There is a facebook group that is aimed toward local musicians around the Capital Region’s music scene. A facebook group (or a forum as I would rather call it) which is for musicians to get together to discuss how to move forward in your careers. There was a guy that should be nameless at this time who tried to promote this well-known solo-artist (he should be nameless too) by saying “This (solo artist) here is a good example of moving forward in your career…” and kept going on and on about how great this solo artist is. Next thing you know a few other musicians in this forum started to criticize this solo artist that this guy tried to promote. The other musicians were saying that they don’t like the way this guy promotes himself online. On how this solo artist begs/demands for support and promotes himself everywhere. These other musicians were saying how this solo artist has an egotistical way of promoting himself. This solo artist expects to be supported by everyone as if he was saying, “Here I am, like me”. That type of promotion.

Then I get immediately into it and joined in on the action by saying that I agree with those guys and wrote in some more of my thoughts. I started criticizing this solo artist’s music, his attitude, professionalism, etc. Sure enough, this nameless solo artist blocked me from facebook. The guy who tried to promote this solo artist got into a heated argument with me. He was defending this solo artist like he was a die-hard fan. A fanboy type.

Later on in the discussion, I’ve had a few more musicians giving me the thumbs up on my comments and even had one other musician who said they agreed with everything. This guy that was trying to promote this solo artist was saying that I shouldn’t bash him in a negative direction when I don’t really know him and stuff. He started calling me hateful and being jealous, blah blah blah.

So yeah, other musicians have no problem with my band criticism. Like always the responses toward my band criticism has always been a mixed bag.

The weird thing is that the band/artist you’re criticizing will always think you’re hateful, insane, delusional, etc…. while other musicians will agree with what you say and have no problem with it. Fans of this artist will also try to help defend them. This is where I came to believe that musicians can’t handle criticism well at all. They really are sensitive people and they usually get all defensive when criticized by other musicians. When you see the band/artist becoming upset and defensive… I just believe they don’t like hearing the truth. It’s just bothers them. The band/artist you’re criticizing will always think they’re in the right and everyone else is wrong. The band/artist will always want to think they’re good at everything no matter what people think of them. Whenever you see bands/artists being defensive… you’re not doing anything wrong… all it’s proving is that it shows that you’re right and proves how much of an asshole they really are.

It’s an alright thing to do to be critical about bands/artists and the local music scene overall. I try my best to leave names out of things on my blog ’cause I don’t need no controversy over it and I don’t need a huge debate with their fanbase/supporters or even worse, possible lawsuit threats.

If musicians get upset with my criticism. Who cares. It’s not the end of the world, let ’em go. You should have every right to say what you want about them. When you want to become a musician or play in a band, and you put this stuff out there… it opens the doors for criticism and honesty. Musicians are better at telling the truth than anybody. They aren’t afraid to be honest about other bands music and everything else. I know because musicians can be pretty honest about me. They’re pretty smart & intelligent people.

It’s good to keep the world of unsigned music as honest as possible. We don’t do it out of hate and jealousy, however, we just want what is best for all musicians. That’s all. We all look after everybody. We just don’t want to see certain bands & musicians get in trouble and stuff. We depend on other bands & artists like family. If some of them musicians don’t want to discuss things with us like an adult, that’s their problem.

Kev