One popular thing that goes around in the local music scene in Albany is musicians being friends with other bands & artists and being a part of different musical communities/cliques. Does local music really need to be this way? I’d vote no.
Here is why…
You don’t need to network and be a part of any scene. Just do your own thing in music. You only care about yourself and your own music… that is all. It may sound a little “selfish” but it’s what is best for you and your music. Like I always say, just play music ’cause you like it. Not worrying about what other people think of you. If you’re a pretty dislikable person in the scene… don’t worry about it. Just concentrate on your music and that only. I’ve had this attitude for years and it works.
I used to think local music was about making “friends” with other bands and stuff but I learned it was a mistake. I got stabbed in the back too many times and had too much drama/negativity with musicians over the years. You know, musicians who you thought were your friend at first and then they aren’t later. Yeah, you’re not gonna get along with musicians but who cares, ya know? Just let ’em cry. Haters are gonna hate.
I don’t hang out with too many musicians. In fact, I don’t hang out with any currently. I used to hang out with a lot of musicians in the past but I’m done with that. They can be crazy animals and a lot of these guys aren’t to be trusted.
I still keep in touch with some musicians online but that’s about all.
I just do my own thing in music and that’s all I care about.
Kev
K'Brocking 
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You don’t need to network and be a part of any scene. Just do your own thing in music. You only care about yourself and your own music… that is all. It may sound a little “selfish” but it’s what is best for you and your music. Like I always say, just play music ’cause you like it. Not worrying about what other people think of you. If you’re a pretty dislikable person in the scene… don’t worry about it. Just concentrate on your music and that only. I’ve had this attitude for years and it works.”
That kind of reminds me of Metallica and what they did with Lulu. Most fans hated it. I personally didn’t care for it, but they are the ones making music, they should make the music they want to make. Right? Even though they had backlash over the bl;ack album, and other stuff from that area, they didn’t care, They just kept doing what they wanted to do. Gotta give’m credit for that.
Exactly. Finally, a great post that I agree with! Metallica and Lou Reed both are not afraid to do what they want to do. They don’t care what anyone else thinks. Lou Reed is no stranger to controversy with his music… remember his “Metal Machine Music” album where he used drone noise from his guitar amp throughout that entire album? That album got a lot of negative backlash from his fans as well but he didn’t care. He just did what he wanted.
Metallica got a lot of backlash when they played their Antarctica show but they did it anyway.
That’s why I respect Metallica and Lou Reed ’cause those guys weren’t afraid to do what they wanted to do… it didn’t matter if people liked them or not. They just played the music that they liked and I respect that.
Music is not about pleasing everyone. It’s about pleasing yourself as a musician. Just something to think about. Just play what you like. There’s nothing wrong with liking your music and thinking that your own songs are great. I’m very proud of what I do musically. I do my very best.
Kev
So do you believe then that Metallica should give away their Lulu album instead of selling and making money from it? With how you feel about selling music, how can you still respect them?
Surely Metallica is certainly one of those bands that can afford to give it away for free by now.
And what about the whole Napster thing? Napster was all about free music, and the Metallica lawsuit basically changed all of that for everyone going forward. Metallica is pretty much solely responsible for killing the “free music” movement. They go against everything you claim to believe in in that regard.
In case you haven’t noticed… Metallica just recently had a change of heart with Sean Parker and Napster. They probably realized it was just a misunderstanding back then. It’s all cool now. Metallica and Sean Parker buried the hatchet and now all of Metallica’s music is on spotify. Spotify/Napster pretty much the same thing.
Kev
They are not even remotely the same. Napster was file sharing, where you could obtain a copy of the music for download. There was no compensation to the artist. Spotify is more like online radio, as you cannot download music, you only stream it, and it only allows for artists that have agreed to participate and they receive compensation.
I’ll stand by what I say but I respect your opinion.
Kev
I think that one of the greatest things about being a musician is the camaraderie. Most of my friends are people I’ve met through playing shows or going to shows over the years.
So I guess that means you are OK with Metallica selling their music? Doesn’t it make them come across as greedy? It’s not like they need the money, right?
All music should be a free market. Everything. There’s a sign that’s gonna happen like I said before. Nobody buying albums. Spotify will take over Itunes. Bands dropping off of major labels which Metallica did just that earlier this year. The industry is just about dying. Whenever the labels have no more bands and artists to sell music for… bands/artists will start giving out their music for free sooner or later. You don’t need to make money off of music. If that’s what you like to do and enjoy making it… share it. That’s the beauty of America. People do what they wanna do. There’s all kinds of freedom when you wanna share your music.
I believe it was Radiohead who started the “free music” movement when they allowed their, “In Rainbows” albums to sell at the price of your choosing. Freedom. It’s your choice to sell it or give it away. I choose give it away.
Kev
You know there is nothing wrong with playing music, doing writing, painting or whatever creative hobby you do for yourselves ’cause after all that’s what we do this for. We do these things ’cause it’s how we go through life. I deleted those comments ’cause you didn’t make any sense. You know what I’m talking about, I think you’re just being a smartass just to get me going like usual. Get a new hobby, bro, and find something else productive to do instead of obsessing with this blog 24/7. It really does seem like you sit there all day waiting for me to post something ’cause you immediately respond after every time I post something. Talking to bone75, of course.
Ever notice why my blog is kind of slow? It’s because I find productive things to do like playing my music, working out, etc.
Closing comments once again ’cause this post has gone far enough.
Kev