BRITNEY SPEARS...........TODAY'S REBEL????




Hippies: The rebels of the sixties. They rebelled against their parents while they ran around naked in fields of flowers and smoked their marijuana and god knows what.

Disco fever hit the seventies where people danced their rebellious spirits out while the punk scene came around the 70's-80's era. But what about today? What about our decade? Who's the rebels that represent us? The answer, my friend, and hopefully I'm wrong, seems to be the pop-heads. All the boy bands/ blonde pop singers are today's rebels, and the best example of this is the Miss (Mrs?) Britany Alexander Spears.

Take her clothes, or should I say lack their of for example. What she often wears is seen to some as controversial. That tan sequined little number at the mtv video music awards popped some worried eyeballs out of their sockets. The punks were well known for their radical yet questionable attire while the hippies were naked, so Britany is somewhere in between. Parents are scared to death their daughters are going to turn into Britany Spears wannabes and strip at local churches while their sons will beat girls who don't look like Britany Spears. She is seen as a bad influence, just like the punks and hippies were.

Not only is her looks dangerous to society but what she actually does tears the barrier of etiquette apart. Her notorious dance moves are sex filled and often times involve kinky things such as giant snakes to turn guys on. Her music videos are scenes of her having fake sex with a bunch of people, while her lyrics are sometimes on the dirty and inappropriate side. The lyrics to her song about masturbation, The touch of my hand show just that. I shut myself off from the world so I can draw the blinds/I love myself its not a sin/I cant control what's happenin/Cuz I jus discovered/Imagination's taken over/Another day without a lover/The more I come to understand the touch of my hand./

Another key thing that related Britany Spears to past rebels is, along with Sid Vicious, Britany shows you don't have to have any real vocal talents to be a singer.

Then of course, there's the whole Britany marrying "George Castanza*" thing. What a wacky out of control thing to do! That girl must be as loose as a goose, but hey, stunts like this are nothing new. Punks were known to do anything insane; they'd even probably crap on a reporters face to prove they were troublesome and unlike you in every way. And don't forget when Britney and Madonna lip locked on MTV, shocking the whole world with the sudden tingling sensation in their pants. Britney brought the controversial world of lesbianism to its knees and had men everywhere begging for more. This girl is outrageous, spontaneous, and will do anything to be seen and heard.

It's sad to think people like Britany Spears are the rebels of our time, when they are really puppets of the corporate media.

Hippies stood behind their beliefs of love and peace, punks believed in rebelling against the government and pissing people off, and we stand for pop music. If this is the most radical the youth of today is going to be, than we might as well all be dead.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

ACDC, Son Of A Bitch
Fall Out Boy, Sugar We're Goin' Down
Crossfade, Colors
Bob Carlisle, Butterfly Kisses
Ted Nugent, Wang Dang Sweet Poontang


Local Artist Of The Day:

Jono McCleery

Don't just see the music .....listen to it




Today when we listen to a song, first thing that comes to our mind is its video. Music that means has not just remained a hearing melody, it has become all the more a watching sensation. Infact this is the reason many of the pop albums even with low class music are becoming popular.

The short clothed women dancing or the stripped masculine body ..... is it all that takes music to become popular? Music was termed as a gift earlier and did not need any assistance from clippings to become a hit.

But today Music needs the images but needless to say the images definitely need the music. Music videos are more of story based. If the story is interesting the album becomes a matchless hit without actual good taste of lyrics or sound. As we all are curious at times, people tend to like stories. Makers of music videos know this and try to make a story with their music videos. Many thanks to the genuine sites who sell music online, thus maintaining a standard.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Dave Matthews Band, Dream Girl
Matchbox 20, Superman
Blink 182, I Miss You
Otis Redding, Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay
Jefferson Starship, Come On And Take A Free Ride


Local Artist Of The Day:

Josh Cole

AMERICAN IDOL WANNABEES.............DO US ALL A FAVOR





Don't practice, dress funny. Seriously, that's why we watch. We love to see you struggle, embarrass yourselves, and get tortured by Simon. Come on, admit it, you like it too right?

Sure Clay Aiken and Kelly Clarkson made us cheer and dial the phone until our fingers were raw ( I nearly cried when Fantasia Burrino won in 2004) but the real joy comes from watching those of you who don't stand a chance.

Who will forget William Hung's painful, yet stonic audition? It'll go down in history as one of the best moments on TV. But, have you ever wondered why we find pleasure in seeing others fail so miserably in public? The answer is simple: "There but for the grace of God, go I."

I'll be the first to admit it, I have no singing talent. I know it, and so do my neighbors! But would I dare to go on national TV even if I thought I had an ounce of vocal ability? I think NOT! I'm not brave enough!

You see, we laugh at you and discuss your misery at work the next morning after the show, but deep down inside, we're jealous of you. That's right, jealous. We're jealous because you're willing to take that chance that most of us never will. We'll all die wondering "what if?"

Not you though, your different. You're willing to be exposed before a nation. You're willing to be mocked and made fun of. You have heart. You choose to live your life the way you want and not worry about what the rest of us think of you. You have the guts to do what 99% of us don't. You put your heart out on your sleeve and let it all hang out.

So, mock you we may, but when we go to sleep at night we're all secretly dreaming that we we're the ones up there on the TV screen. So I say, Go for it! Make us laugh! Make us proud! Make us jealous!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Disturbed, Stricken
Cat Stevens, Moon Shadow
BTO, You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet
Pearl Jam, Better Man
Southern Culture On The Skids, Skunk

Local Artist Of The Day:

Brooks West

OH BOY, QUIZ TIME AGAIN!!




1.) This retro/post-punk band played its first gig in Athens, Ga., in 1977, long before they moved into the "Love Shack."

2.) What ZZ Top song. off 1973's "Tes Hombres," is an homage to a lengendary house of ill repute in Texas?

3.) Just when you thought I was going to eschew disco for the entire quiz, I bring the pain! Which was NOT a Village People character? A Trucker? An Indian? A Biker? or a Cop?

4.) What Donna Summer disco staple won an Oscar for best song?

5.) What Pink Floyd album can be synched up to serve as a substitute soundtrack for "The Wizard Of Oz?"

6.) What 1974 Queen classic spawned a conceptual film to accompany it, one of the first music videos?

7.) What British rocker gave Led Zeppelin its name by predicting the group's failure?

8.) What 70's band, in its early years, had a leader who became hallucinogenically obsessed with philanthropy and another who shaved his head and joined a cult?

9.) Which Gibb brother was NOT a part of the group at its inception? Barry, Maurice, Robin, or Andy?

10.) What 70's rocker welcomed us to his "Nightmare?"



Answers:

1.) The B-52's
2.) La Grange
3.) The Trucker
4.) Last Dance
5.) Dark Side Of The Moon
6.) Bohemian Rhapsody
7.) Keith Moon
8.) Fleetwood Mac
9.) Andy
10.) Alice Cooper


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Jethro Tull, Bungle In The Jungle
David Essex, Rock On
Lynard Skynard, Black Betty
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Give It Away Now
Jefferson Starship, We Built This City

Local Artist Of The Day:

Crush Efekt

LAUGH IT OFF



Taking life too seriously is probably one of the major causes of illness, actually. If you are a songwriter, especially with it being such a high-risk business, having a sense of humor about it all is probably your best bet. A song that makes people smile seems to be a better moneymaker that those that make people unhappy, so this can be a good direction for your lyric writing as well. Here are a few ways you can put a little more sunshine into your songwriting and your songwriting life.

