Rock Bloggers of the World- UNITE!

As I’ve begun to share my blog with my peers, I’ve noticed that I’ve developed a certain voice, or way of expressing my personality via word choice and sentence structure, if you will.  I like to think that my voice says, “Hey! I’m creative, intelligent, and a little self-deprecating.”  At least, that’s what I think.

If it’s not, feel free to let me know. TELL ME THE HARSH TRUTH PEOPLE!

But seriously I could use some comments on this thing, so man up.

Checking out other rock blogs has definitely helped me examine my own voice a little more closely.  For instance, I took a peek at “Danny G.’s Rock Blog,” by who else than Danny G. himself, the 38-year-old working musician from Austin, Texas.

This man’s blog sort of depressed me at first, right from the start he tells you that he is a struggling musician:

“You’ve read the rock bios and seen the movies, but this is what it’s like for the other 99% of musicians just trying to survive”

I know the guy’s not necessarily making any broader economic claims here, but all I could think of was the Occupy Movement.  I’m not sure which came first, Danny G. or the movement- but someone is taking somebody else’s slogan here. And both feel like they are part of the disenfranchised majority, criticizing the concentration of wealth among the top 1%. (Of rock stars or just top earners?  I think this is probably where Danny G. and Occupy will differ.)

After this, however, Danny states some of his credentials- multi-instrumentalist for different bands, has released two instrumental solo albums and was voted #8 bassist for the 2009 Austin Music Awards.

You go Danny G.

This man obviously knows what he’s talking about in the realm of struggling musicians.  He has the experience and the talent.  So I read on.

Getting into his blog posts, Danny seemed a lot more optimistic than his first impression had lead me to believe.  From the sound of his reviews on his latest gigs, this guy is loving the rock and roll lifestyle.  His abundance of curse words and exclamation marks really set the tone:

“Got back up there and threw down even harder… Then a guy from ‘an oil company’ asked us how much for one more song.  Eric asked me, I threw out $100 as a nice round number, and oil guy gets onto the mic and takes a collection from the audience for $100 into the tip jar for one more song.  Wallets appeared like startled bats. Amazing!”

“We were totally spent, but still got back up to play “Little Wing” again.  Knocked em dead. Great night!”

“Crazy! I don’t know how we do it, but it’s amazing that we can.”

“In other news the weekend was busy as fuck all.  Which is good. Really good.”

I especially loved his description of wallets coming out like startled bats… Not sure if anyone else caught that.  I would also like to point out that all of this is only from the first half of Danny’s blog post.

This guy is voice gold.

He is a rocker, loves his job and his music. He also really likes putting in single words like “crazy” or “amazing” or “wow” to make his point about how he feels about certain shows and situations.  And it works. 

The music man even makes jokes!

“Then the pack-up-as-fast-as-we-can shuffle.”

Post-show pack up and craziness?  I can only imagine.  This phrasing gives readers a funny image, versus just supplying us with a typical description of packing up after a show. Way to be silly.

The last few sentences that Danny put on his most recent blog post I think best summarize how he’s feeling right now:

“Eric, Rob and I really have something special.  We can feel it.  The audience can feel it.  It’s a really cool thing to be a part of.  And being a variable in the equation that converts a humble blues-rock band into a force of nature is really special too.”

Well put Danny G. 

Blogger Buddies

Eager to see how my rock and roll blog compares to others, I set out on yet another new mission this week.  I wanted to find another blog that would give me some inspiration for my own..

Most rock and roll blogs seem to be professional ones, however, I was able to find one called “No Rock and Roll Fun” by Simon Hayes Budgen that sparked my interest.  I liked Simon’s blog because not only did he give out song recommendations, but he also puts music and today's entertainment industry in discussion with each other.

The main difference between our blogs is Simon’s focus on current rock and roll, my tendency to look into older music.  When I started my blog, I definitely want to go from more of a classic rock sort of angle, starting with the basics of rock and moving forward from there.  Simon’s rock recommendations include artists like A Fine Frenzy and mentions bands like One Direction.  Not exactly old school, but I like it. 

And I do LOVE A Fine Frenzy.  It was the first thing I saw on Simon Hayes Budgen's blog- so I had a good feeling about him from the beginning.  He put up a picture of their latest album and a link to where you could get it on Amazon.  I was excited.  I had no idea that A Fine Frenzy had just released a new album, and Simon directed me to where I could go purchase it for myself. 

(And I totally would have bought it if I wasn’t already deeply invested in my free subscription of Spotify... Help me, I’m poor!)

This was surprisingly new and simple idea. Yes, I had been providing links to YouTube videos, but giving readers a link to a place where they could purchase the song for themselves was a fantastic idea.  Although perhaps if I was feeling especially kind and insightful, I would write a blog for my fellow college students about the merits of Spotify.. Another time.   

I also liked Simon’s use of pictures and quotes from reliable sources.  The pictures helped give a face to the name of these artists, and the quotes made his writing seem more credible.  This are both things that I should be incorporating into my work, especially considering the only thing I have quoted thus far is Wikipedia and that may or may not have worked in my favor credibility-wise.

Another thing that Simon did well was use the sides of his blog to show songs to download, Youtube highlights to watch, radio, performance and download sites to listen to, band websites he likes and other useful music sites.  Looking at all of the different information he provided, it is easy to see that Simon has put a lot of time and effort into his blog, and that he is extremely knowledgeable when it comes to music.  I actually have no idea how to format all of that information, but it's something I should definitely look into.   

