Category Archives: Arts and Culture

Guidelines for Living: “Don’t Get Stressed, Just Get A’s”

Posted on November 6, 2026 by Brian LaRue

I had a grave procrastination problem in college. I struggled to conceptualize how to break down large tasks into manageable pieces. I also second-guessed small, simple tasks, trying to locate whatever secret complicated thing might be buried in there. Sure, … Continue reading →

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Let’s Codify Butt Rock

Posted on November 2, 2026 by Brian LaRue

The last time my writers’ group convened on Zoom, the term “butt rock” came up in conversation somehow. It was unrelated to the stories we were workshopping in that session, mentioned casually and in passing. My friend Stefan seized on … Continue reading →

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What Does an AI “Musician” Want?

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Brian LaRue

A few months back, I caught a ride from a friend of mine, a fellow musician I’ve known since I was in college. A terrific player and singer, too, a multi-instrumentalist and accomplished audio engineer. He’s someone from whom I … Continue reading →

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Out of the Crates: Respect for Full-Discography Deep Cuts

Posted on August 3, 2026 by Brian LaRue

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 →

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Revisiting the Classics: ’60s Pop Exemplified

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Brian LaRue

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 →

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Introducing University of Space Recording Company

Posted on September 16, 2024 by Brian LaRue

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 →

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The Best Lesson I Ever Learned About Soloing, I Learned When I Was 16

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Brian LaRue

So, one thing about me as a musician is that I’m a guitarist who is deeply ambivalent about guitar solos in a rock or pop context. I’ll take a solo, sure, if it makes sense in the context of the … Continue reading →

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Quick and Painless Peanut Sauce

Posted on January 6, 2023 by Brian LaRue

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 →

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Bad Advice Musicians Hear, Part 7: You Can Do It All on the Internet

Posted on January 4, 2023 by Brian LaRue

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 →

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