I covered, “I Will Always Love You” just for Whitney, as a tribute to her. It’s not like I’m going to turn into a romantic musician all of a sudden. Leave that stuff to Barry Manilow or Rod Stewart. Maybe I’ll try to write a few love songs, but I won’t be all over them. I’m not going to be obsessed with this genre.

As for what kind of positive and family friendly songs, I plan on writing in the future, I’ll stick with the topical and political stuff. I’ll try to write songs that are more poetic as well. Serious stuff. Maybe I’ll write some autobiographical songs about myself as well. Things like that.

Just wanted to make something clear.

Kev

For the past couple of days, I’ve been learning the song “Rebel, Rebel” by Bowie. One of my very favorite songs of his. I’ve learned the guitar parts and trying to get the vocals down. It’s a challenging song to sing but it’s coming along well so far. I think I got the verses and the chorus’s down, but the part I’m working on, is the final part of the song toward the end where Bowie goes crazy. With practice, I’ll get it.

I’ll be doing a bunch of Bowie covers ’cause he is one of my favorite artists as some of you know. I’ll do ’em in separate videos, they won’t be medley mixes.

Kev

The good feedback just keeps coming. Makes me want to get my music going again and get back  out there performing live. I’m planning on it. If I keep choosing the right songs for me to cover and write good originals that people can enjoy, then maybe I can actually go somewhere with my music. As you can see I’m getting back into cover songs again. I’ll still write originals too as I am writing new ones.

This is why I feel the need to change my songwriting style into a positive and more family friendly direction, so everyone can LIKE my music. No more dark & angry songs, no more long songs.

In the new cover songs videos I’ve been uploading in youtube, I’ll admit, that I am reading lyrics off a computer screen, but as long as you’re not performing in front of an actual audience, you can get away with not memorizing them when you’re at home.

It feels good that people ACTUALLY enjoy something I do for once.

One more thing, yes, I do plan on playing Whitney’s, “I Will Always….”, next time I get a gig or play an open mic.

Kev

I’ll be doing a bunch of classic rock songs, some stuff from the 80’s – 90’s and maybe some today’s current songs too. The reason I’m doing this, that I’m testing out my singing. I’ve been practicing my vocals & singing with Metal Method’s “Vocal Power” instructional DVD a lot lately, and you can tell my singing is slightly improving.

Plus, performing cover songs is just fun. Perform my favorite songs of all time. Today, I’ve been working on David Bowie’s, “Rebel, Rebel”, and I’ll upload it when I’m ready.

Kev

I told you I was going to do it, so I figure it’s appropriate to wait for Valentine’s Day for me to upload it. I don’t think it’s the greatest, but I did my best. Gave it my own version. Enjoy.

Kev

I think this is a fun idea to do. Make a series of tributes of legendary musicians that I admire. Do a medley of songs of artists like I did to the Buddy Holly tribute. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, I’m thinking about doing a little tribute about them too.

I’m planning on doing other tribute videos of other artists such as the Beatles, David Bowie, Neil Young, Springsteen, Johnny Cash, etc.

The reason is, I want to show people I’m not just an original song guy. I can do covers too.

Kev

Why does this area’s music scene in the Capital District so bad? Why does it suck so much? The major problem with that is, that this area does not have any music appreciation at all. Many of you would know that I appreciate music, 100%. I respect other talent and leave my ego out the door on everything.

This is a very negative music scene. Everything about it is negative. Ya know, bands talking shit about other bands. The live music venues being difficult on the booking. There’s a lot of ego and jealousy all over the place. People don’t support music around here that much anymore. There are too many hateful critics around here as well.

Too many bands and musicians, think they’re rock stars around here, and I never once had the rock star attitude. Music don’t have to be a popularity contest guys. It shouldn’t have to be about getting as much as fans as possible.

I never cared about publicity or getting popular. All I cared about was making the music and writing the songs. That right there, shows music appreciation. If this area’s music scene was more music appreciated, then I would be out there gigging a lot more and I might get accepted as a musician around here, but nope. There are too many hateful & negative people around here trying to destroy your dreams.

I learned that if music is your passion, you have to ignore all the negative bullshit and keep doing what you do, make music. Don’t listen to anybody and don’t trust anybody in the music world. Only concentrate on the thing that you love to do and that is music. I’m learning, the best I can. Ignoring the haters and not caring what anyone else thinks.

Nothing is stopping your music dreams, no matter what happens. If people think you suck, fuck ’em, you can’t please everyone, right? Keep making the music anyway. I’m never giving up songwriting and guitar playing. I’ll be doing it ’til the day I die.

I wish this area would be a better music scene, but it never will be. It’ll be the same forever. I just make music to please myself, I’m okay with other people not liking it.

Kev

I want to be just like every other band & solo artist. I would like my songs to be taken seriously and be enjoyed by everyone as much as possible. I always look for ways to improve my songwriting skills. My goal with my next batch of songs is to hopefully sing them with heart and get a little better.

Honestly, though, it bothers me that people treated my songs in a negative direction and were made fun of by a lot of folks. Hopefully, my next batch of originals will give the songs the respect they deserve. I’m hoping negative feedback will get turned to positive next time around. I’m hoping to get more fans and support out my next songs.

I’ve been practicing my singing a lot lately, trying to sing every word clearly, hoping that will help out a little bit. I’ve been trying to keep my lyrics as positive and not as controversial. I’m also trying to make my new songs catchier and fun to listen to.

When I release my next demo, I’m also planning to release it under my real name and see what that does. Thinking about ditching the Kev Brock name.

I’ve been a songwriting machine lately, writing like crazy. Gonna take my time with the songs and make ’em good as I can.

Kev

All weekend I’ve been writing and recording. Feels so good to finally get motivated into songwriting again. Love it. What I plan to do is write a bunch of new originals, and pick the best ones to release publicly. I’m serious on my change of music. I plan to make my lyrics positive & more family friendly, that means getting rid of the swearing as well. Shorter lengths of songs, no longer than 7 minutes. Try to make my songs more catchier. See what kind of response I get.

All bands & musicians want to change & evolve as they go forward, the same goes with me. I want to change & evolve with my music too.

I probably going to get my new demo out sometime in 2012. Maybe sometime in the Spring. I want to make good music too that everyone can appreciate, so hopefully I get a better response to my songs, next time around. There’s going to be a lot more slow ballads, ya know, mellow stuff. Of course, there will be some upbeat acoustic rock.

So far, I wrote and recorded 4 new originals over the weekend and I’m proud of them. Believe it or not, I do have my own following of fans who actually do enjoy my music and that’s what I’m doing this for. It’s for them. The true fans. I do have supportive people who like my tunes. Not just other musicians, I get actual music fans too.

Kev

…I am writing new songs again but before I release them to the public, I’m going to get them strictly copyrighted, next time around. I’m not going to have other bands taking my songs and doing whatever they want with them so they can make fun of them. Not gonna happen this time.  They would have to ask my permission if they want to cover my songs. I’m just going to get a homemade demo made hopefully in 2012 and then mail it to the copyright offices to get it done, then I’ll release them to the public. I did get my first demo CD in 2006 copyrighted.

Kev

Edit to add: That’s the big problem with unsigned bands & solo musicians. They don’t copyright their stuff. It’s important to do if you don’t want anyone covering your songs or even worse stealing them and putting them under their names. Bands & musicians don’t think people will steal songs but it can happen. Learn about copyright and protect your work.