Violator, Exciter and other Menacing Words

Isn’t it odd how people think the words “indie” and “underground” are synonyms for the word “good”? Sometimes the reason nobody has heard it is because the music is crap and Mother Nature is using natural selection keep those sounds from seeing daylight. The problem is people think their identity is based on the music they listen to and in this modern age it is uncool to like anything that could come from an establishment. Its all corporations, just not the ones we have been trained to look out for. So, everybody chill out with that self righteous, ignorance exposing noise. We are all guilty.
OK. I know I sound a little bitter, let me explain:
A couple of nights ago I was downtown having a drink, listening to music. When I go out to listen to music I usually keep to my own and so I can focus on the tracks. It’s an old dj habit that I find very peaceful. My mind was drifting between work and the technique of the kid behind the tables.
A young lady sat down next to me and began to chat. She told me about moving to Vegas and her dreams of doing something involving the arts and self expression. She had no idea what medium she would like to use, nor the direction she would take it. Deep down, everybody wants to be recognized as special individual, so I ain’t judgin. However, I do think it is interesting people refuse to acknowledge that breathing is not quality that separates one from the pack. The conversation moved into the realm of music… the place where it would end. After she finished listing the usual suspects of favorite bands I was treated to a tirade of why underground music is superior to mainstream. I decided forgo pointing out that the majority of the bands she listens to were on “indie” labels owned by major labels and chose to play devils advocate instead. I spoke about how good the new Depeche Mode album is…very. After going back and forth on the validity of a band that crosses my mind once every four years, I realized this wasn’t fun anymore. Yes, the brash, unfounded confidence annoyed me at first, but the ignorance really saddened me. Even though this young lady will never know, she dropped a showstopper on me that I will never forget. She told me that she likes to express herself with the music she listens to. Not the music she makes… the music she listens to. That means she uses the music to express herself to herself? That means she is using some else’s emotions and feelings to dictate her own. Her identity is based on other artistic people and their hopes and aspirations. The difference is they have worked towards their goals so they express themselves from that context. You can’t just assume that persona it’s like trying to be a doctor with no med school… just nearly as hard.
Remember this is coming from an old dj… someone that used other people’s music to express himself. Well, sort of, I knew the music was not mine. I knew it was a hobby or an interest, but certainly not an identity.
Our conversation just kind of fizzled away out of lack of interest. An interesting side note: After his set, I spoke with the kid on the tables and he asked if I wanted to do a set. I asked if he had “Personal Jesus” in his crate. He said no, but that he loved the drums on that track. I agreed.

Cheers,
David

More Doors!

So, in these modern times we have information coming at us from all angles with a veracity that can only be compared a paperboy trying to get his two dollars. That, or (insert pop reference) chasing (insert pop reference) to get the (insert pop reference) before the (insert pop reference) falls off or explodes or (insert pop reference). This over abundance of knowledge being chucked at us willy-nilly, makes it very hard to put a value on info. Stories are only big until the next one comes along... which is now.

It is as if the constant influx of bloops and bleeps has shortened the shelf life of information, as well as the shelf life of the value of information. I can't imagine that there has ever been a point in time where people took this much pride in being the messenger. Passing on information is a fine, noble job, that is why it's the second oldest profession. The problem is that claiming ownership of the message is stealing... Perhaps, the third oldest profession? I know people that will talk about a new record is coming out with so much pride you would believe they recorded it. This hollow state of happiness can be easily snatched away with two simple words; "I Know". Why make history if you can dictate it, right? Seriously, it seems every time someone contacts me it is either to tell me something tedious about something insignificant or they are working their way through step 8. It isn't a big deal, it is just that we live in an age where people try and pass off Internet info as if it were their own thoughts. The Internet isn't an external hard drive for the brain. Not yet, anyway.

Everything you could ever want to know is right there in the magic box for the learnin'. All it takes is a small amount of diligence and perseverance to navigate through hundreds of millions of man-hours worth of ridiculous information. With so much nonsense to be sorted through, it is no wonder you spent half your day looking at funny videos of cats and Russians bungee jumping from bridges, I did too. How could anyone get anything done when all it takes is one typo in the ol' google search bar and the next three hours are spent "cool g.p.s." systems instead of figuring out if a university application process uses weighted "school GPA's". It happens.

Now, I am really not the most tech savvy cat. Quite frankly, every time I figure how and why something works, I realise that there are two better things that I will never understand. So, I know that I don't know. Moving on... 

A good start at to being more productive with less time on the Internet is to get an RSS feed reader. This little tool will keep one from wondering around aimlessly on from website to website. No more starting by looking for a new diet and ending up buying a backup tent in six clicks of the mouse. Websites are designed like like casinos: circular. No way out, just doors that lead to rooms with more doors. An RSS reader is a program which constantly gathers articles from predetermind websites. So if you like a particular site, just add it to the queue and when they publish new articles, they are sent to right to your desktop. These have been around for some time, so it may be old hat for some. If that is the case, good for you. Fact is; I know a lot of people that don't practice using an RSS feeder and it has gone on long enough. It seems like one of those things everybody should know, but doesn't. 

Have fun with that one. Use the time that saved you to put some pants on your kid. 

David