12/18/2009 2:26:18 PM
"Picture of you" Updated

11/17/2007 4:05:35 PM
Music Production

8/17/2007 8:47:08 PM
Musically minded

8/2/2007 4:09:09 PM
guitarists

8/2/2007 4:09:09 PM

guitarists
It seems these days a lot of bands have very "middle of the road guitarists". They learn a few chords and learn the blues scale, and there off calling themselves lead guitarists. Don’t get me wrong, I know some are just naturally brilliant like: Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Marr, Johnny Squire, Mark Knopfler and Clapton etc. and I don’t expect all guitarists to compete to this standard, but for gods sake, some of the “so called” guitarists of today in major signed bands really don’t make the grade.

I am not saying all guitarist of today are bad but it frustrates me to see some of the chaff that makes it into the charts.

Is there anyone else out there with the same views as me? If so please let me know.

8/2/2007 6:30:28 PM

I totally agree Tinny.

It USED to be about talent. But these days in my most humble opinion, it's about LOOKS.

I know for a fact that some major labels won't even put on a musician unless they are hot looking, and wear the right clothes etc. And that's bull crap. It should be about the music - but it's not anymore.

And that's where the major labels make there errors. So it's no surprising that a lot of guitarists today blow on ice. They get hired not for their playing abilities - they get hired for there MARKETABLE ASSESETS. (No pun intended)

That's why places like IAC are so important. Hopefully here at IAC people are judged by their MUSIC, and not their looks, or their political views.

8/2/2007 6:49:51 PM

I must say I totally agree with both of you and particularly with your points on the major's and their crappy marketing strategies!!!
Most of the commercial top 40 now is what I term McDonalds music. Fast food musical junk fed to those who have yet to learn what music really is. The 'artists' are 'created' by the majors, told what to do, how to look and what to 'sing', bled dry and spat out when the next new 'hot' thing comes along.
Fortunately, the real artists and performers now have a voice away from these leeches with places like IAC where we can promote music written and performed by musicians who are actually talented.
We now have access to affordable professional quality recording equipment and have a vehicle (the internet) to spread our treasures and let the world know we are alive. We can bypass the leeches and 'do it ourselves' thanks to the likes of IAC.
I see mp3's and the net as a promotional tool with the income made from generating a unique attraction to our live shows. I think the days of making a fortune from album sales are coming to an end. People can download music if they want it so why not provide it for them. Spread the word and get them buying tickets to our shows, buying our DVD's at the gigs and spreading the word to our friends.
That way, the only people concerned about internet downloads and peer to peer networks are the major labels. Let them worry while we get on with bringing real music back to the masses!!
Frank Zappa had a very similar vision to this years ago. He was a VERY clever man, WAY ahead of his time!

8/2/2007 8:19:18 PM

Tinny and Superpuss,
Yes all true, and Paul nails it!
Sex sells-------good looks = sexy

You know, the phenomenon of extemely wealthy Muso's is a recent thing
Motzart was the pop star of his day, and had a patron, similar to old masters painters -------------it's really only since Elvis that performers began to make millions,
and maybe we are returning to musicians making music, and "stars" just being famous for being famous like Paris !
Bands like The Rolling stones , and more recently The Police, show that youthfulness and beauty are not a prerequisite for fame any more. Keith Richards
is still a great rhthym guitarist----in my book, and his face is like a map of his life!

Now back to the original question-------some of the music we see on mainstream it may not even be the guy you're watching on the Vid actually playing------
Even some bands here now have pre recorded sub bass and beats that they play along with at live shows-------I still equate "live" as being just that, LIVE!

8/2/2007 9:26:03 PM

I couldn't agree more with most all of the above. Except Silverwood, Keef would be extremely upset to be called simply a rhythm guitarist. He is a silky smooth lead player in addition to his backbone rhythm playing. But I admit he often gets lazy live and makes Ronnie play all the riffs on many a night. But make no mistake, Keef can play that bitch!
But the point here is we don't hear any Page's, Townshend's, Richards', type guitars in modern rock/pop. The guitar has been mixed in the backround in most all the popular music today. Is it because the guitar has become less important in today's music or is it because there aren't any versatile and skilled guitarists for these young groups today? I'm not sure???

8/2/2007 10:34:09 PM

Really folks ... come on ..... We now have American Idol...
Who the hell needs a lead guitarist !... lol ... :)

8/2/2007 11:07:27 PM

American Idol = No Need For Guitar

It's all about singing don't you know?

;)

8/2/2007 11:58:12 PM

Seriously .. I think it has a lot to do with numbers ... there are some very talented guitar players out there ... probably more than ever before ... but face it, when you have quantity you lose quality ...

In the "Old" days there were a handful of bands, so the lead guitarist had to be damned good to get in the band ... now there are thousands of bands out there, I think it is a good thing too, as I think everyone that enjoys playing music should do so, no matter if they are the "best" or not ... If I don't like what I hear, I can hit the eject button and put in something else.

