Concert Venues

Best Indie Music of 2008 – An Indie Music Review-His new independent release, Elephant Graveyard, immediately strikes the listener as an emotionally honest and purging album, and as a celebration of John’s life long country/folk influences such as Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, and Hank Williams, just to name a few.

The albums first track, “The Day I Died”, showcases John’s original blend of those classic American influences with that of Oszajca’s own modern message and sound, while “Baby Bye Bye”, “Damn That Woman”, and “Angalyne” vaunt a more Alt/Country sound that is both classic and refreshing with the first listen. Songs like “Sinkin’ In” boast a healthy dose of acoustic verve, while “No Turning Back” is hauntingly stripped bare. The album even contains a reprise of the much loved “Where’s Bob Dylan When You Need Him”, A song that John says he has “recorded so many times he could release it as a double album” but that it is on ELEPHANT GRAVEYARD that he “finally got it right”.

Oszajca’s previous releases, From There To Here (Interscope) and First Sign Of Anything (Warner Brothers), showcased a much more polished and mainstream sound. Perhaps it is John’s new found indie label freedom that has led him to such a dramatic departure in tone and musical style. I for one much enjoy the new found alt-country sound of Elephant Graveyard to that of his earlier albums.

If you are a fan of Bob Dylan, Tom Waits, Ryan Adams, Tom Petty or that alt-country sound in general, then you might want to give this album a listen. It is one of my top picks for indie music in 2008 and I think it is a promising turn in an already intriguing career.

Indie Music is Pretty Swede – The Swedish Indie Music Empire-When it comes to indie music, there are many hotbeds of talent but Sweden isn’t normally one you would naturally think of. Unfortunately, the music history of that nation appears to start and end with Abba for many people, but over the past decade or so, there have been a growing number of bands from Sweden impacting on the indie world.

The most noticeable would be The Cardigans who achieved massive worldwide fame with their ‘Lovefool’ single and blend of charming and slightly tween indie-pop. Perhaps as a reaction to their fame, The Cardigans changed their style, their music got harder and Nina Persson went from blonde to brunette. They may not feature on the radio as much today as they used to but the band still draws a fairly large crowd to any festival they perform at.

If that was all that Sweden contributed to indie music, it would be a poor return, but when you consider the following acts, you will realise just how many of your favorite tracks have hailed from Sweden:
• The Wannadies
• Peter, Bjorn and John
• The Hives
• The Concretes
• Love Is All
• The Shout out Louds
• I’m From Barcelona
• Jose Gonzalez
• The Knife

For such a short space of time that is an impressive list of bands and you may be familiar with some of these songs:

‘Young Folks’ by Peter, Bjorn and John

You may not know the title but as soon you hear the whistling section of ‘Young Folks’ you will know exactly what the song is and recall what a phenomenon it was at the time. The track came second in the NME’s list of best songs of 2006 and fifth in the Pitchfork review of tracks from 2006.

‘Hate To Say I Told You So’ by The Hives

Not many bands could announce themselves as your new favorite band and keep a straight face but The Hives aren’t like many other bands. Filled with a confidence that no other band seems capable of matching this track captured the garage rock revival of the early 2000’s to perfection. The snarling guitar riff and stop-start sections provide the perfect accompaniment to Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist’s trademark yelps and screams.

‘You Can’t Hurry Love’ by The Concretes

Starting off with a guitar riff that could almost have come from the Jesus and Mary Chain, it is a shock when the sweet vocals of Victoria Bergsman kicks in and transforms the song into a delightful and melodic upbeat number. The frantic drum build up to the payoff line for the chorus is joyous and although the band has ploughed on since this 2003 release, they have been unable to match its overall quality.

‘Heartbeats’ by Jose Gonzalez

Although this song was written by fellow Swedes, The Knife, Jose Gonzalez brought the track to a wider audience. The almost mourning feel of Gonzalez’s downbeat vocals mixed with a quiet acoustic backing ensures this is a song equipped to tug at your heartstrings. Appearing in a major commercial gave the track worldwide exposure and Jose’s brilliant cover of Kylie Minogue’s ‘Hand on Your Heart’ proved he could take any song and turn it into a downbeat classic.

