There was this interesting debate in a facebook local music forum, that I had to post about it here too. A guy made a thread explaining how venues these days are pretty critcal about volume levels at venues. A lot of bands want to play loud but some venues do not welcome loud music. They’ll get ordered by the owners to turn it down some. They also claim that loud music will anger the venue owners and fans that goes to the gigs.

Well I agree, and disagree.

I do agree that venues these days have been critical about volume controls. I’ve played a bunch of acoustic gigs in the past, and I was ordered to turn it down some ’cause I never realized, I was playing too loud.

I disagree with loud music at venues being a bad idea. Those musicians claimed that loud music is a bad idea. Here’s why I disagree with it…

If you’re going to play in a rock n’ roll band, and not play LOUD. I mean turning the amps all the way up to 10, then what’s the point of playing in a band to begin with? Isn’t the whole point of playing in a rock or metal band is playing loud? I’ve seen plenty of rock and metal concerts in the local music scene that got my ears ringing all night. Loud music is what puts on the good shows, and fans love loud music. Some bands prefer to play loud because that’s how the music is supposed to be played. It depends on the style, the genre and what’s right for the music.

Sure you’re going to get all kinds of headaches, and hearing loss, especially tinnitus, but if you want to be a true rock n’roller, playing loud is worth it. Besides, you don’t get tinnitus right away. You only get it after years of listening to loud music. Neil Young got tinnitus after years of loud music.

When I get a band going, we’re certainly not going to be playing at low volumes. No way. If you get the hint with my songwriting, the music is going to be fuckin’ LOUD. That’s how I always heard my music in my head. I love loud & tight rock n’ roll. I’m a fan of volume. Johnny Ramone said in “Commando”, that if you wear ear plugs, it is cheating. I agree.

To me, loud rock music is what playing in a band is all about. Not all venues are critical of loud music, there are some venues out there that welcome it. It depends on the size of the venue and the acoustics to allow loud music. The larger clubs would be more appropriate for loud music.

It’s your choice if you want to play loud or not, and everyone have their own opinion and views on it. Tell any punk rock band or metal band to turn it down some, I dare ya. You betcha those guys will laugh at ya and tell ya, “No fucking way”.

Kev

I am amazed how a large number of musicians waste so much time online, when they should really be focusing one thing that is more important. What is it? That’s right! Music! Have you been noticing a lot lately that I’ve been spending less and less time on the internet? It’s because I spend most of my day playing guitar more often.

I am amazed on how a large number of musicians are so obsessed with promoting themselves online through facebook, myspace, twitter, youtube, etc. Sure, some out there may call me a hypocrite ’cause I promote myself on those sites too, but in case you haven’t noticed, I don’t use those sites as much anymore.

Musicians claim they are committed to their dreams and serious about music, but I’m not seeing it, since I’m seeing almost all of them spending way too much time online. I understand you need to market and promote yourself, but you don’t need to be so obsessed with it. Most bands and musicians are pretty addicted to promoting themselves and they won’t admit, that they enjoy that attention for themselves.

I don’t care to promote myself that much ’cause the only promoting and marketing I need, is right here on my blog. I’m pretty committed to improving my guitar playing & singing, songwriting, etc. So I spend most of my time working on that stuff mostly.

Musicians take themselves too seriously with all that obsessive promotion they do. You can become a popular musician or a band without doing all that promotion. All it takes is making the best music ever and it’ll spread out on it’s own. Doing all that promoting is just a waste of time, just my opinion. I understand doing a little bit of it just to get your name and music out there, but you don’t need to post that stuff everywhere as much as possible. Your music will get out there on it’s own before you know it, like I said.

Just shut up and play the music. That’s all that matters.

Kev

In a facebook local music forum, there was a little bit of an argument going on that musicians shouldn’t be allowed to play three chords in a song. They were coming from musicians that are virtuoso’s, not naming names. They say it’s a crime for a musician to play three chords or a few more.  In their mind, if you’re not technically skilled, that immediately makes you a bad musician. You know in these blogs, with me saying that musicians have ego problems, it never ends.

There is nothing wrong with a musician or a singer/songwriter preferring to stay in the beginner level. Some do prefer to play easy stuff still. Not all musicians have to be in the virtuoso advance level of musicianship. It’s your decision whether or not you want to stay in the beginner, intermediate or advanced levels.

As a matter of fact, the virtuoso and advanced stuff is great, but they don’t get much respect anymore in the music industry anyway. That virtuoso guitar playing was pretty huge in the 80’s with the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Joe Satriani, Yngwie, Steve Vai, Eric Johnson, etc. Those guys were the ones who started it all, popularized it. I like fast notes and shred. I like technically skilled musicians in the shred and prog rock genres, sure. That doesn’t mean, I’m going to put down the beginner musicians.