In the earliest days of Rock-n-roll "lead guitar" was sort of a new thing ... the early guys developed and honed their skills ... bringing the world their new sounds and a lot of Rock shifted to being Guitar driven music.. it was what we all heard growing up on the radio .. culture has changed and although there is still a place for guitar driven music it's not the driving force it once was...

I think a lot of these new bands getting signed have guitar players that may eventually become great guitarist... but they only sign 20 year olds anymore..

All that being said a great guitar player will always stand out and part of the reason is because there are a lot of mediocre guitarist out there...

8/3/2007 12:21:34 AM

One more thing....

We all know that mainstream is crap ... that's why we are here...
but as long as the public keeps paying for and listening to crap it's not going to change ...

If we really want corporate to take notice then we have to take their audience away...

So I urge everyone to use your voice and get involved in promoting this place, not just to other artist but listeners as well...

If you don't care enough to get involved then you can't expect things to change ...

8/3/2007 9:31:34 AM

I agree.

We need to get the word out about IAC.

If you have a website, or a MySpace page - put up a link to KIAC!

The big record companies aren't that hard to understand - they follow the all mighty dollar. So if it sells, they do it. If that's what the public wants, they give it to them.

One of my favorite comics Bill Hicks (now since passed) used to do a routine about how he felt music was in the hands of 14 year old little girls - he wasn't far off the mark.

8/3/2007 11:27:40 AM

It is realy a shame, as there is so much talent on IAC and they seem to go unnoticed. I wonder if many of these talent spotters scan this site?

8/3/2007 11:32:51 AM

I keep the player code to my IAC page and my station handy so I can send it to all my friends. I have multiple IAC links on my website too and all the music playing sections are based on the IAC player.
I might put a section on my site where people can copy the player code to embed on their Myspace pages too.

If anyone wants to see what I am doing to promote IAC, check out my website (click 'SuperPuss' in my signature below).
The SuperPuss Myspace page is SuperPuss Myspace



SuperPuss
=^.^=

8/3/2007 11:34:46 AM

Bugger!!! I can't edit my reply!!

Let me try that Myspace link again -

SuperPuss Myspace

8/3/2007 11:50:32 AM

Interesting that this comes up about posting IAC banners around, we're currently updating the link to IAC page with a bunch of banners that have been used for the site, a great variety of colorful jpgs and gifs. Should be ready any day now!

8/3/2007 10:21:02 PM

Here's that new page Toby was talking about. Has some great, colorful IAC banners and if you click on them, the html link appears in a pop-up for you to use.

8/4/2007 5:50:15 AM

WOW!

Thanks for all those cool banners!

I REALLY like the guitar one!

8/4/2007 11:49:07 AM

Yeah.. Thanks for the Banners. I Have added some on my personal website, and I will add some on myspace next. I have been on quite a few music sites where you can upload your songs and stuff, but i must admit this is my favourite out of all of them. There is so much talent out there and it is nice that the people can be heard.

If you would like to see my website, it is http://www.tonybennett.co.uk

11/17/2007 5:48:13 PM

I agree with all the comments here!!!

Check out the recent posting of a Frank Zappa interview and he will explain how The BIZ works now!!!

Guitars - loud and proud!!!

11/17/2007 6:07:37 PM

I say "ugh" whenever someone says X-Factor or American Idol... since when did a singer or three singers become a band? That's the kind of attitude that really devalues music and musicians and REAL bands!

And then there's the songwriter... don't let me get started on major label songwriters... I think I'd better just go look at those banners... :)

11/17/2007 10:04:43 PM

Yeah...Thanks for the banners...got one on my MySpace site..ROCK!!!
as far as the subject matter of this thread....somewhere along the line, lead
guitar or 'lack of it' became fashionable....ain't that a bunch of shit!!

11/18/2007 12:34:42 AM

BWAHAHAHA!!

11/18/2007 9:13:45 AM

I had missed these very interesting commentaries, I would like to add only that: I agree that as making grow IAC the major label would be interested in several artists here present
but it would be illusory to think that you would keep your liberty of creation. The major labels listens to 10 of your tracks, it chooses the track N° X and tells " your other 9 tracks interested not us, from now you are going to write clones of the track N° X " only.
Believe me I speak you by experience.It is necessary to understand that the big misfortune of the musical art was the industrialization (that was not the case for the other arts). This system is in terminal phase, now the art abstracts itself thanks to internet and to the other shapes of multimedia, the major labels are agonizing, their last spasms make them aggressive against the downloading because they don't want to admit that their main problem is the lack of diversity, for years that they sell us the stereotyped products, without flavor, like any laundry or plastic food .To make grow IAC is necessary and essential but not to jump in the arms of these moribund factories it is essential and necessary for keep our liberty of artist and creator.
IAC and a few other sites can and must create the new space of creation and free musical expression there each will find his interest: the musicians and the listeners - customers and IAC also.
PS : Sorry for my bad English.

11/18/2007 10:38:27 AM

Your message is clear Mark - good points.

