Leave the past to die!

How can one distance ones self from the past when every time you pull up your stats...there is the past looking back?  Maybe I should be a little more humble and gracious knowing that they have such a keen interest in what I'm up to. I do wish them success in their endeavors, & I do wish them well.  I just wish they could also let it go... What they do is unfortunately not what I'm into. I realized that regurgitating the past is not the path to the future. Yes my new band is doing covers also, which is, in fact, regurgitating the past. We have taken great lengths to select works that were in the top of every ones lists from across the past few decades, culling out anything that has been a standard bar tune for most other bands, so as to keep secure our uniqueness. One day soon that will cease, as the material we are developing is new... In style, sound, delivery, and content. We are often asked why it is taking so long?  Well the answer lies n the past... No longer do I have to bow to the misguided exuberance of other band members that want to rush the product to release, just to get it out there. Mistakes and all, with lack of proper oversight and thought about the production, flow,  or mastering process. What we do is now and unequivocally a mutual respect for each other, our uniqueness, and our product. We will take however much time we need to let each work develop and polish before we present it! Professionalism as it should be in today's ever changing world of digital music!   Thanx to all the fans & listeners that have taken the time to listen... I do appreciate each & every one of you!

My Daughters Essay About Her Grandmother (My Mom)

It is early fall, and I am cleaning house when I discover a scribbled entry in a worn sketch pad. It isn't very old, but it has been handled heavily.

"A small red or green light flashes and bathes the room in a wash of color reminiscent of my favorite season, Christmas, so much so that I can almost talk myself into believing the scent of cinnamon floats in the air. Unfortunately, there is no cinnamon. There is only a mild scent of sterilizer, with a hint of sweat beneath it. The air is stale and there is no Christmas here. Christmas is far, far away. I shift about, attempting to find some comfortable position in which to pass this night, curled under a blanket with my legs stuck to the vinyl chair beneath me, but there is no place in this world I would rather be than here in this room, with the woman whose life has been in step with mine from the moment of my birth.

 The bed beside me creaks as her body shifts, impossibly fragile beneath a tangle of blankets and sheets. In that moment, I am perfectly alert, absolutely silent. Is she awake? In pain? Am I needed? But no, the room is quiet again, the sound broken only by the drone of the oxygen pump. I watch the numbers rise and fall, mirroring her faint breaths. Only a point or two each time, but should those numbers dip anywhere below 90, I’ll have to wake up my grandmother and remind her to take deeper breaths. Luckily, her oxygen levels have hovered within the nigh nineties all night. I take a deep breath and calm my heart while my grandmother sleeps on.

                I know that in the morning, this may all change. Right now, I pair my breaths with hers and remember that no matter what the sunrise brings, at least I am here by her side."

                As an obstetrics nurse, my grandmother helped deliver me. As Grandma, she raised me. As my best friend, she supported me. She was always there, her touch the very essence of safety and security. The sound of her voice was the momentum behind every achievement.

                In 2009, she realized a goal two decades in the making. She saw me graduate college.  Only two months after a broken hip and resulting surgery, she walked into the university gymnasium and took her place in the front row, where I could almost touch her as I walked by, diploma in hand. She had a determination that could not be discounted. We joked that for every stage in my life, she’d had a surgery. Despite such setbacks, she’d still been there to see me through that diploma, that associate’s degree and finally, that bachelor’s degree.

                Six months later, her home crawling with family members from all over the country, Grandma showed us another facet of her endless determination. During a routine x-ray, her doctor discovered two tiny blemishes near the top of her left lung. Biopsies confirmed the presence of lung cancer. As she delivered the news, I distinctly remember the sound of someone coughing, shortly before my nice, safe world shattered. Her voice was thin but firm as she laid out the details of her diagnosis, so much like carefully measured ingredients for the birthday cakes she taught me to bake. And then she told us something I will never forget.

                “Let’s get on with this game of Farkel!”

                Two years later, spring in Oklahoma burst forth. It was sunny, crisp and beautiful. Grandma called to let me know that she was moving out of the assisted living center. She’d lived there while she underwent proton therapy, a new alternative to radiation. Previous radiation had taken a toll on lungs already weak from emphysema and COPD. Proton therapy, they assured her, would not have the uncomfortable side effects of radiation. Three months later, everyone was glad to see they’d spoken the truth.

                Despite this, two years of chemotherapy and radiation left her strength low. Her spirit remained just as determined as ever. Lung cancer is no easy foe, but she knew she could beat it. And she did. One last treatment, and she would go home. For the weekend, however, we would spend it at my home. As Grandma outlined our plans for my new yard, I noticed how fresh and crisp she sounded. Her voice was a welcome introduction to spring’s glory days. At last, spring had arrived. At last, Grandma was heading home.

                When I look back on the following July, I remember nothing but a tumult of terror. Her admittance to the hospital, her transfer to another, this one closer to her pulmonologist. Then, the overwhelming  press of fear. Finally, the sound of my own disbelief, and my mental screams as they drummed out the same sentence, over and over again.

