and more on the songwriting side.

Overall however it is my opinion that Barham has all the tools and the great songs to breakout in today's country music world very soon. I think that if Barham finds that big label backing there is no telling what he can do. However he needs the help to do that as his website says. So if you like what you hear then be sure to help promote this promising young talent any way you can. You would definitely be helping a gifted artist reach his dream.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo courtesy of woody1778a; Flickr/Creative Commons

A Rising Star You Need To Hear

Hey everybody its a new week and time for a new blog post here at Music Reviews by a Musician. The topic of today's blog post will focus on an up and coming British guitarist/vocalist; Davy Knowles.


Shown above is Knowles' guitars, mostly
Paul Reed Smith's as he is an avid fan of them.

 
Knowles is a young guitarist from the Isle of Man. He currently plays with his band, Davy Knowles and Back Door Slam, and he has released two albums, "Roll Away" and most recently "Coming Up For Air" which was produced by Peter Frampton.

Knowles is definitely what I would like to call a guitar virtuoso. He has a great bluesy/rock sound and has the gritty voice and great songs to go with it. Just listen to rocking songs such as "Tear Down The Walls", "Riverbed", and "Come Home" or even acoustically driven songs such as "Roll Away" or "Too Good For Me" and you can see this young artist's musical potential.

This young artist has also covered some great tunes such as the Blind Joe Reynolds classic "Outside Woman Blues" and the John Hiatt track, made famous by Eric Clapton/BB King called "Riding With The King". In many of the songs that Knowles does you can definitely hear this guy's bluesy shredding ability.

Basically Davy Knowles has the ability to wow and amaze lots of people in my opinion. It is only a matter of time before he becomes a bigger name in the U.S. as he is already a big name over in Europe. Given time and exposure, I feel people will really see the great music that Davy Knowles has to offer.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,

JAS

Update on the Blog

Hey everybody just thought I would give an update on the blogging here at Music Reviews by a Musician. Technical difficulties have kept me from posting on Thursday and Friday but everything is fixed now. Also starting next week I am scaling back blogging to every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons. And I am also going to try and review more new artists so be sure to check back on Monday for a new artist you are sure to love.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Thank God; Guitar Hero is Dead!!!!

Young people all around the globe have
 been playing Guitar Hero since its debut in 2005.

Hey there everyone welcome back to my blog Music Reviews by a Musician. Today I found out something very interesting that has just made my day awesome. Apparently Activision, makers of the game series "Guitar Hero", have announced that they are done making the product due to declining sales in the music industry.

First off THANK GOD!!!!

I absolutely hate "Guitar Hero" and what it has done to the music industry. This game is a giant joke in my opinion. It gives thousands of kids the opportunity to "play guitar" without putting a lot of effort into it. Well here's my advice all along; go out and learn the real thing! You would be much better off if you did that than sitting on your couch playing a mindless video game. It will get you nowhere.

I have spent almost 8 hard years learning to play guitar and I can say that I'm happy with where that has taken me and the hard work I have put into something meaningful. For those people who sit around and play "Guitar Hero" all day, what are you getting out of it. Good hand eye coordination? Seriously why don't you challenge yourself to the real thing.

I am so happy that this game is dying. Maybe now it will force young kids to get off the couch, get out of the house, and maybe enjoy music for real if that's what they are looking for. Screw the video game, hand a kid a Fender, Gibson, or Ibanez and get him some lessons. At least it is a worthwhile activity and a few lessons would probably equal out to buying the game equipment and gaming system anyway.

Plus by pushing kids into playing an instrument, we help create a new generation of musicians to keep bringing music to the ears of the world. Who knows where the next great natural guitarist will come from. Maybe with some encouragement and a real instrument, instead of a plastic guitar controller, we might find the next Eddie Van Halen or Jimi Hendrix. If anything kids may enjoy the music they tried to play on "Guitar Hero" by actually learning it on a real guitar.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo used from Creative Commons/Flickr, Max Strzelecki

Super Bowl Halftime Show

The Black Eyed Peas were the main 2011
Super Bowl halftime entertainment.

Ok so I'm still fighting my sickness but decided to press on anyways and blog today. A huge trending topic the past few days has been the Super Bowl halftime performance by the Black Eyed Peas on Sunday night in Dallas. Many people felt that it was one of the worst halftime shows in the history of the Super Bowl. Here's what I think.

