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.
Random/off topic posts

Feuds and drama with other bands and certain other people… just a rant…

6 Comments

Some of you may know about my online wars against certain other bands and other people on the internet that should be nameless, but you’ll figure out who I’m referring to pretty quickly anyway. The feuds has been made public in either facebook or youtube. Have you ever wondered why I don’t mention these people who try to start stuff with me on this blog anymore? It’s because they don’t deserve the attention they get off of me. If I write about these people publicly by name, all it’s doing that it’s giving them even more attention that they don’t deserve. I may have written about them in the past, but I went through this blog and removed all the posts written about them. Never again, I’ll respond to people who want to start an online war with me. Responding to drama is a pretty childish thing to do really and it’s unprofessional for my music.

I want to be remembered for my music and my talent, not for my online wars with people. That stuff is not important to me. I know some would find this online feuding entertaining and funny, but I no longer want to be a part of it. I want my life to be as positive as possible. This is why you see me being positive on this blog and in facebook. I’m trying to do what’s best for my music. I’m trying to get my music back out there.

I know not everyone is going to like me. I know haters are gonna hate, but I vow to ignore all drama against me completely. I know I can be made fun of easily, but I can’t please everyone. I’m just being me. When other people decide to use the internet to bully me so they can get popular that way, they know they have no reason to do this stuff. The only reason people start the bullying is ’cause they find it entertaining, comedic, and they’re just bored people looking for things to laugh at.

If people want to use the internet to make fun of me, that’s fine. Let ’em do it all they want to. I’m staying out of it all ’cause I’m a better person than that. I know some of you know that I can be a target with anonymous trolls and other haters online, I just learn to be strong and be above it all. I learned to be a tough son of a bitch and learned to not let it all get to me. I continue to live a good life and prefer to keep it that way.

Like Bob Dylan once said to all of his critics, “I hope all those evil motherfuckers rot in hell”, I feel the same way to those trolls and haters. I try to make my internet world a positive one, the best I can and I think I’m doing a pretty good job.

Kev

Crazy stuff

Final words on the Royals, then I’ll stop discussing this…

I stand by the things I said about the Royals, Kate Middleton and Prince William. The area that they were in may be a private and secluded area, but as long as people can see from the outside, doesn’t matter how far away, it’s no longer private. See what I mean? Even if it takes telescopic camera lens to see what they were doing from a building, the Royals are still being viewed publicly. Doesn’t matter what you think about it. So this is clearly the Royals fault. Just yesterday, I was watching Brian Williams on NBC report this story, and they were demonstrating on how easy it would be to see the Royals from a far away location. If the private chateau they were in were really private, they wouldn’t be seen at all, well someone from the outside got to see them. See how that no longer makes it a private area? Think about it.

On top of that, this wasn’t the first time that Kate Middleton, forced legal action on people taking photos of her without her consent. In 2009, she sued a photography company for taking photos of her playing tennis, while on a Holiday in Cornwall. When the Royals force legal action on the nude photos, I’m pretty sure it wasn’t Prince William’s or the family’s decision, it’s all Kate’s.

I mean, fuck. If she wants to be married to a Royal family, she’s gonna have to learn that she’s not going to get much privacy, since she is a world public figure now. Like the Donald said, who wouldn’t take photos of the worlds famous Royal? If I spotted Kate in public and if I had a camera, would I take photos or videotaped her? You betcha I would. I’d do it in a heart beat! I can’t blame other guys for wanting to do it ’cause they can’t help themselves. Again, that’s what “power of fame”, does. A celebrity kind of thing.

The Royal Family agree to take legal action against these guys ’cause they are there for Kate. They would do anything in her favor, since they are rich and powerful people. The Royals take care of her ’cause she gets what she wants. That’s how evil women can be. Yes, I said that. So for all you people out there giving this couple support. Why? Who fucking cares, ya know? It’s ridiculous why this have to be a huge news story to begin with. The news media would report any news about celebrity sex scandals ’cause it helps the news gets ratings and would get people in social media going crazy. This shouldn’t be a huge thing.

