The Hardest Part.....A Break Up Story..

"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." - Hunter S. Thompson

The Break up I am refering to is not with my lovely lady friend but with a band that I truly love and belive in.. See in this world that I work in there is always something bigger and better and that kids is "NASHVILLE".. Even though i work for one of the largest companies in the S.E there is always the promise of something bigger and better when you go to "NASHVILLE". I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression here. I have no problems with "music city" I think it is a lovely place and I have some dear friends there. It is just hard when you work your ass off for a client and are a part in building them up and then they leave for greener pasture's. The whole situation is very bitter sweet and a total catch 22. When you truly have put your heart and soul into a project you want the best for it. It is just sometimes hard to watch it go or realize that you are no longer the best man for the job. It was a sad day for me! The quote above is so true yet so false. On one hand it give me comfort, but on the other it makes me anxious and uneasy. I really hope no one takes this as anything negative, but for just how I feel. I really do wish the guys the best of luck and I know they will go far, just sad I am not along for the ride..

The Road/Crazy Week

 Hello blog. Did you miss me? Yeah I missed you too! So I left off that I would be heading out on the road with one of the bands I work with for the weekend. It was a rather short weekend for the most part just two shows one at Billy Bobs Tx in Ft. Worth and the other at Blaine's Pub in San Angelo. Ft. Worth and Billy Bobs is always a blast. The folks there just treat you great and by great I mean you have the worst headache known to man the next day.. Other than that had a fun weekend out with the guys. Both shows were really good! However I was so tired when I got home it has been hard to catch up on sleep this week hence no time to write. Although I have been exhausted all week and have not had much time to do anything but work I did find the time to organize my room. I moved into my apt almost a year ago since then I have done nothing to my room. The living room and common areas of my apt look great my room however has looked like a giant laundry hamper since day one.. So finally after almost a year I got sick of it! I cleaned every thing up jumped on good ole craigslist found a desk and chair for next to nothing and now my room feels great! I can actually do things other than sleep in it now.. Like for instance sit at my new desk and write about nothing. Other than that my week was busy but pretty normal. I worked every day and went out and saw bands every night. I guess the best part of the week came on Thursday night. I went to San Marcos to see one our clients open for the Eli Young Band. For those of you who don't know San Marcos is mostly a college town. So I show up to the venue with some of my co-workers go up to the bar and order a beer. The bartender hands me my beer and it is warm. Having had a long day I look at her and say "this isn't going to work. This beer is warm I am not a college kid I like cold beer". She then looks at me and responds "no shit you must be like 30 here is a cold one" WOW!! I was lost for words and this rarely happens to me. I mean come on I know I don't look 20 but for crying out loud I don't look "old"... By no means am I saying 30 is old or anything but I am not there yet so would like to think I still look like I am in my 20's. So anyway that was the total highlight of my week. I guess I should start getting more sleep or something. 

Music Writers/Critics

I am curious to know what it takes these days to be a music writer/critic? I mean do you need a strong jounalism background? Or do you need to be the grown up version of the kid that got slapped around and was never "good with the ladies" and played dungeons and dragons thoughout middle school and high school? Maybe its both! I ask this question because I read a review today about a record that I think is great. Granted its not some new great sound by any means, its just a good soild record with great songwriting. I am going to do my best thoughout this not to mention the names of artist's or writers. I will say that there is a weekly "publication" here in Austin, Tx that should stongly consider hiring a more tasteful writer. I mean honestly I dont know the first thing about writing (hence the ramblings you read here), I just think that if you're going to reveiw something that it should be throughly reviewed! By this, I mean find the good and bad qualities in the artist/record. I think anyone could sit down listen to a record once and tell you why they think the record sucks. However I find that if I give something a second listen I can normally find positive qualities whether its production or songwriting or great guitar tone.. I dunno I could be way off on this.. I just can't help but think these afformentioned music writer types are just in a position "power" so they write bad reviews on bands that don't kiss their ass or help them climb the social ladder. Thoughts?

The Lurking Hangover!! (DISCLAIMER!)

 No baby whales were injured, killed or or forced to imbibe alcohol in the writing of the previous post!!! 

The Lurking Hangover......