Yes, it was not a very good performance in my opinion. Fergie seemed to be largely out of it and her rendition of Sweet Child of Mine with Slash was atrocious in my opinion. She tried to much to be like Axl Rose on it and it was just not that good at all. Also throughout the whole performance the band seemed to be yelling rather than singing a lot of the time.

Now in retrospect this was just the Black Eyed Peas being themselves for the most part. The show and spectacle that came with them was up to standards with their normal concerts. The guest appearances by Slash and Usher were to merely raise the effect of the performance and if the music didn't come off so bad it probably would have been a major success.

Why did the music come off so bad? Who knows it could have been a number of things but honestly I think this poor halftime show proves a point and that is maybe that we have reached a point to where digital editing has too much of an impact. Not saying that the Black Eyed Peas recordings are digitally enhanced in any way but sometimes things like this make people wonder. I know they are all talented but this performance was really bad. Is it because they are just not that good of live singers? You be the judge.

In the end if I was the NFL, stick with a true band for the halftime show. Some of the best halftime shows have been put on by guys like Tom Petty, Prince, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, etc. I know people want to hear these pop icons all the time but in my opinion put an act up there that is the total package, like a rock band.

At least that way you can avoid a debacle like what happened Sunday night. Maybe it was just not the Peas night but nevertheless it was not a very good halftime show and it raises a lot of questions about the Peas and their musical practices, at least in my mind that is.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo taken by Craig O'Neal, Flickr/Creative Commons

Musicians Need To Keep Healthy

Hey everyone, (cough, cough) welcome back for my Monday blog post. Sorry that it is late at night but I am fighting a major head cold/sinuses that has kept me very much inactive all day. So today's post will be brief but I just want to touch on something if you are a musician or singer like me and that is staying healthy.

Musicians and singers alike need to try to remain as healthy as possible. Especially when they have upcoming dates to perform or studio appearances. With myself I have an upcoming gig Saturday night with my college jam band West of E Street here at Simpson and this sickness is the last thing I need in getting prepared for the event.

Musicians should always practice good health and wellness options to keep their bodies intact for performances. Make sure to take the precautions necessary to remain as sick free as possible, especially around a gig. Not being up to 100% can really hurt a performance and hopefully I can recover in time, I have until Saturday.

Nevertheless in times when sickness is going around, try to stay healthy my music friends. Your fans depend on your health to be good to put on a awesome performance. Anyways check back tomorrow where I will resume my regular blogging hopefully sickness free.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

New Music (Thursday) Friday

Hey there everyone welcome to my last blog post of the week. As you may know if you regularly follow me on here I usually do New Music Thursday's but in my absent mindedness I forgot that yesterday was The Day The Music Died so I had to blog about that. Therefore today's post will be New Music Thursday on Friday.

For this round of new music I would like to take us to Texas which has bred many fine musicians and groups from Stevie Ray Vaughan to ZZ Top and countless others. Well the next guitar slinger/musician to come from Texas is a good one and he is only 19 years old! That man ladies and gentleman is Tyler Bryant.

Now Tyler Bryant is not a household name yet but I feel that he will be sooner rather than later. He was one of the featured artists in the movie Rock Prophecies that came out last year and he is a rising star in the world of blues and rock.

What makes Bryant so special. Is it the fact that he can shred on a guitar like some of the greats. Or is the fact that girls love him for his model like looks and boyish charm. Either way I think the combination of this could be deadly in today's music world because a record company can actually have a musician that has the looks that are "oh so important" and on top of it guess what, he's actually good at what he does! Wow shocker right?

Listen to some examples of Bryant's work. From his roaring cover of Jimi Hendrix's Foxy Lady to his originals such as Lipstick Wonder Woman, You Make Me, and Two Hearts Collide, there are many great songs out there by this young artist that have great appeal not on just a blues/rock level but on the mainstream as well.

I think it is only a matter of time before Tyler Bryant is a household name and the next guitar icon. If he keep on the path he is currently on it will happen. Mark my words, Tyler Bryant is the next big thing in the long line of Texas guitar slingers.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

The Day The Music Died

So in yesterday's blog I had said that today would be "New Music Thursday" but in my absent mindedness I forgot, and was reminded by a friend, that today was a very important day in music history, The Day The Music Died.

Crash site where Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper,
and Ritchie Valens died on
February 3rd, 1959 near Clear Lake, IA.

