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Summer Fun! Happy hot August, everyone. When this time of year comes around, sometimes it makes sense to stay inside with some cold refreshments and a guitar near your easy chair. We have just the right guitars for these late summer days. Comfortable small body guitars like the Collings 002H, Bourgeois Vintage Heirloom 00 or the Martin 00-28. John takes a look at these fabulous small body guitars. On the other end of the spectrum, Chris gets into a 1981 Gibson L5 CES and a 1981 Guild X-500. Two big hollowbody jazz guitars that ooze cool. And, don't forget John, Aaron and Chris, along with Maggie Monica are playing at Waller's Coffeeshop in Decatur on August 12th! Details below. And finally, John takes on the erroneous assumption that there isn't any good music being made these days. Let's all get through the rest of the summer safe and sound. See you next month!
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John Gets Small
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1981 Gibson L5 1981 Guild X-500
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Chris Puts On His Wes Montgomery Hat
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Maple Street at Waller's Coffee Shop!
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New Music Does Not Suck
How many times have I heard someone (usually north of 50 years old) say, “All this new music is terrible! Nobody makes good music anymore.” Often, this is followed by “Back in my day…” I know all about that. My own musical awakening began in the late ‘50s, from Buddy Holly to the Beatles to Steely Dan and beyond. I was on the road playing this classic music in the late ‘60s to the ‘80s. In the country music world, there were Merle Haggard, George Jones, Earl Scruggs and John Prine. All of whom gave rise to Vince Gill, Patty Loveless, Tony Rice and Steve Earle.
I will stay in the country music world for a bit here. Let me be clear, “new” music to me is most anything created since the year 2000. However, in the last five years there has been an explosion in this genre of great talent. Instrumentalists like Billy Strings, Molly Tuttle, Alison Brown, etc. are carrying the torch. Singer/Songwriters like Sierra Ferrell, Bella White, Jason Isbell, etc. are carrying the torch. Many people equate country music with the current stuff coming out of Nashville. I have to agree that much of it is manufactured junk food for the musically illiterate. But, really, this has always existed. There has always been that audience. But, there is still “real” country music out there.
Folk music aficionados also complain about a dearth of new music. But, it exists! Sharon Van Etten, Jeffery Foucault, Madison Cunningham and many others are making great modern folk music. It may not sound like your mother’s folk, but it is well written, compelling music that contains the same DNA as that of Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan et al.
The modern rock and pop world also has their share of talented young artists. Believe it or not, Billie Eilish and her brother make great records. Like it or not, Taylor Swift has captivated multigenerational audiences in an overwhelming way that cannot be ignored. Sometimes the production overwhelms the art of the song, but if you strip it back, there is some meat on the bones. The evolution of R&B and Hip Hop has also followed a predictable path. Aretha gave way to Whitney who gave way to Beyonce. But again, the DNA remains.
The trick to finding good music and discovering the great young talent that exists is to LOOK FOR IT! Let your curiosity guide you and keep an open mind. As much as I hate streaming services that have robbed artists of their living and made it so difficult for them to support their own art, they are also a gold mine of discovery. The algorithms have improved to the point that, whatever genre you’re into, they can help you find similar artists, some of whom you may learn to love. I have found most of the things I currently listen to regularly from “if you like this, you might also like…”
Now here is where it gets tricky for those over 50. We are creatures of habit and tend to be, shall I say, unwilling to change. The modern rock and pop world is created by young artists who are writing from their world view and experiences which are very different from our own. It’s not written for us, it’s written for them. So, maybe that’s not where you want to go. But there are plenty of young artists who have evolved from our beloved classic acts out there in the world to be discovered. The next time you’re on Spotify (sigh) or some other streaming service, scroll to the bottom of the screen of your favorite artists and see what the algorithm thinks you might like.
You’ll be surprised to find new things to listen to that take you out of your rut, inspire you and make you go further down the rabbit hole. I know from experience that this can be incredibly satisfying and it has enhanced my musical life in immeasurable ways. As a side note, when I find something on Apple Music that I love, I go to that artist’s website, online store, etc. and BUY their music. If you really want to support music and the artists, this is the way to do it.
Happy Hunting!!
John Cable, 2023
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