LAUGH AT YOUR CRITICS

Yes, it hurts when you hear someone really slam your music, but sometimes we can be our own worst critics. If you catch yourself badmouthing your playing, calling yourself stupid and getting angry when no matter what you try, a part just sounds bad to you, don’t get mad, and just laugh. The same goes when you get a bad review—laugh. Even if you laugh in disgust, just the exercise of laughing helps heal your body of stress, and may even get some extra oxygen into your brain so it can think of a way to fix your bad bit. Laugh at the fact that the critic probably missed something really obvious. You’ve got to laugh. If you get audience members who heckle you, laugh then, too—they probably forgot their meds, broke up with a significant other, or wish they had a significant other but no one wants them because they are so obnoxious, and are probably wishing they could get the attention you are getting. See it as an indication that you must be doing a good job, because the heckler feels threatened enough to act out at you, and just smile—it’s the worst thing you can do to them.

LAUGH AT YOUR MISFORTUNES

Try to take everyday life with a chuckle. When you get stuck in traffic, sit back and sing along with the radio, no matter how bad you sound if you are alone, and laugh at your goofs. Not only will this help pass the time, but you may come up with some good melody lines, lyrics or arrangement ideas, and be far happier when you arrive than the person that sits there obsessing over the fact that five people have nearly caused him to wreck and that he may now be late for an appointment because he now needs to stop for gas. Rethink delays as reasons to do crosswords or catch up on some reading that you hope will inspire your next batch of songs, and you will not only further your work, but be happy when you get where you are headed which will always help your career. If you get sick, think of it as an excuse to write more and play less, and catch up on that sleep you promised you would last month, and be happy for the vacation, even if it is just an hour more a night and you are struggling through the day. A positive attitude seems to help people heal faster, too, studies have shown, so get out those comedy videos, watch comedy shows or rent a funny movie and laugh to yourself that it’s research for another song. Even money woes can be laughed at, if you sit and notice that you have a place to sleep, songs you can pitch, and a computer to get in touch with people and learn things from—you are ahead of many, so smile at your good fortune.

LAUGH WITH OTHERS

Some of the best bonding experiences are those where you had a good laugh with pals. If you are in a band or have a co-writer, try to find fun, non-musical things you can enjoy together to blow off steam so you can center in on your music when you are writing. Find excuses to vent, especially ones where you can yell or scream together—roller coasters are fun, and often laughingly scary, but so can be a round of disc golf. Go see a good movie, or sit and laugh at a funny show after practice when everyone is winding down—earlier taped shows of “Family Guy” or “The Simpsons” are my family's favorites , but try to let these be after practice fun, not be the reason practice is late, or doesn’t go off at all. This way, you end practice on a high note, even if things didn’t go well, and can go home with a smile and have something positive to write more music about, if nothing else.

So try to take a lighter view of songwriting. Sure, you may feel like a fake forcing yourself to laugh at first, but after a while, just like learning guitar, you will feel more natural doing it the more you practice. With a positive attitude, too, and the ability to look at things from a funny viewpoint, you may find you suddenly can do things you before talked yourself into thinking were impossible. Whining may make for good blues, but a lot of folks don’t like to listen to a whiner. The life of the party is usually a welcome sight, trust me, I know!!!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Elton John, Your Song
Pantera, I'm Broken
Green Day, Jesus Of Suburbia
Jim Croche, Cat's In The Cradle
Todd Rundgren, Hello It's Me

Local Artsit Of The Day:

Matt O'Brien

HONESTY PAYS



Well, the temptation is there, all the time. You really want that music job, but they want more than you can offer. They want more experience, more stage time, more studio credits, more copywritten material, and more connections that can help them. People at work want you to admit that there is something more going on between you and an act you opened for once, or someone you met that gave you a good reference. Sure, you could concoct all sorts of fictional accounts of what happened, even write them down so you have them all straight, and play the part of someone you are not. Hey, it’s been done before. Here are a few thoughts of why you shouldn’t, and why it’s best to just be you, and an honest you at that.

IT’S JUST A WHITE LIE

Okay, say you want to say you started out really early as a musician. You could say you took music in school, learned several instruments, and were in child talent contests. You can even tell them specific dates, name of the school, and who your teacher was. Problem is, if you do go somewhere, there are professionals out there who do fact checking, and they will check your story—all of it. If you are really just another kid who started out making noise with your buddies in college and found out you had a knack for the bass, and can’t read a note, that may also be discovered, and you will be discredited. Why not just admit you caught on really fast, and found you had a talent, and offer to have people hear your demo? If you really are good, act mature and have no problems jamming with anyone, you may well win out over some bookish type who not only can’t get along with anyone, but is unable to improvise or write, and has to have all his music written out for him note-for-note. If all you have won is a local contest, make sure you point this out firmly, and be proud of it, not apologize for it not being some major one, or say you did win a major prize (which again, can be checked). If all you are is a checkout person, but happened to be lucky enough to ring up a major celebrity, say that you did, but don’t try to say he asked you out, because trust me, that will cause even worse trouble when it is discovered he was at a major do that night in public and you were nowhere to be seen. Trust me, it will come back and bite you—why not just tell the truth?

CONSEQUENCES

Many people forget that some “innocent” lies can cost them big money. Saying you played in a big name band and you didn’t can lose you a gig after you get it, and that is lost income. Saying you are someone’s significant other or pal can get some people angry enough to ask for you to either retract it or face a lawsuit or even psychiatric evaluation. Lie enough about enough things, especially on taxes, and you could wind up in jail. Be known as a liar, and you may never work as a musician, no matter how good you are, because no one knows they can trust you about anything, or can’t help but wonder how much you will exaggerate what you did do with them to pad out your resume further, and don’t want to be drug into your problems telling the truth. You could lie about them, next, and cause them trouble, so why should they put up with a potential liability when there are plenty of honest musicians out there? THINK ABOUT IT, HONESTY PAYS!!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Steve Miller Band, Keep On Rocking Me Baby
Stealers Wheel, Stuck In The Middle With You
Meatloaf, Bat Out Of Hell
Neil Young, Old Man
Nickelback, Photograph


Local Artist Of The Day:

Laura Cheadle

How Can You Trust a Manager?




Let's face it, managers as a group just don't have a high level of trust from musicians. There has been a whole lot of negative publicity about unscrupulous managers. It seems that music managers have this in common with used car sales persons. There must be some ounce of truth in this stereotype or it would not exist. There is the pound to consider. Meaning: the percentage of managers that fit the stereotype is a small one, yet the bad apples have defined the barrel. All right, let us go with the flow.

Most managers have clients. Who are these clients? Are these clients successful? Do they have good things to say about the manager? Who does the Manager have contacts with? Do these contacts have great things to say about the manager? What has the manager accomplished? Has the Manager been involved in law suits, been sued by present or former clients? If so, what were the outcomes of these suits? Some of these questions can be easily answered. Others may take a bit more research. Credibility and track record are important concepts.

There are different varieties of trust and varying digress within these varieties. Trusting someone not to cheat you, lie to you, misrepresent themselves or you is the most common type.. Then there is trusting someone to be competent, reliable and or astute. A person may be trustworthy in the most common thought of trust factor but fall short on other varieties. One can really never be totally sure of these factors because people and situations can change at any given moment. Being cautious but optimistic is the only way to proceed.

In most cases, a manager would not be soliciting for new clients unless he/she is starting out. Everyone must start somewhere, so this should not be a disqualifier. Everyone has a background, a history. A resume' and references should be available. Does a band expect a top manager with major labels clients to be running after them?

