MAB Q&A

I usually do have at least the big picture in mind and try to direct the lyrics to that. Now, because I know what its about, I don't miss the other details and don't bother with them. I've become long winded and boring in 3 minutes or less. So more, lesser visuals to lead up to and support the main event is one thing to pay attention to. At the same time, K.I.S.S

 

Wow! Wait until I tell my mama that I'm not as good as she thinks I am.... 

Gerald

The reason  I posted the link was to demontrate how MAb  Showed me  how introspective   many of my lyrics were and how taking an idea that I had  could be turned into a positive and upbeat  song

 

J

Ott. I listened to your song about the rabit hole. Really interesting song with some cool vibes and electronic sounds. I don't listen to that kind of music, so I didn't know how to rate it and didn't leave any comments. (NOTE: Somebody told me, when you leave a comment for a song but don't rate it, it defaults to 5 stars?)

I guess for that genre' the metaphorical rabit hole being a party zone is cool? BUT, here's a thought for you. Write some lyrics about a real place with real kids having a party. Call it "Barn Dance", where it is a real barn in a farmers pasture. Then, throw in a bon fire, hot dogs, hamburgers, coolers of beer, girls and guys dancing on the hay covered red clay. Please do not use cutoff jeans, short shorts, tight genes, or "GURL" though! You can use something like, "Half buttoned Levi shirt tied off above the waist". You might even get away with a belly button ring. Oh, and you don't need any pickup truck tail gates either. Then, marry those lyrics to the cool groove and sounds in your song, and I'll bet you'd have the next big country hit!

phil g.

To All,

I regret I have cancelled my plans to visit Nashville in November; along with my intensions of going to FB this year.

I apologize to MAB, RiDawn Raelette, and Philboy for not showing up.  It's become a pattern of the Old Dog not to follow through.

OD

 

ummm...I really did write that song.  I just posted it, for your listening pleasure...

OD,

As always, there is no problem with your decisions. I have come to expect it from you. "Ping Pong Ball." I am never surprised one way or another. You never have to make any apologies to anyone. You are not forced to do anything. If you change your mind and want to come, that would be fine. No problem either way. Never have to have any explanations. Just glad you are around here.

Ott, nice post, many good points. The fact that you don't care for most country music is more than fine. A l.ot of the reason we talk about that and Nashville in particular is because for most intents and purposes the songwriting industry no longer exists in most towns and cities and most are gravitating to Nashville, which is why we are in the growth spurt we are which has been building for about 40 years. some of the largest influxes are from the former rock and pop stars leaving LA and New York and moving here. it is why the rock and pop business is almost as big here as anywhere else in the country. And this is more and more including overseas as well. Some of my current tour clients are from Australia, England, Scottland, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, and other countries who talk about the influences country is currently having across their countries.

Similarly, I have no interest in modern rock, pop or rap. All are exceedingly boring, endless drum loops, noises and inane lyrics that say nothing about anything. For me, that market all but died 20 years ago, so I left it behind willingly. Never looked back.

And I do understand your non-interest in the "I Drive your Truck" song. In some ways people might look at it as "just another redneck truck song" and in some ways it might be. As far as overly sentimental, I might agree had I not known the STORY WAS TRUE. It happend to one of the writers. I will go for the truth any time over inanity.

I will have to take issue with you on the "Country not being mainstream" comments, however. I don't know if you pay attention to yearly sales figures in the entertainment industry but for nearly two decades, Nashville based artists have out performed pop artists consistantly. There are usually as many country artists in the top ten money winners as any other format. Last year, Kenny Chesney led ALL THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY in touring and sales with around $200 million dollars. No one else was even in the ballpark. Taylor Swift is one of the most successful commercial artists of all. Country artists are on the "mainstream" television shows, like Dancing with the Stars and John Rich on "The Donald Trump" television shows. Blake Shelton and Brad Paisley have been intregal in the Voice, Keith Urban on American Idol. The CMA's and ACM's out perform Grammys and Oscars in the viewing share of audiences and have beaten things like Monday night football. If there is a major television show or movie, chances are a country artist is going to be involved. There are more country artists on the cover of magazines, the subject of television and movies, involved in commercials, and more commercial country radio stations than any other format. You find as many country songs liscenesed for product development than anything but classic rock songs.

