Raging Dave's Rage Page

Listen to what you like.
So you think that you are listening to what you like. Maybe you have that favorite radio station all tuned in and ready to rock. What percentage of the songs that are played do you really enjoy? I don't know about you but it's become bad enough for me to tune into talk radio. I find myself listening to Rush and Dr. Laura! Most radio stations, like our government, run their format on polls and bribes. Ok call it lobbing or special interest groups if you like. If you think program directors take many chances with something new or different, think again. And it's not just radio. I was in a book store last month, checking out the latest issue of Bass Player Magazine and guess who's on the cover? Prince! Or whatever the hell his symbol is! Yeah that's it. :Sarcastic mode on:: Prince, oh what a great bassist. ::Sarcastic mode off:: Sure he's had some good songs and probably writes some nice bass parts, but give me a break. Prince on the cover of Bass Player Magazine! If it seems like I bashing the little purple dude, then tough. Prince also made Keyboard Magazines top 25. Right! I'm sure he could jam right along with Wakeman, Emerson and Moraz who, by the way, was left off the list. This after being rated one of the top 5 players of all time in 1995, by no other then, Keyboard Magazine. But hey, the little purple dude has the image, look and attitude to be on the cover of some glossy magazine. What this tells me is there's a lot of BS not only in Washington but also in the music industry. Have you ever heard of Deagan, Rollout, D Records? I bet not. They are a few of what independent artists are coming up with for record labels. Where can you find such music? In the local artist section of your favorite record store or better yet, at one of the many clubs that some of these bands frequent. These bands are out there pedaling their own product that they likely produced themselves. And your best chance to hear it is live. What a better way to check out music. I listen to a band and if I like what I hear, I'll pick up one of their CD's right at the show. I happen to know that what I'm paying for is probably not even covering the cost of production. And the best thing is, I picked it out myself, not some promoter that buys a washer/dryer for some program directors wife. So, get out and dig around a bit and find some music that YOU like and listen to it. That's an order. Over and out.
DAVE - February 2000

The Speed Of Things!
I recently worked with Pat Keefe. (Good Irish boy) He was reading a book called "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose. It's about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Pat and I talked about a section in the book that discusses the speed of things 100 years ago verses now. BASS ically :) 100 years ago nothing moved faster than a horse. No manufactured item, no food, mail, ideas, nothing moved very fast, ever did or was ever expected to. Thomas Jefferson and his contemporaries had more in common (as far as the speed of things) with the Ancient Greeks, then with us. What's this have to do with music? Ahh, stick with me, we'll turn it around in a minute. I don't know about you but this fast paced life is somewhat stressful. Have you checked out a Nintendo game lately. Pac Man used to be fast enough. Now these games make your brain and or eyes come unglued. I took my kids to school and just about got run over by some mom in her minivan, yelling at her kids with a cell phone stuck in her ear. These mom's are speeding around doing 15 different things at 900 MPH. I'd rather jump into a ring with Mike Tyson with some yummy sausages taped to my ears than deal with some of these woman. How many times have you sat at a traffic light, eyes straight ahead... Don't dare look at the guy next to you. He might flip you off. Wait for the green light and haul ass to the next light. Seems your either flying down I-90 at 75 MPH getting tailgated, being passed and flipped off or sitting in a traffic jam looking straight ahead. Well, I say screw that, I'm not doing it anymore. I sit at the light and look around. If I make eye contact with someone than I give them the "Old Head Bob" the "Positive Nod" Trust me I've been doing it for a while and it's somewhat contagious. Who know you just might calm down some lunatic or better yet that wild soccer mom heading to run my ass over in the school parking lot. What's this have to do with music you ask? We're Kampfire Kowboys for the christ sake. Check out the CD, listen to the music, print up and read the lyrics to the songs. We're not Punk Hip Hop Rap jerks riding on your ass, flipping you off. We're the guys doing the "Positive Nod" while waiting for the light to change. Don't get me wrong. We don't play lame hillbilly tunes. Just watch Brian and Tom's fingers move up and down the fretboard during "Waygone Daddy" Or watch them trade leads during "Tin Can Man." These guys with their Fenders wailing can make a shooting star seem slow. We play positive music for you, not thrown at you. Come out and see a show and lets bond. And to all you soccer mom's I've pissed off, come out and I'll buy you a beer... I mean a white zinfandel. YUK!
DAVE - September 16th. 1999