Has anyone ever had a hangover hit them about 4 hours after they woke up after a night of drinking? I know crazy! So last night I went out with some friends, clients and co-workers for dinner then to go see a show. At dinner I had a beer with my steak and a couple glasses of water. From there we proceeded to a new venue off I-35 and 2222 called Rock City Ice House. Normally I don't venture across the river very often as like the comfort of my S.Austin hangouts but one of our clients was playing a show. So there I have a couple large draft beers over the course of about a hour and a half no biggie. After that we venture back across the river to the Stardust.. If you have never been to the Stardust boy are you in for a treat.. I dont think the Stardust ever not even for a second paid attention to the smoking ban. Hell they may have not even ever known there was one. This place just smells like a ashtray. Don't get me wrong I enjoy an occasional smoke from time to time but one hour at the Stardust and you are a prime canidate for lung cancer. So back to the story. At the Stardust I drink about 3 bottled beers in about 2 hours while shooting a few games of pool (tue night is free pool at Stardust). So you may wonder why I have given you in detail what I drank and how long it took me. The reason is that around noon today I got a horrible hangover!!! I don't get it! I got up at 9 a.m came to work and felt fine.. Then I leave to go to lunch and just start feeling like shit.. I mean even though I did not drink very much I took all the "proper precautions"that I would had I drank enough to kill a baby whale like I do in most case's. Self contol and I have issues. By "proper precautions" I mean I took some advil and drank a gallon of water.. So I am at a total loss at to how/why this mystery hangover came about. If anyone has any thoughts or scientifc reasoning on why this happend please let me know. Untill then I will just sit here and wish I was laying on my couch drinking fresca and watching Tyra or People's court or whatever people watch at 2:30 on a week day afternoon. Until something cool happens or I get bored. Keep it real!

iphone continued... With Other Stuff!

Ok I am over the whole iphone thing. At the time I wrote it I just couldn't handle it anymore. I have since calmed down and found other things to be stressed out about. Sometimes during the day in the hustle and bustle of phone calls , emails and "meetings" I get so stressed out I think I will internally combust! I think I was having one of those moments when I posted about the iPhones.. So this leads me to this upcoming week and the beloved "Holiday" that is Valentines day. Over the years I have really hated this faux "Holiday". I am still not the biggest fan of it... However when you find yourself wrapped in the whirlwind known as love you learn to tolerate this scam of a "Holiday"... Don't get the wrong idea here. The one  I speak of being in love with is not a super fan of the day either. At the same time  though I would totally be that guy as far as society is concerned if I did nothing and by that I mean I would hate for the love of my live to tell the work friends and what not we did nothing.. That does not mean there will be the cliche roses and chocolates sent to work. What it means is a small thoughtful gift, dinner, and U2 3D at the IMAX! I think this will be a fun lil date since my lovely lady friend will be leaving at the crack Friday morning to head to NYC on business and will be gone for a few days. I myself will be heading out of town to go on the road with one of the bands I represent for a few days for some much needed "work" and by work I mean late nights lots of brown liquor and tons of windshield time.. I am really excited to get out on the road for a few days. Before I was a desk monkey I tour managed a few bands and was on the road quite a bit. However I quit the life on the road for a more stable schedule and to get to be home more. So its really nice to go out every once and awhile but I always remember why I left the road day 3 or so in when I look in the mirror and look like warmed over death! Hopefully I will get something good to write about this weekend.. Not that it will stop me from writing the "senseless dribble" that I already write about.... Until next time. Miss me!

ATTENTION!!! IPhones are still PHONES!!!

  I am going to keep this short and sweet.. People please stop calling your IPhone your IPhone... I know you may be confused by this. What I mean by this is when you lets say are looking for your IPhone you say out loud "Has anyone seen my IPhone" or when someone asks "I wonder how cold it is outside" you say "Not sure. Let me check my Iphone" christ people we get it.... You have a IPhone. You may think to yourself "Wes is just bitter cause he does not have one" Well that's not quite true. Granted I am a firm believer in Apple. Just got a new MacBook myself.. That does not mean I go around saying "well let me grab my Macbook and do some word processing" I still say "I am gonna grab my computer and type some shit" like a normal person.. TO BE CONTINUED!!!!