Country artists are able to tour with one or two acts, and make enormous financial. and cultural earnings,whereas rock must have the "Lollapaloosa, OZZ FEST, or other festival touring with 15-22 artists to be able to gross enough money to stay viable. Country's  actual earning numbers are up when most other formats have stayed stagnant or lost market share. And interesting that reviews coming out of the Wall Street Journal and Rolling Stone, talking about "country not being mainstream" when BOTH have recently opened offices here in Nashville. 

So quite frankly, Country now IS mainstream. Numbers and fan base just don't lie. The rest is simply opinion. But we do respect all opinions here. Glad to have you.

MAB

MAB, are you going to share some of your "bro country" life experiences with us? You know, when you and friends used to load up coolers of beer in your trucks and drive out into the pasture and sing, drink, and dance around a bon fire all night?

phil g.

Hi, Marc-Alan.
I can assure you:  boredom will not be a factor when I am involved.  In fact, I guarantee you:  I'm the most out-of-the-left-field writer / performer you have seen.

I'm flying in Friday morning, leaving Sunday night.  Are you doing anything music-related on any of these days?

Please let me know!  thysentinel@hotmail.com

You can even call me:  201-240-5992
Vadim

You read that one huh? LOL! Yes, that was me.

Okay, like everything, you kind of have to get it in context. The year was 1995, and I was going through my (Actual only) divorce. I had sort of dropped out of the business for a while due to trying to keep the family together. I had gone from doing regular band gigs once a month and six to nine writers nights a month, down to about one band thing a year, and maybe one or two writers nights every other month.

So I am getting ready to move out and happened into this one writers night I was doing. I played my three songs and usually people were pretty cool. I got a lot of attention in those days. As I came off stage, these two guys came over and this tall blonde, surfer looking dude with long blonde hair, said "MAN I WISH I HAD YOUR VOICE!!!" I said "Man I wish I had your body!!!" he was built like a weight lifter, tall, blue eyes and I'm not gay, but man this guy was good looking! The man I'd never be!

So we talked for a few minutes along with his friend. his name was Ken Alphen and he had been here for about two months from Virginia. He had a regular show sort of thing at this place we called "The Hall of Fame" in a really seedy bar downtown near where the football stadium is now. His friend was named Mike and he owned a big pontoon boat on Old Hickory lake. They were asking me to come do the show, and come out on the lake on the boat that weekend. I told them that I was moving out and had to find some movers in order to do either of those. So they volunteered. 
I thought they were just drunk, but the next morning they showed up at my house with a pick up and we all moved me. I was blown away! 

This would turn out to be "Big Kenny"  who became "Big and Rich."  This would become my best buddies for the next few months a years. I went to his show, which featured a house band that Kenny fonted, with some great musicians, like "Crazy' Ira Dean, who would form and find fame with a band called TRICK PONY. There were dozens of other musicians, a lot of people would get up and sit in, including me. This was where the MUZIC MAFIA got started. Each week was this crazy show with amazing musicians, great singers, and GREAT LOOKING WOMEN!! That of course was a key. There were always these amazingly talented BEAUTIFUL women who would write, sing, etc. Some I got to know, most just kind of crossed our paths. 

On Sunday's we would hit Mikes pontoon boat, and go hang out with other boats. Saturday's we'd play guitars and pool vollyball at the apartment complex they lived in, which was very close to my complex.  It developed into a rolling party, with dozens of people playing instruments, and hanging out. Someone was doing a "wharehouse sitting' job in this big building with all these motorcycles and boats in it, so we took it over on Thus, nights. We called it "The Lodge" and we were like a bunch of drunk Shriners. Set up a PA, brought in a keg and played all night long. 

This is where I met, David Vincent Williams (I'm moving On) and a dozen other future hit songwriters. It's where I met and started working with my sisters of song, THE KINLEYS. And yes,on some weekends, we would head to this big outdoor cow pasture about 15 miles outside of Nashville, pull our cars and trucks into the pasture, build a bonfire, and circle the trucks so the headlights would shine on us. If you have seen those videos with the country artists singing out in the field, drinking, hot girls dancing in the moonlight, playing music. So yes, the BRO COUNTRY was US! It really happened.

