Hits
Current mood: thoughtful

Not as much activity going on with RTA Inc right now. I'm focusing on getting a band going with my pal Mandy. We are calling ourselves Keys to the Confessional and you can click on that to see the myspace page. We need a bass player, a drummer, and perhaps a cellist or someone who plays a few instruments so that we can mix it up.

Last night I was asked "How many hits have you written?"

I answered "10" just to have an answer. But it is such a loaded question, really. I have written a number of songs which I consider to be quality songs. And being biased, I even like the songs that aren't very good. They are my kids, I love them all.

It might be better to ask, "How many songs have you written that *could* be hits?"

Then I could weight the factors some and say that, given the right conditions, these 10 to 12 songs could be "hits".

But even that is misleading. The truth is that calling a song a 'hit' isn't the same as saying it's a good song, a quality song, or a well-written song. Any song can be a hit.

All that's needed is the proper marketing and significant airtime.

Examples.

I gave my ex-girlfriend's daughter a Jonas Brothers CD for Christmas. She has played that dang thing in my car about repeatedly. So much repeat play, that I've started to sing along (which annoys her to no end). It's not that the songs are good, mostly they are retread, overly shiny, plastic pop songs (though a couple are amusing in their dumbness especially "Year 3000").

The production is smooth and they sound 'perfect', but there's nothing special about the performers or their performance. A bunch of well paid song writers sat in a room and penned the songs. A producer told these guys what to do and they did it. They are part of the Disney money making machine.

The Disney Channel tells the pre-teens, tweens, & teens that this is the cool stuff and they eat it up. They play it over and over on the TV channel and their radio station. And while I don't think the Jonas Brothers have any big hits outside the teen market, and while it certainly isn't quality material, still repeated play of their songs puts their music in my head.

Any song played often enough on Mtv and the radio, will be at least a minor hit. And some pretty crappy songs have made it to number one.

Ace of Bass – All That She Wants
Christine Aguilera – Genie in a Bottle
Hanson – MMM Bop
Air Supply – The One that You Love
Justin Timerlake – Sexyback
Creed – With Arms Wide Open
Billy Ray Syrus – Achy Breaky Heart

Etc. And yes some those songs are fun, or guilty pleasures, in fact I kind of like a couple of them. But if you were trying to make a case for only good, well-written, well crafted, songs making it to number one, then you'd be having some trouble.

It is all very subjective. I can tell you which songs of mine I think are the best and have the broadest appeal, but just like any song, they have the potential to be hits, all they need is marketing, promotion, and intense airplay. I'm not sure what it takes to get those things, but I think you have to be really good at fellatio, know the right people, or have a LOT of money.

Rather than have BIG HITS, I'd rather be able to make a living making music, like many unknown artists, that have consistently put out albums but have had little recognition in the mainstream. Loudon Wainwright III, Adrian Belew, Warren Zevon, the Pixies, Ani DiFranco, Etc.

If I could make CD's and tour to enough of a fan base to keep the bills paid and food in my stomach, I'd be happy. If I have a string of number one hits, I won't cry about it. :D

Wish Mandy and I luck.

Peace,
Rich

Running the open mic last night
Current mood: pensive
Category: Music

So.

Last night I ran the open mic at Quinn & Tuite's Irish pub. And my ex-girlfriend, Stephanie, came down to MC, despite our strained relationship. Besides running it, I was also the opening performer. I hadn't found anyone to do it and it was a chance for me to stretch out and do a few covers that I've been messing with.

It was very dead to start with. I was practically playing to an empty room. But people slowly filtered in. A guy and a girl came in and sat up toward the front, and he had a guitar. After a while I thought he looked familar. So i had decided when I was done to ask if his name was Matt.

It was. He actually came up to me first and asked if I remembered him. Years ago he'd been in a band called Wish. The drummer for that band was dating a friend/roommate of mine.

During his set the Willey's, Andy & Renee, showed up. They were supposed to be out of town, but they ended up not leaving so they came out to the open mic.

After a slow start we ended up with 8 performes, not including me. And I had a fun night.

I should run down who played, but I left the list at home. Ah well I only don't remember one guys name, so here we go:

After me, Matty played. Very soulful, intense performing. And he did Mr. Bojangles, a favorite song of mine.

Then the guy who's name I don't recall did a bunch of Irish and Scottish songs. Strangely we don't get a lot of that at the "Irish Pub".
 
Then a guy named Steve went up and did a few songs.

Andy Willey played after that. I sang back up for the Donovan song "Colours", though I think that's a traditional number originally. 

Kevin Murphy came up and did some fine bluesy tunes. 

Mark Swanson had come in to say "Hey" and we cajoled him into playing a couple songs.

Then Charlie Chaney came up and played a few too. But not his standard "Giant Chicken". Maybe next time.

Then we did a little bit of a Jam. Mark showed Andy and I the chords to a Jethro Tull song and we did that. Then Andy, Charlie, and I had some fun with the Violent Femm's "Add It Up"

To close the night I did my little love song, "Hold You".

