We as humans are always ever revolving. Our minds cannot be in control, but only our inner being and spirit must be in control. The ego can be a detrimental thing if it’s not understood. In order to stay committed to uplifting our lives, we must know who we are. No confusions or uncertainty. We must stay positive and keep looking onward. It’s hard to escape from the past when those choices you made affect you today. There is so much to look forward to, and there are many things that we want to accomplish. We really should put ourselves out there and do all the things we have dreamed of. There is no reason for us not to. It’s time, people. There is a life that most of us have envisioned for ourselves ever since we were little, and it will come to pass. Do less of looking to materialistic things and more digging into yourselves. I am learning that life comes from the inside. Look inside for health, creativity, confidence, and just for life. Take that step now, because you will begin to glow inside from knowledge, from living each day.

Most successful artists, composers, playwrights, dancers, businessmen, and even politicians go through this process. This is a sure way to rebuild and stand firm on your beliefs. What are you passionate about? What is your calling to life? Are you a musician? Do you love to write lyrics or scenes from experiences you have encountered? Follow that little voice inside of you. What I want us to figure out now is what do we want from this life? If we want to be successful, are we willing to make the necessary sacrifices and put in the work to see results? Are will riddled with guilt and fear or freedom and courage? Some of us have been stuck in a rut for ten or more years. Where and when is the breakthrough coming? God provides more than enough for us to succeed and conquer.  We can be weak, at times, as humans. Looking inside to our inner being seems like the last thing we want to do, instead we drink, eat, smoke party, sleep, watch TV and waste our years of living.  It’s time for a new beginning and a new way of thinking. I would like the opportunity to challenge ourselves to step up to the challenge of change. Sometimes life forces us onto the path that we must go, because we would have never done it otherwise.

We are each here for a purpose and we must seek it out daily. It’s not just one thing, but a mirage of things over the course of our days here on earth. Life is a credit, because we definitely have to pay it back. As Cornel West said, “we are on borrowed time, nothing is promised.” Every day, seek out the best opportunities and do your best to challenge your inner self to do things you would never do and to say things you would never say. YOU WILL SUCCEED!!

]]> http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/27/let%e2%80%99s-begin-to-look-inside-ourselves/feed/ 0 http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/26/why-there-will-never-be-another-rock-star/ http://www.meandthestereo.com/2009/10/26/why-there-will-never-be-another-rock-star/#comments Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:06:19 +0000 Neto http://www.meandthestereo.com/?p=877

I’m hanging out with some friends:  They are all musicians and we’re philosophizing about the future of music.  This may have something to do with the various substances that are being passed around.  They’re all talking about the artists who influenced them and the rock stars they would like to be like when it hits me.  That’s impossible.  We have come to the end of the rock star era.  There will never be one again.

This past summer, when all the celebrities were dying, everyone was writing about the end of the “monoculture.”  The monoculture is the pop culture that everyone has a shared consciousness of, whether or not they are fans of it.  I don’t agree that is necessarily true.  In twenty years, I think everyone is going to remember being obsessed with LOST and their iPhone apps.  I do believe that it’s true about music though.  I think in 20 years, when people are talking about the music they liked now, they are more likely to get blank stares in return.  And you can already see this happening, now.  I have to admit, until this past summer, I had no idea who Lady Gaga was, which was way later than anyone else.  How did this happen, though?

The beginning of the end for rock stars came with the advent of The Real World.  The MTV show was among the type of programming that eventually led to MTV not showing anymore music videos.  While the M in MTV is meaningless now, it used to be where people who enjoyed all types of popular music turned to see what was playing.  For college students in the 90’s, it was constantly on in the background.  And whether you liked Rap or Metal, there was a show for you to watch on MTV, so everyone was constantly aware of what was popular among everyone else.  But that is not there anymore.

Another reason for the death of the rock star is the Internet.  The Internet opened up the world of music in ways that no one could have ever imagined, and the recording industry is still recovering from this.  From Napster to Myspace Music, fans of music have been able to sample more artists than ever before.  So, more diverse types of music are getting a fanbase in more places.  This also means that more people are finding things that they enjoy, but no one else around them does.  This stops being shared with a large group of people.

