Music Industry News: 2021-02-28

Saturday 6 March 2021

My Year Abroad

https://amzn.to/3v2tdxR

If this were a record, it would be the album of the year.

I'm not talking about a worthless Grammy, I'm talking about the one everybody would be talking about, would be wowed by, something that would push the envelope and herald the dawning of a new age.

Kind of like "Nevermind."

But even after that we had "Jagged Little Pill." Twenty five years later, Alanis Morissette is safe, but when you first heard "You Oughta Know" it was dangerous, talking about giving head in a theatre? This twenty one year old was not only intelligent and incisive, she was provocative and confident and unwilling to observe perceived boundaries. Push the boundaries today and you fear being canceled, misunderstood. Hell, all breakthrough artists are misunderstood at first. I'm talking about ones who have an impact, change the culture, don't just sell tonnage.

Have you listened to this Julien Baker album?

For those not paying attention, it's the holy grail of 2021. And then you push play and you immediately scratch your head...THIS? Now it becomes more palatable as it plays on, but not so much that you want to listen to it. In the old days, albums like this were promoted properly. As fringe, possibly approaching the center. When you promote them as mainstream you do the public a disservice. You just turn people off to new music. We're looking for one listen wonders, like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the aforementioned "You Oughta Know," that you have to listen to again and again, that become phenomena.

And speaking of phenomena... Morgan Wallen just notched his eighth week at number one. They keep releasing new product, but people still want Wallen. And if you divorce yourself from his faux pas/misstep/bad behavior and actually listen to "Dangerous" you'll know why. And why do critics always excoriate that which is mainstream? Just because people like it doesn't mean it is bad. But if critics like what everybody else does how can they feel superior, then they're no different from the hoi polloi!

And it was a review that got me to reserve Chang-Rae Lee's "My Year Abroad," not that I could remember what it was about when Libby told me I could skip the line and have seven instead of the usual twenty one days to read it.

I was hooked right away.

Reading "My Year Abroad" I did not think of this crazy world of ours one bit. Not Biden, Trump, Covid... It took me away, and not only was that a relief, it made me want to go deeper. Actually, the plot did, it was so WILD!

Now the writing is kind of dense. As in if you like to breeze through a book and catch all the meanings and references, "My Year Abroad" will not satisfy you. Sometimes you have to reread a paragraph to know what is going on. Other times you just plow forward hoping for the best. But one thing's for sure, you want to keep reading!

Do you say no or yes?

The truth is the rewards are in saying yes. But so are the dangers. Go off course and you can have exciting experiences, even make a big buck, but you could also O.D. or be killed by gangsters. Unfortunately I usually say no. But the winners say yes. Tiller says yes, he doesn't check himself, he's all-in.

But Tiller is positively average. He doesn't go to the best college, he's not the best looking. He doesn't live in the best part of town. Nor is he a self-hating upper middle class person, afraid of evidencing any wealth, nor is he a holier-than-thou poor person, thinking they're better than the rest of us just because they're broke. Which is why the upper middle class is constantly self-denigrating, because if they flaunt their possessions or their lifestyle they're going to be excoriated, especially online.

Not that anybody is paying attention to Tiller.

So the book opens with him meeting Val in the Hong Kong airport and then making a life with her and her eight year old boy. Yup, one chance encounter and his whole life changes.

Just like his meeting with Pong.

And really, all that's just the set-up. And I don't want to tell you any more because the twists and turns are what make "My Year Abroad" great. And the story is enough, but the wisdom sprinkled throughout bonds you to the book, because of the insight. Today either you're playing to the masses or afraid of the masses. You're either one of the group or letting your freak flag fly. But what if you're so inconsequential, no one cares about you? That's Tiller. And his insights are our insights. Those of us who don't count, who don't matter, but wonder what is truly going on.

"the 2-iron-thin ladies, who might eat just two jumbo shrimp out of five"

Makes you crazy! You're at some restaurant, the shrimp cocktail is exorbitantly priced, and these ladies leave most to be thrown away. You want to rush by their table and steal them. They believe they're superior, because they're controlled. But get these same women home alone with a cheesecake or some other dessert and you'll see different behavior. Wait, is that sexist? Have we come so far that the truth is off limits? Can we only think about this stuff and not write it down? As for a 2 iron, if you've ever played golf, it's the hardest iron to hit, except for the 1, which is extremely rare. The head is small and vertical and...thin.

"You'd think the town would be bedbuggy with its hard-driving, self-overscheduled students, but they almost exclusively stay on their idyllic campus because there's no time left for them to do anything else."

He's talking about a college in New Jersey, but that was my experience at Middlebury. If you went to the bar in town on a Sunday or Monday night...crickets. Those nights were for STUDYING! As if some book could substitute for life experience.

"Lots of overcharming, overarticulate children."

You've met them! Their parents are well to do boomers. The kids have been enriched since birth. They don't have jobs during high school, they go save the world, or study in England. And you can talk to them just like adults!

"Or protein-loaded broccoli for all those steadily starving vegans."

You need protein to survive, never mind so many other nutrients. But these holier-than-thou vegans think they do not!

"Val wasn't poking at her phone or listening to music or sipping a takeout coffee, which at this point are pretty much the compulsory modes for any Frist World human being."

Come on, hang out in an airport lounge. Anywhere between stops in life, if there's a free moment, people are staring into their phones.

"the moms who aren't yet single-parenting"

Get it? They're on the way to divorce. They're gonna do it alone.

"Be greedy in your appreciations."

Soak up life, be proud of it. We're constantly told to keep ourselves in check. To be seen, not heard. Not to be loud. But the rewards of life come from being all-in and aware of what's going on.

"I wanted to say something suitably salty, to connect and not have to connect in the way men do..."

They never outgrow this, boys continue to be boys, snapping towels, making scatological jokes. And you grow up and if you're one of them, you have no idea there's any other way. But if you're not one of them, if you're a loner, not popular, the kind of kid others make fun of, you feel completely different. You want to reveal your feelings, to the bros this is anathema. To play in their world you must not be serious, you must be looking for the laugh in every endeavor, you must twist every encounter into a sexual reference...

"though part of me was unsettled by all the male bonding, being raised and educated in a well-to-do progressive enclave and demographic that championed egalitarian ideals like inclusion and justice."

These people can't wait to go to college. And if you move up the educational food chain, there is no bro-ness at the top. There are popular and unpopular, but other than the jocks, intellect is key, along with analysis. Then again, when some of these boys graduate they adopt the language of the bros to survive in the business world.

"I noticed how to the man Spideyface and his guys were exceedingly polite and solicitous, with none of the rudeness or crass behavior you might expect from semi-gangsters but are more likely to get from the finance and corporate types, who are the real gangsters in this world."

People have now realized this. We're waiting for the screw to turn, for the world to flip, for these self-righteous pricks to get their comeuppance.

"breathe her in like she was a freshly baked Toll House cookie."

You get the picture? Appeal to you? YES!

"because when a real song arises between you there's not just a connection but in fact a sudden breach in the world, an opening that lets you touch a mystery."

If only all those people waxing rhapsodic about Julien Baker could coin the above, nail the experience.

"the kind who can't do anything or go anywhere without a full round of social media due diligence."

You've got to see what your peers think. God forbid you take a risk on a new place.

"She was very frugal but smart about it, unlike her husband, who cut corners no matter what."

This is how you become rich. You don't downsize across the board. You see what can be cut and what cannot. You don't want to cut that which will grow, but the money spent on appearances and good times? You can drop that right away.

"I believe this happens to a lot of men my age. One is quite settled in every regard, but you look around your circles and wonder if you've made any truly close friends."

Without women, most men would be home alone, every night. Or be on the couch with a guy talking women and sports and no true feelings. The truth is women have girlfriends, best friends. As they get older, most men do not.

"The thing about crazy folk is that either they're truly crazy or they know something nobody knows, or can even detect."

This is SO true. But you don't know it unless you spend a lot of time around a crazy person. In so many ways they're inadequate, they can't function in society, but somehow they can see right through you, detect the flaw in a situation, it's eerie, almost supernatural. Either you know this or you've never experienced it and probably never will. Freaky.

"I assumed that he'd ply me with the data-heavy information download that marks an autodidact..."

People feel inadequate, substandard, less than because they didn't get a college degree. So they read and educate themselves and they're constantly talking about what they're consuming, whereas those who've actually graduated never talk about their college courses. That's in the past.

Now the truth is all of these insights are secondary to the enjoyment of "My Year Abroad." It's really about the plot. The roller coaster. Only this roller coaster is out in the desert and you're riding it at night in the pitch black and nobody knows you're doing so and nobody cares either.

Welcome to real life.

Social media is a ruse, it's just a way to fight our loneliness. Our constant companions are our brains, our minds, and we're in them all the time. And everybody keeps telling us we're missing out on the show. And then we feel even worse, as outsiders.

This book is the story of one little life. And the truth is every life has twists and turns worth telling. But most of them go unheard. Which means when you read this book about an ordinary guy who sometimes enters the extraordinary realm...you pay attention, you can resonate, you share a common bond.

Now I had no idea who Chang-Rae Lee was, but after finishing the book I decided to do some research. There was a review in the "New Yorker," which gave away a ton of the plot and put the book in the context of Lee's other work and then poked holes in the novel, pointing out its flaws, its inadequacies.

Have you ever hung with a household name beauty? They're imperfect, they're flawed, all human beings are. So, books are not evaluated by these wankers for the reading experience, instead they're held to some standard no one can meet that is agreed upon by the New York cognoscenti, who never really reveal what the rules are. They're like rock critics. But since books sell a fraction of the number of records, and take longer to consume, albeit not being repeatable, these royals get away with it. The same way the bosses at the ever consolidating publishers get away with their insane pricing model. Yes, the hardcover edition of this book is only ninety nine cents more expensive than the Kindle version. Even though there's no printing, shipping or returns with digital assets. The music business is in a frenzy over NFTs and the book business is smugly doing its best to keep its marginal business stuck in the pre-internet era. To the point where aforesaid wankers can't even acknowledge genius when they see it.

Was every track on "Jagged Little Pill" or "Nevermind" an A+? No, but that doesn't matter. These acts were hewing to their own standard, not anybody else's, that's what made them so fresh.

"My Year Abroad" is fresh.

Here's the deal. You can read the sample chapter free, that's what Amazon provides. You can even check it out on your smartphone, and everybody's got one of those. So I don't want to hear from those idiots who said they bought the book and disliked it. You don't have to do that anymore. And truthfully, few of my own readers have even gotten this far. But those who have are looking for a nugget, something special, something to make their little lives complete.

And that's "My Year Abroad."

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Friday 5 March 2021

I Care A Lot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D40uHmTSPew

People HATE this movie!

It's got a confounding score on RottenTomatoes. It has 80% on the Tomatometer, the average of critics' reviews, in this case 192, and a 37% audience score, with in excess of 1000 ratings. That's enough data to be definitive.