On top of that, the Royal family in France, are not wonderful people as some would think of them to be. They are pretty powerful people and them taking legal action is showing it. If a real person’s privacy was invaded, and if our photos were posted on the internet, it would be very difficult for us to take legal action to take them down. It makes it easy for the Royals ’cause they are very rich.

Fame is what ruin people’s lives these days, it’s the fame that controls people.

This is my final thought on this. I’m closing the comments in this post ’cause I don’t feel like debating with empty minded people who feel sorry for the Royals ’cause I’ll feel like talking to a brick wall.

Kev

Random/off topic posts

Improving my guitar playing and musicianship…

4 Comments

As I said before, I know I’m not the greatest guitar player in the world. Other professional musicians have told me I’m pretty good and they said I know what I’m doing in music, but I’m not afraid to say that I still have a lot of work to do. I still have a lot of theory stuff to learn, still learning timing & rhythm patterns, and I need to train my ear better. All that stuff. I’m trying to learn to play more professionally, that’s my goal. I want to get better with my ear in music, ’cause I want to jam. I’m a huge fan of guitar solos and long 10 minute to 20 minute guitar jams, and that’s the kind of stuff I want to do when I get my own band. Not necessarily be a jam band, but a rock n’ roll band who loves to rock out. I kind of want the band to be similar to Led Zep or Hendrix but with my own style and sound. Someday I would like to start jamming with real musicians just so I can test out my skills and that’ll be great ear training that way.

When playing rock guitar, I don’t like to use too many effects. I just use overdrive, so I can have a little crunch. Have a natural rock sound, and not have too much distortion. You’ve heard me do it before. I like that old school 70’s rock sound ’cause I listen to a lot of 70’s classic rock. That’s where most of my playing influenced from. Yes, I do listen to newer and current music, but I am more of a classic rock guy more than anything. I don’t care to make party music or hit singles, I just make music, that’s it.

I will get a band going someday, when I’m ready. Whenever I say to people, I want to form a band, people either think I can’t do it or they just don’t care. Yet, they respect other bands and other talent more than my own music. I’ve been trying my very best to be accepted as an actual musician, and I believe I’m just about there. I just need to work a little harder.

I’m getting the hang of things too. Music theory isn’t that hard and ear training isn’t that hard either. The key to having a good ear in music is memorizing the sound of the notes in your head and to get better at it is sing along to every note you play on the guitar. Memorize that sound. It maybe hard to do at first but with practice you’ll get it. Recording your own chords and jamming leads over it helps too. I’m trying to become better at lead guitar. I do want to be a great lead guitar player someday that will melt people’s faces. That’s the kind of guitar player I want to be. And I will get there someday, trust me. I’m learning scales and all that stuff. It’s awesome learning guitar.

Kev

Crazy stuff

The Royals win battle of nude photos, of course they would!

10 Comments

I stand corrected on the things I said that all this was the Royals fault that all of this happened. Even Donald Trump, knows what he’s talking about and I totally agree with him! The Royals are already winning this legal battle of the nude photos, and of course, they fucking would! They are rich and powerful people. What they want is what they get! Money and power will do that.

Of course, I’m seeing that people around the world are feeling sorry for this couple and giving them support about it. Really?

You don’t see Prince Harry whining about his nude photos from Vegas, he moved on, took responsibility about his actions, and got deployed to Afghanistan. If Kate wanted to get naked, she should have kept it inside behind closed doors. Plus, she’s the world famous lady, and like the Donald said, who wouldn’t take photos of her and make lots of money off of it?

These things can happen to anybody, not just famous people. If you’re going to enjoy some private times with your loved ones or get naked partying, you gotta expect that others from outside are going to see. It gives others the freedom to be a peeping tom. I can’t blame the photographer for taking those nude photos of Kate. Simply because she’s a hot piece of ass like I said before. You can’t be saying stuff like, “Oh no, they’re such a beautiful couple, this shouldn’t have to happen for them”, when they brought all of this upon themselves, ya know?

If you don’t want this to happen to you, keep clothed. Of course, there are some people that do obsess with getting naked outside or in public and they don’t mind getting photos taken of them ’cause some of them love that kind of attention either men or women. This isn’t for everyone, some like it, some don’t. Depends on the person.

