Over 60 & Still In The Game, What's It Like For You

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419148865' post='2636924']
Someone made an astute and enlightening comment.I really never thought about it, but there are no more global rock stars. I guess that's a thing of the past.

Someone once told me that in today's music world an Aretha Franklin or a Stevie Wonder would have a hard time getting signed.

blue
[/quote]

This Taylor Swift has sold more units globally than a lot of those that we of a certain vintage would think of as global superstars, including Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan. And that is just units sold - think about the streaming, illegal downloads and copying, merchandise, endorsement deals etc that she will be enjoying as music is consumed so differently these days and she will be pushed much further up the leader board.

There is a great radio show in the UK every Saturday morning - Sounds of the 60s, which looks at the era with rose tinted glasses but ends up playing so much old dross you suddenly appreciate it isn't so bad today!!

Cheers,
Mike

[Passinwind]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418856065' post='2634224']
One of my concerns is dealing with younger musicians that have a limited knowledge in terms of rock and roll history, how it started and evolved into what it is today.[/quote]

Wonder how much the younger musicians are concerned that you have never even heard Taylor Swift? Cuts both ways, no? Could just be that those under-25'ers would stick around if you played something they actually relate to -- at least that's my experience in the venues I still play in at age 61. Heck, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have sold a ton of units together this year. Adapt or die, the facts are indeed hard to argue.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418946743' post='2635217']
... however the under 25 bolt for the exit as soon as they see a live band is playing.
[/quote]
I don't know why under 25s are bolting your gigs or why you seem so down on the generations below you but tomorrow night I am going to a charity gig at the [url="https://www.facebook.com/hopebrighton"]Hope[/url] in Brighton with two bands and a sound system.

All the musicians and the DJ are under 25 and I expect most of the audience will be under 25 and I know at least some of them do know their music history (but not only or merely Rock 'n' Roll).

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There's not anything special about this. Young (as well as old) musicians and their bands are gigging regularly all over the UK - I can't imagine it's so different in the US.

And, with the proliferation and easy availability of world music on the internet, these young musicians can access all of music's history in ways in which the baby boomer generation couldn't. The album I've been listening to most this week is the compilation [i]Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds & Nigerian Blues 1970-76[/i]. My 20 year old son introduced me to it.

Young musicians today are going back and listening to what were the obscurities of world music just as the youths of the 1960s went back and listened to Robert Johnson.

There's no future in 'ageism' and 'rockism'.

[blue]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1419149568' post='2636925']
This Taylor Swift has sold more units globally than a lot of those that we of a certain vintage would think of as global superstars, including Rod Stewart, Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Wonder and Bob Dylan. And that is just units sold - think about the streaming, illegal downloads and copying, merchandise, endorsement deals etc that she will be enjoying as music is consumed so differently these days and she will be pushed much further up the leader board.

There is a great radio show in the UK every Saturday morning - Sounds of the 60s, which looks at the era with rose tinted glasses but ends up playing so much old dross you suddenly appreciate it isn't so bad today!!

Cheers,
Mike
[/quote]

Commercial success does not guarantee Taylor's music will stand the test of time. The Stones and Paul McCartney are still selling out stadiums to several generations 50 years after the fact.

Let's use Taylor for your generation, we can check back with each other 50 years from now and see how she's doing.

Blue

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419191049' post='2637451']
Commercial success does not guarantee Taylor's music will stand the test of time. The Stones and Paul McCartney are still selling out stadiums to several generations 50 years after the fact.

Let's use Taylor for your generation, we can check back with each other 50 years from now and see how she's doing.

Blue
[/quote]

The only reason we are talking about Taylor Swift is because you brought her up and then said there were no more megastars even though you had named one yourself.

I think you put far too much emphasis on age, pretty much every thread you mention your age, to use a sporting phrase "If you're good enough, you're old enough", I think you'd find some great music if you stopped living in the past and actually listened to newer quality music.

[blue]

[quote name='Passinwind' timestamp='1419182069' post='2637327']
Wonder how much the younger musicians are concerned that you have never even heard Taylor Swift? Cuts both ways, no? Could just be that those under-25'ers would stick around if you played something they actually relate to -- at least that's my experience in the venues I still play in at age 61. Heck, Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett have sold a ton of units together this year. Adapt or die, the facts are indeed hard to argue.
[/quote]

I don't think it's just age or the music we play it's a lot of things. Some of it could be regional or cultural. Remember our BL and front person is a 29 year old female. Believe it or not she is the one against doing the more contemporary stuff. It's her band and she's be successful with this same band locally for the past 9 years. The goal was to be a good paid gig bar band and that's what we are.

We have carved out a nice niche which allowed us to play 65-70 shows this year, which is more than a lot of bands that want to do paid gigs can say. So were not really looking to appeal to the under 25, nor do we care if they relate to us. They are not our target market. I'm sure when they walk in and see all the grey hair they are just like I was when I was young, [i]"let's get out of here".[/i]Our bread and butter is with a very loyal appreciative 50 + crowd.

