She Lives

Saturday Spotlight #5 (on Sunday again)

Crazy Friday happenings here in Far Western Suburbia are keeping me away from the keyboard in time to post on Saturdays of late.  Oh well.  Better Sun. than none.

Blog Carnivals:

Edition #8 of the Music & Lyrics Carnival is up!  You might discover some other good music blogs among the submissions.

Band Names Thank You!

I asked for suggestions for my daughter's band's name.  I think some folks missed the fact that they're 15 year-old girls.  But I enjoyed all the clever suggestions nonetheless.  I'm giving the linkage to Jennifer for her suggestion: "Paper Cuts."  I think a lot of fun things can be done with that name.  Origami on the liner notes, for one thing.  And it's a little emo-ish without being all depressing like "Razor Cuts" or something equally mutilating.  And it sort of speaks to the fact that they're still school girls. (School - paper, get it?)  I like it.  But will the band?

Thank you to my top 5 EC droppers for this week:

 And New Dilemma, who really needs a custom card.  Mabye I can make one for him?

To make life a little easier, I'm going to feature my top droppers monthly rather than weekly from now on.  The faithful ones seem to be consistent from week to week anyway.

Spotlight on EntreCard or How to Get Me to Visit Your Blog Every Day.

I play bass, not brass.  So I haven't really tooted the EC horn over here. Let me share what little I know about EntreCard.

See the little yellow button in my top right-hand side bar that says "drop"?  When you sign up for EntreCard, you go around clicking those buttons on other EC sites and they come click yours.  Each click gives a credit to the clicker and a credit to the the clickee.  With the credits, you purchase an ad like the one above the drop button.  People see the ads, click on them and that takes them to that blog.

There's no money involved - the credits are the currency behind the system.

So!  You get traffic to your blog via those coming to click your button and you get traffic to your blog via your little ad. 

Bottom line: You get more traffic to your blog.  That's good, right?

Also, as you go around clicking on other blogs, you run into some real gems out there that you may never have found otherwise.  Yeah, there's a lot of junk, too.  I tend to sidestep the junk and look for the gems, though.  And my daily drop rounds have shaped up to be mostly blogs I enjoy reading. 

Right now, EC is serving its intended purpose for my blog.  If you don't have EntreCard on your blog, you can check it out here.  Then let me know you did and I'll add you to my daily drops list, which means I'll be visiting your blog every day!

Three Years and a Couple Days Later . . .

My brother is on his way here from Katrinaland (aka Gustaville).  Mandatory evacuation and all that.  My entire Crazy Cajun family is, as far as I know, on their way out of the city.  It's hard to know for certain where they'll all end up - there are just so very many of us.  But I'll know more as the day unfolds. 

How strange, all this deja vu.

Meanwhile, if you or your family members are evacuating because of Gustav and you blog about it, feel free to add your linkage to my Mr. Linky below.  But ONLY if you're blogging about Gustav evacuations for yourself or family members.  This is not for linking your kids' lost tooth or your latest money making scheme, okay? Do it right, people!  We got the counter-flow thing going on, dontchyaknow!

Thanks for stopping by today.  Blog on!

Friday Free Jam #5

Thus ends the first week of school.  Sure has been quiet around here lately.  Guess that means I'll have to stay on my bass more to, you know, break the silence up a bit.  (Muahahaha!!)

I'll start this jam with a meme:

Today's Top 5 On Friday from Music Memoirs:
Top 5 Goodbye Songs

1.   Hit the Road, Jack - Ray Charles
2.  Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John
3.  Take Another Little Piece of My Heart - Janis Joplin
4.  Babe, I'm Gonna Leave you - Led Zeppelin
5. I Don't Care Anymore - Phil Collins

So, name your own top good bye song...or two.

For an AV treat, Ladies & Gentlemen...Tom Petty!

Until next time, here's a little something fun to keep you busy:  SongBlitz

Don't forget to leave a goodbye song in comments!  And let me know what's jammin' on your blog on today.  I'll stop by to check it out!
(Meanwhile, I'll Miss You Like Crazy by Natalie Cole.)