                I am dying. I am dying, and she is gone.

                The crush of each breath leaving my body, my chest so tight, I couldn't stand to take another. Every sound was terrifying and reality was so sharp, so painful, that it crushed me like a thousand tons of debris raining down on me from some invisible structure. Still, the sound of my own mind, railing against the reality of what had come to pass.

                I am falling, I am trapped, I am lost, I am alone, I am terrified, and I can’t breathe. Why can’t I breathe? Why can’t I breathe?

                On the 17th of July, my grandmother woke and greeted my Uncle Mark, her youngest son and a nurse like her, with these words: “It’s time to let go.”

                She had decided to discontinue treatment. She was ready to go. Twenty-four hours later, she was gone.

                On the twenty-sixth of July, I turned 25 years old. My parents and friends called, texted and wrote to tell me happy birthday. How could I tell them that I didn't want to hear from them? That the one person I wanted to hear from isn’t going to call? That the crush of loneliness was killing me?

                I couldn't, and so I remained alone.

                August dawned, an oppressively hot month. I tried to get used to the fact that I couldn't call my best friend to tell her any of my good news. She and I celebrated the little things like they were milestones, and I found myself missing that connection. Because she was with me, every step of the way, she knew everything about me. I could talk to her in a way that I can't talk to any one else. In August, I began to learn to speak about my grandmother in the past tense, and to realize that she really is gone.

                I was surrounded by people who loved me and shared in my grief, but I felt like the only way to grieve was to grieve alone. And so I did.

                Two months have passed since she left, but my mind translates those sixty days into an endless lifetime of minutes, marching through my mind in the form of memories that I am desperate to save, to collect like I would seashells or dolls.

                Today is different. Today, I am going to start writing about my Grandmother. I know it is going to be painful, but I need to remember everything about this woman who changed my life. I will be able to tell myself in the future about how her hands felt on my face when I was sick, or how her words could soothe even the most broken teenage heart. I will tell myself, and my children, about someone who loved me enough to deliver me into this world, and walk beside me every single day until she left it.

                My grandmother’s love was endless. Anyone who knew her was loved by her. She had dozens of friends who were “adopted,” and her children’s and grandchildren’s friends found themselves similarly adopted. At eighty years old, she had charm that could sneak up and pull you in before you realized it. She attracted people like moths to a flame. Her hugs, her advice, her smile…all were sought by the people who knew her. Who wouldn’t want to be near someone who would stubbornly see the best in people, even the worst people?

                I have heard that you learn best by example. And I understand that philosophy. I knew love because I knew a woman like my Grandmother—because I was loved by her. My best friend and Grandmother (and my occasional partner in crime) set an example for her children to follow. Even in death, she left behind a legacy of love that bonded her family, both blood and adopted, in ways so much stronger we could have realized.  Her love was her greatest possession, and therefore, it was her greatest gift.

                And because I was loved by her, I am changed for good. And I am not alone.

Finally..New Material

Now the time is right... The anguish of my Mothers passing has ebbed, and the valve is once again open. I have 3 new songs in the works...One is metal / rap and actually has the makings of one helluva song. This one will be called "You Talk Too Much"... And YEAH...it's about someone that just won't shut up!! Always on the phone or with friends yaking away with little reguard for anyone else's thoughts or point of view! Those people that you have to actually raise your voice to almost a shouting level to be heard over, or before they get the message that someone else has something to say. Then they get offended that you were yelling to be heard over them! Everyone know someone like this and I happen to know several!! Well...This song is for you guys (that probably don't even know it's written about you, even if I told you it was!) SHEESH!!!
Song #2 is very mellow- dramatic... Effects Bass driven in sort of a Tool gendre... And it's called "Sweat"... About all the things that cause sweat. From the heat & humidity, to stress, to passion, to having the shit scared out of you, or adreneline rush. I really like the way the music of this song makes me feel but the structure is quite tricky... Even tho the song is repetitiously laid out, trying to get the vocal melody line woven in so it stands out without drowning out the nuances of the instrumentation is where the challenge lays... Think along the lines of a mellow Tool song with Nine Inch Nails style vocals and you'll be in the ball park!
The third song is upbeat and acoustic rooted... Not sure what I want to call it yet but it's a fun one... All I have so far for this tune is the basic acoustic drive that is the foundation of the song...There is more development to work through but it has been resurfacing in my head and won't go away. So... I think it's telling me to get off my ass and nail something to it cause it wants to be heard!..SO ALRIGHT ALREADY!!
More as I go!  LOL

My Mom

Since the passing of my Mom, I've got the first draft of a song I am writing as a memorial for her.
Here are the lyrics so far...
Oops...After considering the ramifications and legal black holes that scare the crap outta me, I decided not to post the lyics. I'm going to wait until I have the entire song recorded and copyrited. It's to important to me, to not let some asshole that can't create for shit. copy and pass off for their own, my work. Most of the time it wouldn't bother me but this is to important and too emotional to even consider that happening. Sorry idiots and assholes (and you know who you are) Not this time!