That's not saying that if I heard a Taylor Swift song I like and deemed appropriate for our band we wouldn't do it, I'm sure we would.

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1419191800' post='2637463']
The only reason we are talking about Taylor Swift is because you brought her up and then said there were no more megastars even though you had named one yourself.

I think you put far too much emphasis on age, pretty much every thread you mention your age, to use a sporting phrase "If you're good enough, you're old enough", I think you'd find some great music if you stopped living in the past and actually listened to newer quality music.
[/quote]

I do put a lot of emphasis on age, I'm not sure why. It probably has more to do with me not liking or accepting being older than anything I have against youth.

As far as musicianship goes, at the local level there are older players that are awesome and some that are horrible, same goes for the young musicians.

I wouldn't say I'm living in the past, but I still find a lot of value and use for some of what came out of the 60s and 70s. New music, if I like it, I like it and I'm thrilled, I just don't hear much that clicks or resonates with me. And that's just me.

Blue

[pfretrock]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1418945345' post='2635204'][list]
[*]Laura Nyros
[/list]
[/quote]

There's a name that does not come up often enough. These days I rarely play CDs. Yesterday I got a new (to me) car, first I've ever had with a CD player. I've had New York Tendaberry in the player all day.... First heard that album when I was 16, many moons ago.

[blue]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1419191800' post='2637463']
The only reason we are talking about Taylor Swift is because you brought her up and then said there were no more megastars even though you had named one yourself.[/quote]

If Taylor is still relevant and selling out Stadiums when she's in her mid 70's, I'll will put her right up in the ranks of Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger.

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='pfretrock' timestamp='1419192599' post='2637472']
There's a name that does not come up often enough. These days I rarely play CDs. Yesterday I got a new (to me) car, first I've ever had with a CD player. I've had New York Tendaberry in the player all day.... First heard that album when I was 16, many moons ago.
[/quote]

Laura is gone, however she sold her catalog back in the late 70s for 9 million US dollars. Not bad for the time. Seems like she gave it away now.

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='EssentialTension' timestamp='1419184271' post='2637355']
I don't know why under 25s are bolting your gigs or why you seem so down on the generations below you but tomorrow night I am going to a charity gig at the [url="https://www.facebook.com/hopebrighton"]Hope[/url] in Brighton with two bands and a sound system.

All the musicians and the DJ are under 25 and I expect most of the audience will be under 25 and I know at least some of them do know their music history (but not only or merely Rock 'n' Roll).

[url="https://www.facebook.com/childreachinternational"]https://www.facebook...chinternational[/url]

[url="https://www.facebook.com/events/600899830038568/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular"]https://www.facebook...ry_type=regular[/url]

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[url="https://www.facebook.com/varjakband"]https://www.facebook.com/varjakband[/url]

[url="https://www.facebook.com/CrucialSoundWired"]https://www.facebook...ucialSoundWired[/url]



There's not anything special about this. Young (as well as old) musicians and their bands are gigging regularly all over the UK - I can't imagine it's so different in the US.[/quote]

Some are young and old and some are struggling. There is a thread here, "How Was It For You" which reveals some guys didn't get to gig as much as they wanted to.

I know 1 or 2 bands that IMO are very good bar bands but don't gig much and there's a common element. Neither band has a member that knows how to get gigs.

Blue

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419191049' post='2637451']
Commercial success does not guarantee Taylor's music will stand the test of time. The Stones and Paul McCartney are still selling out stadiums to several generations 50 years after the fact.

Let's use Taylor for your generation, we can check back with each other 50 years from now and see how she's doing.

Blue
[/quote]

She's not my generation - I'm 50, she was just an example of one of today's artists who is in the same league as many of the global superstars you seem to be nostalgically yearning for. The Stones and McCartney are nowhere near as big or important as they once were, and I doubt any of your superstars will have the longevity of Mozart.

It seems a shame that someone with a great knowledge and experience in music is putting up these unnecessary generational barriers - enjoy what the kids are doing and listening to and then pick up on some of the influences and introduce them to those - a bit like we Brits did with all your wonderful Blues music you were ignoring until we told you how great it was

[RhysP]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419192627' post='2637473']
If Taylor is still relevant and selling out Stadiums when she's in her mid 70's, I'll will put her right up in the ranks of Paul McCartney and Mick Jagger.

Blue
[/quote]

Still selling out stadiums the Stones & McCartney might be but relevant? I seriously doubt it. Even their biggest fans will admit that it's many years since they recorded anything worth listening to. The nostalgia circuit is big business but that doesn't make it relevant.

Most of the people that go to these shows are old farts who are still desperately trying to convince that themselves they are still young & relevant.

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419192432' post='2637469']
... I still find a lot of value and use for some of what came out of the 60s and 70s ...
[/quote]
That applies to me as well but but I'm also still discovering 60s and 70s music that I never heard at the time - as well every other decade.

[EssentialTension]

... and +1, as they say, on Laura Nyro.

[icastle]

It'll be interesting to see what bands are playing in 50 years time.