Most artists or bands that are starting out, the first year or so, do not really need a manager because there is not much a manager can do that the group or artist cannot do for themselves. There are mid level managers that take on fledgling artists and or bands. In quite a few cases, mid level or beginning managers lose their clients to upper level management once the major level has been achieved. In some cases it is justified that this should happen because the beginning or mid-level manager does not have the necessary experience to deal at national and/or International level. Trust usually is a process and time is the only gauge.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Tool, Sober
Foreigner, Hot Blooded
Ani DiFranco, Shameless
Jackson Browne, Somebody's Baby
Peter Frampton, Dream Weaver

Local Artist Of The Day:

Sonny Baker

LOOKING FOR A MANAGER???



I receive hundreds of demos each year of bands looking for representation. Here are some helpful tips on what to do (and what not to do) when looking for a manager:

DO:

Be professional - image is everything. Send out a professional looking package - type the address label and letter. Make your first impression count (I often will decide how quickly I listen to a package based on the package's presentation). If your package doesn't look professional, it's hard to get someone's attention to even listen to your music. Put your strongest song first on the CD. And just send your best 3 songs. If you have a full album you can send it, but note the strongest 3 songs. Record the best quality demo you can. Follow up. Be persistent but not annoying. Call or email 2-4 weeks after sending your package to make sure it was received. With hundreds of packages, even the most diligent manager will probably take a while to get to you -- so a friendly reminder is fine but don't become a pest. Always put your contact phone number, email address and your name on the CD itself - CDs often get separated from jewel cases.

DON'T:

Send a package blindly. Always email or call first to see what type of artists the management company represents. There is no point in sending a rock manager a package if you are a country artist. Some managers represent a diverse roster but usually we have some type of specialty - for example, I mainly represent alternative rock bands and singer/songwriters, yet I get a lot of hip hop CDs. Go figure. Send a huge envelope full of press clippings, bios, photos, etc. A one page bio and maybe a photo are helpful -- but the music is what matters. Huge packages are just a waste of paper (and money!) Waste money to send packages express mail or priority mail - a big envelope may get opened faster to get it off my desk and out of my office but in general, all submissions sent to me go in the same pile, so save your money and don't send packages express mail to managers. At the end of the day, if you have good songs, you will find a manager. So, good luck!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Brother, The Crow
Megadeth, Family Tree
Louis XIV, Illegal Tender
Ted Nugent, Free For All
The Knack, My Sharona

Local Artist Of The Day:

Clutch

GET REAL............TAKE OFF THOSE TRAINING WHEELS!!!!




Did you ever use training wheels when you were learning to ride a bicycle? Or did you ever see anyone else use them? The purpose is to keep the bicycle from tipping over. They allow the rider to stay on long enough to perfect some of the skills of riding a bicycle.

Well, I think reality does that for the songwriter. Actually, it does it for any kind of writer. "Write what you know," they tell you in school. And out of school. And "they're" right. Margaret Mitchell only wrote one novel and legend has it, she hid it in coffee cans all over her house, before she showed it to anyone. But she didn't write an action adventure story or a who-done-it set on a European steamer. She wrote what was familiar to her. She may not have lived every scene, but she knew the people. They were composites of people she knew or was related to, in a time and place she understood.

Songwriters who write from a place of truth have the odds in the favor in many ways. First of all, as my mother used to say, "Tell the truth, and you won't have to rely upon your memory." Reality keeps you from falling off into illogic. Too many of the songs I see from starting musicians, they skip from one thought to another with enough non sequiturs to give you whiplash.

The intention to communicate something real to a real person keeps what you say on track, keeps it flowing logically like a communication you would make. When you're telling someone something that happened or asking that person for something you want, you don't leap from one thought to another or change person or tenses. For that matter, you don't string together cliche's and stay on the surface. You say what you mean, interestingly, with pictures and passion. But when a person sits down to write a song, sometimes all of these good habits fall by the wayside. The minute you start "songwriting" instead of communicating, you've blown it. It's like an actor who's "acting." Immediately, the audience is pulled out of the experience of the movie or play and their attention goes on his acting. People should not be conscious that you're writing. And when you're really good at it, they won't be. They'll just be moved. Reality is a way to help you get to that point.

I think of songwriting as a language people speak. When they're just beginning, they can barely speak the language. But after many years, they're fluent. They can pass as a native. So should a person speak on a subject he doesn't know, in a language he doesn't yet speak fluently? How many challenges do we need at one time? And yet day after day, I see people trying to write "save the world" songs--the hardest kind to pull off -- when their level of proficiency in the language of songwriting is somewhere around "Where's the bathroom?"

This is another reason why it's such a crucial mistake to chase trends. Based on their desires to get a hit, songwriters sometimes will try to write what someone told them was "happening" rather than what they know about. Of course, there are hundreds of other writers who can write just as well, for whom that subject is real. So the pictures will be real, the logic will be strong and the impact will be superior in their songs. In the trend-chasing songwriter's songs, everything will appear to have been written from the outside at arm's length by someone with very long arms.

The final point I'd like to make on the subject of reality in songwriting is, I don't care how popular country music is now. If you really prefer those major seventh chords and cryptic lyrics, please stop writing country songs. Don't you think Nashville can smell your pandering from 2000 miles away? Your style should be based on reality too.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Eagles. Take It To The Limit
Joe Walsh, Lifes Been Good To Me So Far
Melissa Manchester, Don't Cry Outloud
Mamas And The Papas, Monday, Monday
Foreigner, Jukebox Hero

Local Artist Of The Day:

Amanna 18

CAN YOU SURVIVE THE WHITE PAPER SYNDROME?


It happens to all of us, the blank paper stares back at you, taunting you to put one mark down to mar its perfection. This first act frightens even the best writer, but we all have to overcome it or risk getting nothing at all done. Here are a few ideas to getting over this nasty first hurdle.

Pick a random song, listen to it, put yourself in the position of one of the people in the story and write your side of what the artist is talking about. For example, if it is a love song, imagine yourself replying to what the artist is saying to you......positive or negative, it can be fun and often ends up being a great tune on its own. Musically, you can listen to a bit of a song on headphones and just record your response or fill to each riff you hear. This often ends up being a great tune in its own right and you can always change the chord line later and edit your bits to make it a completely original work. Another fun thing to do is to take the tune to a complete extreme and parody what is done....Weird Al Yankovic is a pro at this, or take an old song and do it in completely outrageous way, for instance, a Pantera metal version of the Beatles song "Eleanor Rigby". This often provides a hole in the dike to get you moving to do more writing once you get the floodgates open.

Pull out a dictionary.....With eyes closed, open a chord dictionary and flip it to a random page. Point a finger somewhere on the page and play the chord. It's usually a really weird one, but the sound tends to trigger your imagination to think about something that chord reminds you of. Follow that line of thought, use your basic knowledge of theory or flip to other page and add more chords one right after another and think of how the progression makes you feel. You may find that you feel drawn to scribble down more chords to resolve the story or feeling, or change certain notes to make the idea more palatable. The next thing you know, you're writing, and another tune is born!

Don't Edit! Free association can be alot of fun. Say you pick up the guitar, bang on a piano, or you just goof around with other instruments on a sequencer. You found something that sounded exciting so you turned on the tape recorder and just jammed out. Okay, so maybe it sounds like garbage to you later, but just listening to your live musical scribbling is often enough to make you say "I can do better" and get that pen on the paper.