Sometimes foreign shows have a lack of data. So you don't know whether to trust RottenTomatoes. And oftentimes, the lowbrow public can't handle a foreign show, so the critics' ratings might be high and the hoi polloi's low. But for a mainstream movie?

And that's exactly what "I Care a Lot" is. A Hollywood production, made for opening weekend and hopefully longer. Almost high concept, and not purely authentic. A slice of life, but no one's life who you know. It's a caper, it's an adventure, it's a ride.

But now we no longer have to go to the cinema to see it!

Yes, I never would have paid to see "I Care a Lot," because unless it's truly legendary, I no longer trek to the theatre, it's a bad experience, in toto. The movie plays at a specific time, always inconvenient, you've got to get there, you've got to endure the trailers...and the audience.

As for films needing to be seen on the big screen...

A couple of months back we got one of those LG OLED TVs. I thought it was completely unnecessary, we've got a top of the line Samsung from way back in 2007, LCD, which they no longer make anymore, I was wowed by the picture until...

We set the up LG.

It cost $2600. Felice blanched. I thought it was ridiculous.

But then I read an article that said if you just wait, the sets go down in price as the year progresses. There are new sets introduced in January at CES and...

The price went down to $2100. Still too much. But then just after Halloween Felice got the itch, she needed to get it. Me? I have trouble pulling the lever on almost any purchase, and as I said above, I thought it was completely unnecessary, I could not imagine a television better than the old trusty Samsung. We have a later Samsung model, an LED, top of the line, and the picture is nowhere close to the original 2007 one.

So I went online to buy the TV, and just that day the price declined to $1800! So then the question became who to buy it from. I believe in Amazon. But Felice was all uptight about removal, a service Amazon does not provide. Turns out Best Buy delivery is free, and if you pay just a bit more, they'll detach and remove. But if you want the new one installed, you had to wait in excess of a month. So we bought it from Best Buy and I booked an installer from Thumbtack I'd used before. I swear by Thumbtack. Costs are cheaper and the people are so afraid of getting a bad rating they over-deliver.

And I'm glad we booked the installation, the mounting was easy, but the key was the installer tuned the set, since he installs these on a regular basis, he's got the settings down. Which is good, because the thing came with no manual. As for all the built-in features, the apps, Alexa... I've learned they're unnecessary. Because as the TV ages the apps on it are not updated, because streaming services write for new devices. Best to get a Roku. Which updates itself automatically. Which is better than the TV itself, which usually features an unbelievably slow chip.

So the guy set up the TV and my jaw dropped. I had no idea that a picture could be this good. I come from the school where unless the TV is broken, you continue to use it, the one in my office is a Panasonic from 2009. But it turns out I am wrong, the upgrade is worth it.

And if we were going to spend this much money, I had to be sure, was this set the best available? Everybody says so. Yes, the LG CX series. They just updated it, but the upgrades are superfluous. You want a 65" set. A 75" is a huge step up in price, basically a grand. As for anything smaller? Believe me, you want the 65".

And sure, it's 4k, but almost nothing is in that format. But the DETAIL! I could see the hairs on Rosamund Pike's face.

Rosamund Pike. I never got it. She didn't fit the image I had in my mind in "Gone Girl." But here she is utterly amazing. Award-worthy. Which is one of the reasons I finally decided to watch this movie. I had it in the back of my mind, but since she won the Golden Globe... I know the Globes are ersatz and I hate to admit it swayed me but I was a bit reluctant to watch because everybody I knew who saw it HATED IT, just like on RottenTomatoes!

And Felice wanted me to turn it off after seven minutes. She saw where it was going and she didn't want to go any further down this road.

But I was digging it.

Because of the production values. Because it was a MOVIE!

I prefer streaming series, there's more character development. Also, all movies made for television are substandard, they're made on a budget to fill a programming slot. They're commerce, not art. They're almost an insult, a time-suck.

But not "I Care a Lot."

The money was spent. I felt just like I would at the theatre, only I was at home, starting at 8:25 PM. Do you know any movie that starts at 8:25 in a theatre? I'd been planning to fire it up at 8:05, but then my older sister called. And she said she hated it too. But I wanted to dive in anyway.

So it starts off with this rap about winners and losers. That is, what does it take to win?

That seems to be why the critics liked the film, for the social commentary.

As for the public? They had problems with the ending. I did not. Actually, I could pretty much see where it was going very early on. I was satisfied with the conclusion...

But really, it's about the ride. Rosamund Pike is just so BAD!

Maybe you know some winners. Some billionaires. Some CEOs.

They did not get there by accident, don't listen to a word they say, it's all b.s., if they really told you what it took to make it to the top you'd be horrified! My father reinforced this to me again and again, he said SCHNOOKS GET SHAT ON! It's a rough world out there, and if you're not fighting to get ahead...

I can't do that.

First, you've got to be good with people, you have to know how to smile and manipulate them. Business friends, that's just what they are. It's mutual masturbation to hopefully get where you want to go. If there was no money involved, no career advancement, you probably would never hang out with these people.

And then there are the winners.

First and foremost, you must play to win. You cannot be conciliatory, you've got to go for the jugular. But true winners know not to be aggressive and in your face all all the time. Most are charming, cunning, you think you're set and then they knife you in the back.

Oh, don't tell me I'm jaded and inaccurate. It's like Jack Nicholson in that old movie, YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!

And the twist starts with Dean, the lawyer. Leverage. Intimidation. Do you get scared, or do you want to stand up to the man? And the man doesn't have to raise his voice, he can get his message across quite quietly.

As for women? Pike nails this again and again. How men have tried to intimidate her and have threatened her ad infinitum, but when push comes to shove...

Yes, there's a feminist angle here too. And a lesbian relationship. So for those that say Hollywood is out of touch, behind the times, not in "I Care a Lot," maybe not on Netflix.

So, at first you're dazzled by the production values, the cinematography. And just when you think you've got the plot nailed, it switches. And then becomes a cat and mouse game. And towards the end it gets kind of ridiculous. Which is why on an absolute scale this movie is just a solid B. But in a sea of mediocrity, a solid B is worth your while. As for grade inflation? Those at the top know grades are irrelevant. They don't care about degrees or pedigrees, that's how the inadequate puff up. It's what you deliver, what you've got. You don't have to shine it up, either it radiates on its own or it does not, either it's worth something or it is not.

So you can watch "I Care a Lot" as a conventional movie, and be pissed it doesn't work out the way you want it too.

Or you can watch it as social commentary. And it does this quite well, without constantly banging you over the head.

Or, you can just strap yourself in and go on the ride. A ride without the corners cut off, like so much in today's world, afraid of offending somebody they smooth off the edges and make it safe and ultimately unwatchable. But the truth is Rosamund Pike has got an edge inside so sharp it can cut through almost anything. But she covers it with a smile, with platitudes, and she gets her way. You know how this is, you sit around with your friends complaining about the person from your group who made it and left you behind. They're now jive. They're different. No, they were always this way, they just wanted it more than you, THEY NEEDED IT!

Rosamund Pike needs it. Money is everything to her. And for most people it is. Of course, intellectuals will watch the movie and ask WHAT DOES ROSAMUND PLAN TO DO WITH ALL THAT MONEY? You know people want to win the lottery, but then what? You can only buy so many houses and cars, there are twenty four hours in a day, how are you going to fill them? Drinking and drugging and...that gets old really quickly. No, you want to work, for the camaraderie, for the social interaction. Then again, who do you want to play with? Those at the top never play the lottery, they know the odds are against them, it's a rigged game. No, they create the game, or bend the rules of the one they're involved in. They need better odds. And the triumph is almost as rewarding as the cash. As for the cash? The successful want it for power more than for what it can buy. And respect from their peers. Who know they're someone to pay attention to, because they know what it takes to make it that far, to get that rich.

So, about two-thirds of the way through this flick I couldn't wait to recommend it. But when it drove to its conclusion, I was wavering. Now?

I don't need to hear that you watched it and didn't like it. Like I said above, MOST PEOPLE ARE WITH YOU!

But if you used to live to go to the movies, for the experience, to be led along by a sleek production, that's what "I Care a Lot" delivers. If you saw it on the big screen you'd enjoy it, or hate it, just as much, you'd never say it was a TV movie, you'd never say it was cheap.

So it's almost nostalgia, for those who remember movies in the days before they were all fantasies, with special effects and superheroes.

But in this case, it's just a click away, on the flat screen, for you to watch.

"I Care a Lot" is not empty calories. It may not be wagyu, but it's definitely not Burger King. It's more akin to filet mignon. It delivers.

Maybe you'll like it. I CERTAINLY DID!

https://www.lg.com/us/tvs/lg-oled65cxpua-oled-4k-tv

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Tom Rush Weighs In

Responding to what Sasha Brown said, Bob, he's right on about life on the road and the toll it takes, and the dedication it requires. Sometime in the mid-70s I came to realize that the artist was simply a money pump for the labels, the managers, the agents. I was travelling with, as I recall, five other musicians in my backup band, a sound engineer, a road manager and a truckload of gear.

His tale of driving back and forth across the country resonated. We were flying, not driving, but they had us playing — on consecutive nights — Boston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, DC. In that order. I was paid a LOT of money that week, but it all went out the windows to everybody else.

I wasn't only a member of a band, I HAD a band. They got paid first, I got paid if there was any money left. I came to realize that on the first night of the week I was working for the Manager; on the second I was working for the Agent; the third paid the Band; the fourth went to the Hotels; the fifth to the Airlines. And IF there was a sixth night, I might get to keep a bit. I was making music, but my REAL job was to pump money out of the pockets of the public and into the bank accounts of the Industry.

I've been making music for something like 58 years now, and I still love it, can't wait to get back on the road (though I'll certainly keep up Rockport Sundays, my Patreon subscription series) — but I'm no longer beholden to record companies and managers, and am doing much better financially than when I was. All that glitter is expensive!

Tom Rush
Rockport Sundays: https://www.patreon.com/TomRush

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More Neal Francis

Bob,

Just wanted to reply to your missive about Neal Francis. What spurred me to write is how gracious his manager Brendan O'Connell's reply was to you in response to your comment "Someone's got a deep pocket." I'd ask you to take a step back and reflect about how dismissive of hard work and sacrifice this comment is. I played guitar with Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds - toured the US for 9 years, drove over 500,000 miles in a van, we did it all - Austin City Limits, Bonnaroo, Brooklyn Bowl - you name it, we probably played there, whether it was in front of 9 people in a dive in Indianapolis or in front of 15,000 people opening for Grace Potter in Buffalo.

