I come to this realization naturally, genuinely, and honestly. I don’t have a problem with it. I am not writing like this to affirm or deny it. I am not writing this to rationalize a need/desire for a two seat sports car. I am however writing it to belabor a point of one of my whims I have; (Yes, I have many, they’re free and I’m allowed.)
I have gained my interest back for music recently and still have an interest in journalism and I see my friends having fun playing and jamming with people all over the world. I see them doing what we used to do together and making connections with all manner of talent from extremely familiar and famous like Joe Walsh, Blake Shelton to obscure and local artists. The main point though, they’re playing and having fun. I will be playing again soon and playing my own music which will have copyright so I can possibly sell to some folks in the end. A great outcome of that would be the awesomeness of actually being able to write on a regular basis for artists. I like to perform but it hasn’t been a goal of mine to be a professional performer of notoriety since I was 20. Not because I don’t feel I can do it but it just isn’t as valuable to me as just being CONNECTED to the industry and enjoying the time of playing for folks while they enjoy their time with you.
Some folks put down playing out in bars and other places as if it is trivial or meaningless and since most are drunk, you don’t matter. That couldn’t be any farther from the truth. The majority of audiences are out to have a good time. Whether they were drunk or not doesn’t negate the fact that they came out, witnessed your performance and hopefully had a good time doing it. That’s why the owner of the establishment had you perform in the first place. Then you bring in regulars to follow you and spend more money at the spot and attract their friends. And their friends tell their friends and yada.
I have the utmost respect for musicians that spend their Thursday and Friday nights playing for us folks that just like to appreciate decent live music and relax. They practice hard through the week work a main job and take care of their families. And if they’re having fun then its better for us.
I remember a band my wife and I used to watch back at Kingston Alley in Knoxville, TN. They aren’t together anymore but my wife and I really enjoyed them. They were a cover band and had some distinct characters in the band. They had a singer guitar player who reminded me of Sam Elliot and I forget who he reminded my wife of but he was definitely a decent singer. The bass player was a real character who reminded me of a Doobie Brother but could play the crap out of a bass. They had a drummer that could sing decently and were just a real tight band. They were called The Hip Twangers. We would look for where they were playing each weekend for the chance to go sit and hear “Bad case of Loving You” or ”Jessie’s Girl”. I think that was an indelible mark on my memory that I will have for ever and cant think of a bad night out listening to those guys. I want to have that kind of impact when I play. That’s a great legacy.
If I can sell a song or two and say “You know Kenny Chesney sings a song I wrote?” I don’t like him but that would be cool. So off I go!
ILY XO YM
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