Yes, I have had falling-outs and heated feuds with quite a lot of musicians over the years. I don’t get along with a lot of ’em anymore but that’s all good and cool with me, ya know? Who cares. Life goes on. That’s all I can say. Who are these musicians that I’m referring to? I could list a bunch of names publicly if I wanted but it’s not a good idea to do so I won’t. I used to interact with some of them online on a regular basis but I don’t talk with a lot of ’em anymore.

This is why I refuse to make friends with other musicians these days. Why? Because some musicians really are selfish and hateful people. They really can be assholes and they can’t really be trusted. The question you have to ask is that when you make friends with other musicians, do they really like you? You never know if they do or not but who the hell cares if they don’t.

A lot of musicians like to look at local music as making friends with other musicians but in my opinion, music shouldn’t be that way. Music shouldn’t be a popularity contest. The thing that I have noticed over the years musicians are only friends with other musicians who look for approval of their talent and musicianship. If you don’t approve them as a person or their music, they’ll hate you for it. They usually become all defensive and gets their panties in a bunch. The fact of the matter is musicians can be very dramatic and weird people. I’ve experienced all kinds of stuff with them over the years.

With them it’s like, “Oooohh, I like your music and you’re a good musician, lets be friends.”. That’s how it goes around here, I think. Facebook and social networking is proof of that. It’s just an example of musicians having huge egos. They look for musicians who approve them as a person and musician so they can feel good about themselves and it makes them feel “popular”. Musicians using other musicians to promote themselves and their own music.

This is how it’s been over the years. I’ve seen it all. This is why a lot of them don’t like me ’cause I have some truth to say that they aren’t gonna like.

What are some other reasons musicians don’t like me? It’s not only my internet web presence a lot of them don’t like. Maybe they feel that I’m not a good enough musician and songwriter. They don’t like me as a person ’cause I’m different and stuff, ya know? When you’re not a good enough musician, makes them think they have all their right to criticize your music and talent. They think they have the right to bash you as a person ’cause they feel you’re not good enough musically.

These guys live under the delusion of being “professional musicians” and many of them feel I’m not there yet so a lot of them feel I’m not welcomed to be a part of this local music scene for that reason. Musicians have bashed my musical talent for years. That’s pretty much where all the bullying and harassment comes from. Maybe if I was more professionally skilled musically, gig on a regular basis and work hard… maybe all these guys would take me more seriously. That’s how it goes here.

This is part of why I have a hard time getting recognized for my music ’cause a lot of people around here see me as a hobbyist/amateur kind of musician. This is part of what I don’t like about this area. The “professional” vs. “amateur” debate. What they can’t seem to get through their thick heads is that ALL MUSICIANS deserve to be a part of the scene no matter the level of talent.

I’ll confess it that I’m not the best musician and songwriter in the world but I’m doing whatever I can to improve my musicianship. I’ve been working on my singing. Guitar playing. Brushing up my music theory and improvisation skills. I’ve been working myself up to a “professional” level.

Music shouldn’t be about who is welcomed to play and who is not. When musicians criticize you, it’s all a matter of opinion. That’s it. They’re just opinionated. They could also be a little “jealous” that you really are talented and they’re just afraid to admit it.

Like I always say, music should be for you. Don’t listen to other people’s criticism about your playing and musicianship. Fuck each and everyone ’em. Musicians think they have the right to criticize your music but when you do the same to them, it’s wrong.

I have always been accused of being a hateful and negative person but it’s not true. Other musicians can be way more hateful and negative than me. All the bashing against me over the years just further proves that.

Musicians can’t be trusted, man. They can be a bunch of ego-driven lunatics. Like I said before, not all musicians are assholes. Some can be wonderful and down to earth human beings. I got some musicians who supported me over the years so NOT all of them dislike me and I’m honored for that.

The whole point is that music shouldn’t be about pleasing other musicians. It should be about pleasing yourself. That’s what I play music for pretty much is to please myself but I’m always flattered and grateful that other people do like my songs and talent. There are those that DO like me out there and that’s a big part of why I’m doing this internet-only album. It’s for the supporters who continued to stick with me and this is me giving back. The internet-only album is for the new listeners too, of course.

I’m about moving forward in life. If other musicians don’t want to talk to me anymore ’cause they got their panties in a bunch over some childish bullshit online, that’s all fine and good. Life goes on, what’s done is done.

Kev

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