It all went on for a while and then like so many things,  it started fading as people got deals, got hits, had more demands on their careers. Some moved out of town. Some, like my friend David Abbot, became one of the hottest music video directors in town. Was quite a gathering. Then one of our crew, to tell you the truth, I can't even remember his name now, got into a huge car wreck that put him in the hospital. About 100 of us were in the waiting room. That kind of faded out and we all went into our own lives.I was playing out of town a good bit, mostly the Florabama once a month.

Then I ran into Kenny one time at a convenient store buying beer. He told me about this new show he was doing on Tuesday nights and told me that I knew all the people involved and I had to come see it and sing with them. He said it was like a HUGE PARTY, JUST LIKE THE LODGE!!!  I just couldn't find the time and forgot about it. A few months go by and I heard about this monster show happening downtown. I didn't realize it was the show he was talking about until I got there. I actually had a female friend from out of town and wanted to show her Nashville so we went. 
It was held in this very small club called THE PUB OF LOVE and it was so packed, the line was around the block. I knew the back way so went in there.

Onstage was four chairs up front, and three musicians. And I did know all these people. There was a good looking guy who did a lot of the singing that had been at a bunch of those parties but I never met him. That was John Rich.There was this pretty cute but really earthy girl, (good looking but dipping snuff) in short shorts and a tight shirt. That was Gretchen Wilson. They had this rapping cowboy and another guy who was part of our parties, JAMES OTTO. The back line were three musicians, a guitar player, a bass player, and precussionist.
Kenny saw me and invited me up but it was so packed and so hot I couldn't get close to the stage. So I didn;t make it,

That is why I wasn;t a member of the original music mafia. I couldn't get to the stage.

They continued to do the show but it got so big, they had to move it to two more people. I just never got back down there. Eventually, they were the hottest show in town and every body went to it. Some exectutives from NASCAR came in and put the whole thing into the racetracks. By this time, every record company also had seen them and one, Sony took a chance on this monster redneck party. Gretchen came out with this song she and John had written called "Redneck Woman' which exploded, and then came BIG AND RICH and SAVE A HORSE RIDE A COWBOY. If you ever saw that video, filmed on the downtown walking bridge, (directed by David Abbot) that was kind of like our parties. One big parade of idiots! but all of them became RICH IDIOTS!!! BIG AND RICH IDIOTS!!!!

I just kind of fell out of the whole thing, because to tell you the truth, the late night four in the morning parties with too many drugs and too much alcohol, just never really appealed that much to me and really don't now.  And a lot of the music business is about being able to hang out when everyone else goes home. But it was fun to watch all of them go up those charts. 

Yeah, there are all my miscreant friends. Once a lodge member, always a lodge member!

MAB 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vadium,

Drop me an email at MBarne4908@aol.com when you get to town. I don't think I am playing but can probably meet up with you.

MAB 

 

Always enjoy your posts MAB .....wag

 

And don't I look the fool. My apologies sir. I hadn't listened that far down your list yet. And it was a listening pleasure.

Vadium,

Left of center performers are something we have no shortage of. Remember we have three really huge music schools graduating about 3000 college students a quarter. Those are some of the most left of center people on the face of the planet and we have them from all over the world. You will probably find you are not even close to where most of those are. 

And remember the things about being left of center. There is often no where to go with left of center. Mjusic is about "nicheing" and we are all doing that. And while there is a lot of different kinds of music here, you have to work harder to find your 'tribe" or fan base. When there is not radio formats, supporting venues, music press, etc. you pretty much have to invent it all. Can be a daunting task. Most do have internet approaches and that is one of the best uses of the Internet. But always remember, the Internet is VERY crowded. 30 Million artists, one billion songs a month. A lot to think about.

My suggestion to you is to come into town to ABSORB, not so much put your own stuff out there. You really like to see what other people do, how other people relate to this town. This is a town  that is very much on how people know you and that comes from first helping THEM. So I would pay particular attention to the people and start building your relationships.

I'm often asked what it takes to be a part of and be successful in this town. Mostly it is about being willing to do things for others when it has not direct effect on you. There are so many people that come here every day,every week, every month,they all have the same goals, same dreams, and unfortunatly far too many with the same attitudes.