Correct Thinking about the Music Buiz!

This excerpt expresses EXACTLY my thoughts and sentiments, and the focal reason that I moved on from my last band and into Invoking Scarlett!

Below is an excerpt from Quit Rock: 10 Reasons To Give Up Your Dream Of Being In Music © 2011 by Scott Austin and Thirst Parlor Ink.

It’s been nearly five years since my last Tip Jar article, which I wrote back when I was an A&R executive for Maverick/Warner Bros. Records. My role as a creative liaison for one of the world’s biggest record companies gave me particular insight into the music business that I felt compelled to share with the throngs of talented young artists seeking to take their career to the next level.

A lot has changed since then. In fact, everything has changed. Now as an entrepreneur in the new model industry, I’ve found that segueing out of the confines of the traditional business has been both an arduous and enlightening experience. The New Game environment has meant that just like all of the emerging acts upon which my career depends for survival, I have been “encouraged” to look at the business in an entirely different way.

Like everyone who pursues a career in music, I had a dream of what the business was and could be. It wasn’t until I was able to look back on over a decade-plus of experience, however, that the ensuing successes, disappointments, and even failures along my journey pointed to the simple truth: Succeeding in music means ditching the dream, and subscribing to reality.

Rather than opine further, I thought I’d pass along an exclusive excerpt from my new book Quit Rock: 10 Reasons To Give Up Your Dream Of Being In Music to the readers of Music Connection. This excerpt, designated in the book as Reason #2, is just one of the reasons why success in music isn’t about chasing a dream, but facing the reality of the 2.0 business.
No Overnight Success
Let’s continue our cautionary tale with what might just be, at its core, the single greatest reason why most people will never succeed in music: the belief in overnight success.

This is the second of many reasons that might make some of you want to put my book down and dismiss my musings as negative and pessimistic.

That is exactly the point.

Today’s environment is the most difficult in the history of the business, so you can forget the fairytales where the artist discovery process is glamorized; rags-to-riches stories are a fantasy. If you want to truly create opportunity, you must always keep your heart and your mind anchored firmly in reality.

Being an artist in today’s industry requires more than luck and high hopes. It’s also more than just a job; it’s a standalone business. You must be a pioneer and a maverick if you are going to emerge a champion. The only one that can help you achieve your goals is you; waiting for figurative (or literal) rescue is not only detrimental, it’s futile.

You must become an entrepreneur. True entrepreneurs are risk takers who toss a typical existence out the window in exchange for a chance to make an impact on their own terms. Fortunately, there is no better place to have entrepreneurial spirit than in the current state of the music business.

The fleeting thought of overnight success is counterintuitive to the entre-preneurial spirit altogether, as it forces you to rely primarily on odds; and the odds of success in music have always been slim. Even in its heyday the business was more of a dictatorship than a democracy, with only a select few artists from a select few labels getting the kind of top-down marketing push that is necessary to create a “breakout star.”
Now It’s Worse
The universal ability to make and self-distribute quality recordings, although positive for artistic creation, is wreaking havoc on the economy of the industry. Thanks to new technologies, consumers are now able to hear music from thousands of new acts each year, though their incentive to invest in any one of them has been severely dampened by these very same advancements.

"Ditch the dream, subscribe to reality."

With so much more content available, it would seem that the circumstances should favor the independent artist, with dozens of promotional tools at his disposal. In actuality, giving the consumer more options to choose from in an age where individual attention spans are continually shrinking, means that every impression that you make is not only relevant, it is integral to the fabric of your career.

It’s the sheer volume of available new music that has made conversion of interested listeners into actual revenue for the artist and songwriter extremely difficult. Compounding the issue is the diminished value of recorded music in the eye of the fan. The view by many that music (and content in general for that matter) should be free has ushered in the need for fan-building skills that can create and develop ancillary sources of revenue.

The very premise of overnight success invites a flawed approach on two levels: First, as mentioned above, it requires you to rely almost entirely on chance. Second, it gives the false impression that the steps necessary to attract the attention you seek can be skipped or avoided.

Being in the right headspace means not just talking about all of the things you want to accomplish, but actually going after and achieving them now. Whether the goal is to write, record, tour or all of the above, everything is in your hands. Only you can take the first steps, and only you are responsible for making progress.

Contrary to what wishful thinking might suggest, there are always multiple factors that contribute to success, and in music it is never overnight. It is the combination of years of hard work and bits of luck and timing that creates career anomalies, making them less mysterious than they are practical results of a well-executed plan.

