CONFESSIONS OF A FORMER ANGRY YOUNG MAN
I’m going out on a limb today. This column is going to sound like I’m a self-help coach or motivational speaker. I’ve started to write this story a few times in the past…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(04/22/2016)
WORK FAST AND OFTEN
Usually I have an idea in mind when I sit down to write this column. But yesterday, I got thrown off of my game.
Prince was found dead at Paisley Park.
I think there are enough…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(04/15/2016)
SOMEWHERE, SOMEONE KNOWS THE ANSWER TO THAT
I am sure some of you have been watching the show “Vinyl” on HBO. I have been checking it out quite a bit. Some of the characters I am not sure about, but…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(04/08/2016)
THE ANCIENT ART OF NOT GIVING A SHIT
Last week I wrote some liner notes about a record I just finished. In those notes, I talked about the finer points of not giving a shit. So for today’s blog, I’m…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(03/25/2016)
Space And Limitations
Here’s something I have noticed: Age is more about throwing things away than acquiring more. As you get older, you start getting rid of stuff. I have been doing it more these days. And music is no…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(03/18/2016)
EVERYBODY HAS A SOUNDTRACK
Last weekend, my good pal Tom Flannery sent me a photograph of Keith Richards and a small child (pictured above). I sent him a text to tell him how much I loved that picture. Tom and…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(03/11/2016)
A MUSICAL POTLATCH
In many Native American cultures there was a custom called a “potlatch” ceremony. A potlatch was an event where a chief would give away all his possessions and wealth to members of the tribe. Sometimes, certain valuable…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(03/04/2016)
THE ROAD TO JOY
Many years ago I remember standing on the side of the stage talking with a crew member of The Marshall Tucker Band. We were playing a radio sponsored show with them at an outdoor venue. We…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(02/26/2016)
THE WISDOM OF JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
I have an old friend named Gene. He’s in his 80s now, and I haven’t seen him in quite a while. Gene was an ad agency guy that I became friends with at…
THE REAL GIG: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO THE UNIVERSE(02/19/2016)
CALENDAR WORSHIP AND THE JACK OF ALL TRADES
Pretty much for all of the 1990s, I played with one band. One band. That was it. When the band wasn’t playing(and we played a lot) we were rehearsing. When we weren’t…