I'm curious as to who or what has inspired your music.
for me, at first it was beatles and U2. then a brief Ray Charles-esque blues and has more recently gone into a more reflective type of floyd (WYWH) and late johnny cash. i never thought id say this, seriously, never thought that i would, but some of my recent ones (which i will post at some point) do have a religious influence. weird since im thinking about leaving my church
so anyway, please share who inspired your music
"if asking, begging and pleading doesn't work, always go with a song and dance number."
Does anyone else here play punk? I feel kind of alone right now
Yeah. I've been playing in punk and hardcore bands for the last 7 years.
The main influences for my punk songs are currently No Use For A Name, Social Distortion, Lagwagon and Bayside.
For my acoustic songs it's mostly The Beatles, The Beach Boys and Elliott Smith.
And Elliott Smith, Jose Gonzales and Damien Rice are in a way an influences because they showed me that you can make a good record with just a guitar, a microphone and a 4- or 8-track recorder. Which is what I want to do now.
Social Distortion was at one point a major influence for me, the way the could combine hardcore with structure without becoming "sell-outs", but not so much anymore.
This crippling of individuals I consider the worst evil of Capitalism. Albert Einstein, "Why Socialism?" 1949
Social Distortion was at one point a major influence for me, the way the could combine hardcore with structure without becoming "sell-outs", but not so much anymore.
When I started getting too busy with stuffing my songs with melodies and riffs and breaks and all kinds of other things that maybe don't really belong in punk rock, Social Distortion reminded me that probably the most important thing in (punk) rock is that the music needs a powerful drive.
The Beatles Joan Baez Nellie McKay Bob Dylan Cole Porter
What? No Canadians on your list?!? And you have such great ones to choose from! Oh well. Hey, have you ever noticed how funny Joan Baez is? I just watched Bob Dylan: Don't Look Back where she's on tour with him in England, and she just made me laugh so many times. Have you seen it? She's great. I also love when they show her backstage at Woodstock and she's asking about when she goes on. She's like, maybe there'll be some more people showing up by then. I don't like a puny gathering like this. Meanwhile there's like eight billion people in the audience! Cute.
I haven't seen Don't Look Back, but I think she is so funny in No Direction Home, especially when she is imitating Dylan and lets out that string of swears. You should read her book, "And A Voice to Sing With". It is really funny and sweet.
You're so vain, you probably think this post is about you.
I rented No Direction Home from Netflix so it should be coming soon. I think she was a great match for Dylan. I've been into reading rock bios lately, so maybe I'll pick hers up. I'm going through a little folk phase right now, so the timing's right. Although I think Joni Mitchell is a little more fascinating at this point. I mean talent wise. Why is it that you seem to not be into her much?
I like Joni Mitchell as a songwriter, but her whole attitude kind of annoys me. She's always dissing the artists of her generation all over the place. They're too amateurish, that kind of thing. Maybe they were amateurs, but that's what made them special- that they were amateurs who couldn't read music, yet were able to write these incredibly complex songs. Also the Canadian media sucks up to her at an amazing level. For some reason, that annoys me too.
You're so vain, you probably think this post is about you.
Hmm. That’s interesting cuz I don’t really know too much about her and she’s never in the media here. Who is she down on from her generation? (Sorry, can't bring myself to use the word diss) I can’t imagine. Amateurs? Anyway, I think she’s probably eccentric in that way that many creative people are. I mean, how often did Lennon put down others and so go on about stuff like that? It’s all in their make up. At least they’re honest and outspoken about how they feel. Probably why their songwriting is superior. They’re willing to bare all. She does seem odd though. I once saw her interviewed and she was sitting there smoking a cigar and coming off all smug about her opinions. But again, that’s all part of what makes them stand out. That rawness. I just think she’s on a higher level than most in her field. I read once how she tunes her guitar in such a way that even other musicians can’t even figure out the chords. She does this to “keep herself stupid.” In other words, she doesn’t want to fall into some predetermined pattern.
Yeah, her guitar tuning is so weirdly great. I once tried to play You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio. I thought it would be easy when it was in fact anything but.
I think the thing about Joni Mitchell is that she really acts like a man. I mean in a good way. Whenever Joan is interviewed, she's always talking about how great Dylan was, how great Lennon was, and I'm like, "Woman, give YOURSELF some credit!"
You're so vain, you probably think this post is about you.