Remember, there is no finish line to cross with a career in music; the primary goal is quite simply to always be moving forward. Maintaining your relevance in the marketplace is the difference between triumph and defeat, and your ability to recognize that the blueprint for success is never written in a day, month or year will make all of the difference in how your story unfolds. (End of Excerpt)

What confuses the crap outta me is that no matter how hard you try to inform and educate most of the "aspiring" artists out there, they either don't get it or don't want to get it! After talking with many AR people, recording engineers, producers, indie labels, music writers & critics,  through various lists and blogs (and occasionally on the phone) the overwhelming census is that there is very little new and exciting material from a creative standpoint out there anymore. Most of what they see is the same old regurgitation of copied styles and licks from the rock side mimic-ing the likes of Hendrix, Page, SRV, Gibbons, and so on. And the pop side is getting so obese with record label generated acts reminiscent of the 80's big hair band formula they relied on to keep them afloat!

Here is an excerpt from an interview that Liz Tracy did with Nikki Sixx in the New Times Music;
 "If there's ever a time in history when we need rock 'n' roll bands to be real, we need it now. We need young bands that are hungry and going to give 100 percent visually, musically, lifestyle-wise. We've been doing this for 30 years; we won't last forever. The wheels will fall off the bus someday. I hope to God someone's out there cultivating the danger. Because it's fucking like watching paint dry out there. It's really boring, I'm telling ya."

Sound Familiar??

Been A Day Or Two

I know I haven't written for a while but things have been busy. Not only with work (yeah I got a "real' job!) but with the band. We have been able to acquire matched recording platforms so now the digital work and ideas can flow more freely! Just a little downtime for James to learn all the nuances of this new system and then we roll. James is a very complex guitarist and overly accomplished in his stylings which places a great challenge at my feet! I have always been a simplistic bassist that could find the bottom end and drive with the drummer. I never grew into that maestro bassist because I always found myself in the spot of being the best vocalist in the groups I was in. Holding down two jobs like that never allowed me to become outstanding in either, but the tenacity of my personality did let me develop into a journeyman musician in both areas. Now I find myself in an envious position with the best guitarist and drummer I have ever had the pleasure of working with. And another vocalist that can sing where I no longer can! So I can actually focus on just bass lines (and with James's song construction I really need all my brain power to sort his complex writings and get then down) I know this process will make me a better bassist, and after all the time off, I need it! (AND am looking forward to it!)

You Never KNow About People!

I did a search the other day on Twitter for an old friend. When I found him and browsed his page, I came to the realization that 95% of all the "people" he follows are attractive Women. Now being a man I have no problem with that, and never have. But being a man in a committed relationship, to me that would be crossing the line! And I'm just in a committed relationship! He is married, and his wife is ALL about him! I wonder if she knows about his "followings"?? I mean he's a Big time Baseball fan and is into street biking and stuff and could be following baseball tweets like a groupie, or all other kinds of sport tweets. But then I guess I would be "assuming" that they have the type of relationship that allows this "innocent" wandering eye! Even tho I'm no big fan of his wife at all, I think this type of behaviour is detrimental to the health of the relationship, or ANY relationship for that matter...But then...That is just MY opinion!

I do appreciate you all!

I am overjoyed to find that some consider my last post funny! THAT alone proves my point about those that cannot grasp the fundamentals & mentality of our industry's new era  beyond a shadow of a doubt. They may hate my post, dismiss it, deny it, make fun of it....yet they read it, and keep returning to pour over my posts to see what else I might say, like an addiction that cannot be easily overcome. I am impressed that I have made that big of an impact, or have been unknowingly handed some control over a small portion of anyones life! Another reason why my blog is so popular and just another proving point! Thanx to ALL my readers! I love you all!

The Law is the Law!

Let me offer a direct quote to anyone that might need this info from Lisa Alter of Wixen Music Publishing, Inc.
http://www.wixenmusic.com/

She wrote:

COPYRIGHT OWNERSHIP....Copyright in a work automatically vests in the author upon creation of the work. Authors of joint works are co-owners of copyright. Authors of works contributed to collective works own the copyright only in their contribution, which is distinct from the copyright in the collective work. In the case of a work made for hire, where a work is created by an employee within the scope of his or her employment, copyright belongs to the employer.

 JOINT WORKS....In the United States, a composition written by two or more authors is generally deemed to be a "joint work," which is defined as "a work prepared by two or more authors with the intention that their contributions be merged into inseparable or interdependent parts of a unitary whole." Ownership of joint works is presumed to be shared equally by the authors, absent an agreement to the contrary. Each author of a joint work is free to enter into a non-exclusive license for the entire work, provided that the author issuing the license accounts to his or her coauthor( s). In some cases, co-authors enter into an agreement among themselves, agreeing to work cooperatively in issuing licenses. As a practical matter, licensees of music publishing rights often insist on obtaining approval on behalf of each author of a work even if the grant of rights is nonexclusive.

So irreguardless to any speculation as to whether my lawyer exists or not, this is still the law and it cannot be changed just because a person's belief in this matter might be arbitrary to reality.

Wow! Let's be realistic!

