Why is that good news?

Well, as musicians, you and I are always looking out for new ways to support what we love doing – make music. Right?

So, I figured I would share a little info on a service that can help you and I with that. The service is called Liquid Online Media.

They are like matchmakers. Instead of hooking up men and women, they hook up musicians and companies looking to use music to advertise their wares. For the savvy musician there are plenty of opportunities out there to partner up with potential advertisers BUT this is sort of a hands of, cut-to-the-chase variety which frees up our time up for more important things.

After hearing about this new service I had a few questions for one the founders, Shayne Locke (an occasional guest poster on Musicgoat), and he was more than happy to answer them. Oh and it is a little long but the insight is worth it. Judge for yourself!

Musicgoat: How did this concept come about?
Shayne Locke: With the increase of piracy and the fact that it is so hard for the average artist to police, unless artists are prepared to give the music away in the hope that fans will pay them (a la Radiohead), we needed to find another way for artists to gain income and exposure. Whilst licensing deals are nothing new, the whole concept of licensing music for advertisers is something that really needed attention…and a name…hence the Sound Branding concept. Matching up bands with brands gives an artist an income and builds their profile by linking with an ad campaign.

“…the concept [of their service] was so unique that it actually caught the attention of actor/musicians such as Harold Perrineau (from Lost and the Matrix series) who believe the Liquid concept could extend beyond the music industry and spill over to actor endorsements.” – Shayne Locke

MG: What make you think that you will be successful?
SL: There are so many bands out in independent land that can’t seem to get the exposure they need. With this site we give them exposure directly to the advertisers, agencies and music supervisors….cutting out the middle man. On the other side, an advertiser can go through the site and listen to music that is in the genre or style that they are looking for. This means that they can specifically pinpoint the sound of their brand and find artists that match. It is a service that has been lacking in the music industry to date or, in some cases, only available if an artist signs over their whole catalogue. In fact the concept was so unique that it actually caught the attention of actor/musicians such as Harold Perrineau (from Lost and the Matrix series) who believe the Liquid concept could extend beyond the music industry and spill over to actor endorsements.

MG: How does LiquidOnlineMedia make money?
SL: We only make money when the artist does. We take 15% of every deal and that is it. No publishing contract, no ongoing fee, just a fee for service based on a master license agreement between the buyer (advertiser) and the seller (musician). The site is free for all artists however we do have some fees for extended services such as websites, newsletters, banner ads, etc. We have kept the costs as low as possible so all artists can benefit.

“If each product has a different sound brand then it makes sense that every artist has a shot.” – Shayne Locke

MG: What sort of artist or band is ideal for this program?
SL: I am going to go out on a limb and say every artist because there are millions of different products out there. If each product has a different sound brand then it makes sense that every artist has a shot. We already have everything from standard indie rock like Omaha’s Oxygen to artists like Australia’s Blue King Brown that are Urban Roots. It is our job to match them up with the right type of advertiser. This may be in both sound and belief….artists can be selective about the product they are being branded with.

MG: What sort of company is ideal for this program?
SL: Every company should know what their brand sounds like, be it words and music or just instrumental. Likewise with TV shows and movies. If an advertiser can’t find their sound brand on our Liquid then it becomes our job to search for the sound.

MG: What are some successful examples of the program?
SL: Well we have only just launched but a perfect example would be Jack Daniels. Everyone knows what they sound like…country rock…and they use that so well in ads, campaigns and even competitions. Another perfect example is Cadbury chocolate with the Gorilla Ad. A monkey playing drums to Phil Collins “In The Air Tonight” was so popular, it caused the song to re-enter the charts in England.

MG: What are some not so successful examples of the program and how do you plan on correcting it?
SL: I cant point to a specific source, but i think they are the agencies, companies, films, tv shows that fail to help the advertiser make the connection for the potential consumer. I am not sure there are many, if any, companies like liquid. This is what we created liquid for, to ensure that some connection will be made, and at the same time, bring new, extremely talented artists into the main stream.

MG: Is this only available in certain counties or are you worldwide?
SL: It is available worldwide however we are taking special interest in areas that have been unreachable up to now such as China. Naturally because our home base is Australia we will be active down under plus west coast US because our partners are based in LA.

MG: As an indie artist who is just starting out, I am taking a very local/regional approach. Is the program limited to build relationships/match making on a more country wide/regional approach OR do you plan on marketing your matchmaking services locally?
SL: The campaigns can be as broad or as regional as you desire however maximum exposure equals maximum gain. If you have a song that is liked by a national or international advertiser, why wouldn’t you accept it.

MG: In your experience, what sort of brands are typically looking to for artists to partner up with?
SL: Naturally the big ones like alcohol, food and fashion but then there are so many companies and brands out there that the sky is the limit. There are new shows and movies every week, the opportunities are there, it is just a matter of exposure to the right areas.

“I remember reading a story about Chris Levy who had his song featured on the show Smallville. Now I don’t know how much was paid to Chris but the response was so overwhelming the label had to push forward his album release.” – Shayne Locke

MG: How much money could one of these deals be worth? What can an artist look for?
SL: I remember reading a story about Chris Levy who had his song featured on the show Smallville. Now I don’t know how much was paid to Chris but the response was so overwhelming the label had to push forward his album release. This is the sort of deal that is a dream to an artist. It becomes not how much is a deal worth in upfront dollars, but how much the exposure is worth and the repercussion from the exposure. In saying that, we will be obviously be trying to structure an upfront fee for artists otherwise we don’t get paid.

MG: What types of things do brands require of the artist?
SL: Every campaign will be different. Some brands may just want to do a straight music license whilst other may want to have band endorsements.

MG: What are some examples of endorsement deals?
SL: In Australia, Levi Jeans have just launched Levity Records where they have taken a bunch of artists and are using them in campaigns and promotional opportunities. Probably one of the most famous campaigns was the iPod deal with U2 for Vertigo. By appearing in the commercial, U2 were fully endorsing the product as opposed to just having their music appear.

MG: Are there ways other than with money that artists are compensated?
SL: Let’s face it, everyone loves product. Maybe some bottles of Jim Beam or Jack Daniels? I guess really the best way an artist can be compensated is exposure. To me that is the ultimate aim for any artist. Once exposure occurs the music sales vs piracy issue start to weigh in the artist’s favor.

Whew! I know it was kind of long but there was a lot of info.

What do you think? Did i miss any questions? If so, chuck them into the comments below and I’ll see if Shayne will stop by and answer them.

In the meantime, check out the site and sign up now.

BTW…Like This Stuff? So do 700 plus Musicgoat diehards. Stop by and introduce yourself now. And if you’d like to check out my music and get a couple free downloads ta boot, visit my site PlanetCorey.com.

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Unfortunately this week i have had to break my promise to you guy?s and instead of writing about rising youtube cover artists i am going to be telling you about how cover artist?s have developed over the last few year?s due to the expansion of technology and social media. Firstly as it is an introduction to the “Youtube” cover artist topic and secondly as i have not had time to research the up and coming artists as much as i would have liked as i have just spent a week in Rome.

Tech Has Been Moving On:

In the last few year?s technology as increased ten fold, every few months see the new released of a far more advanced piece of technology weather it be a computer or phone. This of course meant that computers have gone from the size of a room to the size of a shoe box in a short space of time.

With this rapid advancement of computers also came the progression of software, witch meant that instead of having to go to a recording studio and paying for often lengthy and expensive recording sessions. People had software such as adobe and garageband openly available to them on their computers.

Music production equipment such as microphones, speakers and instrument’s have become cheaper and cheaper, meaning that any average joe could pick it up and use it within seconds of installation.

All of this meant that the people who wanted to make music could do so easily in the comfort of their own homes and soon many new cover artists came onto the scene. Without a platform however it was hard for them to gain exposure for their music.

The Social Networking BOOM:

At this time the internet had started to boom, new ideas for sites were flowing and in the coming years sites such as Myspace, Facebook and Twitter helped people to socially network and share their creativity.

This has allowed many people to gain huge fan basses in a short period of time and make money for advertising, selling their work or even branded merchandise. Thus the cover artist of the modern day was born every Tom, Dick and Harry was able to get their music out their, and this will bring us into next weeks topic witch is the Youtube cover artist.

What do you guy?s think of social media, is it a good thing or bad? Let me know in the comments below! Seeya guy?s next week.

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From June:

“Dear God 2.0″ – the Roots
You don’t have to be a hip-hop fan to sense the glory in this performance, which is a reworking of a song originally recorded by the Monsters of Folk. Jim James can still be heard, but the song centers on Black Thought’s weary, rumbling, tumbling rap. (Read the entire review.)

“Here Sometimes” – Blonde Redhead
Elusively appealing song from the veteran NYC trio, with a characteristic mix of dreaminess and electronics. (Read the entire review.)

Orange Yellow – the Spires
Jangly guitar rock, with a nod to the Velvet Underground. The band is from Ventura, however, so it bounces with more of a SoCal than a downtown groove. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured in June included Simian Ghost, Sea of Bees, and Sambassadeur.)

From July:

“Zorbing” – Stornoway
Bursting with melody and innocence, as invigorating as a bright blue puffy-clouded day. In a better world than this one, this is the song of the summer of 2010. (Read the entire review.)

“Alouette!” – Tallest Trees
Gleeful, skewed, clattery pop from a Nashville duo. Electronics are used with good humor, and the entire arrangement is great fun. (Read the entire review.)

“Noisemaker” – Two Hours Traffic
Nothing more or less complicated than brisk, sharp power pop. No summer should be without this one either. (Read the entire review.)

Other artists featured in July included Lost in the Trees, Like Bells, and Saadi.)

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What makes a good summertime song?
It can be from any genre of music, but regardless of its origins all summertime songs need to follow the same criteria: an up-tempo beat, a catchy chorus or hook, and lyrics with light, fun content that call to mind summer parties, summer flings, romance and the fun of warm weather.

Beach Boys – “California Girls”
For listeners young or old, the influence and timelessness of bands like The Beach Boys cannot be denied.  Their song “California Girls” is one of the most classic summertime songs of all time.  The West Coast sound, the cheery vocals and the youthful lyrics make this a summer classic that has stood the test of time.

Martha and the Vandellas “Heat Wave”
The same can be said about “Heat Wave” by Martha and the Vandellas. This legendary Motown track has a beat that makes you wanna get up and groove, great vocals for singing along and is perfect for driving down a sunny highway on a summertime road trip.

Sly & The Family Stone’s “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
Another classic is Sly & The Family Stone’s hit “Hot Fun in the Summertime”.  The title says it all, and the mellow music with a slightly more upbeat chorus make it perfect for lazy afternoons and evenings by the barbecue.

Surfari’s “Wipe Out”
Nothing conjures images of beach blankets, bikinis and summertime breezes quite like Surfari’s 1963 hit “Wipe Out”.  What it lacks in lyrical content it more than makes up for in guitar riffs and drumbeat that are as seminal a sound of summer as anything in recent memory.

DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince “Summertime”
Recent memory, however does call to mind some more contemporary musical hits, such as “Summertime” by DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince.  One of the most instantly recognizable beats of the 90s this song was the summertime anthem when it first came out and thanks to it lyrics about cruising with friends, trying to meet girls, hanging out in the backyard and just generally keeping cool in the heat.

Prince’s “Little Red Corvette”
Another summertime song with reference to cars was Prince’s “Little Red Corvette” While certainly only a euphemism, there’s something about songs that reference cars and cruising that calls to mind bright sunny afternoons.

Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do”
Hot on the heels of “Summertime” was Sheryl Crow’s “All I Wanna Do” a dreamy, catchy tune celebrating the lazy shiftlessness that we all give into a little bit during the summer months.  There’s nothing difficult to understand about why this song was so popular.  Years later the twangy guitar and bluesy vocals still hold up, creating a mellow dreamy summertime vibe.

Skee-Lo’s “I Wish”
From the hip hop world in the mid 1990s came Skee-Lo’s “I Wish”. While this song may not have explicitly reference summer or summertime, it certainly had a summery energy. Lyrics about a guy too short, too poor and too uncool to get the girls topped the charts and was the soundtrack to many a backyard barbecue or evening joyride.

The Formula
It seems like the formula for a successful summertime playlist is to find songs with a great beat, a catchy chorus, lots of references to girls, cars, parties and the beach, mix well and play over and over again until September.

So did I miss any? If so let me know in the comments below.

About the Author:

Vern is a music fanatic, and is always inspired to write about music. From opinionated pieces about music reviews to informational posts about learning to produce cell phone ringtones for struggling musicians, his writing style covers a wide array of industry topics.

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My Idea

Since the song is about remembering and since Memorial Day was on its way, I shot out an email to everyone on my email list and on the official Corey Koehler Facebook Fanpage offering friends and fans the opportunity to take part in the process. I ask them to send in pictures of deceased loved ones that they would like to memorialize.

Along with a good response , I had the help of my sister, her video camera, her Mac and the gorgeous scenery surrounding where I live (Winona, MN).

Check It Out

It was our first shot at making a video but I think that my sister  and I did alright. What do you think?

Facebook Video?

If you are wondering why I embedded from Facebook its because it is a higher quality version than the one I posted on YouTube. We didn’t really know what we were doing at first and we had to convert it to a format suitable for YouTube. And since I was in a hurry – because I slacked a little early on and had to press to get it out before the end of Memorial Day – I didn’t pay attention to the obvious lack of quality (see for yourself on the YouTube version).

Anyway, hope you enjoy it. Oh, and I almost forgot (Duh! still getting used to this promotion thing lol), if you like the tune you can pick it up on my BandCamp page , iTunes, Amazon or CDbaby (i’m everywhere).

HEY! Let’s be friends! Hook up with me on my YouTube Channel, on my Facebook FanPage or on my official site, PlanetCorey.com.

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What is the most surprising is that these weddings are for your friends. The same people you hang out with every week, who listen to the same podcasts as you, watch the same TV shows, appreciate the same music. What happened to them to suddenly be okay with the Chicken Dance and Y.M.C.A. piping over the loud speakers?

3 Reasons Why Your Wedding Will Have Terrible Music

1. The DJ takes the reins. A wedding DJ is an artist. You may not think so, but he or she most certainly does. And as an artist, the DJ believes he has the right to certain liberties that can be unexpected for the bride and groom et al. You may have had your playlist perfected, but if the DJ sees the dance floor lagging, he is going to throw on his sure-fire, never-fail, always-gets-people-moving mix and take it from there. If that special DJ mix happens to include the lyrics “my lip-gloss is cool, my lip-gloss be poppin’” … well you’re just out of luck.

2. You’re just too tired to plan anymore. Sure, picking out the music for your wedding sounds like fun (you do have excellent taste in music, after all). But after you’ve survived the battlefield that is finding a wedding photographer that doesn’t cost $4,000 and spent sleepless nights wondering if sashimi really was a reasonable choice for a first course, designing a wedding playlist is just about the last thing you want to do. Leaving it to the experts is just so tempting. I mean, a DJ is a DJ for a reason, right? It’s his or her job. They must know what they are doing.

And suddenly, you’re loosening your tie or hiking up your skirt and mouthing the words to Katy Perry. “What happened here?” you might wonder. “In what feasible reality would I have ever let this through?” But by then it’s too late. You’re music is in the hands of another, and there isn’t anything you can do about it – or your reputation.

3. Not everyone at the wedding shares your musical preferences. If you and your significant other are one of those couples whose entire reason for existence is one band (say you met at that fateful Pearl Jam Riot Act tour) it may be tempting to dedicate the bulk of the reception’s playlist to one band’s repertoire.

Don’t get me wrong: Pearl Jam is great. Eddie Vedder lives in the same town I do, and I would be lying if I said that I didn’t scope out discrete coffee shops on Sunday mornings to see if I could spot him ordering an espresso. But more than one Pearl Jam song at a reception means instant wedding doldrums. The only way a PJ-overload is going to fly is if the vast majority of your wedding guests knows every song. And hates dancing. Because you can’t dance to Pearl Jam (you look like an idiot trying) and people like things they can sing along to.

What choice are you left with other than to slip in a couple of the choice, superior songs you love, and flood the rest of the dance floor with weird, radio hip-hop and those dance songs where they instruct you on your next move: One hop this time. Two hops this time.

Wedding Songs to Make Everyone Happy

Don’t worry, you future brides and grooms with intense indie urges. There are songs that exist that meet both dancability and elitist expectations. Use these as a guide.

Little Latin Lupe Lu, by the Righteous Brothers It’s groovy, it’s retro, and if you don’t know it, the words are pretty easy to figure out.

Shout, by The Isley Brothers I will acknowledge that this one is a little controversial, especially for music snobs who don’t want to have any song from a soundtrack at their wedding (even if the movie is Animal House). But I guarantee everyone – EVERYONE – will dance to this song. They will even get down to the ground when they get softer now, and bring it back up as they get louder now, and it’s the most fun you’ll ever have.

Jump Jive & Wail, by the Brian Setzer Orchestra Okay, okay. So it’s 90s. And it’s swing-y. But it gives the older folks a chance to show off their moves while at the same time gets the youngster’s toes a-tappin’.

Something sort of PG-13 rated from Girl Talk The great thing about Girl Talk is that he mixes all sorts of danceable gems together into a giant, glorious mashup. The downside is that 2/3 of said gems boast vaguely suggestive content. Try “Bounce That.” It’s hot and only says “hoes” 3 times.

Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough, by Michael Jackson It might be too soon for some, but it’s a dance floor masterpiece

You Sexy Thing, by Hot Chocolate Let’s take it down a notch and get some slow grooves in there. Because everyone at a wedding is sexy, and it’s a miracle.

Remix to Ignition, by R. Kelly Just kidding.

Do you have your own favorite wedding dance hits? Share ‘em – but you should note that any references to Journey or Bon Jovi automatically disqualify you from the cool list.

About the writer:
Rachel Smith a writer based in the Pacific Northwest. She writes for Storkie Express about wedding invitations and all things wedding related. She has phenomenal taste in music.

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Image via Wikipedia

It is not often that I comment on anything but Indie music here on the Goat, but, this 80’s metal rube couldn’t help himself. I originally planned on just Tweeting about it and sending out a Facebook update but I couldn’t say everything in 140 characters or less, so I figured I’d start the conversation here.

I was listening to The Rock And Roll Geek Show (highly recommended) where the host Micheal Butler was doing a track by track review of the new Vince Neil CD “Tattoos And Tequila”. I was readying myself for another throw away release from an aging rockstar from my youth – and the always honest Butler to call him on it – but I came away impressed.

Impressed enough that not only did I take time to write this review but I bought the CD. Proving once again, as they said on the show and on many others, podcasting does indeed sell.

A Few Thoughts…

…Not crazy about the title track so you’ll have to make up your own mind.

… “Another Bad Day” is the better of the only two originals on the release. It has positive vibe and could

…He covers “Who’ll Stop the Rain” by CCR and pulls it off nicely.  I’ve been a Motley Crue fan since “Too Fast For Love” and he sounds just as at home on this classic as he does on “Ten Seconds To Love” (I  can’t believe I used those two songs in the same sentence). There is a lot of sincerity in his performance that I didn’t expect. Great song, classic songwriting!

…I always liked the clean chunky riffs of The Hollies “Long Cool Women” and Vince and the band do a solid job. The big eighties distortion lends itself nicely.

… Elvis anyone? Viva Las Vegas gets a solid update.

There are more very solid covers to mention – like stuff by the  Scorpions, Sex Pistols, Elton John (seriously) and more – but I’ll let you figure out what you think on your own (Then share in the comments below).

Oh and I didn’t get the bonus track “Beer Drinkers And Hell Raisers”(ZZ Top) that I heard on the RNR Geek which kind of sucked but I’ll just have to wait for the CD.

Anyway, I guess what I am saying is you should go check it out. You can listen before you buy over at Amazon or check out Micheal Butler’s review. But if you want to dive right in, you can pick up the CD and download OR his $99 merch lovers dream package over at VinceNeil.net.

Your thoughts below.

Musicians And Promoters…

I, as a musician always looking out for good marketing and sales tips, thought it was interesting to see how the smooth the site sales process went. From what I can tell Topspin is doing everything- kudo to them.

Although I am not a big enough fan to lay down $99 bucks for the big merch package he is pimping, I bet there are plenty of people who are. Another example of how some of the more traditional artists are picking up on some marketing ideas forged in the indie realm and a sign that it works.

I signed up for the mailing list.  it will be interesting to see what kind of stuff Vince will be sending out – that is if he is gonna be the one doing it (somehow I doubt it but we’ll see).

Only thing I might have done differently was get more samples of the new tunes on his site. Had to go to Amazon to find those. Why make it hard for potential customers to hear everything the CD has to offer?

Like This Shit?

So do 700 plus Musicgoat readers diehards. Stop by and introduce yourself now.

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From the city who has brought us a cornucopia of diverse acts such as Steve Miller, Al Jarreau, and The Violent Femmes comes Milwaukee’s next greatest export: Disaster March. Compared to bands like Weezer, Alkaline Trio, and Brand New, these midwestern guys provide fans with highly entertaining, energetic shows. I caught up with keyboardist Brian Farvour just a few hours before he and the guys took the stage at their hometown SummerFest to discuss everything from their evolution as a band to working with Kristian Riley to their K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) model.

Hey Brian, thanks for taking the time to chat with me today. So I know you guys are getting pretty excited to play tonight at SummerFest in just a few hours; is this your first time playing?

You know actually, we have never done SummerFest as a band. We’ve all played with different bands, and actually this is the third time this year I’ll be playing. Never with the same band twice, but playing SummerFest is something I really enjoy doing, especially being from Milwaukee. The other guys love it as well, Marc for instance opened up for Fountains of Wayne one year. We really love getting up there and having a good time, and look forward to getting a few new fans tonight.

So you guys mention in your biography that you’ve had several name changes. Where does Disaster March come from – what about that name stuck?

We’ve gone through a lot of different lineup changes the past few years, but we’ve had this solid lineup for the past two years. We were initially called “My Disaster March,” but ended up dropping the “My” because there seems to be a lot of other bands out there with that as the beginning of their name…My Chemical Romance, My Morning Jacket…we really wanted to stand on our own. So we changed to Disaster March. And the term Disaster March is the name of the musical theme they’d play at a circus during an emergency to calm people down.

So now you’ve been set as Disaster March for the past couple of years. When you play do you have a standard setlist?

Yah, I’d say we have a pretty standard set list. Sometimes we play off of the crowd to see if we should go in a different direction. For instance, we’ve cut out “Slow Motion (it’s one of our slower songs)” before when the crowd is really rowdy. For the most part it’s pretty standard. We do have a couple of cover songs we like to play…

Which ones?

