As a general rule, I don’t like to mix entertainment and politics. This is mostly because the only preaching I like to hear is on Sunday mornings. There’s a place for preaching, but it’s not in art. Art is supposed to bring awareness and ask questions. It can’t answer those questions for you. You shouldn’t give a crap what an entertainer thinks of politics, one way or another.
Read MoreMany songwriters talk about inspiration as if it is this mystical thing and we’re just conduits from some other sphere for the song. I think that’s a bit new age for me, but while I don’t think it’s mystical, it is a bit mysterious.
Read MoreI’ve been videoing the whole thing, so I’ll be putting the “before” video up soon and I’ll post short ones on the Four Lane Road YouTube channel as I go.
Read MoreBut on a grander scale, while I understand that these terms are used to better describe the music to people with words, but it’s gotten kind of out-of-control. I’m not sure if this is a product of so many people being able to make music at home and the diversity of the offerings are just widening that much or if it’s a product of our culture’s desire to over-classify everything right now.
Read MoreI typically don’t like to give too much away when it comes to the meanings behind the lyrics of songs - I purposely try to make things as accessible to as many people as I can. I’m also used to people telling me, “I don’t get it.” And, that’s okay sometimes. However, in this case, Travis and I had a personal exchange and he stated that if anyone ask, I should just share what I texted back to him. Outside of myself, no one spends as much time with my music as Travis does, so I figured if he asked, it was worth sharing with everyone.
Read MorePeople want music to be magical. That’s good, music is magical, but it’s not rocket science. Back when I sold wine and people were amazed at my blind tasting skills, I told them, it’s just time, a lot of wine and deductive reasoning. Music is no different. At least recording is no different. I’m just working with my ears more and my mouth less. Most people who know me probably think this is a good thing.
Read MoreAs a disclaimer, before anyone gets their panties in a knot, the list says “favorite” not “best”. Also, it could be called “biggest influences on guitar” rather than “favorite”. I’ve never tried to play like Eddie Van Halen, Dimebag or Slash, even though I love all three of them. These are the guys, for better or worse, who have influenced my playing in one way or another.
Read MoreIn spite of her proximity and the fact there was no one else sitting over there besides us, I asked my wife, “that happened right? I didn’t imagine that?” She just said, “well there was no one else there and she wasn’t looking at me.”
Read MoreAnd, I’m scared shitless. I want to quit every single day, but I talk myself out of it.
Read MoreThere’s been a lot of talk recently about the lack of danger in rock and roll. It’s really hard to argue against that. As Noel Gallagher recently said, they don’t want him, they want Harry Styles. Someone to whom they can say, “go put on a dress” and they’ll just go put on a dress.
Read MoreWe started listening to Morrissey’s autobiography on the drive down here. The guy is so poetic, I am going to have to go back and read it later too because he’ll describe something so beautifully that it’ll cause my mind to wander and I have to get back on track.
Read MoreIt’s not magic. It’s not even real any place other than my mind. It’s a connection I am making through a combination of a knowledge and love of history and my own imagination.
Read MoreOne, I didn’t include Christmas songs. A lot of Christmas songs get me. Two, I didn’t include anything too personal, although if it’s not somewhat personal, you’re not going to feel it enough to be moved to tears.
Read MoreBefore I begin, if you read this page regularly, you know I love music and I take it seriously. However, you can’t be serious all the time. So, while I genuinely don’t like these songs, this list is not meant to be taken seriously. I’m not saying (all) these people aren’t talented or whatever. Everyone on this list is more successful than me, there are some legends here, but even legends are human. Yes, even Macca’s poo stinks. Let’s all just have a laugh.
Read MoreGeorge Jones once flushed $10,000 down a toilet. In the early 1960’s that was a lot of money. Was he drunk? Probably, but alcohol just brings all the things you bury to the surface. They don’t call it “liquid courage” for nothing. Why then did he flush money down the toilet?
Read MoreIt’s scary, because if you want to gain something, you have to be willing to lose something else. And people don’t like to lose. Including me.
Read MoreWe just watched a clip of McConaughey on Lex Friedman’s podcast talking about True Detective and something he talked about struck me. What he said was that he reached inside himself to connect to Rust’s character. Now, I’m not an actor, but this is a lot different than what I normally here about someone preparing for a role.
Read MoreLetters to Cleo are an interesting study in what music in the 90’s were like. I don’t want to over-simplify it, but you didn’t have to have a ton of chart success to have a major label career or a lasting cultural impression.
Read MoreRyan’s story has always been incredibly personal to me. I grew up 100 miles from Ryan in Indiana. He was a little older than me, but he was just another kid from Indiana like I was. I had just turned ten when he died and I couldn’t for the life of me understand how a disease, no matter how dangerous it appeared, or how scary people made it out to be, could make people be so evil to other people. Especially a kid.
Read MoreI was making music with synths long before I listened to any synth-based music on a regular basis and it was for that exact reason: I was on my own. However, making music with synths opened my world up to entire genres of music I’d either ignored or overlooked.
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