"If it's too loud, you're too old"

Are you still going to see the concerts of bands from the 1990s?  Do you now have to make the decision of either going to see Queensryche or Geoff Tate's group that performs Operation Mindcrime? Or is the dilemma to see Live even though Ed Kowalczyk is no longer the front man? Van Halen or Van Hagar (what do you think it would it take to get Michael Anthony to come back to play)?  There are lots of choices when it comes deciding where to spend your concert dollars (with music), but hopefully your music decisions do not get any harder than this.  

Now, as my friends and I get older, the decisions seem to be geared towards where is the show and when does it start?  Ideal circumstances are venues in walking distance or a 10-20 minute drive.  And of course checking out small intimate shows (with hundreds of people as opposed to thousands) are more preferable than driving out to an outdoor pavilion that is closer to Weirton, WV than it is Monroeville, PA, but nothing seems to draw more hesitation these days than the headlining act having a 10:00 PM set time.  I have learned that I am not alone in wondering the answers to these questions.

In a 2013 Journal of Personality and Social Psychology report, a team of psychologists at the University of Cambridge, designed a study to look at how our music-listening habits and attitudes toward music change over the course of our lives.  The Cambridge psychologists recruited over 9,000 people online and one thing that they examined was the contexts in which people might listen to music: at home alone, at home with friends, out with friends, at work, in the car, or doing housework.  Interesting to note is that the most common context was in the car, followed by home alone – and unfortunately not a live concert.  At the same time, younger respondents registered that they were more likely to listen to music in public.

The research does not show whether these differences are due to aging or generational shifts; but I would agree with the thought that listening to music on mobile devices, buying individual tracks on iTunes and walking around with headphones has undoubtedly changed the way we relate to music, which again and regrettably, ties back to the desire to go or not to go see live music.  

Thankfully, I believe the most recent and difficult musical decision that I have been faced with was whether or not to go see Lake Street Dive at Hartwood Acres or Band of Horses at Stage AE this past July 20.  And you will have to (re)read my post from December 2014 to see which concert I attended. 

Where does this leave me and my 35-45 year old friends as we seek out shows in 2015?  Well, I just booked the two bands Rake and the Braddock Brothers at Stage AE on Saturday, April 18.  Doors open at 7:00 PM ;).

Thanks for reading.

Stop & smell the roses.

Maybe you can identify with one of the following experiences:  Working as a bartender and/or waiter and making sure Heinz ketchup bottles are filled at the Independent Brewing Company; working with a band that has a Hammond organ player and needing to carry a Leslie Speaker up the stairs of the Pittsburgh Deli Company; or the hundreds of times you held the ladder for the guy who changed the letters on the marquee at the Bayou in Washington DC.  These are just some of the endless tasks that need to be done behind the scenes before opening the doors for a concert.

I understand that most fans/patrons are not there to observe the minutiae of working at a venue, but I am happy to report in my experiences, I am starting to notice that more attention is being paid to each valuable detail.  With blogs and comment sections on websites, not a lot goes under the radar these days, and fortunately, I do not seem to be the only person paying attention to details.  It is no longer the freshman or rookies carrying the bags to the gym, and even some superstars do not feel they are above the work that goes on behind the scenes.  

With Garth Brooks recently in Pittsburgh for six (6) shows in four (4) nights, leading up to the concerts it was extremely refreshing that he was 'cc'ed on operational emails, and participated in the onsale call the day tickets became available.  I also recall a concert promoter colleague of mine mentioning that BB King receives his payment in cash directly following a performance and is then escorted buy bodyguards/family to his Lincoln Town Car waiting outside each respective theater.  And one of my favorite music moments, while attending a sound check of a concert, Bruce Springsteen took the time to respectfully walk the drummer of Joe Grushecky and the Houserockers thru his song "Better Days" so that they got it just right.

I am about to embark on a project with a lot of moving parts, I am excited for all of the details that need to be ironed out before June 1 and I hope that after reading this, at the next concert you attend, you take an extra moment to absorb all that surrounds you.


Thanks for reading.

"I can name that tune in 4 notes . . ."

My friend recently stumped me on recognizing a song.  The music in question was “Bone Machine” the first track on the Pixies first full-length album ‘Surfer Rosa’ (released March 1988).  I have to admit, my knowledge of the Pixies is limited.  I once saw them perform an opening set for U2 at Brendan Byrne Arena (March 18, 1992) and if I heard them, I would recognize their songs “Debaser”, “Here Comes Your Man”, “Wave of Mutilation” & “Where Is My Mind” (the latter two only because of their use in the films ‘Pump Up the Volume’ and ‘Fight Club’).  But sitting around talking music, it is difficult to argue their influence on a number of bands associated with the alternative rock boom of the 1990s. 