This is by no means all that Swedish indie has to offer the world but it does offer a fantastic place to start checking this vibrant indie scene in Scandinavia out.

Create Indie Music – Six Hot Tips for Creating Indie Music at Home- Did you ever study creative writing in English class? When you started your creative writing process you initially may have thought…I don’t know what I’m going to write about, I’m suppose to just write something without spending time thinking about what I’m writing about? Chances are, you could have been thinking this, but before you knew it, you captured 2+ pages of a great story or experience you had before you even stopped writing once. You can apply this same concept when creating indie music from the comfort of your home.

1) Create music extemporaneously.

Whether you try to compose a song on the piano, guitar, or drums etc. playing extemporaneously can really unleash your creativity, and help you compose music that you may not have even believed you were capable of creating. When you create your indie music, unleash your creativity without thinking about it. Don’t think about every note or scale you’re playing, JUST PLAY to create music that is truly unique, and set your music and talents apart from others.

2) Don’t over think when you are creating your music.

The great thing is your music creations will come together must faster if you don’t think too hard about what you’re playing and how it’s sounding. Create your music, and there will be time later to refine what you create.

3) Create indie music that is not overly mechanical and contrived.

To make sure your music sounds real and is a reflection of your creativity, again…JUST PLAY your music by expressing what is inside of you…your rhythm, your creativity etc. The best way to unleash this is to do it naturally, when you’re relaxed, not over critical of every note you’re playing.

4) Create your music in an environment that fosters your creativity.

Like any artist, you want to create your masterpiece in an environment where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Whether that’s your home recording studio, basement or patio etc. make sure you’re in a stress free environment, so your talents can really shine when you’re creating your music.

5) Just play your music like you don’t have a care in the world.

As you do that, you will probably start playing a cool new lick and groove that you were surprised you could create yourself. Remember, your first instinct in expressing yourself through your own music creation, is probably your best instinct.

6) Record your music.

An important note is that you should capture the great new music you create so you can share your creativity with others. Record your music, but try to forget that you’re recording so you can relax and play what comes through your heart and soul.

Unleash your creativity, and don’t over think what you’re doing when you’re creating your indie music…chances are you’ll be extremely pleased with your results.

Country Music-Music for Every Generation-Although it may seem that country music has been around forever, it has actually only been around since the early 20th century. Although some may call it “cowboy music” the roots of country music can actually be found in the blues, gospel, Celtic and folk music. It began in the early 20th century in the Appalachians of the southeastern United States. Country music is the “working class” music of the south. It often tells a story or has a moral. In today’s fast-paced, high-tech world, it is amazing that “old fashioned” country music still has a place in the hearts of so many-even if you listen to it on your ipod or MP3 player.

The first country music recording that really got noticed was of Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter family back in 1927. This type of music had been around for a few years before that, but this was the “breakthrough album” for the genre. Jimmie Rodgers played what was called “country folk” and told stories with his songs. He sang about everything from alcohol to women and even included humor in many of his songs. The Carter family was multi-talented and not only sang beautifully, but also played skillfully on guitars and other stringed instruments in true Appalachian tradition.

The next “pioneer” of the country music industry was Hank Williams Sr. He took cues from his predecessor, Jimmie Rodgers and sang songs about life, love, and loss. He died young, just as Mr. Rodgers did but not before passing on his musical genius to his children and eventually his grandchild.

The country scene changed in the 1960’s just like everything else in the United States. Two branches broke apart and one followed the traditional and the other put more emphasis on a smooth solo vocal and less emphasis on solo instruments-like the rock and roll of the day. This division continues to some degree today.

Another big division occurred in the 1990’s when some of the younger performers blended the country sound with some rock and other sounds. This led to more disharmony and some protests by the “old” school country performers.

Rock Music – The Popular Type of Music-Rock music is a well accepted form of music, which is a combination of drums, guitars and bass. This music uses keyboard instruments like piano, synthesisers, organ, etc. There is a band of musicians who focus only on rock music and they are called rock band. Rock music is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. Hard rock is specially liked by the western youth.