On February, 3rd 1959 Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson (The Big Bopper) played a concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA. Upon leaving the concert the three stars decided to board a plane from the Mason City Airport and head to the next show in Fargo, ND instead of taking the cold, broken down bus they had been touring on for the Winter Dance Party tour.

However this proved to be a fatal mistake as shortly after takeoff the plane crashed in a cornfield north of Clear Lake. Snowy conditions and poor visibility are believed to be the main reason why pilot Roger Peterson crashed into the field.

Now for more information on specifics of the crash click this link.
For the coroner's report click here. (Proceed with caution.)
For The Civil Aeronautics Board Report click here.

The death of these three promising rock n roll musicians left a huge mark on the rock n roll scene in the fifties. They were all looking at promising careers filled with many more hits and numerous fans. They had already charted many hits before their deaths. (Some of these hits were from Holly: Peggy Sue, Not Fade Away, That'll Be The Day; Valens: La Bamba, Oh Donna, Come On Lets Go; Big Bopper: Chantilly Lace.)

For their life to be cut so short like this is very tragic. Like many others before and after them it just goes to show that we must cherish the great musicians and minds we have for they could be lost at a moments notice.

As far as the memory of Holly, Richardson, and Valens, it still lives on. The Surf Ballroom has hosted a Winter Dance Party concert to celebrate their memory for the past several years. Many of the musicians that played with the three dead rockers have attended and usually always attend the concert along with countless other artists to pay tribute to their legacy.

It is definitely things like this that help keep the spirit of great music alive. If you ever have a chance try and go visit the Surf Ballroom and the crash site to better understand the history and impact of these fine musicians who passed before their time.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo credited to Flickr/Creative Commons, Atlantic Community

An Event Central Iowa Musicians Should Attend

Hey everybody I hope you all survived the Snowpocalypse 2011 that hit Tuesday here in Iowa. I know I did because if I didn't I would not be here writing a new blog post today.

Today I just wanted to bring to people's attention, mainly local musicians, an event that I will be attending tomorrow night at the Vaudeville Mews in Des Moines. The Des Moines Music Coalition and Social Media Club of Des Moines are teaming up to host a panel on "Building Your Band's Online Presence" this Thursday night starting at 7:00 pm.

This event will feature a panel discussing how band's should monitor their online presence and give advice on how to create that presence. The panelists include Hillary Brown, Lava Row and On Pitch; Andy Brudtkuhl, 48Web; Roxi Copland, Musician; Jill Haverkamp, Olde Main and On Pitch.

This is an event that I feel is crucial for local musicians/bands to attend. With the way online/social media is playing a role in the world today, music is also being impacted greatly by it. Now more than ever new musicians are being discovered online and for some musicians it could be a ticket out of their current situation, or lack thereof, to stardom if managed properly.

That is why I encourage any musician that knows about this or reads this blog to attend tomorrow night's event. Heck even if you are not a musician but aspire to be or are a manager or agent for a band or musician, this would still be a great event for you to attend as well. I feel that any knowledge musicians can learn about branding themselves online would be a great benefit not only to their careers but to keeping the music scene in Des Moines alive and healthy.

So I hope to see a lot of people at this event tomorrow night and I know I am looking forward to what I will learn. Also make sure to check back to my blog tomorrow for New Music Thursday.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Thoughts on the 46th Annual ACM Nominees

Welcome back everybody to Music Reviews by a Musician where today, while in the middle of the snow apocalypse that everyone seems to be calling it, I am sitting nice and warm at my computer. Today's blog is about this morning's announcement of nominees for the 46th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards that will be shown live on CBS Sunday April 3rd from Las Vegas.

Miranda Lambert, led the ACM nominations
with a total of seven.

Now as I am reviewing the selections I have to say that nothing really surprises me to much. There are many of the familiar names here such as Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift....(ugh), The Zac Brown Band, and many more.

In all reality the nominees for the awards are to be expected. They are the hottest and brightest names in country music right now. For a full list of nominees click here. However for the purpose of this blog I would like to review briefly the nominees for the top categories and give my predictions and thoughts.

First off there is Top Female Vocalist of the Year. Those nominees are Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Reba McEnitre, Carrie Underwood, and Lee Ann Womack. Now this field to me seems to be pretty accurate. The one that surprises me the most is Lee Ann Womack but hey I am not the one making the nominations. I think that the other four ladies are the top of the year and they should probably be the only ones nominated.

With that said however I have to give my nod to Miranda Lambert in the category. She has had a remarkable past year and I feel that her work and success at the CMA Awards this past November will carry over into this awards show and get her at least this award.