Just do it!!! Hopefully, these ideas will help you overcome your fear of that blank sheet of paper. Any large job is easy if broken down into some small steps, so take these small ones and get yourself going in the right direction!! GET WRITING!!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Korn, Twisted Transistor
Crossfade, Cold
Bonnie Tyler, Total Eclipse Of The Heart
Billy Joel, Only The Good Die Young
Ozzy Osbourne, Mama I'm Coming Home

Local Artist Of The Day:

Them One Guys

MUSIC TRIVIA TIME AGAIN!!




1.) The Beatles "Run For Your Life" was inspired by a line in what Elvis Presley song?

2.) Name the song/group in which these lyrics appear:
" I am the mess you chose, the closet you cannot close. The devil in you I suppose, Cause the wounds never heal."

3.) Name the song:
"Hold me now, I need to feel release like I never wanted anything, I suppose I'll let this go and find a reason I'll hold on to. I'm so ashamed of defeat."

4.) Name the band and the song........"I let myself fall into a lie, I let my walls come down. I let myself smile and feel all right, I let my walls come down. No matter how I try I don't know why, you push so far away. You wrapped your hands tight around my heart, and squeezed it full of pain."


5.) What metal band did a cover of Sir Mix Alot's "Baby Got Back"?

6.) Have Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden ever been featured on a tour together?

7.) Finish the song title by AC/DC "Back in_____".

8.)What artist had such minor hits as "Burn it Down" and "Unholy Confessions", before making a major hit?

9.) In which Slipnot song are these lyrics yelled?
"Holed up, scarred and tamed for the hell of it. LOOK AT ME! I'm the glorified malcontent! Save me? SAVE THIS!


Answers:

1.) Baby Let's Play House
2.) Stained "Everything Changes"
3.) Seether, "The Gift"
4.) Smile Empty Soul, "With This Knife"
5.) Throwdown
6.) Yes
7.) Black
8.) Avenged Sevenfold
9.) Three Nil


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Hamell On Trial, The Date
Black Label Society, Been A Long Time
Joe Cocker, You Can Leave Your Hat On
Bob Dylan, Mr. Tambourine Man
Gordon Lightfoot, If You Could Read My Mind

Local Artist Of The Day:

Ryan Smith

EMBRACE YOUR INNER FOOL


No matter what you do as a day job, or even if you have a successful band that gets regular gigs or you teach music, you will run into all sorts of people who think you are an idiot for being a musician. They will try to distract you with promises of better pay or job stability, if you will just spend that money and time on more lucrative pursuits. We all know that isn't going to happen, so here are some ways in which you can pat yourself on the back and learn to ignore these obnoxious, unhappy people.

ADMIT YOU ARE AN IDIOT

One of the worst things you can do to a critic is to agree with them. Admit you are stupid for choosing this line of work, but point out how happy it makes you, especially when things go really well, an award, a good gig, a thank-you note from a charity you wrote music or played for, and so forth. Point out how selling your equipment, now that it has been depreciated a few years, would probably make you a profit, you don't want to pay the taxes on the increased income, so you are just stuck with them, now. You were so stupid to have bought them in the first place, that you might as well at least make enough money using them each year to cover the deductions, and keep the business going. This should distract these naysayers for a little, at least, until you can come back with a few more retorts.

FIND MORE WAYS TO BE AN IDIOT

Sometimes, success is the best revenge. Make your critics even more angry by finding more gigs, contests and volunteer work at least that is related to your music. Spend your time with these more supportive types rather than the mentally unstable folks that would rather spend time running you down than going out and finding their own happiness. The more time you spend with your fellow writers, too, the more exposure you get and increased chances of finding people who have the connections you will need to get further in your genre. You certainly won't find any songwriting opportunities hanging around with a bunch of haters, unless it is finding fodder for some good whiney songs or material that pokes fun at such emotionally unhealthy sorts. And yes, that is exactly what they are unhealthy.

BE A TOTAL IDIOT

Sometimes, the best way you can get your music noticed is just daring to be different, even if you risk making a total fool of yourself. I was used to being in a rock group, and I hadn't played in months in front of an audience, but agreed to play for the local Rotary club, anyway, even if I would be totally solo with just my acoustic guitar. I was scared stiff, and the audience was horrid, some pals of some of my worst enemies showed up and started loudly heckling me, even while I was playing in front of hundreds of people, hardly what one would expect from such a bunch of illustrious local business leaders. I took it all in stride, and just did my best, and was asked back for more ridicule a few weeks later. I took the gig, anyhow, even though I knew what I would be in for, just did even better, and gained a little respect by doing so. The critics are still poking fun at me, but now a bunch of folks are criticizing them back for their truly bad behavior. None of them would ever have the guts to do what I did, and a lot of them know it let your bullies stew in their own juices, and know it is THEY that are the idiots, and not you. Many of them couldn't even sing America the Beautiful in tune when I led them in that song. I KNOW they couldn't have done the 40 minute set I'd just finished each time. So be proud that you are a fool, if that is what others call you. It takes a lot less muscles to smile than frown, and I bet you look a lot younger than most of your critics, or at least feel much younger than they do. Your zeal for life and willingness to try the impossible is what sets you apart and made you try to be a songwriter in the first place. Chances are, whatever you do end up doing, just because you know how to overcome defeats and challenges by getting up and trying again, you will be a success of some sort, eventually.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Journey, Seperate Ways
Neil Young, Heart Of Gold
Nine Inch Nails, Head Like A Hole
Tool, Stinkfist
Paul Simon, 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover

Local Artist Of The Day:

OnceOver

IT'S OK, GO AHEAD, DARE TO BE YOU !!!!



Sure, studying the masters and copying their styles can help any starting writer get going, but there comes a time when you really need to take off the training wheels and ride that bike yourself. Here are a few ways to put yourself into your writing, and feel good about doing that.

I'M TOO OLD!

Garbage. Sure, you may be too old to get signed as the next American Idol, or even try out for that chance, but there is plenty of stuff you can still do. To be honest, many of those idols can't write, and need people like us to crank out the material that will make them look good. Get those demos together, find out who has signed them, and send off those CDs. True, they might already have a whole album's worth of material lined up for them, but whether they flop or fly, they will probably get a chance to get a follow-up disc right behind that first one. Find one of the finalists from one of the competitions that will work in your style and try writing something they could use, if nothing else. It will still be good practice, regardless. You can also still write soundtrack music for movies some new talent might be up for, or just DJ at raves if nothing else. There are loads of places where it is product output, not age that matters. Genres like classical, jazz, blues, country, bluegrass and folk have always been open to everyone, and many folks would like to hear new tunes mixed in with standards. Sorry, age is just no excuse. Even rockers can still at least do parties, and many toss their own tunes inbetween covers of favorites, and you probably will be making more money than most all-original bands while you are at it.

DO WHAT YOU KNOW

If you are a 5-octave singer or a virtuoso guitarist or both, let it rip! Don't care if some rep might have told you that no one will be able to sing it but you know that is nonsense, and any good singer can just break it down to a lower key, third or whatever if they want. Trust me, studios are full of hack guitarists that can play anything put in front of them, they are there because they have ability, but most can't write those riffs to save their life, unless it is to just come up with the occasional basic solo. Walking bass lines and concert-sounding piano and violin parts will be memorable, and there are loads of straight-A school band geek musicians that could play them if handed just a CD to listen to, and even faster if given a lead sheet or tab. Write that lovely jazzy solo, hit that high or low note, and write that lyric that a good singer will be proud to say because it has substance and is poetic fans will eat it up. I can't say how many times I've seen a performer get a standing ovation because he or she got up and did a solo, even though some detractors thought they didn't know how to play the part you will only make the fans love them more for the attempt. Don't dumb things down for people either, even if asked to play long and slow notes, make those the most beautiful and melodic you know how, and show how good you can write melodies, not just play notes fast. If you are any good, it will show, and don't be afraid to let yourself shine, no matter what you are asked to do. Let those influences show, too. They are a part of your sound, and even if that changes year to year, people should be able to tell at some point that it is you, not you trying to sound like someone else.