LOOK AT ME!!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!!! LOOK AT ME!!!!!!!

That seems to be all there is. They come in, are fairly arrogant and self focused. They text constantly and often you never see anything but the tops of their heads. They have an 'air of entitlement" about them. They think they know it all and "we just HAVE to hear them play because they're so great." and they are mostly another thing too.

GONE.

Of the people who come to town on any given day 95% are gone between 6 months and 2 years. The reason is because in this town (and the music business in general) you HAVE to work with other people. You HAVE to have teams. co-writers, supporters, producers, musicians, label people, publicists, etc. It is NEVER a solo game.

YOUR ABILITY TO ADVANCE IS DIRECTLY ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ON YOU BEING ABLE TO BUILD SUPPORT FOR OTHER PEOPLE. 

In other words:

You want to be able to perform on a writers night? You have to make the HOST look good for putting you up.

Want to be able to join into rounds? Make the round orginizer look good.

Want to be involved with a publisher? Make the publisher feel they have something they can use to look good.

Want to be involved with a record company? Make the company (and all their employees look good to have you)

Want a big fan base? Write songs that make the fans look good and want to embrace what you do.

Want to have development money and people in your career? Make them money and get them recognition.

Without EVERY SINGLE ONE OF THOSE, you go NO WHERE.

So left of center? Yeah, we got em. They are most often "square pegs in rounds holes" with no where to tell them to go. Music is about ADAPTATION, not CHANGE. Better be willing to adapt and work hard forEVER! Because you are  now into politics as well as music.

Welcome to the circus. If you want to get together, drop me an email. MBarne4908@aol.com. Will be glad to try and meet you.

MAB
 

 

 

 

Vadium,

Actually the LEFT OF CENTER people are among the mMOST BORING TO ME. The reason is that if you can't identify what to do with the music, where to go or where it fits ni, there is no personal connection to the music. Therefore the general public rejects it for something they identify with. 

 

OD, that makes me sad   I was really looking forward to meeting you ... MAB said this could happen ... We'll post all kinds of exciting times from FB and make you REALLY regret it!!

Ridawn,

Apparently, if our new buddy Vadim is "left of center" he would have enjoyed the last two weeks of the Rising Star songwriters competition we went to. Those people were nothing BUT left of center. So left of center they were OUT STANDING.... in their field!

MAB

MAB, thanks for the story. For those who don't know, MAB and I are also NSAI members and MAB is also active on some of their threads. In one of those threads, the conversation turned to "Bro Country", and MAB dropped a hint he had "lived it" in his younger days, but didn't go into any details. These are the kinds of stories you only share with close friends and family. That woud be all of us here on SongRamp!

phil g.

I'm sorry I'm not participating much these days. I've been busy with the non-profit stuff and writing, of course. 

Ok, I have a question for MAB and everyone else about performing with nerves. I sang over the weekend with the band that had donated their time for our fundraiser - it was just a for fun thing. They asked and I said yes. No big deal, right? Well, as I waited I became more and more nervous...shaking even. My heart was racing, throat got tight and long story short, I didn't do so well I I was really upset.

So, I've read that you're supposed to do some deep breathing, or 'talk yourself out of it'. That's the thing...I'm confident enough in my singing by now, I have NO IDEA why this is happening to me! So I thought I'd ask you guys what you do if you are nervous. This was really beyond nervous though. This was full on panic...ugh..help?!

 

Sweet Melissa,
       I do public speaking and I never get nervous because I know I am prepared, Same thing with performing in public. I think what got to you was the waiting. Next time you have time on your hands pick up your guitar and run through the first verse of the songs you will play. Sometimes I will tell a joke before I play: On the way over here I saw a sign that said "Lots for sale" so I thought "Lots of what?"

Eddie R

 

Melissa, I'm still pretty new at this whole game, but I do know one thing that didn't work for me....I closed my eyes for a moment and pictured the audience naked....wishing at that moment at least some of them were less than twice my age....

