when the dorks cry June 16, 2009

If you’ve spent any time at all running around in musician circles, you have come across and engaged in, at least once if not several times, the debate of original music v covers.

For those not in the know, this debate centers around the “fact” that the “masses” for the most part go to hear live music because they want to hear the songs they know, not to actually hear anything groundbreaking or new. People enjoy hearing top 40 radio hits or oldies or standards or what-have-yous because they can (1) sing along usually badly and (2) dance to it also badly and (3) feel entertained. Not that original music is not entertaining, but if you dont know a song, for many people, it’s not all that interesting.

For other musicians of course this is not the case. Just as an example, go to a Rush show and you will only find other musicians in the audience. And mathematicians who program sequences in garage band. haha.

The debate rages on when you start talking to bands who are actually out there “gigging” as the kids say, and trying to make a living at it. Even with all the Sonic bid, iTunes, cdbaby, myspace help you can get out there today, really “making it big” is a pipe dream that so few bands will ever see fulfilled, no matter how great they really may be. Sad but true.

But as a musician, who only does “covers” for all intents and purposes, I feel like this is not entirely horrible. I like that I can play and that I can entertain myself. And if people accidentally are entertained as well, great. I don’t really care for cover bands on the whole and I definitely commiserate with working musicians who cant get gigs because they dont have a name or because another band with a huge following soaks up every weekend night with their “Brick House”s and their matchbox 20-esque rendition of every song of the 80s. We’re not really sure when music went so wrong, but let’s face it. the masses are lame.

On the other other hand, there can never be too many versions of Brown Eyed Girl… right ???

ps. that’s a trick question.

a dangling conversation June 11, 2009

him: so you dont want a boyfriend?
me: would you consider someone part-time? maybe flex hours? how about work from home?
him: are you kidding me? i’m already calling this online chat a “date!”
me: so this is billable time?
him: and you wonder why you’re single.
me: dude, i dont wonder.

There really is no question in my mind why I’ve been single so long. I am selfish. It’s harsh but true. I could give you several references, though somewhat varied in respectability levels, that will attest to my inability to commit and to do what it takes to make a real relationship work. In the past, I would always point out that it was due to my actual lack of interest or ever-increasing concerns about the person I was with, but in the end it amounted to the same thing – I wasn’t ready.

A good male friend of mine insisted that I “should” be and I just laughed. Like there is this cut-off that I am getting dangerously close to, like the last passenger on the titanic without a life jacket or piece of wood to float on. If I’m gonna go down with the ship, I’d rather be one of those musicians on the deck playing music til the bitter end. But I really dont see being single as so disastrous as all that.

So in the meantime, speaking of music, I’m trying to put together an open mic. I want to call it “A Case of the Mondays” and have it on ummm Mondays.  I have no idea who will turn out but I think I will have fun at least. Worse case, it’s just me and Blue Js and we’ll get some practice time in.

Oh, so I am leaning toward the band name “The Blue Js” with a possible runner up of “The J Notes.” I can’t decide. Ask me in a week. It’ll probably change…

i think i can i think i can May 26, 2009

So one of the very many things I have always wanted to do (in the same sense as I have always wanted to win the lottery and to own an elephant) is run a half marathon. I’m not even ambitious enough to say a marathon and leave the half for half and half in my coffee. I am a realist and have learned to take small bites. Besides, 13 miles sounds spooky.

I have also learned that if you just think to yourself, Self, you should run a half-marathon, it will not get done. So now I am making it public and fully expect that at least my blog readers (aka my mom and maybe Graham) will keep me accountable. This is something that was partly inspired by my friend Jeff Berg who made his own feats of endurance really really public and therefore obligatory. Of course Jeff will keep me accountable but he’s kinda harsh… so no thanks… haha

So a few things have to happen.

Training. No Duh. I have looked through several “schedules” and I have a definite goal of the Rock and Roll Half Marathon at Virginia Beach on LABOR DAY weekend (!!!!!!) That means I have almost 15 weeks to train. Can I go from zero to 13 in 15 weeks? Sure why not :p

Music. At one point I had a couple hours worth of really great running music. That was back when I had my other computer which fried and I lost most of it since I am not so great at backing up my ishuffle. (that’s the very very tiny ipod for those who dont know) So I am planning to spend a few hours this weekend reloading everything I can find that will be awesome to run to… any suggestions are totally welcome!! One time I ran up Mount Sanitas in Boulder to Rage Against the Machine’s Bombtrack on continuous loop. You could say I was a little angry at the time. I had to walk down though because all that angry energy wiped me out and I got to the top and tripped over a rock and hurt my ankle. Ah good times.

Well, my only real goals are to get in better shape, which is not saying much because I am in horrific shape right now, and to actually finish the race. Even if it takes all day and a trip to the ER. ok let’s not do that.

on an only marginally related note, I have another goal this summer to play out somewhere in Va Beach with the J Boys. We are still trying to settle on a name. The drummer’s name is John and the bassist is Jean Marc. My last name is Jester of course. So we were thinking something with the letter J… The Blue Js. The J Notes. Robin and the J Birds. Robin and the Blue Js. Robin and the Js. I dont know if I particularly need my name in there. We’ll hopefully decide soon because it kinda should go on the flyer and the demo when we finish those to send around town. I feel fairly confident we can actually pull this off. Kinda like a half marathon. It’s do or die time. I ain’t gettin any younga.