BE PROUD OF YOUR HERITAGE

If you are of a certain ethnic group, religion or nationality, let that slip into your music. The last thing any musician needs is a chip on their shoulder that somehow they are hiding some personal shame about what they were or what their family was like. Many great musicians were born or even died poor. Many came from rural backgrounds, but many came from well-off families and had to take huge amounts of grief from other musicians about their lack of hard knocks before they earned any respect, too. Many came from the classic bad home with the bad reputation, but there are plenty of good Christians out there, too, and many will find a way to let what they are sift into their music, at least in a small way. Perhaps you will find a little Gypsy violin or a finger piano sneak in to your tunes. One of the most fun things I've heard is how some rockers whose parents were into show pieces write some of the most stirring anthems that sound like they could just be rearranged for Broadway. The important part is to let you be you, and never be ashamed of what you are or your background it will only manifest itself as yet another form of writer's block, and that is the last thing any of us need. Let it instead be additional inspiration to spur you on to that next hit.

So look at that face in the mirror and dress in a skin you are comfy in. You will find that doing so will give you the confidence that will keep you going in the face of how tough this field is. It will also help you to feel able to stretch and grow, not feel straitjacketed into some artificial mold that you think you should be or feel others might like. neuroticallyicians turn neurotically unhappy because they become something they aren't happy with. Don't do that to yourself or to your music.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Drowning Pool, Bodies
Cat Stevens, Wild World
Green Day, American Idiot
Hamell On Trial, Coulter's Snatch
Pink Floyd, Dark Side Of The Moon

Local Artist Of The Day:

New Found Element

IT'S ALL GOOD!!!!


Too many times songwriters feel they have to have some sort of structure, some sort of plan to work from or by. If we remember that most hits are rewritten, not written, we can quickly get over that silly notion. Besides just jamming or writing free verse, though, let's just do what comes naturally, just to get something done today. Surely, you can think of something you like to do musically that will get you smiling and moving for at least a few minutes. Here are a few ideas to get you to accomplish this.

BE TRITE

I know this goes against the grain of some folks, but remember we are probably going to rewrite this anyway, so it really doesn't matter. Use a bunch of your favorite lines, favorite riffs, and all in your favorite chord progression, mode or key. Keep the recorder running, and just do something, anything. Play a line from a favorite song, and then do it again, totally wrong, like a bad karaoke singer or over the top jazz artist. Stop, start again, stop again as many times as you like. Say nonsense things just to do something with the rhythm. Play some totally ordinary blues progression and sing some really stupid blues lines about what your neighbor does that really bugs you until it makes you laugh. Write as many notes about what you did and why and how you did them,you might just come up with a lot of good stuff you can use later. Remember, in this case, your editor is your friend, and you can edit this silly later, but not now.

BE EXUBERANT

Don't hold back. Write the biggest words if a big word fits. Sing that high note, whisper a line, or whatever you want. Bang on notes hard, or just whimper them out. As before, you can always tone things down later, but make this a fun session, not something that sounds like you are straining to lift a hair. If you like, though you can just sound like you are straining to lift a hair, that could be fun, too, if it fits the mood you are trying to create with the song you are working on.

MOVE AROUND

It never hurts to work on your stage show, either. Try jumping around while you sing out nonsense stuff, spin around with your guitar, play your keyboard with your knees, or practice flipping your drumsticks between fills. The stuff you can do while playing this can really help you figure out what works and might not onstage. As you move, too, you might accidentally hit a note that sounds incredibly bad, or incredibly good, and you may just light onto a new song idea just by what is possible while doing the twist. It may also be fun to figure out how to use those nasty feedback squeals you get when dancing too close to the guitarists amp into the song. Howling out your anguish when the drummer hits the cymbals right next to your ear can add comic relief as well as something the audience can participate in.

VENT

Why not get into a political discussion or some other controversial topic with your co-writers? Why not write a song as a call and response based on what you say back and forth on that topic? Why not get the instruments involved, too, and let it loose on each other sonically? Have a full-out musical argument over the price of gasoline, taxes, spoiled brats, or other topics anyone has heated feelings about, and have fun doing it with your instruments as well as your voices. Be really silly, and treat it as a comic opera and sing at each other in bad operatic voices, again with the recorder going. You may come up with the next great rock opera, or at least a fun childrens musical. The important thing, though, is that you did it together, blew off some steam together, and had fun doing it. You might have even squeezed out something that might make a decent song with just a few simple rewrites.

So don't feel you have to do things the same way every time you sit down to write music. Vary up what you do, try it in a different setting or group of people or format. Any good teacher can make any subject fun for the kids, but varying it and making it accessible will keep even the most squirmly kid enchanted, and that includes you. What can you do to keep you interested? I know you know how. What can you do now musically that will put a grin on your face and make you play at least one more note? Do it!

That way you keep writing, and keep having fun!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Bob Segar, Beautiful Loser
Styx, Renegade
ZZ Top, Heard It On The X
Green Day, Boulevard Of Broken Dreams
J. Geiles Band, Love Stinks

Local Artist Of The Day:

Vizionary

Jumpstart Your Music Career!!!





Using Live Performances

Live performances are one of the most effective marketing tools that a musician has. You can make new fans or start a word of mouth campaign by doing a fabulous show. In order to get the most out of your live performances, you should plan your marketing strategy ahead of time. At each live performance make yourself accessible to the fans. Greet every person that you can. Nothing converts attendees to fans faster than personal attention. It gives them a stake in the band's popularity.

Another method of promotion at live performances is to make sure that the club owner or manager invites you back. Remember he/she is interested in the bottom line - how many people pay for entrance and more importantly how many drinks they sell. Get the word out and rally the troops. Get as many friends, family and fans to a gig as you can. Crowd numbers are important.

Always have people in the crowd selling your latest CD, tape or other band products such as T-shirts. People often buy things on the spur of the moment. Make sure your salespeople are roaming the crowd, talking to people and showing off your merchandise.

Other ideas for live performance promotion include:

Posting banners on or near the stage with the band name and Internet address. Having plenty of business cards on hand. Keeping a few media kits close by in case some reporter visits the show. Getting fans and family to wear band merchandise and stand in prominent view of the crowd.

Getting Your Music to the Masses

The Internet can play a major role in your promotion plans. One of the easiest ways to get your music to the masses is to permit one or two of your songs to be downloaded as an MP3 file. But just a listing on the big MP3 sites won't do you any good if the listener can't purchase it online so include links to where to purchase it online. Take time when creating your MP3 listing. Make sure you are listed in the right category of music by listening to other artists listed there. Often you are asked for a short history of the band or the song that listeners can download. Spend a little time writing these summaries to entice potential listeners.

Once listed on an MP3 site, let your fans know. Send out an email to folks on your mailing list with a link to the site. Add a link on your band's web site. Also don't forget to ask your friends and fans to write reviews if the MP3 site permits.

Always be Ready to Sell

I can't stress this piece of advice enough. Always have copies of your CDs, tapes and other merchandise close at hand. Never go out without business cards. You never know when you will strike up a conversation with someone who wants to buy your music or visit your web site. Don't make them have to work for it. Have the merchandise on hand or a card for them to visit your web site.

