Tree Rings Into Music
Ok, if this is legit, it’s pretty awesome. Check out the whole article here.
Vinyl
When Kristin and I first got married we had a huge record player thing. It was like a piece of furniture that opened up and inside was a record player and some speakers. It was pretty awesome. Then we moved and had no place for it. I think we gave it to Kyle or something. Then we got rid of a bunch of records because we had no need for them. We did hang on to a couple just to have though.
Well this Christmas, Kristin got me this amazing record player that I can hook to my computer and not only play records but I can also import them into my iTunes. Total geeky amazing, I know. She also got me a Radiohead’s “In Rainbows” and Arcade Fire’s “The Suburbs” to go with it. Yep, awesome.
So now I’ve decided that 2011 will be the year of vinyl. I’ll still get ‘regular’ music on iTunes but those special records that I need to have forever will be on vinyl. I’m pretty excited to start tracking some of these down.
So let’s hear it. What should be some of my first purchases? Anything that I need to have on vinyl?
The Bro Rock
Now, let me start off by saying that I don’t know either one of the guys pictured above. I don’t know their personalities, I don’t know their families, and to be honest I had to Google one of their names. That being said, the one thing I know is that I can’t stand their music. Now, I’m not saying that you, the reader of this post, can’t like their music, but it’s what I can’t help but call “bro-rock”. You know those guys right. They are the guys at the high school or college parties that are trying to open beer bottles with their teeth or punch you in the arm too hard when saying ‘hi’ and calling you ‘Bro’.
Well, as most of you probably know, Bart caught a bunch of crap on Twitter for simply saying that he doesn’t like Creed. All of the sudden people were bashing his Christianity, his looks, his ministry. It was pretty unbelievable, actually. The funny thing was, most of the people bashing him were focussing on how ‘hot’ Scott Stapp was or something similar. Seems like they have a pretty deep fan base.
Anyway, if you’ve followed this blog or my Twitter at all you know that when I’m on the road I have a strict ‘No Nickelback’ rule on the bus. That obviously goes for the house too. Creed is right there too, but I don’t know if I’ve ever been as passionate about it.
So here’s my question today. We all have music that we strongly dislike. That doesn’t make it bad, it just makes it bad to you. So what’s your absolute least favorite style of music? And yes, bro-rock is a genre…. I think.
The Final Countdown (Again)
I discovered music after the 80′s, but there’s part of me that’s starting to love it. The hair, the screeching guitars, the high pitched screams. Now I know there’s probably a lot of you out there that are 80′s music fans and most likely it’s just what we all grew up on. I mean, you might think Pearl Jam sounds like a pissed off teenager singing to the sound of a refrigerator hum, but to me, it’s when represents music made for my generation. But I think today’s music is taking a shift back to the 80′s but without the annoying vocals. You know the vocals I’m talking about don’t you. How many 80′s band lead singers sounded the exact same as this guy?
What I love about this song though, is that keyboard riff. Seriously, who can’t love that? Doesn’t it make you want to climb a mountain or something? Da Da Daa Dun, Da Da Da Da Duh, Da Da Daa Dun, Da Da Dun Da Da Duh Da. It’s great. And no, it’s not from a Rocky movie, but maybe it should be. The cool thing about today’s music is that it’s taking everything that is cool from a song like this, (ie. that sweet keyboard), adding to it, and giving it a fresh sound. New drums, new vocals, and new grooves. So, maybe the 80′s are coming back a little, and I’m cool with it. In fact I love it.
So let’s hear it. What’s your jam? Name one of your favorite high school bands. What will you look back on and always remember as the time you discovered that there was music made for you?
Ready. Go.
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Misunderstood?
Last night I had the chance to see Jars Of Clay play a hand full of songs for some TV / Film Showcase thing that was going on in Nashville. Now, I’ve seen these guys probably four or five times live, and every time they bring it. Last night was no different but with their new stuff it was even better. Yes, I know. I’ve said it before. Somehow these guys manage to outdo themselves with every record and there aren’t many bands out there that can actually do that. I don’t know how they do it, but I’m glad they do.
Now here’s the thing. With every record taking a musical step up, brilliant lyrics on literally every record and the ability to adapt to ‘cultural’ musical relevance there’s no reason these guys shouldn’t be massive. Am I right? And not to knock the Jars guys at all, because they are easily one of my favorite bands out there, but sometimes I fell like they are a little misunderstood. People don’t “get” them for some reason. And it’s not just me. Every artist that I know, and every artist that I have toured with loves them and completely respect them as musicians. So what is it? Is it that they are to ‘arty’? Too smart? Too introspective? Too honest? What do you think? What’s stopping them from dominating the music world?
