SIMPLE THINGS

The above pic was taken last night with my new Samsung Galaxy A16 5G phone. I took other outdoor pics that are on my FB and IG pages but put this one here because it looks good. I look better than in recent years. And you can see every strand of my hair.

Facts!

I wasn’t going to spend money on a new phone just yet, only wanted to browse the Simple Mobile site. And this phone was the first thing I noticed. “Okay not a bad price, I can wait a bit.” I got my first phone in 2019, and then the second one in 2023. First phone I paid $75 at Walgreens, and the second was free! This one was…free too! So I took full advantage of it. Glad I did. It’s a really amazing phone, sharper screen, faster going around things and it’s lighter?! Whodathunkit!

Isn’t it amazing how things I swore I’d never do happened to me? I swore up and down forever that I will never own a phone. And I bought one in December 2019, right before heading to NAMM in 2020 (and before the world was in a vice grip). I would love to go back to NAMM again but when you’re not a famous rock star, you get passed up. Such is life. Which leads me to…

I told myself and a lot of people that I would never ever commit to a cover band. I was the typical “anti-cover” guy for years. Granted I was in Mary’s Basement from 2013-2017 and that was a fluke. Once I was out of that band, I said “Never again.” Then I helped out Naked Glory in 2021, and in turn started subbing for Supernova a year later, followed by such bands as Evolution, Blame It On The Girl, Rock Hard, and Rubber Duckie Riot. What did I say about not doing covers anymore?!

Let’s be super honest here: my time as an original artist drew to a close years ago, and I was in denial. I kept parading around various rooms, scraping for ticket sales, being forced off bills, or re-added and told “This is the last time you step foot on this stage.” Nice, huh? It will never be about the music with most promoters. But for me, it will always be about the music. Whether I am covering classic rock, country, and disco or writing my own songs…the passion is still there. But the intensity and ambition are gone. Or maybe they have been re-positioned into other aspects of my life?

I worried that when Supernova announced my joining the band this past July, it would be met with derision and snarkiness. Yes, a couple of people privately told me that I sold out and that I was a hypocrite. All of a sudden, I was not allowed to change my mind? I never denied things I said in the past. I own up to them and move on. I’m in-demand finally after many years of being at the bottom of everyone’s totem poles.

And I had to do covers to get to the top.

Whatever works, right?

But I also see this as going back to simpler times. No I am not about to get all wistful and say “Life was better in the 80s” because honestly, I don’t miss my youth. I’m talking about how my life is music 24/7/365 and that’s what I wanted for decades. I teach, write, record, perform music and it’s all on my terms. My life has been simplified and I prefer it that way. No more sitting at a desk being told “I can fire you today” or being in music retail working long hours and dealing with combative hacks who couldn’t fret a G chord with a gun to their heads. It took me a long time to get to this stage in my life and I’ll be damned if anyone wants to challenge my motives or ethics.

And I no longer feel guilty for doing NOTHING sometimes. I would often hear “Do something” or “Don’t just sit there all day.” That’s gone now. I earned this place in my life and the good things that are coming my way. If I want to lump around with the cats on my bed, I’m doing it. If I want to go for a short walk, out the door I go. I am more ME than ever.

So while I did feel pangs of “Did I make the right choice joining a cover band?”, Supernova and their friends proved to me that for once in my life, I made the right decision. If anyone is supportive of me, then great. If not, take your dead ass home.

One thing my dad told me years ago that I finally took to hear: “Unless someone asks, nobody really cares what you’re doing.” Since nobody asked about the state of my upcoming album, I will also add this…I stopped caring.

HUH?

I am proud of the music. But it feels great to not be in a mad rush to get it out the door as in the past. Looking back, did anyone truly give a rat’s ass that I was doing new music? If I wore the correct uniform or played the same tired licks, I’m sure many people would be asking for new stuff. It’s not happening and quite honestly, it won’t. I’m still putting the album out eventually, and even if 10 people buy it, fine. That’s 10 people who give a damn. I’m not going to go nuts promoting it or hoping it sells by the truckload. Whatever the results are once the album is out in public, I am ready for anything.

Are you?