music

Just a few worries about David Bowie’s return…

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While it’s great that Bowie is finally back, I do have a few worries about his return to music. Allow me to explain…

1st of all, he’s going to have get accepted in the music industry since he’s been gone for so long. The industry has changed ever since he’s been gone. The only people who support Bowie’s return are his die hards who have stayed loyal to him after all these years. Fans of today’s generation may have a tough time, knowing who Bowie is. I’m sure young fans today are familiar with his classic songs, but his new stuff, people won’t know about. I personally think, Bowie came back for the fans who begged him to return and he finally responded. Of course, I’m sure Bowie wants to make new fans too.

Secondly, I’m also a little worried about how his new album is going to sell. Will it be a hit record or will it be a failure? Will his new album be worth the 10 year wait?

Destiny’s Child and Justin Timberlake just announced their comeback to music today, and they just overshadowed Bowie’s comeback. That’s a perfect example of how the industry changed. Sad, but it is what it is.

Back to Bowie, honestly though, Bowie used to be big and mainstream back in the day, but I think he lost a lot of recognition during his hiatus. He’s got a lot of work to do to get it all back. It’s going to be tough for him with the way this industry is today. It’s going to be tough for him to become a best selling artist again. Could he do it with his new album? We’ll have to wait and see how it sells in the Billboard.

Again, it’s good news that Bowie is back, but I’m afraid people out there may not care anymore.

Kev

Local music

Bands using obscenities in their marketing… a good idea???

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Often, I would see bands in their facebook pages using obscenities or offensive material in their marketing. For example, profanity is pretty popular with local bands these days. I would see a lot of them use the F word a lot. They would also say stuff like, “Come out to this show, bitches”, and all that. You get the idea. I would even see some bands put up dirty jokes as a way to entertain their fans. Some bands would even make offensive photos for their flyers and stuff. Is using obscenities a good idea for your promotional material? Does this always help draw people to your shows or help get you new fans?

It all depends.

Keep in mind that this kind of marketing is not for everybody. If you want more respect and better opportunities with your music, the key to that is to make your marketing and promotional material, family friendly as possible. If you keep using obscenities in your promotion, then you’ll probably be stuck playing over 21 shows and you could get rejected by family friendly events. Sometimes you can turn venues off, and they might refuse to book you by how you put yourself out there.

Some music fans out there may even get the wrong idea about your band. They’ll look at the way your promote yourself and they’ll say something like, “Who the hell are these guys? I don’t want to support these hacks.” I believe that bands & artists that uses obscene stuff in your promotional material, I’m going to think that you’re the type of band who think they’re so cool. It’s gonna make you think you’re better than everyone. I understand that bands do this to entertain their fans but keep in mind, this kind of marketing isn’t for everyone.

If you want a wider audience and more respect, change the way you promote yourself. Bands do this ’cause they believe it’s okay to be themselves and act how they want to in local music, but in a way, you can’t always. It’s about being careful of how you put yourself out there.

Kev

movies

BREAKING NEWS: Warner Bros. win full copyrights of Superman… officially…

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Today, it was announced that Warner Bros. scored a huge victory over the long battle of the Superman copyright case. The reason? Simply put, the Siegel heirs already sold the Superman copyrights to WB/DC years ago (like I’ve been repeatedly saying in this blog). So that reason alone will force the Siegel heirs to lose the rights to the character. It doesn’t make any sense why the Siegel’s sold the rights to WB’s years ago and now they want them back. It’s all ego with this Marc Toberoff guy, the sleazy lawyer who reps the Siegel’s. Sure, I understand that the character belongs to it’s original creator, but come on people, Jerome Siegel, even allowed Warner’s/DC to be in charge of the character, even when he was alive back in the day.

I’m glad this battle is just about over. “Man of Steel” may already have been finished and it’s about to get released this summer but, now that WB’s has full control of the copyrights, they can do what they want for the upcoming sequels.

I’m looking forward to “Man of Steel”, in June, and you betcha, I will try to see that film on the day it comes out. While I am a fan of superheros, Superman will always be my No. 1.

Read the full story, here.

Kev

music

Report: Earl Slick, David Bowie’s longtime guitarist gives details on new album, but doesn’t give everything away…

This is a pretty cool interview, with Earl Slick, who is Bowie’s longtime guitarist and collaborator. Apparently, the two already started working on the album last year. Bowie, the man of mystery, just makes an album whenever he wants to. While Earl gives the details on Bowie’s return to music, he doesn’t give everything away of the kind of music that’s on the new album. While the new single, is a mellow song, Earl does however, hint that the rest of the album will be rock n’ roll.

