10 Places to Relive the '60s

By Katy Marquardt

Posted August 13, 2009

Many of the most crucial events of the 1960s—including the civil rights victories, antiwar protests, and the sweeping cultural revolution—left few physical traces. All but a handful of the decade's famous counterculture hangouts shuttered their doors long ago, and you won't find any monuments where major student uprisings took place. Sure, you can drive up to Woodstock to see where you once reveled in the mud, but there will be no public intoxication, tents, fires, or camping.

As the organizers of Woodstock 1994 and 1999 probably learned, that history can't be recreated. "What's celebrated about the Sixties are a couple of things," says Bryant Simon, a history professor at Temple University. "It was a moment when youth ruled, and, secondly, there was a certain kind of freedom of expression, of dance, of bodies. Getting high was sort of a third thing—there's a sort of sweetness to those memories. And it was a moment where it seemed that idealism ruled, a certain kind of wide-eyed, sweet, and tender idealism."

Maybe we can't go back, but it's still possible to capture the spirit of the decade by attending festivals like Bonnaroo, strolling through neighborhoods that invoke fond memories, and reliving landmark events through engaging exhibits.

[Slide Show: 10 Places to Relive the '60s.]

On August 15, the Bethel Woods Center for the Arts will observe the 40th anniversary of Woodstock with a concert featuring bands that performed at the original three-day festival, at the original site near Bethel, N.Y. The Museum at Bethel Woods—which is sold out Saturday—tells the Woodstock story through clips (some of which you can watch inside a replica of the Merry Pranksters' bus and others in an immersion theater), memorabilia, and a video booth where you can hear—or share—personal stories.

Former flower children who have returned to their old haunts have found many cornerstones of the counterculture movement "domesticated," as Thomas Sugrue, a University of Pennsylvania history and sociology professor, puts it. "A lot of these places have been remade by their own success, attracted more mainstream and corporate investors that changed the landscape of these places dramatically." Take the Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco, once a hippie mecca and the former stomping grounds of Sixties icons like the Grateful Dead and Joni Mitchell. "There are still music shops and radical bookstores and places that sell tie-dyed T-shirts and marijuana paraphernalia," says Sugrue, who teaches a course on America in the Sixties. "But there's also a Starbuck's. Berkeley's very similar. So much of it has been gentrified because of escalating real estate prices." But as long as you don't let the Gap harsh your mellow, a stroll down Berkeley's Telegraph Avenue may bring back fond memories.

Another major crossroad for free spirits, New York, still has some remnants of the decade—such as the Chelsea Hotel, which hosted many writers and musicians, including longtime resident Bob Dylan. But the bohemian vibe of neighborhoods like Greenwich Village has waned (many say it's long gone). Still, musicians play in Washington Square Park on warm afternoons, and the people-watching is excellent. You may even see some tie-dye.

Elements of the Sixties ethos still linger in college towns such as Ann Arbor, Mich., and Madison, Wis., because of their mix of students and idealists. "One remnant is in Ann Arbor at the Hash Bash where people smoke marijuana publicly," Sugrue says. "It's a re-enactment of a certain element of the Sixties . . . so you do find in college towns more self-consciousness about the role of 1960s and, on occasion, attempts to relive that moment."

Summer music concerts and festivals are an obvious place people attempt to recreate the music—and feel—of the Sixties. Expand your mind beyond Sixties touring acts and experience a new generation of free-thinking artists at festivals like All Good in Masontown, W.Va., the High Sierra Music Festival in Quincy, Calif., and Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, a five-day jam held each year on a farm in Manchester, Tenn. "You've got bands like Phish and Widespread Panic taking the vibe of the Dead to recreate, in their own way, the kind of collectivity that people share in," says Simon. "It's running a risk of becoming too commercial . . . but it still has a kind of wild freedom and improvisation. The music is happening right now at this moment."