“Paparazzi” by Lady Gaga and “Like a Prayer” by Madonna: definitely crowd favorites.

The most recent album you have is your Dire Days EP, tell me a little bit about the how you guys came up with that.

Some of the songs go several years back, like “Save Me Jaime” and “Slow Motion.” A few years ago, we actually paired up with Kristian Riley (Citizen King, Truth In Fiction, Paris, Texas) who helped us really flush some of our old stuff out to produce better versions of those tracks. We wrote a few new songs to combine with our “new old” tracks for the EP, which we recorded with Kristian in January 2009.

I actually wanted to get the stories behind a few of your tracks. I’ve got to ask about my favorite, “Save Me, Jaime.” Who is Jaime?

(laughs). Nick, a former member and still great friend of the band knew her. That is about all I know about “Jaime.”

And “These Blue Eyes,” is another one of my favorites. I was going to guess that this track was about Jaime, but I guess you don’t have the answer to that one…

“These Blue Eyes” is one of the old tracks that I told you about that was a really rough demo form, but we were able to flush it out with Kristian. We’re really happy with the way it turned out.

And “Slow Motion,” the last one I wanted to ask you about. Kind of a double entendre there.

Exactly. The title relates to both the lyrics of the song and the tempo/feel of the song itself. I really like this track a lot. I get chills every time I hear the swell of the guitar toward the middle of the track.

I want to ask you about your K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple, Stupid) motto. I’ve played in a couple of bands where everything just seems so cluttered. You know, five or six people sitting around making music together but there are so many melodies and submelodies and….

Exactly! That’s where it really comes from. You know, it’s a really natural hting. We’ve all been in bands before this with larger lineups and we just like to keep it simple. We’ve got guitar, bass, drums, keys. One on each. It doesn’t over-complicate things and we can enjoy the music more.

Lastly, before you get ready for tonight, what is next for Disaster March?

We’ve got a few more songs in the works right now, but really we are just focusing on playing some quality shows to hone our craft. It’s really up to Fr. Time what will happen next, but we’re having a great time playing shows and getting new fans!

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What are your musical influences? Any bands to reference in relation to your music?

Personally, as the singer and songwriter of the band, I can only speak for myself as far as the musicians that have influenced me with my lyrics, melodies, etc. If I could pick, I’d choose Neil Young, Kurt Cobain, John Lennon (solo years), and Thom Yorke as many of my core influences.

Do you believe New York and the city itself has influenced your music? Why?

Yes, New York City has definitely influenced my music, especially with the writing process. NYC makes you fight back, and is a city surrounded by people fighting for their piece of the pie. There is definitely a motivated, aggressive part about New Yorkers where they want to just go out, have fun….but are still fighting for their slice of the pie with every move they make. You must earn your living, and everything that’s involved. So yes, the demanding aspect and fast-paced nature of the city has surely influenced our music.

Dead or Alive: What musician would you dream to play with?

Tough question…but I’d have to say Neil Young. The guy has literally seen everything – and he’s made a record in all genres. So it’d be great to jam with him in different areas of music. I’d love to pick his brain. But, if I wanted to step out of the edge a bit – I would love to follow Thom Yorke around for a day.

What’s the one thing you think everyone should do before they die?

Simple: climb Machu Picchu

If you could listen to 1 album for the rest of your life – what would it be?

Honestly, the new XX record. It’s incredible.

Favorite hot spots in NYC?

The thing about NYC is that it is an ever-changing battle there. As soon as someone finds out about something, it’s no longer a hot spot! Then….the crowd is off to the next place. However, I do love the East Village and Lower East Side of the city. The Thai places, nitty gritty rock and roll bars, and the fancy rooftop hotels are great. They incorporate such an attitude about them, with a new fusion, and a “balls to the wall” attitude.

The inevitable question: why Red Directors? How did you get the name?

I’m fascinated with Russian history, and when the Soviet Union fell, the guys that held the Soviet muscle had to go through a group of men called the Red Directors. Hence, the name.

If you could have any actor star in your next music video, who would it be?

Charlize Theron. She’s not your normal Hollywood star. She’s gone through such an incredible life, is a serial monogamist, and is incredibly sexy.

Any guilty music pleasures? Do you have the Bieber fever?

(Laughs) No. Fortunately, I do not have the Bieber fever. Guilty pleasures though… I actually have a name for mine. I have a radio station that is constantly in my head, called “shit rock radio.” The songs range from Air Supply, to Aaron Neville, to any other cheesy artist you can think of. I can’t get the station out of my head!

Best concert you’ve ever been to?

During summer 2001, I saw the Radiohead “Kid A/Amnesiac Tour” overlooking the twin towers, and the Statue of Liberty. Most amazing show I’ve seen.

Find Red Directors at www.myspace.com/reddirectors or www.reddirectors.com

Related posts:

1. Musician Interview with extremely adept D.I.Y. band Applepolish
2. Interview with Brian Farvour of Summerfest band, Disaster March
3. Beatles Rock Band Set To Go British Invasion on Your Video Game Console in September!

I just wanted to share some of his music with all of you because – not only is he’s a good guy and deserves to be heard – BUT his music is fucking good AND is about as Musicgoat friendly as it gets. The tunes throughout their “Funky Poetz” CD incorporate a variety of influences; funk, metal, pop and a few others things I can’t really pinpoint cuz I’m writing this at a point way past my bedtime.

Anyway, check out this laid back video for one of their newest tunes, “We Ain’t Saying Nothin” and then head over to EggshellEgoz.com, listen to more and pick up a CD.

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1. Music Video For My Memorial Song “Minnesota Got Colder” (My First Video Ever)
2. How About a Little Rush! (Video)
3. Another Eddie VanHalen Video

I was in Vegas a few weeks ago for a music conference and I had the pleasure of meeting two of these three very cool guys in this video.

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1. Music Video For My Memorial Song “Minnesota Got Colder” (My First Video Ever)
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3. What Is Joyride Rock? Check Out L.A. Based EggShell Egoz And Find Out (Video)

What inspires your lyrics?

So many things inspire me these days. When I wrote the lyrics for “Make It Land,” I was in a committed relationship that I was trying to express my gratitude for, and also seeing a previous failed relationship for what it was. Just kind of exploring the emotions that came out of that breakup and the emotional withdrawal I experienced from being with her. The songs were written over the course of a couple of years, so there were those different themes to the lyrics.

We hear you are quite the dodge ball player, how, if at all, does that influence your music?

On the dodge ball court I get to be a totally different guy. Like a comic book character. It doesn’t really influence my music, but I like to think that what makes me a good dodge ball player (communication, being present, and being a good sport in the end) also help me as a songwriter and performer.

Are there any epic dodge ball stories we should know about?

I’ve experienced both extremes of tragedy and triumph on the dodge ball courts. Recently my team, Winner Winner Chicken Dinner, played on the Staples Center court for the West LA league championship and won. I’ve definitely had some great individual moments out there as a player as well. Like times at open gym where I’m the last person in on my side and I end up taking out the 8 players on the other side to win the game myself. Stuff like that. It’s so much fun!

What is it like being a street performer on the Santa Monica Promenade, knowing that most people are there to shop instead of listening to music like they would at a typical venue?

The first year I went out there, it was kinda rough. I had this expectation that a huge crowd was gonna form around me, that I’d sell thousands of albums, etc. I slowly came to realize that I wasn’t a show-stopping attractive girl, wasn’t singing covers, and wasn’t exactly doing a lot to make my performance a “street show.” Then it dawned on me that I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone out there, that I could just have fun. And the crowd that goes out there… they show their respect for you in more ways than giving you their undivided attention or tips. I get a big kick out of seeing the small signs of appreciation. The smiles, the bobbing heads, the peace signs, the toddlers dancing. The things I enjoy most about street performing are being outside, connecting with people, and being able to test out new songs.

You have a paper crane on your album cover, what is the craziest piece of origami you can make?

There’s a frog I know how to fold that takes about 10 minutes. You have to make the piece of paper more or less like a chessboard with all the fold lines. So many folds!

Currently, you are being played on over 65 college radio stations, have you heard yourself on the radio yet? What station do you want to hear yourself on?

I haven’t heard myself on anything but internet radio from that, but I’m sure it’ll happen when it’s supposed to. I’d love to hear myself on KCRW (in Santa Monica). They are really selective and didn’t add me to rotation. Maybe they’ll dig my next album!

If another musician covered one of your songs, who would you want it to be and which song?

I think Jack Johnson should cover “Sunday Afternoon” because it’s totally his kind of chill, peaceful song. Finger picked rhythm and laid back vocal delivery, all that jazz.

Since you live near the beach, if you knew a tsunami was coming which one of your original songs would you perform and why, “Lay Back and Die” or “Hold On”?

I’m sure I could think of other things to do in those conditions, but if I were to pick between performing those songs, I’d pick “Lay Back and Die” because I think that song is more about acceptance of what is—about realizing that we don’t have to struggle or strive to be satisfied with life. We could just lay back and die because we are so content. That’s definitely the emotional space I’d want to be in if I knew something catastrophic was about to happen.

To listen to John Clinebell visit him on Facebook or at JohnClinebell.com

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2. Musician Interview with Julian Shah-Tayler, musician extraordinaire, DJ, producer, sought-after songwriter…
3. Musician Interview with full-time touring musician Betty Navas

What I’m going to start doing here on Musicgoat is write up a quick monthly summary of the songs Fingertips has featured by pointing you to one song out of three each week–I’ll give you the link and a very brief description. This is the digest version to be sure. On the site itself, the reviews are longer and more descriptive; my aim is to give the reader a strong sense of what each song sounds like and I why I think it’s particularly good. And remember, because I’m picking just three songs every week, all three of them are really quite excellent, so it would be a great idea for you to go visit the site to hear all three songs each week.

Thanks to Corey for the invite, and let’s get right into it with an abridged look at what I picked out for May. Remember, these songs are all available as free and legal MP3s that you can download to your heart’s content.

Week 1:
“Let the Record Go” – The Mynabirds
A slice of stompy, retro perfection from Laura Burhenn, who used to be half of the duo Georgie James. The entire album is highly recommended. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 1: The National, Hey Marseilles)

Week 2:
The Mermaid Parade – Phosphorescent
Both laid back and expansive, this one brings a slow-burning quality to its sauntering vibe. Phosphorescent is a Brooklyn-based band featuring Matthew Houck and whomever else he can get to play with him at the time. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 2: Villagers, Beach House)

Week 3:
“The Kiss” – Pallers
A graceful, beautifully unfolding electronic dance-ballad, from Sweden. Builds without hurrying to a moving climax. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 3: Sarah Blasko, The King Left)

Week 4:
“Captive” – Sarah Harmer
This super-talented Canadian returns after a bluegrass project to some straight-ahead pop. Very appealing. (Read the entire review.)

(Other artists featured week 4: Light Pollution, Sarah Jaffe)

You can read the reviews and listen to the free and legal MP3s on Fingertips every week. Better yet, subscribe to the RSS feed and you’ll never miss any of the songs.

Thanks for looking the picks over and maybe giving a listen. Keep reading Musicgoat and I’ll be back in early July with the June highlights from Fingertips.

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1. Free and Legal Music Downloading: The Fingertips Digest (June-July Edition)
2. Your Guilt-Free Free Music Downloads Report: We7
3. Get New Paul McCartney Album “Memory Almost Full” for Free

RnR has had the pleasure of sharing the stage with some big named artists, such as Snopp Dogg, Ice Cube, Bone Thugs n Harmony and many more, who has been the most fun?

