But I Digress

But I Digress features musical ramblings, rumblings, rants, ruminations, and reviews from your friendly neighborhood blowhard. Look for it on Wednesdays on NEPA Scene.

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: Learning to love ‘Dawson’s Creek’ in my 40s – a lesson in open-mindedness

BUT I DIGRESS: Learning to love ‘Dawson’s Creek’ in my 40s – a lesson in open-mindedness

I’m Fud, and I love “Dawson’s Creek.” Hang on, that’ll need some clarification… In 1998, I was 30 years old. That’s also the same year “Dawson’s Creek” premiered. So, being 30, I assumed the show was just another pedantic, predictable teen drama (to those under 40, allow me to qualify – although in 2016, saying […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: David Lee Roth people vs. Sammy Hagar people – the rise and fall of Van Halen

BUT I DIGRESS: David Lee Roth people vs. Sammy Hagar people – the rise and fall of Van Halen

I’ve decided that whenever I meet a new person, I am going to use one simple, succinct question whose answer will decide whether or not any further discourse with said person will be worth my time. This question is a simple, three-word utterance that defines and encapsulates the personality traits of each individual based on […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: Why more venues need to give original musicians a chance

BUT I DIGRESS: Why more venues need to give original musicians a chance

Not for nothing, but “battles of the bands,” “best of” polls, etc. are not my idea of how to build a healthy, cooperative arts community, in my humble opinion. I’ll speak only for musicians, since I’m of that particular ilk, but I believe this applies to all of those involved in all the arts. Pitting […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: 4th of July fireworks with my son give me more to celebrate than our freedom

BUT I DIGRESS: 4th of July fireworks with my son give me more to celebrate than our freedom

I had the most wonderful Fourth of July (on the Third of July)! My son, Gideon, and I went to his “Uncle” Gopher’s house in the country to catch Goph’s annual kick-ass fireworks display. Being 6, Gid’s interest in the actual fireworks waxed and waned according to whatever nifty thing captured his fancy. At one […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: As Judas Priest once said, ‘You don’t have to be old to be wise,’ so go learn something!

BUT I DIGRESS: As Judas Priest once said, ‘You don’t have to be old to be wise,’ so go learn something!

I have nothing to write about this week. I’ve been sitting here trying to come up with something witty or relevant, and I just can’t do it. I know there are such things out there, but none of them are grabbing me by the balls and yelling, “Yo! Lookit me!” So, I’m sitting here at […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: Don’t grow out of music – grow into it

BUT I DIGRESS: Don’t grow out of music – grow into it

When I was a kid, I loved The Beatles. The very first song I can remember hearing was “Come Together.” I remember running around the coffee table at my grandparents’ house when my aunt Maureen, who was only 12 when I was born and thus treated me much like a little brother, would play the […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: A Father’s Day reward – raising my son on classic music and pop culture

BUT I DIGRESS: A Father’s Day reward – raising my son on classic music and pop culture

I’m late again. However, this time, it’s not due to your garden variety Uncle Fuddy tomfoolery. Instead, I had a boatload of extra time with my most excellent best bud – my kid! See, I had to miss a day of our regularly scheduled “Boysnight” festivities last week because I had the honor of being […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: Musical typecasting, or why I don’t play many solo acoustic gigs anymore

BUT I DIGRESS: Musical typecasting, or why I don’t play many solo acoustic gigs anymore

Musicians can be typecast, and in entirely erroneous roles. Ferinstance, I’ll bet there are more than a few folks out there who picture me happily strumming away on an acoustic guitar, singing all manner of folky tunes or laboring over syrupy ballads. But I don’t really enjoy playing acoustic music. Mind you, this wasn’t always […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: Explaining ‘Musician Time’ to all you punctual bastards

BUT I DIGRESS: Explaining ‘Musician Time’ to all you punctual bastards

As I sit here enjoying an episode of “CHiPs” while I lazily type this article well past my deadline, it brings to mind the curious notion of musicians keeping time. We do. We keep time all the time. But not the “One, and a two, and a…” of Lawrence Welk fame that undoubtedly came to […]

 John 'Fud' Zavacki

BUT I DIGRESS: Creating Top Five lists is the best way to talk – and learn – about music

BUT I DIGRESS: Creating Top Five lists is the best way to talk – and learn – about music

I was absent last week because bicycle. Now I’m not absent. Thank you for your indulgence and junk. My topic this week is the lowly Top Five list. Don’t be fooled, dear readers. The lists of which I speak are the snobbiest of snob snobbery, the “bend you over and spank ya ass cuz yo […]