Let me clarify something

This blog is going to make me sound old and stodgy but that's ok because I kind of am. I need to clarify what it really means to be an indie musician. Lately, i've been hearing these national touring famous musicians being called"indie." It kinda makes me mad because if you are signed to a major label, have a booking agent for every continent and just played the main stage at Coechella...you are not an indie musician.
You are an indie musician if you:
1. Get a second job to pay for your album.
2. Go on a two week tour with a nap sack full of peanut butter crackers or a duffel bag full of store brand diet shakes.
3. Play your butt off at a show with an audience of 5 and those 5 were the other band playing that night.
4. Tie your muffler back on with a low E string to get home from a show.
5.  Play divey bars where you wish there was chicken wire between the stage and the audience.
6.  Promote the heck out of your new youtube video and are psyched to have 200 views.
7. Are overjoyed to see a monitor on stage.
8.Waited in line for 2 hours in 100 degree weather to maybe play a song at the Blue bird cafe.
Please support your local independent musicians and don't call them sell outs if they someday do end on the main stage of coechella because store brand diet shakes are gross!

A Little Perspective

I think it is the nature of most musicians to feel unsatisfied. It's easy to feel like there is so much more you can do, more you can accomplish... more shows, more fans, more likes on facebook, more cd projects. This feeling of dissatisfaction can become really frustrating. Lately, I've been contemplating getting back to playing solo music. (I've been very fortunate to play in The And Band with some really great musicians and friends and it's been pretty easy to keep the ball rolling when there are other people involved.) But for ten years I played solo, driving all over New England at all hours of the night to play gigs. Then I took a few years off. Getting back into this scene has been really frustrating. I feel like the game has changed and I don't really know the rules and it seems like I'm right back where I started.
But today I remembered how this whole "rock and roll" thing began. It was really just a little challenge I gave myself to see what I could do, how good I could write and sing and to see where this crazy ride would take me. I never expected to play music for more then a few weeks, let alone a decade. When I was in high school I used to have this T-shirt that said "it's not the destination, it's the journey that counts." I wore that t-shirt until it fell apart! I know it's a really cheesy saying but if you are a musician and you constantly focus on the destination you can drive yourself crazy. Some of my fondest memories of this musical journey actually have little to do with music. It's been the people I've met and the places I've been that I've enjoyed the most. I'd be lying if I said I didn't want more gigs or even a hint as to how to go about getting them but lately I've been writing really honest songs and that is very satisfying even if I only have one gig on my calendar and a few fans.

Bluebird cafe Nashville TN