Unbelievable spike in activity from readers yesterday! I know there are those that fail to realize or understand how it all ties together and would rather mentally pass it off to some back ally third party money under the table to bolster these results, and in reality that is fine that they have that miss-guided attitude... Gives those of us that do understand the process and result structure and are able to adapt to it more room and flexibility to take advantage of it. This is a case result as my marketing management predicted it would be... After showing me the numbers from yesterday, it really is unbelievable the number generation that occurred. I may have offended some, even pissed off one or two, for that I am man enough to apologize, but this is my blog, and these are only my personal thoughts and opinions... I am not here to please everyone all the time...This is my space and all are invited into it. Should anyone not like it or disapprove of it, then, like the old saying goes.."Change The Channel!" Or start your own blog and say whatever you like...even to blow off steam about me! If that makes you feel any better, then I encourage you to do so...Blast me all you want and call me all the names in the book... Tell your readers that I am a liar or insane... That would be better than sitting still and complaining about it! Be pro-active instead of re-active! By coming here and blowing off steam you are unknowingly helping me! You don't have to believe me but the stats speak differently, whether you deny their existence or not. Is that what you really want? Or should I just leave it at saying, "Sorry but Thank You!" in the same sentence?
Let me clear the air over some issues raised yesterday... On my Reverbnation site you will, or have found, in my song listing, works separated by the artists name. It is my site, so I will not list the name of a band I am no longer with, that were involved with their creation! I am not here to publicize them, give them free advertising, or kudos, that might take away from my personal promotional efforts... I am aware that they don't approve, but tough!... On songs where my name appears...the issue is that I did not write them... Truthfully..I was part of a 3 piece Band at that time, and these works (BY LAW) are perceived as "joint works"...  Here is a direct quote from an email my lawyer sent to them some time back, when one of them fictitiously claimed these works had been registered and copy written by them (which proved to be false) and they were going to file a cease & desist... (Yes I have a copy of their email claims for posterity)

"What has happened is that "joint works" have been created of which you all were a part, and were also offered to the public as joint works through the Internet. Each songwriter has the right to license each entire song, subject to paying the other songwriters involved their share of any royalties, because each owns an undivided interest in the copyrighted songs. (Copyright Act of 1976). Even if you were to re-write lyrics, or music, to the same song it would then be considered a derivative work and the royalty load would be divided between all members, current and historical. Be aware that the courts will make the division of royalties based on the original members input (33%) and then decide to what extent the new members creative input actually changed the original body of work and break it down from there."

The works that I posted are in fact joint works that I was involved with the creation of. If you look into the lyrics of the song it states that the music was by the person that wrote the music and the lyrics were created by me...All three members were involved in creating the recorded version of the song. I only put my name on those songs to show the differences in style between myself and my new guitarist, that I would be collaborating with in the future (Invoking Scarlett)...Nothing more... When I get comments on Reverbnation about the great lead work...I respond letting them know that I was only the bassist and vocalist on that particular work, giving the praise to the actual guitarist. Legally I have rights to those works as does the rest of the people involved and will not apologize to anyone about laying claim to them. I have posted the original joint works and they have posted re-recordings (derivative works) with newer members. I invite all readers to compare the original works to the derivative works and make up your own mind which version you would actually pay for if given the chance!
All comments are welcome...Even the negative ones! But I do reserve the right to publish which ones I choose and that is the beauty of ownership! Not to hide behind an invisible Internet wall but to pick and choose which comments I acknowledge will be a positive influence to my personal upward movement, and not yours. So make it good and you might get posted! 
Onward & Upward

Relax! I haven't dissapeared!

This has been one helluva month already! Starting out with my amp blowing up and going thru all the processes to get a vintage piece of equipment repaired back to a working state, Mothers Day, Birthdaze, Remodeling a 100 year old house, landscaping, PLUS working too...Yaknow?? Makes focusing on musical projects, let alone delegating time to put forth a worthwhile effort into them quite a chore. All the guys in INVOKING SCARLETT would like nothing more than to spend all our available time rehearsing, recording, and such in a combined situation so that we can freely exchange ideas and move forward with as much haste as getting these great song ideas captured properly, will allow. But the distance between us is problematic. James drives an hour to practice and I have a two hour jaunt...So we have to work with reality and play with the cards dealt! This could be considered as divine intervention to keep us from letting our excitement level goad us into putting material out there, that is not well thought out, and not as good technically as it should be! It does give us time to mentally edit each song, each measure, change, note, bridge, vocal strength, harmony lines, and such... The business of Music has changed to the point that we as artists and performers had better be on top of everything we do if we even want a half ass chance in todays musical arena. I am aware in these times of marketing non- production and keeping the hype flowing, the equity level of any project takes a hit, and that is explained on the friviolities of human nature wanting everything now! So I have no problem in taking my time to make sure that what we three do will be worth their wait! The appetite of the public will be there waiting, with swelled taste buds, when we are ready to serve up our offerings!
Onwards & Upwards!

Random Thoughts!

(Some of my personal quips!)
"Time to distance... The past has been passed.. The future awaits... And I'm standing at it's gates!"

"If a great musician lived and died before anyone heard or experienced his work... Was he a great musician?"