Today, people are crazy about music. They want to listen their favourite music whenever they have leisure time. Music is created to give you pleasure. The fascinating world of music lets you enjoy music in one form or other. There are various types of music these days: pop music, folk music, jazz music and rock music. All these type of music are enjoyable to hear. The songs take you through different emotions. Rock music is loud and fast than anything you’ve heard before.

In 1960, British and American rock bands became popular. Bands like Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Queen, Black Sabbath, etc. are some of the famous bands. In 1980,the genre that was quite popular was glam metal. The various artists like Twisted Sister, Guns N’ Roses, Bon Jovi, Queen, Kiss, Sweet and the New York Dolls were the artists of 1980’s.

This type of music became popular in the 1950s in America and Europe. This famous music is mainly based on older musical styles like the rhythm and blues music originated by African American performers such as Chuck Berry and Little Richard. The music has a heavy focus on guitar, drums and powerful vocals. The most popular artist of rock music in the early days was Elvis Presley. His dance and powerful music can surprise anyone. “The Beatles” became successful in the 1960’s. This group was inspired by Blues and rhythm.

Rock music is evolving itself and coming in a variety of styles. Other music forms like heavy metal are also a form of rock music. Some of the heavy metal bands include Metallic and Megadeth. Rock music comes in a wide range of forms like soft pop and heavy metal. This “Rock ‘N Roll” type of music became popular in 1950s and 1960s. This new sound came from many musical styles.

In the initial days, this music was admired only in small clubs and on radio. Afterwards, it became famous with the programs like American Bandstand. Then, people could view their favourite bands on the television. Many people criticised about this type of music as they did not like the loud and fast lyrics.

Rock music began with jazz music, blues tunes, etc. It also featured electrically amplified guitars, drummers and harmonicas. By the mid-1950, performers like Chuck Berry, Little Richard and Joe Turner became famous with the white audiences. Radio disc jockeys named this music rock ‘n roll.

One of the best musical album, “Sticks and Stones” has everything from fun to catchy guitar riffs. It covers a range of emotions and depicts the depth of their talent. The album grabs attention with the song “Cathedral.”. The catchy rock beat combines with a variety of instrumentation. The title track “Sticks and Stones” is also worth listening. The hard to resist lyrics would make your day. The instrumental track “ZOZ” is a classic jam track with brilliant double guitar interface. Another noteworthy feature of this track is the striking beats. Another beautiful track is “All Roads Lead to Home”. This track shows the fast and catchy style of the band. Lastly, there is a song that most college students can appreciate. “Raise a Glass”, an old Irish folk song has people singing along in the background. The album is a mixture of a broad variety of the music in the history of rock. This rock album is definitely worth listening and deserves a space on your iPod.

You can find a variety of rock music videos online and find the top tracks in the rock music charts. Don’t wait, just browse the internet to get your favourite rock.

Before hiring Live Music for a Corporate Party 4 Crucial Ingredients Event Planners must know- Involving live music into any corporate event is not as
easy as it seems. Besides deciding on the band, there are
4 aspects you must consider in order to have a hope of having
a successful event. They are, in the order of importance:

1) Venue

2) Agents

3) Technical Set Up

4) Band Character

In a moment I’ll tell you the details of the crucial
issues that can aggravate and potentially ruin an otherwise
beautifully accomplished occasion. It will just take a few
minutes, but as you read this page, more and more, you will
start to feel better and better about hiring live music for
your next corporate or social event. Most importantly is . . .

Venue Selection
As an event planner, your ability to keep numerous things
in mind when hiring musicians. Selection of the perfect venue
is the first ingredient you will need. This ability alone may
distinguish you as a professionals in an industry filled with
amateurs.

When choosing the venue, be certain the room size is
in proportion with the number of guests who will be attending.
I got into this business as a singing piano player. When I
am performing I need to connect with the audience. If the room
size is proportionate to the crowd size, I can do my job
successfully. If the room is too big and there are not enough
warm bodies in attendance, the audience will feel too
intimidated to approach the band. When you keep the band close
enough to your guests will feel comfortable enough to interact
with the musicians and vice versa.