I know that I could have used Shazam, but as a music lover, your pride takes over in these situations.  However, this scenario can also be a blessing in disguise.  There is no better feeling than discovering music new to you, even if that music has been released for months and years before your revolutionary audio experience.  One band that has been around I have gone back to listen to is Guster.  Their debut album, ‘Parachute’, came out in 1995, but it was not until 1997 that I heard their song “Bury Me” for the first time. And then in late 2014, I was introduced to their song “Simple Machine” – the first single of their new album ‘Evermotion’.  Now I am going back and listening to 2003’s ‘Keep It Together; 2006’s ‘Ganging Up on the Sun’ and 2010’s ‘Easy Wonderful’. 

But with most scenarios (and records), there is a flip side, another friend of mine was recently impressed at me recognizing Swedish singer-songwriter’s JoséGonzález version of the song “Hand on Your Heart” (not to be confused with Kylie Minogue’s version).  While I sometimes wish I could substitute this knowledge with a basic understanding of substantive law and legal procedure or comprehending the technical side of auto mechanics, I tend to embrace this party tricks/bar stool skill set.

What was the last time someone was playing songs in your wheelhouse and you had no idea who the artist/band was?  Is it the Rolling Stones, “Rip This Joint” or “Rocks Off”, both from their legendary album ‘Exile On Main Street’?  This is a good problem to have in my book and far better than a colleague telling you that you are wearing toilet paper on the sole of your shoe.

Thanks for reading.

It’s family affair.

Looking ahead to the year 2015 has had me thinking about what music I will be listening to throughout the year.  I know that when my boys allow me to commandeer the stereo, my personal favorites will permeate the playlist at home:  City & Colour; Bruce Hornsby; Rage Against the Machine to name a few, but I also want to be able to throw the spotlight on artists that are catching my attention (as well as my family’s) in my adopted city. 

One band that I am thinking of formed in my old stomping grounds of Foggy Bottom, Washington DC.  The name of the band is Jukebox the Ghost and they are heading back out on tour next week for a 33-date tour that will take them all over the United States.  One of the stops on tour is Pittsburgh, on Saturday, February 14 at Mr. Smalls.  There is also The Lone Bellow who adventure to The Club at Stage AE on Saturday, February 28.  Allen Stone also returns to the Steel City on Sunday, March 1 at the Altar Bar and then a couple of weeks later at the same venue, my two boys’ favorite singer of the moment Andy Grammer takes the stage.

Songwriter of the platinum hit single, “Keep Your Head Up”, Andy Grammer has been toeing the line between Top 40 regular and Adult Contemporary staple, so he is not completely off the radar, but outside of our place, not a household name.  But you read the last sentence of the previous paragraph correctly, with the release of Mr. Grammer’s album ‘Magazines Or Novels’, he has had captured the attention of my elementary-school aged children.  And as much as I have tried to influence and shape my sons’ taste in music, they at a young age are confidently determining their own path.  This certainly makes for interesting car-rides, but I am getting on-board. 

It makes the small victories of listening as a family to The Barr Brothers’ song ‘Half Crazy’ that much sweeter.  But listening to music as a family has also introduced me to music I might not have otherwise heard. I know deep down that my boys fascination with American Top 40 With Ryan Seacrest rivals the one I had with Casey Kasem in the early 1980s.  And just as that loyal listening led me to hearing Dexy’s Midnight Runners follow-up to “Come On Eileen” ("Jackie Wilson Said (I'm in Heaven When You Smile)", which led to my discovery of Van Morrison and Jackie Wilson - for those keeping score at home), this year it has already led me to find another song by Hozier.  Taking me to school, not to church.

Thanks for reading.

That was so last year . . .

In an effort to wrap-up my year in live music like a present for the holidays, I wanted to offer my superlatives for what was an eventful year in music (specifically for me and the purchase of my $1.00 records in Washington DC).  As with most past years, each and every month was filled with staples of my music collection, but also the opportunity to usher in “new to me” bands. 

