THE REAL GIG: Of dragons and honey bees – finding the truth in songwriting
What a week, right? With all eyes on the election and current events, I feel strange sitting down to write about music, but I won’t get into any of the trending topics out there. Today, I am going to pull things in close and talk about something that matters very much to me – songwriting. […]
THE REAL GIG: Knowing when it’s not working – the strange language of artistic intuition
Some days, I sit down and write these columns and I have a really solid idea, like last week. Sometimes, I have no ideas, like the week before. Well, this week, I sat down and realized I had about seven ideas… all at once. Before I knew it, I have written about 1,000 words on […]
THE REAL GIG: Steamtown Music Awards remind us that musicians are local heroes too
Last night, I went to the Steamtown Music Awards at The V-Spot in Scranton. It was a great night of catching up with friends and fellow Northeastern Pennsylvania players, writers, and producers. As I got up this morning, I found myself thinking about an event that happened to me 20 years ago. I was at […]
THE REAL GIG: Gumption traps and how to avoid them to complete your project
I have a session and two gigs today, so I need to write fast for this one. I’m giving myself one hour starting… now. Over the past few months, I have been slow with my writing, both blogging and songwriting. I’ve been in the studio nonstop and playing more than I ever have in my […]
THE REAL GIG: When to shut up and what that can do for your hopes and dreams
Have you all seen the Snickers commercials where there is some toxic person ranting and raving until someone gives him a Snickers and he turns back into his happy-go-lucky self? Well, a friend of mine recently pointed out a meme to me that says, “I ate a Snickers and I’m still an asshole.” I’m going […]
THE REAL GIG: Musicial context and the art of sound ownership
Context. In music and just about everything else in life, everything hinges on context. Author Tom Robbins said, “Style is the conduit through which substance must flow.” In other words, if you have an important message for someone, you have to get their attention first. No one is going to take the time to listen […]
THE REAL GIG: How making music and cooking are related – going back to the source
Since my wife is a baker (and a damn good chef, too) and I’m a musician, inevitably there are many late-night discussions in our house about the similarities between music and baking (or cooking in general). This brings up the essential truth about both disciplines – if something ain’t right, go back to the source. […]
THE REAL GIG: Get rid of broken things – and people – before they destroy you and your art
My father had many sayings, little quotes he would go to at certain times. One was, “Bret, if you don’t straighten up, we are both going to the hospital – to get my foot out of your ass.” That was one of his favorites… and one of his most feared. My mother had a few, […]
THE REAL GIG: Your story may be the most important part of making – and selling – your music
You see, I remember reading a story, but I don’t remember where it came from. It was about an old Native American woman who found herself and her family living on a reservation, destitute and hungry. She noticed that white people did not take care of each other out of the goodness of their hearts; […]
THE REAL GIG: Focus on what you’re good at and stop forcing what you’re not – listen to the Primal Ear
Here’s a Catch-22. Old people love to give advice. I am not sure why. For the most part, young people do not dig receiving it. This is unfortunate from both sides. Grandpa likes to believe he has figured everything out after all those trips around the sun. In other words, he is set in his […]
