All posts by Kev Brock

I'm a musician, singer/songwriter, blogger, writer, poet, bodybuilder, movie lover, music lover, video gamer, history/political buff, conservative/republican, etc. I like to do a lot of things.

The Music Business Heretic agrees with me, thanks…

A site called the Music Business Heretic responded to my post about bands/musicians moving to a new area hoping to further their music career, and guess what? They agree with me. How cool is that? Anyway, it appears that the guy that owns the Music Business Heretic is an entertainment lawyer in the music biz.

Read their response here:

http://musicbusinessheretic.wordpress.com/2010/03/26/nobody-needs-to-move-to-a-different-city-for-a-better-music-career/

Just thought I would show you.

Going to the next level is a tough road in music. It takes a lot of work and dedication. If you move to a different area, hoping to have a better music career right away, chances are that you are only dreaming.

Kev

A few signs that you take yourself as a musician too seriously…

There are too many musicians and bands that take themselves too seriously in music. I don’t take myself too seriously in music. I only play for the passion and the love of it, that’s it. I don’t really care for all those exciting and bigger things that these bands obsess with over too much.

Here are some things that you may be taking music too seriously and some needs to get over yourselves…

  • Ego – This is a huge one. LOT of egos out there but that’s okay, it’s part of the music business. There are musicians out there that think they are talented and god’s gift to music, it’s just funny stuff. Then they get defensive when they get criticized in a negative direction.
  • You are in it for the “money” – There are bands out there that are in it for the money and that’s it. Nothing wrong with getting paid for something you love to do, but being paid to play music means jack shit to me, I don’t care about money when it comes to music. I’m always willing to play live for free, no matter what. If I get paid, fine, I’ll take it but money means very “little” to me when it comes to rockin’ out. That’s how you show the true passion when it comes to playing music.
  • Obsession with fans/popularity – That stuff is nice, don’t get me wrong. I’m not really into this just to try and get as many fans as possible. If I don’t get popular, cool. I pretty much like to make music for myself but if other people enjoy it, I’m fine with that also.
  • Obsession with opportunity – What I mean by this, is bands thinks it’s so amazing to get great opportunities in music. Like opening for a famed national act, performing on TV, performing on a huge festival or winning battle of the bands and things like that. That stuff is nice, I’m sure it would be cool but I don’t understand why other bands think it’s so glorious. I don’t see anything special about “opportunity”. Just be appreciative for the music that you created, and not worrying about rising above to the next level.
  • Making friends and partying after gigs – Hey I enjoy talking to people and meeting new folks in the music world, don’t get me wrong, but I am not into this just to make friends at the shows and to party hard and drink after the gigs that so many bands are into. I don’t even drink anymore. So if I ever start gigging in the future again, you would only see me drinking bottled water which is what I’ve been drinking mostly these days. I haven’t touched an alcohol drink in way over a year. Getting drunk and loaded doesn’t give you that six pack which is what I’m trying to get, lol. On top of that, bands drinking after shows is really lame and stupid anyways.

Yep, making music and writing songs is pretty much all I care about. All that stuff above shouldn’t matter and should be less important to you.

Kev

Thought: I think the Octo Mom should do porn!!!

There’s a lot of speculations online whether or not Nadya Suleman should work for porn or work for PETA. Nadya herself hasn’t yet said what she’s going to do but it’s likely she could do PETA.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hJDP0gW9Q0mq7QwCipqqFlSHMs5gD9ELMOSO0

I for one, hopes she does the porn. I doubt it but it would be cool. I used to hate this woman and used to find this woman annoying as hell, but her beauty is actually growing on me. She’s a gorgeous woman, you can’t deny that.

I’d love to see a nude Octo Mom any day!

Kev

Report: Vince McMahon on TNA: the company dated Blood-soaked “Pro wrasslin”…

Vince McMahon the chairman/owner of WWE, finally speaks out his thoughts on TNA going to war with him in the ratings. Vince says, TNA is a wrestling business and WWE is “Entertainment”. He doesn’t even call WWE, “wrestling” anymore if you’ve noticed. He calls TNA blood wrestling and WWE family entertainment.