Have you noticed yet that keeping the venue small so the
band can be close to your guests will increase your chances of
having a successful event? Depending on the act, you can leave
a little dance floor in front of the band. But all in all, keep
the crowd near the band and allow the band to be an integral
part of your event.

I have frequently worked with party planners who are
clueless when it comes to what size stage is needed for a
band.

“If you fail to plan ahead, then you are planning ahead
to fail.”

Here are the stage specs for various sized bands:

3 Piece – 8 feet by 16 feet

5 Piece – 16 feet by 24 feet

12 Piece – 16 feet by 32 feet

With the is newly acquired information, experienced event
planners will always prefer to go with a room with a stage
rather than just placing the band on the same level as
attendees. Proper planning for stage requirements avoids major
headaches the day of the show. Also, having the band on a stage
allows them to be seen by everyone even by the people in back.
When selecting the venue, you will also need to keep in
mind the acoustics of the room. High ceilings and flat walls
with lots of windows and no curtains to muffle the sound are
not optimal environments for bands. Work with an experienced
sound person to mix the band and equalize the room and
eliminate feedback.

Agents
There are only a handful of very few good
professional bands anymore. If you don’t know a good
booking agent, you will be hard pressed to find them. A good
agent will be the one to help you thru the minefield of
mediocre, amateurs with amps that have no volume control knobs.
As an event planner you need to figure out your event theme and
then contact a talent booking agency to see if there are bands
that fit.

The most popular bands play a wide variety of styles. A
good group of musicians knows songs from the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s
and ’90s. Frank Sinatra has never gone out of style. So make
sure the band plays what we call “Jazz Standards”. Depending
on your event and your geographical location, it is either
“Country Music is King!” or “Classic Rock Rules!”. Know your
demographics before hiring a band.

As with any vendor, you get what you pay for. Let’s talk
about budget. I wonder, even as you continue to read this
report, if you realize the amount of time a band puts in before
receiving a paycheck to practicing their instruments, learning
and memorizing repertoire and coordinating lights and
choreography. Most bands require anywhere from $1,200 to
$45,000 per gig. Experienced booking agents will be able to
place the right band for the party. With any event, experience
wins every time. Ask for references and testimonials.

Technical Set Up
Once your musicians are booked, you now need to cover
logistics. Tech setup includes the movement and placement of
equipment and sound checks. Bands usually bring their own
equipment.

Amplifiers, instruments, a PA system for vocals,
lighting towers all the way down to carpet for the drums need
to be set up and placed and checked and moved and double
checked again. Allow enough time for all of these details to be
adequately addressed well before show time. Because it is not
IF something goes wrong, it’s WHEN something goes wrong.
And it always does with a band. Give them enough time to fix
it.

Sound check must take place no later than 3 hours before
the performance start time. Load in should occur 1 or 2 hours
before that. The sound check should take no more than an hour,
and after that, let the band go back to their rooms, freshen
up, take a nap, grab a meal. They should return NO LATER than
30 minutes before their performance.

Band Character
Musicians have traditionally had a reputation for being
evil practitioners of any number of very colorful vices. It has
been my experience, however, that we are no different than any
other industry be it stock brokers, medical personnel or city
workers.

Use these simple rules and you will notice you can keep
any group of performers in line.

- Band members should not eat any food in buffet lines or
inside the ballroom area. They should have a separate area or a
“Greenroom” where they can eat, drink, warm up their vocal
cords, stretch out and generally prepare for the gig.

- During a performance, bands should not consume alcohol
or smoke. If they can’t wait a few hours to partake of their
favorite libation, fire them on the spot. You will avoid
headaches and embarrassment down the road. In addition, you
will get the reputation you will not tolerate any such
behavior. Trust me. Word will get out you are a professional
party planner.

Finally, remember: Treating musicians with dignity and
respect translates into a happy band which brings you happy
clients and guests who enjoy the entire event no matter
what the occasion.

You are now armed with the 4 seriously critical ingredients
for success that you did not have before. If you have learned
this information through the school of hard knocks, you can
feel assured that you are a true professional.