Most classic rock are simple, easy chords. Especially AC/DC. Most AC/DC songs are pretty much power chords and simple riffs. The same goes for Green Day, Nirvana, etc. Most Neil Young songs throughout his entire career are easy chords. Neil Young may play solos on his songs but they aren’t that skilled in the virtuoso level.

When you want to be a musician, you must feel what is right for you. In my opinion, there is nothing wrong with songs that has three or four chords. Most of my original music are pretty simple and basic as well. Go figure. Even though I want to expand my guitar chops to a more professional level, I will NEVER become a virtuoso. I will never play great like Satriani or Van Halen even though I would like to.

When virtuoso musicians try to put down the beginner musicians like that, they are no better. In my opinion, I like simple music more. People enjoy the simplicity of songs more than the complex stuff. It’s all about the music. The songs are what matters. Nobody needs to learn 15 to 20 chords in a song or play super fast speed demon licks, if they don’t want to. Just play whatever feels good to you.

In my opinion, the best music comes from the heart and the passion of the songwriting. Music shouldn’t be about how fast you play or how technically skilled you are. It’s nice that you want to be a virtuoso, or if you’re into prog or shred music, but leave your ego at the door and stop putting down the musicians that aren’t at your level. Musicians can play whatever they hell they want to.

Kev

A lot of people mistakenly believe that actual musicians, and even your family members or your friends, could be fans of your music. They can be, sure, but if that’s all you’re getting is musicians, family and friends supporting your music, then there maybe something wrong there. You need to reach to a much wider audience. Meaning, attracting fans that are not musicians, family or friends. Wouldn’t it be cool if a complete stranger you don’t even know is a rabid fan of your tunes?

Just because you get a lot of musicians, family and friends following your music, does not necessarily mean you’re a successful musician. Sorry but it’s true. The reason is, it’s hard to tell whether or not you’re a talented musician. Other musicians, family & friends would support your music no matter if you’re good or bad ’cause you’re pretty close to them. It’s this, “Support the people you know well,” kind of thing.

When you get a large fan base of a bunch of people you don’t know going to your shows and buying your music, that’s when you know you’ve gotten somewhere. That’s when you’ll know you’re a talented musician.

With that being said, musicians, family, and friends, do not really count as “true” fans. There’s nothing wrong with them liking your music, but the goal is you want “real” fans supporting you. It’s easier getting feedback and honest criticism from “real” music fans, ya know?

During my last musical run back in 2006 – ’07, I’ve had actual fans that came to my gigs. They weren’t musicians, family and friends either. I’ve had complete strangers come to me after a performance of mine, shake my hand and tell me, “Good job”. I’ve had it happen to me before, it’s a good feeling.

Kev

Pretty much all musicians deal with drama with other musicians in music, at some point. I’m not the only one that goes through this, all musicians go through drama. All musicians will run into other musicians who thought they were their friend but they weren’t after all this time. They fight publicly online and offline privately as well.

You’ve been nothing but supportive and kind to this other musician you’re trying to be friends with but suddenly the other musicians wants nothing to do with you. The other guy (or woman) wants nothing to do with you ever. No contact online or they don’t even want to see you in person.

I’ve dealt with this a lot, and I’m sure you’ve had your share of it as well. Why is it that drama happens with musicians?

Ego & jealousy for sure. That is a small part of it. I’m sure there’s more reasons to that, maybe misunderstandings during a discussion or something like that. Everyone has their own reasons why drama happens, but ego & jealousy is pretty much what starts it all.

If you’ve been through this, don’t think for a second that it will damage your music career. It won’t. Sometimes drama in music is needed, if you think about it. It can actually help your career. When musicians say that they have had a positive career their whole life, bullshit. You know that’s a lie. Every musician and band dealt with some negativity & drama, here and there.

Things would get boring if everything was happy, positive and joyful, all the time, right? So it don’t hurt to have different emotions. It’s good to have those ups and downs.

Drama can actually make you a better musician and a better songwriter. Can inspire new lyrics and songs. It can also help make you a more popular musician with all the controversy surrounded it, if it’s made public.

So don’t feel regretful if this stuff happens to ya. I don’t let drama bother me anymore like I used to. I just let it go, let it slide and move forward. I act like it never happened these days.

Even the famous bands & musicians deal with a lot of drama. Music maybe a hard & difficult world, but don’t ever be upset over the drama in music. You gotta be a tough SOB and stay above this stuff, the best you can. Drama is okay in music sometimes.

Kev