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Old Stuff
Category Archives: Arts and Culture
Now This Band Is Called Safe Houses
If you’ve been following along on this blog even a little bit, or if you know me offline, you probably know I’ve been the lead singer and primary songwriter of a band called Shelter Dogs since 2013. I kept that … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Culture
Tagged band names, cease and desist, intellectual property, IP law, Safe Houses, Shelter Dogs, trademark
1 Comment
Bad Advice Musicians Hear, Part 6: It’s All Just About Who You Know
After you’ve spent about 30 to 45 seconds involved in making and distributing music, you start to recognize something important: The music “business” (whatever that means) is not a pure meritocracy. There is no consistent correlation between quality and popularity … Continue reading
Why Cassettes Rule if You’re in a Band
Out here in 2022, we’re about 15 years into the ostensible Cassette Revolution* – well past the point where it could reasonably be considered a “revolution.” Tapes are just part of what we’re doing now, as a culture, or whatever. … Continue reading
Bad Advice Musicians Hear, Part 5: Does “Getting Signed” Change Everything?
It’s a slow Thursday night at your neighborhood rock club, and you’ve just stepped offstage after an admittedly killer set by your Promising Local Band. You’re trying to suss whether that’s just your ego talking or if you’ve actually managed … Continue reading
You Don’t Have Any Money; You’re Gonna Make This Meatless Chili
You’re around here reading about “music” and “the arts” and “the creative process” and stuff like that, huh? Well, LET ME GUESS — you’ve got like a dollar, you’re looking for some food to cook on the cheap, and you’d … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Culture, Social Issues
Tagged beans, broke people food, budget recipes, chili, meatless, one pot meals, starving artist, textured vegetable protein, TVP, vegan, vegetarian, winter meals
1 Comment
Ringo Theory: On the Challenges of Giving Credit Where Credit’s Due
So, I have a few pet “theories” that I keep running in the background of my mind and pull out during those times when I need to let out a gigantic sigh and mutter, “All right, let’s be reasonable here,” … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Culture, Social Issues
Tagged ensemble player, goals, Ringo Starr good drummer, Ringo Theory, skill assessment
1 Comment
Bad Advice Musicians Hear, Part 3: Can a PR Rep Fast-Track You to Fame?
Today, we’re going to get into this not-so-great piece of advice: If you hire a PR rep, you’ll fast-track your band’s rise through the ranks. When I was about 21, I asked an acquaintance of mine who was already in … Continue reading
The Collected Brian LaRue New Yorker Caption Contest Submissions
For reasons I can no longer remember, but that probably had something to do with needing another vector through which I could scream my frustrations and disappointments in being forced to exist as a human being in the physical world, … Continue reading
The Thing About the Mountain Analogy
I spent my late teens and half of my 20s as a serial monomaniac. I wanted to be a professional musician. I wanted to publish books of fiction and poetry. Basically, I wanted to be an “artist,” and I really … Continue reading
Posted in Arts and Culture, Thinking About Media
Tagged around the mountain, goals, monomania, work ethic, workflow
1 Comment
Bad Advice Musicians Hear, Part 2: Start Your Own Music Scene
In the second installment of the Bad Advice Musicians Hear series, we’re going to get into one of the more daunting pieces of “advice” young musicians will hear as they’re coming up and trying to gain a foothold in their … Continue reading