The Royals can ban publications of the photos all they want to, the fact is, the photos are never going away. They are made public forever, once they are out there. People will always find a way to bring them back. They never win.

Kev

music

RIP Jimi Hendrix, who died 42 years ago today…

Leave a comment

Jimi Hendrix was one of the guitar greats and my heroes who made me for what I am. A guitar player. Other than Jimmy Page being the big inspiration who made me for what I am, Hendrix is right behind him.

In this interview with the Dick Cavett show, Cavett told him that he’s one of the greatest guitar players in music, and as you see in the video Jimi embarrassingly said, “Oh no”, and then admitted he’s not the greatest, he just wanted to play for the love of it.

That’s where I come from. I don’t think I’m a great guitar player or songwriter either, I just play, but there are people out there who say that I’m good all the time, whatever. It’s weird how music is. Back in the 60’s and 70’s was where the real talent was at. Today’s music is nothing but manufactured pop music which is sad.

Enjoy this little video.

Kev

Books

Book Review: “The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe” by Donald H. Wolfe…

Leave a comment

Today, I finally finished the book, “The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe” by Donald H. Wolfe. Yes, I know, my Marilyn obsession continues. I also know that there are way too many biographies published about M.M. but most of them aren’t true and accurate. This one is. While this book here is a biography, it does talk about her childhood, all the way up to her death, this book mostly focuses on her death. It mostly focuses on what happened before she died, hence the title.

This book did a good job on proving that Marilyn’s death could have been a possible homicide or murder. The facts were backed up and researched pretty carefully. The writer did his homework for sure. Some may think that Marilyn had a good life, but she did not. She had a difficult life before her death. Her death has always been mysterious, and I’ve always believed Bobby Kennedy had killed her in some way. There is no way to prove that he did it now ’cause he is dead too obviously. A lot of people like to believe that the Kennedy’s were good politicians and good people, but they weren’t. Both Jack and Bobby Kennedy were assholes. They were the ones who shut Marilyn out of their lives shortly after she sang “Happy Birthday” to Jack at MSG.

Her death has always been looked at as a suicide for years, but it couldn’t have been. She was going to finish “Something’s Got to Give” and she was going to work on another musical film with Frank Sinatra after, a film that never got made. I enjoy reading about Marilyn and her history. I enjoy watching her films, and her story and life, is just inspiring to me. She was never considered a train wreck. She was no Anna Nicole back in those days. Marilyn has always been likeable to everyone. She never wanted to be looked at as a sex symbol. Marilyn was an entertainer who had a lot of personal problems.

Even though Marilyn is gone, I already feel like I know her, which what makes her pretty powerful. It almost makes me wish I was around when she was alive. This is a very good book and it’s recommended reading. Probably the best Marilyn biography out there, and this is the only one I’ve read. It’s a pretty new book too. Just came out earlier this year.

Kev

Local music

Brock gives two thumbs down to the new competition, “The Exit Factor”, and calls it a pay to play scheme…

1 Comment

I have a pure dislike to band competitions and contests around this area. Competitions and various contests have always been a big part of the Capital District of local music, and I refuse to be a part of all of them for a few reasons. #1) You don’t need to prove yourself how great and talented you are by entering these things, when all you need is just make your music and play your gigs. That’s it. No need to take yourself seriously. #2) I don’t want to come off looking desperate or being pretentious. I don’t need that kind of attention, and I don’t want to be recognized like that with my music. It’s not that I know, I will never win these things, I know I won’t. It’s just all these competitions and contests are, a popularity contest. Most likely the voting is rigged, and broken, anyway. I’ll never be a part of SPAC’s Battle of the Bands, radio station contests or any other singer/songwriter competitions. I want to be able to see if I can get successful my own way without being a part of these things, know what I mean? Prove that you can get popularity and recognition on your own, ’cause I believe entering competitions and contests is cheating to get recognition. You can get recognition and become more established, just by making the good music alone. You don’t need to be a part of these things.