Now for Male Vocalist of the Year the nominees are Jason Aldean, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, and George Strait. The one problem I have with this list and it is a small one is that Dierks Bentley got left out. I think he too has a great past year much like the five nominees and he would deserve to be a nominee as well. But once again I'm not making the nominations.

This group is tougher to judge who will walk out as the winner on April 3rd. I think it comes down to either Blake Shelton or Brad Paisley. Both artists seem to have had just a slightly better year then the others and if I had to pick a winner now I would go with Shelton. To me his year seems more meaningful than Paisley's and I would like to think that he would get the nod for this award.

Finally there is the award for Entertainer of The Year. The nominees for this award are Jason Aldean, Toby Keith, Miranda Lambert, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, and Taylor Swift. Looking at these nominations I believe that from a performing standpoint it is right. All of these nominees are great performers and the only problem I have with this list is that I would like to see Blake Shelton on this list for the year he has had.

However going with the nominations that were announced I would have to say that Brad Paisley will win. He is one of the, if not the best entertainer in country music today. I would put him slightly ahead of Miranda Lambert and Keith Urban for this award simply because of his performing ability. Brad Paisley is country music today in my opinion and seeing as he won this award at the CMA's in November, I think he will get it again on April 3rd.

Once again for a full list of the nominees please click this link.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo courtesy of Creative Commons/Flickr, ronnie44052

An Artist You Should Check Out

Well its Monday, the start of the work and school week, which means another new blog post from yours truly. As I was driving back from a weekend away I happened to catch a song on the radio that I really liked. That song pushed me to check out this artist, Chuck Wicks.

Chuck Wicks in concert.

Now up until now I had never really listened to anything by this rising country artist but after hearing his latest single "Old School", well lets just say I was impressed. Wicks has a few great songs and a great sound that definitely fits the mold of what I consider the new country music sound.

A perfect example of this new sound would be the song "What If You Stay". To me it really sounds like a new rock song but the elements of country are there. That is definitely the new sound that I am hearing out of Nashville these days. I touched on this in a previous blog post, What Is Country Music Anymore.

Wicks however is definitely a rising star in the world of country. He has that combination of a great country music voice and some very good songs. I know I will definitely stay tuned into this artist for time to come. The big hit off of his first album was "Stealing Cinderella" and I can definitely hear how he has already evolved as an artist listening to his latest releases.

Another new song he is currently playing on the road and that is on his second record is called "She Gets To Me". This song is definitely a branch out from country and it almost has a reggae feel to it. I really like it and I think it could be a hit down the road when it gets released.

Honestly I cannot wait for the full second album of Wicks' to be released because I have a feeling that it will be an all around well rounded album. Everybody who follows country music or music in general should keep their eyes on the lookout for Chuck Wicks because I believe he could be the next country superstar.

For more on Chuck Wicks check out his website here.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo courtesy of Flickr/Creative Commons, goaliej54

Pay Us What We Deserve!

Hey everybody I hope everyone is as ready for the weekend as I am. Today's blog comes from an interesting discussion I had last night at the Copa Cavana open jam. This will serve as my bitch session for the week and it deals with the pay of musicians.

Now something I have seen through the bands I have played with lately is that payment of the musicians can be very dicey at times. There are many club owners or band leaders who find it fitting to short change a hard working musician. Why is this the case?

Well I think the main thing that can be said is greed. Greed club owners and band leaders want all the money for themselves and they don't give the guys who do a lot of the work a fair shake. Its a shame but its reality. I think a lot of good musicians are left out to dry more times than none.

Now why should musicians get paid what they deserve? Well is it right for a musician to show up to a show that pays the band $600 and he/she only ends up making $50! That in my opinion is ridiculous and I'm sorry to say it has happened to me before. Musicians are paid to not only play but in many cases do a lot of setup and tear down of equipment. That alone should merit a fair piece of the pie.

It honestly pisses a guy off sometimes when he gets short changed on a gig because of someone else's greed. Give everybody a fair cut and you will have a happier band. It may be harder to find those good paying gigs in localized bands now a days but at least express to the bar/club owners that you need to take care of your musicians and then take care of them!