Support your locals!
I don't know about you, but I'm getting tired of seeing a Home Depot, Menards, Best Buy, Sam's Club, etc., on every corner. Wow, it sure is impressive. Huge amounts of seemingly everything (except what you came in for) on sale. I remember once going to Builder's Square for some plumbing supplies. Two full aisles dedicated to nothing but plumbing. After looking for my needed item for 15min. I decided that I would require some help. Another 10min hunting down someone who worked in the plumbing dept. (He was over in the lawn section for some reason.) Another 5min. explaining what I was looking for. Then, 10min. more wondering the massive plumbing section, before I was told "well dude, guess we don't carry that." I decided to try Schultz hardware in downtown Bartlett. Just a little family hardware
store. Within a few minutes the item was retrieved from the top shelf,the dust was blown off it and I was on my way. Did I pay a bit more for the item? Yes. Did I care? Hell No! How many of you have you heard a song on the radio and gone to Best Buy (training ground for future fast food workers) to find the disc? I have. What a disaster! I remember when Yes released their CD KTA1. I went to BB thinking I'd pick up a cheap copy. After looking through piles of disorganized CD's, I tracked down some very unhelpful smart ass and went through the whole Yes/Who/Yes/No/TheBand/Yes "they're still around?" bit before I was able to talk him into looking in the back. He came out with a half ripped open box filled with Yes CD's. Of course they hadn't been priced yet. I grabbed one and headed for the checkout counter. It took me 3 clerks and a manager before anyone could figure out the price. I now shop for music at (here comes the plug) Kiss The Sky. It's a small music store in Batavia. I walk in, Mike or Steve (the owners) say, "hi Dave" we chat a bit about what's happening in our lives. I ask about a new or soon to be released title or maybe some long lost, hard to find, out of print CD, and lo and behold it's either in my hands or on order. Am I paying more for the CD's? Maybe. Is the personal service worth it? You bet! Steve and Mike are two guys who love music first. They are just like us. Ther're not in training for McDonalds. Get out and support your local Mom and Pop type shop when you can. And that goes for your local bands too, (second plug) like us! When you stop by Kiss The Sky.... Tell them Dave says hi.
DAVE - May 24th 1999

"Live music is fascinating because of it's pure enthusiasm!"
I saw this quote written on the news group AMY (Alternate Music Yes) and it really made me think of seeing a band live. Studio recordings are great, don't get me wrong. There's a lot of excitement around the Kamp as we get ready to head to the studio to record our second CD. But there is nothing like going to see a band perform live. There are several bands, we won't mention any names, that perform in the area with a sequenced rhythm section. Hit a button and the drum machine starts, hit another and here comes the bass. I don't know about you but I'd rather listen to a jukebox than that. We have performed every track off "Somewhere Blue" live at sometime or another. It's interesting how the tracks come to life when we play them. Break The Silence is a good example. When we play BtS live it sort of becomes a mini epic, Tom's intro on the acoustic (Bay Window) right into Keith's 6/8 timing on the drums. The song flows to a chilling middle section then into the ending where Tom blows on the harp with continued climbing energy, climaxing with either Brian or I making a dollar. (a KK inside joke) The point is, seeing a band live is the best. Listening for the similarities and the differences to the recordings, the parts that get extra attention by the musicians. So come see a show. We are playing some great clubs in May. Get off the couch and come see us. I promise you won't hear a drum machine! And remember, Live music is fantastic because it's pure enthusiasm! Yeah, I like that line!
DAVE - April 20, 1999

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