It may sound mundane, but another way to commemorate the music of the decade—and explore its evolution—is through museum exhibits. The thing about documenting music history is that it requires more than just plaques and heavy text. One of the most engaging examples is the Jimi Hendrix exhibit at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, which includes a sound-effects interactive and rare film footage. There's also a collection of Hendrix's guitars (including shards of the one he destroyed at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967). Another point of interest: The museum was designed by Frank Gehry. In Detroit, the birthplace of Motown Records—also known as Hitsville, U.S.A.—beckons visitors with a museum that invites visitors to clap and sing in an echo chamber that creates reverb sound and other effects that make the "Motown Sound" unique.

Memphis is not only home to the Rock 'n' Soul Museum, which chronicles the rise of soul music, it's also a major landmark of the civil rights movement. Partially located in the Lorraine Motel, where Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated, the National Civil Rights Museum features captivating photography and life-size exhibits that include a segregated lunch counter and the burned shell of a Greyhound bus used in the Freedom Rides. Revisit another dark chapter of the Sixties at Dealey Plaza's Sixth Floor Museum in Dallas, which houses more than 35,000 items related to the assassination and legacy of President John F. Kennedy. Looking for a more uplifting way to relive Sixties history? Mark the 40th anniversary of man's first walk on the moon at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where a new exhibit features spacesuits and other gear used by the moonwalkers.

"Circle of Rock" (by Sixthman blog)

A few weeks ago, I was asked to present an overview of how the music business works to a group of peers. This picture is the best image I could come up with to create a visual of how it works. So here is my interpretation.

The artist is the center of the universe and each circle represents a planet orbiting them. The MANAGER acts as a regulator of gravity that pulls, pushes or manages the distance and influence over the artist. He or she solicits, negotiates and secures any professional relationship with the artist.

For that service, the manager EARNS 15-20% of all the revenue that the artist generates. Being a manager is like being both parents. The fun one and the firm one at the same time.

Starting from the top of the circle, we have the BOOKING AGENT. This person is critical to developing the artist as a touring machine that can sell out stadiums for $100 a ticket. The agent earns 10% of what the artist gets paid when they perform live. This is usually the largest income stream for an artist. The booking agents have the relationships with the PROMOTERS who are responsible for guaranteeing the artist a fee to perform and then producing and promoting the show in a specific town and venue. Producing the show means renting out a venue, hiring the crews to set up the sound system, lights and the stage. Promoting the show entails taking out advertising with local radio stations and print outlets. This part has obviously changed as both radio stations and print outlets have diminished in audience and influence.

The TOUR MANAGER is hired by the manager to manage the band, crew, buses, trucks etc while on tour. They are the “General” on the ground and responsible for making sure the operation and the band move from town to town. These are good people to know and very valuable. A good one can earn $4,000+ a week, depending on how big of venues the band is playing and how many trucks, buses and private jets are in the convoy.

MERCHANDISE is a revenue stream for artists but not a significant one until they begin headlining larger venues. Until that point, it is mainly a little gas money and branding for the group. Once they play to 2,500+, it can become real money despite the fact that it can be a distraction to the organization due to all the moving parts of designing, ordering correct amount, shipping it, selling it at shows and managing it etc. Most artists will sell the rights to a 3rd Party company who will then manage the entire process with some input from the band about designs. In exchange for the rights to the merchandise, bands will get a 20-25% amount of all sales and the MERCHANDISE company will make their profit after they pay for the design, goods and cost to have someone on the road selling it.

RECORD LABEL is not what it used to be. When I began my career, you had to have a label to break big because they had the money to help you make your album, distribution channels to record stores, the promotion team to call on radio stations and more money to pay the independent radio consultants to get it on the radio. The label gave you an advance of $150,000 to a $1,000,000 depending on how many other labels were interested in exchange for the rights to sell your music in a store for $12.99 and give you a $1.50 per CD (after you paid back the advance, marketing costs and costs to pay radio stations to play the album of course). Now that anyone can make an album in their basement and sell it on ITunes, the recording and distribution barriers are removed. In addition, radio just doesn’t mean what it used to and independent consultants were shut down for “payola”.

DISTRACTIONS are more like a comet that can blow your sun (artist) up quickly. The manager really earns his money by protecting his artist from any of these destroyers. All of them can make the artist lose sense of reality and the mission at hand.