Tell the greedy owners that good music comes at a price. If some sort of deal has to be worked out in order for the band to be adequately taken care of then fine, just make sure it happens. Even though the majority of musicians play for the love of music it is still a profession and you should be paid what you deserve for that profession. Don't make a good musician drive two to three plus hours away just to work his ass off for nothing. It is not right at all.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

New Music Thursday: January 27th, 2011

Hey there everybody its time for another installment of New Music Thursday here at Music Reviews by a Musician and for this blog post I would like to review a local Des Moines band. That band is Gimikk.

For some background on Gimikk here is the biography straight off their website:

Gimikk Promo Picture

"For the past six years Gimikk has been rockin' out in Des Moines and the surrounding area, earning its reputation as "The Best Party Band in Des Moines". With their high energy performance and amazing musical skills, topped off by the entertaining and charismatic persona of lead singer, James Brinker, Gimikk is sure to deliver a show unrivaled by any other local act."

To read more of the band's bio click here.

The main reason why I was turned onto this band is through an acquaintance with drummer Josh Tilton. Josh is a student currently at Simpson where i also attend. He turned me onto his band one day as he was looking to promote an upcoming campus show through the college radio station, KSTM FM, where I currently work as music director.

Needless to say I was intrigued and always willing to help out a fellow musician so I invited Josh up for an on-air interview to talk about the show and the band. It was during this interview that I got to hear the band's latest album "Travel My Direction."

This album definitely surprised me. From the album's opening powerhouse track Social! From the East Side, Baby! to the title track "Travel My Direction", there are definitely some great finds on this album. The entire band is well put together in my opinion from the vocals to guitars to drums, everything fits into this sort of 80's rock meets today's rock kind of feel.

Two songs I really dug were "Southern Star" and "Eye of The Cougar". Southern Star is probably considered the ballad of the album and it features great acoustic guitars and percussion infused together with great vocals and melody. I really liked that song from first listen and it is a step away from the powerhouse guitars on much of the album.

"Eye of the Cougar" is definitely a full on power monster of riff rock in my opinion. The synopsis of the song is focusing on a cougar out on the town looking for young guys and it provides for a fun and energetic tune to listen to.

In all this album and band is really interesting. Each member brings his talent to the band and it helps to make a very good local band. I am not sure if they will ever make it big but I think the potential is there to do so. I think the biggest drawback to them in today's music world is that they sound almost a little too 80's in my opinion. I think that is a genre that has really died away among young crowds and as much as I'd love to say it will come back, I don't think it ever will.

If Gimikk can stick true to that influence but modernize itself a little more, I think they have a great shot to take the next step. In the mean time to hear more from this band check out their latest album and if you are not doing anything tomorrow night, they are playing a 21 and over show at Des Moines House of Bricks starting at 9 o'clock. If you can check out this interesting local band.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,

JAS

Photo used from Facebook, all rights are credited to Gimikk

Upcoming Shows You Should Go See in Des Moines

Hey everybody its hump day and I can't wait for the weekend like most people. Going off of yesterday's post I thought it would be wise to post some upcoming shows in Des Moines that people should go see to support their local music and local venues. So here are my top five upcoming shows you should go see.

5)Gimikk- This Friday at the House of Bricks in Des Moines, 9 pm.

Now I haven't had the privilege of seeing these guys live in person yet but I've heard great reviews and if their latest CD "Travel My Direction" is any indication, this is a great local band you cannot miss. Now the show is 21 and over so that may keep some away but in the future if you hear these guys are playing then you should definitely check them out. I know I will.

4)Ryan Bingham- March 6th, Vaudeville Mews, 6 pm.

This show is a little ways off but that should give you plenty of time to set time aside now. Ryan Bingham is one talented artist who has skirted under the radar of many because he is not totally mainstream. But for those who wonder who he is have you scene the movie Crazy Heart that came out last year with Jeff Bridges? Well the hit song Weary Kind was written and performed by Bingham. This is one artist that you have to see for yourself so set aside time on March 6th to go see him.

3)Jonny Lang w/ The Bob Pace Band & MINT- March 25th, 7 Flags Event Center, 8 pm.

This is another show that is on the distant future but sure to be a good one. Tickets are a little high at $30 but you get to see local guitar sensation Bob Pace along with headliner Jonny Lang. Lang is a very great guitar player and musician that many people would love if they have not heard him already. This is one show that fans of guitar would definitely die for.

2)The Nadas 2nd Annual February Des Moines Residency at Vaudeville Mews- Starts February 2nd, 6 pm.

