So.....I was thinking today

Joan Jett does this song from the 80s called "Do you wanna touch......."

And, well.....Joan is getting up there in years.

You need to watch the video here on youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHvm88yVvNQ

And then, I want you to picture Joan as a 72 year old woman singing the song. She's only 22 years away from 72.

Hahahahah.

Visuals.

Gotta love 'em.

When A Singer/Songwriter "makes it"

I'm the distro list for the venue - Rams Head Tavern in Annapolis, MD.


I got an email notification about some shows going on there and one of the performers is Shawn Colvin.


I've seen her on the CBS TV show '2nd Cup Cafe' or something like that and seen her on TV and heard her Sonny Came Home song (which I believe is an homage to Sonny Bono going home to Cher).


Just kidding.

So, here's a photo from the Rams Head Tavern Ticketing Page for Shawn Colvin the cost of the ticket is $55.

Fifty Five Dollars.

That's.....Fihf - Tee Fi-v-uh Dah-lerzzz


Ok ..... it's $55.


Now - What I'm about to write, may be harsh and I won't ask you to forgive it, because - it's my opinion. And, my opinion and your opinion are - JUST THAT.


Opinions.


However.....I'm not driving an hour (on a good day in DC area traffic) to see Shawn Colvin.


I'm not going to spend the cash on gas, mileage, wear on my car and all that good stuff to go see her and spend $55 for the ticket PLUS whatever I buy there. That's just too much for me.


And, maybe if I were into her music more I would consider it, but, I cant do $55.


Is this why some fans get tired of musicians?


Shawn is in her early 40s so, her fans have grown older with her and hopefully she's picked up some new ones along the way. But, sadly, I guess I'm at the point where I'm rating musicians and movies, and food, etc...by the amount of money I spend to _____ them.


And, if people will pay 3.50/gallon for gas....they'll pay $55 to see Shawn....but, because I'm not a fan (yet), I cant say I'd be able to go for it.

And, I'd have to be a hard-core fan to go.


Does this make me bitter? Or - the dreaded - "OLD!!!!!" ?

I dont know.

And, I just thought about opinions/opining/etc....and, came up with this definition about opinions:
So…opinions are like bunyons.Or…hemorrhoids.Or foot odor….yeh…foot odor.

We all have foot odor and no one wants to smell our feet, but, when we take those shoes off…they have no choice.

So, that’s what this woman did. She took her shoes off and her feet stunk.
And, you didn’t want to smell it.


David Wilcox's show was like $25/ticket and it was at the wolftrap barnes and, well....the wolftrap barnes is 100% better than Rams Head in Annapolis - for many reasons (starting with the sound and the stage).


Ok.

I think my rant is done.

Album Review - Stuart Ferguson - Shackles & Ties

It's funny.

I see the "&" in the title here and I think to my daughter who's 4 asking me what the letter is and what it means.

I know it typically means the letter 'n' but it has some 48 syllable word that goes along with it. Kinda like the singer Prince - who's no longer Prince..... or is now back to Prince but he was a 'symbol' at one point.

But I ask you....what does that have to do with Stuart Ferguson?

Well, he had the great fortune to put the "&" in his album title - Shackles & Ties...and, you have someone like me writing about his music :).

I was introduced to Stuart's music about 2 1/2 months ago when he friended me on my myspace page.

Instantly I was drawn to one of his songs from when I finished college - One Thing Leads To Another (not the song by The Fixx).

And, here we are - 2 1/2 months later and his music has just reached inside of me and grabbed me and held my attention.

I told him about the radio show and within about a week, I had 2 CDs with his music and was featuring his music on the show.

I have a connection to Stuart's music.

Each Song tells a story - whether it be fiction or non-fiction.

And, the beauty of singer-songwriters is that the music always has a piece of them in it and how they view the world.

If I were to whip out a 'small review' of Shackles & Ties, I'd have to say this:

What’s great about listening to Stuart Ferguson’s music is that I genuinely want to listen to it over and over again because I know I’ll hear something new or hear something differently in his music or lyrics.

Stuart’s abilities as a singer/songwriter remind me of the Ghost of Christmas Past carrying Mister Magoo through the air to see the life he had in his younger days. How many singer/songwriters do you know that can take you with them to show you the things they want you to see and hear in the songs they write and sing?

Doing that is a gift that Stuart is sharing with us all if we take a moment to say yes to his invitation to join him and his guitar - Busby. Stuart and Busby’s tempo changes and image-laden lyrics will keep your interest throughout Shackles & Ties and even catch you off-guard too.

Stuart tells a story with each song that you want to hear over and over again to make sure you get that last crumb and when each song ends, you long to have it on again.

Pick up his CD by going to www.stuartferguson.net and let his music become intertwined in your life of music.

Become his friend on myspace at www.myspace.com/stuartgferguson.

Sent him an email to let him know what you thought of his music.

Check back for the full blown album review - It's taking me longer to do than I would have expected.

Glen Phillips and Jonathan Kingham

I went out last night with my friend Tina to see Glen Phillips (Lead Singer Toad the Wet Schprockets) and Jonathan Kingham.

We had a fun time.

Jonathan and Glen were out front before the show selling their latest and greatest music and, I struck up a conversation with Jonathan before I recognized who he was.

When I met him, he reminded me of a guy I worked with - John Dawson - and just one of those nice, gentle people you meet.

We couldn't talk long but we instantly connected while we spoke.

I introduced myself - later I would find out his Grandfather and I share the same name. He did too.

And we talked about music, the people who were there, etc...

Eventually he had to go - because, well, he's performing - ahahahaah.

Jonathan did about 5 songs I think and one - was priceless.

He did a song called - Every Little Step by Bobby Brown and he threw my name out there as being an older College Student he'd just met.

It was funny. He was funny. And, really good with the song.

He went Freestyle and threw in his own lyrics that have everyone laughing.

At the end of the night, I spoke with him for a few minutes and I brought up luka bloom's I Need Love and Jonathan knew EXACTLY what I was talking about.

That was good.

Glen was good too.

He was up there playing his outside of TtWs Songs and he whipped out a few Toad the Wet Schprockets songs. Jonathan joined him on guitar for a good chunk of the night.

How'd it feel?

Great.

My friend Tina yelled to Glen to take off his shirt - which led to Glen adding a few funny comments. Tina and her friend Terri are known for yelling "Take off your shirt!" "Take Off Your Pants!" at shows like this - or at bars. So, this was not something new Tina was doing - hahahah.

I met a nice 24 yr old girl at the show also - Jehan I believe her name is. She said she'd become our friend on Myspace and listen to the show.

That's cool.

All in all. A good time. A good nite.

Give these guys a little love by finding them
Here for Jonathan

http://www.myspace.com/exactrecords
http://www.jonathankingham.com/

And, Here for Glen (note, Glen and Toad the Wet Schprockets will be in Alexandria, Virginia on June 14)
http://www.myspace.com/glenphillips
http://www.glenphillips.com/

---------

PS - Yes, I know that I did a play on the spelling of Schprockets. If it was a big deal to you, then I can only say this: Lighten Up Francis

Go check out our myspace at www.myspace.com/independentsuncovered and friend us....before we friend you - haahaha.