Drawing The Line

I was in Nashville this past weekend, which was an interesting experience.

My band played for record label executives at a band showcase, which was more fun that I thought it would be.

My band finally played the Metro this past Friday night, which was a great experience and exposure for us, but I digress.

I have spent probably 6 years of my life wondering where I as a musician and an individual fit into modern music. I have flirted with electronic music in the past, and have thought lately about either incorporating electronic drums and synths into my current band (which is now called No Exit) or starting an electronic side project. If a musician doesn't embrace technology that usually get left in the dust, and I have no intention on getting left behind in the musical landscape.

Along with wondering how I can survive as a modern musician, I've also felt the pressure of time on my available window to "succeed" as a musician trying to survive in the modern world. I'm 24 years old, and for most people that's a young age to be, but for a musician I'm an old man. So I feel I'm always working against the clock.

This past weekend playing both the Metro (biggest show of my career) and playing a showcase in Nashville, I've had all those thoughts about technology and age on my mind. Can I "make it" as a career musician before 24 and playing in a rock band?

All my opinions and assumptions are currently changing as I write. Over the past couple years I've become more and more of a fan of the band Porcupine Tree, which is kind of like England's answer to Tool and Radiohead and a return to album oriented experimental rock music. The new album by Porcupine Tree entitled "The Incident" is the freshest piece of music I've heard in years.

It is an empowering musical statement, and an artistic tool to show self-awareness. While there are some use of electronic music on the album, it is mainly just a well composed and arranged rock album full of progressive and experimental song elements. I think it's a beautiful album. To see such a fresh and creative album coming from a group of guys who are in their mid-40s who have a band have been around for 20 years, but only now getting commercial success makes me feel much better about my place and status in the music world.

The centerpiece of the 2 disc album is a 55 minute long song titled "The Incident" whcih is broken down into 14 parts and covers the entire first disc.

Steve Wilson who is the guitarist/lead vocalist/lead songwriter of Porcupine Tree wrote "The Incident" as a conceptual piece, and I really like the concept of the music. I wish more music had the depth and psychological awarenress as "The Incident."

"There was a sign saying ‘POLICE – INCIDENT’ and everyone was slowing down to rubber neck to see what had happened... Afterwards, it struck me that ‘incident’ is a very detached word for something so destructive and traumatic for the people involved.

And then I had the sensation that the spirit of someone that had died in the accident entered into my car and was sitting next to me. The irony of such a cold expression for such seismic events appealed to me, and I began to pick out other ‘incidents’ reported in the media and news,” continues Wilson.

“I wrote about the evacuation of teenage girls from a religious cult in Texas, a family terrorizing its neighbors, a body found floating in a river by some people on a fishing trip, and more. Each song is written in the first person and tries to humanize the detached media reportage.”

The Drive To 2011

Why am I here and who am I? Those are questions I have asked myself, and can only assume are questions that all or near all of us ask.

I am a musician and my pursue in life thus far has been to play music professionally while I'm here. I have often pondered to myself should I be doing other things, are there other things I should be pursuing instead of music? Having thoughts of doubt has distracted me from the discipline and joy I want in my life. In order to remove these negative distractions I am now on The Drive To 2011.

The Drive To 2011 is my focus on utilizing my potential for doing positive and quality acts to myself and others between now and January 1, 2011. The Drive To 2011 falls under Four guiding principles:

1. There is no correlation between Quantitative and Qualitative Acts.

2. Any Qualitative Act effects others; and has a ripple effect.

3. As long as you yourself do Qualitative Acts you will positively effect people; and as long as there is life there is the chance for Qualitative Acts.

4. As long as there is life there is Hope.

My perspective given these principles and personal expression is a qualitative leap inwards expands outward towards others. I am driven to utilize my potential to create a more positive world for myself, those around me, and hopefully everyone. The Drive is my attempt to bring abstract thinking to a concrete world.

I believe through music I can have a huge impact in creating qualitative acts, and leave a positive effect on others, which in turn will increase the chance of more qualitative acts towards even more people. Thus as long as I do good acts there is hope, but first in order to utilize my potential for good acts I have to feel good about myself. This has taken me a long time to do, but I'm finally at the point where I feel good within and am ready to redirect that goodness externally as well as internally. The Drive To 2011 is my life now and my desire to create more hope in an increasingly hopeless world.