More on it here:

http://www.wrestling-radio.com/feed_news-15026-Vince_McMahon%3A_TNA_Offers_Dated_BloodSoaked_%27pro_w.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wrestling-radio%2FkjyE+%28Wrestling-Radio.Com+News%2C+Results%2C+Spoilers%2C+Video+and+More%29&utm_content=MySpace

I’m not gonna bother debating on which company is better ’cause honestly, I like both a lot pretty much the same.

Vince is an idiot, like usual. Excuse me Vinnie Mac, but wasn’t the WWE full of Blood-Soaked “pro wrassling” during the early 90’s in the Attitude Era? Geez, how can Vince ignore that. Remember all that stuff between the Rock vs. Stone Cold, Foley vs. Undertaker, even Vince himself had plenty of bloody matches, and many more. The “adult” Attitude Era is what kept the WWE alive. If it wasn’t for that, then the families and children wouldn’t even care for wrasslin.

I think it’s insane that Vince calls his business “entertainment” and not wrestling, when the WWE’s matches are improving and getting much better these days. There is actually more “wrestling” in the PG rating, I have noticed.

Vince being the usual ego-maniac in real life just like he is on TV.

Kev

Guitar and vocals – Pro Tools

In Pro Tools, I actually got the microphone and electric guitar to pick up in the input/outputs mixer in Pro Tools just fine. Only problem is though, the electric guitar sounds like shit through it. I’m trying to get a good clean sound without any staticky kind of noises. I may have to fool around with panning and all these other producing gadgets to get a cleaner sound. Once I figure out how to get a clean studio like sound with the electric guitar in pro tools, I’m going to start recording songs. I also figured out how to get the click track to play while I’m recording, so that’s all set. I’m just trying to get the hang of things so I can get used to Pro Tools again before I start recording music. I’m looking forward to start making music again.

Need a new batch of originals. I’m sure my supporters out there are looking forward to new music from me and it’s about time to start making some. I will still write dark songs…I have a bunch of shit to get off my chest by ranting about what’s going on in the world of politics. Kind of like a Rage Against the Machine, Springsteen and Neil Young type of thing. Plan to follow the footsteps of my musical heroes.

Kev

More on Pro Tools…

So I was messing around with Pro Tools most of this afternoon. Getting the hang of things and remembering stuff. I can get the microphone input/outputs working correctly, the mic sounds good, but the guitar I haven’t figured it out yet, but I’ll figure it all out when I mess with it some more later this week.

I don’t have to worry about buying some separate MIDI software, ’cause the ProTools I have now already have MIDI stuff with it. So once I learn how to do all this MIDI stuff with Pro Tools, I’ll be able to create band back up music behind my guitar and voice.

I plan to study Pro Tools more and to learn how to use the program better. I don’t need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars at a Music School just to learn how to use Pro Tools there, when I can be self taught at home.

I’ll be messing with Pro Tools every day now.

Kev

Got Pro Tools working and running again!

So today, I finally got Pro Tools all set up and running successfully. It was very easy as I didn’t think it would be. What I had to do was download the M-Audio driver from their website, install it, and follow instructions on how to set everything up in their FAQ page. Now Pro Tools is working perfectly fine again. I haven’t used this program in such a long time so it’ll take me a while to get used to it again.

From this point on when I record songs in my Pro Tools, I’m gonna use a click track to keep up in perfect timing. You can become a better songwriter and musician if you know how to keep up in time and a “click track” will help. I never really used a click track in my past songs, I’ll admit that, but I’m gonna start. What if you’re gonna have other musicians put in band backup instruments behind your playing? That’s why you need to use a click track. If you’re playing out of timing then other musicians won’t be able to play along with you on the recording.