Then after packing everything up I went to the bartender to get paid and she said that the owner had not known I was doing this and didn't know if I expected to be paid. Why would I not want to get paid? The regular guys get paid. I was unhappy to say the least. Hopefully when I call Mr. Quinn all will be resolved.

Wish me good luck.

Peace,
Richard

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Friday and other beasts...
Current mood: blank

My Friday was not typical. The open mic was cancelled so I went to see my friend Ben's band, Love Fossil, play. He's a great songwriter and the band really rocks. Their thing is science. They are a pro-evolution band. Which might be kind of odd, but it's all good.

After they were done I listened to a few songs from the other band playing there, but they didn't grab me, though Ben swears they are great. And I was feeling disconnected and out of place. So I decided I'd go.

I knew a band that found me on myspace, Deep Fried Pickle Project, was playing so I decided to check them out. From the little I heard they seemed like a folky They Might Be Giants. Silly fun. That sounded good, so I headed over to Jukes.

I came in on their intermision. I talked to one of the guys, Daniel, and he said they wanted someone to play washboard and would I like to. I said sure. So after a couple songs they called me up and I played washboard the rest of the night. Odd, but fun.

I got a couple pics, so I'll post one soon.

I wrote a song called Trinity. In it there is a line that says, "And if I really offend you, then what are you doing here?"

*shrug*

Peace,
Richard

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RTA Live at Sazerac last night.
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Music

So last night was my first ever paying gig. I played from Just before 10pm til nearly 12:30, with about a twenty minute intermission.

Thanks to owner Brett (and probably Ben Hunter telling him I could play all night) I played at the Sazerac Lounge on Plainfield:


It was fun and tiring. And while it was nice. It was a bit disappointing as well.  I played largely to an empty room. There were plenty of people at the bar, but they pretty much stayed there. Big thank you's to Kevin Murphy and Cyrille Neuman for coming out to see me. Thanks!!!!

Cyrille Took some pics. Here's one:


I played 44 songs. For those curious, here's what you missed, though this isn't the exact order of songs. All songs written by me except where indicated.

Footsteps in the Dark
Back Issues
I Lost my Chance
That Day is Done (McCartney/MacManus)
If I Kiss You
Can You See What I'm Saying?
My Fist Your Face
Life is Good
Don't Forget
Evertything to Everyone (Alexakis)
Mr. Gomez (Doyle/Simons)
A hard Day's Night (Lennon/McCartney)
Another Stormy Night
Left her for
Father's Field
Bike (Barrett) *
Wish You Were Here (Gilmore/Waters) *
Salt
Under the Sun
Trip & Fall
Hurt So Good (Mellencamp)
Blue Screen
No More Rain (Doyle)
Delightfully Oblivious
Pillow Talk
Cyrille
Reality (Biedryzcki)
The Party Song
Tumbling
The Thing (Doyle/Anderson)
Useless Expressions
Everybody Loves You Now (Joel)
Seems Like it was December
She Said She Said (Lennon/McCartney)
Cassiopeia
Just Get it On
Small Car Only
When Doves Cry (Prince)
Hotel Yorba (White Stripes)
Messed Up
Remembrance (Biedryzcki/Anderson)
Flowers on the Wall (DeWitt)
Ballad of a Freak
For No One (Lennon/McCartney)

*These two songs I did in tribute to Syd Barrett the founder of Pink Floyd who passed away this week.

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Playing at the Pub
Current mood: cheerful

Well this past Friday was the big day. For the last coupel months I've been rehearsing with some great musicians to put on a special birthday show. Simply because it was the day before my birthday.

This time around we had seven people on stage. Returning from last time:
     Andy Willey - Guitar
     Mark Svekric - Bass
     Craig Van Otteren - Mandolin
     Eric Voss - Drums
Joining me for the first time:
     Mandy Kubik - Keyboards
     Kevin Murphy - Harmonicas, Squeeze Box, & Pedal Steel
 
I got there early and got the computer set up for recording. Mandy showed up next and then the rest of the guys. Andy frantically worked to get everything mic'ed up. With all of us playing it was quite a bit. Andy and Craig worked hard to get the sound system running. Pulling double duty.

The rest of us got our individual set ups going. Stephanie actually showed up. A bunch of Billy Joel songs were playing on the juke box, which made me look to see if Cyrille was hidign some where.

A big crew from my old employer, Malecki Music showed up, Mandy still works with most of them. Scott, Kristine, and Dustin were there and Bianca. Mandy's mom and sister. Lots of people I didn't know. The Willey's were around.

Towards the end of set up we had trouble getting sound from Mandy's keyboards. We were freakign out and trying to get them work, and suddenly it all started working. Whew.

Cyrille showed up with my mom. And she didn't hiss at me about Stephanie being there. Whew.