Every single "big ticket item" that we did as a band - buying a Sprinter van, a $50,000 spend making a record - we took loans out and paid them back from working our asses off, tirelessly. There were no handouts, no giant record label advances, no one flying us in private jets. Our first Sprinter van broke down and the repair ate up all the money the band had made on our first 10 week tour back when we were playing for peanuts. We had twice as many people in our band (9) as most other bands, so the financials never worked in our favor. It was a stupid, impractical, foolish idea to think we could make a go of it. We all knew it, and many people tried to warn us off, but we did it anyway. Despite all the band arguments, the number of times we had to drive across the country (NYC to LA to DC in 1 particularly hellish week) on no sleep -- these were some of the best memories of my life. The Heard (the band Neal was in before striking out under his own name) opened for us at a now defunct venue in Brooklyn where 12 people showed up in our early days. Those were humbling shows, and there were many of them. You're demonstrating your life's work and hopes and all your hopes and dreams and the fact that no one cares is right in your face! The camaraderie shared among bands in our scene that came up together, like The Revivalists, Turkuaz, and the Nth Power, has led to deep, long-lasting friendships and continued collaborations that will last my whole life. We only see each other a few times a year - particularly during Jazz Fest in New Orleans - but our bonds are unbreakable. The shared experience we had - the emotional roller coaster that you ride when you go from headlining festival stages in front of thousands and feeling the magical energy exchange between band and audience to the very next night playing a dive where the band outnumbers the audience - are unlike any other. I can write run-on sentences all day about it - but that shared experience between the musicians imparts an unspoken understanding that goes beyond my ability to spin yarn and ramble on.

I have great respect for your opinion and your perspective on the music industry. Your letters have been an invaluable resource to me as I was wearing other hats in the band, whether it was tour manager, accountant, public relations rep, social media manager, business strategist, or a roadie (often all in the same day). It was exhausting and my efforts often felt unappreciated or unrewarded, particularly when I looked at my empty bank account after a decade of working to help build our band from our first gig in our trombone player's basement in Brooklyn to my last show with the band 9 years later when we sold out Irving Plaza. I know what the quality of life can be for people like Neal Francis - times where its the highest of highs, and often - the lowest of lows. But I can't stand idly by while anyone - even someone with your stature - makes an offhand, dismissive comment that seeks to reduce all the actual blood, sweat, and tears that goes into making a record sound good. I can't overstate how hurtful it is that anyone could have an impression that records sound good because of the assumption that it means that somewhere, someone has deep pockets and made it happen with one John Hancock.

I've been living this life for some time now, and I have seen that happen for one or two albums in our scene. The rest, like Neal's manager wrote above, comes from maxed out credit cards, Kickstarters, playing 200 shows a year, and driving the distance to the moon and back twice (and yes, our band did that, like many others have). I know the work that goes into making good art, and it's incredibly hurtful for all that effort to be dismissed by you as easily as you did. And this from someone who shows up in the world as a champion of the music industry and of good music and good artists! Major ouch, man.

If minimum wage from the 1970s kept up with inflation, it would be at over $30/hr today. Yet the movement for economic progress has us *fighting* for $15/hour. Rising tides would raise all boats if people could truly see how the rich and powerful have pit We The People against each other. Politicians and (those who place stories in) the Media successfully paint Bernie Sanders to be a "revolutionary leftist", while in other countries everything he advocates for has long been standard practice. America is not ok, and as the people who are always paid last in the world, artists right now are suffering greatly. As venues have been slowly opening back up, every performing musician has been on the receiving end of the "well, our alcohol still costs the same, and we have to pay our bartenders the same, and now we have extra cleaning costs and only 25% capacity, so we can only pay the band half of what we used to (underpay) them."

The phrase "just do it for love or for yourself" that gets batted about when talking about artists is a bullshit trope spoken by lazy pseudo-intellectuals. When the pandemic hit and we went into quarantine, how did we all spend our time? By watching Netflix (TV shows are an artistic creation) and listening to music for hours and weeks and days on end to pass the time... Those things, those artistic creations birthed of hard work - bring a smile to our face, set the mood for a romantic night in, or foster a dance party in our living rooms with roommates. These captivating creations transport us to a better place and distract us from the sobering, depressing, terrifying state of the world outside our door. That feeling that music imparts to us - that magic? It has VALUE. It enriches our lives. Babies are conceived to the sounds of records. And yet artists continue to get fucked over by the industry and disgustingly exploited by Big Tech.

I'm happy that you found Neal's music - he's terrific and will only get better with time because, like all of us, the love he has for what he does is boundless and infinite. He'll be making music til his last breath as long as he can keep his house in order and not let either the trappings - or depressing nature of much of what this life brings - sway him from his path. The road to making good records means missing weddings, missing funerals, means missing your friends from home and your family all year long. There's a lot of hurt involved, and if we're lucky, we as artists can alchemize both the hurt and the love and joy that this life brings into the magic of a good song. So, if you're truly a music fan, please don't cut down artists by bypassing all the sacrifices we make in order to do what it is we love. We're not asking for handouts, we just want to feel valued and feel the energy exchange both ways. Because otherwise, without the equitable exchange, the world would go silent. And is that a world that any of us would want to live in?

I didn't think so.

In Oneness and Love,

Sasha Brown

__________________________________________

As an avid show goer of more than 200 per year, I am convinced that the Neal Francis's of the world are the industry's backbone far before the big dogs are. Saw Neal twice a couple years back and ready for more. It's authentic. The end

Kyle Smith

__________________________________________

Tell Neal we love what he's doing (and his label) out here in record store land.
Galen

__________________________________________

Well hot damn, you found Neal Francis! He's fantastic. We pushed his album hard at Grimey's in Nashville and had Neal in for an in-store performance very early on and he blew me away. We sold a lot of records too. I think if Neal were able to be out there touring, playing Coachella, whatever, more people would be getting into him but you're certainly helping with this coverage today so thanks for that, Bob.

I get a real JJ Cale vibe off of "Changes Pts. 1 & 2" and the New Orleans influence on other tracks is undeniable. I hadn't listened so closely for the Leon Russell vibes but tonight when I pull the record off my shelf and play it again that will be something to listen for.

Doyle Davis

__________________________________________

Hi bob, thanks for this. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about the drummer! - what a tasty display of groove and chops!

chadwick stokes

__________________________________________

Absolutely love it… Spacebomb meets Sly.
Dreaming of dancing to this at a festival some day...
Cheers,
Andy Fordyce

__________________________________________

Thanks Bob. I dig it. New Orleans meets Frankie Miller. A pleasant surprise

Alan Childs

__________________________________________

Hey Bob, late to the party but checked it out... HIGHLY respect him and the band going for an organic, groove based sound but...

The influences are so strong it feels like they are trying a little too hard and while the song is serviceable it doesn't groove deep enough to remotely compare to the 70's music it is based on.

The bass is killin' but the drum sound, while obviously intentional (flat, probably no bottom heads, etc), going for that 70's funk sound, just isn't working - too literally retro. Exacerbated by the drummer being a bit stiff - relax and find your own sound, man.

No doubt he can play them keys but you are right the vocals are a weak link. He clearly wants it badly so with a good vocal coach could probably bring them up enough.

They would likely be a fun live show but for recorded music why wouldn't I listen to Dr. John, the Meters or Leon??

No disrespect but to me it's good but not great.

DG

__________________________________________

Hi bob, thanks for this. I'm surprised more people aren't talking about the drummer! - what a tasty display of groove and chops!

chadwick stokes

__________________________________________

I got dj service on "Changes Pts. 1 & 2" from PlayMPE in 2019 and was hooked. Did same deep dive on him. Always great to see you shine a light on the genuine, Bob. Neal earns all the props he and his band can get.

Cameron Dilley
www.WMNF.org Tampa

__________________________________________

horns just as this song hits the four-minute mark and the horns really set in. This is the part of the song worth waiting for. It's like everything that came before was foreplay, and this is the part you are here for.

Too bad you didn't like the Low Cut Connie. Don't know which song, but I love them. Adam Weiner is a great showman. Hope you can get into more of him.

Mike Stein in Cleveland

__________________________________________

Bob, tell Neal Francis and his band to get to Australia, when all this is over. Get to Laneway Festival. Get on Triple J national radio. Get in touch with Ken West.

Maybe just source some local gear to save on air cargo. We would absolutely love the shit out of his grooves. We know the real deal when we see it.

Agree with you about the vocals on Changes. But that can always improve. All else fails, more REVERB.

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Thursday 4 March 2021

Re-Neal Francis/Changes Pts. 1 & 2

Subject: Hey, it's Neal Francis

Bob,

I was very surprised and honored to read your reaction to my song "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2." I have been aware of you for several years now. My band and I listened to your podcast on long van rides, and we were thoroughly entertained by your erudite, albeit sometimes cynical, musings on the music industry. I never imagined we'd be the type of act to come across your radar, let alone be the subject of your newsletter. We used to joke about taking your advice and "pivoting the act towards EDM." Yet lo and behold! I'm grateful for the nod.

I'm glad you noticed I don't really give a shit about trends, making money, or any of that.... Grateful to say that most of the time I'm concerned with creating music I'd like to throw on my own turntable (yes, I mainly listen to music that way). Opinions on his music aside, one thing that always resonated with me about Frank Zappa was his lack of concern for what others expected of him. I consider the record I'm currently working on a significant departure from the influences displayed on Changes, and I'm at peace with that. What's the point of the struggle if I'm not going to create stuff that excites me? It would be easier to work at the UPS store, which is what I did before making records.

We don't have deep pockets. We just decide we're going to do things to a certain standard and make it happen.... We've been blessed with a lot of luck along the way, and we were prepared to make the best of those opportunities. I'm lucky to have bandmates that don't mind loading an antique key rig in and out of the trailer every night. A Nord Electro would be more practical. They help me do it because it sounds bad ass and it's more fun. And I'm grateful to recognize that I've already "made it." My work and my passion are one and the same.

Anyway, I'll cease rambling here. I hope you get a chance to read this and connect for a chat down the line. I think we probably dig a lot of the same music and it would be fun to talk. Thanks again for listening and taking the time to share your thoughts with your audience.

Best,

Neal Francis O'Hara

___________________________________

Bob-
As an avid reader of your letter for the past twelve or thirteen years, I was pleasantly surprised to see your latest missive about Neal Francis (I'm his manager). It's so refreshing that you get it--Neal is an original, a true artist, and absolutely someone that follows his own artistic vision without trying to chase current trends.

Neal and I grew up in the same part of the Chicago suburbs and reconnected in 2017 after he got sober. I was winding down my own rock n' roll dreams with my band, and Neal was just starting his solo career. He told me he had some songs in the can and I asked if I could take a listen. When I heard these songs ("These Are The Days," "This Time," "She's A Winner"), something clicked. I heard all the influences--Leon Russell, The Meters, Allen Toussaint--and it connected immediately for me. We met up, talked about how to put out your own record, and eventually he sighed and said something that so many DIY artists think: "Man, I just really need a manager." My wheels started spinning and I thought, "why not me?" I'd put in my 10,000 hours managing my own band, but had never tried doing it for someone else. I've read your letter long enough to know the golden rules (don't ask for help until you are ready, build it and if you deserve it they will come) but the truth is that so many artists never get over the hump or get any help from anyone besides themselves. It's so uncommon for new artists to have BOTH business acumen and to be amazing at writing, arranging, singing, playing, etc. Sometimes you just need to be lucky and meet someone.