This brings up another tip. Don't be afraid to talk about yourself or your music. Talk to everyone and tell them your a musician. You don't have to give them the "hard sell" but let them know what your do.

Get Educated about the Music Business

If you want to be a professional musician, you need to take the time to focus on the business aspects of your career. If you do not have an attorney or business manager, this may include a lot of legal aspects that you had not considered. For your music you'll have to become knowledgeable about copyrights, licensing and royalties. For taxes as well as to avoid future problems for band members, you'll have to figure out if you want to incorporate or not. If you do incorporate you need to understand what form of corporation to become (partnership, sole proprietorship, etc.). Other business aspects include understanding and negotiating contracts. You'll have a lot to learn about this side of the business. An excellent book you might review is The Musician's Business and Legal Guide, compiled and edited by Mark Halloran, Esq.

Every Day Do Something for Your Career

Musicians often scoff and say, "I practice every day." But there is so much more that could be done. Listen to other musicians on the Web or go to local shows. Know which music magazines (local and national) promote your type of music and contact them about advertising and reviews. Research writers, editors and reviewers to find those that will listen to your music and write about it. Check out how other bands promote themselves and what kind of merchandise they have. You might find some creative ideas that you can use. Network with other musicians. And I hate to add this one, but read everything you can on the business. Sign up for newsletters from other musicians, magazines and e-zines. Study music promotion and make it your business. This is not something you learn over night but if it's your career, you must constantly be growing, changing and adapting to the new music industry.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Billy Joel, I Love You Just The Way You Are
Partridge Family, Cherish
Elton John, Can You Feel The Love Tonight
Joe Cocker, Unchain My Heart
The Beetles, Baby I'm Amazed

Local Artist Of The Day:

Kronis

Remember To Keep In Touch!!




Meeting people is a big part of the music industry. You have to remember that as a musician you are always selling a product - yourself, your band or your CD. To be a successful musician you need to organize your contacts and keep in touch. Contact Lists

There are a number of ways you can track information. The simplest is to keep a separate notebook or address book for your contacts. Each contact listing should include the standard stuff: name, company address, e-mail, telephone number, and web site URL. I would also take a few minutes to jot down where you met the person and any notes covering what you talked about. These notes can be used to jog not only your memory of meeting the person but also theirs if you contact them at a later date.

Other musicians are often a good source of information on contacts. But don't let yourself be swayed by another musician's opinion of these contacts. Everyone in the music industry has different interests and opinions. As a result, a contact may treat you and your band entirely differently than another musician. In other words, collect the information and make your own assessment of the contact.

Don't limit yourself when collecting contact information. Always include fans or even people who are not in the music business. Remember you may be playing in their hometown soon and will want to send out an e-mail alerting them to your show. Music promotion is about getting heard.

If you are at all digitally inclined, I recommend creating an electronic contact list using word processing, spreadsheet, e-mail or database software programs. It can really help save time by allowing you to search for and sort information. You can quickly create specialized mailing lists for people such as agents, venue managers and even specific zip codes for the areas in which you are performing. Using a contact list has a few other bonuses, if you can remember notes to a conversation but can't remember the person you spoke with, just search your contact list for key words and phrases. Software programs that are part of a suite also make it very easy for you to do mass mailings.

Business Cards

If you are a musician, you are in the music business. Treat it like a business and get business cards. Include your contact information, e-mail address and web site URL on your business cards and always have them with you. Hand them out, post them on college campus bulletin boards and in music stores and clubs. Get creative -you never know when someone is going to be intrigued by your name or logo and look you up on the Internet. Mailing Lists

Mailing lists and e-mail lists can keep your fans and contacts up-to-date on news and events for your band. You can maintain your e-mail lists in most e-mail software programs. Keep these lists current. Spend a little time after a gig adding and editing e-mail addresses. Include your family, friends, fans, other musicians, agents, reviewers and representatives on your lists.

Often musician-oriented web sites have tools for creating e-mail lists. Remember that if you are sending out newsletters or performance announcements, make sure people have a way to opt out of receiving future news from you. In this day of e-mail overload, you don't want to turn people off by "spamming" them.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Black Label Society, Fire It Up
Led Zepplin, Dazed And Confused
Queen, Bohemian Rapsody
Cat Stevens, The First Cut Is The Deepest
Bonnie Raitt, I Can't Make You Love Me

Local Artist Of The Day:

Jon Wood

Is Your Band Ready To Go On Tour????



This article is going to look at the "big Ticket" promotional item- Touring. Entire books have been dedicated to setting up, booking and going on tour so instead I will cut wide path, touching on some of the activities, tips, and hints for getting out on the road.

If you band has been successful in local clubs then you might want to consider building your fan base by enlarging the geographical area in which your band performs. This is a serious step and calls for a band meeting. There are several aspects of touring that your band needs to consider.

The first is answering the question "should you go on tour?" Your band needs to be aware that going out of tour is a costly proposition and you need to make sure that you have a really good reason to hit the road. The best reason is the most obvious one- touring to support your new CD. Let's say you a CD that is currently in production, you may all shake your heads "yes" to the idea of touring to promote it.

The next step is to make sure that everyone is on board with the idea of being on the road touring and what that might actually means. (i.e. where should you go, how many days, how many shows, how you would travel, etc.) Make your first band meeting an open "brainstorming" session just to get a feel of how everyone feels about the concept of being on tour. Make a band calendar, pencil in everyone's personal commitments that cannot be re-scheduled. You'll begin to see how feasible and complicated planning a tour really is.

Something else to think about is what being on tour really means- it means you'll be living on a budget, stuck in a vehicle with the other band members for a lengthy amount of time, etc. Just make sure you look at the myriad of problems that you run into doing local shows and then multiply them by a thousand. Although it sounds cliche' the stress of touring can either bring a band together or cause them to break up.

If your all in agreement to hitting the road, then you need to take a serious look at the responsibilities, logistics and of course timing. Bands planning their first tour can seriously underestimate what it takes as far as money, planning, and you time.

Make sure you have a solid press kit complete with performance history. Venues will be more open to booking an unknown band of you have a great press kit.

Plan your tour route, pick good potential venues, and of course, a good booking agent!


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Jackson Browne, Running On Empty
Tool, Sober
Elton John, Crocodile Rock
Pantera, Broken
Green Day, Time Of Your Life

Local Artist Of The Day:

Count The Days

Let's play a game called finish the lyric.........Have fun!!!


1.) "Nowhere man, please listen, you don't know what your ______, Nowhere man, the world is at your command."

What word is missing?

2.) "Set me free why don't cha babe? Get out of my life why don't cha babe? 'Cause you don't really need me, you just _____ me hanging on."

The Supreme's sang the song, what word completes the lyric?

3.) Jeremiah was a _______, was a good friend of mine, I never understood a single word he said but I helped him a-drink his wine. And he always had some mighty fine wine, singin.......

So, what was Jeremiah?

4.) Don't want your love anymore. Don't want your kisses that's for sure. I die each time I hear this sound, here he comes, that's _______clown."

Who's name is missing from the song lyric?

5.) "Night's in ____ satin, never reaching the end. Letters I've written, never meaning to send. Beauty I've always missed, with these eyes before. Just what the truth is, I can't say anymore."

What color is missing from this song's opening lines?

6.) "Bus stop, wet day, she's there, I say, please share my _______. Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows, under my _______. All that summer we enjoyed it, wind and rain and shine. That ______we employed it, by August she was mine."