"The Three "M's" of Great Music! 1) Great Musicians 2)Great Material 3)Great Marketing"

"Thoughts and Prayers to those affected by the tornados in Alabama."

CAN I GET A HELLYEAH!

Seven grueling hours of the most intense and enlightening practice I think I've ever been involved in! Great songs are coming together and we are taking our time to contemplate every note and timing structure. We want this to be better than right... These works are to be perfect and we are going to work and rework them till they are! These songs are of the commerciality and quality to deserve our upmost time and effort! And the three of us desire that outcome. To finalize our rehearsal my oldest friend that I have had since 1978 (My 400 watt Peavey Mark IIII bass amp) blew up! First there was the popping, then the sizzle and poof...A plume of grey smoke! A Freaking Pyrotechnics show from my amp, and we haven't even gotten to the stage yet!! CAN I GET A HELLYEAH!!!  Yeah I gotta fix it, replace it, or both...But that was AWESOME!! I'll probably go back to Bi-Amping my speaker cabinets with a slave amp like I used to in another time & place! But that was one helluva sign at the end of a great rehearsal! It don't get any better than that!

Left the Cheap talk behind!

Tomorrow is the day I get to spend at the studio in Oklahoma city with my band mates in INVOKING SCARLETT! We are set to rehearse & start recording on two collaborative works. "I'm In Love" & "Fate Lies"! I'm so stoked about the possibilities of these two songs and the talent that will bring them to life! James Kelly is such an over the top guitarist I feel a little overwhelmed by his ability & diversity. Yet he is such the humble soul you sould never think this man could slay the world with his playing. And then there is Andre, who freely admits being an early Phil Collins admirer.(He states to the time BEFORE Phil moved out from behind his drumset!) What a rythym machine Andre is... I feel overwhelmed at times with these two talents...And yet they tell me they feel the same about me! Go figure!  No wonder this Trio has the makings of something great!

TRUTH IN ARTISTRY!

There is such a thing and I can only wish that more "self appointed" artists were intelligent enough to "get it". But after all the years spent in this industry and studying it religiously, and after all the wanna be's I've had contact with throughout the years, I know that will never happen. You know the type as soon as they open their mouths..."Yeah..I've done that"... "I've written hundreds of songs"... "My band was seriously looked at by *enter the name of ANY record company*. You know it and can feel the warmth of the crap! How come they have no pictures of that time of their life? How come they can't produce notebooks or lyric sheets of all these songs they supposedly wrote? Names of Band members can't be remembered? What I'm getting at is there is TRUTH, which makes you a better artist and believeable to your fans. All the rest is just lies and cheap talk!!

FrIdAy!

Even tho I gotta work tomorrow (Rotational thing) I still love Fridays! Payday for most people and after 5:00 it's the start of the weekend! It's also the weekend that I traverse back to OK City on Sunday  to rehearse in ernest with my new band buddies! I'm so stoked!!! James sent me a new song called "I'm In Love", and I loaded it up on my DAW then gave a couple of hours to learning it. This song has great potential! Anytime I can listen to a song and imagine it as an instumental rock song, I know it's gonna be good! I can hardly wait. This song is what I had imagined INVOKING SCARLETT to sound like. Unique and new when compared to other gendres out there. Kinda in the same way that Van Halen set the rock world on it's side back in the 70's when they broke!  Sunday might be Easter but I have a serious urge to go rabbit hunting!

The Start Has Now Finished!

Well folks.... The beginning has now ended! All cylinders fired up... Chemistry was rampant! So cool that the preliminary meeting "just to see how things would go", turned into an all day event! What a solid foundation was laid during this process. I wounder if this was how Pat Travers felt when he met Mars Cowling... or if this is how they felt when they met Tommy Aldridge? It was pretty awsome to say the least. More was accomplished in this informal session than most bands can acheive in a month of 8 hour saturdays! NUFF SAID! Now it's time to let the artistic, creative, construction process move ahead, and let the music do the talking for us!

Tomorrow!

Tomorow will be the day I finally get to meet my new bandmates that have already committed to INVOKING SCARLETT! Guitarist / Vocalist / Songsmith - James "Machine Gun" Kelly, AND Drummer / Vocalist / Bouncer - Andre'!  We have already exchanged many song ideas and emails...THANK GOD for the internet and emails!! The chemistry has already started a fusion which heightens my anticipation, excitement levels, and pushes my anxiousness to extremes. I was up until early morning thirty polishing my Bass (Vintage 1970 Fender P-Bass), checking my speaker cabs (thank goodness I did too!) just to find out I had a rattle at a volume level lower than I usually play. So off came the back of that cab to discover that I needed to replace 4 mount lag screws on one of my 500watt 8" speakers! All cords rolled up nicely...Mikes stored away...Portable DAW with headphones..Tool box... (Where's the freakin DUCT TAPE??? Oh...here it is!!!) Pedal Board with cables...Guitar (customized flyin V!!) Mike stands... JEEZE!!! I'm gonna hafta hire somebody to do this one of these daze!
In other words...Everything is ready to pack into the vehicle and drive @ 100 miles to start the physical melding of talents into hopefully a force of musical nature! We all bring to the table, years of experience in playing, crafting, & touring... This is gonna be LOUD!! and fun....of course!!