We've had luck along the way, signing with Joshua Knight from Paradigm and Phil Egenthal (now at Mint Talent Group) after Neal's very first show; touring with the Black Pumas right before they broke big; and hit some snags. 2020 was going to be huge for Neal with festivals, multiple European and Japanese tours, and more. But there are no deep pockets here. Karma Chief (a subsidiary of Colemine Records) is a small but mighty label in Ohio, and they've been great to us despite limited resources. We've maxed out our share of credit cards and kept it skinny as much as possible. Similar to a lot of American families these days we've skated by from check to check, hoping that somehow we'll be able to figure out the latest crisis without overdrawing the account. What holds it together is belief in the music and the project.

After years of slogging it out with my own music to relatively little acclaim, it has amazed me how much a good song and unique production (those horns! that vibe!) will do for you. Sure, "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" doesn't have a million streams--yet--but it has opened so many doors for Neal just because people respond to it, because it sounds different, and because it transports you somewhere else.

Neal is an uncompromising artist. No digital keyboards on stage--he tours with a Keith Emerson sized keyboard rig including a Hammond Organ and Leslie, Clavinet, and Yamaha CP70. He won't track his records to a computer—analog tape only. He's single minded in his drive and ambition. Nothing, save sobriety, is more important than the music. Sobriety and an Irish Catholic upbringing has given him both a deep sense of gratitude and a foreboding, guilty fear that the other shoe is going to drop and that everything will go away. It's this combination of gratitude and ambition, great songwriting and an artistic vision, that has Neal on track for a long and fruitful career. He's in the studio now working on his sophomore album, in fact.

Again, thanks for listening and writing about Neal.

Oh, the solo after the first chorus of "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" is actually Neal playing his Clavinet modified with a whammy bar. Check it out:
https://www.facebook.com/214067192516163/videos/2381159738812378

Cheers,
Brendan O'Connell
The Byrd Agency
https://www.thebyrdagency.com/

___________________________________

Great to hear Neal Francis caught your ear and you're hooked like I am!

I was hipped to Neal in October of 2019, my friend Oliver Roman was playing guitar for him on a short tour. I saw a video Oliver's dad posted online from a club show and was blown away, I told Oliver I wanted to connect with Neal as soon as I could for Korg Keyboards. Players like Neal, that play keys and lead a band are rare these days! He connected me the next day and we've been in touch ever since.

A few months later he was in LA for a show at the Moroccan Lounge downtown and I wasn't going to miss it. I had already been in touch with his manager (Brendan O'Connell) as well and we were all going to meet up before the show to hang out & chat gear, it was exactly one year ago today actually (3/4/20), I know that date specifically because my car was broken into while I was at that show and it was the 2nd to last show I saw before lockdown!

Anyway, Neal is a real deal talent and a good person! His knowledge of music, music history, production, keyboards & synths were clear right away, and it all comes out in his playing. Plus, as I mentioned, he's a good person (I work with a lot of artists at or below his "professional level" who think they are god's gift to the world, Neal is isn't like that at all). Brendan (also a great guy!), Neal and I geeked out for a long time on all the music we dig, gear, playing, etc. It's been great to get to know these guys better, Neal's got some of our latest and greatest and has been sharing music & videos, he even did a fun IG takeover for us from his "bunker" last April too!

From my understanding there are even bigger things coming for Neal, and I'm excited for him!

Thanks for shining a light on a great talent!!

-Tom

PS – Dr John's "Back By The River" & "Such A Night" are fucking amazing songs (among others)! Don't sell him short!

___________________________________

I had Neal Francis and his band play at my house last fall in Madison, WI. Outside on my dock. They took the gig because they wanted to play. And they turned a socially distanced neighborhood party into a dance party within seconds. This band is infectious. Most of my friends and neighbors had not heard one note of Neal and his band. By the end of the first song the entire neighborhood was dancing. Prior to getting sober and getting focused. He was a part of a band in Chicago called The Heard.

Neal and his band are focused. They mean business. In my opinion, his sobriety isn't a marketing gimmick. He had to hit bottom to understand what it takes to cut through the noise. He chose sobriety, practice and the groove.

Thanks,
Nathan Reuter

___________________________________

Almost exactly 1-year to the day (3/8/20) was one of the last shows me and a lot of my SF music compatriots got to see before being locked down: Neal Francis working up a sweat and the crowd into a frenzy at Brick and Mortar in the Mission.

David Rubin

___________________________________

Neil Frances opened for the Black Pumas in Downtown Los Angeles a couple of months before Covid. The energy they brought to that show was infectious. A couple of months later, the night before Gov Newsom shut California down, he played in a small bar in my hometown here in Fullerton, CA. They played as hard and with as much enthusiasm in that small bar with maybe 30 people present as they did at the sold out Black Pumas concert. When we get back to normal, and can start going to shows again, you must see them live. They do not disappoint.

Troy Clem III

___________________________________

Bob - Great tune...it's really got that vibe that says, "Yea, I know it's good". But, it rides on the bass line. Listen again, everything comes off the bass line. It is just terrific.
Thanks for sharing.

Jeff Douglas

___________________________________

Hallelujah!!!

Can't say how happy I am to see you promoting Neil Francis to your audience. I discovered his music through some sort of alchemical algorithmic magic in 2019 and was fortunate enough to catch his band live at the Park West in Chicago shortly before Covid shut everything down. Honestly, they KILLED it live. Every song in their set, top to bottom. Super funky. They were only the opener, so most people in the building had no idea who they were, but the entire room was electric for their whole set.

When I first heard Changes, I thought Apple Music had somehow inserted something from the 70s into a playlist full of contemporary music. The retro production is so warm. Check out the entire album, it's pretty much funky and catchy top to bottom.

Nick Noyes

___________________________________

Hey Bob ~ The jam scene has already started to lift Neal up. He's going to end up selling a lot of tickets to live music fanatics who crave that groove and an ability to stretch out. Vibes for days!

Ari Fink // SiriusXM
Phish Radio / DMB Radio / Jam On

___________________________________

Absolutely love Neal!

Witnessed his performance at the Moroccan Lounge a year ago to the day tomorrow (March 4, 2020) It's was incredible!

His music has the ability to truly enhance your spirit!

Enjoyed reading about your initial reaction. I highly recommend digging deeper into Colemine Record's catalogue.

Mark Foley

___________________________________

Damn you Sir!
:)
I can't stop listening to Neal Francis. I bought the album on iTunes for the better quality and every track's a banger, but the subject track is outstanding.

Thanks for the pointer, I sincerely hope that you've given his career a huge boost, because boy does he deserve it. In spades!

Regards

Peter Brentnall

___________________________________

Yeah! Cool song!

Tom Hedtke

___________________________________

thanks for the tip....great song and I love the horns....

Michael Rosenblatt

___________________________________

Colemine put out the first Durand Jones & The Indications record and continues to release our 45's, even Aaron Frazer's solo with Dan Auerbach. Terry Cole has a great ear.

Dean Raise

___________________________________

Hi Bob. Just listened to "Changes pts. 1 & 2" based on your recommendation. It's... not bad! Reminds me of a watered-down Shuggie Otis groove. And to my ears, the horns sound like a simplified version of Stevie's "Superstition" riff. Nice to see kids influenced by the classics at least.

But you're right about the weak lead vocal. Then again, Shuggie had the same problem, no?

David Kovenetsky

___________________________________

Killer! Kind of a Bill Withers meets Floyd with the Memphis Horns, but totally original. Thanks, you save me a lot of time.

John Brodey

___________________________________

Great to see you're on board with Neal - that album is incredible & he has the live chops to back it up. Had the pleasure of interviewing him about Leon, too.

You gotta dig into Karma Chief/Colemine more - you won't be disappointed.

Mike Fordham

___________________________________

Excellent...Thank you

Edmund J. Kelly

___________________________________

Absolutely great track
Thanks Bob

Dennis van Leeuwen

___________________________________

Good tune

Alan Fenton

___________________________________

You're right. Great great song. Refreshing.

Max Gunther

___________________________________

Hey, Bob,
"...from Ohio of all places,..."
The key to honing your craft and art today is the same as it ever was: open out of town.
Larry Butler

___________________________________

Changes Pts. 1 & 2 is so damn good! It's electric and alive... and there's so much analog warmth. The horns. The handclaps. He reminds me of Jim O'Rourke. And like James Gang. How is that possible?

Jason Maurer

___________________________________

My ONLY complaint about this song is the horrible drum sound, Bob...of course, it could be intentional too.

Marshall Block

___________________________________

Great recommendation! Played it once - got it. Played it the second time - loved it. Played it a third time - shared with all my friends. This is too good not to be known!

- Brian Hobson

___________________________________

A lot of the great Allen Toussaint in there for sure (the album especially)…

Frank Caiafa

___________________________________

Colemine records is the newest "Daptone" records
Love, Peace and Soul
Dave Moskal

___________________________________

cool tune! thanks for the tip.

i dunno man, if the "music business" has no place for this, those entities are making themselves irrelevant. as i get older, i catch myself wondering why i didn't move to an industry town 20 years ago. then i remember why: "what, so i could be a fucking sellout??!" ;) growing closer to your non-comm description by the day, speaking of making oneself irrelevant. luckily we're comfortable.

jerry granelli's thoughts to a young creative music workshop classmate of mine, who was worried about grants, social media etc: "don't let THEM dictate to YOU what YOUR practice is."

they can't take that awaaaaay from me.

Ryan Brown

___________________________________

I'm on the bus! From the first note of Changes I was hooked. Thanks for all that you do.

-Anastasia Karel

___________________________________

Hi Bob, great discovery, I really liked Neal Francis "changes", a mix of "Year of the Cat" "green Onions" and a touch of Chicago like horns. But this is why it won't go anywhere, I'm 76 years old .

alan segal san diego

___________________________________

On your recommendation I spent the .99 on Changes Parts 1&2. I like the tune but I have to agree, a real singer would have brought it to life. Personally I think it is retro. It sounds like Billy Preston went down to Muscle Shoals in the early 70's and did a record with Eddie Hinton. Nothing bad there but truth be told, Ray Lamontagne did something similar but way better with the tune Three More Days.

Irv Berner

___________________________________

Thrilled to see you recognize Neal Francis, undoubtedly one of the brightest talents in music today— someone who, as you acknowledge, has the rare opportunity to bridge generations with SONGS (what a novel concept) that pay homage to the past while bringing millennials to the party. Is it possible we could have a new Master of Space & Time?

The only thing you have wrong is that the whole Changes album is a masterstroke, worthy of repeat listens. And just wait until you hear what he's been cooking up in the pandemic...

All best,
Jesse Lauter

___________________________________

Truly killer track, have been listening to it for a bit. You left out the best part (in my super specific opinion) - the absolutely killer bass line! Drives the song.

Lawrence P. Lander

___________________________________

so sad you didn't get into Low Cut Connie. "Private Lives" is a great tread.
but thanks for sending Neal Francis over. also huge Blues Brothers fan over here.

cheers

Alex Kuppi

___________________________________

I couldn't get through it once. Dullsville, not Funky Town.