I very much doubt it'll be stuff that's in the 'charts' today - at the risk of generalisation, it's not memorable or particularly well crafted - we're almost back into the 'stagnant' 70's music scene.

[blue]

[quote name='Mykesbass' timestamp='1419193373' post='2637481']
She's not my generation - I'm 50, she was just an example of one of today's artists who is in the same league as many of the global superstars you seem to be nostalgically yearning for. The Stones and McCartney are nowhere near as big or important as they once were, and I doubt any of your superstars will have the longevity of Mozart.[/quote]

Ok, hey I'm open to your position. If The Stones and McCartney are no longer as big or as important as they once were, why are they still selling out stadiums at $160.00 a pop. Somebody must think they're still important or still entertaining?

So, I'm looking for your response to the [i]"why?"[/i]

Blue

Edited December 21, 2014 by blue

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1419194027' post='2637495']
It'll be interesting to see what bands are playing in 50 years time.

I very much doubt it'll be stuff that's in the 'charts' today - at the risk of generalisation, it's not memorable or particularly well crafted - we're almost back into the 'stagnant' 70's music scene.
[/quote]

But the charts are no longer relevant the whole industry has changed, that doesn't mean that the quality output has got any worse in fact due to instruments being cheaper and the technological advances means that talented people can make music without the money barrier.

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419194455' post='2637500']
Ok, hey I'm open to your position. If The Stones and McCartney are no longer as big or as important as they once were, why are they still selling out stadiums at $160.00 a pop. Somebody must think they're still important or still entertaining?

So, I'm looking for your response to the [i]"why?"[/i]

Blue
[/quote]

"[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]The nostalgia circuit is big business but that doesn't make it relevant.[/font][/color]

[color=#282828][font=helvetica, arial, sans-serif]Most of the people that go to these shows are old farts who are still desperately trying to convince that themselves they are still young & relevant. "[/font][/color]

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1419194027' post='2637495']
It'll be interesting to see what bands are playing in 50 years time.

I very much doubt it'll be stuff that's in the 'charts' today - at the risk of generalisation, it's not memorable or particularly well crafted - we're almost back into the 'stagnant' 70's music scene.
[/quote]
'Charts' today does not mean the same thing as it did in the 60s and 70s.

Anyway, in my recollection, in the 60s and 70s many of us mostly hated the 'charts'.

[blue]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1419194027' post='2637495']
It'll be interesting to see what bands are playing in 50 years time.

I very much doubt it'll be stuff that's in the 'charts' today - at the risk of generalisation, it's not memorable or particularly well crafted - we're almost back into the 'stagnant' 70's music scene.
[/quote]

Interesting point, I really wonder about that, what bands will still be in the came 50 years from now. The whole concept of band and fans is different. You guys know how loyal us Beatles and Stones fans have been for the past 50 years. Are the fans of new bands as loyal?

Blue

[blue]

[quote name='waynepunkdude' timestamp='1419194518' post='2637502']
But the charts are no longer relevant the whole industry has changed, that doesn't mean that the quality output has got any worse in fact due to instruments being cheaper and the technological advances means that talented people can make music without the money barrier.
[/quote]

I think they can record a lot cheaper. High end gear ( guitars, amps, basses, PAs ) are not cheap in any sense of the word.

Blue

[waynepunkdude]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419194963' post='2637512']
I think they can record a lot cheaper. High end gear ( guitars, amps, basses, PAs ) are not cheap in any sense of the word.

Blue
[/quote]

You can get high quality instruments cheap, you can get a second hand Squire VMJ for about £100 and they are better quality than a Fender would have been in the 70s.

[Mykesbass]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419194455' post='2637500']
Ok, hey I'm open to your position. If The Stones and McCartney are no longer as big or as important as they once were, why are they still selling out stadiums at $160.00 a pop. Somebody must think they're still important or still entertaining?

So, I'm looking for your response to the [i]"why?"[/i]

Blue
[/quote]

Plenty of people do for sure, and they are the baby boomers who can afford the $160 tickets, along with the Harley they always wanted as a kid, possibly along with a Custom Shop Strat or Les Paul, but nowhere near the numbers to compare to their glory days. And, apart from Robert Plant, are any of them making interesting, new music or just re-hashing past glories?

Ah, nostalgia - ain't what it used to be!

[EssentialTension]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1419194455' post='2637500']
Ok, hey I'm open to your position. If The Stones and McCartney are no longer as big or as important as they once were, why are they still selling out stadiums at $160.00 a pop. Somebody must think they're still important or still entertaining?

So, I'm looking for your response to the [i]"why?"[/i]

Blue
[/quote]
In the UK it is I think substantially more than $160 but I don't at all understand why anyone would go to see the Stones in a stadium. If you could see them in a small 200 people club for twenty quid then maybe, otherwise no thanks. The same goes for McCartney in my view, although some friends saw him at BBC Maida Vale recently and I could get with that.

So [i]why[/i] do people do it?

Probably all sorts of reasons and many of them unrelated to music including conspicuous consumption of hotel/gig/dinner/VIPseats/bottle of champagne/signed programme etc etc.