When the Monkeydust Settles

And I feel like I've been here before Feel like I've been here before And you know it makes me wonder What's going on under the ground, hmm- Crosby, Stills and Nash A message comes through on social media from two musicians named John and Vincent. "Come to The Ghetto Palace tonight."  I have been wanting to revisit this unique venue since my first visit here as a spectator.  It is another place in my travels that is hard to explain the location of.  Even the GPS in my wife's Mustang had trouble finding it the first time. Crook and Vicki are the owners of the building and they generously open this venue up on a semi-monthly basis.  They have a shared goal to build up the local music scene under the moniker "Music Matters".  They also run a shoe collection drive near the holidays called "Happy Feet".  I humbly ask the reader to support these two fine efforts.  These two people are what I refer to as a "bookend power cou

You need a change... When you make that change... Don't look to see... I'm alright- Seal Let's start the week with some free thinking interaction! I shouldn't have come! I was supposed to die back there, but I didn't. It would have affected time. Don't worry.... ...that I'm not like anyone else. I love to make nonsense lyrics to instrumental music. As Seal puts it; a bad habit that Trevor his producer (and myself) share, THE INABILITY TO LET GO!!  Seeing Lars Ulrich   currently gives me a glimpse of what I will look like at 80 years old. It  doesn't detract from what I love doing... making music! I am trying to find full motivation for my current situation, obfuscation for my life station and theobromine for my soul.  I fear there  might not be anything more surreal than me eating a salad and watching streaming videos.   Where is the FUNK? Where are the BLUES? I want to play ripping bass solos without e

Water, water everywhere and  all the boards did shrink  Water, water everywhere nor any drop to drink- Iron Maiden (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) The Mariner's Daughter in St. Andrews is quite an unassuming place when you step thru their front  portal.  You are greeted by the sea foam tinted bric-a-brac of interior decorations for sale in their retail shop. I proceeded toward the darkened back room which seemed cozy and I realized I was in the right place.  It reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright and his concept of compress and release. I grabbed a seat and nodded to all the faces that were new to me.  The Bay County music scene is quite diverse.  There are many musicians of all levels in this area, and some cliques overlap, while others are oblivious to each other.  I try to blend in with all of them with varying degrees of success. I hear a loud BOOM outside and notice the thundering rain coming down.  The thought of riding my motorcycle home and getting soaked sets

And Harry doesn't mind, if he doesn't, make the scene  He's got a daytime job, he's doing alright- Dire Straits I just watched a great video by Adam Neely . In it he discussed the different types of gigs . Check out his YouTube channel , I highly recommend it. He brings up some important clarifications being a gigging musician in NYC. A type "A" venue may expect something closer to acoustic and the music played should be there for atmosphere. A gig like this usually lasts between 1 and 4 hours. If it is a wedding, breaks may be frowned upon, even if pre-negotiated, so be prepared to have an interlude musician available. Generally, money is negotiated up front. Some musicians have a standard contract, others do not. It should almost be a live version of Muzak, and meant to be background noise. Dinner conversation if in a restaurant should dictate your volume levels. There could be a very specific repertoire of Pop, Ro

Callin' the Cape Crusader, Green Hornet, Kado too; I'm in so much trouble, I don't know what to do... If you think anything about me, save me! -Aretha Franklin Melissa, the leader of "The Blue Mama Blues Band" contacted me a few months back about being a substitute bass player for a gig at " Pineapple Willys " a local restaurant. She explained that it would be a trio, guitar, bass and keyboards. NO DRUMS. I thought this was a little odd, but I jumped at the chance to play a smoke free venue with great food and drinks. This particular restaurant was made more famous by a Visa commercial in the early 1980s that I am sure the reader will remember. As an extra bonus, the venue is family friendly enough that I was able to invite some close relatives including my 10 year old niece. I started my day job early that morning just at sunrise. I had to deliver some swimming pool chemicals to one of the condominium resorts, and while wrangling a