Kevin Kiley

___________________________________

I found Neal Francis right after tripping over Colemine artist Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio a few months ago. Fantastic. Colemine Records is putting out some really great stuff. Check out Pearl Charles on Kanine Records. Her new album "Magic Mirror" is retro-magic.

https://youtu.be/FUBN-xo9W1g

Rob Warden

___________________________________

Oh, yeah — this was in my DW some time ago, and I listened to the whole album and liked it. But then mostly you forget to listen to it later, and it recedes to oblivion...

John Hughes

___________________________________

You hit the nail on the head with Neal Francis. Francis is a tremendous keyboard player and the band is stellar. In fact his band also backs up David Shaw from the Revivalist. There are lots of these types of bands in NOLA right now. You typically can't get a local gig without horns. Like you said, tremendous songs, but the voice is eh. Sadly, this type of artist only has a home in the jam band community these days. I can picture a young Robert Palmer circa 1974 (Sneakin' Sally Through the Alley) giving his songs the gusto they need.

R. Teitel

___________________________________

I like Neal Francis "Changes Pts 1 & 2" as well. Although I sort of hear the Pink Floyd Another Brick In The Wall Pt 2 guitar comparison you cited primarily in the lead guitar, do you know who he really borrows from arrangement/production wise on this one? Harry Wayne Casey & Richard Finch. He absolutely borrowed from them beyond mere chance. RIght down to the organ pads (think George McRae "Rock Your Baby," which they produced). The drum part is reminiscent of that old track as well. The descending horn arrangement line cops from the descending horn line in "Let It Go Pt. 1" by KC & The Sunshine Band. There's also maybe a little influence production wise from Commodores "Machine Gun" as well. The point is: he borrows heavily, production wise, from classic Disco for this cool track, but mellows it out for an otherwise soulful approach to the song, vibe wise.

Greg Debonne

___________________________________

I loved "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" as well, from my first listen, but to me it seems more derivative of the Bee Gees. The rhythm guitar drives the riff. As for the Dr, John influence, I don't hear it. There is a bit of Crescent City syncopation on the piano, but that's all. I have had the pleasure of looking over Mac's shoulder while he shredded the piano. As a New Orleans guy, I hate to agree with you that he is a better player than his material. But the real influence here seems to be the late, great Allen Toussaint, especially the horn arrangements. Allen was a dear friend and would let me play duets with him, experiences I will always treasure. Whether or not he was a better piano player than Mac is an old argument, but his horn arrangements are near perfection. Allen would have liked this song. I only wish I could have shared it with him.

Thank you!
Dr Bill Coleman

___________________________________

Longtime reader, first time responder. Thank you very much for discovering & sharing Neal Francis.

I was almost one year ahead of you on the Francis adoption curve, as he was the final pre-Covid concert that I saw. Some buddies had seen him before and raved about his talent, but it was a Sunday night (March 8 to be exact). Even with our limited Covid knowledge at the time, it felt a little dicey standing in a crowd. By the end of the night, I was so glad that I had.

Francis and his band brought energy, talent and orchestration unlike anything in the current scene. It was seemingly lifted from the 1970s, combining Chicago type rock, funk, jazz and storytelling.

The venue was pretty small, several levels below The Fillmore on the SF scene, but the crowd was really into the vibe and you could tell Francis did not want to stop. At one point, late in the show he said there was no reason to stop because "tomorrow is work from home." For many of us, that was actually true. Monday, March 9 was the first day of work from home and just two days before the Covid dominos fell on March 11 -- Trump press conference shutting down European travel, Tom Hanks testing positive, Rudy Gobert of Utah Jazz testing positive, NBA season shutting down with citywide shelter in place following days later.

It always struck me that a touring musician made the "work from home" observation, but he was right. I am not sure, but I suspect that was also the end of Francis' 2020 tour.

A few months ago, I pulled up Francis on Spotify and saw the "Artist Fundraising" make a contribution button. I immediately sent $25 to Francis. Like the entire music and broader entertainment industry, 2020 was not as planned -- no tours, no encores, no loyal fans rewarded, no new fans courted. Still, the gift of that March 8 show was priceless. I am forever a Neal Francis fan, and so glad he crossed your radar.

I have joked with my friends that we never should have been at that show on March 8. There certainly had to be Covid in the venue. That was nearly one year ago, we are still working from home, there are still no shows, and I am so very glad that I discovered Neal Francis that night.

Keep doing what you do, all the best,

David Toner

___________________________________

Check out Neal song "how have l lived" demo , came up on my discovery weekly as well. I had similar reaction to that song. Called his agent Josh Knight instantly to offer all my help

Don Strasburg

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Harvey Goldsmith-This Week's Podcast

Led Zeppelin, U2, Queen, Pink Floyd, the Who, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli... What do they all have in common? They've had shows promoted by Harvey Goldsmith. A Commander of the Order of the British Empire, even though he has no airs, Harvey Goldsmith has not only been a promoter, he's been the manager of Billy Connolly, Jeff Beck, the aforementioned Pavarotti... We start with the return of live shows and then move on to explorations of Brexit, Harvey's trials and tribulations in the concert business and even his bus trip across America in the sixties where he met the Grateful Dead. Harvey has been there and done that and is still doing it. Listen to one of the masters.

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-the-bob-lefsetz-podcast-30806836/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/harvey-goldsmith/id1316200737?i=1000511556636

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4e2oJJ0qqda75xMuQpQKvX?si=97iF3hg1RJy9qBdjMFAD4w

https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9ff4fb19-54d4-41ae-ae7a-8a6f8d3dafa8/The-Bob-Lefsetz-Podcast

https://www.stitcher.com/show/the-bob-lefsetz-podcast

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Wednesday 3 March 2021

Changes, Pts. 1 & 2

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3kJeRxZ

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3e7RFIj

I found this on Spotify's "Discover Weekly."

Since the service is run by algorithm there are more misses than hits on this playlist, but I go back every now and again to see what's shaking and...

I'm not at a loss for recommendations, it's just that too many are of acts where the hype exceeds the music. Everybody's fighting for attention and most don't get it.

I'd never heard of Neal Francis, at least I didn't think I had. The name rang a distant bell, but maybe that was the DJ with a similar name, or the rugby player, who both spelled their first name "Neil." I found this out when I started to research, and I also found out that Neal Francis does not have his own Wikipedia page, but if you Google him you find that he overcame his addiction to deliver this music... WHO CARES? I know you're looking for a marketing angle, a story, but I've never even heard of this guy. Today you lead with the music, which oftentimes is the weakest part of the package.

I was completely burned out. That's the best time to listen to new music. During the day there are too many distractions, and in the twenty first century everybody's multitasking, seemingly no one sits alone on the couch and devours a new album and only a new album anymore.

I'd done my Sirius show, I had a couple of things to take care of on my computer, and I did, but then being mentally blitzed I decided to just surf the web and listen to music, and after hearing the oldies I wanted new stuff, which is what led me to Discover Weekly, not that it's always new stuff.

Like the second song, a live version of "The Weight." Actually, I skipped right over that.

As for the first, it was Low Cut Connie, which has a great rep, and this song had the right sound, just not the right changes, the song itself was substandard.

And the third song, "Domino" by Nicole Atkins," was decent, but I didn't let that play through, just like with the Low Cut Connie tune.

The fourth track was by the Brothers Osbourne. In the news lately because one of the brothers came out, brave of him, kudos. And I like the Osbornes, but this playlist had thirty songs in it and if I was gonna make it through, I had to skip, to...

Who knows. You get to the point where you're not paying attention. Actually, that's how I normally listen to playlists, on my phone, hiking, and I only check out the name when something catches my ear, otherwise I'm skipping through.

And "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" started slow, I knew there was a change coming, so I didn't hit the button to fast-forward, especially because the intro didn't feature beats, a turn-off, very few employ them innovatively. And about thirty seconds in it came. With a guitar reminiscent of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall." And to tell you the truth I was not completely paying attention, and then, just shy of two minutes in, there was this strange horn riff, short, not extended, as if a note or two had been left out and I immediately looked at the second screen, where I keep my Spotify window, wanting to know...WHO IS THIS?

And that's when I started Googling.

Meanwhile, the song keeps playing. There's a guitar solo. Those horns... I'm not fast-forwarding past this! I told myself I had to hear it again, but it turned out I was barely halfway through, the song was six and a half minutes long. WHO ELSE KNEW ABOUT THIS? Obviously not too many, none of Francis's tracks had a million streams on Spotify.

And now I've got the song on a loop. Loving the groove. Remembering the thrill of the old days, buying a record, getting stuck on it, playing it over and over again, high as a kite, not on drugs, but the tune itself, it being the only thing needed to make you feel good, to make you complete.

And then I'm wondering if it's just the space I'm in. So I switch to hear other Neal Francis tunes, and they're good, but not as good as "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2."

So, further research takes me to a KCRW concert: https://bit.ly/3uPF1nb Okay, the hipsters knew, and what usually happens in this case is there's a show and it gets press and you become aware. But there are no tours now.

And watching the video all I can see is MONEY! A full band, a horn section, WHO IS PAYING FOR THIS? The label was Karma Chief Records. Never heard of it. But is it another one of these indies distributed by a major? I keep researching, and I cannot find a connection. Although it does turn out, and I only found this out today, digging even deeper, that Karma Chief is a division of Colemine Records, from Ohio of all places, but it turns out this is the company that releases the Black Pumas. So now it starts to come together. Someone's got a deep pocket. But who is investing in this music, which falls between the cracks, out of date, anything but hip, but so SATISFYING!

The truth is listening to "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" I thought all the track needed was a different singer, and then it would be a smash, I could recommend it. But that's not how they form bands these days, you can't tell anybody they're not good enough, they insist on being the singer.

Meanwhile, this track is so FUNKY! It's like everything that happened in the past two decades didn't. Maybe three or four. But, "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" is not retro, other than in influence. It's anything but hip-hop, and it's far from pop, and if you think they'd ever play this on Active Rock radio you've never made the devil horns. Where in hell would they play this stuff?

Non-comms I guess. But the old idea of starting in non-commercial radio and crossing over to the big time, that's done. Non-comm is its own universe. Mostly middle-aged people wanting to hear new rock-influenced music. And some of it deserves a wider audience, but most of it does not.

So, what is a hit song?

It's something you FEEL! Something you hear and have to hear immediately once again. Something you need to tell people about. Other than that, a song can sound like ANYTHING! Ergo, "They're Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!" There's no recipe, you're always starting with a blank slate. And the key is to digest the influences and concoct them into something new, with your personal input. Which is why me-too does not resonate. We're all looking for that which is indescribable and fresh.

But I did not write about "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2," because I wondered if it would still sound as good today. That's the test. AND IT DOES! I don't want to turn it off, I don't want to leave this mood!

And I could look up the words online, but I don't really care about them, that's not what the high of the track is. First and foremost it's the changes, too often nonexistent in today's one chord world. And then those damn horns. It's like Al Kooper called the recording studio and told them to use them, because no one else is, at least not real horns. They were all over soul music, more than white rock and roll, but horns are not the sound of today's popular Black music.