13 Bits of Tom Petty Trivia

I went to see Tom Petty last night with my Church Chix drummer and good buddy, Drummergirl Jan.  I love her.  Y'gotta love a friend who springs for Petty tickets,  plays drums AND loves Jesus.  Some people are just amazing that way.  Not many, though.

So, Petty was amazing in other ways.  Besides being rock solid tight with The Heartbreakers, besides a fun show (the sound and lights were great!), besides great music, besides all that, it was really fascinating to watch Petty play the crowd.  Huge crowd.  Played us like we had strings or something.

So 13 Things You May or May Not Know About Tom Petty:

1. Out of his 22 album discography, 15 of Tom Petty's albums have sold more than a million copies. That's a lot of hits!
2. Since 1981, Tom has been nominated for eighteen Grammy Awards and has won three.
3. When Tom was 11 years old (1961) met Elvis when Elvis was in Florida filming the movie Follow That Dream.  (And Tom's been Running Down a Dream ever since!)
4. He can play the guitar, bass, keyboards and harmonica.  (I need to learn harmonica.)
5. He was the only blond member of the Traveling Wilburys.
6. As a member of The Heartbreakers, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2002.
7. He has his own show on XM Radio called "Buried Treasure."
8. Tom has had rolls in three movies:  FM, Made in Heaven and The Postman.
9. He has also appeared a number of times in the Garry Shandling Show and in the Comedy Central show Li'l Bush.  The cartoon version of himself appeared on the animated shows, The Simpsons and King of the Hill.
10. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
11. He and first wife Jane Benyowere married  for 22 years.  They have two daughters together.  He has been married to Dana York since 1991.
12. He recorded 10 albums with The Heartbreakers, 3 solo albums, 3 albums with the Traveling Wilburys, 1 album with Mudcrutch and has 5 live/compilation/specialty albums to his credit.
13. His first guitar teacher was Don Felder who later joined the Eagles.

BONUS:  A bit of trivia by Tom's opening act, Steve Winwood.  (You are s super star if Steve Winwood is your warm-up band, right?)

"Little Stevie Winwood" became part of the Spencer Davis Group at the tender age of 15.  When he was 19, he formed Traffic with Dave Mason, et. al., and when he was 21, he formed Blind Faith with Eric Clapton.  That's quite a start to the resume'!

Loved the concert!  Thanks, Jan!

References: Wikipedia

Billboard Chart's #1 Song

This is so NOT funny, I could cry.

The #1 song on the Billboard Charts on the day I was born was...

"I'm Sorry" by Brenda Lee.

You can stop laughing now.

What was the #1 song on the day you were born?

Live Music: Hanging By a Thread

People tend to spend their time and their money on the things they value.  Most folks say they love music.  So, what happened to the live music scene?

It seems that, with the indie phenomenon, there are more performing artists than ever.  Singer-songwriter types fill every nook and cranny of musical genre across the board.  Everyone's a "rock star" these days what with the rock star energy drinks and rock star school supplies and rock star movies and rock star clothing and rock star video games.  I'm waiting for rock star gasoline to come on the scene.  Anything that pricey has to be eligible for rock stardom, I'd think.

Actually, it occurs to me that the only folks who are not rock stars are the ones who play in rock bands for money.  Unless they're super stars. 

So, with all these performers running amok, why is live music dying in so many areas? Does our society no longer value live music?  What happened?

Here are a few observations I am only too pleased to call to attention:

Friday's Gig

I'd like to say the gig went great Friday evening.  Unfortunately. . .   

I always drink a Sonic cherry-vanilla coke during gigs and rehearsals.  Those engagements tend to happen in the evenings.  After I've had a full day of domestic engineering, I need sugar!  I need caffeine! Together, the combo works nicely to give me a little pick-me-up and help me stay focused.  That's important when you have screaming hot bass licks to perform.  (ahem)  Staying focused is challenge enough for me, being all ADD-DD-DDDDD-D-DD like I am on a good day.  Slap on a layer of tired and my level of worthlessness skyrockets. 

