*REPORT ROM THE INFIELD:TRIBUTE BANDS
*WESTHEIMER BLOCK PARTY
*HIPPIES.TV TONITE

Lotta music for me in these next 24 hours or so!

We'll be amongst the largest line-up of bands at the FREE PRESS HOUSTON's Westheimer Block Party tomorrow. Little known fact - Roger Tausz and I are the only musicians left still playing WestFest - who actually played at the first Westheimer Art Festival. On that sunny day, Roger, Billy Block and I played 11 sets in front of Houlihan's #2. Jim Fulton lent me a Fender Princeton amp - I didn't have one because I wasn't really a professional guitarist yet - Roger and I both played bass back then. We were the only band that thought of playing on the street at that first fest, and we were rewarded with many listeners and appreciation, as well as great weed, real quaaludes and rampant free love (this was before AIDS). This year - I'll play a set at noon with Randy Soffar, Roger Tausz and Michael Spencer - we'll even do some old Z-Rocks stuff (by special request) for Omars 30th birthday! Check the schedule at -
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/freepresshouston/?action=view&current=block-party-stage-guide-1.jpg

I also have meetings scheduled with artists (Koo Rod, Chango Man, orange is in) and volunteer mixers and editors as we hand out footage and tracks to be edited and mixed for the SOUTH BY DUE EAST 2008 film and SOUTH BY DUE EAST TELEVISION. Check www.hippies.tv for the first ruff footage from this year's shoot! . Mixing the 82 artists who we filmed this year is a big task, and I thank Roger Tausz (Bong Island Sound), Rock Romano (Rock Romano's Red Shack Studio), John Moran (Digital Services), Mikey Farber, Lion 808 and Chris Rogers (Rogers Recording) for already picking up the tracks and working/mixing to help make things a little better for these great local artists! Resulting videos will be shown on our new TV series (tell you about it in a couple weeks) and at www.hippies.tv and www.southbydueeast.com

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HIPPIES.TV TONIGHT
10pm Comcast Channel 17
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On Hippies.TV tonight will be my final cut for this year of 'Guy Schwartz' Guide to Jams & Open Mics in the greater Metropolitan Houston area', featuring performances from dozens of local jammers and openmicsters. Hippies.TV is found at Comcast Cable channel 17 at 10pm on Friday nights.


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REPORT FROM THE INFIELD:
TO TRIBUTE OR NOT TO TRIBUTE
That was the question
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I was on the Houston Bands forum this morning, when I saw an arguement break out about the need/desire for rock tribute bands. One musician posted an ad for other musicians interested in forming a KANSAS tribute band, and others chimed in with their approval or disapproval.

My opinion?

Not all musicians are songwriters, and I am totally willing to support any musician trying to play for a living, even those more willing to put their efforts into learning the repertiore of a classic rock band than putting the same time into learning and promoting the original music of their local contemporaries. If you don't write music yourself, then being the best technician on your instrument (and making a living at it) is the only goal possible.

Of course...

If more musicians were willing to put in the time to work up and promote the repertiore of great local original songwriters and composers, and promote our music scene (instead of promoting classics like KISS, Crue or Kansas), we might be a 'music capital or the world'.

I was on tour with the New Jack Hippies when a DJ in Wyoming interviewed us - asking Teri Greene, "Are you guys an all-original band?"

Teri responded, in typical Teri Greene style, "Guy and Roger play in an all-original band! The rest of us play in a band that covers Guy & Roger's material."

I understand the need to preserve the works of the classics by performing them.

The symphony does it every night.

I understand the need to get out and play - even if your bandmates write inferior material, or write nothing at all.

I understand the fantasy of BEING (sic) a rockstar by emulating your favorites and dressing up in cool period clothing, mocking steps and dance routines that were cool to everyone decades ago, and still cool to many.

I understand the fantasy of actually having people show up (and they may be actually excited) to hear you play.

I understand how it's easier for venue owners to advertise proven brand names like Kansas, Crue and KISS than it is to advertise Rozz, Million Year Dance or The New Jack Hippies, and don't blame or beg weak-assed venue owners to change their ways and take a hit while teaching their crowd some new tricks. But - I REALLY APPRECIATE THE VENUE OWNERS WHO DO!

Of course - if all tribute bands disappeared, the venue owners would likely choose mud-wrestling or karaoke instead of original music.

What a shame for us.

All that being said, let me begin closing by quoting James Goan...
"Kansas? are you serious. I can count the great tribute bands in H-town on one hand!"

On the other hand, there is lots of great original talent here, too!

Come check out a lot of them at The Westheimer Block Party tomorrow. Here's the schedule.
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h149/freepresshouston/?action=view&current=block-party-stage-guide-1.jpg
 
Also, you can join or visit the HoustonBands Forum at:
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/houstonbandsforum/