And along with recovery, the hype talks about Neal Francis's influences being Dr. John and Leon Russell. Dr. John's material was not as great as his playing, sorry, but Leon Russell fired on all cylinders, could deliver everything, and was in the background until the world was ready for him as a solo act. His ticket to stardom was his work with Joe Cocker, the Asylum Choir stiffed.

But who is going to lift up Neal Francis? There is no scene, nothing universal we're all hooked into. But, then you hear something like "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" and wonder why it isn't front and center, it being more fresh than almost anything in the Spotify Top 50. Come on, you can fast-forward through an entire playlist without stopping, nothing reaches out and grabs you, demands attention. That's the case with most popular stuff. It doesn't touch your SOUL!

And maybe "Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" won't touch yours. But play it twice and tell me it doesn't. Those horns are like cocaine, the effect is brief and intense and then you just want more, more, MORE! And your mind is on this wild adventure, akin to the one you used to take in your bedroom, in the basement, maybe with the speakers turned up, maybe with headphones on, drowning out the world that did not accept you, burying yourself in a world that did. That's why the best and the brightest just had to be involved in music.

You're either on the bus or off the bus. Either you get ""Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" or you don't. And if you do?

You won't want to turn it off, you'll be smiling, getting that feeling you thought was gone, but it turns out it was just dormant inside you.

Maybe you have to get up and dance, even if you've never done so with anybody around. The music gets inside you and your body must move, even if you're just sitting in your chair.

THIS IS THE FUTURE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS!

Doing it your way, in a way one without history/practice cannot, following your own muse to create something that satisfies you and thus satisfies US ALL! The major labels are not in this business, more than ever they're about commerce, who cares what they're worth on the stock exchange, that's not what it's about.

And almost all of the people clamoring they're not making enough money to live their lives as a musician don't deserve to.

But Neal Francis does.

"Changes, Pts. 1 & 2" at Coachella would be a smash. It'd kind of be like having Sam & Dave front the Blues Brothers. But with much younger players. This music is forever, it's undeniable, I'M SO EXCITED!

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Monday 1 March 2021

Bad Company-SiriusXM This Week

"I wanted to drop you a line to thank you for your support, I hear you and it is much appreciated.
You know I still get a kick out of hearing our music on the radio myself. There's something about rock music and driving that goes together well, uplifting and freeing.
So thank you for your words and stay well in these troubled times. God Bless and Cheers Paul Rodgers"

Last week I called an audible and we discussed Morgan Wallen, so THIS WEEK we'll be doing Bad Company.

To fire you up, I've created a playlist: https://spoti.fi/3sINExQ

Tune in tomorrow, March 2nd, to Volume 106, 7 PM East, 4 PM West.

Phone #: 844-6-VOLUME, 844-686-5863

Twitter: @lefsetz or @siriusxmvolume/#lefsetzlive

Hear the episode live on SiriusXM VOLUME: siriusxm.us/HearLefsetzLive

If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app: siriusxm.us/LefsetzLive

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The Landscape

Everything you're told is big is actually getting smaller.

You used to feel inadequate because you didn't have enough money, now you're made to feel inadequate because you just don't know enough, when the truth is everything is less important and no one knows it all and no one knows what is going on.

GOLDEN GLOBES

The story here is that NBC hasn't canceled this bogus fracas. The "Los Angeles Times" did a marvelous excavation of the self-serving policies of the fewer than one hundred members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association but there wasn't a peep whatsoever from NBC, proving that dollars triumph over truth, proving that we can no longer believe in our institutions. And, that silence is the best defense. If you're accused of anything, just STFU. There's so much information in the channel it will soon be forgotten. Naysayers move on to something else, and everybody judges by clicks, and if you don't generate any, the spotlight moves on from you. The internet loves skirmishes, do your best not to participate. And beware of those who employ skirmishes to raise their profile.

CPAC

When there's no credibility, what kind of country do we live in? One where the individual is king. The future is about those who stand up for their beliefs, which are grounded in truth and science, and stick to them irrelevant of blowback. That is what draws strong acolytes. And passion is always more important than numbers. A hundred thousand passionate fans, who will stay on course and spread the word, are more important than a million ultimately silent looky-loos.

FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL

Ratings are falling through the floor. The more you put in the channel, the more options you give people, the truth outs that many vaunted sports just aren't that popular. Yet, you read the paper, assuming you do at all, and you're made to believe these sports rule the universe, have everyone paying attention, but they don't.

SKEW YOUNG

Unless you want to die, that is. Tina Fey is 50. Amy Poehler is 49. They are not heroes of the younger generation, to a great degree they're unknown by the younger generation. Now I should expect blowback for mentioning women's age. Which, of course, is nitpicking and missing the point. Ricky Gervais is 59, but he didn't host the Golden Globes this year, so the focus is not on him. If you're heading for extinction, stay with the old and true. But take your wisdom from MTV, before the internet came along and killed the paradigm. MTV refused to age with its audience, it remained the youth clubhouse. Oldsters bitched when their favorite VJs got canned, but MTV kept its ratings until it missed the internet. Either plan to sunset your company or embrace change, even if you might have a momentary blip in revenues. The best example here is Adobe, which went from boxed software, i.e. purchase, to subscription. Revenues sank and then they went back up and have not only stayed up, but increased. Meanwhile, their customers think about the company, are bonded to the company all the time, the relationship is secure, it's harder to be undermined by competition.

CONSUMPTION RATHER THAN SALE

It's no longer about the instant musical hit, but how long you can sustain. You want longevity, and the short term thinking of the major labels and the bitching about streaming by oldsters takes the focus off this sea change. Music can be an annuity, assuming you create stuff that people want to continue to listen to, which tends to be different from what everybody else is creating.

INSTITUTIONS ARE LOSING CONTROL

This has been the story of the past few years in the music business, the lack of control of the major labels. First and foremost, a lot of what is consumed is not under their umbrella, unless it's a distribution deal. Second, major labels controlled exposure, i.e. radio and press, which mean ever less in an era where you can hear what you want, on demand, for free, and you can promote yourself online for free too. Yes, major labels' influence on playlists is troubling, but playlists are a lot less influential than commonly believed, otherwise Morgan Wallen's "Dangerous" would have tanked when it was removed from them. The truth is playlists are for passive listeners, active listeners choose their music, they're the ones that drive choice and consumption. And, once again, we learn that influence, disruption, always comes from the outside. Not only with streaming services, but TikTok. Turns out what people want to embrace might be different from what the major labels want to sell, and usually is. You can try to seed a hit on TikTok, but it's hard to do. Which is why a video of a worker skateboarding to Fleetwood Mac can be bigger and more memorable than what's on the hit parade.

TRUMP

Will fade away with reduced coverage. He thrives on oxygen. But his delusional acolytes are a force to be reckoned with. We must all stand up for truth, for facts, not only the media but individuals. Here is where we need a zero tolerance paradigm, otherwise we are screwed as a society.

BIDEN

Isn't it pleasant to not be glued to the workings of Washington 24/7? Think of all the energy that can be devoted to other efforts.

RESPECT THE YOUTH

Climate change is their number one passion. Acknowledge this and do something about it. The youth are our future, because they get old and become us after we die.

COMPASSION

Is history on a national level. The right says government is bad and the church will save you and the left is burned out. Compassion, like politics, which was reinforced in Georgia, is always local. Build from there. And know the less people have, the more compassionate they are.

CHANGE HAPPENS OVERNIGHT

Republicans might be bitching about electric cars, but Europe and China are all in. Keep saying you won't drive an electric automobile, just like you said you wouldn't buy a computer (assuming you're old enough to remember this), and you will be proven wrong. The train has left the station. Forget range anxiety, recharging stations, they're the penumbra. VW is all-in. In Europe the government is subsidizing the industry. Once again, we're backward in the U.S., other than being the home base of the biggest outfit in the business, Tesla. Which still is light years ahead of the competition, five years according to Dan Neil, America's number one automotive writer: https://on.wsj.com/37ZCygb

IMPERFECT RULES

If you're waiting to get it right, you're missing your window. Forget the gotchas, forget the grifters, if you're doing your best don't wait to get it exactly right before releasing or publishing, fix along the way. Society is fluid and you have to be fluid too, changing and improving as you progress.

BELONGING

That's the key to society today, everybody wants to belong, to show their stripes. Which is how BTS got so big, it was not only the music, but a whole culture fans could invest in, which is why those not infected, not members of the fan base, don't get it. This translates to so many other clubs, unfortunately many based on falsehoods. Get a good idea and then organize, make people feel they're part of a cause, that they count.

IGNORANCE IS RAMPANT

With all this information at people's fingertips, truth has suffered.

EMOTIONS HAVE TRIUMPHED OVER FACTS

Let's start with the anti-vaxxers. They don't want anyone touching their precious bodies. If we listened to them, all forward movement would be stopped. It's the early adopters who get it right, and nothing in life is a hundred percent safe, NOTHING! Same deal with boomers and tech. They're in future shock, they want to return to simpler times, kind of like the MAGA crowd, but that is never going to happen, NEVER!

MOVIES/TV

There is nothing we all watch, NOTHING! The most talked about shows of the past year were "Tiger King" and "Queen's Gambit." Quick, poll people, how many have seen both? Nowhere near as many as you think. Yet, media still reviews everything on network TV and considers streaming a second class citizen when both of the aforementioned shows are on Netflix. Too many reporters leave their brains at the door. They're so busy getting the story that they can't see the story, they can't analyze it, they can't put it in context. Unfortunately, if you want to see where things are going, you're going to have to find your own seer online.

THE TYRANNY OF CHOICE

The more you give, the more people are overwhelmed and refrain from participating. If you're trying to garner new fans, seed them with very little product. Best to have a steady flow of little product than an overwhelming dump of a lot.

COMPLAINTS

Go nowhere today. They're forgotten. And oftentimes there's not even anyone to complain to, try tweeting Apple, it cannot be done! Your goal is to improve your own little life. You need to seek out your own answers. Google is your friend. When you don't know something, immediately go to Google, don't ask the purveyor, you just look dumb, they put in the effort, why can't you? Same deal with tech help. Figure it out yourself, once again Google is your friend. This is a huge sea change between the past and the present and future, between the young and the old. If you need to call someone to fix your problem, forget it, you're already history. If you're complaining your product didn't last, you're forgetting that if it was available at all, in the past it was ten times the price and it doesn't pay to repair it.

MONEY

Everyone's got an angle, look for it. You can no longer be passive, you're your own information repository, you must learn to analyze and seek truth, knowing that there are charlatans who are trying to influence you falsely. That's what America lacks most, intellectually anyway, the power to analyze. How do facts fit together, where are things going. I'll give you a clue, altruism is out the window, everybody's trying to get rich, put this viewpoint into your mental mix, it will help you see the landscape more clearly.

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Sunday 28 February 2021

More Morgan Wallen

Well that didn't work.

