Summer Camp Wrap Up

Just got done playing/attending the Summer Camp Music Festival in Chillicothe, Il. For those who don't know this is a huge event with over 21,000 attendees that has been going on for 10 years now. My band, Wook (www.facebook.com/wookband) got the privilege of playing the opening notes of the festival on a small side stage in the camping area. Although the crowd was on the smaller side, we still got people dancing, as well as provided some nice tunes for the other campers to set up their tents. While playing was fun and a great experience, the time shared with good friends made the entire weekend a great success. We generally woke up around 9 or 10 and proceeded to fill up our water packs and complain about the hot sun already creeping though the trees. Concerts started around 11am, although I missed a lot of those due to partying too hard the nights before. We basically attended concerts moving from stage to stage from 1pm til about 11 and then would roam the forest and hit the DJ tent til about 230 or 3. I got to see so many great bands I had never seen before, and heard about even more that others saw that I missed. This type of music festival is a great thing, bringing people together for a lot of great music and great times with friends. Our small support group of little wookies made the weekend memorable as we bounced from stage to stage together. Couldn't have asked for a better weekend, great weather, great food, and great friends. If you haven't had the opportunity to check a festival like this out, I would highly suggest it. Summer festivals sure will not disappoint.

The Difference

A lot of times I go see bands and try to figure out what is the difference between them and me, besides the obvious years of experience they have on me. But really, as long as you can write something catchy what really separates the great artists from the good ones or the people in the crowd? Recently I think I found the answer, the difference between the kid in the crowd that lets say plays guitar and the guy onstage is commitment. It is fun as hell to go to a bunch of shows, have some appropriate and most of the time inappropriate fun, but at some point... when you really want to put it on the line, you have to give it up. We had the opportunity to play with Family Groove Company this past summer and Roster McCabe just a couple weeks ago, and there are two groups that make you want to become a better musician. While we were pounding beers and having a good time backstage waiting to go on, they were going over licks, practicing timing, and in the case of Family Groove, showed up before the show and were all business. I'm not saying its bad to have a good time, or having a couple beers before is a bad thing, but the guys that really make it and become something special are the ones that are there for the music, and if they get to enjoy a beer or two with their friends on stage thats great. The days of Slash being propped against his amp because he's so fucked up he can't stand are over. Fans expect more, so everyone has to bring their A-game. Now when you are as big as say Phish, I'm sure there is some leeway, but for the kids that are out there trying to make it right now, you need to knuckle down and be professional, it not only goes along way with the fans, but it shows the other bands, the venue, and anyone else who could possibly help your career that you mean business and you aren't just there to get fucked up. If you're willing to commit to becoming the best musician you can be, you can drop the the dropping, stomp out the doping, and just jam. Commitment and professionalism separates those who make it and those who don't. And then some day, when you've caught your break... go ahead, have a little fun, but know you can have fun because of all the work you put in before hand. Jam on that for a while....