March 2006

Brad’s Corner is a monthly commentary written by Brad about whatever he feels like. It’s supposed to be funny, interesting and thought provoking, but most geniuses are misunderstood. Check out the March 2006 edition of Brad’s Corner and see what’s on his mind.

Sorry for partying in advance. This is going to be an organized stream of consciousness rant about what’s nagging me about Galleywinter and the scene in general at the moment.

We here at Galleywinter pride ourselves on being the most die-hard fans of the whole Texas-Red Dirt scene. However, many of us don’t practice what we preach on the forums and rarely make it out to shows for whatever reason. I’m not perfect and I don’t make it to as many shows as I should. Yet, when I do make it out to the shows I try to focus on the music as much as possible. I try not to get caught up in the small talk and the gossip and the can you believe what she’s wearing that inhibits one’s enjoyment of the concert. Too many times we are guilty of turning the show into a happy hour full of socializing, back-slapping and picture taking. There’s nothing wrong with that, except when that’s what someone does for the entire length of the show. I try to keep this stuff to a minimum and it makes me come off as stuck up and snobby at times. Sorry if I come off this way, it’s just that when I go to a show, it’s to go to the show, not to be the show.

Many times on Galleywinter we are hypocrites as we complain about going to shows and seeing ignorant people throw beer, chant Pat “F’ng” Green, sit on people’s shoulders etc. Yet, when I’m at shows, I see our people doing the same kind of stuff just not as blatant. They have their backs to the stage for minutes at a time, taking 37 pictures of each other and 2 of the band, and turning it into a popularity contest. I’ll say it again, I’m no better than the rest of you. I’m guilty of this at times as well, but I try to avoid it until I’ve had one too many Bud Lights.

It’s a two-way street. The artists in our scene are notorious for their friendly nature and willingness to be the everyman. At least that’s the image they try to give off. Many of them publicly laud our efforts and support while privately making fun of us behind our backs. And that’s not cool. They wouldn’t like it if we got on the forums and had no filters for our comments. One thing I hate is when I hear artists and those affiliated with them call us the “National Enquirer of Texas Music”. Well, the problem I see with that description is that the National Enquirer prints lies, and we print the truth. Granted, I don’t have the credibility of Chet Flippo, Ben Fong Torres or Kurt Loder, but what I see, hear and feel is still valid. For example, if I go to John Doe’s show. And John Doe is hammered onstage. And the next day I post that it was a fun show, heard some cool new songs and oh by the way I’ve never seen John Doe that drunk before. That’s not false just because I lack the credibility of Walter f’ng Cronkite. That really happened. I reported it. And nobody thinks less of John Doe for it having happened. So, artists, hangers on and groupies I implore you to be as fair to us as we are you.

I want to stress that I love having a good time at the shows just as much as anyone else. And being a musician myself I understand the artists need to strike the proper balance of fun self indulgence with worthy critical fulfillment. We all have the chance to really make an impact. Galleywinter is powerful when used properly. In the past, we have helped propel bands from obscure poverty to obscene popularity, and we can do it again and again on a grander scale. Let’s all work together to make this scene and this website the best it can be. Put all your oars in the water and get them moving the same way. You can’t help us move ahead if you’re dragging us down with dead weight or stabbing us in the back. I don’t mean to get all Tony Robbins on you but we’ve come too far to fail. Bleu Edmondson’s latest album title says it all. One voice. Let us all become one voice and raise this scene, these artists and this website up to the highest heights it can reach.

Minor chords:

-So, did you hear the one about what happened at GreenFest? There are many stories still coming out of that fateful night and each one is more outrageous than the next. The sad thing is they are all believable. In case you didn’t hear, we had Mike Brown from FEMA in charge of the event and Brownie did one helluva job. The Sex Pistols showed up; we had Hells Angels working security, it went all Altamont on us; some people died but only 2 were from overdoses; Pee-Wee Herman had his bicycle stolen and taken to the Alamo; and the night ended with Brandon Rhyder, Ryan Turner, and Mike Mancy jumping in a helicopter with Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton to avoid the mob. I’m leaving some details out to protect the innocent.

-Is there anyone cooler than Roger Ray? He can play the hell out of anything with strings and ironically Mike Judge based the character of John Redcorn on him.

-We’ve just added two new forums, Doug Moreland and Drew Kennedy. Both forums were long overdue. Doug’s got such a unique thing going on these days with his Bob Wills meets Buffett quasi western swing show that he deserves more recognition. And Drew has just been signed to the same label Wade is on (Sustain Records) and has one of the brightest futures in the scene. Congrats to both of them and get on over to their forums and get them to hoppin’ people.

-Jack Ingram may be as cool as Roger Ray. Bummer about his tour with Sheryl Crow getting postponed. I’d love to be a fly on the wall at some of those shows when Jack goes out there and puts on the high-intensity shows we’re all accustomed to. When he starts preaching, many of the people unfamiliar are going to think they’re in church and start passing money around in a plate.

-Family Guy is the funniest thing on tv since Chappelle went crazy. Well it was funny before and while he was on tv but you know what I’m saying!

-What the hell happened to Hilary Duff’s teeth? They look like the animators from Warner Brothers painted some of Bugs Bunny’s chompers on her face. And why is she dating that duchebag from Good Charlotte? Faux punk rock angst is so 2003.

-LJT’s is next month. Start buying you beer now.

-Sorry for the venom of the last few columns…I promise next month’s will be happy.

-This month’s recommended movie is: Hustle and Flow. Wanted to catch it in the theater, but didn’t want to get shot. A definite emotional roller-coaster, that will make guys cry much like John Singleton’s Boyz In the Hood. Terrence Howard gives a powerful performance as a two-bit pimp trying to become the next hottest name in rap. Lots of strong supporting stuff form Taryn Manning, Ludacris, DJ Qualls and Anthony Anderson. You know it’s hard out here for a pimp.

-This month’s recommended album is: Remedy by Copperhead. These boys from Amarillo are the real deal. They’re the biggest thing in the Panhandle area and should catch on in the rest of the state very soon if this cd is any indication. Their live show is a fun experience and they are some of the nicest musicians I’ve ever met.

-Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.-Mark Twain