In case you're out of the loop, or just don't care, which is the case with so many who've canceled Morgan Wallen, "Dangerous" just notched its seventh week atop the "Billboard" chart. So if the goal was to ostracize Wallen, to kill his career, that hasn't happened.

What is the rule of battle?

Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer?

Wallen posted an olive branch, it's just that those on the other side have not accepted it. It's one thing when you've got some delusional politician/media star/radio host with an agenda spewing hatred and untruths who refuses to back down, admit they're wrong, but that is not the case with Morgan Wallen. Why can't we make this a teaching moment? Why can't all the outlets who banned his music get together with him to spread the message that the N-word is not okay to use? You know Wallen would play along, because the message is good and he wants peace. Everybody else can go to rehab and emerge a new person, cleansed, and be accepted, but there's no route that Wallen can pursue that will get him out of jail.

We all make mistakes. Do we now live in a zero tolerance society? Where every utterance by an individual is perceived identically, irrelevant of intent or apology? You couldn't live up to that standard, no one could live up to that standard!

As for the blowback, the truth spoken by Mickey Guyton, thank god the layer of racist b.s. in Nashville was exposed, demonstrating that racism is endemic, illustrating that things must change. But what has happened since? Nothing. The story is now old, no one is talking about racism in Nashville, it's just business as usual, so what has been accomplished? A bunch of self-satisfied people have continued to divide the republic when they've got the option to bridge the gap. Once again, Morgan Wallen is playing, it's just those that have canceled him who are not.

Meanwhile, everybody's afraid to go out on a limb. These radio chains and streaming outlets are corporations, they report to Wall Street and boards, they're risk-averse, they take the public temperature before they take any action at all. And it's good that they canceled Morgan after his words, but it is not good that it's forever.

And the secret we all know is you can't get a man to go on record about sexual abuse, rape, any offense against women for fear of being canceled himself. Actually, many people will say men don't get to have an opinion at all. How does this solve the problem? I'm not saying men are not guilty, I'm just saying that we have to talk about the problem from all sides to work out a reasonable solution.

So no one in music is going on record about Morgan Wallen. They're all silent. They're all wimps.

So what is the penalty for using the N-word? Are you canceled forever or is there a specified amount of time after which we bring you back into the fold. The point here is we don't know! And if we just talked about it we could make headway, it could become clear, but it's off the table. Primarily because if you speak up chances are you'll get caught in the crossfire and be canceled too. You've got to agree with the group or you can't speak, you're not entitled to an opinion.

As for racist rednecks purchasing "Dangerous" to make a point, we have no idea to what degree that is true. But if it is, they see Wallen as one of them. If Wallen is embraced by the social justice warriors, and testifies as to his fault and apologizes on country radio stations...where does that leave them? They'll lose their martyr, they'll become marginalized, isn't that what we want?

America needs not only a conversation about race, but cancel culture. Watch Bill Maher's "New Rule" from Friday night: https://bit.ly/3r5Pjx8

If you're willing to dive deeper into the gray area, into thorny issues, read this:

"Inside a Battle Over Race, Class and Power at Smith College: A student said she was racially profiled while eating in a college dorm. An investigation found no evidence of bias. But the incident will not fade away.": https://nyti.ms/3r5PsAG

Read a few paragraphs, you'll be stunned. Yes, there is systemic racism in America, but does that make every white guilty?

Oh, don't talk to me about racial justice training, I'm not saying whites don't offend, I'm not saying Blacks haven't been subjected to racism ever since they've come to America, but every situation is not black and white. And the more you make them so, the more you alienate those who don't agree with you. I'm far left of Biden, but I think cancel culture is out of control, if you need a trigger warning to read a book, maybe you shouldn't be in college to begin with.

So, since the white mob has canceled Morgan Wallen forever, those white fans who are racist are having their feelings of oppression reinforced. No, I'm not saying it's the whites who are oppressed as opposed to the Blacks, I'm saying when a mob cracks down on you and there's no respite, no truth, no way back to harmony, this works against us all. For example, you've got those on the right saying 1/6 was all Antifa, and that Trump really won the election. There are endless falsehoods, most notably at CPAC this past weekend. But just because they're out of control liars doesn't mean we should be.

As for Morgan Wallen's "Dangerous"...

It's damn good.

Most of the people canceling it would never listen to it. They never listen to country radio. Half of the public is wiped away, if for no other reason than they talk differently and have different values. Yes, I hate when people force their religion upon me, inject it into government, but they've got the right to practice their religion...we've just got to teach and enforce the boundaries!

So, I found myself out hiking bored with podcasts and news, and I wondered what might satiate me. It occurred to me to pull up "Dangerous." No one would know, it was a private effort, not that I was not anxious, and after I did, I was stunned how rewarding it was.

Then again, we live in a culture where there's no consensus, where people would rather hate on you than agree with you. Come on, if I write about ANY record, ANY AT ALL, I get excoriated by people who believe they know better. They analyze the faults in the song, in the production, and then I look them up online and I find out...they're nobody, with no success. They rip other people to make themselves feel good. That's what our entire nation has devolved into. Drawing lines, taking sides, creating difference.

And the music industry is adding fuel to the fire. Now that's sad!

_________________________________________

Hi Bob,

Black artist manager who's based in Nashville and has managed country acts. The outrage and attempted cancellation of Morgan was lost on me. He was drunk, talking to friends and was picked up by a Ring camera. The way folks reacted you'd have thought Morgan stood on the Opry stage during a concert and said "we gotta get the n-words out of Nashville". He didn't even register a blip in Black media, and most black folks don't even know who Morgan is, let alone care that he called his redneck friends the n-word.

I was once on a Skype (does anyone use that anymore?!) with my business partner, who is white when a group of our friends (who are also white) walked in. One of them shouted "wassup my n@&*as" not knowing I was there virtually. When he saw I was on the call he immediately apologized and said he meant no disrespect to me. I was slightly disappointed in him but not cancel him disappointed.

Unpopular take: black folks have been trying to de-stigmatize that word for several decades now. Its one of the justifications we use for using that word ourselves. Maybe its finally lost its sting if rednecks are comfortable calling each other "n@&*as". Just sayin.

Bottom line: I wish woke white folks cared more about the lack of black leadership in music than what some drunk dude said at 2am.

Sam

________________________________________

You are right, Bob, the San Francisco school re-naming thing is ridiculous.
I'm a proud San Franciscan and liberal Democrat. I also have two boys in SF's public schools. Every parent I know (from a wide variety of ethnicities) is upset by this vote and the millions of dollars it will cost. It's completely blind to the current needs of families.
The truth is that the pandemic has been CRUSHING to parents who both have to juggle work at home, while making sure their kids are actually paying attention in video classrooms, and keeping them occupied because they cannot be with their friends. Imagine how difficult it must be for single parents? Especially ones who have labor jobs and can't work at home. And the School District has NO PLAN to safely re-open!
My 8th grader attends Presidio Middle School and its getting renamed, apparently because the actual Presidio used to be a military base. Ah, so that must be why he likes to shoot other people while playing Call of Duty. C'mon!!!
-Kent Carter

________________________________________

You need to sit down on this one. Good grief.

Brooks Jordan

________________________________________

Amen dude.
Cancel culture, wokish-ness and faux outrage is the new big brother. Morgan Wallen is just the latest example of "virtue signaling" by overcompensating corporations. What he did wasn't right, he admitted it, he's a knucklehead, time to move on.

Oh -- Facebook now says I can't call one of my best friends a pussy because it's bullying. Our entire relationship publicly and privately on facebook is based on mercilessly ragging on each other. Now I have to use "courage deprived feline" and "fellator of roosters" so I'll pass the anti-bullying filter. Kinda funny as it forces me to be creative but...

Dan Millen

________________________________________

Seems to be white Women are the most offended. None of my black friends cared. They understand context, forgiveness, and empathy. The largely white cancel mob know none of those things. The people I know are more put off by the neighbor surreptitiously recording the incident. He's the true villain.

George Marshall, Jr.

________________________________________

Amen. The cure for bad speech is more speech (Supreme Court justice Louis Brandeis, back in 1927)

Dave Murray

________________________________________

Political correctness is THE gateway drug to the Republican party. Reverse racism running a very hot second. The hard core warriors of the language wars of political correctness are never going to back down because they believe it's their life. Or death. Using common sense (your path) can get you into the Mitch McConnell hot seat, where you're damned either way.
I think these two gateway drugs are permanent prions in the modern mind that will eventually destroy its host.
Your solution (common sense) relies on the occasional sacrifice of the all important ego.
Never gonna happen in the hot zone.
None of the above should be construed as condoning Wallen's caucasian arrogance.
Curse the sin and not the sinner does have merit, but repeat offenders should lose the option of this humane olive branch.
richard sales

________________________________________

Agreed 100% on the subject of "cancel culture" in general, and of Morgan Wallen's case specifically. How many of his hypocrite detractors were famous at 27, with someone filming the goings-on at their home?

Jer Gervasi

________________________________________

You could ask the same about Louis CK, Al Franken, Aziz Ansari & numerous others who's social mis-steps, mis-speaks & transgressions weren't nearly as severe as Harvey Weinstein's, Bill Cosby's, Kevin Spacey's, Michael Richard's & Mel Gibson's.

So the question remains, at what point do they get released from social purgatory, if ever? Do they have to remain there for the rest of their lives? Effectively ending their careers in the public eye, & spotlight?

-Rick Marino

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Completely disagree. The problem with today's times is we let people 'off the hook' when they shouldn't be. "I wont do it again.' And then... Boom... more video of that person doing it again.

Nail his ass to the wall. He used it in a VERy derogatory way. He KNEW it was derogatory. That's WHY he said it.

Kevnn Robinson

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Yeah, no, Bob.

You have been around enough to make this distinction. Morgans fans cannot make sense of your nuance.

They hear hateful, racist things and are encouraged by his language. They celebrate this behavior.

F... him, I hope he never makes another dollar.

Also you may want to retract some of this, it doesn't sound great. Apologists for using the nword are not good looks.

Get back in touch with real folks. It's tough out here.

Aaron James

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What a weird side to take. Absolutely wrong.

Matt Ross

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With all due respect, this is not his first disastrous, self destructive decision. In a very short span of time he has been arrested for fighting drunk in a bar, risking lives by not following Covid restrictions while partying, canceled from SNL, given a second chance, immediately went back to maskless partying AND used the N word comfortably and with no self-awareness.

When these are the things that show, there are a thousand more we don't see. It's a pattern. It's representative of who he is. Plus, his music is horrible. I say clear the way for more talented artists with a conscience and a sense of decency.

Thanks,
Dean Miller

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Right on Bob. Glad you had the chutzpah to say what a lot of us are thinking. It wasn't cool what he did - but the degree of public and professional punishment didn't fit the bad behavior.

Charles Fetterly

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Bob, I'm not sure wading off in this one is the best route, but you have. Wallen is a train wreck. He needs to get sober and show some respect for himself and those who have invested in him, either financially or as fans.

If he is truly remorseful, he could find a way to make this a teaching moment not only for him but for those who love his music.