And the final reason is the rise of the iPod.  Specifically, its the effect the iPod has had on radio.  Everyone knows radio is dying.  It used to be that whether you liked the music or not, at some point during the day you would probably listen to the radio.  Even if you had some CDs in your car, at some point you would get tired of the music in your collection and put on the radio for a little while.  This would give you a taste of what everyone else who was listening to the radio was listening to at the time.  These days, with the library of music that people carry in their iPods, its far less likely that they will get tired of all the music they have available to them.  If someone feels like listening to something they don’t usually listen to, they just queue it up on their iPods.

Because there’s no more channels for everyone to experience what everyone else is listening to, and because there are a lot more different types of music, there is a smaller chance of a nation-wide shared musical culture.  Since there won’t be any more acts that are universally popular, there won’t be anymore rock stars.  So what do musicians have to look forward to?  My drunk friends and I talked about that, too, but I’ll save that for next week’s article.

Here’s the source for the wonderful sunrise above! Don’t agree with Neto? Let him know in the comments!

Can cause Murder?

Many musicians and rock songs have made mention of recreational pharmaceuticals. Whether it be an overt declaration or a discreet revelation, these substances have made their way into the lyrics of songs of most every genre for many, many years. But one recreational substance is mentioned very frequently. Can you guess which one it is? From bammy to zambi and ganja to weed; cannabis by any other name is still cannabis. And it is the old faithful of recreational drugs…at least according to music.

From the time Stephen Tyler declared he’d be “…sleepin’ late and smokin’ tea!”, MJ has been referred to hundreds, if not thousands, of times in musical compositions all around the world. Although, some songs I find more entertaining in their use and description than others.

There is a great song from Sublime called ‘Smoke Two Joints’. It makes me laugh every time I hear it. There’s one line in particular that cracks me up…it goes something like this: “I smoke two joints before I smoke two joints, and then I smoke two more”. Instant classic! Okay Brad, did you see any foreshadowing here? Apparently not, but we didn’t listen to this song for formal education. We listened to it for the ecstatic celebration of the singer’s favorite substance to abuse.

I see what you did there...

Another great one comes from our friends in Cypress Hill. The song is called ‘Hits From the Bong’. It is just as entertaining as the previous song I mentioned, but this singer openly declares his love for this pharmaceutical. He even provides a mini-lesson: “…And then take that finger off that hole, plug it, unplug it, don’t strain! I love you Mary Jane!” I wonder if Mary was blushing after that heart-felt assertion? No surprises; these dudes are insane in the membrane!

No discussion of burning a blunt would be complete without mentioning the quintessential song about the leaf that is loved (or hated) by so many. I’m talking about the song from Black Sabbath entitled ‘Sweet Leaf’. This song probably has one of the most distinct opening lines: Ozzy coughing in an endless loop until Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi come crushing in with a kick-ass, sludgy guitar riff to get the song moving. Ozzy declares his love for pharmaceuticals in this way: “My life is free now, my life is clear, I love you sweet leaf, though you can’t hear!” Ah, unrequited love. Poor Ozzy. What’s a man to do when he declares his love, but gets nothing in return? No wonder he’s ‘Flyin’ High Again’.

I neither condone nor condemn the use of recreational pharmaceuticals. I stand before you neutral on the subject. But there is no denying the celebrated obsession with this activity in music. From the psychedelic 60’s to the grungy 90’s, it seems many musicians found comfort in dating Mary Jane.

Image is a huge factor in rock music.  For lack of a more articulate term, I typically observe musicians and performers constantly attempting to appear “cool.”  Why bother?  It seems like being a talented musician and performer should be effortless once the musician is confident in his or her career.  Why are people not just comfortable being themselves?

Rock musicians are only suffering on a bigger scale from what we all face.  When we talk to other people, are we constantly thinking to ourselves, “what does this new person think of me?”  The image we project becomes the part of our personality that will be the first impression.  So we try to perfect this impression, and end up sometimes agonizing over it.  We are control freaks who want absolute control over our image.  Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing or controlling what others’ impressions of us will be.  So instead of dropping the whole idea, we hyper analyze and obsess.

I was watching a video promoting a certain band’s new live documentary of one show.  The members of the band are fantastic musicians.  And yet, all the editing is clearly geared toward making the band members look as absolutely good and polished as possible.  So the video ended up making me suspicious of what the editing is covering up, and also feeling an urge to see rock musicians stop caring about image.  Of course, anyone who is able to live in the public eye comfortably must have nerves of steel or something; a certain confidence that isn’t born overnight.