PERFORMING RIGHTS societies collect money from radio stations and all public businesses who play recorded music for their audiences and customers. BMI, ASCAP and SESAC are the main ones and they collect millions of dollars from all over the world each year, take 20% off the top and distribute the rest to the song writers (people who actually write the lyrics and the music) and the publishers (people who manage this process for the song writer). If the artist records a song they did not write, then they do not get any of this money. As you know, many country artists do not write their own songs. Since they do not make money from PERFORMING RIGHTS or PUBLISHING, it puts more pressure for them to earn money from live concerts. Think that might explain why country artists have such a reputation for taking good care of their fans and putting on great live shows?

PUBLISHER administers the collection of royalties from the performing rights societies and from the sales of albums and exploits the song writers music in tv and movies. When a publisher gets a song in a movie, it is called a Synchronization License (synching up music and video) and the publisher is responsible for soliciting these opportunities, negotiating and collecting for the song writer. When an album sells in a store or on I Tunes, the song writer earns $.0925 for each copy of the song that is sold. The publisher collects that as well and splits with the song writer.

ATTORNEY handles all entertainment related legal issues of managing the contracts with and between all these relationships and either charges 5% of all monies earned by the artist or an hourly fee for service.

BUSINESS MANAGER is responsible for being the CFO of the organization and collects all monies, pays all expenses, budgets for tours and keeps the artist from pulling an MC HAMMER.

Ok, so there it is. My 15 years of music business experience all in one BLOG. I have been blessed to be an artist, a promoter, a manager, a record label, a tour manager and a distraction.

When the artist lives up to his or her responsibilities as the SUN, the story usually works out.

DISCLAIMER – I do not claim to be an expert and some of this data is not 100% accurate or standard, so please do not quit your job today and run down to an open mic to begin managing a band, as tempting as I make it sound….

Get Moving: 14 Songs By Which To Pack And Unpack (according to Paste magazine)

1. The Rolling Stones - "Gimme Shelter"
2. The National - "Apartment Story"
3. The Spinto Band - "Brown Boxes"
4. The White Stripes - "I'm Bound To Pack It Up"
5. Joe Cocker - "With A Little Help From My Friends"
6. White Rabbits - "Leave It At The Door"
   
7. Andrew Bird - "Tables & Chairs"
8. St. Vincent - "The Bed"
9. Wilco - "Box Full Of Letters"
10. Modest Mouse - "Paper Thin Walls"
11. Tom Waits - "Picture In A Frame"
12. Pavement - "Date With Ikea"
13. Radiohead - "Everything In Its Right Place"
14. The Everybodyfields - "Good to be Home"

An idea for something to listen to tomorrow and while I continue to move. Again. Seems to be a lasting theme in my life right about now, so why not supplement it with music? Good thing I already have almost half the tracks (bolded) ... I'll probably go a' searchin' for the others soon.

// Parallels //

johncmayer: What's the next record going to be like? Super melodic California rock v.2.009. I'll always love blues but I wanted to up the pop game.

Some people are pissed that it won't be bluesy like Continuum, but I'm really okay with it ... I've come to love the album, but initially it was way too mellow for me in the wake of Heavier Things. Then again, a lot of people didn't like that album because it was "overproduced." Listen - anything is "overproduced" following Room for Squares, whose tracks all boast a similar acoustic rock feel. I just think it's silly that there's all this complaining about what the album will and won't be.

First of all, we DON'T KNOW anything yet besides the raw material he's presented us with throughout the Battle Studies journey -- key word being "raw." In some sense, it doesn't even matter what we think of the new stuff because it'll hardly be the same once it's finished (... yeah, yeah you can make an argument about lyrics, but there's a good chance those will change, too!)

It should be easy to at least appreciate John's efforts to give us a behind-the-scenes look into Battle Studies' production, even if it's too early to appreciate the music (... I do, but apparently some people are already disappointed with what they hear.) People are pissed that he hasn't been posting blog updates lately ... to which I can only say, "Would you rather have an album, or video clips?" It was a cool thing to do for a while, but if it distracts from the heart of the matter, I'm okay to replay what he's already given us in exchange for a new CD in November. Seriously, listen to '3x5,' people.