So, I stop in for my C-V Coke and my total is $2.15.  Because it's Happy Hour and I need the big size to help me with all those DDD's.   The little Sonic girl - I can call her that because I know she's under 18 - brings me my drink, takes my three $1 bills and asks, "Do you need your change?"   

Why did she ask me that?  What if I'd only given her $2?   Would she want that other15cents?  She owes me almost a buck, which I know doesn't buy a whole lot of anything these days, but toss it in the jar with all the other C-V Coke change and I'll have a rather nice trip to the CoinStar machine soon.  YES! forcryingthroughastraw!  I do need my change!!  Who knows when I might be 85cents short the next time I go to the grocery store and wouldn't it be awful if I had to put back my family's gallon of milk on account of that?

Since when do people ask you if you want your change?!?!?!  Even if it's only one stinkin' penny, it's YOUR change, right?  Well, in this case, MY change.  Not much, but still mine. 

So, I get to the gig and we're setting up and find out the restaurant is going to seriously stiff us on our pay.  We did get paid, but it was significantly less than they'd paid us in the past.  No clue why.  They didn't even bother to tell us until we were nearly set up.  I'd have said, "Forget it!  We're out of here," but we had a lot of friends, family, co-workers and other groupie-types who were planning to be there.  To quote Pink Floyd who probably quoted someone else like Barnum & Baily or Charlie Chaplain or someone, "The Show Must Go On."  (The Wall, side 3 or 4 - can't remember)

Hindsight being 20/20, we should have told our fans not to order any food.  Dairy Queen was across the street.  They could have ordered there, then come across for the music.   Because that restaurant we played at sold a lot of burgers that night, I tell ya!  A LOT of burgers.  And STILL stiffed us.

So, that's the 20/20 of it.

We played fine.  Our groupie types liked it.  Good crowd.  That always helps.

And the crowd was very generous.  We set out a bucket to collect money for the Alzheimer's Association and they dropped some cash in.   Plus we added what little the restaurant actually did end up paying us.  Which is why I'm way more than just a little chapped about getting stiffed. The whole band tossed into the Alzheimer's bucket what we got paid for the gig and it could have been so much more...But we got stiffed!  Thedirtyrottendiscolovers! 

I tossed in an extra 85cents to help make up the difference.

I haven't mentioned it, I don't think....can't really remember ... but Elixir is an Alzheimer's Memory Walk team this year.  We're collecting for the Alzheimer's Association and we'll be at the walk.  But we're not actually walking. We're playing music. And we'll have more groupie-types with us.   It's an early morning gig, so I'll probably drink java. With sugar.  Sonic has that nice iced latte stuff. 

And yes, I will need my change.

Sunday Something

ATTENTION MOM BLOGGERS!!!   
You can join Mom  Bloggers Club and hang out with a lot of other mom bloggers.  It's one of the best (ie. most fun) social networking sites I've come across for mom bloggers. 

ATTENTION EntreCard MOM BLOGGERS
And if you join Mom Bloggers Club, you can get in on the EntreCard Moms Group.  With 76 members in that little group alone, it's a great way to find new mom bloggers while also promoting your own blog and getting more traffic your way.  Y'gotta love that!

ATTENTION ALL EC BLOGGERS!

Is your EC Widget above the fold?!!?!

I'm sorting through my daily drops and taking out EC drop widgets that are too far down the page to mess with.  I'm also taking out blogs that aren't updated on a regular basis.  So many blogs to drop on, so little time to mess with scrolling and loading dead blogs.

 

CONTEST LINKAGE
And I'm in another little contest that requires a bit of linkage.

Lake Trees blog is running a contest and I could sure use that 5000EC prize!  Click on over and help her name her artwork before  Wed, 8/27.

Saturday Spotlight #4

Time again to shine the spotlight on YOU!!! 

Thank you to the following bloggers for adding the purple ribbon to their blogs.
BMW Rules
Get a Grip, Mom

Update:  Small Shrine

Click my ribbon (right hand side bar) to get one of your own.  $10 goes to the Alzheimer's Association when you do!  (And I'll nag you to the death if you don't.  hah!)