T.I. at Thomas and Mack.  The vibe was different because it was his last west coast performance before incarceration

In every band there is always the shy guy, the crazy guy, the heartthrob, etc, what role does each person play in RnR?

K-NYCE (keys): The Shy Guy – Baby Face
Bane (emcee): The Crazy Guy
A-1ne (emcee): The Spiritual One
Tadow (drums): The Great Debater
CoCojenkins  (bass): The Heartthrob and The Low Key One
Freddy Tiff (emcee): “Underwater Cadillac Pimpin’”
The Illipino (guitar): “Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon”
Jerry Wayne (emcee): The Banker/Businessman

What song do you get the most excited to play live?

“Natural Disasters”

Have any of you ever had a personal experience with a real natural disaster?

We all have to say the recession.  Also, CoCojenkins was hit by a car right before a show not too long ago.

Why did RnR decide to have 4 emcees sharing vocal duties, instead of just one guy?

We didn’t have the heart to cut anyone! We all got dirt on each other! haha. No, seriously. The emcees started the group. The band came afterward.  They all bring something different.

What is the music scene like in Las Vegas?

Better now that we’re in it!  It’s growing.  More venues are opening up to live music.  There’s more talent thanks to Bush for f*cking up the economy.

If you were short on cash and had to become a Las Vegas streetwalker, what would your alias be?

Bane: Luke Thighwalker
The Illipino: Pimpapino
Freddy Tiff: Freddy Make Ya Feel Good
K-NYCE: Steve Urkel
Tadow: Dark Chocolate mixed with Black Velvet
A-1ne: Dolla Bill
CoCojenkins: G-string
Jerry Wayne: Wayne Glade

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How did you guys come up with your name?

It was some years ago my brother and I needed a name for our musical group. We couldn’t come up with a name. Then we picked up a dictionary and decided to go with the first word we came across. I came across the word Applepolish. I liked the sound of that word and felt that it went well with the music we were making.

Do you find it difficult to be in a band with a sibling or is it a bonus?

We get along very well and are used to working together. We have worked together consistently and successfully for a while now.

If you were put in a dance-off contest with fellow Colombian, Shakira what song would you dance to in order to show her up?

If it’s a Latin song, then En Barranquilla Me Quedo by Joe Arroyo, another fellow Colombian, because we’re both from the city of Barranquilla and we can have a Salsa dance off.

If it’s one of her songs, I’d dance to Hips Don’t Lie and we can see who moves their hips the best.

If it’s one of our songs, I’d have her dance to Bandwagon and see if she can help us create a special dance for that song.

You guys write, produce, record and engineer your own music as well as videos, is this something you guys went to school for?

We have been self-developing these skills on our own for years. First we started with keyboards, then to bass, and eventually to guitar. The recording process also developed over time with each demo and song that we recorded. Eventually we felt ready to record Spirit Threads and are currently working on a new EP for the fall and a new CD for early 2011.

What are your individual strengths when it comes to making music?

Our best strengths are in the production and artistic qualities of the music and songwriting.

If someone were to make a movie about Applepolish, whom would you want to play both of you?

David Blaine would play Johan Palacio and Marc Antony would play Richard Palacio, hehe.

Good choices!

Find them on MySpace and Facebook-go on, support the D.I.Y. goodness

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Your new EP Golden State of Mind was just finished, which track was the toughest to record?

I think “Pictures” was the most difficult to record just because it was so subtle in terms of the timing of the different parts. You might not notice, but there are no drums or percussion of any kind on that track.  We really had to have a really good feel for it. We experimented with a lot of stuff in the studio, including some percussion instruments I had never seen before. In the end, it turned out best without percussion. It worked out well. I think we ended up with what we were looking for.

What kind of music did you listen to growing up?

I was exposed to a lot of different stuff. My father was a DJ on local classic rock radio station so he was always playing southern rock like Skynrd, Boston, The Eagles and The Allman Brothers. I found my way into a lot of other genres as I grew up. Linkin Park has influenced me, Jay-Z influenced me in a way, Tupac, Metallica has as well. The older I got the more I began to explore older traditional country also. Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings. I’m influenced by some more current artists also. Jason Aldean is the main one. His sound really showed me that I could make music that moved me and it would still be accepted. Gary Allan is a huge musical influence on me also. Bluegrass artists like Allison Krauss and Ricky Skaggs help me a lot as well. I come from a very wide background musically.

If you could collaborate with any other artist who would it be?

I’ll have to answer this question twice, once as a songwriter and once as a singer. As a songwriter, I would absolutely love to collaborate with Jamey Johnson. In my opinion he is the best writer going right now, his catalogue for himself and for other artists is off the charts good. As a singer, I think I could die a happy man if I could sing a duet with Allison Krauss. That voice is unlike any other, now or ever.

You recently recorded a music video for “Friday Night on Fire,” did you guys play any pranks on each other behind the scenes?

We didn’t play any pranks per se, but there was a lot of joking around and ribbing going on between takes. We tease each other a lot in general, so there was a lot of “Dude, you broke the lens, try being less ugly next time!” Stuff like that, that’s all in good fun just to keep everyone loose and keep craniums from expanding, you know?

What is the best Friday night you’ve ever had and did it inspire the song?

It’s tough to choose just one. I suppose the one that leaps to mind is Garth Brooks’ “Ain’t Goin Down till the Sun Comes Up”. That song just has that Friday night feel to it all the way through. You just blast along through the song and enjoy the ride he takes you on. There were other songs though that had a similar effect in influencing that song. Hillbilly Deluxe by Brooks & Dunn, What Was I Thinkin by Dierks Bentley, All My Rowdy Friends by Hank Williams, Jr. All those songs were sort of the road map for creating “Friday Night on Fire.”

How long have you and your band, Cherokee Street been together?

Well, we’ve gone through a lot of flux with Cherokee Street, but my brother Sean has been the one constant and he’s been with me for about a year and a half since he got out here (the West Coast) after his military stint. The current lineup is about six months old right now, but I guess it’s a bit of a sliding scale.

If you had to choose, would you rather be stuck in the room with a seasick crocodile or a cougar?

Depends on which kind of cougar we’re talking about, the wild cat? Or like Morgan Fairchild? Either way, a seasick crocodile doesn’t sound like much fun, pretty gross.  I’ll take Morgan!

Visit Jess Mcguire on MySpace and Facebook.

-Sheena

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The Long Tail is a term that was first coined by Wired Magazine editor Chris Anderson. It is actually a very simple concept that describes the phenomenon of the online environment. It operates on the principle that 20% of the artists earn 80% of the music income and 80% of the artists earn 20% of the music income. In recent times the top of the tail has become even steeper with closer to 5% of the artists earning 95% of the income.

John Hyde of Leftclick offers an interesting picture of his interpretation of the long tail. Oversimplified for the Sesame Sreet viewers in all of us but it gets the point across. Not only are we in danger of being caught in the Long Tail, we are also in danger of becoming fossils if we don’t make changes.

Personally I prefer the view portrayed by gapingview.com which shows that the term should in fact be “The Short Tail” given the massive body count that occurs.

Indie artist, Cathleen Trezza, (www.firewispmusic.com) commented in a recent forum on the main issue that exists with the Long Tail, “There’s a million bands out there vying for your attention to hear a song enough times to fall in love with it for a while and buy it. The problem isn’t the free part, really. After all, if you gave out free copies of a song and earned an album sale at a rate of 1 out of 10, or 1 out of 100, or even 1 out of 1000 freebies, you could say the method works to generate sales. If you send out your album to venue owners (for free) and it gets you the paid gig, you could say that free works. If you give out your album (for free) to libraries and licensing shops and they find paid work for you, you could say that free works.”

I have to agree with Cathleen Trezza’s comments. The issue is not “free” music, the issue relates to what an artist is prepared to do in order to get themselves heard. Living anywhere in the Long Tail other than the front 5% is a hard struggle, so do we give fans a taste test or do we give them a whole meal hoping they will come back for another meal?

The toughest issue is that platforms like iTunes have pushed the artists at the top of the Long Tail even further up while those artists who, by choice or by default, find themselves at the end of the tail struggling to survive.
So what do they do? The question in their minds really should be “Do I want to remain anonymous and sell my music to people who stumble across me? Or should I be doing everything in my power and using all the tools available to get my music heard, hopefully driving future sales?” Unfortunately, for an artist, often the only thing worse than free music (or even piracy) is anonymity. If you are anonymous it is a hard slog to build a profile.

One final point … as an artist going through iTunes, will you ever see the database of your followers and have the ability to market to them? No you won’t. What we (Cowbell Digital Music) want (and are setting up) is a database that an artist can use to directly market to their fans and fans of their genre. The only way to increase the database is to increase the fan base so does the trade off equal free songs for information? And if such powerful data is provided then I ask the question … did you really give away the song for free?

I know this is an unusual stance, coming from the CEO of a digital music platform, but something has to be done to get an artist ‘out there’. I would love to hear from artists on this issue as we are building a new digital platform that aims to address these issues. The only way we can do this is by listening to the artists that it will affect. Feel free to link, email me or comment on this post.

Shayne Locke
Cowbell Digital Music – It’s Your Choice

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What songs on your album do you most like to play live?

There are 3 main songs that I enjoy playing for different reasons. With “XtraOrdinary”, I begin by beat-boxing and then loop that beatbox beat in my pedal while the band slowly build around it thru the song, it’s great to start something so small and end so big and the crowd always gets engaged in the process

I must have played “Human Race” over 150 times live and the guitar riff always gets people moving, that can only be a good thing. This song also works well acoustically, as well as with a full rockin band grooving behind me, and it’s also easy to do a live reggae version when the mood calls for it.

Finally, “Hey You” is a blast because by the final chorus most people are singing along and that’s when I really feel like “mission accomplished”.

What is your biggest inspiration behind your writing?

To offer something that is inspiring and insightful and may help fill a hole in the lives of people, who like me, feel something is missing sometimes. I wasn’t always turned on by everything around me growing up and loved the escape music provided and another way of seeing the world offered by the writers.

You are a producer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist, and a performer, which of these roles do you like the best?

The different roles move in waves. I do really like them all equally if in balance. Songwriting is a specific moment in time where I like to focus my existence on absorbing and reflecting. Then I hit a limit and want to bring them to life and playing the different instruments is a blast and allows me the chance to become a better player. Producing can be for myself or for another artist and often involves more of a ‘science’ in getting the best sound or arrangement. This is also when you can do the ‘editing’ that I wouldn’t do in the early writing stages. If I am producing for another artist it is also nice to take a break from my own thing and be more objective. Plus, you always learn so much working with other people. Performing is a whole other rush, whatever nerves there may be initially, are quickly transformed into bliss—channeling all the different emotions thru my voice onstage feels like the purest form of expression I have ever known.

If you were broke and had to dress up like a character and stand outside Mann’s Chinese Theatre, who would you dress up as and why?

Ha! That’s funny  I was walking by there yesterday. Off the top of my head—Ace Ventura .  I think any Jim Carrey character gives you a huge license to just be a total whack job in public and get away with it ;-P

What was your favorite album growing up?

Acchhh, do I have to pick only one!! Ok, I need to pick 3.