The people (or at least some people) have spoken, but what are they saying here? We're so glad you used the N word that we're going to buy your records/stream your songs as a show of support for using a racial slur, and as reaction to those who have rightfully condemned this? You can bet your ass that they aren't parsing out the context. This is indicative a real problem in our society, and shows pretty clearly how race continues to drive so much.

As for those who won't forgive, maybe some words to encourage that are helpful. But I remember some real cancel culture when the Chicks were literally taken out of circulation. And there's an interesting crossover there, or at least it seems so. The same folks who rushed to vote with their wallets for Wallen (or their forbears) were voting the other way for the Chicks.

Country music ought to be about finding beauty in everyday life, not ugliness. Those who get to Wallen's level need to speak to beauty, not ugliness.

Jim Warren

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This is a horrible take Bob and veery disappointed to read it from you.

Shivam Pandya

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I'm Korean and I don't feel the need to reclaim the word "gook" and thus I don't use it and expect others to not use it.. It would be a lot easier if ALL parties agreed to not use racially offensive terms.

Steve Byun

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you have got to be kidding me.

Heather Coughlin

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Cancel Culture: No. Consequence Culture: Yes. Like all things of this nature, we do nothing for along time, then catch ourselves, and over-correct. Ultimately, you'd hope we wind up with the right formula.

Jon Sinton

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You're off here. This is the big leagues and when you mess up you pay big league prices. He showed his true colors by screaming racial slurs out at the top of his lungs thinking there would be no consequences. The epitome of privilege. As is your response. He was home which means this is a regular thing and actually who he is. You can hear it in the way it so effortlessly came out of his mouth the way Ive heard it being flung out at me and my ancestors for centuries. He and people like him need to he held accountable and cast aside.

Jared Cotter

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The supreme ignorance in this instance is an old white man thinking he has the depth and nuance and LIFE EXPERIENCE to be an authority on this.

Guess what, that word, coming out of the mouth of anyone not Black, is and will always be derogatory. Just because this country is so deep in the belly of learned racism in the micro and macro that you can find some Black faces that will give you the answer you want to hear doesn't change truth.

Andres Reye

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Watched both videos and up until this moment I had no feeling, yea or nay, about his music or his personna. Not a real fan before, but I certainly am now. What a remarkably insightful, soulful, reflection on a massively inappropriate moment, his coming to grips with it, and his deliberate way-forward into growth.

He's young; he did not realize that there is an ever-present mulituniverse of people who are teen up to pounce on you with a QUICKNESS whenever a slight can be detected. He realizes it now.

From what I saw, I believe his mind has been affected and rebooted at a root level in a most interesting and positive way. An Amazing Grace sort of thing….

Anyway, bravo to Morgan Wallen. A guy that cerebral is likely to make good music. Welcome to the big city Morgan: peace.

Dave

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Totally agree. The woke police make moderate Republicans think twice about leaving Mothership Trump. Like defund the police. Can we make it any easier to keep Trump relevant?

Robert Williams

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You missed the mark here tragically- stay in your lane. Defending racists is not a good look for you. His record sales went up since the incident and you think he is in the dog house? Get your head out of the sand and PLEASE go read a history book or two. People that defend racists are also racist. I was genuinely surprised by this letter- but I shouldn't be.

Jeremy Shelton

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Thank you for the Morgan Wallen piece.
I am so sick of this cancel,woke,etc. culture. These folks are bullies with keyboards. Enough already!

Stan Goman

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Thanks Bob. I'm a Southerner, I don't listen to much modern country music, never heard Morgan Wallen, but I completely understand what you're saying. What this young man did was ignorant and crass, but at what point do you take out the nails and bring him down from the cross? And yes, we folks down here feel like we're held to a different standard because of the grievous mistakes of our forefathers. And our accents (there are several in the region, mine is Southern Appalachian Mountains) automatically lowers our IQ's in the eyes of so many. We appreciate you sticking up for us.

Ya'll Come And Visit, Ya Hear?

Sean Brown
Asheville NC

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Waaaaaaa, another white man is getting "canceled" because he said something racist. Please. He's still a white man, he'll be just fine. It IS black and white, because EVERYTHING in this country is in Black and white. The N word has been used for centuries, way before it showed up in hip hop, while lynching, raping, murdering, targeting and otherwise destroying the dignity and lives of Black people in this country. It has long been established that if you are not Black, you cannot use the word in polite society. Unless you want to further carry out the legacy of hatred associated with the word, a deafening chorus of which has been the soundtrack to many a hate crime, waaaaay before it was even considered a crime to murder a Black person...... unless you want to completely disrespect, harm, humiliate, and inflict pain upon Black people and re-establish your commitment to white supremacy by throwing the word around like a frisbee in July. It is the ONE THING that white people can't get away with anymore, it's the ONE THING they cannot do and it enrages them. He canceled himself.

Jennifer Johnson

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I'm kind of curious who had the camera on him day and night?

One of the better apologies I've seen.

Best,
Velina Brown

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You've truly revealed your true colors (pun intended).

I won't even bother to pontificate how offensive this insensitive diatribe you call a "blog".

Have a nice day

Kirk Bonin

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I'm not a fan of Morgan Walle's music, but I agree with you. (If this were twitter someone right about now would be attacking me for being a white male with the audacity to voice an opinion.And they're mostly other white people.)
'OF COURSE, LOOK AT THIS WHITE ASS MOFO DEFENDING RACISM. CANCEL HIS ASS!' They never get the point. But you get the point.
10-15 years ago, I was playing in pickup bands and worked with a few white dudes who mostly played with Black artists, and they truly loved RnB/Hip Hop music and they were good players, so they got the gigs.
But they were very comfortable using the vernacular of the artists they played for, 'Wut Up, My N****!' etc. It was their way of trying to fit in, I suppose. I found it cringe worthy, they sounded ridiculous and it was embarrassing to be around. The intent though was NOT to offend. In fact, I believe they thought they were paying some kind of homage to the culture, as idiotic as they came across. But now, this is called cultural appropriation. Some of those cats have the biggest mouths on social media when it comes to over the top Social Justice. I hope for their sake nobody ever recorded these dudes.
Every.Single.Person. has something they've said or done that would get them cancelled in this current climate.
Oy vey!!!

Wade Mosher

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Hey Bob, you know that Yankee Doodle Dandy was originally a Brit song making fun of faggy americans..... and americans took it and turned it into a fighting song against the brits....

Schuyler Bishop

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Every one of us has done similar or worse things, and most of us have used offensive terms and names.
Morgan's seeing what it is like to be young and successful and judged for his defects. I bet it has made him
better already, grown up a little. Now his actions are all that matters. I wish him the best.

Dennis Pelowski

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Good for you, Bob, for shining your light on this event and on Morgan.
And good for Morgan Wallen!
I am really touched by his apology video and the actions he has taken and is taking for himself and his loved ones.
May we all be as authentic when we own up to our mis-steps.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention.
All the best,
Margaret Horton

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Geeze, I've never seen a more sincere apology.

I don't know where Morgan will end up but give the man some space to repent and do some soul searching.

I don't know about anyone else but I did plenty in my 20's (and other times) that required some pretty deep soul searching on my part to decide what kind of person I wanted to become.

That process never ends.

He's a lucky man that he was called out on it and that he has a chance to grow and develop.

Now let's all move on and keep working on ourselves.

Annie Roboff

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Never forget .
Elvis Costello has been more than forgiven.
He's now a revered elder statesman!

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/elvis-costello-racist-remarks/

TN
Baltimore, Md

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Thank you for taking this stance, Bob. We desperately need more nuance and critical thinking across the board.

Kind regards,
Greg Smith

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Hallelujah Bob. I'm so glad to hear you address the morality of the cancel culture. The absence of forgiveness endemic within it speaks to a nation that wears religion as an ornament but has forgotten all its teachings. From afar America seems like an unkind and nasty place to live now. I hope it can recover and that you too don't get cancelled for being brave enough to defend a sinner who has asked to be forgiven.

Andrew Harting

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If your neighbor is filming you in the middle of the night, it's because it's not the first time and they are probably over it. Surprise! You're the a**hole on the block.

Jennifer Commander

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We are all idiots at times and we all need to be let out of the penalty box when we are repentant. If we then abuse that forgiveness, we should expect even worse.

When we refuse to let someone try to change their ways, we not only hold them prisoner, but ourselves, as well, because we limit our ability (as a society) to benefit from their gifts and abilities.

Yes, let Wallen return to the airways, work to change his vocabulary and gain some cultural sensitivity, he and we all will benefit.

Chris Long
Sacramento

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Bob, really great to see you write about the absurdity of 'cancel culture'. Permanent expulsion and shunning is the wrong tool for reconciliation. It creates polarization.

And that of course is why banishment is popular. It separates us (which benefits some) rather than unites us (which would benefit us all).

--Greg Bellamy

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I thought you were onto something until I watched the video you included.
This dude is an ignorant and belligerent jack ass who was bothering people in the middle of the night. He also used the P word in addition to the N-word. Furthermore, if he's a big-time country music star what is he doing living in that neighborhood?

I wouldn't try to defend him. Anybody who uses the N-word knows exactly what's going on.

That's why they use it Bob.

Bill West

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Truth!

We're all imperfect to put it mildly.
Like a pendulum, the correction of excess could be worse.

I am reminded of the wisdom of avoiding absolutes.

"Fear of something is at the root of hate for others, and hate within will eventually destroy the hater." George Washington Carver

I enjoy learning and evaluating my own foibles from your insightful and thought provoking correspondence.
Cheers!

Dave Weston

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Sorry Bob, I usually agree with ya but you are way out of step with what Black leaders, musicians and industry are calling for in regards to Wallen. If Black artists and listeners say that his use of the N-word was hurtful to them, I'm gonna believe them and defer to them on how to treat it. Come on man. You can do better than this.

Melody Walker

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OMG Bob. So now you're a racist apologist? You're dead to me now.

Mark Towns

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Sorry Bob, you are 100% on the wrong side of this issue. In today's politically and socially charged climate, only a zero tolerance approach can be taken. After my career in the music industry, up until retirement, I taught English at an inner city Baltimore high school. Regardless of who uses the derogatory word, there is simply no place for it.

Richard Gold

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Wrong. Whether YOU think he used this epiteth in a forgiveable way or not. Letting him out of the "doghouse" is a huge win for ignorance and a loss for true understanding and empathy. Don't give Morgan and his very supportive base the validation and more privilege than they already have. So unexpected Bob.

Kenton Dunson

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All the folks I've seen saying that Wallen deserves a second chance and an opportunity to learn from this have been black folks, it's whites (and generally whites who are desperate to be seen as "good people" by non-whites) that are saying he doesn't deserve to have a career anymore. Irony of ironies. I can't co-sign what he said, but I'm glad people are pushing back on this idea that he doesn't get to have a career because he once said something bad in earshot of a camera phone.

Adam James

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Unsubscribing. Jesus Christ, this wasn't even close.

Benjamin M. Katz
Attorney at Law

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