XML FeedsSchool's Never Really Out for Alice Cooper
By Dan Grigor
When I first heard about this project I debated with myself for a while about running the press release or an article.
A) It is a Kickstarter project. I am inundated with folks who would like a little ink to help raise money.
B) It’s Alice friggin’ Cooper! Aside from just running the press release, could I come up with an angle no one else has done on Alice?
Since it is Alice Cooper I can get past A) because I think he’s doing it right. B) was a little more difficult…
I thought to myself… Oh! I know! I’ll start out with a catchy headline. Something like “School’s never really out for Alice Cooper.” Then I could rehash all the bizarre stage stuff and put in some pics of Alice in full makeup. Ok, let’s see what have other folks done… searching… reading… Damn. OK… What else could we do… Back to the basics I guess.
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A Quiet but Eternal Legacy
By Dan Grigor
I worked for a while in a little rustic music store in a tiny little town, selling high-school band instruments, guitars, strings and stuff. I also did minor repairs and gave guitar lessons. It was an altogether unforgettable experience with so many stories I really wouldn’t know where to begin. Until now.
There is a horrible story playing out in a tiny little town near me. You see, the guy that worked there in the tiny little music store, Pete’s Music of Temecula, was beaten and robbed. Apparently, someone came in, tied him up, beat him within an inch of his life, took a guitar and left him for dead. He died. Aside from the obvious, his family and close friends, he leaves behind a quiet but eternal legacy. He was the local Music Store Guy. In case you are unaware of the huge responsibility that is, let me enlighten you.
Double Gin and Jazz
I’m sitting at the curve in the bar. It’s a well-routed wooden curve, smoothly polished by at least a couple score of bartenders over the years. I glance at my double Tanqueray and tonic and I see the bandstand’s blue stage lights reflected in the sheen of that polish. Outside the winds are gusting up to 50 knots and the intermittent showers come lashing in hard. This bar, called “The Brewery,” is located on a cliff overlooking the Pacific, exit 718 off of the Redwood Highway, State Route 101. A local jazz band, a quartet, troops up onto the stage. It’s not a real strenuous climb, there is only a 6″ riser. Break time is over, so get back on your heads, it’s time for another set.
The Autopsy of the Show
One of the most important and imperative things you can do as a performer in the digital age is to watch your show the next day. It is so easy now to set up a camera in the corner, run a cable to the board and BAM! you can actually see your show from the other side of the stage.
When I was, I dunno, 15 or so, I was hanging around at a Sam Ash in New York trying to play with and learn from everyone that came in. I’m sure I’ve told this story before, but you could go in, grab a guitar and plug it in and start playing blues progressions. Some bass player over in the corner would join in, somebody would fire up a keyboard and open the door to that room; same with a drummer or a conga or a horn or another guitar guy. I’m telling you it was something. We just hung around and played music all the time. There were days they were lined up in front, dancing on the sidewalk.
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Top Ten BFMN Videos of 2012
02/08/13 15:00 , Categories: BFMN Exclusive, Awesome Nobodies, Performance Video, Dan Grigor, top ten videos, Video We are pretty proud of the video work we do. We seem to be doing something right. Thousands of video views on these videos in the playlist of our Top Ten BFMN Videos of 2012.
Note:
Click the word Playlist at the bottom of the video window
to see thumbnails of all 10 videos. Click the i in the upper
right of the video window to see information about the video.
Martha Davis and the Motels Sign with Vesuvio Artists Management
Martha Davis & The Motels have signed with Vesuvio Artists Management, and its principal, Greg H. Sims, for worldwide personal management. Sims is the CEO of parent company Vesuvio Entertainment Corporation, based in Los Angeles, and an emerging brand in the indie feature world. Their recent films include the in-house production the Redbox hit “Behind Your Eyes,” starring Tom Sandoval from Bravo’s new hit show Vanderpump Rules, itself a spinoff of Beverly Hills Housewives. Vesuvio is also the international distributor for the indie success “Craigslist Joe,” which was Executive Produced by Zach Galifianakis. “All Six Feet,” to be directed by actor Vincent Spano, is also on the Vesuvio production schedule. "All Six Feet” chronicles the relationship between music promoter “Punkin Pie” Irene Laughlin and actress Lana Clarkson, who died in Phil Spector’s mansion in 2003.
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Knuckleheads On Front Street: Loathing Venues, then Becoming One
by Frank “Catfish” Butler
As a guitarist and vocalist, I have always wanted to be part of a juke joint. I didn’t care as which: owner, manager or bartender/ house band guy. It is finally is happening, on a warped scale, and I am here to tell you what it is really like on both sides of the fence between musicians and small venues, and how easy it is and how hard it is to follow my dream.
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