As a society, we trip ourselves up when we demand perfection from others.  If we all forgave others’ awkwardness and mistakes and didn’t expect a flawless show all the time, we would be easing the pressure on ourselves too.  Part of something appearing cool is that it tries to appeal to others in a certain way.  In this commercial, consumer-oriented society, we want our personality traits to appeal to others, and we want to only see what is appealing in front of us.  This type of vision leaves a lot of important factors about life out.  In my personal, ideal world, individuals would be comfortable and effortlessly be themselves, even when there is an audience.  I think as a society we can demand more:   Not more perfection, but more acceptance of imperfection.

The source for the first image is here. The source for the second image is here!

Awesome place for chili!

Living in DC has many perks: The White House, Smithsonian Museums, Georgetown, and most of all, the Music.  Jazz, R&B, Go-Go, Hip Hop, Latin, Classical, it’s all in Washington DC. There are so many good places to go and hear live music, especially on U St. It does not matter what day of the week it is, you will always find a broad selection on this side of town. U Street is the center of Washington’s music scene, with the Lincoln Theatre, Howard Theatre, Bohemian Caverns, and other clubs and historic jazz venues.

U Street has a collection of shops, restaurants, nightclubs, galleries, and residences located along a nine-block stretch of U Street in NW Washington DC. It extends from 9th Street on to 18^th Street and Florida Ave. On Mondays through Thursdays you can visit Club Pure, Jo Jo’s Restaurant and Bar, or HR 57, and listen to a variety of music.  On Friday thru Sunday, you can check out Café Nema, Twins Jazz Lounge, Indulge, Station 9, Bohemian Caverns, Utopia Bar and Grill and if you don’t mind traveling further than U Street, visit the 18^th Street Lounge. There are also specific groups that perform on certain nights. On Thursdays, The Young Lions give a great show at Café Nema. On Fridays you have the Collector’s Edition at Utopia Bar and Grill, Saturdays are the Twins Jazz Lounge to hear local and national touring jazz greats, and if you want to hear some Go-Go, visit Indulge on Sundays.  It really does not matter when or where you go because there will always be an artist performing there.

A wonderful view of U St.

Source

If you would like to check out these places visit the links below:

http://dc.about.com/od/washingtondcnightclubs/tp/UStreetNightclubs.htm

http://www.dcjazz.com

Unfortunately, this article was not as easy as I thought it would be.  It turns out deciding on only five songs that I will listen to for the rest of my life (as in as long as the supplies on the plane last cause I’m not much of a survivalist) was not that easy.  My first list mostly represented music from the late 90’s and early 00’s but then I realized I would eventually get tired of all that angst.  I needed to diversify my list and include some more toe-tapping numbers.

My new list is better.  It includes music from more time periods.  It includes some singable songs (for when I get tired of simply talking to my volleyball) and is more of a broad sampling of Rock and Roll.  So here’s my list in no particular order and without any references to LOST.

Come On Lets Go – Ritchie Valens
Its singable, danceable, and gets bonus points for being sung by a Mexican.

Hey Jude – The Beatles
I have to include a Beatles tune though I know Hey Jude is kind of a cliched pick.  But what can I say, I really like the “Na Na Na” part at the end.  Its a good song to play if I want to bring my fellow castaways together.

Immigrant Song – Led Zeppelin
I won’t be able to survive a deserted island if I can’t get the Led out.  It was between this and Black Dog.  I find this song more fun.

Ingrata – Cafe Tacuba
Talk about your fun songs.  I will waste days away trying to perfect the singing of this song.  And then doing a full long performance of it will scare the smoke monster away.

The National Anthem – Radiohead
Finally, when I just want to be alone, this is the song that will be playing in my head.  Played extremely loud, it’s oddly soothing.

Ok, so I lied about the order and the references.

Artist: Radiohead
Album: Kid A (Collector’s Edition)
Label : Capitol
Release Date: August 25, 2009
Decision: 5/5 Amazing
Favorite Tunes: All of them.

1. Background:

It’s been a big year for reissues.  Along with the Beatles’ reissues last week, Radiohead has been staggering reissues of their entire discography all year.  These special edition reissues have been double-sized affairs with the remastered original album and extra discs with live performance, b-sides, and a DVD with video performances.