The Nadas will have a month long stay at the Vaudeville Mews starting February 2nd and going every Wednesday until February 23rd. That gives you four chances to see one of Iowa's most well known acts. The Nadas are a very interesting sounding group and the music is truly great to listen to. The shows are all ages and $10 to get in. If you are looking for a treat on a Wednesday night in February then go check out The Nadas, you won't be disappointed.

1)Devon Allman and the Honeytribe at All Play in Des Moines, February 11th at 9 pm.

This band is outstanding featuring the son of Gregg Allman of Allman Borthers fame on guitar and vocals. The band's latest CD Space Age Blues is currently out and is definitely a good listen. This is one artist who I was sad I missed last time he was in Des Moines but not this time. At $10 a ticket you can't go wrong listening to a great blues/rock band like this. Make sure to check them out when they roll through town!

Well that's my top five upcoming shows to go see. Obviously however there are many other great shows and venues to check out in Des Moines so make sure to go out and support your local music scene fellow Iowans.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Support Local Music Before It Is Gone

 

Downtown Iowa City

Hey there everybody sorry for today's post being so late I happened to be treating myself to an afternoon out away from everything.

Anyways today I'd like to share my thoughts on a trend I have seen throughout the past few years in Iowa, the slow decline in live music.

It seems that as each year passes more and more bands are sitting around without work in this state. There are some great bands who get booked up for six month periods and there are other great bands who get few bookings in that six month period. Why is this the case? Why are these good bands sitting around doing nothing?

Well in my opinion there are a few factors. First off nobody has the money to book bands. The way the economy is many bands who mainly book into bars and clubs are being left out in the cold because the owners can't afford the price of live entertainment. That and secondly why book a live band when you can have a disc jockey come in and play anything right? Sorry wrong answer.

Disc jockey's and mainly karaoke have killed a lot of business for local bands. Sure the music scene in Des Moines, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities is pretty good still but even there bands are finding it harder and harder to play out every weekend.

Due to that there are a lot of bands that end up leaving the state if they have dreams bigger than just playing as a garage band the rest of there days. They pack up and head for musically rich cities like Austin, San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Memphis, Nashville; places where they have a better shot of getting noticed. Because lets face it playing even in Des Moines, you will be hard pressed to find a way to something bigger and better.

So what really is the live music scene in Iowa anymore. Is it musicians taking pay cuts just to play in places and get there name out there? Or is numerous acoustic trios playing coffee shops around the state? Or is it numerous open jam sessions inhabited by guys who could be big somewhere else?

Honestly I think it is all of these and I hate to say this but Iowa will most likely never recover from this trend. So faithful Iowa music lovers, enjoy what you still have and support local music any chance you get. Maybe moving away from DJ's and karaoke shows would help too. I'm just saying.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo from Flickr/Creative Commons, Alan Light

Stevie Ray Vaughan: Never Another Like Him

Hey everybody I'm back for my third week of blogging on Music Reviews by a Musician and I've decided to start off the week with something special to me.



Stevie Ray Vaughan

Last Friday I talked about what makes a guitarist special and I mentioned one in particular; Stevie Ray Vaughan. The reason I focused on SRV for Friday's blog is because he is my first and truly number one inspiration for my guitar playing. Stevie Ray Vaughan is a very special guitarist in many, many ways. His tone, phrasing, stage presence, soul, and heart poured through every song he played and made him the soul reason in my opinion that blues music became popular again in the 1980's.

From his debut album "Texas Flood" until his untimely death in a helicopter crash on August 27, 1990 in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin; SRV completely turned the world of guitar and blues music on its ear and made people stop and listen to his music when they heard it.

His fiery Texas style guitar playing combined with elements of R&B, jazz, early blues pioneers, and influence from other artists like T-Bone Walker, Otis Rush, Lightning Hopkins, and most notably Jimi Hendrix on top of countless others became a centerpiece for a remarkable career.

From early hits on songs like Pride and Joy, Texas Flood, Voodoo Chile, and Love Struck Baby to later hits such as Couldn't Stand the Weather, Crossfire, Tightrope, and The House is Rockin, SRV turned on a whole new generation of guitar players to the blues. And his effect is still being felt today some 20 years after his death.

Countless young artists are doing their best to pick up where SRV left off after his passing and keep the blues alive. Guys like Joe Bonamassa, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Tyler Bryant, Jonny Lang, and even John Mayer all have elements of SRV's playing infused into their playing styles and they are all doing their part to keep alive a type of music that is slowly dying away amidst the mainstream music today.