Now picture the night of the event. Following dinner (if
it is served), lights should be dimmed, the band is introduced,
they hit the first chords and the excitement ripples through
the room. People move towards the dance floor and the smiles
appear on everyone in the room. Why? Because you did your job
and provided an exquisite ingredient that every corporate party
needs: Live Music.

What To Consider When Choosing Live Music At Your Wedding-Formal weddings go with live music. It has almost become a standard. The reason why live music fits into a formal wedding is simple. The volume of visitors is large and it involves extensive protocols. You would not want to offer DJ music at such a grand occasion.

A live music requires so much planning and presentation that it is the least considered option for many people. It requires careful consideration every aspect. We present some things to take note of if you wanted to go for this kind of music.

The performers must incorporate some choreography into their show. They should not be mere players but be able to present dance forms that will make the guests happy. Not everyone will be dancing. Some will watch whilst others would be listening. A dancing live band group provides more amusement.

It is recommended that the live band music play classical music. Classics usually appeal to everybody. It is neither too colloquial nor too formal. In many instances, many bands have played popular tunes in classical forms. This makes it appealing to both the young dancers and the elderly.

The output of the equipment is of prime importance. In a noisy environment, the sound should be loud enough and clear. A creaky speaker would make a live performance look sub standard and mar your party.

The decorator of the reception venue must incorporate this type of music into the decorations. Live music would need an elegant and glamorous setting. Soft lights and dull candles would be appropriate for the occasion.

Hire a band that specializes in playing at weddings. This way, you can count on their experience and quality. A wedding band would not need elaborate rehearsals for your performance. Their tunes will come naturally and everyone will be delighted.

Austin – Live Music Capital Of The World-Austin is the capital of Texas and boasts many attractions, interesting places to visit and culture to view. It’s locals like to promote the “Keep Austin Weird” slogan, but there is plenty of history and architecture in addition to the more modern music and media life that makes Austin the “Live Music Capital of the World”.

The traditional places to visit such as Bob Bullock State History Museum and The Texas State Capitol Complex are impressive buildings. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is enormous and holds the original goddess of Liberty, not to mention a full sized windmill and a Texan Airplane from the 1940’s in addition to smaller displays and multimedia presentations. The Texas State Capitol complex is a true treasure of the state and is in fact larger and plusher than the original US Capitol buildings. It is a place that visitors must try to visit, if just to walk in the well kept and picturesque gardens.

Austin is a cosmopolitan city with plenty of modern architecture mixed with classic styles. Just to walk around some of the local streets and neighborhoods is enough for some visitors. You can visit the Pennybacker Bridge which is surrounded by urban picturesque scenes in all directions or take a stroll near the Congress Avenue Bridge around sunset which is the home to over 1.5 million Mexican free tailed bats. These bats live under the bridge for 8 months of the year and come out around sunset to look for insects to eat. It is quite a phenomenon to see the clouds of bats rising from the bridge during a warm summer evening. The bats migrate to Mexico for the winter.

Animals and nature are all part of Austin’s culture. In fact the Austin Zoo is known as a rescue zoo and sanctuary for over 300 animals that have been saved from the wild or extinction. The Barton Springs Pools and the Deep Eddy Pool are the largest and oldest man made pools in the country and are fed from water from the Barton Spring. The water temperature in the Barton Springs pool is always a constant 69 degrees and thought to be a very healthy place to swim and bathe in the grounds of the Zilker Park. Apart from these two famous pools there are many nature trails, parks and recreational facilities to visit and spend time while taking a break from the more upbeat sights and sounds of Austin.

The reason for Austin’s famous name as the “Live Music Capital of the World” is not just because of the hoards of graduates from the many music schools in the area but also the infamous 6th Street. 6Th Street is the home to a multitude of music venues and nightclubs housed in architecturally unique buildings. Strolling down 6th street by day is entertainment in itself to view the buildings and meet the cosmopolitan residents. All of these attractions and more can be seen from the comfort of the Dillo, an historic reproduction of the trolley cars that will take you downtown, to the capitol complex and around the University complex all for free. It is a perfect way to start your trip around Austin and decide which of the many attractions and places of interest that you want to see.