Life,Golf and the persuit of happiness..

Last night was good time's at MoMo's. Dan Dyer put on a great show. I am really starting to like his stuff more and more. Now that you know how last night went on to bigger and better things. So I have been thinking about this for quite sometime... I think I am going to quit my job and do nothing but play golf! You may ask yourself how the heck is he going to pull that off when he has bills to pay and no way in Hell to ever make a "tour" of any kind... Well friends drum roll please...... I am going to start my own "tour".... I am still uncertain of the name and who the sponsers will be or any other logistics. What I do know is that it is going to be AWESOME!!! I am thinking the name will be like The Ben-Gay Tour for guys who hate working and suck at golf.. Or something along those lines. The only problem I think I am facing right now is finding out who the target audience would be. I am thinking that if all the shitty golfers have there own tour.. Who the heck is gonna watch them play. Solution! The Ben-Gay Tour starts right after the PGA Tour with hope that all the pros will watch and laugh while they are in there off season. Hmm. I don't know if that will work either. Just reading my thoughts makes me think I am doomed to work a real job till I am 87 only then to still work part time as a greeter at Wal-Mart.... Jeez so much to look forward to. Kids learn from my mistakes and make 401k your friend.. Until next time!

Blood Pressure Rising!!

So in light of my previous post about "Dirt Bag Promoters" I get to work today and find that this guy who I have several dates booked with is pretty much M.I.A........... Not good! So there goes several thousands of dollars down the drain. Not to mention more work filling these dates again me yelling at my girlfriend when she calls then emailing her the second I get off the phone to appolgise for being a ass. Needless to say Daddys not happy (yes I just referred to myself as daddy.Get used to it!) but it should all be fine.. On a lighter note I think happy hour/hours will be much needed today. After that I think I will make my way over to MoMo's to catch Dan Dyer. I am usally not much into Soul/Jazzy sounding/R&B/Funk stuff , but this guy is good! I decided that in 2008 I am going to start getting out more and hearing new music. This way I can actually have a educated opinion before I say someting sucks like I normally do and I may actually find something new I like. Which would be good! So I can quit listening to the same things that I have for the last 5 years from bands that are not even together anymore. So this is all I have for today. Stay tuned for tomorrow when we talk about how I wish I could quit my job and play golf everyday!

Things that make me want to pull the trigger!

I realize the title is a bit dramatic. However some of the things I have to deal with on a daily basis with my job warrant such drama. In the course of however long I decide to keep writing you will hear my frustrations with work namely flakey people. You will also get to read all kinds of cliche "music industry" things like "Show confirmed" "I will take that offer to management" and my favorite "SHADY DIRT BAG PROMOTER'!! You see in the nature of what I get to do for a living you deal with lots of "SHADY DIRT BAG PROMOTER" types. Most recently I got a email last night from one of my artists that a show that I confirmed with one of these "PROMOTER" type gentlemen has not been confirmed and it is now too late to get him on the show (always great when one of your clients knows things before you) not good! The great part of this is that the "PROMOTER" is a family friend of said artist..... Got to find me a friend like this! So now to make a long story short I am going to get to deal with this shit storm and its gonna blow! I know it does not seem like a big deal but when you are a artist with a family banking on a considerable amount of money not to mention the date that is promised to you to preform in front of a big crowd its frustrating. So now I am going to have to scramble to try to find a show two weeks out which will be impossible. Don't get me wrong this artist will not starve to death by any means by loosing this show! Just would be nice for things to happen that are promised.

Man it really sounds like I hate my job which is not true at all. I actually love what I do. I guess as much as you can love a job at least. Well now that I have bitched it all out lets see if I can fix this debacle.......... Is is Friday yet??????????

In The Begining God created?

So this is the begining of my attempt at some sort of oulet for the crazy shit that happens not only in my life but in my mind. I am not going to tell you this is going to be the hightest caliber of writing out there cause to be quite honest I am not much of a writer. I am also not going to tell you that this will be the most co-hernt thing you will ever read because I am not very co-hernt. I will however say that this may be thing that keeps me from wearing a nice white jacket taking 30 pills a day and playing checkers with a guy named Jake that does not exsist! Or at least I hope..