I would say that my blog has perhaps a little more structure than Simon’s, generally addressing similar topics in similar ways.  But if Simon has taught me anything, it is the value of mixing things up to keep readers engaged.  Looking at my own blog, I am afraid that perhaps the way I’ve presented my thoughts has become too regimented.

Food for thought.  

Diigo Daze

Though I can never tire of discovering new music that brings a skip to my step and booming beats to my ear buds, this week I decided to embark on a whole new journey: finding my Diigo soul mate…

Yes, it is true, I am almost 21 years old and have yet to find my actual soul mate.  But I thought perhaps finding someone like me on a social bookmarking site might be easier.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Diigo, let me tell you a little bit about it in the wise words of Wikipedia:

Diigo is a social bookmarking website which allows signed-up users to bookmark and tag web pages.  Additionally, it allows users to highlight any part of a webpage and attach sticky notes to specific highlights or to a whole page.  These annotations can be kept private shared with a group within Diigo or a special link forwarded to someone else.  The name “Diigo” is an acronym from “Digest of Internet Information, Groups and Other stuff”.

I know, I know, Wikipedia is the most credible source out there. But hey!  I have been a Diigo user for a few days now, and I can vouch for Wiki P. They know what they’re talking about over there, at least when it comes to Diigo.

Anyways let the search for Mr. Right begin!

You can find new friends on Diigo by searching for people through a couple of different avenues.  If you know you have friends who have it, you can search them by their name or email, or even a URL.  Or, if you are like me and are hoping the fates will align and deliver some cutie who loves movies, the outdoors and indie music- you can search via tags or sites.  

At first, my search was far from successful.  I put in the tag words like “movies” and “photography,” and mostly got a lot of artsy people who didn’t look like very much fun.  Not only that, but a lot of people had used Diigo for a time and then stopped using it, so sorting through the has-beens to find more current users was also kind of difficult.  I realized that I needed to refine my search, and so I added a few more choice words including: indie music, travel, outdoors and restaurants (because he has to have a passion for food that rivals my own).

And that’s when I found Warrick Wynne.

This self described “teacher, writer and cyclist based in Melbourne, Australia” not only had tagged all the things I was interested, but upon exploring his page- I found that is guy was into literature, poetry and education.  These tags seemed to be far more meaningful than a love for indie music, and I realized that although I had been searching for my soul mate at a very superficial level, Diigo had guided me in the right direction...  Good job Diigo. 

I hope that while reading this, you've realized that I really looking for my soul mate on a social bookmarking site.  I know that this post was misleading, but I actually do have a life... And friends.... I’m just excited about this new academic tool I found, and being a nerd, I need someone to share it with.  Warrick Wayne will have to do.

Peace, Love and Social Bookmarking,

Missy Hendrix

All You Need Is The Beatles

The Beatles.

I know what you’re thinking: “Writing about The Beatles for a rock and roll blog? How original.”

Despite this entirely correct train of thought, I would like to argue that my post about The Beatles is original because their music affects us all in different ways.  For me, The Beatles means cooking with my parents and listening to my sorority sisters sing “In My Life” during our new member ceremony.  It also means late night jam sessions in the car and speeches at my cousin’s wedding.  Let’s face it, whatever the situation, The Beatles probably have a kick ass song that would go perfectly with it.  Perhaps it is this ability to connect with us on all these different levels that has made them such a huge success.

Here comes to sun- literally.  

As I sit here attempting to tan on the roof of my sorority, I turn to my iPod and my favorite Beatles album for comfort.  I feel as though I’m literally getting by, “With a Little Help from My Friends.”  You see, I am very bad a girly things, tanning being one of them.  But luckily Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band is there to get me through the pain of trying to be a bronzed goddess.  As if that could ever happen.  Curse my light skinned European roots.  I’m just not cut out for this sort of thing.

Abandoning my post on the roof, I decided that this week should be a week to celebrate all the things I don’t know about The Beatles.  After all, how could I possibly embark on a journey of self-discovery with them if I didn’t take any chances?  Try anything new? 

Struggs.

As it turns out, it’s very difficult to access Beatles’ music unless you’re willing to pay quite a bit of money on iTunes.  As a poor college student, I immediately turned to my free month long subscription on Spotify, but that search merely resulted in the discovery of cover bands. And then it hit me- my father.

Oh the joys of technology!  I called up my dad, and he had several Beatles albums at home to send my way.  I started with Abbey Road and then made my way to songs from the Beatles Love Tour that my family saw in Vegas.  I fell head over heals for “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” “Help!” and “Yesterday.”  Although I had heard several of these songs before in the day to day grind, listening to them alone in my room gave me new feeling for the meaning of the words.      

Then I decided to do a little research on The Beatles and this is what I found:

Emerging in the 60s from across the ocean, these British boys incited “Beatlemania” (an obsession that I think is still happening).  Starting with pop songs like “She Loves You,” their musical style to took a more mature and creative shape with albums like Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.  Though they started off in the mainstream, a few years into their career they began creating a new sound using their skill and their willingness to break the mold.  They were innovative, inspirational, and changed the face of music and entertainment.  Not only did they shape the culture of the 60s, but they continue to influence people of my generation and beyond.

Learning about The Beatles is like learning about life.  Sometimes it’s fun, sometimes it’s solemn, and sometimes it’s a little bit trippy.  It is also a journey.  I can’t be afraid to go where it takes me- even if it isn’t where I thought I wanted to be.    

Perhaps setting out on a mission of self-discovery was a lot to ask from rock and roll blog, but I can tell you now in the midst of midterm season and a debilitating cold, there is nothing like a song by The Beatles to assure you that every little thing will be alright…

Or was that Bob Marley?  

Till next time.  Missy Hendrix.