NHT Blog

The lion’s share of the attention yesterday surely went to dads everywhere since it was Father’s Day.  While that’s certainly justified and due, it’s just a shame that yesterday’s other occasion had to play second fiddle (pun intended).

National Music Day or Make Music Day or whatever you chose to call it was yesterday too.

Yesterday I was told of someone who got stood up for lunch by the same person twice.  No one likes that feeling at all.  I was recently left sitting across from the invisible man for a one-on-one that the scheduled participant didn’t bother to call me with an excuse for.  (She finally explained herself four days later, and even then only because we were both at a bigger event.)  Heck, I can remember being

As an up-and-coming musician, singer, songwriter, or entertainer of any kind, don’t you want to stand out for all the right reasons?  I always tell college students that when they’re applying for a job, if a potential employer is holding their résumé side by side with another that they feel is comparable, one little extra – like design skills or a second language – could set them apart.

Batman, of course, is never to be seen without his mask.  Spiderman?  Well, I think his whole suit is one piece, so never mind his mask coming off.  Similarly, a country star will always be seen – on-stage and off – wearing his hat.

Last week I had a nice conversation with Victor Wainwright, recording what will be the podcast that will be released on June 3rd (NHTE Episode 69).

At one point he was talking about something that more and more musicians should be talking about – because they’re doing it.

My all-time favorite band, Rush, has recently started their R40 tour.  It’s supposed to be in celebration of their first album having come out 40 years ago, except now it’s 41 years, what with “Rush” having been released in 1974.

Fight fans – and even non-fight fans – recently watched in record numbers as Floyd Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas in the biggest boxing match in years.

Meanwhile, many miles away, on the undercard, yours truly was stunned as a big name up-and-comer threw a right hook known as not-showing-up, and knocked me to the canvas having to shake the cobwebs out of my head and retreat to my corner.

Already you’re scared by that headline, right?  Musicians become track stars when there’s a mere hint of someone asking them to perform for free.  And rightfully so.  Event organizers will ask me, “Don’t you have any performers who would like to get some exposure?”  And I smile and say, “Of course, but unfortunately exposure doesn’t pay the electric bill or the cable bill or their cell phone bill.”

Last weekend the Academy of Country Music Awards were held.  (I know, I’m a week late.  The coin flip last Monday resulted in me blogging about Record Store Day instead.)  So, now I’m sent scrambling to do a search on what the difference is between the ACMs and the CMAs, while also pondering the fact that the Grammy Awards do have categories for country as well.

This past weekend was the annual Record Store Day.  It is intended as a way to “celebrate and spread the word about the unique culture surrounding nearly 1400 independently owned record stores in the US and thousands of similar stores internationally.”  When I hear about Record Store Day it conjures up images of buying music on vinyl records.  And that leads to thinking of nostalgia.  Notice I didn’t say memorabilia