Wandering Blogs Make Good Reads

Whew! A Day Off!

I'm listening to a slew of new music. (Thanks to the In-Store Play giveaways at work!)

J.J. Cale's "Rewind", Grace Potter and the Nocturnal's "This Is Somewhere", Killers' "Sawdust", Alison Krauss and Robert Plant's "Raising Sand", Bruce Springsteen's "Magic" among others. I love being a musician.
These CDs are alot better when I can actively listen to them, rather than have them on in the background while I sticker merchandice.


I've also slept alot. What is it with days off that require so much sleep?


Couple of insignificant things on my mind lately. Weigh in if you're annoyed, too.

1. Why hath Rolling Stone proceeded with desperate pleas for my renewal when my subscription isn't actually up until May? It's not even a great magazine anymore. I'm down with more "career specific" rags like American Songwriter and Paste.

2. Comcast is far from fantastic.

There are alot more serious things I could discuss but I'm just going to enjoy my music time.

Scattered Thoughts

I like Ryan Adam's version of When The Stars Go Blue. An Awful Lot.

I'm loving Married Life.

Typing with a Wedding Band on is Most Lovely.

Old Country is Pretty Stinking Great.

R.I.P. Porter. I hope you and Dolly got it all squared away.

It's getting Awfully Chilly. Winter is on the way. Unfortunately.

I just may download the new Radiohead. (It's getting Rave Reviews.)

Sandwiches made by someone who loves you are SO much better than sandwiches made by yourself.

I can't wait until I'm able to teach.

I'm in an awfully random mood this morning.

Hey All

You were all there...but I'd just like to say that




I'm Married.

It's Damn Good.

Damn Good.

Record Labels

I just thought I would chime in on the whole Radiohead-Self-Distribution thing.

A couple of points to consider, fellow musicians:

1. Radiohead has been in existence for about 20 years, and have developed relationships with media, major labels, fans, and distributors.

They are just using their pre-established notoriety as their promotional vehicle. This issue of their website and the band as a record label isn't necessarily "revolutionary" as many press outlets have claimed. They could all get together and fart simultaneously in a secluded room in Liverpool and the world would know, soley based on their previous fame-hood.

2. Bands like Collective Soul, Eagles, and Garth Brooks also use their previously established business relationships to work exclusive promotion/distribution deals.

3. The independent, unassociated artist doesn't have any opportunity to sell incredible volumes of their product without major label help. If I suddenly announced that I was releasing my music exclusively online at www.ihaveanewcdout.com right now, only a select few of you would go there and take advantage of it, because I don't have 20 years of music industry contacts to promote my recordings to the whole world.

Record labels are still relevant, even though their business models are about a century outdated, because they have relationships with major retailers, distribution, marketing, and promotion to get artist's works in to the ears of the general public.

I know this was a long rant, but I just needed to explain what a label does. I can't knock them, because they will eventually figure out a new business model, and I might go work for one.

Woo Ha.

Hey, Ya'll. I'm employed.

I start at Barnes & Noble on Thursday morning.

I'm really grateful and glad that my search has paid off.

I'm kind of sad, though.

It's not a huge deal. I hate feeling like I'm on the bottom rung again.

As though my collegiate and career experience has been worth nothing more than an, "Oh, that's nice and why are you not working in the Music Business?"

*Sigh.*

It'll be good. I'm just going to have to adjust.

Besides, there are more important things to spend my time thinking about.

Hmmmm, Okay.

I'm irritated.

I'm searching for jobs. It's already degrading. I don't need any more bullsh*t judgmental looks from employees when I hand in my applications.

Just now, I turned in an app to a music store, and I waited around forever to talk to someone; passing the time by browsing through severely incorrect hack-job transcriptions of Tori Amos songs and whathaveyou.

The 50ish dude at the counter says, "Can I help you?"

I respond, "Yes, I picked this up and filled this out the other day."

"Oh," he says, with a look trying to disguise his thoughts of, "Are you kidding me? You're not seriously applying here, are you?" before finishing with, "I'll get this into the hands of the Powers That Be."

"Thank you very much!" I said, cheerfully.

I'm wearing nice clothes. I'm cleanshaven. My piercings are tasteful. I work hard. I have the talent to do a multitude of things. Being poor and jobless is wearing me pretty damn thin already Mr. Incredulous Face. Maybe you could put yourself in my shoes, and empathize a little bit instead of being suspicious of my desire to work in your sissy little music store?

Okay, I must get back to work. Perhaps I'll find somewhere more hip to waste my energy on.

Bearing Witness To You

Holy Crizzzzzap! It's been a long time since I've posted.

Lots has changed for me.

The Rundown:

1. I'm not in Nebraska anymore.

2. I'm not employed currently.

3. I go to get into an apartment today. (I'll keep you posted!)

4. My Blazer is in critical condition.

5. 5 Weeks and 4 Days and then I'm a married man.

6. It's already fall. Brr.

7. Collective Soul's new cd Afterwords is pretty darn good.

8. I can whip up a mean batch of bacon if I have to.

9. Driving in Metro Denver isn't as difficult as previously thought.

10.I'm going to try and write more often, once things get settled.

I hope to hear from everyone soon!

Time to go get my background/credit checked.