Rants By Topic

Next Stop Niagara

02.25.2016

Just got off the phone with Rog and y’all should have just received an e-mail with some final details. I’m about to head out the door and I can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday.

It takes a ton of effort from people who don’t get paid to make these shows happen. Saying ‘Thanks’ as many times as I do sounds phony, but I don’t quite know what else to say.

And I know it sounds all chick-flick sentimental, but the support I’ve received over the years gets me all choked up whenever I think about it; which is a lot. My wind pipe is a mess.

One last thing: I haven’t gone into this for a while, but the state of the music biz continues to deteriorate. There are literally only a few dozen people out there who make a living selling creative music. And I meant that literally. Ninety nine point […]

Record Low Gas

02.16.2016

Musical Instruments

With final prep for the Niagara Falls Party in full swing, we re-visit gear acquisition syndrome. Teaching. Malcolm Gladwell. Ten Thousand Hours. Behavior Modification.

Roger CortonSounds like you’re still getting over that virus?

JCHYep. Some surprising symptoms.

RCAre they gross?

JCHGAS. Or rather, a total lack of it.

RCLet me tell ya, in my family, that would be a definite plus!

JCHBut of course, I’m talking about G.A.S. Not the… well, you know.

RCGear Acquisition Syndrome. Bane of musicians everywhere. The almost uncontrollable urge to purchase new musical stuff either to help one play better or…

JCHOh cut the comedy. Just because it’s FUUUUUUUN. It’s like NASCAR for kids with long, oily hair.

RCAre those the kids who still play rock guitar? OK, so why are thoughts of GAS (sorry) evacuating from you at this particular juncture?

JCHI love when you let loose. Enough. Look, I made my first ‘home’ recordings of my […]

Will Streaming Music Kill Songwriting?

02.11.2016

Links, Music Business

If you’re interested in ‘the music biz’ on any level or popular music in general, I can highly recommend just about anything by New Yorker author John Seabrook, including this: Will Streaming Music Kill Songwriting?

Mr. Seabrook’s book The Song Machine is also tremendous read. It goes into interesting detail about how the vast majority of pop music is now dominated by such a small group of people. Eye opening.

Maurice White – Stand By Me

02.4.2016

Music Appreciation, News

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osoOW0ljaZU

I mourn Maurice White’s passing today. As much as I love Earth Wind And Fire, I want to highlight this song from his solo album.

As frequent readers know, my contempt for ‘covers’ is almost as great as that of movie sequels. But for me, this thing is like The Godfather II of covers. It has everything I like about music from the 80’s. Great playing, singing, arrangement. Everything. It’s almost ‘prog’ in its sophistication and power. In fact, I often use it as a reference track for my own mixes. (One of my goals in life is to mix a song almost as good as this.)

If the sky and the mountains crumbled to the sea. I’ll be there so long as you stand by me.

“If the sky and the mountains crumbled to the sea. I’ll be there so long as you stand by me.”

If that doesn’t scream ‘prog’ to you? You’re not listening.

And forgive me if I gush especially about Maurice’s singing, which was just about the most expressive I ever heard. Yeah, the ladies always lost their minds (and underwear) over Philip Bailey, but for me Maurice was the business.

Yeah, I can heartily recommend checking out White’s older material–his early drumming especially. But the guy was one of those guys who was simply too talented to stay behind the kit.