potpourri
Wow, some of these postings are generating a lot of response, not just in the comments area below the items but out there in the big bad b***osphere. I saw my sardonic how-to advice on achieving anti-sartori in professional music copied and dissected at various other sites, and my favorite sardonic outdo was: "Yes, there are really ten guidelines for being an unhappy professional musician besides 'Be A Professional Musician.'" But phrased funnier.
Good to learn who played on that Elvis Costello record, and that list of worthies is a reminder of why it's probably unprudential of me to engage in public critical theorizing, or niggling -- a couple on the list are friends, and I'd be privileged as well as lucky to work or play with any of the others. Which prospect will now be dimmer, no doubt. But I think, have always thought, that it can only be a good thing for musicians to add their considered and experience-based opinions to the dogpile of ill-considered or ungrounded judgments that would more succinctly be called online criticism.
Interestingly, I told a musician friend yesterday about my idea that musicians might perform better in a state of cultivated discontent. My friend recently hired an obstreperous conductor to superintend a dozen or so great players. The conductor berated and agitated the players in rehearsal, making some of them very angry indeed; at the performance shortly after, some music was played, after which the conductor left and some more music was played. So this constitutes a real-world laboratory-quality test of my idea. The results were: without jerky conductor, good relaxed music; with jerky conductor, good concentrated music. If the question boils down to whether concentration trumps relaxation as a musical quality, then I think (as I originally suggested) there is a strong case to be made for hiring jerks. Incidentally, I present this idea against personal interest, as I am very much inclined to be happy and, as far as I'm able, create happiness as a precondition to performing.
My Michael Jackson tribute record -- I agree -- I want to get it out before year's end because the time seems right (not merely exploitatively). Watch this space for further news as it ripens. There's not much label interest in "Dear Michael, Love Robbie," as far as my finely honed antennae have detected. Stupid labels! But I think itunes and this site should be fine and adequate outlets for the record, and that's easily arranged. The subject of online distribution of music brings me around to your many and appreciated comments about the experience of buying and hearing my "50-vc. Doberman" effort. There's too much of that for me to hit right now, but I'll take that up shortly -- stay tuned.
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11 comments
great news about the michael jackson tribute and #$%^ the labels, do it yourself!!!!
Have been listening to the new jayhawks anthology and quite good. Got the bestbuy copy with 25 unreleased items and pretty good liner notes. Their country rock leanings are only now recognized by me after another listen and reintroducing myself to the book
Desperadoes-The Roots of Country Rock.
Question, what about audio recording your live concerts and making the "best of robbie live" available for download?? Also what about quality video of the shows. Unless you come to the venues of central new york I probably won't be seeing you anytime soon. Consequently video your concerts and create "best of" downloads or the entire concert. This could constitute an additional revenue stream. I'd pay!!!
Yay on the MJ. It is a blessing that some good will come from this tragedy.
And on the discordant band note. There was a 7 piece country band here in the '70's. After time it divided into two camps that HATED each other with one player neutral, I can't remember if it was the fiddle player or the drummer. It wasn't too overt, despite an occasional "And now here's a song the guitarist made me learn." But the music was fantastic. The hate kinda drove them. I was sorry when they finally broke up.
Double yay on the MJ tribute.
Hmmm ... If aggravation can make for a better performance, then perhaps ...
(Weird side note: When Robbie knocks the socks and the underpants off the crowd he generally shuns me post show. When things go wrong he's happy to tolerate me. Is he punishing himself?)
i'd say it's now or never on the mj tribute. why deprive people of the joy and emotional gratification of finally hearing something you put so much care and creative focus into? you don't need a label. that's a myth, like 'if you eat cherries and milk your stomach will explode.' just put it up on itunes, announce it on your site and the viral spin will take care of the rest.
seriously, is there a deeper reason why you haven't released it yet? should i go into my theories of anal retentive vs. anal compulsive?
okay, i won't go into that right now, but really, let people hear the cd. what are you afraid of? it's fantastic. the only thing wrong with it is that it is not longer.
Excellent - the MJ tribute is on its way. Now, we just need you to come to the UK to flog it ;)
Barber-----Good luck on the UK! Hell, I've never seen him come to Georgia. ha
***That's a hint there Robbie***
It's about time on the MJ tribute. Nick, maybe you can help book Robbie for 50 shows at the 02 Arena in London. One show for each Doberman Vc.
Robbie,
I doubt that you remember me (but it would make me feel good if you would lie and say you did) but we have spoken a few times when you played in Bloomington, Indiana. I am an English teacher in a nearby town and I always want to hear "Cold Stateville Ground" and you always say, "Next time."
In any case, I am glad to hear about the album "Dear Michael, Love Robbie." I had forgotten you were calling it that and when I read the title tonight it made me wonder if you consciously were alluding to the Michael Lohre poem, "Dear Michael, Love Pam." If so, may I ask your thoughts on the connection you see between the works? If not and if you haven't read it, you can see it at the following website:
http://www.boomantribune.com/story/2005/4/18/94758/0495
Thanks for all the great music.
Brian Hawkins
An English teacher? [i]Here?[/i] Welcome and when you are ready to reveal more than you probably should feel free to join the message board community. We'll be glad to ..ahem... have you.
It could be the idea behind the name, surely. Robbie's a poetry man whether he wants to be or not. And that poem came to daylight in 2001, which I think was the year I saw him do the MJ thing at the Cultural Center. The poem is ruined for me because toward the end I was hearing read in that high pitched manboy voice that speaks no more. Like he was married to Robbie and he got a letter and now he's reading it to himself and we get to hear his voice.
Data entry is a cruel mistress.
Bruddah, what do you mean by sending our man to the arena?
Once I got very drunk at a party at this one poet guy's house after a Robbie show (why can't I just *leave* like a normal person?). I mean blackout drunk. It was a college professor/poet guy's house and I think he was married to this one artist woman and ... anyway, he died last fall. But I just mean to say that Robbie hangs with poets sometimes.
And that I am avoiding data entry right now.
Robbie-
Had to let you know. I did a cover of your cover of "Believe" at a show I played last weekend. Everyone thought I was so cute and novel - but I had to confess it was covering you...covering Cher.
I also forwarded your "how to advice" to many of my bandmates and friends. it was a good reality check.
Thanks for everything.