Blood Sugar Sex Magic by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Wow, blew my mind, total pinnacle of all their talents blending perfectly: creative, fun, deep. I can still listen to that and feel the same rip of energy as the day it came out. This was essential pubescent listening!

Euphoria Morning by Chris Cornell. Although this kinda flopped at the time, I was enraptured by the very musical and soulful musings of Soundgarden’s frontman. This album plays like a friend by your side, you can tell he had been waiting a while to show this other face of his talents. Every song is perfection, there isn’t a single wasted note here and of course, that VOICE!

Songs In The Key Of Life As a child I found an old unmarked cassette copy left in an abandoned cupboard and I started listening to it and never looked back. I didn’t know who it was for years, but Stevie Wonder taught me most of what I needed to know.

Have you ever thought of writing rap songs under the pseudonym D-Lux?

Ha, another great question, I think I’ll spare the world my rapping. Any attempts at ‘freestyling’ usually slide into potty mouth pretty quickly – although Eminiem made a whole career of that….

Find Darius on MySpace, Facebook and Twitter

-Sheena

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Soon I will be starting a series on Piracy but until then let’s take stock of today and where we see ourselves being in the future. One authority is “music futurist”, Gerd Leonhard. His site, http://mediafuturist.com gives us an inkling. Music 2.0 is Gerd’s way of describing where we are all poised, the brink of a new era that will see more mobile content and less physical cds.

This is where the future starts, with a term called “Music like Water.”  The Future of Music is treating music like water. Music readily available whenever it is needed and as important to life as water is to the body. The ability to buy music will be as easy as turning on a tap. An almost unconscious decision because it is so accessible.

Once the change occurs, issues such as piracy will become a moot point. What is the point of piracy when a song is so readily available anyway. Does this mean that as musicians we lose the value of the song along with the income.  We shouldn’t lose either. Even under the Music Like Water model, the music only “Feels Like Free”. There are plenty of models that operate under the almost free system. It not only encourages the embracing of new music, it allows the artists towards the end of “the long tail” to finally be heard.

There are several terms used in this blog like “The Long Tail” and “Feels Like Free” that need to be explained so stay tuned for the next couple of weeks as I look into the concept of each and how it will affect us all in the music industry.

The Future of the music industry is about to be turned on its head. Are you ready?

Shayne Locke
Cowbell Digital Music – It’s Your Choice

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The name of my debut CD is “Never Too Late”. You can check out every song by stopping by the music page on my site PlanetCorey.com.

Better yet, can get 3 of my downloads, each with a personal introduction, for free by visiting my fanlist signup page now.

If you want to review it, all I ask is that you are completely honest. You can either put your thoughts in the comments below, on my artist site, your blog OR if you have a site or social media profile (Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, etc), you could share and post it there.

Anyway, go grab your tunes now. I’m excited to hear what you think.

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Focusing on digital downloads, the release of Mutto’s single ‘Wish’ is a momentous occasion as he is one of the first Australian artists ever to release an exclusively digital single available for download from the iTunes store, his own website, and through the use of a ‘Bandtag’ Card.

‘Bandtag’ has been supplying promotional download cards for artists to give away songs for a few years now, however Mutto is the first artist to use the card as a replacement for the standard CD single, in fact the first artist in Australia to publicly shun cds in favor of a digital download card that allows buyers to download high quality mp3’s to play on iTunes or Windows Media Player.

It also allows fans to download a copy of the video in a format that will work on ipods and iphones. Check it out here Mutto – “Wish” video

To top it off, apart from radio giveaways and promotion, last night’s launch was exclusively promoted through the use of social media platforms like Facebook. With over 200 attendees, the success of the night is a perfect example of the importance of social media marketing in a digital age. It is a new digital era and artists like Mutto demonstrate how results can be achieved online.

As more artists like Mutto and Nomy reach their full potential they present a very real opportunity for new artists trying establish a solid base. As advocates of the digital age, Cowbell and I will strive to uncover more examples of how new artists are using the internet and its many tools to advance their careers. Stay tuned!

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Dubbed the ‘Record Label’s Worst Nightmare’, Nomy’s first single, Cocaine, has over 2 million Youtube hits and is spreading like wildfire. He credits the success to availability, internet marketing and a good music distributor. (You can find him at http://bit.ly/cacd6I).

Nomy’s passion was to give the fans what they wanted without conditions. The whole exercise opens the door to other indie artists wanting to use the internet for marketing and looking to achieve the same results…and which artist doesn’t?

One of our artists sent me a link to an interesting video on Youtube about a topic called Media Convergence. A video with a bunch of amazing facts about the generation we now live in (http://bit.ly/9rZswo), Media Convergence is a term used for what the rest of the world thinks of as the Future of Technology.

Part of this technology relates to social networking platforms; how important they are, is relative to your audience, however the demographic of Facebook users, in particular, are reaching a much higher age than those who use Twitter or Myspace proving that social networking platforms are not only for the young, also the young at heart.

As artists we have to be aware of so many platforms. How do we cope? One of our guys at Cowbell researched all the platforms available and has come up with a novel approach to getting known on many social networking sites with the press of one button. It can be done but can be a waste of time if you have a poor product or a dodgy website.

What has to be recognised is the need to make your website appealing as well as utilizing social networking. It is a massive job but first impressions count in a generation that is bombarded with millions of messages every day. What is different about your website? What will make you stand out on social networking platforms?

If you want to know more about sorting out your social networking, feel free to contact us at www.cowbell.com.au. We can put the tools in place for any artist and provide a backup distribution service, but it really comes down to the artist’s drive and determination to make it successful. Without constant use, a Facebook page or Myspace profile will fade into the ever-increasing chasm which is the world wide web … or, with the right formula, you can “do a Nomy” and have a hit single. In the end, it’s your choice.

Shayne Locke
Cowbell Digital Music – It’s Your Choice.

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2. Guest Blogger – Shayne Locke from Cowbell Digital Music
3. An Intro To The Best New Cover Songs Of Today

Over the last 12 months I have had the honor, and the privilege, of getting to know a legendary music icon, Ritchie Yorke.

When we first started our label (http://bit.ly/9fgh1x) Ritchie did what he does best, and did an interview with Cowbell.

When you meet people, you seldom ignore the general rule that states there are Six degrees of separation and accept the Human Web on planet earth. However, last week, I discovered there are in fact only two degrees that separate most in today’s global village.

As a John Lennon fan, it was fantastic to sit down and talk with the man that was Lennon’s International Peace Envoy. With John’s words still so firmly in Ritchie’s mind, 30 years later, sitting opposite him and watching the excitement and enthusiasm on his face when he spoke with passion about John, I began to realize the influence Lennon had on the world and specially on those that he came in contact with.

I also realized that a music lover like Ritchie, not only believes in John’s message, but that he still has the determination to tell the world, with the same gusto that drove him cross the red border into Communist China to deliver the message of peace on behalf of Lennon in 1970.

I could write volumes about Ritchie and his contributions to the music industry, but what happened last week at our studios will give you some idea of whom this man is.

During a break from a recording session, a senior student on work experience at Cowbell was casually talking to Ritchie and asked what he did. Ritchie replied with a question: ’Do you know John Lennon?’ “Not really … wasn’t he one of the Beatles?” was the answer.

Realising that the conversation could soon turn a crucial corner, I spied the T-shirt the lad was wearing. Them Crooked Vultures (which features the Led Zeppelin’s bassist, John Paul Jones) and promptly asked if he was familiar with Led Zeppelin. His eyes lit as he proudly announced that he was their number one fan, in fact he even owned their biography (The Led Zeppelin Biography, 1975).

Someone else at the table promptly announced, … “you are talking to the author.” The kid’s jaw dropped it was as though he’d just seen a Rock God!

My point is, that the most unassuming person could be closer to that Six Degrees of assumed separation than we all at times contemplate.
What makes Ritchie truly great, and others like him, is their humility, which in turn makes the stories they tell more interesting and the truth they speak totally accepting to even the hardest heart.

Some amazing things are happening that we can’t mention just yet, but please head over to the website www.peacebeliever.com and register your name for the upcoming project. Ritchie is a great ambassador and his (and John’s) message is definitely worth hearing.

Shayne Locke
Cowbell Digital Music – It’s Your Choice.

Related posts:

1. Elton John To Sing With Alice In Chains
2. Musician Interview with John Clinebell, a college radio regular, street performer, and dodge ball warrior
3. The Beatles: A Case Study in the Law of Truth and Karma

How did you get the nickname Whiplash?

One of my best friends called me Whiplash because I was a bit of a deviant and I had a devil-like laugh. I really took the name to the extreme and really became Whiplash in my own way years later. My life experiences and mentality brought more meaning to the name later on. It describes my personality and train wreck type of lifestyle I lived around the world.

What is it like being a rap artist from Australia?

It has been tough for me for years because Hip-Hop has only recently made its way into the mainstream and become legitimate in the culture. For years it was hard to break in as a rapper.

Since rappers are discriminated against by a predominantly pop music culture, labels and older generations didn’t understand it, so I could not get music deals with Australian companies or publicists, booking agents etc. I had to get all my music opportunities overseas. Every record company in Australia rejected my demo.

My album was banned in Australia 2009 for its explicit content. Australia is very conservative yet it has such a hard-core underbelly. Every country needs strong individual artists to make a genre powerful over a long period of time or it will be over saturated and lose its appeal.

Tell us about your albums?

The first album is the beginning of it all. The second album goes up a level to the first, yet the second album features fewer samples and other artists. I try to mix everything up so I don’t get bored or bore the listener. I naturally change or progress on each album. The third album features more artists on it compared to the first album.

Overall all the lyrics are from the same story that is my life so every song connects in the end. All the lyrics are from the same books of lyrics I wrote from 2004 to 2009.

What song is the most fun for you to perform?

I enjoy doing one of my songs that has a good balance of singing and rapping so I can attract the people that like my singing voice and attract people that like my rapping. I enjoy doing my best songs that have power or good lyrics, the ones where people clap or cheer during the middle of song not just when it is over.

You recently did a track with Lil Wayne; can you tell us how this came about?

I recorded an album called Rapanease and the label I am signed to ‘Dasvibes Jamaica’ released it worldwide. One of the tracks on the album called “Ghetto Surfer” was sent to Lil Wayne and their crew was feeling it so Lil Wayne recorded over that music.

You sample a song from the movie Grease in one of your tracks, which member of the T Birds are you most like?

I would say I am most like Danny (John Travolta) because he pursues a girl and has a romance on the beach. That sounds familiar. He meets Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and I would be keen on a girl like that too, also because I sing pretty well along side John on that hook.

Who are your biggest influences?

Eminem is my biggest influence. To hear someone that good makes you want to do what they do as well or better and to take an interest in their lyrics, their music and their story.

It is great to have artists like him there to push us, motivate us and make us go up to the next level for our own music. A living legend like Eminem is my biggest influence; someone like that you can feed off for ten years growing up.

Singers like Justin Timberlake influence me. Rappers and producers like Dr Dre, 50 Cent, 2pac, Snoop Dogg, Lil Wayne, D12 and more influenced me also.

If you could tour with any artist, dead or alive, who would it be?

I would tour with Eminem, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Justin Timberlake, Lil Wayne, 2pac, Xzibit, D12, Notorious B.I.G and more.

If it were your last day on earth, what CD would you listen to?

I would listen to a mix CD of all of my favorite artists hit songs. I would sing and rap along to it until I die. Love Hip-Hop, love music.

Now go on and become his friend on MySpace or Facebook.

