Status And Selling Out

a guitar case covered in 90s era stickers, most importantly featuring "I hate Reel Big Fish" in the middle, a tongue in cheek response to "sell out"

When you know something is cool before anybody else really knows it, you feel special.  I don’t think discovery-status has “changed,” but I do believe that generationally, “what constitutes selling out and does anybody care anymore” is a question worth asking. How can one of the most profound emotional sensibilities of my teenage years not precisely … Continue reading Status And Selling Out

Sunday Music: Rationalizing Glitterer’s “Rationale” (While Absolutely Loving This Record)

Seeing Glitterer live in the leadup to this release – I’ve been really excited for it. You know when you can see growth, as an iteration on the past without reiterating the past? That was the vibe. There’s no Title Fight rehashing here, but there is a band again, and most importantly – there’s the … Continue reading Sunday Music: Rationalizing Glitterer’s “Rationale” (While Absolutely Loving This Record)

Sunday Music: Alvvays’ “Very Online Guy”

Today in Canadian indie-pop I can’t get out of my head – Alvvays’ song, “Very Online Guy.”  Somewhere in between the out-of-time synths and shoe-gazingly fuzzed-out guitars, there’s a commentary on life and relationships in the 2020s.  The meta-awareness of what we project, of who we are in private, and how any of us are … Continue reading Sunday Music: Alvvays’ “Very Online Guy”

Get Down On It: What Else I’m Up To, 1/5/2024 Edition

It’s been a wild start to 2024 – I’m kind of in shock the year is almost 15% in the books, and then I look at just how much happened and… some highlights! In no particular order – here’s what else I’m up to. And if you want to know more frequently than these self-promotional … Continue reading Get Down On It: What Else I’m Up To, 1/5/2024 Edition

The Ten Creator Commandments (Aka, The Ten Creative_____ Commandments): Plus, How To Prep For A Master Class

I was invited to give a “master class” on applied creativity to an eclectic group of professionals, founders, and marketing people who… let’s be honest – probably already know way more than I do about creating things.  In the great tradition of “what might I know that they do not,” I started writing down potential … Continue reading The Ten Creator Commandments (Aka, The Ten Creative_____ Commandments): Plus, How To Prep For A Master Class

Sunday Music: Damn Right I’m Somebody

Fred Wesley plays the trombone. It’s not a sexy instrument. So it’s not the type of instrument you typically see a band leader holding.  But it’s a wild instrument. An audacious instrument. A who-even-came-up-with-the-idea-for-this instrument.  Like a fretless bass meets a trumpet.  It can just do things other brass instruments can’t do.  Which means there … Continue reading Sunday Music: Damn Right I’m Somebody

Sunday Music: Can’t Mute MEUTE

The benefits of having family living in other countries include being introduced to things from other countries.  MEUTE – hailing from Germany – is like a marching band that plays electronic music. But not electronically, they do it acoustically, and they do it with the instrumentation of an actual marching band. You have to hear … Continue reading Sunday Music: Can’t Mute MEUTE

Why Famous People Don’t Remember Meeting Me

There’s a reason famous people don’t remember meeting me. And you. But I didn’t want to come off as too insulting.  Ben Greenman was telling Questlove about researching stories for the autobiographies he’s worked on.* He said it’s amazing all of the stories that are out there, and how one person’s biggest deal encounter can … Continue reading Why Famous People Don’t Remember Meeting Me

Sunday Music: Maren Morris Burns It The F@$! Down

If it sounds a little self-reverential, it’s because it has to be. Maren Morris has been battling pigeon holes long enough, and she’s ready to scream phoenix. I’m always here for artists doing this.  The metaphors are all present. Take a read through the lyrics on her new EP The Bridge. Then check out the … Continue reading Sunday Music: Maren Morris Burns It The F@$! Down