Well, I've got a woman, way over town That's good to me, oh yeah Said I got a woman, way over town Good to me, oh yeah- Ray Charles editor note- a bit of a detour here, just some random music thoughts I have gathered. Last night I watched the entirety of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil again. I really can relate to the character "Yankee John" living here, and playing music where I do. He was passive through most of the movie, and just watches all the weirdness around him, only getting involved when he sees how his skills can be used beneficially. This says a lot about my musical endeavors. A while back my wife and I took a one night trip to New Orleans, as we often have, we met up accidentally with a Panama City friend and his wife. They invited us for dinner on Bourbon Street in the French Quarter and then we went to his friend's gig where he got to play with tenor sax player Lance Ellis . check out the the movie RAY (he's t

Juke box playin' and everything, All the cats began to sing, I heard somebody called and said LAST ROUND FOR ALCOHOL- Floyd Dixon The House of Bourbon is an unusual place. Yacht basin at night  Derelict motel across the way. It sits atop the Shrimp Boat restaurant which has been there for about 10 years.  The property was originally an old school Florida seafood place and fell into such disrepair by the 1990s it was unsafe to go near.  Smith's yacht basin had some sunken boats in it, and the whole area received Community Redevelopment Area (C.R.A.) funding.  It was redeveloped into a beautiful building by the son of the original owner.   I remember him showing me the plans and thinking how it would improve the St. Andrews corridor of Beck Avenue.  It helped spur a renaissance in the area, but then, it fell into receivership.  The bank hired a property management company to run it until it was sold to By The Seas Resorts, an up-and-coming investment group that ha

I wish I was in.... Tiajuannna, Eating bar-be-qued IGUANA.- Wall of Voodoo I received a call from a drummer named Dennis.  "Hey bud, would you like to come over and jam a bit at my house?"  I asked him what night and he said Thursday.  He gave me the address and I saw how close to my house that he lived and agreed. "Diesel"  photo courtesy Dennis A. Weise That night after navigating through the twisty cross streets on my motorcycle and not finding it, I pull over and try to call him, when I hear someone yelling my name.  I am in the parking lot of "Los Antojitos" a great Mexican restaurant and don't think much of it.  Matthew is a fairly common name.  Don't you hate it when you meet someone with your name?  It feels like being in a competition, and let's face it, that other person has no chance of  winning it.  (High humor from the realms of Mattworld) I look up from my phone and see Dennis aka "Drummerboy" waving from the

In this installment of the Artist Spotlight Series, I interview MYSELF. ---disclaimer...The Lizard performs, but Matt merely drives the skeleton What got you started in music?  When I was about 6 years old, I walked by a music store that had a red white and blue striped guitar in the window that was just like Buck Owens' on Hee Haw. I had to have it.  My mom said I could if I took lessons. Is there anyone in your family that is musical, who are they and what do they play? My grandfather played piano/organ and trumpet and my father played guitar.  I have an uncle that does not perform, but he definitely influenced my love of music and the genres I like.  He introduced me to all the good stuff.  My wife played clarinet in school and has a great ear for music.  A four hour car ride with her is just like a four hour concert STARRING her. What was the first instrument you purchased?  A really HORRIBLE nylon stringed acoustic off-brand guitar.  The action on it

This is another installment in the Artist Spotlight Series. I plan on doing more of these, if you would like to be featured, or would like to suggest an Artist, please contact me at drazil91@hotmail.com In this installment I interview Trey Broege aka "Bonedaddy" via instant messenger.  I have played with him many times at his "No Jacket Required" (NJR) jam sessions. Overall, he is a great guy and musician, but he can be a bit "polarizing" to some.  Ego?  Sure. Talent?  Definitely.  A great front man, and very well versed in the business aspect of the local scene.   What got you started in music?  Desire.... It happened innocently. A friend who would stay at my house, which was located at the local pool hall/bar/venue a block away, would stay the weekend in order not to have to drive home. One weekend, he arrived with a brand new Washburn acoustic guitar. I had had a single lesson at 12 years old, which hurt my fingers, an