May 31, 2005
We've been on to you for a long time, Buddy...
In continuing to write and record music independently, I'm realizing that as the long-held myths about "making it" continue to crumble, and the sacred paradigms defined by Big Music become increasingly irrelevant, we are positioned as never before to re-embrace the DIY ethic that defined so much of how we all started in music: A crappy-ass guitar, a smelly basement/garage, and reasonably patient parents.
In business, the word "agility" is used as a facile way of describing the ability to respond to change, to think on one's feet, to turn on a dime. For a big record company to think on its feet, it would first have to get off its ass. But with thousands of Britney Spears clones lined up to do the leg work for them, why bother?
Of course, you know this already. The RIAA's worries are well-publicized. So, here's another article you should read, if you haven't already; it's been out for a long time, and it's all over the place. It's "The Problem With Music" by Steve Albini, first published in MaximumRockNRoll #133
Posted by jfk at 02:42 PM | Comments (0)
May 27, 2005
Whatever Works For Everybody Else
Me: When can you guys get together again?
Banjo: Whatever works for everybody else...
Steve: Cool. How about this Sunday?
Banjo: I can't make Sunday, but Monday on I'm free
Steve: I can't make Monday
Me: Well, when's a good time for you, then, Steve?
Steve: Whatever works for everybody else
Me: You're kidding...
Steve: How about NEXT Sunday?
Me: Banjo?
Banjo: Works for me
Me: All set, then.
May 25, 2005
Another cautionary tale for the indie musician
I Ran across this great interview with Jacob Slichter, the drummer for Semisonic. You'll probably remember their hit "Closing Time". In this interview, conducted by Emma Startton for Delusions of Adequacy, Mr. Slichter relays some of the dubious experiences he had while on a major label. The whole story can be found in his new book So You Wanna Be A Rock And Roll Star.
Posted by jfk at 10:22 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2005
One Down
Yesterday was day one of the next Regular album. Banjo is on bass, Steve is on drums, and I'm on guitar and vocals.
We scheduled a noon start, and by the time everyone had woken up, re-hydrated, drank coffee or smoked out, we began. And it was only 1 o'clock. I thought that was an excellent pace...
So, we tuned up the instruments and warmed up a bit, then jumped right into the 2 new songs I had started. Banjo locked on Steve's foot - as solid a rhythm section as a person could want.
As time went by, and Steve sweat out the previous night's alcohol, his drumming got even more energetic, and Banjo followed him everywhere he went. It was great.
4 hours later, before calling it quits for the day, Steve wisely suggested we record what we had done, so we could refer to it next time when "us stoners forget what we did last time."
Posted by jfk at 01:42 PM | Comments (0)
May 14, 2005
People In Glass Houses
In 12 hours, we begin work on the next Regular album. I'm going to be documenting the entire process, start to finish, right here. Along the way, I'll share all the things learned, all the pains in the ass I encounter, all the personality conflicts. All of it.
Posted by jfk at 12:16 AM | Comments (0)
May 10, 2005
Six Degrees of Weezer
My old friend John Luerssen recently wrote an unauthorized book about Weezer, entitled Rivers' Edge: The Weezer Story. He's just given a great interview to Albumfive.com and was nice enough to mention my name. Why, you ask? What does Regular have to do with a book about Weezer? Read the interview and find out :)
Posted by jfk at 12:07 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2005
Agoraphobia and Guitars
I live in an old brick building in Seattle. It was built in 1889, of Japanese brick. The city of Seattle had recently burned clean to the ground, and there were not enough domestic bricks available to rebuild the now wood-shy town. My building was built as a hotel, and began its life housing would-be miners heading to the Klondike gold fields, sailors, lumberjacks and prostitutes. As far as I know, it went downhill from there, and today the Diller Hotel remains home to an ever-changing assortment of fascinating characters. Artists, prostitutes, tech workers, people who puke in the laundry room - they all live more or less harmoniously within the earthquake-addled walls of this place.
Posted by jfk at 01:57 PM | Comments (0)