I plan to write new songs again. Electric guitar songs this time. I’ve been fooling around with a lot of rock riff ideas that I want to record down so I can remember them.

Kev

They don’t call her the “Bombshell” for nothing…

There is a reason people gave her that nick name, “Bombshell” McGee. You think they would give her that name for nothing? Hell no. Yes, a bombshell means a sexually attractive woman but a “bombshell” can also mean, revealing something shocking that will create controversy. Before this stuff with Jesse James, I’m sure she did stuff much worse than that. These kind of women may be crazy, yes, but that doesn’t mean they are bad. Just crazy in a good way. There are plenty of women like her. I’d say who cares about this Mcgee woman. Don’t blame her for this affair with Jesse James, the one you need to blame is Jesse himself ’cause it was his decision to go for this woman in the first place. I find nothing wrong with this McGee woman, she’s all cool in my book.

Kev

Thought: Robin Williams should be the one voicing Popeye for the 3D animated movie…

If Sony films studios wants the new “Popeye” CGI 3D animated to be a hit, then the only actor that they NEED to get to voice Popeye is no one other than, Robin Williams. While I know Robin is TOO OLD to be playing the live action Popeye in a movie, I don’t see why not he could do voice overs for an animated film? Robin has done voice overs for many animated films. Robin does the Popeye voice perfectly and I’m sure he can still do the Popeye voice very well. Do what’s right, Sony! Get Robin for Popeye again!!!! I’m sure he would love to play that character again but in animated form! That would be so sweet if they can get Robin and I’m sure they already have him in mind!!!

Kev

Last night’s RAW was real good.

Last night’s RAW with baseball legend Pete Rose being the guest host, was a really good show. I loved how the WWE finally put an end to the Pete Rose vs. Kane feud by having Shawn Michaels HBK wrestle Kane in a match. HBK won it, it helped put an end to the Pete Rose vs. Kane feud for good. I don’t expect the feud to go on any longer. I could be wrong though. Pete Rose could be at Wrestlemania to cost Kane the win of the “Money in the Bank Ladder Match”. Last night was almost like a Brothers of Destruction reunion for Undertaker and Kane. ‘Taker and Kane didn’t get in the ring at the same time, they switched places when the lights went off. So it was close for a ‘Taker and Kane reunion.

The Bret Hart segment was great. Bret came out giving a speech that he promises that he will beat Vince at Wrestlemania, then when Bret finished his speech, Vince came out and said something like, “This Sunday, you will be screwed”, then Vince walked to the back. This is why I don’t think Bret will win the match. The WWE has another “screwjob” planned for Bret at this year’s Wrestlemania. It could be worse than the Montreal one.

My favorite part of last night’s RAW was the Batista and John Cena segment at the end of it. Batista was out in the ring giving a speech surrounded by security, Cena comes out to join him. Batista says he’s in the WWE to make money and to win titles, and John Cena said something that’s awesome. He said, “I don’t see the animal, I see Dave Batista”. After Cena saying that makes me look forward to this match up now. I’m really impressed with Batista’s mic skills lately. He use to suck on the mic in the past, but he’s improving. Batista is doing a really good job playing a heel and he makes a good badguy. As for my prediction on who’ll win this matchup, I think it will be no one other than John Cena winning…so there can be another John Cena vs. Randy Orton match in the future.

I’m definetly watching WM-26 this Sunday and hope it’s gonna be a good one. I think there is a UFC ppv the night before, but I’m not watching UFC ’cause them Wrestlemania ppv’s the prices go a bit higher, so one ppv this month is enough for me.

I’m sure we’ll get a few returning wrestlers at WM-26. Possibly the Rock ’cause Dwayne confirmed a WWE return earlier this year. It be nice to see the Rock at Wrestlemania. If the Rock was to interfere a match, I see him doing a run-in during the Batista vs. Cena one. That’ll be a perfect way for the Rock vs. John Cena feud to start.

Kev