When it comes to film, I’m not a fan of collector’s edition DVDs with extra material that wasn’t included with the first release so that fans have to buy their favorite movies twice.  But when it comes to music, it actually makes sense.  Remastering technology helps give listeners a new appreciation of the music they thought they were familiar with.  And the extra material wasn’t really available when the albums were released since performances and music videos don’t often happen before an album is released.  Still, I was skeptical about the Kid A collector’s edition CDs.

Kid A is one of my favorite albums of all time but I had never thought that Kid A was an album that could translate well to a live performance.  I had seen live performances of some of the songs on Saturday Night Live and on Youtube but it was never the same as the experience that was listening to the album.  So I didn’t expect much out of the extras, and the original album used the technology it had available to it so well that remastering it wouldn’t really add much to it.

2. The Substance:

This was an exceptional release of one of the greatest albums of all time.  Rarely does one get the chance to re-experience something they love for the first time all over again, but listening to the live recordings included with this Radiohead release was like hearing Kid A for the first time.  Kid A was translated to a live performance in a way that made it seem completely new but still in keeping with the essence of the original album.

3. The Decision:

5/5! So, is this album worth the 30 dollars it costs on Amazon?  A resounding Yes.  One of the greatest albums of all times is packed with new material that completely changes your perception of the music you just listened to.  Such that if you are a fan of Kid A, the second disk should be required listening, especially if, like me, you haven’t had the chance to experience Radiohead live.

Life by the Drop by Stevie Ray Vaughan. This song is from the album entitled ‘The Sky is Crying’. It is the last track on the album. It’s a very simple song, seemingly sung from the heart. It is just Stevie Ray and a twelve string acoustic guitar. I have to guess that it’s a song that reflects his struggle with substance abuse and how he finally overcame all the addictions and realized what was really important in life. Put this song on, turn it up, close your eyes and lean back and enjoy. I get goose bumps every time I hear this song…no lie.

Black Dog by Led Zeppelin. This song is from the album lovingly referred to as the Zoso album. You know the one where the dude on the front is carrying a big bundle of sticks on his back? I vividly remember the first time I heard this song. I was walking through a parking lot and I walked by a clunker of car that was cranking out this Zeppelin tune. The stereo system in this car was easily worth more than the car itself. Robert Plant wailing through those speakers, followed by Jimmy Page’s furious onslaught of guitar riffs was glorious. The song embodied everything rock and roll had to offer…at least to my impressionable young ears. When I finally scraped together enough to buy the album, I listened to this song a hundred times in a row and I never got tired of listening to it.

Three Strange Days by School of Fish. This song is from the debut album from these guys. I don’t think they were tremendously successful in the music industry, but this one song still sticks in my head. The guitar riff totally hooks you right from the first note and the lyrics have some great imagery. From “floating on my back” to the “simulated wood grain” that ‘Johnny Clueless’ brought; this song is a great tune for relaxing and singing along to. If you can find it, listen to the version that contains the extended introduction. They are doing some weird stuff in that version before the song starts…but it’s very cool.

Been Caught Stealing by Jane’s Addiction. This song is from the album called ‘Ritual de lo Habitual’ which was Jane’s second studio album. The entire album is excellent, I just freakin’ love this song! Perry Farrell on vocals is sublime. The song is just so complete; from the frantic beat of the bass through the fast tempo to the searing guitar work of Dave Navarro, it is just one solid tune. It took some time for this song to grow on me, but when it finally clicked, it’s definitely one I could listen to a million times. This song also has an extended version…check that out if you can find it.

Voodoo Chile by Jimi Hendrix. This song comes from Hendrix’s last studio album entitled ‘Electric Ladyland’. From the first few strikes of the guitar pick against the guitar strings, this song is amazing. It’s also probably one of the most recognizable riffs in guitar history. You don’t believe me? Here is a quote from Joe Satriani: “It’s just the greatest piece of electric guitar work ever recorded. In fact, the whole song could be considered the holy grail of guitar expression and technique”. Okay, so now that I have Joe Satriani on my side, how could you disagree? I challenge you to dig it out of your record collection and give it a fresh listen! That’s good stuff!

Okay, so there you have it; my desert island selections. Fortunately, you and I don’t have to be marooned on an island to enjoy listening to these kick-ass tunes. Considering the sheer number of great songs out there and the multitude of great artists, it is very hard to pick just five songs. I may have to revisit the desert island line-up and make some amendments in the future.