Read the full interview, here.

I hope Bowie goes on tour or plays just a few shows too. I’m sure he will. I’m sure David misses performing for us and he’ll want to get out there again, somehow. It’ll be great to see Bowie perform the new songs on the album and of course, all of his classic songs from the 70’s and 80’s.

Kev

movies, TV

Look like it’s going to be another big year for Spielberg at the Oscars…

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Not surprisingly, Spielberg’s “Lincoln” picks up the  most nominations at the Oscars. And it looks like “Lincoln” will win Best Picture and Spielberg will win for Best Director, no matter what happens. If Spielberg wins, which he probably will, this will be his third time being the big winner. His other two Best Picture winners were for “Schindler’s List”, and “Saving Private Ryan”. It is deserving, ’cause “Lincoln” was a really good film.

While I would like Hugh Jackman to win his first Oscar for “Les Miserables”, it’ll probably end up going to Daniel Day-Lewis instead.

I like the nomination selections this year for the “Oscars”. I’m glad “Django” got the Best Picture nomination as well. Leo Dicaprio got snubbed for his role in “Django”, though. Kind of disappointed in that. Leo seems to always get snubbed at the Oscars.

Other snubs, “Skyfall” for Best Picture. “Moonrise Kingdom” also got the snub. I’m sure there are plenty of more snubs. Can’t think of more at this moment.

Yep, “Lincoln” will probably sweep everything, though. While I would like “Les Miserables” to get the big win, the only winner for that will be for Anne Hathaway’s performance. I predict Anne Hathaway will get the win for Best Supporting Actress, no matter what happens.

“Lincoln” was a very good movie though, and definitely one of the best films of 2012, it deserves all the awards. Plus, “Lincoln” was based on a real life thing and educational. Something real.

See the full nominations list, here.

Kev

Politics/war, True Crime

My thoughts on the Piers Morgan vs. Alex Jones feud?

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Someone on here asked me my thoughts on this Piers Morgan vs. Alex Jones feud that exploded in the media.

This whole controversy started when Piers interviewed Larry Pratt on his show. Larry simply said that the only way to battle crime in the United States is that America needs to have more guns (which I agree with, by the way) and Piers got his panties in a bunch by saying that Larry is an evil man and dangerous. The controversy blew up from there. So a petition ended up being posted on the White House website urging Piers to be deported because he wanted more gun control. I believe the petition was started by Alex Jones.

So whose side am I on? Neither. I’m neutral on this one.

1. Yes, Piers Morgan is a douchebag, always has been. I always hated the guy. If he wants to have more gun control, that’s fine, that’s just his opinion, but he shouldn’t have to be deported for it ’cause of the 1st Amendment. Piers has a right to have an opinion just like we all do. I may not like the guy, but he has a right to say what he wants. Should he get deported and get sent back to his home country, the UK? No. I didn’t even bother signing the petition. I don’t agree with Piers’s thoughts on gun control, either! He shouldn’t have to attack Larry Pratt’s opinion because he didn’t agree with it. Larry Pratt actually brought up a very good point. I totally support the 2nd Amendment, and we need guns to protect ourselves so we don’t have to be looking over our fucking shoulders when we get out of the house.

2. I don’t like Alex Jones either. I agree with him that we shouldn’t alter the 2nd Amendment laws, but he is wrong on calling out Piers Morgan. Plus, I think Alex is just being an attention whore. A publicity stunt to help promote his stupid radio show. Just a guy trying to get more recognition.

We can’t take away our second amendment rights. If we’re going to get our gun rights taken away, what’s gonna happen? There”s going to be even more violence. People will always try to get their hands on guns illegally, no matter how much the government tries to change things. When will people get that through their thick heads?

What if you’re walking the street and if you got shot in the head out of no where? What if you’re at a bank or a public store and a robbery is being taken place? What if you got stuck in the middle of a mass shooting yourself? Things like this is why we need the 2nd Amendment. If every American gets a gun permit and gets a gun legally, train to use it right, then crime in America will be less and less. Think about it a few minutes. Seriously.

Kev

Health and Fitness

Honest rant about the youtube fitness community…

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I understand that a lot of people are going around trying to find free fitness and bodybuilding information. So they think it’s a good idea, to go to youtube to find all the free information and advice they give in there. That’s why the fitness community in youtube is getting so huge. Look, don’t get me wrong. Some of these guys do give out really good information. Their information can be good and spot on, but still you can’t trust any of them. Chances are, some of these guys could be selling something like supplemental products, merchandise, they’ll be asking for donations, etc. These guys claim they don’t make money, but you know they make money in some way like youtube advertisements and their “youtube partner” thing, which I’m sure a lot of them have.

