How the Recession Rejuvenated the Music Scene

During any point in the 20^th century, a person could point to the music industry to signal what was going on in culture. During the 50s, Elvis shook his hips and became the first major iconic musician, while kids truly rebelled for the first time against their parents. During the 60s, cerebral folk music rose to the top as colleges boomed. Later in the decade, psychedelic rock was king while acid melted minds. The 80s was coke and disco/anthem rock. The early 90s was alternative rock and Prozac-cable television cocktails.

Then, we came to the late 90s and early 2000s- the period in which I grew up. A period all about blow jobs (Clinton was the spokesman), making money, and… big-bling-over the top music. Rappers were wearing baggy pants and flashing Benjamins while they rapped about bitches and hoes and getting rich. Shallow boy bands were staging HUGE productions and dating the most beautiful women in the world. Only rivaled by disco, it was probably the most soulless period in the modern music era. But, why was it like that?

Last year, an older friend of mine said, “I feel bad for you kids today, having to deal with that recession. In the 90s, we were all swimming in money.” Swimming in money! That’s when I realized why this-

Cash MONEY Bitch!

Happened. People were going crazy (I can't blame them!) because they were making money hand over fist. For God’s sake, they were getting free money in the mail. Why would anybody care about anything? Why would a person be introspective when they’re loaded and greed is good?

Preach Brother!

But as we slipped into the recession and people were no longer swimming in green, a slow tide washed over the music industry. Executives couldn’t sell bling and grilles and rims because nobody had any money. They couldn’t sell over the top rappers and a half dozen boy bands. For a while, the executives seemed lost. Music was in a transition period, and soon enough, crazy shit started to appear. Even to the point where underground electronic-techno music became popular (somebody kill me), and people actually believed that guys like DJ Pauly D were musicians.

Today, as everybody recovers from the financial crisis, the music industry is still trying to find itself, and fortunately, one movement of substance has actually emerged: a new age hippie-blues music scene. It’s the first major wave of good music that has appeared since the early to mid-90s. Free spirited, introspective bands like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes and Mumford and Sons are selling out large venues. Dirty, bluesy bands like Alabama Shakes are being featured on Saturday Night Live. Because of this, more and more bands are coming out just like them. Their success has spurred an entire movement with soul and spirit. It’s a movement that wouldn’t have been possible in the late 90s and 2000s because the country had to go through a “depression” to shake us up, and bring us back to some good, soulful music.

The Great Lightnin' Hopkins

 Yesterday, on Thanksgiving, my wife was telling me the story of John Fante. I've read one of his book, but she's read them all. Fante has inspired a number of more relevant authors (more relevant to today's society anyway) like Charles Bukowski. She was telling me how his works are no longer in print, falling into the cracks of oblivion, because publishing houses don't want to spend the money to keep him around.

It made me kind of sad. And it made me think about things. I started wondering if that is the way that it just has to be in today's world. In the past, you know like 500 years ago, there weren't as many artists, so there wasn't as much art thrown away. Even if there was, would we want to read it or see it? There's only a certain amount that we can absorb, and most people want to absorb a substantial amount of contemporary art.

John Fante is going out of print, hmmm. The book I read by him was good, and it's a shame that his voice isn't going to be heard too much longer. But, it's also sad that nobody is going to hear my voice one day, and it's sad that nobody is going to hear your voice one day. I've had great conversations with people over the years, and it's sad that those are also going to die. But, that is just the way it goes I guess. However, there are a few exceptions. Certain artists that society has deemed to be great will last through time. Shakespeare is not going anywhere, Beethoven either. That's the way it is. To never die, you have to be that good.

Today, we are doing our best to keep certain artists alive through the internet. There's something so eerie and magical about roaming Youtube, slowly unraveling a man's career. This past month, I've been obsessed with old blues musicians...Big Mama Thornton, Elmore James, John Lee Hooker, etc. But, none have been as great as Lightnin' Hopkins.

I've been stuck on him for days, watching his progression over the years. I love his weaving acoustic guitar solos and his drawling voice. He is so unbelievably cool in his fedora hat with his gold teeth. His stories tell about life, the way it really is, but he keeps his sense of humor with him. Right now, in my mind, I believe him to be one of the greatest artists, let alone blues artists, I've heard. He died thirty years ago, and like Fante, he's influenced countless artists along the way. But, right now, I'm also wondering how much time Lightnin' Hopkins has until his artistry dies.