But even then no matter how hard these guys try there is no way to duplicate or match what SRV did and still does today. He was a phenomenal talent that will never, ever be matched in my opinion. He is simply an amazing talent and the odds of someone like him coming along in the future are very small. If I were a betting man I would not put money on that. That is why I feel that there will never be another like him.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,

JAS

Image coutesy of Joe Bielawa, Creative Commons/Flickr

What Makes a Guitarist Special?

On my way to the blues jam at Des Moines' Copa Cavana last night my good friend Kyle brought an interesting question to my mind. As we were driving I naturally had in my favorite Stevie Ray Vaughan CD to get psyched up to play some greasy blues when he asked me what makes Stevie Ray Vaughan so special? Why do I consider him to be better than a lot of guitar players?



Stevie Ray Vaughan



Well what makes any guitar player "special"? Is the fact that they can play a barrage of notes in a matter of seconds? Is it simply that their tone is just remarkable and unlike anybody else's? Is it the fact that they are such a musical genius that they just come up with the most interesting phrasing and take a song to astronomical heights that make people go wow? Or is it simply that they are such a great performer that they captivate audiences through any circumstance or situation?

All of these things are true in my eyes. But what makes a guitar player special is a combination of all or most of these things. Take someone like Stevie Ray Vaughan for instance. In rock, blues, r&b, funk, and soul circles he is widely viewed as a guitar phenom. The guys had incredible tone, downright scary phrasing and technique, and he was also an amazing live performer.

Guitar players are a dime a dozen these days. Anybody and everybody wants to be the next Hendrix or Page or Clapton or Vaughan but the reality is only a small few will ever have a shot at reaching this level. Its a matter of not only having the skills mentioned above but also being in the right place at the right time. There are many phenomenal guitarists out there that never make it because they just don't get noticed.

Instead these guys stick to the bar and festival scene around their general area of the country, relishing off the moments they have at different shows that make people go wow. I personally think I had one of these last night because for only the second time in seven years of playing I busted a string on stage in the middle of a solo. With no backup guitar to switch to right away I instead used my knowledge of guitar and my ear to finish the solo and another two minutes of the song with only five strings. Afterwards I got a rousing ovation.

Its moments like that which make guitar players a special breed. Each and every player has his/her own skill set, tone, technique, etc that makes he/she who they are as a musician. However to be I guess what you would say "super special" is having all of these qualities in a form that captivates people and makes them go wow when they see that guitarist play.

The question I have is where is the next Hendrix or Vaughan? They only way he/she will be found in my opinion is for the public to find them a create a following for them or join an existing one. So if you don't already, get out on your local music scene and find that special guitar player waiting in the wings looking for your help as a fan to recognize their god given abilities.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,

JAS

Photo courtesy of Joe Bielawa, Flickr/Creative Commons

New Music Thursday



Billboard at the Hammersmith Apollo
on December 18, 2009.



I decided to try out an idea where every Thursday I will feature a new artist that people may or may not have heard much about.  This may include national, regional, or local acts. For my first installment of this I chose the band Them Crooked Vultures.

Formed in 2009, the band consists of three very accomplished musicians. Drummer Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana), bassist John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), and guitarist/vocalist Josh Homme (Oueens of the Stone Age).

The band is a very interesting mix. According to their official website, the band:

"sounds like the guy from Queens of the Stone Age singing and playing guitar with the bass player from Led Zeppelin and the drummer from Nirvana."

This is very much true. The music is very much hard rock with a tinge of an indie feel to it. The band's self titled debut album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 when it was released in late 2009. The more I listen to the music it definitely becomes more intriguing. Even if you are not a fan of hard rock one can definitely appreciate the musicality on this record.

Songs like "No One Loves Me and Neither Do I", "Elephants", "Scumbag Blues" are very much a treat to listen to and just the tip of the iceberg. I honestly feel like I'm listening to an evolved version of Led Zeppelin if they were around today. Not that I mean this lineup is better than Zeppelin, no lineup can ever really duplicate that band's style, delivery, and songwriting. However Them Crooked Vultures does a very good job taking elements from that hard rock sound that Zeppelin made famous and make it their own. I mean when you have an ex-Zeppelin in your band its bound to happen right?

So anyway if you are looking for something new to listen to while you are sitting around doing nothing, look up Them Crooked Vultures and take a listen. You could definitely do a lot worse with some of the garbage that is out there today.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

Photo courtesy of p_a_h, Flickr

A Bad Day=A Good Day for Songwriting

So I've been having a bad day since I woke up this morning. Nothing has been going good and things are falling apart around me. I've had these days before and I'm sure I'll have them again. But out of all the shit that goes wrong there is one good thing that comes out of it every time and that is a great song.

