Band Notes

I have gotten some pressure from clubs and music folks about no pictures on the band site and here also. It is really starting to be a major problem, and the group has decided to place more photos around to let everybody know how beautiful our stars are, and how much we rock, etc.

Fine.

The fact that we place all our music on-line for free, and ask the public for nothing to listen, or download, is somehow not enough. The fact that the band turns out with our equipment, incur the travel expenses, dedicate the 1-4 hours in performing for free or very little money, (while the bar makes tons of money in drink sales) is somehow not enough. The fact that the band's collective musical experience amounts to over a century, and that we can entertain in nearly any musical genre for hours on end is somehow not enough for slimey club owners who want more, and more and more, for free. No, they want us to surrender our images for free, even though we would rather retain our image rights as sort of the last thing we can barter for value, which in a sense, represents our power over our own persons.

I have worked in music stores, record stores, theaters, clubs, restaurants, that all under-pay and exploit their workers. And the American public not only allows this to happen, but actually encourages and expects it.

Look, club monkeys, I am not gonna spend more money so you can let us spend more money. If you want the best band in Texas, you are going to have to meet us half-way.

Hey, music industry: if your business model worked, you would be making money, and not hemoraging 29 cents on every dollar you spend. Hey night club mavens: if you were booking entertaining acts, people would come to the clubs. I promise. How about hiring a few less aw-shucks-hat-band clones, creepy new-age indio-feelers (buy my jewelry!) folk nazis, and spokes-model/actresses, and hire a few more artists, instead?

There is a thing called, "real." People like it. Give the people what they want.