–Sheena

Related posts:

1. Musician Interview with Julian Shah-Tayler, musician extraordinaire, DJ, producer, sought-after songwriter…
2. Musician Interview with Six Feet Under and Catwoman Actress and Singer/Songwriter extraordinaire Maggie Baird
3. Musician Interview with full-time touring musician Betty Navas

I count it an absolute honour to be asked to write for Music Goat, which has been a great source of information on indie artists and the side of the music industry that isn’t often talked about. The Goat has asked me to provide a bit of a background about me, and what I do before I start the whole blogging process. So here goes.

Twelve months ago we started a record label – which is rather ironic since we release everything digitally or on cd! On starting the label, we asked ourselves what we would want if we were artists. The number 1 answer was – To Own Our Music. Not give the rights to our music away.

A big inspiration to our company setup was Terry McBride of Nettwerk Music in Canada. His philosophies answer the question of Copyright Control that we posed so we decided to run with the model that has been so effective for Terry. Cowbell Digital Music was born and the big point of difference was Collapsible Copyright (artists owning their music).

Everything about the label was different. Focus on digital, multiple service agreements and helping artists connect with fans by encouraging the use of social networking.

Another major point to our label has been the establishment of Cowbell China. As of last month, we are the first independent label to be officially on the ground in China with an office in Shandong province and the support of an official government run website. No other indie label has managed to get to this point so we consider it a privilege to be able to take our artists into China.

With all the massive leaps that we are taking as a label, we are also establishing a second platform to help new emerging artists find a voice. With a focus on the music community it totality, it will cover all genres, all styles and give artists a sense of belonging while also allowing an artist’s growing fan base to buy their music at a price set by the artist.

So please keep an eye out for my posts as I shed a bit of light on what is happening in the industry and maybe even provide a few options for the struggling artist in all of us.

For more information about us, head over to www.cowbell.com.au

Shayne Locke
Cowbell Digital Music – It’s Your Choice.

Related posts:

1. Thoughts on ‘Success Strategies for Musicians in the Digital Era’
2. Launching in the Digital Age
3. Into the Future – Music Like Water

You can write about any music related topic. You can share videos. Do CD reviews, live show reviews on video or written. You could share your own music or favorite artist with the world. You could write about instruments, music tech, music websites. Whatever! The sky is the limit.

This is a great way to get your feet wet in the world of blogging if you are just beginning. Or a great way to pimp your own music passion or music endeavor – whatever that might be.

Also, I have many artists who submit work to be reviewed. You would get a chance to hear and comment on a variety of new music.

If you are interested, contact me now and let me know what you are thinking.

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1. Welcome Jersey Todd Listeners!

Yep, you read that right. Sir Elton John is going to be doing a tune with Alice In Chains on their upcoming album “Black Gives Way To Blue”. For the record I usually don’t do a ton of press release stuff but this is above and beyond Musicgoat worthy. I mean think about it, Elton John and Alice In Chains? I couldn’t have made it up if I tried. Can’t wait to check it out.

Anyway, here is the rest of the press release with some statements from the Jerry Cantrell. Read it and let us know what you think in the comments below…

Los Angeles, CA (August 11, 2009) – Among the many highlights on Black Gives Way To Blue, the highly anticipated new album from ALICE IN CHAINS, is a special guest performance by Elton John. The two rock legends collaborated on the album’s stunning title track, “Black Gives Way To Blue,” a heart-stirring tribute to Alice In Chains’ late lead singer Layne Staley. The album arrives in stores September 29.

“We were thinking about adding piano to the track and a friend suggested we call Elton,” recalls guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell. “I remember laughing and saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll get right on that.’ But I decided it was worth trying and wrote Elton an email explaining what that song means to us — that it’s a real, raw openhearted song for Layne. We sent him the track and got a call shortly after saying he thought it was beautiful and that he wanted to play on it. We were blown away. Elton John is a huge influence on me as a songwriter and having him on that song is an amazing honor for us.”

“I’ve long been an admirer of Jerry Cantrell and when he asked me to play on ‘Black Gives Way To Blue,’ I was very flattered and couldn’t resist,” says John. “It was a great recording session with Alice In Chains for a beautiful song. ”

About the collaboration, Cantrell says, “Elton was finishing his Red Piano run in Vegas, so we flew there and hung out for a few hours. Walking into a studio and seeing the sheet music for that song on Elton’s piano made it meaningful on so many different levels. The whole experience was pretty magical.”

BLACK GIVES WAY TO BLUE is Alice In Chains’ first new studio release in more than 10 years. The quartet (guitarist/vocalist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney, bassist Mike Inez and guitarist/vocalist William DuVall) recorded the album with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters) at Studio 606 in Northridge, CA and Henson Studios in Hollywood.

WAIT! You don’t want to miss the next review, podcast, music promotion tip or whatever else music related we decide to put out here. Subscribe to the Goat now for the all time low price of free and you will get all the kick ass content from the Goat fast and easy. Just subscribe to Musicgoat.com newsletter by email now and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it .

Related posts:

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2. Musician Interview with John Clinebell, a college radio regular, street performer, and dodge ball warrior
3. Serj is coming!

Deaf Ear Records in Downtown LaCrosse Wisconsin

A month ago I had the pleasure of visiting a music store for the first time in many, many moons. I stopped in at one of my old favorites, Deaf Ear Records in LaCrosse Wisconsin, and realized how much I missed the experience and thought I would share it with you.

Back in the day (the late 80’s and much of the 90’s to be exact) I was the guy that could go into the record store and easily lose a few hours thumbing through albums, CD’s, cassettes and much of the other merch. For a geek there is a mild buzz associated with this (I would compare it to the buzz wild game hunters get when tracking a wild animal minus the blood and guts or the shopaholic gets when looking for their 400 pair of shoes).

One by one I would fingertip my way through hundreds of titles looking for something to pop out at me. Maybe the album art was cool. Maybe the artist sounded familiar since friend mentioned them once or maybe the used section provided a few long lost or hard to find favorites. Pure bliss!

This type of experience wasn’t for the non-geek. There were only a handful of friends that could even hang and enjoy these situations as much as myself. Most people could only last about a half hour max.

Anyway, I had about 4-5 albums that I wanted but I could only allow myself to leave with two. I decided to test my Musicgoat ways and go with music that I was compeltely unfamiliar with. The only criteria I had was – since I am on a songwriting kick –  that it needed to be something that was sonically different and had songwriting that was great at producing both mental imagery and emotion (the record store is one of the few places you can ask for something like that and get an answer…gottta love it).

In the end I went with the recommendations of the staff for one of my purchases and another based on curiosity built up from years of word of mouth. I took one of the staff recommendation and bought the The Decemberists “the Crane Wife”. It definitely fits the criteria I outlined for the staff – especially the imagery part…very poetic. I am not in love with the CD but I think it is decent and it is definitely pushing the boundaries of what I would typically listen to and that’s a good thing.

For my other selection, I went with Wilco and Billy Bragg “Mermaid Avenue” I always wanted to check out Wilco and Woodie Guthrie so I figured it would be a great place to start. The album is made up of songs with music written by Wilco and Bragg backing Woodie Guthrie lyrics (cool concept). Again not in love with it but it is growing on me.

Overall though – and maybe I am just too old school – the music store experience is something that just can’t be duplicated online (yet anyway). From the exhilaration of the hands on with the merch to the interaction with the staffers to the obscure staff pick humming in the background I just dig it. And if you haven’t had the chance yourself I recommend you get on it.

What about you? Do you have any fond or not so fond memories of records stores? When s the last time you went? Lets get conversation started and let some of the iTunes download generation see what they are missing out on.

WAIT! You don’t want to miss the next review, podcast, music promotion tip or whatever else music related we decide to put out here. Subscribe to the Goat now for the all time low price of free and you will get all the kick ass content from the Goat fast and easy. Just subscribe to Musicgoat.com newsletter by email now and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it .

No related posts.

Excellent Willie Nelson Show I Went To A Few Year Back

I’m feelin a little frisky tonight so I am just going to throw this out there Seth Godin style and see what happens. A quick story and some “hopefully” useful advise.

A few months ago, a few friends and I realized that a lot of time went by between shows (because we’re all parents and semi-slaves now). We realized that it had been a long time since we felt the excitement and the energy you can only get by attending a live music event. We knew that our music loving souls were in need of a recharge and we knew we needed to do something about it. So we did!

We made a pact that every time there is a show within about a 100 mile radius, we were gonna make sure we made sure everyone else knew about it and then take it from there.

It worked. We’ve all been to many shows this year and there are many more in the works. We don’t always get to go together but we have made it a priority and are better off because of it.

Now if you are suffering from a serious case of live music deficiency, here’s a quick tip to improve your live music nutrition.

Look for a show in your area and just make up your mind that, come hell or high water, you’ll be there. Just make the decision. No more, “I’d like to go”…JUST GO.

Take a friend if you can. If not, screw it, go by yourself. You’ll meet some new people and chances are you’ll have something in common and you’ll have a new Facebook pal to share the music love with.

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The Summer will be brimming with competitions, festivals, tours and holiday bashes;  many opportunities for getting your Band a gig or a little name recognition.   Talent Searches, Tours and Battle of the Bands  pay out prize money or comps equal to what you would earn at a gig, ALL for just a one hour performance.   Networking with the Bands and Industry people at these Events can offer tremendous earning potential by breaking you into new Venues. 

Here are some simple tips to get an edge over your competitors:

1. Play original songs.  You’re allowed only one cover song and it’s got to be perfect.
2. Your song should have basic structure.  Like in writing; intro, body and conclusion.
3. Songs shouldn’t be longer than 5 minutes.
4. Play for your allotted time or less, but never more.
5. Move. Everyone in the Band needs to be active at the same time.
6. Your timing needs to be impeccable. It proves a Band is well rehearsed.
7. Spend very little time with sound checks; one song only with minor quick adjustments if absolutely  required.
8. Get the audience moving.  Play your hottest beats and most gut punching riffs from song one and don’t stop.
9. Demonstrate your instrument or vocal talent with a solo.  Have a focus song.  45 seconds of fame.
10. Try to go last in the line-up, leaving a lasting impression.

These competitions not only put cash in your hand but promote your Band.  You will need to register early or go through an acceptance process with small fees to be a performer.  They’re usually sponsored by radio stations, sound companies or huge corporations.  Seek out Talent Searchs, Tours and Battle of the Bands to compete and “be seen” in your area.  No matter how small the Venue;  if you come out as the winner, it’s a feather in your cap so toot your own horn and post that big win on your message boards.

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1. Musician Interview with Edison Sunrise
2. How To Succeed In Getting Gig/Tour Press Coverage
3. Uncensored and Raw: Witness Life on the Road with the Band Jetboy

This talented individual was able to take his beatbox skills and merge them with his flute playing skill. I love coming across stuff like this because it is a great reminder that there are endless ways to do something different.

Check it out as Nathan takes it outside of the box.

Very cool aye?

Make sure you stop by and check out some of his other videos over on YouTube. And while your there…wink, wink…befriend the Musicgoat. See you there!

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I figured I would take a few minutes to share my thoughts and get a conversation started to see what you thought.

First, it is always cool to see dudes at that age still getting the job done. Little Anthony and the Imperials were fun to watch – My 2 year daughter was even shaking her butt a little. It was one of the times were I knew that I heard the songs before but didn’t know who did them – now I know.

