David Gray "Draw The Line"

I knew that we had entered a weird phase of marketing, when albums started to get their own trailers.

I mean, we're used to movies having trailers. It makes sense. You cut together little bits and pieces of an existing movie, to make an exciting 90-second preview.

But albums started to get the trailer treatment as a way to let fans know the record is coming. That seemed a little strange, but I guess it makes sense.

So I wasn't surprised to see a trailer for David Gray's summer tour. I guess it's a reasonable way to spread the word the Gray is coming to your town in support of his new live album.

What IS a little surprising and weird is the other marketing campaign Gray (or his label) is engaged in.

Groupon?

I guess I don't have anything against saving money. But something about crazy discounts to sell CDs feels really desperate. Like it's meat that is about to go bad so we'd better mark it down.

Creativity seems to be getting devalued at every turn. Rock bottom prices only make the product seem more disposable. That can't be a good thing for the artist, right?

On the other hand, might this motivate a casual David Gray fan, to go buy the record?

I'm on the fence on this one. What do you think?


See the video on Youtube.


See the video on Youtube.

Aerosmith "Krawhitham"

This, right here, is what being in a band is: The Reality.

The Reality is not about the music video dream of limousines and screaming fans and smashing hotel TVs.

The Reality is not the Rock N Roll Fantasy of playing your songs with passion under hot lights and exploring your artistic sensibility.

Here's what it's really like to be in a band.

You're in the rhythm section. Sure, you write. But you're in the band with some superstar talent who can really create the A material.

Unfortunately, you're band is also in the throws of deep drug and alcohol abuse. Sure you've rented out a convent to record your new album, but what are you supposed to do when your principle songwriters are off somewhere self-medicating?

Well, you can fart around in the studio, I guess.

"Krawhitham" is Aerosmith's Joey Kramer, Brad Whitford and Tom Hamilton, killing time in the studio. When they were waiting for Steven Tyler and Joe Perry to show up with what would become Aerosmith material, they'd lay down grooves, to keep themselves sharp, occupied and interested.

Killing time. That's the reality of being in a band.



Hear the whole song on Youtube.