Just in time for my belated 3rd Blogiversary, I got a nice award...twice.  So I figure it must be a Twice-as-Nice award.

Thank you to Elaine at Wonderstruck and to Jennifer at Happily Ever After Land!  I'm honored.   But the Spotlight is not on me, so time to pass this along to seven blogs I deem Brillante.... (Y'all pass it along to 7 more bloggers, okay?)

1. New York Nitty Gritty - Amazing photography!   A visual oasis I look forward to on my daily card dropping.  Makes me want to go to the Big Apple.  Probably doesn't do meme-ish awards, but I'm bestowing one upon him (her?) anyway to say thank you for sharing your talent and your city with us.
2. People You Need to Know - Features "Business Celebrities"  in the Atlanta area, which I think is really cool.  Even though I don't live in Atlanta.  If I did and had a business, I would definitely want to be blogged about here.
3. New Dilemma - I'm always looking for musicians in my new-ish niche. Which, I'm beginning to believe, is a small-ish niche.  So, I'm happy New Dilemma is on my daily dropping rounds.  (Why do so few musicians blog?)
4. Guitar Flame - Same reason as above.  Although I know it won't help me win his Willie Nelson Career 4-CD collection.  It's a good blog and I enjoy it anyway. 
5. BMW Rules - I like the new little comics he's been using for his B & B snippets. It's another nice break in the card dropping for me.
6. Soul to Soul - Although I'd be surprised if this blog hasn't already won this award.  I'm in awe of her drawings!  (I'm thinking she should do one of Ann and Nancy Wilson.)
7. Virtue Alert - I was asked to review Vicki Courtney's book, Between Us Girls and ended up on her blog.  I love her focus!  She gets the award!

Here's a review of Vicki Courtney's book:
In a culture where young girls are enticed to look, dress and behave as sleezy as possible, I applaud any emphasis given on modesty, wholesome-ness, and virtue.  Her book, Between Us Girls, is a great tool to help tween girls navigate our culture's treacherous waters. Filled with wisdom from other girls, it even has a section on cell phone etiquette.  The colorful, glossy pages contain Bible lessons, tips from girls who have been there/done that, games & puzzles, and even a section on ... you know...[whispering] periods.  My 15y/o daughter would have loved to read this book when she was a tween.  I know.  She said so herself!

I have 3 copies of Between Us Girls to give away to the first three people who ask me for it.  Just leave a comment below.

And now, my top 5 EC droppers for this week:

 

Thank you's all around!

Friday Free Jam #4

It's TGIF!  And I have a gig tonight.  Gigs are good.  This one pays.  That's very good.  Meanwhile, I'll just hang out and jam for a bit.

Top 5 Bands You Wish You Could See Live
Should be "Top 5 Bands You Should Have Seen Live" 'cause most of them are not even around anymore 'cause someone died.  (Top 5 Bands You Wish You Could See ALIVE?)  Whatever.
.
Okay, here goes.

1)  The Beatles - They never toured Panama and by the time I lived Stateside, they'd broken up.   Not that my folks would have taken me to see them when I was...three.
2)  Yes - I had the chance. Why, oh why did I not go see Yes when I had the stinkin' chance!!!
3)  Queen - 'Nother coulda, shoulda, woulda....
4)  Rush - I may get this one in yet.  There is still hope.
5)  Bob Marley & The Wailers  - Did they ever come through here?  Would I have had to go to Jamaica, mon?

That was pretty easy.  Oh!  And next week Drummergirl Jan is taking me to see Tom Petty.  Did I already mention that?

This is pretty cool:
Mood Stream.  Use the setting controls to indicate your current mood or the one you'd like to create.  Streaming music and images match your settings to create the mood.  Could be useful for artistic inspiration.  Or just for fun.

This is very cool:
SongSterr.  Learn to play a pretty good assortment of songs using tablature and audio. The indicator scrolls past the tabs at either normal speed or at half speed as the midi plays.   Could be a fun tool for those who want to learn a few songs on the guitar, but don't want to learn music.

