Why I don't write about music anymore.

This blog has been quiet for almost a year now. More and more time passes withou an addition to this blog or any other publication that I've been known to contribute to. Why? I've been asking myself that question for a while now. No real motivation to contribute I suppose. There's certainly no money in writing about music, unless, of course, you went to an Ivy League school on the east coast and don't really need the money anyway. This game is about who you know and not what you know or what you can do. Event the little free rags in Detroit are part of a very tightly controlled clique of fashionistas. So advancemennt in "the field", if you can call it that, is unlikely.

What's more, the closer you get to the music business and the writing business, the less attractive it is. Getting close to the music is one thing, getting close to the musicians is quite another. This is a highly competitive field with very little tolerance or time for anything that isn't related to career advancement. Respect or even good manners are doled out in direct proportion to your ability to give an artist credibility and exposure - which tends to make you very cynical. It's very difficult to seperate yourself from that mindset.

I've been to a few shows, only my favorite bands, and have even begun reviews of those shows only to abandon them for my criticisms. I wonder, what purpose does this bit of writing serve? Who am I writing for? In other words, who am I serving? I find it difficult to answer that question anymore. I used to write for myself, content to be alone with the music and the written word. Somehow, I've lost that feeling entirely.

more to come.....

-- Mitch

Comments

South Normal Meets The 3 Headed Evil Genius

Frog Island Park 5.26.06: It’s a balmy spring evening at Frog Island Park near Ypsilanti’s historic Depot Town. Despite what you might expect, there’s no island in sight and any of the legendary, fur-covered, flying “smeet” frogs that might be lurking among the moss-covered rocks have yet to make their presence known. But the week’s rains have finally subsided leaving a dense blanket of humidity in their wake and allowing tonight’s big plans to commence after yesterday’s cancellation. Frog Island Park consists of a large sunken field surrounded by trees and grass-covered banks. According to a local resident, it acts as an emergency flood basin for the nearby Huron River, but it’s mostly used for soccer games, community events and Ypsilanti’s annual Jazz Festival. Tonight it will be ground-zero for a unique performance featuring South Normal , a popular indie-rock band from Chelsea, MI. A break in an overgrown tree line reveals the park’s street-level entrance. A handwritten sign is...

They Call I Black by Ghetto Priest

Hear Ghetto Priest's "They Call I Black" on BandCamp.com According to the bio, Ghetto Priest is a former "football hooligan" turned petty criminal, gang-member, prisoner, Rastafarian, DJ and finally, having lived a hard life, survived it, and honed his natural talent, became a staple on the UK roots reggae label OnUSound Productions run by Adrian Sherwood. I became familiar with 'Priest's music through a collaborative release in 2011 ("The Lion Of Judah Hath Prevailed; The Process Meets Ghetto Priest") with the Saginaw rock-reggae outfit The Process. That record included 'Priest's song "Ghetto Life", which captured the essence of the same with a sedated but serious reggae vibe. The single was intended to be a sneak-peek of an as yet unreleased full-length title called "Sacred Ground" slated for release sometime later in 2012. But for now, Ghetto Priest offers another peek into his process with a limited-edit...

"Burdened Hands" by Eyestrings

Early last year, Eyestrings sent us a copy of their amazing 2004 debut, "Burdened Hands". It quickly made it into my iPod, but it never got the treatment. Pretty soon, their sophomore release will be available (slated for a Sept. 05 release) so you prog fans have just enough time to fully digest this substantial debutr before progressing any further. Click "read more" below for the review and song samples. Band: Eyestrings Title: Burdened Hands (debut) Label: Split Difference Records Release Date: January, 2004 Produced and Recorded by: Eyestrings, drums recorded at Windfall Recording (NY), mastering Jonathan Wyner @ MWorks Mastering (MA) Musicians: Ryan Paramenter (voice, snth, mellotron, trombone), Alan Rutter (guitars, supporting vocals), Mathew Kennedy (bass, Moog), Bob Young (drums, percussion) by Mitch Phillips Prog fans have taken a lot of crap from the glossy fashion/music press over the last twenty years; their heroes have been repeatedly maligned ...

Michigan Indie Review

Search This Blog