Thank you for the love, Grand Rapids. Jennifer Westwood and the Handsome Devils have been in the top 5 albums played at WYCE in January. On its heels, we'll be at the Jammie Awards.
Here is a link to an article in Local Spins
And info about the Jammies HERE
We had a great time at the Oddities and Horror show in Monroe - a fun way to watch the world go by, see friends and Dylan sold some books!
Here's Dedd Fredd, his cover model. I never met a more friendly zombie. We talked about healthy diets! Got to get that protien in.
Toledo Music Jam is next month - I'll be there with Dylan and look forward to a great day of music. Advance ticekts start at $5 up to $100 VIP options. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toledo-music-jam-tickets-1203638789019
Proceeds will benefit WAKT - yay for independent radio!
The Grammys - OMG I Am Going There
If you watched the Grammy's you probably have an opinon. And while there's never a shortage of talent or opinions surrounding Grammy season, some choices are in short supply.
Choices such as where to hear music that doesn't so obviously fit a trending pattern, has a unique imprint, and doesn't sound so much like a half dozen other songs every hour. Music that takes risks, and is created in a way that won't fit into a top 40 chart but is soul-stirring none the less.
It seems like every once in a while someone with courage and the audacity to simply be themselves and has talent to match, catches the right person's ear and shakes things up. Then the major lables line up and follow suit to replicate the sound (if they can) with their small army of producers and songwriters. If they can't, or the artist won't be wedged in a tidy box, it was nice while it lasted.
We all have opinions and as they say, "Opinions are like A-holes, everybody has them" (and they often stink).
So I'm not going to offer you one anytime soon. I'm just going to say you'll always have top 40 radio to listen to. As the airwaves are over crowded with corporate conglomerates that decide what you'll listen to, what your options should be, and what price you'll pay for a concert ticket, local DJ's continue to lose their jobs to regional or national programming. Not that most have had the freedom to curate a playlist custom made to their community or fans. But independent radio exists! Even if it is on oxygen. All the more reason to pay a visit.
I'm so grateful for the community, public and college radio stations who are in the same class with independent venues and I've recently learned, independent bookstores. Total punk rock legends of underground culture - and its almost all underground!
It feels like there have been some omens going around since covid, either a harbringer of something good bubbling out of local cultures, or the further demise of independent music culture. If you're disatisfied, turn the station and support the small timers. Might as well be proud to be among a dying breed.
And one thing I will say about the Grammy's - I am thankful the Grammy Foundation was kind enough to offer us small timers a grant to help us pay some bills during Dylan's recovery. I can say sincerely, "I'd like to thank the Academy".
Check out my Your Americana Radio page if you like and don't forget - I'm now archiving HERE:
Comments