MAB,

I really enjoyed reading your "Bro Country" story and hearing it again.  You have shared bits and pieces of that experience; but never in such detail.  That was great.  Now, I want to bring up another story you shared with us some time ago.  You were telling us about being on the Tour bus of a friend of yours and how the two of you were playing songs back and forth.  You mentioned that you noticed his songs were well written and right in the pocket.  The thing I get confused about is; was that John Rich or Eddie Montgomery.  I recall the reputation the artist had around town was they were in the whiskey a lot and known for being under the influence quite a bit.  Which one was that???

Wags Ol Buddy,  so good to hear from you after all this time.  I was speaking with MattC a few weeks ago and your name came up.  He said he hadn't heard from you for awhile either.  I sure hope all is going well with you.  For the newer members,  Wags (Dave Wagner) is a verteran member on this Forum and used to chime in quite often.  Wags suffers from MS and has been limited in his ability to travel long distances for some time.  Wags inspired the idea, and was a co-writer, on the song "Plain White T" that won a national CMT/NSAI song contest last year; along with co-writers MattC and Keith Dozier.   One of the many prizes they received was an all expence paid weekend in Nashville.  MattC and Keith thought that prize should go to Wags; but sadly he was not physically able to make that trip.  Wags, my Brother, my thoughts and prayers go out to you.  Thanks for stopping by to say "Hello".

RiDawn Raelette,  I thank-you for showing some disappointment about not meeting up with the Old Dog.  I was looking forward to meeting you and the hubby also.  I found it amusing you mentioned The MAB said that may happen.  I guess he knows me better than I thought.  The truth is; the Old Dog has become one of those older people that have too much time on our hands,  I sit around worring about having to get out of my jammies, pack some things and the most dreaded part of all "Traveling".   You know,  sitting behind a steering wheel for several hours, having to deal with the traffic on the freeway and especially the downtown traffic in Cincinnati and Louisville.  OMG!!!  What about delays from road construction and perhaps an accident.  It's just too much for this Old Dog.  Still know OD "Loves You Best".   How about I just fly you up here some weekend and we'll make up for it.   Ha!!!  (just teasin).

Miss Meliss,  the girl OD "Loves The Best".  Good to hear from you as well.  We understand you have those "life issues" to deal with; but I must admit I (for one) certainly do MISS hearing from you.  About your comment and dealing with nerves.   We have all had to face that problem; although for an artist I'm sure it's different.  I would assume the seasoned artists no-longer has that issue because the best method to rid of nerves is experience.  I realize you don't play out and perform that often so each time you do may seem like a new experience for you.  I'll share something the Old Dog used to do.

Now,  I was never a singer or front man in the bands I once played with,  I was only the bass player standing in the background.  However, after embarking on my songwriting journey, I did have to perform my songs on a few occasions.   Not being a seasoned performer I would be nervous every time.  The method I used to calm myself down was to say a little prayer.  I would say to God that he brought me here for some reason and I asked him to help me get through it.  That took the pressure off of me for some reason and turned it over to a higher power.  Now......... I still SUCKED.   Even God couldn't help me become a good performer.  However, I know you have a strong believe system and you also have a great talent.  So ask God to give you the courage and he will, then all you have to do is go out there and perform.  In the nude would be helpful,  they won't give a damn what you are singing about; or how good you sing it.  Kind of like Jenny performing with her guitar, on stage, in the movie Forest Gump.    Ha!!! (just teasin).

EddieR...... You mention how you often speak in public.  Are you calling "Square Dances" or reading out the numbers on "Bingo" night???  
(just curious).

 

 

Hey,  where is The Kid???   The Kid promised the Old Dog he would stop in and give us some excuses why he has been absent for so long.  Caution;  I think he is going to give us some lame brained excuse he has been busy and studying for a test.  I think he has been busy trying to find a new home after Mommy kicked him out, and the only test he was studying for was a "competancy test" to stand trial.  (just a guess).