There's a lot of worry surrounding this album's release, I think. Fans wonder if he's been rushed to finish it or if his intentions have been tainted by fame. I was guilty of both of the above, before I realized that it's not fair to judge. How many of us have grown up in the spotlight? As if we don't already stumble upon sufficient conflictions as we mature, he has aged with the dual-edged blade of fame in his back -- a finger on the shutter release or the "Record" button decides whether he will be praised or victimized at that moment. 'Humanized' is somewhere in between, but it's an angle that wore out it's welcome once everyone knew he was going to be big.

John's long-time fans fear they will never again see the boy who wore cargo pants to the Grammys, and knew even less then about where his music would take him than style. But being 'human' means living, learning, making mistakes, going through phases, and changing. And isn't that why we all loved him in the first place? So why should we take his indiscretions personally? Thankfully, the majority of our mishaps aren't frozen in time to be rubbed in our faces later, but he's not so lucky.

I guess a lot of this rant spawns from current events in my own life. I'm making some major changes and expecting some major critism. I'm preparing for what people will say because I know the people claiming they support me the most will be more upset by the inconvenience I'll inadvertently cause them than happy for me to be moving on. People are determined to ignore or reject change, but it's so impossible.

Embrace, accept, appreciate. Imagine what a better place the world would be.

JM Songs I'm Skipping

(As inspired by a topic on MSM about what songs even John's fans dislike. I know I have my own, but am learning them now as I listen on 'shuffle.' Will be updated as new discoveries are made.)

- Bigger Than My Body
- No Such Thing
- Say
- Mercy (cover on '08 tour)
- Covered in Rain
- Inner City Blues cover
- Daughters, most of the time
- Crossroads (cover on '08 tour)
- 83

Daydreaming of a REAL Vacation

johncmayer: As the sun gets further away, Vegas pulls closer. Have a great weekend.

Jealous. But it reminds me of everything I've already been fantasizing My Epic Westward Road Trip of 2010 will be. I'll be 21 ... and sipping pina coladas on the beach in the time sandwiched between John Mayer concerts. P.S. How cool is it that I'll be 21 in 2010?? Just realized that. No, I'm not drunk already.

Anyways, with the album coming out, my bracelet in the works, and money in the bank, I'm so ready to jump in the car and drive. But since I have a while to wait, I'm going to do everything in my power until then to make sure that my trip is as awesome as it's been playing out in my head.

P.S. again - johnmayer.com is down ... being revamped? Maybe we'll know tomorrow.

(How many acronyms can you find/form in this post?)

Today's been pretty chill. Had a fantastic breakfast here at the B&B, took a couple hour-long nap, then decided to fetch myself Starbucks when food nor sleep had cured the headache that'd been ailing me since last night. (Why am I using such proper lingo? Whoops, nevermind.) The pain went away once I'd downed about half of my Iced Venti Nonfat Sugar-free Vanilla Caramel Macchiato, and I realized that I hadn't had coffee in two days after drinking it almost every day since the summer started. But at $4.28 a pop, it looks like I'll be having more headaches than coffee in the future - awesome.

After that, I just sifted through my Mayer music and picked out my personal favorites (songs and shows), grabbed "nachos" from Taco Bell (which I've discovered are simply the leftover 'crumblies' of chips served with a cup of cold nacho cheese - I probably should've known, but I'm anything but a fast food connaisseur), and had a nice conversation with my stepdad about Les Paul. R.I.P. Les Paul, guitar revolutionary.

Apparently he met Les in '88 or so while on business in NYC, where Les played a weekly gig at an underground club. They reminisced about Hawaii - my stepdad grew up there and Les talked about playing shows there with Mary Ford - and my stepdad walked away with a signed black&white postcard and "chicken skin" (... the preferred reference to goosebumps in Hawaii, and one I think I'll adopt from here on out because it's cute.) A pretty cool story about an equally cool person to add to my list of things that makes me wish I were somewhere more exciting than here and/or born a little earlier.