11/18/2007 3:53:39 PM

OK, so can we talk "grass roots marketing campaign"?
IAC has a wealth of diversity among it's ranks. Lots of good music available for "on the cheap"...an a la carte banquet buffet. My latest thought is this: where I am there are college radio stations where the DJs are just as independent thinking as we are and that is reflected in their programming. I'm sure they are looking for new and interesting artists' music to play on their shows on a regular basis...either drawing from their own collections or borrowing from friends. I recently spoke with one and got her email address so I could send her the link to IAC as well as to my own stations here.

Advantages for her:
easy, downloadable access to a richly diverse resource for new music
inexpensive availability to songs, and,
cutting edge programming

Sounds refreshing, doesn't it?

Advantages for us:
indie to indie market contact
"record" sales
airplay, airplay, airplay

Know any indie station DJs?

11/18/2007 4:39:01 PM

Amy Ketchum is a DJ in Cincinnati and has internet radio show

http://www.myspace.com/amyketchum

http://www.myspace.com/the-muzic plays its top 10 tunes from unsigned artists every week on internet radio sunlight thurs eve 8 - 10 GMT.

Radio Boudaki http://www.myspace.com/radioboudaki also plays unsigned artists on internet radio sunlight 10 - 12 pm thurs GMT

Newcastle Students radio plays music to university students
http://www.myspace.com/nsrlive

11/18/2007 5:38:12 PM

great! have you been in touch with them yet?

11/19/2007 1:25:55 AM

yes Dirge's music has been played on all of these

11/19/2007 2:01:27 AM

I don't listen to today's Modern Rock/Pop so I can't say. From my personal point of view, 3 Solo Acoustic Albums under my Belt that inwhich were all produced, written, composed, recorded, edited if not live and mastered all by me with the help of no one else. I think the mastering of the art with many instruments and unique sound is more important to me than kissing some studio's and Labels ass to make me sound good. As a musician that doesn't play to be cool or fit in a group of 4 asshole musicians with for an Ego doesn't appeal to me. I haven't seen a "great" live show in years. A I grew up a rocker! I try not to pass judgement on others or even talk about what scale they are playing, what key, 3 chords or 7. If it sounds good, it sounds good. If not, why even bother..

11/19/2007 11:32:16 AM

Ohhhhhh......I couldn't agree more!!!! I have noticed a steady decline in musicianship from the guitarists being promototed by the major labels, and I sometimes worry about the future of the guitar when I think about all the kids growing up today......who are their "Guitar Heros"??? (and I'm not atalking about the game). When I was growing up, the guitarists in bands were just as popular as the singers. Everybody wanted to learn to play the guitar and play like.....Page, Beck, Clapton, Van Halen, Hendrix, etc. I wonder if the kids today look around and say, "Hey I want to be the next American Idol."

The music industry really is a weird phenomenon.....the industry has sold everyone on the image. I have talked to people who will tell me they really like a certain musical artist, and when I ask why, they sometimes tell me because they think the artist is "Hot"!!!!........Huh??????? We're talking about music.....something you LISTEN to, not something you look at. I don't really notice this in other art forms......you don't hear about people buying paitings from a certain artist, because they think the painter is Hot, or people buying books from a certain author because they think the author is Hot......how did this happen to music.

All I can say is thank God for the IAC...I have discovered so many truly talented musicans here......people making music simply for the love of it. I have found new guitar heros on this site. And I will close with the Rock Quote of the Day for today:

To me, the music industry has got about as much meaning as a comic book. - Van Morrison

11/19/2007 11:35:56 AM

I started writing songs when I realized that I was never going to be a guitar god.
But you know what? I still like to play the occasional solo.
So there!

11/19/2007 12:39:24 PM

I never think of great guitarists as supa-fast 'shredders' and all that nonsense with an overabundance of fast technique,huge ego and little imagination..

One of my big complaints about modern music guitars is the opposite tho-The dull blanket distortion sound while strumming away sleepily like it was an acoustic-with no difference between verse or chorus..Its so boring and lacking in dynamics..

My favourite guitarists are probarbly Townshend and Hendrix..

Townshend dosn't have Jimi's amazing technique but both share great sense of space,drama,dynamics,exciting rythm and basically 'playing for the song' -to make the song sound as good as possible
Guitarists who play to show off their technique n speed rather than in service of the song arn't worth anything to me..

Peter Green always played for the song and was so beautifully soulful(just like his voice)..It was never about showing off for him..

11/19/2007 1:05:02 PM

Indeed Steve - it's about feel, not speed. Technique can help, but you can't "learn" how to feel, you have to live for it!

11/19/2007 1:49:04 PM

Completely agree.
There has to be a sense of drama.
In that sense, my favorites are almost never mentioned:
Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
Robert Quine (The Voidoids, Matthew Sweet)
Richard Lloyd (Television, Matthew Sweet)
Tom Verlaine (Television)

I mean, come on! Listen to Ira's solo on "Pablo & Andrea" (from Electr-o-Pura). It's not the least bit flashy, but it is completely transcendental. Brings the song (and me) someplace else.

        �2015-16 IndieMusicPeople.com      All Rights Reserved