So, I want to do my part to keep his memory alive. Here is the late, great Lightnin' Hopkins. Check him out and keep this dude alive.

Is Anybody Excited for "All is by my Side"?

"ALL IS BY MY SIDE"

How many times have we heard things like "Hendrix is God." Too many to count. Often, Jimi is thought of as a demi-god, but anybody that has read a great deal about his life would realize that he is a very complex person with a rich background. He spent time in the military, bounced around between family households, had a homeless brother that lived down the street, had an abusive father,  and the list goes on and on. The one constant for Jimi was always music. His entire life was a life dedicated to music. However, most people only think of Jimi's days of fame and fortune, but really, that is not the best part of the story.

The new Jimi Hendrix biopic, "All is by my Side," has been in the works for what seems like a long time. All I hear is negativity from every journalist that is covering the subject. Yes, I know that none of Hendrix' original songs are going to be in the film. Yes, I know that there are a lot of bad biopics out there. But, I do think this film could have great potential because Hendrix pre-fame life was so interesting and dynamic.

One reason that "All is by my Side" could be good is that Jimi was involved in all of the great movements of the 60s. Being an African-American, Jimi was forced to live in a very racist world. What is even more interesting about Jimi is that he was pushed away by both sides. Early in his life, Jimi was just another black guy from the street and faced the well documented persecution of African-Americans of the time. Eventually, Jimi moved his way up through the African-American music scene, but because of his rock n roll tendencies, he developed into an outsider in thAfrican-American world as well. Little Richard kicked him out of his band for a number of reasons, including wardrobe and his performance style. Also, in a memorable piece of journalism from Charles Cross biography, "A Room Full of Mirrors", Miles Davis expressed his displeasure with Jimi being a "white musician." While being cast out by his own race, Jimi embraced and was embraced by the "white" rock n roll community. He loved Bob Dylan, and during his time in New York, he would walk around with a Dylan record at all times. Jimi's time in New York could be a very fascinating study of racial dynamics during the 60s. For, Jimi would frequent caucasion, rock n roll clubs in Greenwich Village while other African-Americans were in jazz clubs miles away. Truly, there are a plethora of stories that could be used for "All is by my Side."

During a time that was filled with hostility concerning Vietnam, Jimi was doing time in the military. Jimi was a real soldier, for he spent more than a year in the army. During his time there, he went through training, was shipped around, and even had a sweetheart that he always wrote letters to. In all of his spare time, Jimi practiced his guitar and jammed frequently with Brian Cox (Cox would reunite years later to play at Woodstock and be a part of the Band of Gypsys). Eventually, Jimi was discharged because he claimed that he had homosexual tendencies, which was a story he invented to avoid military life and the Vietnam War. Jimi's time in the military could easily add to Jimi's life story being a representation of the 60s.

Then there is the music. The 60s is synonymous with music, and Jimi traveled the country and played with some of the world's biggest acts before he even wrote any of his own music. Some were even touting him as the greatest guitar player before he was even "discovered" by the mainstream music scene. While Jimi was frequenting New York's Greenwich Village scene, he was having countless run-ins with other famous musicians, including Keith Richards who will be featured heavily in "All is by my Side." That story will be very interesting! Jimi stole Richards' girlfriend at the time, Kathy Etchingham, and Richards scoured all of the bars, so he could kick Jimi's ass. I won't ruin the ending to that story, but it will play nicely on the screen.

One thing I do want to say is that the Experience Hendrix foundation is a joke. I can't stand those people up there. The Experience Hendrix foundation is run by Janie Hendrix, Jimi's half sister. Jimi only met Janie one time while he was alive, and she was just a child. Through technicalities, she gained control of his estate and has kept his closest relatives (especially brother Leon) out of the loop. Currently, she is refusing to work with producers on the film and won't let them use any of his original music. However, like I said, Jimi had such a great background that a great film could still be done.

Jimi Hendrix lived an exciting life in his pre-fame years. I am excited to see what will be brought to the screen by the writers, producers and actors (especially Andre Benjamin). For everybody that has lost excitement concerning the film, I just wanted to emphasize what a dynamic story/film this could be. Whether or not this will happen is another story.