Moving away from Main Street

Let me give you a quick scenario: If you feel nauseous whenever you see a commercial for American Idol (or any other Get Famous Fast reality show) and you want to kick in the teeth of all your coworkers and friends who loyaly watch the show, don't despair. You're not a freak. You're a music fan who appreciates actual music.

If you're anything like me - number 1, I feel sorry for YOU - you just want to know where all the artists have gone. Furthermore, you'd rather shower at San Quentin then be subjected to the mainstream crap that MTV (in conjunction with Rolling Stone) force-feeds us daily. Not to say that all mainstream music is bad, there are some great mainstream artists out there. Take John Mayer for example. On the surface, he appears to be just another American-Eagle wearing, Starbucks drinking sissy that Jann Wenner (editor-in-chief for RS) wants you to have on your iPod. But if you listen to his albums (notice I said ALBUMS not SINGLES) you'll find that Mayer, aside from being a modern day Guitar God, is an actual artist. My contention of Mayer's "artist" status was recently confirmed in an interview he gave to - of all publications - Rolling Stone. In the brief interview, he stated that music fans today are: "a 'skip forward' generation...Artists spend a lot of time choosing the order of their songs...its an album, not a Choose Your Own Adventure Book." After this slight against singles-downloaders, Mayer went on to say that the music industry needs to develop talent and abandon the "throw it against the window and see if it sticks mentality."


If you didn't like John before, I'll bet you do now. In keeping with Mayer's idea of developing talent, I thought I'd take the time to point out some artists that you may not have heard of, but are (and have been) out there making great music. And, believe it or not, Myspace is a useful tool when seeking out good, lesser-known artists. And you thought Myspace was only good for drunken titty-slips and child molestors.

You'll find that a lot of these lesser-knowns have plenty of talent, but are what I like to call "fall-betweens." They don't really fit into one genre and are hard for major record labels to market because, like it or not, its still all about radio play. If you're too rock for country or too folky for rock, you're doomed to continue making great music that MTV will be unaware of for all eternity...Maybe that isn't so bad after all....





Check out:





Shooter Jennings and The .357s - are gaining a little more noteriety after 2 great albums and a recently released third (a little bit more country) album that features a cover of Dire Straits' "Walk of Life." (rock/southern rock/country)


http://www.myspace.com/shooterjennings








Shelby Lynne - won a Best New Artist Grammy in 2001 (despite having been around for 15 years prior) and has been more or less out of the mainstream spotlight since, save a cameo as Johnny Cash's mother in Walk The Line and "Killing Kind" being featured on the Bridgett Jones soundtrack. Shelby is a soulful solo act who reminds us of a less poppy Sheryl Crow. Her lyrics and voice are tremendous and she has a Dusty Springfield cover album hitting stores in February.


http://www.myspace.com/shelbylynne


Ryan Bingham - is straight out of Austin, TX dishing out some really killer country/roots/americana music. I've heard his newest album, Mescalito and I'd compare him to a talented Gary Allan...who can play well...and writes his own music. OK, he's not that much like Gary Allan. check it out.

http://www.myspace.com/ryanbingham




Grace Potter & The Nocturnals - are a brilliant rock band out of Vermont. They list The Band, JJ Cale, Led Zeppelin, and everything in between as their influences. Check out their newest album: This Is Somewhere. You won't be disappointed because these kids from the Live Free or Die State (oh, that's New Hampshire but really...what's the difference?) bring it smooth and rock hard. They're currently touring with Gov't Mule.


http://www.myspace.com/gracepotterandthenocturnals





North Twin - is an alt. rock/country-influenced group out of Seattle, WA. Their influences range from Elvis Costello to Johnny Cash. Check 'em out. I recently had a listen to Falling Apart - their newest album - and its the type of music that makes you wish that you were listening live, knocking back a few cold ones while these guys rock out.


http://www.myspace.com/northtwin





Deadstring Brothers - are a blues/rock band out of good 'ol Detroit, MI. Their newest album, "Silver Mountain" rocks and rocks HARD. David McPherson from American Songwriter quips that: "It's a shame more people don't know about this kick-ass band." Be sure to give "Sacred Heart" a listen if you visit them on myspace, its a tight track from their previous album: "Starving Winter Report."


http://www.myspace.com/deadstringbrothers








Also check out these groups:


Girl Nobody - to release your inner Suicide Girl when mom and dad won't let you get that Prince Albert. http://www.myspace.com/girlnobody





Ezra Furman & The Harpoons - will make you laugh and groove extra hard after ingesting an eigth of mushrooms. http://www.myspace.com/ezrafurman











A lot of these choices aren't for everyone. I just wanted to point you all in a good direction to hear some bands you might not have heard otherwise. The White Stripes rock, but its always good to hear some tunes you won't catch every single time you jump into the car or turn on the radio.




Feel free to e-mail me or respond to this blog if you want some recommendations or want to recommend something you think I should hear.










***** A VERY BIG p.s.


If you think I'm totally in the wrong here and you believe MTV is where its at, maybe you should hang out with this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHmvkRoEowc





"LEAVE BRITNEY ALONE!" *******