#1

Do I get to do the HAPPY DANCE???  In this business there are those that believe it's all about the music and that is all that is necessary. Well that is only HALF the picture! Look at music as a product... First and foremost you must have a GOOD product! ( if the buying public wants crap the'll go and buy manure that is labeled "Manure"! They want good songs and good music and are willing to pay for it! But how can they pay for it if they don't know it exists?? How will they ever know that some band in Tulsa is making great music if the artists decision is 100% for the music and everything else will work itself out? THEY WILL NEVER HEAR OF OR ABOUT YOU AND YOUR BELOVED MUSIC WILL DIE WITH YOU!! Great music is nothing if nobody gets to hear it outside of the artist or their loyal "local" following! Hell...Even Mozart had publicity and promotion....MARKETING!!! The 3 M's of our industry are 1)Musicians 2)Music & 3)Marketing! Try leaving out one of the 3 elements and all you do becomes nothing more than a hobby, destined for the attic, garage, or basement! How else could I acheive the #1 spot locally for the Rock category on a major website that caters to independent artists? Am I here to slam my old banmates? Absolutely not, because they chose their path and that path was not for me! But the online fans have spoken... Not me...but the FANS!! And for one reason or another the proof is in the pudding and my pudding tastes damn sweet right now! (Did I tell ya???  I LOVE SWEET PUDDING!!)

My Daughter to My Mom!

This was written by my wonderful Daughter about my wonderful Mother! I wanted to share this as an indication of what love and inspiration my family has brought to my life...One of a hundred reasons that my life is so great right now...(even in the face of adversity.... it is how you choose to react to the situation that makes all the difference in the world) This is about the "Never give up" attitude my Mother instilled in me and how it has crossed generations to her grandaughter...My Daughter!! Named after the famous Fleetwood Mac song by Stevie Nicks..."Rhiannon", I gave some of my musical legacy in that moment of inspiration when she was born. From that day the world was her oyster and she has been a force to recon with ever since.  Here is her offering;

My grandmother, Doris Winkelman, completed her last radiation treatment this morning.

To clarify. that's Monday, April 4th, at 10am.

She walked in armed with three platters of cookies and a brilliant smile. I couldn't help but smile too, as three other patients said hello and asked how she was. They all knew her by name. They all knew it was her last day, and they each asked her questions about her personal life, as if they'd known her for years. Seems like they have, since they're all at ProCure for the same reasons that Grandma is.

The receptionist knew her by name, and knew that I was her grand daughter. Moments after she clocked in with her badge, the radiology tech came out and grabbed her. Grandma knew her, as well. They exchanged smiles as the young woman escorted her charge back to the treatment area.

That tech had reason to smile, as does Grandma. So far, Proton Therapy has been wonderful. Nothing like the radiation she received last winter. A bit of a sore throat, a bit of fatigue (mostly due to the travel for twice-daily treatments), but no pain or nausea. Dr. Prebula, Grandma's primary radiologist, was so caring and careful. She made sure to check and recheck everything that crossed her desk concerning my grandmother, even before the two of them met. Dr. Prebula was immersed in Grandma's treatment from the beginning, taking every step she felt necessary in order to ensure that Proton Therapy achieved the results it was intended to.

Thus far, the experience has been positive, and I can't say that it's all thanks to the technology. It's thanks to the people, too.

ProCure really seems to pride itself on being a family. Patients and staff alike are treated as though they're attending a family event instead of a treatment. It shows in the faces of each staff member, and in their voices, as they greet the patients. They hug, they smile, they joke, and they treat each person who walks through the door like they haven't seen them in years. The waiting area is tastefully and comfortably decorated, with beverages and snacks for the waiting patients and family members. Large windows look out over the Oklahoma landscape, and local artwork and photography adorn the walls. This is all very different from the picture I had in mind, you can be sure of that. Instead of scary and confusing and sterile (you know, that sort of stereotypical imagery associated with cancer treatment), Grandma's experience has been bright and happy and uplifting. There's something to be said for the mentality of a patient undergoing cancer treatment, and ProCure seems to know that. 

Grandma checked out of ProCure just a few minutes ago. She wasn't able to walk out the door for all the hugs and well-wishes she received. This is just another part of the pattern of friendships she has a habit of spontaneously forming. You see, she checked out of the temporary housing complex she's been staying at on Thursday, March 31st. When I arrived, one of her many new friends was just leaving. She made Grandma promise to come back and visit. Ten feet down the hall, we met a couple at the elevator who made her promise to visit. At the door to the parking lot, an older woman made her promise to come back and visit. At the front desk, the receptionist, along with three or four other volunteers and staff members....made her promise to visit.

She seems to have made friends all over Oklahoma City, and I think the city will honestly mourn her when she leaves today.