This is just silly:

 

 

So!  What are you jammin' on today?  If you posted something good, leave a comment and I'll stop by.

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Band Names

Although it seems like it would be a lot of fun, one of the toughest jobs for a start-up band is coming up with a name.  Here are 13 things to consider when naming a band.

1. Audience Appeal.  Who is the target audience for the music?  "The Be Bop Boys" may not attract the heavy metal crowd.  Likewise, "Slayer" may run off your silver haired 50's rockers.
2. Availability.  There are hundreds of garage bands out there named "Midlife Crisis."  Great name, but not very original.  A simple Google search should give you an idea whether others are already working under your chosen name.    Older bands may not have a web presence, so also check iTunes and Rhapsody.
3. Appearance.  The name should lend itself well to the genre and look good on paper.
4. Attitude.  It should also reflect the personality of the band.  This is often where bands get stuck.  Every member has their own unique personalities, hence different ideas for names.  The stronger the personalities, the tougher it can be to find consensus.  Step away from yourself and look at the band as a whole.
   
5. Articulation.  How does it sound out loud?  Does it roll well off the tongue?  Again, this will, to some degree, depend on who the target audience is and the image the band wants to portray.  There are soft words and edgy words.  Pay attention.
6. Artfulness.  It is clever?  Original?  Punny?   Too cutsie, perhaps?
7. Ambiguity.  A caution here.  While it may seem fun to keep folks guessing, you may find yourself having to explain your name to everyone and their dog. For years.  That can get old after a while.  Do you really want to get stuck with the negative side of the double entendre?
8. Attention.  Is it catchy?  Memorable?  Will it create curiosity?  What kind of attention are you really after?  Too shocking can also be too limiting.
9. Abbreviate.  Shorter names are usually more successful.  They're easier to use in logos, merchandise and album covers.  There have been successful bands with longer names like "Sixpence None the Richer" and "George Thorogood and the Destroyers", but most successful bands use succinct names.
10. Allure.  If you want to attract a wide audience, avoid words like "rape" and "death" and parts of the human anatomy best left covered up.  In other words, don't be repulsive. And avoid obscure numbers that no one is going to remember.  Also, weird spellings may be cute, but can sometimes make it tough for folks to look you up online.   You might want to avoid gender-specific words like "Chicks" or "Boys" if there is the possibility of some day bringing in a band mate of the opposite sex.  That could get weird.  Just use a little sense.
11. Apply Resources.  The dictionary and thesaurus are your friends.  To avoid future embarrassment, make certain you know all possible meanings of the words you use in your band's name.  I will not, for example, play in a girl band with the word "Flow" in the name.  No, thanks!   If there's a word you really like, but you're stuck on how to use it in the name, try using a band name generator. (See below) 
12. Agree.  Here's the tough part.  With a b'zillion words in the dictionary and several people bringing in their lists of what they like, reaching consensus means somebody is not going to get their way.  Compromise is essential.  If the band members can not work through this process without hating each other, the chances of the band remaining together for the long haul are slim to begin with.
13. Attachment.  The longer the band is together, the more difficult it will be to change the name.  It will be on everything from business cards to the MySpace page.  If the name is changed, the band has to start building up that friend and fan base all over again.

Band Name Maker is a generator that I think is fun.  You can plug in a word or two then have it generate name after name after name using the word(s) you chose.

My daughter's band is currently looking for a new name.  They worked under "Red Tape Window" for rock camp, but now that they've decided to stay together, they want a name that they can use through their high school years.  They're all girls. They're all sophomores.  They play a lot of pop and soft rock songs with some teen-appropriate originals and some classic rock thrown in to make their parents happy.  They won't always wear pink. 

Want to take a stab at helping them find a name?  (I'll give a little linky love to whomever comes up with the name that I like best.)

What are some of the best and worst band names currently in use that you can think of?

What about you?  What names would you consider for a band of your own?  Even if you'll never have a band, you can still have a little fun with this one!