Being a metalhead – and other than the fact that I started feeling old – I really enjoyed the Metallica portion of the show. The big softy in me thought it was great to see Jason Newsted jamming with them. He deserves the recognition since he was part of the group during some of it most significant work.

I also think it was cool to hear Jason and Robert to give props to their old bands Flotsam and Jetsam and Suicidal Tendencies respectively.

I loved Flea’s speech. I kinda felt the same way when I heard “Fight Fire with Fire” for the first time.

During his speech, James Hetfield mentioned a ton of other bands that he thought should be in the Rock Hall. Bands like Iron Maiden, Deep Purple, Judas Priest and Motorhead. Not only do I agree but I think you make a case that anyone of those bands should be in there before Metallica, Jeff Beck or Run DMC (who I think should be in there BTW). But, I’m sure like most things, its all political. Wha-da-ya-do?

I was kind of hoping that maybe Rod Stewart would surprise us and so a tune with Beck but nothing. The “Immigrant Song” was pretty cool and I really dug his band. They really get into it.  And how about the chick playing bass. She can groove.

Jimmy Page – who is starting to look a bit like George Washington – sure likes to talk about himself and seems to come off as being a dick. Don’t get me wrong, he is a legend and I am a huge Zeppelin fan but I’m just saying. Maybe it was to tv guys drooling all over him. Those guys acted like 13 year olds teeny boppers in the presense of the Jonas Brothers.

Like I said, I regrettably missed Run DMC but hopefully I will get a chance to check it out in the near future. If you watched the show, let us know what you thought about the festivities in the comments below.

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I heard it on Sirius Octane this morning and I – like the DJ who introduced the song – have been struggling with it since (just a little bit). On one hand, from a creative freedom standpoint,  it is cool that Seether has the balls to cover a tune by a band that – to put it mildly – doesn’t quite fit the their image.  

On the other hand, from a shoot-yourself-in-the-foot standpoint, you have to wonder what their fans think about it. I can’t imagine that the typical hard rock fan is pumped to sing along with “I’m never gonna dance again…”. And speaking from a long history as a metalhead, this sort of thing would be punishable by death back in the day (lol).

Now I don’t mind Seether and the 80’s teenager that still hangs out inside of me has a soft spot for “Careless Whisper”. But, I am just not so sure they belong together. What do you think?

Related posts:

1. An Intro To The Best New Cover Songs Of Today
2. Did You Know It’s Illegal To Play Cover Songs in a Bar?
3. Thoughts on the Last Few Nights of American Idol

Well, that whole experience reminded me of some of the amazing video I’ve seen on YouTube of various child musical prodigies. Young children that play instruments and sound like they have been playing for years.

I went and I rounded up a few videos to share with you. Check’em out now.

A little “Crazy Train” from a little guy whose guitar is bigger than him.

And listen to this guy play the blues. Damn, just wait until he gets his heart broken!

Jawdropping classical piano from a little girl.

A young Neil Peart in the making.

And check out this little drummer boy with the HUGE smile on his face.

I know there are plenty more, so if that wasn’t enough for you, just hop onto YouTube and see what you can find.

Oh and I’m not on YouTube a whole lot but if you are in the neighborhood, stop by and say hi. I’d love to see what vidoes you are checking out. I am Musicgoat1.

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Guest post: Treadmarkz is my brother-in-law, a Human Beatles Encyclopedia and the author of the weblog Treadmarkz.wordpress.com.

Well, clearly the beef between Apple Corps and Apple Computers that started a while back is still bitter as ever, and unfortunately this will deny listeners who live and die by the iPod access to the Beatles music. But, lo! Here it is! The Beatles Rock Band arrives in stores on September 9th!

The upcoming release of the Fabs’ foray into the gamer world is exciting for me. Because it is yet another confirmation of what I have been telling the Musicgoat for years: the Beatles, as a cultural phenomenon, will never – yes I said Never – die.

If I had an Xbox, Playstation or Wii, I would definitely shell out the $99.99 to get myself an imitation McCartney violin bass, or a Harrison twelve-string Rickenbacker which is included for use with the game. I would have liked more information on what specifically is included in the Special Edition. For $249, you want to know, and you want time to save up for it if it is what you want. I am sure it is not worth it unless you get an imitation Beatles sitar, Moog synthesizer, harmonium, tape loop machine, wind machine, and calliope, so I can play the Beatles’ studio-era music to the full effect.

But even if not, wow, music in video games has come a helluva long way since the Mario Bros theme song, huh?

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Tech-FAQ.com’s “Convert Your iTunes to MP3 and Convert iTunes to MP3 Format (Ask Bob Rankin).

They look simple but maybe a tad bit time consuming. However, it could be a small price to pay if you are worried about losing your tunes or looking to standardize your collection.

I don’t think it will be long before most of the music download services go DRM free but these techniques look like they should get you by until.

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Now I didn’t see John Mayer, Springsteen or Metallica looking for work on any of the sites – not that most of us could afford their services anyway – but, if you look listen around, you will find some talented artists for some pretty reasonable prices. And I imagine the talent pool will only get better as the popularity of these sites grows.

I think it is a great idea for both the fans and the artists. Hell, as soon as I get my music up and running, you can bet I will be throwing up a profile on one or all of these sites. I mean, how cool would it be to be invited into someones home to party with someones closest friends AND get paid?

So next time you are looking for a live music fix, why go out to the club or coffee shop? Hop on to one of these sites and then hire yourself a capable musician to entertain you – and your pals – right in the comfort of your own home.

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Also, I figured it would be an great opportunity for you and I to sit down and have a holiday beverage together.

Lets do it. Grab something to drink, press play and have yourself a merry Christmas.

Click Button To Play | Right-Click To Download

Here are the songs heard on this podcast and the links to each artists website;
Geoff Smith – “Some Christmas Higgin and Kissin”
Winzenreid aka Hollywood Drunks – “Here Comes Santa Claus”
Skid Row – “Jingle Bells” (Monster Ballads Christmas)
Tom Kiefer of Cinderella – “Blue Christmas” (Monster Ballads Christmas)
My. Vegas – “Hey Santa”
Rockosaurus Rex – “Auld Lang Syne”

Most of these and a ton of other great artists can be found on the Pod Safe Music Network.

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I am sure you have heard all the hubbub, but maybe you never quite knew what it was all about, this thing, this MANIA called the Beatles. If you have been thinking of getting into the Beatles (and I mean really into the Beatles, not just buying their latest Greatest hits compilation) this is not the Beatles’ Top 12 Best Albums, and I am not reviewing each album. This is just the order you need to buy them in, in order to feel the full effect of what they did.

The chronological order in which they were originally released seems like the most sensible way to do it. But this isn’t sensible. If you get into the Beatles you have to be prepared for a little disjointedness and things that come out of left field. You don’t have to follow this guide exactly, and as you will see, I give you opportunities to make your own choice. Also, this is just the original Beatles Music we are talking about here, not Let It Be…Naked, or the Love Album. Having said that, I give you…The List:

1. Rubber Soul, 1965: This is the album that really showed the progression starting to happen. The two previous albums showed a little bit of experimentation, but it was more superficial, whereas the progress the Beatles made on Rubber Soul had some substance. Better lyrics and more interesting innovations musically. But the main reason why this is the first Beatles album you need to get is that this shows where they had been and where they were going, musically.

NOTE: If you are going to get the Beatles Past Masters I & II albums (compilations of songs that are not on their albums), and I recommend you do, I think you should get them at this point. They will help guide you through.

2./3. A Hard Day’s Night, 1964/Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band, 1967: Okay here is where you get to make a decision on your own. No matter which of these two you choose first, these are the next two albums you need. You will find out quickly from Rubber Soul what you like about the Beatles. So if you liked the poppy, peppy, happy songs from Rubber Soul (mostly Paul’s) then your next move would have to be A Hard Day’s Night. It is the first Beatles album which was composed entirely by the Beatles themselves. No cover tunes. A big step for the Beatles and mankind.

If you found that in Rubber Soul you got more from the down-tempo, more thoughtful songs (mostly John’s) then I would move forward and make your second pick Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Heart’s Club Band. This is where the progress they were making on Rubber Soul completely came into fruition. Though John did not do as much on Pepper’s as on Rubber Soul, it was his infusion of Bob Dylan-like lyrics into the Beatles repertoire which strongly affected the music on Pepper’s.

4. Revolver, 1966: If your last pick was Pepper’s, you will want to know how they got from Rubber Soul to Pepper’s. It was a hell of a jump, musically, but with Revolver you get to fill in the blank, while still getting a taste of pre-Rubber Soul moptop from Paul. However, if A Hard Day’s Night was your last pick, then Revolver will serve the purpose of blowing your mind. Get ready.

5. Abbey Road, 1969: Simply the Beatles final recorded album giving generations of rockers something to strive for. This is the benchmark.

It was important that you get a taste of every era of the Beatles music before we move on. Now that you have, with the core of the band’s progressive era covered, you need an album that can show you everything that the Beatles were capable of. And I think from country, to reggae to hard rock to classical, we can only find the answer in….

6. The Beatles, aka The White Album, 1968: The Beatles was an album that, like Rubber Soul, gives listeners a chance to decide what they really like about the Beatles. Did you like the straight up rock songs, or did you like it when they tried something unusual for pop/rock? Well the White Album gives you a little bit of both with a splash of something new…Heavy Metal! This is the album that brought us “Helter Skelter” but it also has a few other head-bangers like “Everybody’s Got Something To Hide Except Me and My Monkey”, “Birthday” and “Yer Blues” which is really metal-blues. So if you are hooked on the Beatles, and at this point you should be, then you are probably ready for a double album. Go for it. You will not be disappointed.

7. Help!, 1965: Time to cool it down again. Time for something a little more predictable yet captivating. Help! came out just months before Rubber Soul, where we started. This one is just full of great songs, and I think that is what we need right now. “Yesterday”, “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away” “Help!” and “Ticket To Ride” are all essentials and they are all here. This album will prove that song after song about love can still be interesting! And if you like it, then…

8. Beatles For Sale, 1964: Now we are really getting back to the moptop days. But this one is interesting because, just like Help!, it shows of the Beatles country/folk chops, without losing that pop flair. There are a lot of cover songs on here as there will be for the remainder. But the Beatles self-penned songs are introspective, and you are able to put yourself in the story. For the first time the Beatles really “take you there” on Beatles For Sale.

9. Let It Be, 1969: We don’t want you to delve too far back into the catalogue. You should probably now pick up Let It Be. Though it is often considered the Beatles most disappointing album, that is only because of what they had done in the few years leading up to Let It Be. They had changed the entire definition of rock music with Revolver and Sgt. Pepper!! So of course it was disappointing for fans to hear them going back to their roots, which is exactly what this is. But you will still get a little taste of psychedelia from “Across the Universe” and “I Me Mine”.

And if that is what you liked…

10. Magical Mystery Tour, 1967: It is kind of like the Beatles trying to expand on the concept of Sgt. Pepper’s but not quite getting there, but it is chock full of great singles, much like the Help! album, but much weirder. “All You Need Is Love” and “I am The Walrus” are on this one, and it is the only place you will get “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “Penny Lane” unless you’ve already got the “1″ album. And if you do, I hope this list has helped you take your Beatles listening further.

11./12. Please Please Me/With the Beatles, both from 1963: The beginning of the Fab Four. These albums show you where the Beatles came from. On these two albums, which really could be considered Vol. 1 and 2 of the same album, they bring you covers of the music that they loved when they were a struggling bar band, and they bring you their hand-written songs in which they use what they learned from the music they loved. To me, it really doesn’t matter which of these two you get first.

