I’m always talking about musicians with huge egos on this blog. I’m sure you’re wondering why I do it and how I can tell but I’m about to explain that stuff. All musicians have egos… and that includes me. Is it good for a musician to have an ego? Yes… it is actually okay to have an ego problem but to a certain extent. There are two different kinds of ego in a person… they are:

1) The unhealthy ego

2) The healthy ego

Lets start with the unhealthy ego first. A musician with an unhealthy ego is somebody who wants to think that he/she is a talented musician and is good at everything this person does. This musician can’t take any negative criticism of any kind… gets defensive over everything. This musician thinks he/she is better than everyone else ’cause they accomplished so much in music that they think that stuff earned them the right to be arrogant all they want to. This person thinks he/she is a good musician and jerk themselves off with their success no matter what is said about them.  This is the high and mighty type.

Now with the healthy ego. A musician with a healthy ego is somebody who treats their ego in a positive direction. Somebody with a good self-esteem. Somebody who doesn’t think is better than everyone else. A musician who is willing to admit that they suck but they just play the music for the love of it. This musician knows that they are no different than everyone else… a human being. Somebody who doesn’t take themselves seriously. (I would fall under the healthy ego, thank you)

From what I’ve been observing over the years… there have been more unhealthy ego musicians than the ones with the healthy egos. Musicians don’t realize that they have an unhealthy ego but watch how they answer questions during interviews with the press, watch how they post in their social networking sites, etc. They’re crazy man.

Musicians love talking about themselves and talking about how good they are… it’s crazy… all of it.

I like musicians with the healthy ego better. There are even famous musicians in the national industry who have unhealthy and healthy egos too. Many people accused Dave Mustaine of having a horrible ego but I don’t see how he does. I’ve read many interviews with Dave Mustaine and he has a healthy ego to me. He admits many times that he’s not the greatest guitarist and he knows that there are guitarists that are better than him… look it up. Neil Young is another good example of a healthy ago… he once admitted to Guitar World magazine that he sucks at lead guitar even though he was respected as a lead guitar player.

Famous musicians with an unhealthy ego well Kanye West definitely comes to mind. The Gallagher brothers from Oasis for sure. I’m sure there are many others to name.

As for why I’m always talking about egos on here, I’m just trying to get musicians to think how they act. Trying to get them to realize that the way they act turns people off out there. There maybe nothing wrong with having an ego but like I said to a certain extent. A lot of musicians will never admit they have a horrible ego problem. It’s not really good for music or your career. Some of them really need to change their ego to a more healthier direction.

I can tell when a musician has a good ego or a bad one. The fans and their supporters will still support this musician with a bad ego ’cause they are not good at recognizing the signs. They will support them anyway just to be nice and friendly — to help support the local music scene. People are not smart when it comes to music.

When you want to have a healthy ego… simply don’t take yourself so seriously. Don’t always think you’re so great at everything you do… but of course… musicians will never take this advice ’cause their “huge ego” won’t let them to. All musicians are different. Some have good egos and some bad. If you have a good and healthy ego, then people will respect you more and you could actually go somewhere in music. Don’t always believe that having the “unhealthy” ego will make you the better person ’cause it will not. Be careful with how you put yourself out there ’cause people can see and read everything you do through the music world. You’re a public figure now… people will respond to your behavior.

I’ve been there, I’ve made mistakes myself.

Kev

Why don’t I ever support the local music scene as much as I used to anymore? How come I don’t go out to play gigs of my own or supporting other band shows? Well, there’s a pretty good reason for that and that is I don’t like how the music scene is currently. The way I look at it, there is no music scene. No places to play anymore. Venues are making it tougher for bands/artists to get gigs nowadays. On top of that… there are a lot of clubs/venues around here that I would avoid playing like the Putnam Den, Upstate Music Hall, etc, I wouldn’t even play open mics anymore either. I don’t like the way this area’s local music is.

I used to have no problem getting gigs back in the day but today? *sigh*

You see, the way local music used to be is that local bands and artists around here would support each other whether they liked the music or not ’cause that artist deserves a chance to be heard. That’s the way local music is supposed to be, in my opinion. It’s not like that anymore. In the old days before myspace/facebook got big… I got accepted in the music scene ’cause musicians and people were pretty supportive of other talent. I was welcomed to get promoted by other local music sites and I got my songs played on the old CRUMBS radio back in the day. That’s when I used to “suck” as a musician back in the day but the old CRUMBS radio played my music anyways ’cause they were willing to support local musicians no matter the level of talent or whether or not they liked their music. It’s not like that anymore around here.

