If you’ve noticed, I haven’t talked about local music in a long long time. People would still bring up my criticism about local music anyway. Over the years in local music, there are a lot of times where I don’t get along with other musicians around this area. I would become their supporters. I would try my best to be nothing but supportive, helpful and even try to be friends with them but now a lot of them hate me all of a sudden. Why? Maybe they do get turned off by my criticism on the local music scene on my blog over the years (I’ll admit it) but you know what? I don’t give a fuck. If these guys want to whine and cry about my internet web presence, that’s their prerogative. You try your best to support these musicians by buying their music and going to their shows, yet all they want to do is use the internet to bash you. I’ve gotten this crap for the past 10 years or so in my local music life and I still get this drama even to this day.

So because of all my criticism of local music over the years, I’ve had all kinds of bullying and harassment out of it. Coming from musicians who think they are professional. The question you have to ask is…. is this a good idea for musicians to respond to the critics in this type of attitude? No. It is not a good idea. When they respond to the critics and bloggers on the internet to try to defend themselves and the local music scene, it DOES have an affect on their professionalism. All of these guys make claims they have professional attitudes but when a lot of these guys respond to me in an aggressive manner… that’s not having a professional attitude at all. You get what I’m saying? Responding to critics and bloggers like this really isn’t a professional thing to do.

A real musician wouldn’t worry about critics and bloggers. A real musician would ignore that stuff like an adult and just focus on their music. When musicians respond to me in that attitude, it is showing who they really are when they are not realizing it. It is showing their true colors. When the musicians respond in that attitude, the critics/blogger is doing a good job. They are doing something right.

I think the real reason why a lot of musicians dislike you all of a sudden ’cause ego and jealousy is always a small part of it. They don’t wanna admit it, ya know?

The thing is, people should have every right to be realistic about local music. We should have every right to have an honest opinion on something. Trust me, I’ve been a part of the local music scene for years… it’s pretty crazy out there. So when I write all of this stuff about local music, I’m just speaking from experience. I’m just speaking of what I go through and being real about it.

If you wanna disagree with what bands do around here and if you want to think that they’re a bunch of assholes… if you think their music is garbage… you should have every right to voice your honesty about it. There is nothing wrong with telling the truth about the local music scene and that’s what I’ve been doing for the past 10 years or more. That’s why a lot of these guys get mad at my criticism ’cause they know I’m right on the things I say and they don’t like hearing it.

A lot of them think I should take what I say with responsibility and be an adult about it? Well, a lot of these guys should heed the same advice. The way these guys write to me and the way they vent to me can get pretty harsh and very negative. Really, a lot of these guys lost their tempers and wrote some pretty harsh things to me. There are better ways to respond to me, ya know? How about taking the criticism like a man? I’m always up for an honest debate without the swearing, name-calling and short tempers. Something to think about here… when bands respond to me in this kind of attitude… I will no longer support them. I’ll just pretend they’re dead. I’ll stop buying their music and going to their shows.

I have seen a lot of musicians come and go in my life. That’s why I’m done trying to be supportive and helpful. I’m only going to focus on my own music from this point on and not care about supporting others anymore. Musicians are crazy nutjobs, that’s all there is to it. I’m not afraid to say these things and I will stand by it.

A lot of these guys think they’re rock stars around here and we’re not. We’re just local musicians, that’s all we are. Sure… some bands may get some success and exposure around here but that doesn’t make them better than anyone else. The last thing you wanna do is let these guys think they’re better than anyone else ’cause they have some success and exposure around here.

When you want to become part of the local music scene, you just have to be yourself. Ignore everyone and not care about everyone. Don’t take sides. Stay out of all drama. Focus on your own music and that’s it. I vow to do that from this point forward. Focus on my own music and that’s all.

I’ll admit it that it is hard being a part of the local music scene when your web-presence is somewhat popular. I’m not a celebrity or anything. I’m just some musician on the internet just like the rest of ’em. I’m no different like all the other musicians around here.

I haven’t been a part of the local music scene in a long time, though. I haven’t played any gigs on my own and haven’t been going out to see band shows lately. I don’t think I will, ya know? It’s crazy out there. That’s why I figure it’s best for me to make music for the internet-only.

I don’t really “hate” the music scene, by the way. There are some bands & artists that I still like around here (not naming names yet). I write about the local music scene ’cause my goal is try to make it better. I was never trying to bring it down… all I wanted was to see the music scene improve and to do that, the only way to do it was tell the truth. That’s all there is to it folks. I feel no guilt and unapologetic for my local music criticism. Will always stand by the things I say.

I don’t care about other musicians not liking me anymore. I was never made to please everybody.

Don’t let other musicians think they have control about the way you act and the way you speak ’cause they disagree with you. Be yourself. There’s nothing wrong with it.

Sorry about the long post… had a lot to get off my chest.

Kev