Age and the Indie Rock Star

SO, a couple of things have me thinking these days about music. Last week I received an e-mail from a guy looking for a drummer. I said sure, if he didn't mind my age (over 30). So I have the big 'audition' this weekend. I'll keep all my readers posted on how that goes.

In addition to this, Wilco was on a repeat of Saturday Night Live this weekend. They were okay, but damn did they look old.

So, I'm thinking to myself again, how old is too old to be doing this. At the same time, when that e-mail came asking me to play again after not playing for nearly two years (since the break up of daymonthyear), I felt a need to get the drums out and start playing like a madman.

If it was up to me, I would still be playing with friends. It makes the whole situation shiny and more manageable. But, my bass player of choice seems semi-retired and others seem less motivated to organize such things.

I'm not unrealistic. I understand that stardom is about as possible as a Sabres Stanley Cup victory. But at the same time, I feel like I'm waiting for the next 20 or 30 minutes up on a stage in front of people playing music they enjoy hearing and I enjoy playing.

Perhaps that's a bit selfish, but that is the nature of the beast I suppose.

So, I'm looking for comments on what age is should all be stopped. Any input is appreciated.

El Music Industry

I thought this article really hit the nail on the head.

I think it amazing how short sighted the music industry was. I'm also in agreement with a lot of critics that Radiohead's suspicious absence at the Grammy's was the RIAA last ditch attempt to say they disapprove of downloadable content. If an industry can't evolve, it will die.

Perhaps record companies think their lame attempts to get hip are working. I admit that I often listen to tunes I haven't heard in awhile by pulling up the video on youtube. I've watched this video like 5 times because the song was stuck in my head from playing guitar hero:



So, who needs cd's and online stores? I believe in the artist being paid for their work, not the record company profiting from someone else's heartfelt work.