what's going on?

I truly think I'm scared of just about everything.

I over react in most situations and over act in others, just kidding.

Someone told me this weekend they love staying up on current events, which I think for most people is great, for me its a danger. I hate the apathy of most people. I think that people are terribly ready to say how screwed up everything is but very wary about doing anything about.

FOR EXAMPLE
When former president Bush was said to have lost the election the people said in numbers, "Hey that's not right" then went about there lives of doing whatever to pay the bills. The same sort of situation happens in Iran and the people of the country take to the streets, cause a worldwide spectacle of themselves and their unwillingness to take what is handed to them. I stand with those who protested.

I guess I just needed to get it off my chest, to get a little more of my feelings out that you don't have to except what is handed to you. Make your life what you want it to be and break through the doors that stand in front of you.

Rant over. Sorry.

Music Minus Ego

Last night I went to The Red Lion in Manhattan for a special night of music. The band was "The Red Liners" a cover band, that was amazing. The drummer, Ryan's, girlfriend had just lost her father in a horrible car accident and last night was a benefit concert for her.

I saw some great local musicians, playing in the most cutthroat city, playing for something bigger than themselves. To me it really was a celebration of life, a coming together of artists to do something beyond them. The scene was set for greatness, and many of the performers delivered the goods, stepping up the the mic with power and truth in there voice. Onlookers danced the crowded room as more and more people stepped on the stage to lend their voice and lift the spirits in singalongs.

I stood in the crowd mixing with complete strangers, new, and old friends feeling like everyone got what was going on. So many shows I go to in NYC are total ego trips by artists, me included, that are the same formula:

1 Look sullen or shoegaze, try to real the crowd in
2Talk about how great it is to be playing the worst bar you've ever been in so maybe you'll get a free drink
3 play more songs about self righteous events in your life that changed everything (don't forget to self deprecate, but only slightly)
4 Mention your mailing list or Myspace or Twitter or something else people really don't give a crap about, someone once told me "If they like you, they'll find you"
5 Don't forget to thank the bartender, if nothing else maybe he/she will buy you a drink

Not to go off on the formula, but it didn't happen at this show. No one stepped up to the mic saying "Hey this is my new song about..." It was great. People actually playing music for music sake. I'm aware that it took a tragedy and a huge list of cover songs to make this happen, but it still happened. Making me think that if all of us who step up on a stage to ENTERTAIN people who paid to see us actually thought about what they were there for, maybe the music business wouldn't be so messed up. Maybe artist would be treated as such and not like small children. Maybe people would buy music because they liked it and wanted to support an artist instead of downloading it cause they aren't connected and don't give a crap.

Music minus ego. A concept that could save us all for MTV.