The Sheffield Live Music Scene-You would expect a city with a large university student population to have some dance clubs and other live music venues that cater to a young crowd. To say that about Sheffield is an extreme understatement. The vibrant live music scene in the city has been the soundtrack to life for citizens of Sheffield for over 30 years.

Past and present Sheffield musicians have enjoyed great success. Names from the not too distant past include Joe Cocker, Pulp’s Jarvis Cocker, Def Leppard, The Human League to name a few. More recently the Arctic Monkeys, Pink Grease, and The Long Blonds are very popular in and outside of Sheffield. The live music venues, such as clubs, pubs, halls, and stadiums fill the air with music, and vibrate the cities streets with a baseline.

So many talented acts come from Sheffield that is seems an odd coincidence. Perhaps something in the water that helps vocal cords develop, not likely, but something has to explain the large volume of musicians coming out of this fairly small area. Well, it’s not that big of a mystery.

It seems that in the early 1980s when the steel industry was on a down turn, someone on the Sheffield City Council heard about the big money involved in music. The multi-million dollar incomes of rock stars looked like an attractive way to bring a lot of money into the city. By 1982, a year that saw double-digit unemployment rates and 20,000 jobs lost, the City Council decided to do something about it by producing a few rock stars of their own.

It may not have occurred quite that way, but the fact is, the council got involved in the music business. They figured out that to have a great income producing music scene several things were needed. An infrastructure for the music industry was necessary, so the Council began funding projects related to music. A recording studio was needed to attract top acts and lot of live music venues were needed to showcase the local talent.

Sheffield City Trust owns Sheffield International Venues and operates Hallam FM Arena, and Sheffield City Hall to name a few of the 13 venues for music, sports, and entertainment. (SVI) Sheffield International Venues vision is to promote Sheffield as an international and cultural centre point for sport, leisure and entertainment, something they have been quite successful at doing since 1988.

Red Tape Studios is a training site for Sheffield City Council. It offers training to people interested in careers in the music business. Band Development, Band and Artist management, Music Technology, Music Business Courses and even DJ training courses are available. Because these courses are part of a local government backed system, they are competitively priced and the program really helps promote the music scene in Sheffield.

Of course the City Council offers other training units. Aspiring caterers, (if there is such a thing) can train at Sheaf Training alongside aspiring construction workers and customer service representatives. Tritec Computer Training is the City Council’s IT training ground and every city has at least one of these. The fact that the city recognizes and promotes popular music is just so surprising, and what’s more exciting and surprising is how well it works.

That answers the question how one small area can produce so many talented musicians. Not really a mystery, it’s more of a plan. Council backing is only a small part of the music scene however, and the venues that have been committed to growing the live music scene for the past twenty five or thirty years deserve much of the credit as well.

The Leadmill celebrated its silver anniversary in 2005, and has grown from a derelict flour mill in a rundown part of the city during the last stages of the steel industry’s demise. Unemployment and hopelessness was the consensus among young people at the time. A group of volunteers, students, artists, and unemployed people, who described themselves as “insane but likable” came together to set up a centre for arts and music for people like themselves who had nowhere to go.

The Leadmill has grown into a landmark, and the live music has grown legendary. The opening in 1980 of what was a performing arts center with jazz, pop bands, theatre, education workshops, and club nights began a tradition of live music that venues the world over have tried to emulate. The “insane but likable” founders turned out to be visionaries, except when they turned down a strange young blonde girl for a gig in 1983 who turned out to be Madonna. But who would have thought a club where the toilets backed up onto the dance floor would do so well. It’s not the bricks and mortar, but the bands and the experiences of the people who have been there time and time again that are memorable. The Leadmill is a launching pad for stars in the music business, and the place to see up and coming musicians in Sheffield.

The Leadmill is of course not the only famous live music venue in town, and is just one of the great live venues. There is a club in Sheffield for whatever your taste is. Live Music, DJ & MC stuff, techno, synthpop, indiepoppunk, and whatever other combinations of music are left over are represented somewhere in the city. Starting from a forward thinking city council and bright young people who love music, the city of Sheffield has been producing musicians like other cities produce butchers for the past 30 years.

