FRITZ KUNDLER

Did it start back in the 60’s, this peculiar phenomenon of wearing music, rather than listening to it? For so many, music genre and style are really a function of peer association and identity crisis, which is all well and good until you ponder what sort of identity is being derived by following fashion.

Like the time traveling guy in H.G. Wells ‘The Time Machine,’ once you get a bead on a slice of history larger than this week’s news, you get to watch the hemlines rise and fall repeatedly. And this is a fair cop on social progress in the west for things do swing like a pendulum from conservative to liberal.

I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed but pendulums actually don’t make much forward progress. Each swing in one direction tends to cancel out the last swing and they don’t end up going much of anywhere.

It makes it all the more difficult when each swing is presented and perceived as something completely new. Let me site a few historical examples to try and put this all into a better perspective;

There was a faction in Vienna that didn’t approve of Beethoven. They thought he was crude and low. These people were your parents.

When was the last ‘free love’ movement before the one in the 60’s?  It was just prior to Hitler taking over Germany. Opps! Another one of those nasty swings of the pendulum!

What other musical period is most similar to jazz?  The Baroque period of the 1600’s. The musical practice of the Baroque involved improvisation from chord charts and ’swinging’ the rhythm, which came to be known as ‘jazzing it up,’ in the ‘modern’ era.

Were rappers the first ones to start writing dirty songs? Don’t make me laugh! The French have been at it for centuries.

Stop wearing music and start listening to it and you’ll have so much more good music to pick and choose from. You’ll find out that you’re not the first person in the world who’s had lots of pervy thoughts or who’s hated your folks or yourself.  That’s because people haven’t changed at all in the last thousand years or so.  You’ll also find out about the guys in suits who’ve been pushing your buttons to make their money.

I’m not sure how many folks in the states are aware that there is an Australian Idol; http://www.australianidol.com.au/  and far from being a poor second cousin, Australian Idol kicks butt all over American Idol. Just go to the site and check out a few of the archived shows.

The thing about Australian Idol is they let the contestants play instruments and perform their own music. They get treated like… musical artists. It makes American Idol look like Karaoke Night at the local sports bar.

As usual, anyone who has anything to do with the music business in the states is doing their level best to keep anything new and original off the radar. Blimey!

It was because the major record companies, otherwise known now as the Big Five, became so intransigent over their belief in a formula that would always work for them that the Indie scene arose. It is also why the Big Five are sinking into the tar-pits, just like that comercial where the two mastadons are shooting the breeze and wondering what that black ooze that they are standing in is and does it seem like they are sinking?

Wouldn’t it be funny if they were actually sinking and couldn’t get out?

The Big Five’s formula for success was that, if it worked once, it will always work. In fact, why even bother to try out new groups? Why don’t we just create our own groups, in accordance with the stats from our demographic research and make them trendy by absolute force of hype?

Small wonder that there is an Indie Music scene. The Indie Music scene hasn’t quite worked out a new business model to replace the old one but the part that has been worked out relies heavily on the Internet and radio stations on the Internet, so if you like Indie Music, support your local Internet radio stations;

Just a small while ago, Sound Exchange decided that radio stations on the Internet should be liable for the same royalties that satellite radio pays. While this seems fair to the artists who get airplay, it was made retroactive so that the amounts for major players like Pandora were in the millions. Smaller broadcasters were threatened with extinction.

A bill called the Internet Radio Equality act was lobbied for but, in the end, fees were raised for broadcasters. This row is not over by any means. It seems that getting something new across is always a bit of a battle. 

Some of the better known radio stations on the Internet charge artists for airplay. That is to say, by paying a fee or buying a certain number of plays, you are guaranteed airplay.

Excuse me, but what is this all about except business as usual? And just how does this serve the listening public who is looking to find ‘my music,’ on the Internet? It does not. It is, once again, the old business model of the notion of popularity being spoon fed to the public via force of hype. Do these stations that charge for plays really care? Only about the money.

Rest assured that, whatever is found on this broadcast, is there for one reason and one reason alone; it has been hand-picked by this DJ who feels that it is good music and, as such, belongs on this radio station.

again, it is the time for knowledgeable critics to make their voices heard as to what constitutes great music or not.

This is a good example of when New Age Music ‘goes right.’ Is this even New Age Music? I don’t know. It’s part of an ever growing body of music that can’t be pigeon-holed into a particular genre. Has anybody else noticed this problem? You can’t call it modern because that’s ‘avant-garde‘ that’s got to be over fifty now.

Anyway, this music definitely has its chill but it’s also not without its passion. The guitar is very jazzy with a Bosa-Nova flavor. It’s quite worth checking out.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… CY: wait… I: wait… YCat: wait… I: wait… Top: wait… I: wait… L: wait… C: wait…

I recently attended the V Festival; always outstanding!

Here was some of the line up;

Hylands Saturday/Weston Sunday

* The Killers

* Razorlight

* The Specials

* Lily Allen

* The Script

* Taylor Swift

* Starsailor                                                                                        

  * Mcfly

Weston Saturday/Hylands Sunday                                                                                                                    

* Oasis

* Snow Patrol

* Elbow

* James

* Biffy Clyro

* James Morrison

* Ocean Colour Scene

* Bjorn Again

For more information; 

http://www.vfestival.com/parks/page/hylands-park

Where I am currently;

http://www.readingfestival.com/home/

Oh yeah, they remind me of the B52s. Like the B52s, they’ll quickly grow on you. You’ll feel yourself being drawn into a world of psychedelic sensibilities and at the same time feeling an uncontrollable urge to start moving around and dancing. It’s really well written and performed music with a So Shushi array of brilliant and colorful chords and irresistible riffs and hooks.

This ‘female fronted’ duo has a new CD called ‘Wistful Wanders,’ and once you check it out, you’re likely to keep it in the top of your pile and find yourself putting it on whenever you want to feel good.

So Shush; from the U.K.

Core members; Carole Smart: Vocals/ Ian Drumm: guitars/keyboards.

The Perms are a rock trio from Winnipeg; Shane Smith does bass and vocals, Chad Smith is

guitar and vocals and John Huver on drums.
They have just released a new CD called ‘Keeps You Up When You’re Down.’

It’s a very consistently strong CD; the tunes have catchy riffs and are very hard driving.
Chad’s guitar work is very bluesy with a heavy metal tinge to it and Shane’s vocals are very strong with a Dylanesk twang. For the overall mix, think Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers meet Aerosmith.
The songwriting is good; the lyrics will make you think that the boys know where ‘home’ is at and that’s refreshing.  Catch them on Hugtight Records.

These guys are from the L.A. scene and it’s a crankin’ new sound. They describe it this way;

“Matchbox 20 meets Rascal Flatts and Sheryl Crow crossed with Train. Their sound is cast in the tradition of old school rock fused with vintage soul, hints of country, and a modern edge that truly delivers a sonic slant all their own.”

True that, although I was more impressed with what struck me as a ‘Southern Rock‘ sound. (One of my favorite genres).

Like I always say, labels just get in the way, anyway. It cranks. Check it.

Upcoming Shows for Dyonisis
Aug 7 2009 8:00 PM LEEDS, UK Friday Flock @ Subculture
Aug 8 2009 8:00 PM York, UK Darklands @ The Junction
Sep 4 2009 8:00 PM Sheffied, UK Lantern Theatre, Sheffield

http://www.reverbnation.com/dyonisis