Gold Medal: Geoff Tate. For those of you who may not recognize the name, Geoff Tate is the amazing voice, and backbone, of the group Queensryche. The first time I heard this guy sing, I was blown away. His range is absolutely astounding. And he sounds just as good in concert as he does on the recordings. I was lucky enough to catch Queensryche on the Operation Mindcrime tour. Are you freaking kidding me?!?! My jaw was on the floor the whole show. For some classic Geoff Tate high notes, check out the early stuff like ‘The Warning’ and ‘Rage for Order’. The newest release, entitled ‘American Soldier’, is very good stuff also (and will be a future album review). If you have ever wondered how high the male vocal range can get and still sound as powerful as ever; listen to some Queensryche!

Silver Medalist Bruce Dickinson!

Silver Medal: Bruce Dickinson. I’m not sure if Bruce Dickinson is any more recognizable than the gold medalist, but his voice is just about as remarkable. Bruce has been the front man for Iron Maiden since roughly 1981. He left the band for a few years, and then reunited with them and has been a staple out front ever since. The element about Dickinson’s voice that I most admire is the strength behind the notes. His notes come across almost like an opera. Supposedly, he actually studied opera singing prior to turning to metal music and that’s how he got such a powerful voice and great range. I have seen Iron Maiden several times over the years and the live shows are fantastic! Lot’s of energy! On the album front, my favorite Maiden disc is still ‘Power Slave’, followed very closely by ‘Piece of Mind’ and ‘Number of the Beast’. Virtually any song on any of these albums will put Dickinson’s powerful voice on full display for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!

and finally...Bronze Medalist Freddie Mercury!

Bronze Medal: Freddy Mercury. This vocalist probably needs no introduction. He was easily one of the best vocalists and front men in the business. His real name was Farrokh Bulsara, but he will forever be remembered by his stage name. To me, Freddy Mercury always seemed larger than life. His voice was so enormous and powerful…it propelled the music forward at a frenetic pace, even on the slow songs! His voice simply drove the music right out of the speakers and punched you square in the chest. My favorite Queen album remains ‘News of the World’, but I was also a huge fan of ‘Jazz’ and ‘A Day at the Races’. There are some great, great Queen songs on those albums that really demonstrate the vocal virtuosity of the late, great Freddy Mercury.

Honorable Mention: There are a few singers that I did not mention in the top three, but definitely deserve a shout-out for their vocal ability. I consider Robert Plant a phenomenal vocalist…his range and power are legendary. The late Brad Delp of the group Boston still makes me crank up the volume and try desperately to sing along. James LaBrie of Dream Theatre really belts it out…love that guy’s voice. Brent Smith of Shinedown sounds great, even unplugged! And last but not least, I have to include Rob Halford of Judas Priest. He has the original high-pitched wails that make you cringe! Turn it up! And sing along!

Here are the sources for the second and third photos.

I have had the honor to meet Marc while I was in LA. He is a true aspiring music who can put you in a state of wonder. His voice is very tender and soft and his words completely make you think about life. Marc’s connection to the guitar is simply amazing, because his skills and chord playing are smooth and emotional. I took some time to ask him a few questions and get his view on things in his life. I love his music, and I know you will too. This is my ARTIST OF THE WEEK!

1. Where are you from? What is your age?

I am from Redlands, California. I am 25.

2. When did you begin your music career?

I began to sing at the age of 2 in church. I have been singing since I can remember, and I play the guitar.

3. Where do you perform?

I perform at the Santa Monica Pier.

4. What is your favorite place to perform?

My favorite place to sing is at the beach. I have always wanted to sing and be able to go on tour and open up for Nora Jones or Brian McKnight.

5. What is your style of music?

My style of music is closely identified with the blues.

6. What has been the most challenging experience being an up and coming artist?

The most challenging experience for me is having the courage to perform my music like I feel my music.

7. What has been the hardest time in your life?

8. What schools did you go to?

I went to California State San Bernardino where I studied music.

9. What is your targeting audience?

I want to influence kids around the world.

10. What message do you give in your music?

11. What is your advice to an up and coming artist?

Familiarize yourself with yourself.

12. What do you value most in life?

You know the answer to that, MUSIC. :)                

Album due out soon!!!!!

Please Check out his music at    www.myspace.com/marcfindstheblues

Photos thanks to Amarie Darvai and Christopher Cody

Darvai.de.Cody.Photography@gmail.com

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