Either way, I’m continually blown away by these guys and one day I hope to have them on the SkörInc roster. So if any of you out there know how to make that happen let’s hear it. And if you haven’t, go get their new record today. Then listen to it over and over and over. You’ll thank me.
If you don’t have an answer for all of that, let’s hear your favorite Jars record so far. I think I’d have to go with “Who We Are Instead”, no question. That record blows me away every time I put it in.
Ready? Go.
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There’s Something About Free
Have you heard the new U2 Single? Of course you have. You know why you have? Because it can be found right here for free, complete with a description of who produced it, who did the artwork, when it will be ‘released’ and what the plans are for it. All that because you clicked a link. How generous of those U2 guys don’t you think?
Turns out there’s something to this ‘free’ thing. huh? It’s almost as if it’s been planned or scheduled, or for a reason. It’s almost like bands are realizing the power of the people and giving them what they want. Giving them what they want as a form of getting the word spread. Not a bad plan huh?
Sort of sounds like something a friend of mine did just the other day.
Joel & Luke
So, tonight I’m headed to downtown Nashville to watch these guys sing some songs. I only know one of them personally, but I’m pretty excited to hear their stuff. I met Luke when he sang at our church one time when I was playing. Does that mean that I played guitar for him once?
Okay, new description… I played guitar for Luke one time and we hit it off talking about business ideas and marketing things. Now we are friends. How’s that sound? Better?
Anyway, that’s the plan for tonight. I even heard that Chad is going to be there. Also, rumor has it there might even be a live broadcast of sorts from the show, but I will keep you posted with the details on that.
Other than that, it’s Monday and I’m slammed. Hence the brief post. What’s your plan for today?
A Couple Days With Renstrom’s
I knew I liked Daniel when I talked to him on the phone the first time. For whatever reason we ended up sort of just ‘hitting it off’ and have been friends for almost two years now I think. Well, this week Daniel and his wife came in to town for the Andrew Peterson, ‘Behold The Lamb of God’ show at the Ryman and were brave enough to stay with us at our house for a couple days.
Daniel and his wife came in Thursday evening and we grabbed some dinner with them, some friends of theirs, my parents, and Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban. Okay, well we didn’t actually have dinner with Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban, but they were at the table next to us and most likely wish that they were at our table because it was clearly cooler. After dinner we were blown away by Andrew Peterson and friends and their Christmas extravaganza. Kristin reminded me that this may not have been the forth year that we have gone, and it might be the third since we have only lived here three years, but I’m still convinced that I’ve seen it four times.
Yesterday was a pretty chill day. We all hung out at our house for the first half of the day giving kids naps and really getting to know each other. Daniel and I had only met in person, one other time and our wives had never met, so it was cool to get to know them better. We officially like them now, and have made it our mission to get them to move here from Raleigh. After naps and all we went into downtown Franklin and met up with Randy for dinner and dessert and some walking around. The weather was nice enough to warm up for us and our walking so nobody froze to death, and then we just came back to our house for tea and more talking.
Here’s the thing about people that you first meet and you end up spending most of the time talking. In my experience, some of the best friends that we have are people that we can sit and talk with for hours. There aren’t many people that we do that with but for some reason Daniel and his wife fell into that category over the last couple days. Hopefully they had fun and didn’t leave today thinking we are weirdos or anything like that. Oh yeah, and if you haven’t heard me talk about Daniel here on the blog yet, you must be new and you must buy his record. Seriously. Go now. Buy it. Buy lots and give them to people you like.
So that’s the update from here. Hope everyone is ready for Christmas. We’ve got some crazy news from the SkörInc camp that I am really excited about, but I will save that for another post. Enjoy your weekend.
Winter Wonder Slam
Last night Blue, Aiden and I picked up Randy and went to check out Toby’s Winter Wonder Slam. This was the third time seeing the tour, but the first time I was able to bring both of the boys. They were pretty excited about seeing Family Force Five (who’s page takes forever to load because it’s a lame Myspace page) and they delivered. Both boys were sitting straight up pretending to play the drums and making sure to ‘get their hands up’ at the appropriate times.
Thanks to Culmer and Nick, the boys had a great place to sit on the lighting platform so being short didn’t matter. Aiden made it the whole night, but Blue faded out before Toby finished and slid back in his chair and went to sleep.
All in all it was a great show, I love the boys being at an age where we can do things like that together. Today they woke up and started playing drums and pretending they’re in a band. On the menu today is some late night recovery of watching movies and maybe some Christmas decorating.
Anyone catch Toby’s tour this year? What’d you think?