These days it’s like you won’t be accepted around the music scene if people don’t like your music or if they don’t like you as a person. I absolutely blame that on social networking. Myspace/facebook definitely changed the way local musicians look at the music scene for sure. People won’t be openly opinionated around other musicians… everything have to be lovable and positive around them but when it comes to my music… people have no problem becoming openly opinionated about it. Isn’t that messed up or what? Other local music promoters which shall be nameless at this time are wiling to promote other bands/artists but when I submit my music to get promoted… I get ignored by all of them.

What’s wrong with this picture is that this area claims to be “supportive” of local music of all kinds but I’m not seeing that at all. It’s a lie. When you claim to be supportive of local music positively that means you should be supportive of my music too but nope. People just wanna be openly opinionated over my stuff. They’re all hypocrites… all of them.

I believe my music is good, and maybe that’s why people are having a tough time trying to support my stuff ’cause deep down inside they don’t wanna admit that my music is pretty good. I think there is something special in my music and I’m proud of the songs I write. I deserve to get heard like every other musician out there, ya know? I try my best to get my stuff out there. I really really do. You’ve seen me try so hard.

I am grateful that some people openly support my music, though… there are some people who are fans of my songs and I appreciate that. I think my songs deserve to get heard more. Like they all say, “Music should be for you, who cares what people think”. I’m starting to have that attitude, right now.

I’m trying all I can to improve my musical talent. My guitar playing is getting better and my singing is getting better too. I’m trying hard by practicing both.

You see, when I support other bands and musicians… I never cared how good they look or how many fans they have. I try to support as much musicians and bands as I can ’cause I felt that everybody deserved to get heard… it didn’t matter the level of talent they’re in either whether amateur or professional. As a matter of fact, I never looked at musicians whether they’re a amateur or professional. I just look at ’em as musicians to me.

Another thing that sucks about this area is the attitudes of musicians around here. Too many assholes around here. Too much jerking off. Bands around here claim they support the music scene but they are all about trying to be popular and pretending to be rock stars around here. That’s not what this scene is supposed to be about, in my opinion. Musicians with huge egos and weird attitudes, it’s just crazy. Too much drama and negativity around here. I’ve had it with them. This music scene is not music appreciative. It’s all about being popular with them. A popularity contest, that is.

Will I ever perform live again? I don’t know. That’s why I decided that I will soon do live-stream internet performances at home like once a month. That’ll be my way of saying, “Fuck the music scene… I’ll perform live my own way”. I think performing live for the internet is a good way to showcase your music. It might help change the way local musicians look at live performances. I’ll be doing the live-stream performance for the internet soon. It might not happen until the beginning of 2014 or later ’cause I need to get enough songs together for it. When I’m ready, I’ll make an announcement about it. This is why I want to do the live-stream performance ’cause for the people who want to see me live and won’t be able to — this will be a good opportunity for them.

This music scene is trash. It always has been. It always will be.

Kev

I just stumbled upon this funny event in facebook and I just kind of laughed. I’m like huh? The Jammy Awards? Seriously? They are calling it the Capital Region’s version of the Grammy Awards. It’s supposed to be a local version of those national awards shows you see on TV.

Check out this event, here…

As you can see they are having nominations for every genre of music. They are having live music as well. Kind of like the award shows you see on TV.

I think this is the most silliest thing I ever seen in local music and here is why…

… the truth is… we don’t need no stinkin’ award shows. We don’t need to be honored in any way. We don’t need no silly trophy or anything. Us local musicians should feel awarded and honored by playing the music and having the people liking it. That’s the only award we need. Screw some silly trophy or whatever award. We don’t need that shit.

That’s the thing with local music. When things like reality TV shows and awards shows you see on TV, the local music scene will try to create their own version of it. Kind of like what they do with Battle of the Band competitions with “The Voice”, “American Idol”, etc. Now we’re getting people creating silly award shows.

On top of that… I wouldn’t be so quick in trusting the organizers behind the Jammy’s. Tier One Talent can be pretty shady and non-trusting. I would avoid what they’re doing like the plague. This is not about me being jealous. It’s not about ego. I’m just doing it out of love for the people who are quickly falling for this thing. For the bands jumping aboard to perform on this thing, I would back out of it if I were you before your career get destroyed by Tier One Talent. Tier One Talent is not doing this for the love of the music scene or for the people, he’s just doing it for his own agenda and using it to promote himself. This is just a warning about the organizers behind this thing, that is all. Just trying to save some face for the bands and the people hoping to be a part of this thing.

Kev