Live Music In Key West-Key West has always been a hot spot for live music. When tourists finally get to the end of the road after making the long trek down the Keys, it does something to their psyche. Normally respectable citizens of the mainland tend to breathe in the free air of the tropics and start doing some pretty uncharacteristic things – things like drinking rum runners and stripping down to barely perceptible clothes. And they naturally congregate on Duvall Street, where the local clubs are happy to contribute to the anything-goes atmosphere. Live music pours out of nearly every bar.

The music leans heavily towards a Jimmy Buffett, island-flavored sound, and you’re sure to hear “Brown-Eyed Girl” at least ten times a night from ten different clubs. And that’s as it should be, because everyone is usually in an island kinda mood. But there is much more to be found. You can hear jazz, reggae, hard rock and blues, from places like Rick’s, Sloppy Joe’s, The Bull, La Concha, The Hog’s Breath, and, if you don’t mind walking an extra ten blocks or so, Jimmy Buffett’s own Margaritaville Cafe. What makes the whole scene so appealing is that most of the clubs are open to the outside, and all this music makes a potent gumbo of sound in the humid air as you walk down the street.

Long ago, before there was ever a road to Key West, most of the town was populated by pirates, who helped to ‘salvage’ goods from ships that were wrecked on the reefs because someone had switched the signal lights around. Everyone knew who switched those lights in the first place, of course. But salvaging was a tempting, lucrative profession in those days. That outlaw spirit still lives in Key West, and it can be heard in the music of performers in the clubs and from street performers on nearly every block.
I personally got to experience healthy doses of Key West music every April for 15 years, when I played at Sloppy Joe’s with the duo Faust and Lewis.

We developed our music and comedy act on that famous stage, and wrote gobs of funny songs about life in the islands. We always did the 5-9 PM shift, so after our show there was plenty of time to do the Duvall Crawl and check out the other acts in town. I became a great fan of Hugo Duarte, who was performing at the Hog’s Breath Saloon late one night in early April. It was uncharacteristically cool that night, with the temperature all the way down in the low 60’s, but my wife and I braved the chill to listen to Hugo for over an hour. His original songs are nearly perfect, and tell great stories about life in the islands, and about ship captains heading somewhere down south.

I also got to know Terry Cassidy, who still does afternoons at Sloppy Joe’s. He adds a smooth, bluegrass feel to his island music, and his song “Hooked On the Easy Life” just about sums up the attitude of the locals.

Pete and Wayne currently handle the 5-9 shift at Sloppy’s, and you can be sure they are continuing the “What Me Worry?” attitude down there, with their adult humor and songs.

There are so many more artists that have made a real splash on the Key West scene. Pat Dailey, the legend of Lake Erie, has been performing in February and March at Sloppy Joe’s for over twenty years. Bill Wharton, The Sauce Boss, one of the finest blues players I’ve ever seen, also makes hot sauce during his shows and serves it up in gumbo to people who stay around until the end. He makes regular appearances at Margaritaville. Ben Harrison, who with his wife Helen own Harrison Gallery, is also a renowned singer-songwriter who puts on mini operas about some of the colorful characters in Key West history, including a guy who kept his wife’s body in his parlor for years after she died.

All of us who have performed and written songs about Key West owe a tremendous debt to Shel Silverstein, who lived in Key West until his death several years ago. Shel wrote many famous songs, including “The Unicorn Song,” and “Cover of the Rolling Stone,” as well as countless award-winning children’s books, including “Where the Sidewalk Ends.” He generously gave of his time and talents to mentor songwriters that made their way to Key West. I personally spent an afternoon at his house, and I knew I was truly in the presence of greatness.

I recently did a weekend back at Sloppy Joe’s for the first time in four years. You can rest assured that the music and fun continue on, as vibrant as ever. Maybe it’s the gulf breeze. Maybe it’s the rum runners. Whatever it is, I hope it goes on forever.