The same word fills 3 gaps in this lyric.

7.) "She packed my bags last night, pre-flight. Zero hour, _____ a.m. And I'm gonna be high, as a kite by then."

What time was the flight?

Answers at the bottom of the page.


Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Finger Eleven, One Thing
Modest Mouse, Float On
Billy Joel, Piano Man
Disturbed, Down With The Sickness
Joe Cocker, The Letter

Current Mood Song:

Journey, Don't Stop Believing

Local Artist Of The Day:

Bobby Hernandez

Answers to the quiz:

1.) Missing
2.) Keep
3.) Bullfrog
4.) Cathy's
5.) White
6.) Umbrella
7.) 9:00

As I sit here at my mom's house, surrounded by Elvis memorabilia, I thought it only fitting that the article for today should be a little tribute to the King himself.

Elvis Aaron Presley, in the humblest of circumstances, was born to Vernon and Gladys Presley in a two-room house in Tupelo, Mississippi on January 8, 1935. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn, leaving Elvis to grow up as an only child. He and his parents moved to Memphis, Tennessee in 1948, and Elvis graduated from Humes High School there in 1953.

Elvis musical influences were the pop and country music of the time, the gospel music he heard in church and at the all-night gospel sings he frequently attended, and the black R&B he absorbed on historic Beale Street as a Memphis teenager. In 1954, he began his singing career with the legendary Sun Records label in Memphis. In late 1955, his recording contract was sold to RCA Victor. By 1956, he was an international sensation. With a sound and style that uniquely combined his diverse musical influences and blurred and challenged the social and racial barriers of the time, he ushered in a whole new era of American music and popular culture.

He starred in 33 successful films, made history with his television appearances and specials, and knew great acclaim through his many, often record-breaking, live concert performances on tour and in Las Vegas. Globally, he has sold over one billion records, more than any other artist. His American sales have earned him gold, platinum or multi-platinum awards for 150 different albums and singles, far more than any other artist. Among his many awards and accolades were 14 Grammy nominations (3 wins) from the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, which he received at age 36, and his being named One of the Ten Outstanding Young Men of the Nation for 1970 by the United States Jaycees. Without any of the special privileges his celebrity status might have afforded him, he honorably served his country in the U.S. Army.

His talent, good looks, sensuality, charisma, and good humor endeared him to millions, as did the humility and human kindness he demonstrated throughout his life. Known the world over by his first name, he is regarded as one of the most important figures of twentieth century popular culture. Elvis died at his Memphis home, Graceland, on August 16, 1977.

Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Meatloaf, Life Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back
Rod Stewart, Having A Party
Jimi Hendrix, The Wind Cries Mary
Boston, Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore
Pantera, Domination

Deb's Current Mood Song Of The Day:

Hamell On Trial, Half Way

Local Artist Of The Day:

Waylon Crase

Here's a little music trivia for ya.......Enjoy!!


Q. What 3 bands was Neil Young involved with in 1969?
A. Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Stone Pony, and Buffalo Springfield

Q. What group or artist recorded the album "Maybe You've Been Brainwashed Too?
A. New Radials

Q. What was Jackson Browne's song "Rosie" about?
A. Masturbation

Q. Who was the lead singer of the one hit wonder band Steelers Wheel who later went on to have solo success?
A. Jerry Rafferty

Q. What 1960's band leader wrote & performed the theme song for Welcome Back Kotter?
A. John Sebastian of The Lovin Spoonful

Q. What acclaimed solo artist played keyboards for Paul McCartney and Wings?
A. Billy Preston

Q. What was John Cougars former job?
A. Telephone company lineman

Q. Who said, "You can tune a piano but you can't tune a fish"?
A. REO Speedwagon

Q. Who had this unusual album title, "The Smoker you play the drinker you get"?
A. Joe Walsh

Q. Who was the leader of the lounge band at the local Holiday Inn on the Drew Cary show?
A. Again, Joe Walsh

Q. What Ottawa Hills native made it big on the rock and roll scene.....name the person and the band.
A. Tommy Sholz, Boston

Q. Who was the first member of the Beetles to past away?
A. Pete Best (drummer)

Q. Who wrote and performed the theme song for American Bandstand?
A. Barry Manilow

Q. What did the term "The day the music died" refer to?
A. The day Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper got killed in a plane crash.

Q. What was Ringo Star's real name?
A. Richard Starkey

Special thanks to Brian Grinonneau for all his help, Brian your a music trivia aficionado!! The first song in my top 5 is dedicated to you!

Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Joe Cocker, When The Night Comes
Led Zepplin, Communication Breakdown
Hayden, Bad As They Seem
Seether, Remedy
Fall Out Boy, Sugar We're Goin Down

Deb's Mood Song Of The Day:

Bob Marley, Don't Worry, Be Happy

Local Artist Of The Day:

Tony Jones

Musical styles of just a couple of the world's greatest guitarist.

Steve Vai

Where Vai's contributions to others' material has been constrained by the largely rock or heavy-rock style of those bands, his own material is considerably more esoteric.

Vai's playing style has been characterized as quirky and angular, owing to his superb technical facility with the instrument and deep knowledge of music theory. Vai has also been credited with the recent revival of the 7-string guitar. The earliest 7-string electric guitars were played by jazz guitarist George Van Epps in the 1930s and 1940s, but the concept was reintroduced to rock audiences by Vai.

An interesting point to note is Vai's commitment to practice. In several guitar magazines and texts, he is reported to practice upwards of eight hours per day, a habit he began as early as his high school days.

Satriani

Satriani is recognized as one of the most technically proficient guitarists in rock. He has mastered nearly every performance technique on the instrument, including two-handed tapping, sweep picking, volume swells, harmonics, and extreme whammy bar effects. One of his trademark compositional traits is the use of Pitch Axis Theory which he applies with a variety of modes. He is also a renowned guitar teacher, whose students have included Steve Vai, Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Alex Skolnick (Testament), Ler LaLonde (Primus), Charlie Hunter, Kevin Cadogan (Third Eye Blind) ,David Bryson (Counting Crows), among others.

Satriani (like Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Petrucci and other guitarists who emphasize technical command and precision in their playing) has been criticized by those who prefer simpler compositional styles. Some of his contemporaries have been known to take pot-shots at the earnest Satriani. For example, Gary Moore once said that he found Satriani's music "cerebral", saying, "it leaves me cold". Although his more flamboyant student, Steve Vai, has garnered more attention, most writers and musicians respect Satriani's musicianship as well as his modest and personable demeanor.

His success is notable in a genre typically unfriendly to instrumental musicians. Satriani has received 13 Grammy nominations, and he has sold more than 7 million albums worldwide. It is notable that while his fans tend to call him "Satch" ("Satch Boogie" being the title of his first hit single), other guitarists sometimes refer to him as "Saint Joe"; there are numerous t-shirts to this effect.

Zakk Wylde

Zakk Wylde's guitar-playing style is usually characterized by his use of pinch harmonics (often confused with artificial harmonics), and his guitar soloing technique is usually characterized by his use of the minor pentatonic scale, playing rapid box-pattern licks using strict alternate-picking, creating a very distinctive, choppy attack, compared to the more fluid playing styles of other rock guitarists. Another notable feature of Zakk's playing is his liberal use of "chickin pickin' ", a technique which is usually associated with country music, and which is (comparatively) rarely seen in metal; a technique he has picked up from watching Albert Lee, one of his influences. He is known for his use of Gibson Les Paul Custom model guitars with a unique "bulls-eye" graphic on them, a design he used to deliberately differentiate himself visually (despite having a similar hairdo) from Randy Rhoads - who was also frequently identified by his white Les Paul Custom (Interestingly, one of Zakk's favorite stage guitars of late is a replica of Rhoads' Flying V). The "bulls-eye" paint job was originally supposed to look like the spiral from the movie Vertigo, but when it came back incorrect from the painter, he liked the result and stuck with it.



Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Crossfade, Cold
Louis XIV, God Killed The Queen
James Taylor, Brown Eyed Girl
Paul Simon, You Can Call Me Al
Nine Inch Nails, The Hand That Feeds

Deb's Current Mood Song:

Brother, The Time Is Now

Local Artist Of The Day:

Helpwanted

Music is a means of definition for adolescents seeking their own interpretation of the world and their place in it. It's vital to self-discovery for most. The genre and accompanying style a teen chooses to identify with may define their circle of friends, as well as how they are perceived by other teens and the adult community around them. So who or what influences a musician to pick up an instrument?

What or who influenced the legendary Darrell Darrell Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul of the band Pantera?

Born in Texas, Dimebag and Vinnie grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where they came from a very musical background. Their father, Jerry Abbott, owned and engineered a recording studio not far from their home. The brothers used to hang out down at the studio on a regular basis, where they got to see their share of Texas legends. Dime and Vinnie were also influenced by such greats as Tony Iommi, Ace Frehley, David Allan Coe, Edward Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, Tommy Aldridge, John Bonham, Alex Van Halen, and Neil Peart, just to name a few. This helped progress the 'dynamic duo' into the most influential guitarist and drummer of the 1990's, where they have continued their groundbreaking techniques and styles into the new millennium.

The Band Tinfoil's Start and Influences As Told By Dave Harmes:

Tinfoil formed at a poetry reading given by Cher Bibler who asked guitarist Dave Harms to accompany her poetry. The performance went so well they decided to form a band. They named the band Tinfoil because the very first piece of recorded music, Mary Had A Little Lamb,was recorded on a single piece of Tinfoil by Thomas Alva Edison. Tinfoil's influences are as diverse as the members of the band. Cher is heavily influenced by Patti Smith, Sonic Youth and X. Dave is influenced by The Beatles, Nirvana and recently by the Unwritten Law. Joe enjoys the Violent Femmes, Sublime and Stone Temple Pilots, Rich likes Tool and Rod has always enjoyed the Grateful Dead. Cher has always written poetry and wanted to create music that had a literature aspect. Chers father, Sam Bibler, was a piano player in a Big Band; music was always around her. One of her favorite memories as a child was sitting right in front of the bass drum at her fathers rehearsal. Daves grandparents met while performing in a big band. Daves first performance was in front of the entire school during an 8th grade assembly, singing Hey Jude. He got the show because he was the only one who knew the words, but found out he enjoyed being on stage. Dave and Rod were in a band together in high school called Cellar. Rods mother actually owned a restaurant where Elvis Presley ate. His family gave him the unwashed table cloth as an heirloom. Tinfoil is always inspired by what happens around them. Songs are written about life experiences that happen to them, or stories they hear. For example, when a high school student committed suicide under the bridge less than a block from Tinfoils rehearsal space, they documented the event by writing the song, Under the Bridge.Their latest release, Dead Language includes songs about teenage death, anorexia, prescription death addiction, and an unrequited high school crush. In the past, Tinfoil has explored AIDS, homosexuality, drug addiction, religion, death and the fickle music industry.

Hamell On Trial's Influences:

"My musical influences include rock and punk as much as anything else, there's a reason I named my son Detroit," explains Hamell. "That's where I'm coming from with my songwriting. There's absolutely no reason why a man with an acoustic guitar can't rock." Other influences are Iggy and The Stooges, Lou Reed, The MC5, The Ramones, and The Clash.

Josh Miller From New Found Element:

Josh began coming of age as a musician in high school, when a buddy directed him to Pantera's influential slab of hard rock, "Vulgar Display of Power." The fulcrum of the band's sound was guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott who combined power and soul in a pummeling approach that helped define early '90s metal. As soon as Josh heard it he was hooked. "His guitar playing was just perfect," Josh said. "There are always songs you listen to that you think, "They could have done this differently or that differently, but listening to that album you realized they couldn't do it any better." Dimebag Darrell was Josh's hero and the reason why he picked up the guitar. Josh was in the bands, Everyday Pain and Sole Remedy and is now with New Found Element.



Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

The Monkey's, Daydream Believer
Nickleback, Feeling Way Too Damn Good
Him, Wings Of A Butterfly
Pantera, 5 Minutes Alone
The Beetles, Hey Jude

Current Mood Song Of The Day:

The Knack, Good Girls Don't

Local Artist Of The Day:

New Found Element

There is an old expression "Music Soothes The Savage Beast". What that expression really means is that music has the unique ability to alter one's mood , to calm the heart, stir the emotions, lift the spirit, change the mind and move one to action! Very little can compare with the impact that music has on mankind as a whole.

Music started millenniums ago even before men had any way of recording history. They had music before they knew how to read or write. One can consider that the voice was the first musical instrament, along with the clapping of hands and the stomping of feet. And, one might say that music and the human body itself go "hand in hand", for the human body itself is a rhythmic thing. The pulse of the heartbeat and chanting or beat of a drum in song both have a rhythm. It is something that people the world over can understand and it conveys a message almost like language itself.

All music has two things in common....sound and movement, as does nature. There is the sound and movement of the wind, of brooks and oceans, of falling rain as well as the sounds of many living things. The birds sing, the rooster crows and the dog barks, all of which have sound and movement in rhythm that are in order. And that my friends is the way it is with music!!

Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

Peter Townshend, Let My Love Open The Door
Neil Young, Keep On Rockin In The Free World
Disturbed, Stricken
Ted Nugent, Fred Bear
Hamell On Trial, Half Way

Deb's Current Mood Song Of The Day:

Bob Segar, Drift Away

Deb's Local Artist Of The Day:

Tinfoil

Jet Star Promotions has had the opportunity to work with diverse clientele and venues. As a result, my expertise isn't limited to a few sectors. Instead it encompasses a broad cross-section. My wealth of knowledge means I have a working understanding of your bands and the venue owners needs so less time is wasted in getting your band recognized.

The planning process in promoting your band is the first critical step to the success of your band. It set the stage for flawless execution. But, the logistics of planning and then implementing the promotion of the band can be staggering. All parties involved must be in complete agreement.

With the right tools, the right booking and promoting agent, the experience, knowledge, and expertise, your band will be recognized and your fan base will gradually increase. Guaranteed!!

So..... you have a great band or your a solo acoustic act. You've probably written some really cool tunes and you may even have a CD. How can you get it all noticed??? Engaging in promotional activity to increase a band's visibility, Jet Star Promotions focuses on reaching individuals who are most likely to be receptive to both the band's music as well other factors fans can identify with. Initial band promotion should include preparing a press kit complete with information about the band, a group photo, a demo, and a brief bio on each member. I will help you forge relationships with radio stations, DJ's, local labels, and anyone whom may be able to assist you in gaining exposure.

Jet Star Promotions was formed for the sole purpose of booking and promoting my son's band Sole Remedy. Over the months to follow other bands asked me to take on the responsibility for their booking and promotional needs, thus Jet Star Promotions was formed. Each band is carefully screened for its musical quality and reliability.

I pride myself on my attention to my clients and their needs, not only selecting the right venue for them but staying with the band every step of the way to ensure the sucess of the show.