Author Archives: Brian LaRue
Out of the Crates: Respect for Full-Discography Deep Cuts
There’s an old line that functions as a punchline among music heads: “I’ve heard of them… but I’ve never heard them.” It’s funny because the speaker is basically revealing they’re trying to stay afloat in a conversation about an artist … Continue reading
Revisiting the Classics: ’60s Pop Exemplified
I’d expect anyone who knows me – as a person, or as a musician, or as a social poster – knows I have this deep and broad affection for pop music of the 1960s. The songwriting approaches, the production values … Continue reading
New single and music video from Safe Houses: “I’ll Be Bad to You”
My band, Safe Houses, just dropped a new single and music video, “I’ll Be Bad to You,” and it’s currently available on all the usual-suspect platforms: video on YouTube and Vimeo; audio on Bandcamp, SoundCloud, Spotify, YouTube Music, and the … Continue reading
Introducing University of Space Recording Company
After years of threatening to do so, I quietly launched a record label in early 2023. I say “record label” colloquially. More accurately, it’s a cassette and digital label. It’s called the University of Space Recording Company, and it’s the … Continue reading
Heavy Breathing with the Scam Call Center
Everyone knows the best thing to do with an incoming phone call from a number you don’t recognize, at a time when you’re not expecting a call, is to ignore it. Everyone knows it’s probably going to be a scam … Continue reading
New Single and Music Video from Safe Houses: “Someday Is Starting Now”/”I Don’t Feel Like Dancing”
So, this week, my powerpop/jangle-garage band, Safe Houses, dropped our first release since before the pandemic. It’s a digital double-A-side single — “Someday Is Starting Now (Julia)”/”I Don’t Feel Like Dancing,” two songs that we’ve been playing for as long … Continue reading
Quick and Painless Peanut Sauce
All right, here’s another one for all the broke artists out there! It’s the beginning of a new year, and following the holidays, there’s a strong chance the wad of cash under your bed is looking thinner than it normally … Continue reading
Bad Advice Musicians Hear, Part 7: You Can Do It All on the Internet
It’s a Friday night down at your local rock club, or maybe a Wednesday. Who even knows anymore? You’ve played at this place six times in the last nine months, and the crowd is still made up of seven of … Continue reading
On Staying Out of the Comments in 2023
I’m taking a few seconds right now to consider how my social media habits have changed over this past year. Of course they’ve changed, because the discourse on pretty much all of the major social platforms has been changing. You … Continue reading →