OD

 

 

 

 

Melissa! Glad you dropped in. About your nerves. Like eveyone has said, you just gota go out there and do it. It will get easier every time. HOWEVER, with that said. Remember the night at 360 Burger? Remember I made a joke that you voted it should be age before beauty? Two reasons for that joke. First,to calm me down. Then, to maybe help you relax too. Believe it or not, the 1+ hour we had to wait for our turn, I was really feeling bad. Faint, couldn't eat, was even afraid to drink more than soda. I tried a beer but it wasn't sitting well at all. One other thing about that night. I was a little nervous because I knew I was sharing the stage with someone who plays guitar better than me and sings much better, and who's songs are very tight and well written. The only way to really get over the nerves is to just keep on doing it. Lots of practice before your night. I even use a mic like I'm on stage, and sometimes video myself. Does it help? ONLY to get me through the butterflies. Does NOT make my performance any better. LOL. Now, go out there and break a string!

phil g.

Hey folks,

Another LONG day in the salt mines. In the planning stages of bringing Wood Newton, myself and another hit writer up to upstate New York next year for a weekend of songwriting, shows, private coaching and GOLF. My tour guys this week were co-owners of a golf course near Sarycuse 'Sso we are putting together a huge deal in the spring. Our old buddy Tony was there last night and passed on some helpful hints on how to do it. interestingly enough, one of the guys is an Italian who owns the ACE hardware store up there. Tony is an Italian who owned the TRUE VALUE hardware store in his area. Maybe this is the new thing, me getting Italians together in their hardware stores. Might have to drag OD's butt around as a hardware consultant in our new ventures!

 

OD, it was me getting on EDDIE MONTGOMERY'S tour bus a couple years ago. I was with my buddy Gary Hannan (Tequila Makes her Clothes Fall Off) who was on there with me. Those two guys bring a WHOLE NEW DEFINITION to drinking beyond the falling down stage!!! We didn't as much play songs as Eddie played me 19 songs that were being considered for the new (now the most recent) Montgomery Gentry project. They were ALL monsterly well written songs, all incredible recordings, all full radio ready songs. And these were just the demos. This is what all the outsiders have to contend with and how involved and professional the recordings have to be not to mention the songs being amazingly well written. Almost all of them would blow what is on the radio right now completely off the charts. And half of them were written by Eddie himself. So people trying to do this from the outside better realize that the people they are wanting to get to, might just write and be better than they EVER EVEN THINK OF BEING!
This stuff is NOT for the amateur or faint of heart! This is THE BIG LEAGUES.

Melissa, I do have the cure for your nerves. You do too, but you keep skipping over it. Do you remember a few months ago when you were talking about open mics, writers nights in your area? Do you remember talking about finding some new writers, artists, etc. that were doing things not far from you? Do you remember all that?
Well during all this time if you had been out PLAYING with them, writing with them, perfoming on those open mics, actually doing this, you would have gotten the edge off so that when you played with the band when it "meant something" you might still have an edge but would have dealt with it a lot easier. 

This is not easy folks. If you just write songs every once in a while, and only write with yourself, your songs are going to have limitations. If you only get out once in a while to perform or even check out  someopne else, it is not going to be easy to find people to support YOU. If you cannot get out of the living room and actually perform and work through it, you are never going to be proficient at it. This is a NIKE commerical. JUST DO IT. This is not for bystanders or people who don't take it more seriously than expecting it to drop into their laps. This is WORK. it is a second job. It is like raising and nurturing kids. It is a serious addiction that DEMANDS TO BE FED. You have to actually WORK at this if you want any results. 

 

Get out there and play some. Nerves will take care of themselves.

MAB 

 

 

 

 Old Dog,
       You asked what speaking do I do? I am A Master Gardener for nearly 30 years now and have my own website
http://bittersweetgardens.com, where I promote gardening. Generally I speak for local garden clubs and for State Master Gardener symposia. I have spoken in Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South and North Carolina. My focus in my own garden is on edibles. I grow on my 3/4 acre lot pawpaws, pomegranates, figs, mushrooms, citrus, blueberries, pineapple guava, seedless American persimmons, non-astringent Asian persimmons, mulberries, crabapples, pears. English walnuts, heartnuts, and jujubes. I am located in Marietta, GA  just West of Atlanta.
Eddie R

OD Thanks for the thoughts sadly parkinson.s is winning the war....somedays not good but hey I'm learning to stand in one place and cuss my legs for not moving..lol..then they get me back and make me fall..I call it my Chevy Chase impersonation..lol..any way love you all ttyl..wag