13. Yellow Submarine Songtrack, 1999 or the Yellow Submarine Soundtrack: It is up to you which one you get, but there is a huge difference. Either way you are only getting four songs that you haven’t already heard before. But the difference is this: The Soundtrack has the four songs you have never heard before, along with the song “Yellow Submarine” and “All You Need Is Love”, and rest is instrumentals by the George Martin Orchestra, if you are into that. The Songtrack on the other hand, has the aforementioned four “new” songs, and 11 other random songs taken from Rubber Soul to Magical Mystery Tour which appear in the film. It is a nice mix and you can get your fix of a couple of different eras in Beatles music without having to switch CDs.

Welcome to Beatledom, my friends. Enjoy!

Related posts:

1. The Beatles and the Beach Boys Race to the Toppermost of the Poppermost
2. The Beatles’ Studio Revolution of 1962
3. Beatles Rock Band Set To Go British Invasion on Your Video Game Console in September!

Recently a discussion popped up in the comment section over on GuitarFlame.com about why dreams die. This really got me thinking since I have gone through long stretches in my life where I let my passion for music fall by the wayside for one reason or another.

There was always something; either I didn’t feel as though I was good enough, maybe life got in the way or perhaps my guitar was buried under mounds of crap in a storage unit or basement – Out of site out of mind…not good my friend.

So how can you keep the guitar hummin – and the passion burnin – on a regular basis?

It’s real simple….make sure you see your guitar at all times. Set that sucker next to the TV, computer or somewhere else where you will be able to see it alot. If it is there you will pick it up, trust me. It will call to you.

Even if you pick it up for just two minutes on one occasion, that’s fine, BUT there will be that time where a quick pick up turns into a stress relieving marathon or an inspiring journey of learning and discovery (how’s that for cheesy?).

But seriously, go right now and dig that sucker out. If it doesn’t pull a few chords out of you right then and there, just find a good spot to put it in and go about your business. It will call to you sooner or later.

Oh and before I let you go, a few words of caution. Wives, husbands, girlfriends, boyfreinds or all of the above may not find the instrument visually appealing as it relates to your home decor. You’ll have to figure that part out by yourself. I suggest learning or writing a ballad or two (wink, wink).

Happy jamming!

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1. Three Ways to Learn Guitar Online
2. Did You Know It’s Illegal To Play Cover Songs in a Bar?
3. Have You Heard About the Self-Tuning Guitar

If you don’t know who I’m talking about, check out the podcast featuring the Undercover Hippy.

Read his words below and then join me in voting so we can get him some of the exposure he and his music deserve.

Hi Guys,

if I’ve asked you already, sorry! But I really need everyone to vote for me and to tell their friends to vote! (Details below)
Thanks! Hope you’re all well and happy!

VOTE FOR ME!
Hello my lovely friends!

Once again I need your help! I wasn’t booked to play the Sunrise Celebration festival this year, but I still have one chance at a slot on the Main Stage… it all depends if I can get enough votes!

All you need to do is click on the link below and enter your email address… it’s that simple…

Please show some love and take 30 seconds to do this J Also, please forward this to anyone else you think may want to help…

Here’s the link: Vote for the Undercover Hippy

OTHER NEWS

In other news, I’ve got lots of gigs booked for the coming months… check it all out on my website: www.undercoverhippy.com.

If you’re on FACEBOOK (come on, you know you are), then please become a fan of my Facebook Undercover Hippy page.

That way I can invite you to gigs and stuff…

I’ve got a new band developing as we speak… having our second rehearsal tomorrow, and our first gig on Thursday at the Tao Bar in Bristol . Check my website for details!

Right that’s all for now J

Cheers my dears!
Billy xx

No related posts.

I recently received a question from a musician who is having more than her fair share of problems obtaining print media coverage in areas where her band is touring.

Hopefully, my advice and ideas that I gave her can benefit you and your band as well should you experience similar difficulties with obtaining print media support for your gigs/tours.

________________________________________________

FROM: Megan

I started touring with my band last fall (we were in New York City before that…), and we are about to leave on another tour for our debut ep. Booking is going as well as can be expected

starting out, but we’re having a hell of a time getting any press…we have a kit and an epk, and a press release, and we send off everywhere, but we’re in that limbo spot where honestly, not many people care about our music enough yet…any suggestions?

________________________________________________

[---MY RESPONSE---]

What has been occurring for several years (if not longer) and, particularly, with local and regional print publications, is a little thing called “nepotism.”

I utilize this phrase to describe print papers that will only devote “ink” (press coverage) to their local/regional up-and-coming musical artists, with the only exceptions being granted for mega superstars or outside artists who are coming into the media sources’ area for performances, of which the latter describes Megan your situation.

And, since you and your band are, indeed, touring and “qualify” for coverage in your performance areas, you should conduct an in-depth search on the web (using Google) for print media in each of your tour stops.

As an example, if you are playing Richmond, Virginia, you should simply use Google to search phrases such as:

* “richmond, virginia print media”

* “richmond, virginia print publications”

* “richmond, virginia music magazines”

* “richmond, virginia arts and entertainment magazines”

* “richmond, virginia daily newspapers”

* “richmond, virginia weekly newspapers”

or similar key phrases.

You should then contact the print editors or music editors in each area where you will appear and inform them on your upcoming performance location, i.e., name of venue, date, time, etc. and also request if the editor would be interested in interviewing you/your band in advance of your performance.

At this time, you should also direct the media to your website for advance review of your music, biography, etc. With print publications, you can do interviews via telephone, or if the media prefers “in person” interviews, you could simply schedule the interview earlier in the day, prior to your performance, which will mean you will need to get into town a bit earlier than

normal set-up time.

You should also bear in mind that, with print publications, “lead time” (the amount of advance time publications require to review projects before writing about them) is very crucial in order to ensure media coverage.

Daily newspapers, generally, demand a minimum of 2-3 weeks “lead time” and, possibly, longer depending on the publication. The “trick” is to stay anywhere from 3-4 weeks ahead with the (“lead time”) of each tour appearance.

Example: For an upcoming May 3, 2008 appearance, daily print media contacts should be initiated around April 10th at the *latest*.

Likewise, you should also contact radio station talk shows, television morning shows, prime time talk/interview shows, television newscasts, and cable music and entertainment shows at *each* station in each of your tour cities.

Should you secure any media interviews, you should then notify other media contacts in the same area that you will be interviewing with the particular source, in an effort to influence other area media to consider you as well, in addition to requesting their reviewing your already-scheduled interview. This can (sometimes) serve to foster a bit of competition between local media, with all being good for the musical group.

To add even better “fuel to the fire,” you should invite all media contacts in *each* area out to your performances. This can, potentially, serve as background media coverage *after* you have performed, and the opportunity to get TWO bits of media coverage, thus, prolonging your exposure in any single given area.

Be sure to provide complementary media passes for all local media contacts that have agreed to come out to the show, as well as inform the venue owners of the media contact names. This should be tightly coordinated and confirmed with venue owners or managers prior to the show.

While this seems a bit more work, as you can see, there are definite advantages as well as “extra” opportunities for media coverage within a single tour location if conducted well.

Now, multiply this degree of opportunity within *each* tour area, and you are likely to create quite a buzz on your tour route as well as have a degree of successful results through implementing this proactive process.

________________________________________________

Editor’s Note: Kenny Love is a radio/video promoter and media publicist, as well as co-owner and Director of Marketing for Eartastic Records. Get more information regarding him from his MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/jazzman795

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2. Tips for Winning a “Battle of the Bands”
3. Launching in the Digital Age

Trace Adkins is fine and everything but he just doesn’t do it for me.

Oh well, looks like there may be more time to do other things on Thursday nights.

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1. Gene Simmons Out, Trace Adkins Safe on Celebrity Apprentice
2. See Gene Simmons Rock on Celebrity Apprentice
3. Update: Gene Simmons on Celebrity Apprentice Week 2

Are you looking for quality free music downloads that don’t leave you with all that guilt? Who isn’t right? Well check this out.

Lately, finding music downloads is getting easier and easier to do. So easy, that their are a ton of places to look. You could spend hours looking and comparing websites before even doing what you really want to be doing; downloading and listening to free music. Thats where I come in.

Every week or so from now until the foreseeable future, I am going to be doing a weekly post on where you can find free music downloads, what you have to do to get those downloads and point out a few tracks that you might want to check out.

Lets get to it.

Website
Todays source of tasty free music comes from a site called We7. The site was initially funded by Mr. Shock the Monkey himself, Peter Gabriel. The site relies on the use of advertising to sponsor songs to generate revenue so that you and I can get free music.

So far it seems to be working. They have over 100,000 users and have had over one million downloads. I will spare you all the intimate details but if you want to learn more stop by the We7 about page.

What to Like
Other than the fact that all of the downloads don’t cost anything, they are in an mp3 format and are DRM free.

Another feature that you might like is the one that lets you subscribe to your playlist as a podcast either in iTunes or whatever you currently use to aggregate your feeds.

Finally, sign-up is quick and you are hunting for tunes in no time.

What Not to Like
The ads before the songs are only 10 second ads. Which is not bad when your hunting and taste testing but they could get annoying when a bunch of the ad laden songs are in a playlist. But, when you think about it, if you like the track enough to put it in a playlist, just buy it and it will be ad free. Also, after about four weeks you can re-download the song without the ads.

In the pet peeve department, I don’t like the fact that the previews are extremely short. It is difficult to tell if it is worth the download until you actually do so. This is something that is common on a lot of sites so I won’t hold it against them.

Finally, I noticed that there where quite a few tracks that were not available in certain geographic locations. Track links by popular artists like Frank Sinatra, Motorhead, and Willie Nelson – I could go on – where inactive. Not exactly sure why that is. Must be some contractual distribution B.S. or something.

Tracks to Download
Here are a few tunes that should interest you. There are a ton more so stop over and check it out for yourself. If you do find anything that you think I missed, please share. Let us know in the comments below.

Baum “Happy Proud and Free” and “All Down There”
-Good ultra-mellow acoustic Switzerland style. Very good guitar work and introspective lyrics.

Coolio “Gangsta Rap featuring Snoop”
-Polished gangsta from gangsta veterans. Gotta love Snoop.

Natalie Williams “Since you’ve Been Gone”
-Most downloaded when I was there. Soothing R and B from a woman with a A-List vocals. Also love the bluesy organ in this one.

Word on the Street
Multiple opinions are better than one. There are multiple places to learn more about We7. Mashable briefly discusses We7 and Techcrunch has some recent news concerning We7.

Marshall Kirkpatrick over on Read Write Web applies the “girlfriend test” to see how easy it was to use We7.

Most importantly, if you have used the service and have anything to report – like a good experience or great music – let us know in the comments below.

You don’t want to miss the next post or podcast. Subscribe to the Goat now for the all time low price of free. You can subscribe to Musicgoat.com by email and have this stuff in your inbox seconds after I post it or you can subscribe in your feed reader or on your home page. Either way you get the info fast and easy. Don’t understand this whole subscribing thing? Check out this short video on RSS. Isn’t technology great?

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1. Are Downloads Killing The Music Business?
2. Free And Legal Music Downloading: The Fingertips Digest (May Edition)
3. Amazon.com To Offer DRM Free Music