As you've all read via Grandma's updates (on Facebook and the FUMC newsletters), you can tell that she has enjoyed the people, but she's ready to head home to Perry. Please rest assured that whatever the next hurdle is, Doris Winkelman is going to jump it like a six-foot tall Olympic champion---without breaking a sweat. And carrying a platter of cookies, too.

Rhiannon Nicole Winkelman

Life is good!

Damn I love my life right now! Just made my way up to the #2 position in the rock category on the website for Independant Musicians & Bands.What makes that so sweet is that the band I left behind due to what I considered bad business moves and the lack of understanding when considering the new world of music business, have moved from #7 to #20... OK that doesn't seem like much to most, but when expanded into the national ranking for rock bands, it puts me at #940 and they have moved to # 4214. Sometimes when you try so hard to make a difference and give 110% to move the project you are with forward, there is little you can do when theose you are involved with refuse to listen or even consider your input. Often times there are those that think they know all they need to know about the unknown they are entering into. That is sad and unfortunate to move blindly ahead like that. I chose a different path..Studied hard...and worked my craft. Paydays come in little things like these rankings and give acknowledment from peers that I was on the right track and all that studying really pays off!

A New Era!

Funny how life evolves, changes, moves this way and that, isn't it! I honestly believe what my new partners bring to the table, combined with my efforts, has all the markings to be really special. We've decided on a name for this project..."INVOKING SCARLETT", and we're really pleased with the initial positives we've received so far. The seasoned sound of this combination of talents is beyond belief! Let's just hope there is enough glue and planetary attraction to solidify this dynamic marriage! A unique and interesting detail is that we live and work a hundred miles apart. In that respect I am ever thankful for the internet and digital media streaming over it at a billion pieces a millisecond! In the past it would have made what we are about to do an impossibility which would have led each of us to "settle" for the talent pool at our disposal locally. Now the world is our playground, and talent that is better suited stylewise and personality-wise becomes accessable, useable, and allowable! I have grown through the erea's of 78's to 45's to LP's, 8-tracks, to cassettes, to digital compact disks! Now all is damn near obsolete and antiquated! All is enhanced digital media that already is offered on thumbdrives and micro memory cards! As Artists, we are now the masters of our own destiny, with only our determination or lack thereof to propel us to any level of success we can imagine or into obscurity. In this respect we have control and how far we can go is up to us!

Ya never know!

And THAT'S what keeps it exciting! Through email last night my new guitarist (or maybe I'm his new bassist!) approached me with re-doing a song that I had a major part of creating with my former band. From the time I heard James play guitar I had that thought bouncing and resurfacing in my mind. It is one thing to create a song, that for all intent and purposes, was a great song, with commerciality, which makes for a great feeling about where you are in your craft. But then to hear it trashed by some karoke wannabe, just grinds that great feeling right into the mud! I do understand that my ex guitarist considers it his song since he came up with the basic music riff and the title of the song, but I also understand that I poured hours into the conception of the storyline idea and lyrics to match that idea and constructive wording which flowed with the beat and vibe of the song, along with the melody line for those lyrics. I did the recording and all the different takes to get the song down and the mastering of the song for release. Not tooting my own horn, but I did put a shitload of time, effort, & energy to see that song to fruition. My only recourse to rectify what had been done to that song by the remaining members of the band I left, was to possibly re-record it with different musicians replacing those that I walked away from.  I was not going to approach the subject this new into the merging of talents with James, because I did not want to appear vengeful or to push my agenda. But my agenda was just that... To craft new music...Better music... to move on... But damn it..THAT WAS A GOOD SONG!
So now I have the best of both worlds...A better guitarist/vocalist/songwriter! A better drummer/vocalist!... And not only are we building 4 all new songs but now we will recreate "Standin On Shaky Ground" and I'm one freakin happy camper! Thanks James! Thanks Andre! You guys rock!

Ok... So I'm new to this!

Feels lke I'm moving into a new era of my life! Believe me there have been many! After the kids were grown I came out of hibernation (per se) in reguards to my musical life. Most of it had been consumed in learning, playing, performing, practicing, promoting and all that was connected to Rock N Roll! I Loved it, Ate it, Slept it, and it defined me and who I was. Now that the kids can take care of themselves and I find myself in a new relationship with the most fantastic woman I have ever known, I can devote the missed time with my other mistress...Music! I think it startled Dianna at first when she realized just how passionate and above average I was. Right off the bat she had me placed on a stage in front of thousands of well endowed groupies ready to throw themselves at me! It kinda upset her and I understand that completely! She didn't really understand the process and to even get to that point would be a long shot. Needless to say, things have calmed down and she enjoys watching me craft and construct songs. It no longer bothers her when I wake in the middle of the night with melodies or lyrics running through my mind that have to get penned or get lost! To have BOTH of my greatest loves at the same time has always been for me, a struggle... One or the other but never would the human side allow the musical side. Now it is a reality and it is great! I have no desires for anything more!  Life is rich, full, and good!