On with WEXT’s “Exit Factor” contest where a grand prize winner gets the opportunity to open for Capital Area Indie Fest at the Egg, sounds like a nice idea, but do you really want to pay $50, just to enter this thing? It’s a pay to play scheme for sure. I don’t think this competition will be getting that many well known bands entering this thing ’cause they would know this is a ripoff. The only bands I can see entering it are the young bands who are just starting out, so hopefully they don’t make that mistake, which is why I made this post, hoping they would change their mind and not enter this contest.

While, I’m no fan of SPAC’s “Battle of the Bands” either, I still give it credit that it doesn’t cost anything to enter.

I hope bands and solo artists would think twice before paying the $50, entering “The Exit Factor”, and I also think it’s lame naming a competition after a reality show, hoping that will get people excited.

NO OFFENSE, to WEXT or the Capital Area Indie Fest. I’m not knocking them. I’m only pointing my fingers at, “The Exit Factor” competition. I’m noticing that Crumbs didn’t even say the entry fee for musicians to enter, but when I went to the website to see for myself, for my own amusement, I was like, “Wow, really, $50 for entering?”

Not only that I want nothing to do with these contests or competitions, I’ll NEVER do pay to play events. If you want this to be successful either lower the entry fee or make it free. Don’t get me wrong, I think playing at the Egg would be a fantastic opportunity, I would want it myself, but when a pay to play scheme is involved here, no thank you.

Of course, some bands won’t take my advice. They would do just about anything to get recognition even if means paying money to get it. Hell, maybe most musicians around here, would totally agree with me. Playing music around the Capital District area, seems to be about making money these days, which is sad to see.

See the link, here, so you know what I’m talking about.

Kev

music

Cool Video: The mighty Soundgarden unleashes “King Animal” trailer!

Leave a comment

Soundgarden, one of my favorite bands just released a teaser video of their upcoming new album, “King Animal”, which I will get the album. I really hope this is a good album and it won’t disappoint. I’m hoping it’ll be heavy rockin’, and not another “Down on the Upside” sounding album. I like, “Down on the Upside” but wasn’t their best album. I thought “The Superunkown”, “Badmotorfinger”, and “Louder Than Love” were their best records. I’m looking forward to hearing what Soundgarden has in store for us for their next record.

Enjoy it, here.

Kev

Stallone news

Cool Photo: Sly watches NFL football with brother Frank and “Sons of Anarchy” star, Chuck Zito!!!

Leave a comment

Frank Stallone just tweeted this nice photo of him chilling with his brother Sly and actor/former boxer, Chuck Zito, watching an NFL football game. Without saying where they are, Frank said in the tweet, “Somewhere in Hollywood”, for their protection. Well, if Sly is the one with the remote control, then they are probably at Sly’s home, I bet.

Enjoy the pic, here.

Nice to see Sly looking good, I know he’s going through some hard times ’cause he had two family deaths recently (his son Sage and his half sister).

Kev

Local music

Punk rock & glam bands have the most pretentious fans ever, not naming names…

3 Comments

I appreciate all fans and supporters of music of all genres, but the kind of music fans that bother me are the ones who support punk rock & so called glam bands. It is my opinion that they have the most pretentious and evil fans ever. Just my opinion, and I have the right to rant about it. What makes them pretentious is that they pretend something that they are not or being expressive of their self importance, things like that. The fans of the punk rock and glam genre, can be just as ego driven and childish as the bands themselves can be. Which to me is no surprise that they act this way ’cause a lot of them are hard partiers. Either alcoholics or drug addicts. Pretty sad since most of them are adults who forgot how to grow up. They think they’re special people. Dressing up to fit the genre of music, and all that stuff. Weird hairdo, and tattoos. They also try to be funny in social networking sites with all their friends ’cause they’re bored losers with nothing to do.

Again, I appreciate all fans supporting music, but not all of them are cool people. And that’s the point of my post. Some music fans can be cool people, you just gotta find the right ones. Fans of punk and glam rock, love the attention they get ’cause they just want to amuse their favorite band that they support. This post is not aimed at anyone or any band in particular. I just had to be real about this. This post might ruffle some feathers a little bit, but it had to be said.

Kev