So in addition to looking back on 2014 (please read below), I also want to offer some predictions for 2015 (in no particular order):  Royal Blood will develop themselves a following in the United States; people other than natives of New Orleans, LA will know who Benjamin Booker is; my home-state brethren Young Rising Sons are going to find a number of people to sing-along with their song “High”; everyone will continue to mix-up Red Hot Chili Pepper Chad Smith and his doppelganger Will Ferrell and I hope to continue to book and promote the occasional live music performances as well as continue to catch live music in places other than southwestern Pennsylvania.  Keep your eyes & ears open.

Thanks for reading, happy new year & for all of the readers of Heard But Not Seen - what are some of your "best of lists" for 2014?

•         Best live show, but not exactly a concert:  

“Once” at Benedum Center; Pittsburgh, PA on Tuesday, March 11, 2014

•         Best sound check ever:  

Bruce Springsteen & The Houserockers at Soldiers & Sailors; Pittsburgh, PA on Friday, May 23, 2014 

(Runner Up: Paul McCartney at CONSOL Energy Center; Pittsburgh, PA on Monday, July 7, 2014)

•         Best live show seen on a road trip:  

Soul Rebels at The Hamilton; Washington D.C. on Friday, June 6, 2014

•         Best concert seen within 24 hours of my birthday:  

Band of Horses at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, July 20, 2014

•         Bucket List Show for 2014:  

Smokey Robinson at The Meadows Racetrack & Casino; Washington, PA on Saturday, September 6, 2014

•         Best kid friendly concert that still had an edge (Tied): 

Cello Fury at Mellon Park; Pittsburgh, PA on Saturday, September 6, 2014

Rake at Stage AE; Pittsburgh on Saturday, November 8, 2014 

•         Concert of the Year:  

The Barr Brothers at Andy Warhol Museum; Pittsburgh, PA on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 

(Runner Up:  Jack White at Stage AE; Pittsburgh, PA on Sunday, July 27, 2014)

•         Top 5 “live” studio song/videos:

Johnnyswim – “Diamonds”

JoyKills Sorrow – “Was it You”

JRoddy Walston & The Business  - “Take it as Comes”

TheLone Bellow – “Then Came the Morning”

TheNew Basement Tapes “Kansas City”

That's one small step for a man, a giant leap for mankind.

Technology and music.  Music and technology.  These days those two terms seem to go better together than peanut butter and jelly or at least better than Spring House Brewing's Lil' Gruesome Peanut Butter Jelly Stout, but I am getting off topic.  As someone who enjoys listening and discovering music on multiple mediums (for example, I am still listening to cassettes), sometimes you just cannot pull up your Shazam app quickly enough on your smart-phone to figure out what that song is in that one commercial.  But new music is all around us and of course it is no longer limited to specific models.

Collectors of Sir Paul McCartney’s music may have to add a new format to their collections of music by The Beatles.  McCartney’s recent major project is the score for “Destiny”, the highly anticipated video game from Bungie and Activision, that was released earlier this month.  This is not exactly a huge stretch since Mr. McCartney has written four full-length orchestral scores, and several shorter classical pieces, since 1990, and has produced several albums of electronica under the name Fireman, but did “baby boomers” ever think that they would be shooting, looting and role playing on their PlayStation 4 or Xbox One while listening to “Macca”?

 

I was also reading the New York Times this past weekend (thanks to my neighbors) and I came across an article written by Ben Sisario that states Thom Yorke (Radiohead’s lead singer), “tried another unusual approach by releasing his solo album, “Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes,” through BitTorrent, a technology for transferring large files over the Internet. The data “bundle” that included the album cost $6.00, and in a statement, Mr. Yorke described the move as a test of a new way for artists to release their work online”.  With sales of CDs falling and vinyl growing, this avenue seems to be as good as any for the future of collecting music, but will fans of The Beatles be showing off their copy of the video game “Destiny” and will a listener be able to read the liner notes of “Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes”?

Unfortunately, I would agree with David Holmes’ statement from PandoDaily that “music appreciation has not effectively translated to the digital space”, but this is not because people do not want to share their tastes anymore.  Taking pride in one’s music collection has been around since the days of vinyl, but with the continued development of technology it is quite possible that you will walk into my house and not immediately get a sense of what type of music I listen to.  I really enjoy being able to reach into my CD collection and being able to throw on the 1995 self-titled album by Sweet Vine or the more recent studio album by the British band Fink, titled “Hard Believer”.   

Only time will tell, but I believe all of this development in music sounds like a good idea (pun intended), and let’s hope losing your Pandora wifi-connection before you are about to run a 10K is the only wrinkle as we move closer to 2015.

Thanks for reading.