Rumors About The One Bear Band

Rumors are flying that the One Bear Band is plagued with in-fighting and artistic differences.

It is important to note that: although I do wish there were actually more of me (sometimes), I'd like to make it clear that I've been getting along with myself in (more or less) perfect harmony since I formed all four of me into a band in 2004. I have no desire to break up with myself any time soon.

Recent rumors about the formation of a new rock group based on some of the members of the One Bear Band cannot be substantiated, confirmed, or denied in this humble blog.

Stay tuned.

The compounding interest of music

(Off-topic: Sold TWO CDs Yesterday... Paint With Sound... Yay! It's one of my very favorites. )

On-topic:

In my very unscientific estimation, we have tens of thousands of people making music in the world. From shower singing to stage screaming to streetcorner strumming - on and on. People have made music for eons.

With the interposition of the "Internets Tubes", fairly affordable video/audio recording capability, and lots of people with creative urges - we are experiencing the first-ever GLOBAL instant music sharing and distribution. Interesting bits of sound and soul can be created, recorded and shared in near real-time. It is fascinating to see a pre-teen in Asia, America, eastern Europe (or anywhere in the world) play some impossibly fast, two-handed, insanely articulate guitar solo in his bedroom - recorded and then quickly released on YouTube. Even more interesting is to see video responses from others who answer back with insanely articulate solos. I don't aspire to be someone who has spent every waking hour getting good at one single thing, but I do find it to be inspiring that someone can even accomplish such things.

Sometimes you get someone who plays an incredibly emotional and beautiful rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison) - on a ukulele.

Sometimes you get someone (half a planet away from you) building an entire piece from single-note-sequenced still images and sound to accomplish what he could not do in real time.

Sometimes you get someone who puts together a slide show of images and thoughts to play on top of a wonderful instrumental piece.

So, what do we do now? We must understand that this is just the beginning of a sea change in music. There is much more chaff through which we must listen, but there are orders of magnitude more wonderful gems for us to discover. As musicians and listeners, we must take time to grow and learn from what we're seeing.

And, more importantly, JUMP IN. The water's fine!

PRTQ, Community, and How Music Unites

The Public Radio Talent Quest has been a very good thing. Lots of contestants spread their wings for the first time - and many experienced folks showed us newbies (particularly newbies such as myself) what talent and experience really sound like.

As with most things, I feel a strong need to relate my experience to music (surprised?).

I recently participated in a contest where contestants played blues on guitar against pre-recorded back-tracks. I didn't win that one, either... but here's what I got out of it: I had a BLAST. I met lots of neat people. I network with more musicians now. (And I got a free t-shirt! w00t!). The not-finalists (there weren't any losers) banded together and learned new stuff, watched the pros, and have been building up for next year. The musical community is awesome.

The PRTQ is turning out the same way... the not-finalists (again, no real losers) are continuing to band together and do something neat:

The people of the PRTQ are growing organically. Much networking... much innovating... much helping of each other... and even a ROGUE contest is growing on its own!

Rock on! Don't forget to support the finalists! Read, vote, comment!

Tune in to PRTQ
Turn on to creativity
Drop out of the status quo.
(With apologies to Timothy Leary.)

A Public Radio Infusion Is Coming! Beary Cool!

Hello folks! I wanted to share some thoughts about the Public Radio Talent Quest. This is the first of two posts - I want to keep the two rambles separate.

The first round of the Public Radio Talent Quest is finished and decided. Ten awesome, energetic, thoughtful, and very talented individuals have made it to the second round (including a couple of my absolute favorite entries!).

I suppose and assume that there are huge constraints on the officiators of the Public Radio Talent Quest (their regular work, the extra work b/c of PRTQ, budgets, pressure from the ranks above, budgets, not enough time in a day, a VERY short schedule, (did I say budgets?), and a HUGE SLEW of great entries...).

Me personally?
1) I'm proud of the winners. I am genuinely excited for them. If I had the time (what was that about time constraints and regular work?) I'd compose them a "theme song." I say, "Hooray for you! Kick the world in the ears and flip the status quo on its back!" Awesome job. I'll be there to listen, think, comment, and support.
2) Judges: How in the world can you have possibly made any kind of winnowing to 10 entries? Did any of you (and your staff) ever get any sleep? I am genuinely grateful for the work you did, for the time you took, and your public-face consistent and even-handed attitudes. Bravo. I could not have done it...

My one wish? I wish several of my favorite PRTQ contestants had gotten picked, too. A larger field would probably have been a good thing. But, what can you do?

Support this effort. Support the on-going group and staff. I'm leaving my banners up on my sites.

Cheers!

May there be music in your hearts always.