The Bass Geek

Kudos to the Indiana House for passing the Truth In Music Act and sending it on to the Senate.  It’s hard enough for acts from this time to get the money they’ve earned or might have been owed, given the shady dealings many owners, managers, and label heads practiced.  Having others appropriate their name now is just adding to the insult.

Besides the merits of the bill, I have to think the legislature was awed by the charm of Sha Na Na’s Bowser, who’s been lobbying across the country for similar acts.  Who knew Chuck Taylors and a low voice could provide an entry into the world of politics?

Tonight at Radio Radio, please consider attending the WITT-FM fundraising bash for only $7.  Great cause, fantastic music.  Cash Bash, a tribute to the singer of that name, takes place tomorrow and features guitarist Bill Kirchen, of Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen fame.

Sam’s Saloon has Virgins, Smoke Ring and Save The Radio tonight.  Will Woodrow and Chained Fate appear tomorrow night.

Big Car Gallery features The Black Swans, Tonas Triad, and Justin Vollmar tomorrow night.  All ages are welcome.

Deano’s Vino has jazz from Doris Davis tonight and acoustic music from Slippin’ and Flyin’ Saturday.

The new IMN podcast is up. Download it or listen on the Flash player.

I’m also getting into the new Erykah Badu album released on Tuesday. It’s not just the music that’s impressing me here, but the impressive release plan. The CD and digital download of “New Amerykah” is the first stage, with a USB drive release following later that includes video extras and such. It also lets the buyer access the next reound of tracks, due in July. That release also coincides with the second disc and a magazine called “Freq.”

The USB drive strikes me as kind of a novelty idea - it seems to occupy the same space as Blu-ray does right now as a different but ultimately obsolete step towards direct digital distribution by network. The magazine will have to stand on its own, although pairing it with a release from a multi-platinum artist isn’t a bad way to start a publication run. The physical issue of the magazine, again, may soon be an unnecessary step between the creator and the reader (judging by the amount of digital subscription requests I’m receiving from the folks I already send my magazine dollars to), but that has to play itself out, too. Is it bad form to read your laptop in the dental office?

Finally, it just surprises me that somebody convinced a major label (Universal/Motown, in this case) to release two full LPs so close together, especially considering the artist hasn’t released a full album in around 5 years or so. Is it a consideration to the whims of the artist or a desperate move to get anything out there and see if it sells?

I only managed to hear him on the Internet simulcast of a Pittsburgh radio station’s Steelers coverage, but the stellar journalist who popularized both the Terrible Towel and the phrase “Immaculate Reception” passed away earlier this week.  He was an oasis of personality in a drab, projected-from-the-diaphragm world.

For those of you who purchased or otherwise enjoyed the bass book, I wanted to point out that Nashville-based bassist and model Sharon Koltick’s band Kink Ador has been featured on some MusikMafia shows, and that’s pretty cool.  Check out their site and enjoy the music.

Gabriel Harley is releasing his new album March 15th on all the usual digital suspects, so check for it there.  I contributed the bass tracks, unless he went back, erased them, and flew in some didgeridoo or something to replace them.  I doubt it, but you never know.