This goes for all of them: Scooby, The Hodgetwins, Chris Jones & Physique of Greatness, Ian McCarthy, Lobliner, charliejames1975, Scott Herman, Lui Marco, and all those guys.

On top of all this, these guys seem to jerk themselves off with the popularity they get. That’s all it is, in my opinion. A popularity contest. They just want to be at the center of everyone’s attention. Just to promote themselves as a fitness person ’cause they  have a successful physique. It’s all ego with these people, and they seem pretty arrogant to me. Their fans & supporters are much worse.

I wouldn’t take advice from any of those people. I’m not bashing them, just being realistic here. I don’t watch much of their videos anymore but unless something grabs my attention I’ll check it out. Another thing that bothers me with these people is that they all have their own way of teachings things. They all seem to be opinionated on stuff.

If you need fitness information there are better ways of getting it than those guys in youtube. Get it from books like Arnold’s “Modern Bodybuilding” for example. Get information from experienced trainers at your local gym. Work with a professional trainer if you can afford it.

I taught myself fitness & bodybuilding. I learn by watching other people in the gym or have other experienced people teach me which I have done before. Arnold’s Bodybuilding book is where I learn it all from. There’s a guy I know in Greenwich, who do strong man stuff, and I’m thinking about having him train me so I can get big and strong like him. I still have a lot more work to do in bodybuilding and more to learn, but I’m getting there.

I know I said I will post progress pics soon but I’ll get around to it. I think I’ve gotten a little bigger than before, not sure, but I’ll let you be the judge soon.

Kev

music

More on Bowie’s comeback…

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While I’m happy that Bowie made his comeback official, some of you may ask, why did he wait for ten years to release an album? Some would say he wanted to spend more time with his family and get his health together. Those are probably part of it, but I think there’s a better reason why he waited this long. Maybe he wanted to take his time with the record? Maybe he was waiting for the right time for a comeback? Look like 2013, is the right year for a Bowie comeback.

While I do love Bowie’s new single that he just put out, I hope the rest of the album won’t be mellow. I hope some of the songs are going to be pretty rocky. Of course, you never know what to expect from Bowie’s albums. He’s always changing genres and styles. Who knows, maybe the new album will be mostly mellow songs, but I hope not.

He’s a pretty mysterious and weird guy, and those are the things that I admire about him.

I really hope he goes on tour. If he does, I doubt he’ll come to Albany, he’ll probably hit NYC first. If he does book an MSG show, I’ll do my best to go to it ’cause I’ve always wanted to see Bowie live.

Kev

music

BREAKING NEWS: David Bowie finally squashes retirement rumors, by announcing a new album on his birthday…

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Today is David Bowie’s 66th birthday. I went on his website yesterday to see what he was up to for his birthday, if he was going to announce something big, but his website was down for maintenance. I’m thinking to myself, “Oh man, what is Bowie up to?” Out of no where, Bowie changed his official website, and announced a new album titled, “The Next Day”, which will be released on, March 12th. He also released a new single, titled, “Where Are We Now”, you can listen in the video below. This is his first studio album in 10 years since, “Reality”, released in 2003.

After years of speculation of his retirement, Bowie finally squashes those rumors for good, by announcing a new album. I guess, he wanted to give his fans a birthday present too!

His new song, is beautiful! Bowie still has it, and I hope he goes on tour in support of his new album. He probably will. Maybe, not a full fledged tour, but a few shows. I’ll keep an eye on the news. People thought he would never be back, but I knew he would. Musicians don’t give up what they do. Remember that, people. 🙂

Happy Birthday, David, and thanks for finally come back to us.

Kev

Random/off topic posts

Comments still open, it’s just that wordpress changed options a little bit…

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I’ve been wondering why this blog has been so quiet here! I’ve had the comments turned off by accident in the  blog postings. In the admin dashboard, I checked to see if the comments were checked to where everyone is allowed to post, but then I look at the actual blog post and and wordpress automatically leaves, the “Allow comments” option, unchecked, and now I have to check that option, every time I make a new post. Sorry about that. I went back to the closed topics and re-opened all the latest posts. This was by accident. I didn’t close comments ’cause of the haters and trolls. They’re still not allowed to post, ’cause I’ll just delete negative postings and send them to the spam folder. Feel free to go back to the older postings and post your thoughts on things.

Kev

The Official Music Website of Kevin Brock – Brocking N' Rolling