I started the show with a solo number, and then called everyone up. The set went like this:

0. Things We Do For Love (solo)
1. Footsteps in the Dark   
2. Under the Sun
3. If I Kiss You
4. Winds of South Chicago
5. Messed Up
6. The Wrong Thing
7. You and I Don't Get Along
8. Don't Forget
9. Your Mother Eats TV's
10. That's All
11. Hold You
12. Smell the Coffee
13. Chained (solo)

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Festival!!!!
Current mood: chipper

Well, this weekend is Festival weekend. The first full weekend in June. Also known as Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts, this is my favorite thing about GR. Grand Raggity, as my friend Joel calls it and Bland Rapids as other's have said, is actually a cool place for this weekend. The freaks all come out and everyone has a fun time.

This year I know several people that are playing music. Here's a list of who I'll be checking out. Come on down and check them out too!

Friday:
Chris Olson: 5:30pm on the Outer Fringe Stage

Arganik: at 7:20pm on the Outer Fringe Stage

Satuday:
Bascom McGee: 10:35am on the Circle Stage

Yellow Jersey (featuring Joe McCargar?): 5:15pm, diSuvero Stage

The Wileys: 5:50pm, Circle Stage

Open Mic (I'll be amoung the performers!!!) 7pm, Outer Fringe Stage.

Mustard Plug: 9:10pm, Calder Stage

Sunday:
PotatoBabies: 11:25am, Clock Stage

Los Cobras: 12:35pm, diSuvero Stage

Java Jive: 12:55pm, Clock Stage

Truckstop Cobras: 2pm, City Stage

Mark Swanson: 4:35pm City Stage

6:53 PM - 3 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

the other story ... my lady ....her pain
Current mood: cheerful

I was going to title this blog, "The other side" but when I started typing 'The Other" the title you now see popped up as something someone had used on my computer as a title previously, suggesting that I might want to use it. After a minute I decided to go with it, as it works about as well.

First off, I want to let you all know I'm playing tonight at Sazarac's and tomorrow night at Quinn &Tuite's Irish Pub, so you should come on out and listen to the music play.

Second. I've been writing a bunch lately. I recorded a couple demos of a couple of the new songs, so check them out and let me know what you think. I also have some lyrics I'm posting in this blog. I have ever in my songs and life, tried my best to see the other side of any debate or emotions. I don't always get it right, but I try. This is one of those songs.

Take a Hint
5-8-2006

Chorus 1:
Why can't you take a hint
Leave me alone
I don't want to see your face
This isn't your home

Verse 1:
All you want to do is make me feel bad
Trying to remind me of the times we have had
Like taking trips out to tunnel park
Or how you held me and kept out the dark
Well, I've been through that
And I don't care
I don't want you in my life
Get out of my hair

Chorus 2:
What can't you take a hint
Can't you just leave
Why do I have to spell it out
You have a degree

Verse 2:
You always want to tell me what I should do
Well, I'm grown I don't need lectures from you
I can do what I like all the time
Without you meddling I'll do just fine
So give me my money
And take your stuff
I don't want you
I don't need your love

Bridge:
It's none of your business who I see
Or if it'll be good for my life
Who asked you to analyze, who asked you to care
Maybe I don't want something meaningful

Repeat Chorus 1

Chorus 3:
Why can't you take a hint?
Are you here still?
I never loved you
And I never will

It's probably off the mark. But writing songs is a catharsis. A much healthier some cathartic actions. *shrug*

Peace,
RTA

Currently reading : The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country By Neil Gaiman Release date: 24 September, 1991

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short short
Current mood: artistic

In the 12th grade English class I was in today, the students had to write a short poem that made sence and had imagery. I like to sometimes do the assignment, and this one was write up my alley. Here's what I wrote:

Her closed eyes, mouth open
No textual justice
Simple digits and chromium

How did I do? What does it mean to you?

Peace,
Richard

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vocabulary poem
Current mood: cheerful

So a couple weeks ago I was subbing at my alma mater, Central High. And the students had a vocabulary assignment. They had to write either sentences or a story with the words in the list. I decided to write a poem with them instead. But I ran out and had to think of big words on my own for the last half. Ha ha.

Currently listening : Beat Cafe By Donovan Release date: 24 August, 2004

9:04 AM - 1 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

social anxiety
Current mood: dorky

Here's another old poem. I can't remember when I wrote it. But it was quite a while ago. I do know that it was based on something Heather Fuller said to me once. I had a crush on Heather from 4th grade to 7th grade. She said that I was smart but that I was socially stupid. And she was kind of right. Though I tend to think sometimes that society is the one screwed up. *shrug*

Anyway, enjoy.

Life isn't a game
It's for real
May sound silly
But that's how I feel
It may all be a game to you
But your rules
Are too complex for me
I'm socially stupid
Can't you see

Angrily
I stomp up the stairs
'Cause like I said
In the song about chairs
I thought life was simple
Mistaken I was
Mistaken I will be
For I'm socially stupid
Can't you see

Currently reading : Stardust By Neil Gaiman Release date: 19 June, 2001

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