Discovering Drawn

Underground music: Underground music refers to a variety of post-1960s rock, pop, or dance subgenres that developed a cult following despite their lack of mainstream appeal, visibility, or commercial promotion. Underground bands and artists are often signed with independent record labels, and they typically perform in small venues and promote their music through word-of-mouth, fanzines, and college radio or community radio airplay. (wikipedia.com)

There was a time when underground music meant artists that independent record labels hadn't even discovered. Underground music was traded on cassett tapes between community members. When you listened to it, you were probably one of twenty to actually hear it. How cool is that!?

Times have changed. Record labels have popped up all over the world both large and small in a race to sign the "up and coming artists" of the world. The internet has served as a medium for the little guys to promote themselves and get their name out. As a means to book small gigs at local pubs or submit their music to large labels by just the click of a button.

Thank goodness there are still open mic nights. I went to an open mic night at Hide-A-Way Lounge! Of course girls were goo goo eyed over cute boys who could carry a tune but their jaws dropped when they saw they cold also play guitar!

It was then that i looked around and realized that THIS was underground music. These were people that i was watching preform that may have only been seen by a handful of people before me. I was excited...until i found out my favorites had a myspace music page.

http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=65581186&albumId=1516

Their sound is unique and good. They are Drew and Sean...known at small venues throughout Virginia as "Drawn". Their link is above...check it out!

It was then that i realized that this growth of underground musics increased availability was not a bad thing...IT WAS A GOOD THING! Now good sounds can me heard by more ears than ever before and people who should be discovered actually have the oppostunity to be.

So...what's my point? Yes, the concept of "underground" has changed A LOT but in the end, it's for the better, not the worse. Music is like marriage...for better or for worse...we will always be here...listening, reviewing and most importantly...DICOVERING.

xoxo,

Rocking On....

Because Music Is What Sounds Feel Like...

Valentine's Day has come and gone now...If you will be celenrating Valentine's Day belated this year, a mixed CD maked a perfect personalized gift. What would it have on it? Sometimes music speaks louder than words and sometimes artists can say it better than we can....here are some ideas:


Because You Loved Me - Celine Dion
But I Do Love You - Michelle Branch
Everything I Do, I Do it for You - Bryan Adams
I'll Always Love You - Whitney Huston
Love Will Find A Way - Christina Aguilera
When The Sun Comes Up - John Legand
Thank You For Loving Me - Bon Jovi
Ain't No ountain High Enough - Diana Ross
Superstar - Usher
Confidence - Teddy Geiger
Over and Over - Tammi Chynn
Bed - J. Holiday
Sacrifice - Alaine Whats
I wanna Know- Joe Weather
Flying Without Wings - Ruben Studdard
Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye
Dangreously In Love - Beyonce
Secret Hideaway - Tessanne Chin

Love is a friendship set to music.
E. Joseph Cossman

Ultimate Shows

Have you ever been to a concert that was just amazing? I bet it was some time ago...lately it seems to be harder and harder to find a show that you really feel confident dropping $100 on a ticket to go to. When i think back some of the best shows i have been to have showcased a mix of artists that appealed to various age groups and the ones that left me in shock and awe always has a surprise preformance (for example - Kenny Chesney and Uncle Cracker...SO amazing!)

This week i was challanged to pick my dream line up for 4 genres (each having an opener, mid and headliner) and here it goes....

ROCK...according to dictionary.com rock is: a genre of popular music originating in the 1950s; a blend of black rhythm-and-blues with white country-and-western; "rock is a generic term for the range of styles that evolved out of rock'n'roll." With this in mind i have selected the following for a good rock show:
Opener: Jimi Hendrix with a surprise appearance by two songs in Led Zeppelin
Mid: The Rolling Stones
Headliner: The Beatles

HIP HOP/RAP...many see this genre as "street poetry" while others (close minded others) classify it as ignorance, none the less the line up i have selected for this genre really covers the generations and is as follows:
Opener: Ice Cube
Mid: Run DMC
Headliner: Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, T.I and Kanye West (similar to the Grammy preformance but a MILLION times better, without MIA and mixing their most popular selections and strong points as artists to really make a cohesive preformance)

JAZZ...this is a hard genre to market to a large audiance. So often quality jazz is late night is a smaller setting but the best of the best could and should be showcased in the largest venues and would be as follows...
Opener: Herbie Hancock
Mid: Duke Ellington with a surprise appearance for the last song only by Ella Fitzgerald
Headliner: Miles Davis joined for the encore (lets face it we all know its going to happen) by Louis Armstrong

POP...Popping bubbles is cool, but pop music is cooler. Pop is such a broad genre and actually technically could include some artists already named above but, i think a show that encompassed several generations could include...
Opener: Katy Perry
Mid: Miley Cyrus (of course starting out as Hannah Montana and removing her wig dramatically mid-song with a song change) and her dad, Billy Ray joing her for a surprise appearance (what crowd doesn't love him AND want to see a father/daughter preformance) Headliner: New Kids on the Block (an oldie but a goodie that young and old alike know)

Would you do a show differently? Do you hate one of the artists i've showcased? Share your thoughts! Make your own line up that you'd like to see replace mine and post them in the comment section to the blog post...i promise i won't be offended, i may even be tempted to agree with your suggestions...

xoxo