The Real Memphis Mike (don't settle for imitations)

 Some days I really miss being in a band. There's nothing like making music with a group of people, all on the same page, bringing their own uniqueness to the mix. But here's the problem. No one seems to want to put in the effort these days. The last two times I tried starting a new band, I provided the other musicians with a set list - you know, to get the ball rolling. The songs weren't difficult in any way. All I asked was that they learn the songs. I gave them the keys the songs are in and all but taught them the arrangement. Rehearsal time came...and not a one of them learned the songs. They just figured they'd learn it at rehearsal. That is not what rehearsal is. According to the Oxford dictionary, the definition of rehearsal is " a practice or trial performance of a play or other work for later public performance. " This indicates knowing what you're expected to do prior to rehearsal. An actor, in preparation for a production of Hamlet or Death of a...

 If you want to get good at anything, repetition becomes part of your life. You practice until you’re satisfied. Musicians live this twice over — not just in rehearsing, but in where they perform. When an artist plays a venue for the first time, the goal is always to be invited back — a repeat performance. From bar bands to The Rolling Stones, the same principle applies - go where you’re wanted. In show business, as in any business, that means one thing — money. From startup costs to operating costs to nightly take, it’s always about the bottom line. A venue will rebook an act if that act helps keep the lights on (and hopefully generates a profit!). A packed room doesn’t guarantee profit — I’ve seen standing-room-only crowds drinking water or sneaking in their own booze. That kills both the venue and the act. Musicians often don’t understand why they’re not asked back after a packed night. Simple answer: they didn’t generate enough income. A working musician’s survival depends on m...

 My opinions on music are pretty well known. I'm humbled that there are others, who I believe are far more qualified, value my opinions. That said, allow me to share a bit of my scribbling about singing.  A dear friend, who is not only an amazing singer, but a leading academic authority on music and folklore, recently celebrated a birthday. I wrote this for her, and I'm sure she won't mind me sharing.  Music speaks — yet the human voice is its beating heart. No crafted string nor tempered brass can reach where breath dares go.  The voice alone carries the warmth of blood, the ache of memory, the shiver of the living.  In a single note, it can reveal all that words conceal — desire, sorrow, forgiveness, the quiet confession of being. One need not understand the tongue to understand the truth. A cry of joy, a whisper of despair — both are fluent in the oldest language known to humankind.  For what is song but the pulse of emotion given shape?  What are l...

“The real Ed Gein was a monster. Netflix ’s version is just a model with a bad accent.”   Just finished watching the new Netflix mess of a “story” about Ed Gein. There’s eight hours I’ll never get back. Netflix, as usual, is in the business of entertainment for profit. That means serving the widest possible audience—translation: the lowest common denominator . The real story of Ed Gein is horrifying, grotesque, and steeped in madness that even Poe or Lovecraft couldn’t dream up. What we get instead is a romanticized fever dream that tries to make America’s most infamous ghoul into a misunderstood heartthrob.  Casting Crimes Let’s start with the first lie: Charlie Hunnam . Ed Gein was about 5'7", homely, and about as hygienic as a compost pile. Hunnam is six feet tall, handsome, and glowing with protein powder. The tone is set before the first line of dialogue — it’s a lie before it even begins. Then comes the voice. Gein’s real voice (and yes, there are recording...

 Over the past 6-12 months, I've had a number of conversations with people regarding " artificial intelligence " ( AI ). Most people are afraid of it, for the same reasons they fear anything - lack of knowledge of a particular subject. Rather than educate themselves on the facts, most people go with whatever media, friends, neighbors, etc. tell them.  "X" is bad! It's evil! It's unnatural! More often than not, a little bit of education leads to the realization that "X" is not bad/evil/unnatural/scary. History shows that once upon a time women were property, people of African descent were only 1/3 of a human, homosexuals are out to get your kids, etc. The facts show that none of this is true. Yet people tend to listen to gossip quicker than actual reality.  But what about this 'AI'? It's man-made. Corporations are fighting for control of it. Of course they are! It has amazing profit potential for capitalists. Remember, corporations u...

Опитвал съм се да обясня това на моите български приятели и преди - но езиковите ми умения са недостатъчни. Написах това на родния си език, след което се опитах да го преведа, доколкото мога. Надявам се, че това обяснява неизречената разлика между американците и повечето други. - ММ Чудно ли е, че ти и аз сме различни? Ти наследяваш митове, издълбани дълбоко в камъка, предавани от ръка на ръка, от поколение на поколение. Аз наследявам реклами, излъчвани един сезон, забравени в следващия. Ти носиш легенди в кръвта си, шепнени нощем от баби, които познават тежестта на вековете. Аз нося лозунги, цвърчащи от пластмасови талисмани, изпяти от актьори, които не са могли да си намерят работа никъде другаде. Ти проследяваш родословието си като река, чийто извор се губи в планините, течаща все напред. Аз проследявам моя като дъжд по напукан асфалт - кратък, без посока, скоро погълнат от улука. Ти стоиш пред крепости и храмове, паметници, които отказват да се поддадат на времето. А аз стоя пред р...

 I could’ve sworn I wrote about this before, but maybe not — so here goes. Back in the early ’90s, a friend and I used to celebrate our birthdays together. We were bandmates, our big days were only four days apart, and odds were good we already had a gig that night. So, we just tacked on the party. One year the show was in Pittsburgh’s Southside — Anthony’s or Fat City, most likely. Parking on Carson Street is legendarily bad, so I’d long since learned to get there early. I usually grabbed dinner at the City Grill, where a couple of friends worked. Their grilled chicken sandwich was the stuff of legend. That night, waiting for my food, I spotted a familiar face at a nearby table. Not just familiar — legendary. Fred Rogers, out to dinner with his wife. If you grew up in America anytime in the last 60 years, you know who Mr. Rogers was. For anyone who doesn’t: he hosted Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood , a children’s show on public television that became a cultural touchstone. Say, “It’s ...