Songwriters all over the world are fueled by emotion. Emotions can be good, bad, whatever it may be. Many of the greatest songs are written when someone feels like they have been kicked in the gut twenty times and left there to wallow in their own sorrow.

"You get kicked in the heart by someone who's aware of it or not,
and you get sent alone into a room, and if you have a little bit of
intellect, a little bit of talent and a lot of loneliness, you'll probably
make it."- John Mayer

Mayer really said it best with this one. Mayer is one of my favorite musician/songwriters out there today and I'm sure many others feel the same. I'm not the most talented singer, or guitar player, or songwriter in the world but I know that I do have some talent otherwise I would have quit playing a long time ago. It funny though how when I have a particularly bad day, creativity begins to flow out of me like water over a dam in a flood.

Songwriting is an art form and relating to people is the biggest key in writing something that is meaningful and not a piece of garbage like some of the crap out there today. Whether or not I ever get famous, at least I know that what I am writing is meaningful to at least somebody out there and it helps me vent my frustration so I can move forward.

Many songwriters are like that. We tend to write things about personal experience that hopefully somebody will relate to. Maybe in the next few hours, I might have another song like that to add to my catalog. If anything I do know this, my creativity is flowing like a mother fucker right now so I better end here.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,
JAS

What Is Country Music Anymore?

The guitar pick sign in the picture reads
"Nashville: Live Music Venue."
Nashville is the home of country music but
what is country music anymore?

Last night myself and a good friend of mine had a discussion about country music. Basically I tried to explain to him that I thought country music has some great musicality to it while he tried to tell me that it was essentially meaningless music where artists sing about stuff that is not relevant and essentially there is no point to country music.

Now we are most definitely not going to agree and honestly I don't like his opinion but I respect it. I grew up on country music and therefore I will always have a draw to it as a musician. However out of our discussion I began thinking about what is country music anymore? Because honestly the country music I grew up on does not exist anymore.

When I was growing up artists like George Strait, Garth Brooks, Clint Black, Little Texas, Sawyer Brown, John Michael Montgomery, Reba McEntire, Collin Raye, Alabama, and many more dominated the country charts. These artists leaned more to the traditional side of country from earlier artists like Merle Haggard, Hank Williams Sr, Willie Nelson, Hank Snow, Roy Acuff, Buck Owens, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and so on.

Then something interesting happened. After Garth Brooks began selling millions of album copies and raising the bar for everyone else, country music seemed to turn away from what it had been doing in search of that always precious thing, record sales. The only way it seemed that could be done was to make country more mainstream.

Soon elements of rock and pop entered into country to make it more appealing to younger audiences. Louder, more amplified guitars emerged, song structures became more pop like, true country elements were still there but there were essentially put on steroids.

To help start this new artists came along that had more of a look sometimes than down right talent. Now that's not to say that there are not any good country artists out there because there are quite a few; Brad Paisley, Keith Urban, Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood, Martina McBride, and Dierks Bentley just to name a few. But it is in my opinion that some are more of a face than great talent which is more of a tool used in pop and rock music. My example of that is Taylor Swift. She may have the look and everybody loves her but I honestly think she is not that talented as a musician. Hate me for it if you want, it doesn't hurt my feelings.

Honestly the record companies stopped looking for that traditional Nashville sound and looked more for what would sell them records which meant leaning toward pop and rock styles. Not all of this is bad. There are many great songs that have come out since this movement began but more times than none I hear the same damn song packaged up by a different artist with some different words. What happened to originality? Apparently selling records and making millions of dollars is more important than the music itself.

I just wish, and this goes for the entire music industry, that some originality would come back to music. Let artists play with their creative side, don't just feed them ten songs for an album that are all pop sounding garbage. I want to hear true music about something that I can relate to.

Fortunately I think that is coming back ever so slowly. Everything has a fad or its time and I think the time of country/pop is coming to end. We've seen it before, disco in the 70's, hair metal in the 80's, grunge and boy bands of the 90's, everything came and then went. I just hope for the sake of music that true country begins to come back in some form because it is an art form that is truly great and meaningful to many people.

Until next time keep on rocking away music lovers,

JAS

Photo courtesy of Flickr, jbcurio