Then I came back down to earth to talk to my roommate about cable and internet and people dropping like flies at her high school band camp and blah-dee-blah. Now, I still have my JM albums on shuffle and am looking forward to The Tonight Show, where the tallest whitest man in the world will talk with the tallest blackest man in the world -- "hyperbole? YES" -- Conan and Shaq. Should be hi-larious.

In more Battle Studies news, an MSM member in radio confirms that November 17th is a release date we can look forward to with confidence ... and in fact, the date was moved up a week just a week ago.

Good thing I already had my Dashboard "Countdown" widget configured with that date. :)

Troubadour Poster

Hoping they might have some extras to sell soon ... pretty sweet design. And I didn't even realize until now that it TOTALLY matches the new (though not-yet-implemented) color scheme of my room!! I'll be keeping a look out for this in the online JM sto', fo' sho'.

(I've obviously been cooped up in this hotel room a wee bit too long. Only 3 more nights!)

*POOF* Battles Studies appears.

Holy hell, today has been like a JM explosion! (In a good way!)

Twitter-stalking helps us zero in even closer to a possible release date ...

crazy22redhead:@johncmayer Can we expect a Sept release date?
johncmayer: @crazy22redhead a little bit later, but not by much.

... STOKED.

A few minutes later, WearYourMusic tweeted that "MAYER BRACELETS ARE BACK!" I even think I got the first one! Which is lucky, considering I think there were only 5 from the start ... I thought there would be a lot more whenever they'd restock them, so I'm glad I was at the computer and ready.

Moral of the story: BATTLE STUDIES IS NO MYTH. And it sounds like I can keep saving for a California vacation next summer without fearing my efforts are in vain.

No B.S. - Battle Studies is in our future.

Check. it. out.

johncmayer: Battle Studies track listing is locked! Entering the home stretch: overdubs.

I was getting worried it would never happen. Maybe November 17th isn't too much to hope for after all! I'm getting especially hyped after hearing a bit of a new song John played at the Troubadour this past Sunday (... made even more exciting by the fact that he finished the lyrics backstage before the show.) It's called "Perfectly Lonely":



Could use a little tweaking, but it's uber-catchy. And it's so cliche to say, but it's SO 'me' right now. How does he do it? Continuum was virtually my life in music at the time of its release, and now the Battle Studies "previews" seem to describe exactly where and who I am now ... which is so far, so different from the 'me' of '06-07.

I think I've already made my affections clear, but I can't help saying once again: John Mayer, you are a genius.

What to do.

People are probably shuffling into the Troubadour right now, and I'm watching Whale Wars. Luckily, I'll be drowning my sorrows in margaritas in about 45 minutes with ex-fellow employees ... kids cool enough to almost make me want to start making ice cream again. Almost. But for now I think working with a high school band is working just fine. Mostly because it makes me feel a little bit better about myself. (There is NO WAY IN HELL I was ever as weird as some of these kids.)

Speaking of which, 2 semi-long days left before the regular schedule kicks in. 7.5 versus 3 hours will be a positive change ... God love my mom for putting me in such this super cute B&B until I can move into my house, but curse you B-town that 'B' stands for BORING. Hopefully I can keep myself entertained with this significantly reduced schedule compared to last week's (9a-9:30p every day.) I might as well appreciate it since any hint of free time will go to hell in a handbasket once school starts.

Maybe I'll make a habit of watching Whale Wars. It's pretty BAMF-y. But hopefully I'll practice. I haven't touched my saxophone since May. Oy.

An e-mail update from JM.com

Hey JM fans! We’re excited to announce that tonight, Sunday August 9th, John Mayer will be playing a secret show at Los Angeles’s Troubadour! For the first time since getting in the studio, JM will step on stage with Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino and Ian McLagan to perform new tracks from Battle Studies. A collaboration by Jason Reeves and Jordan Lawhead of Nashville will open the show.

A limited amount of tickets will be available for $20 through the Troubadour Box Office only, today (Sunday, August 9th) at noon PST. Ticket purchasers will be given a bracelet that will allow them to get in line starting at 7pm for this general admission show. Doors will open at 8pm and the show will start at 9pm. Please note that congregating in the venue parking lot or vicinity before 7pm will not be allowed. Absolutely no transfers will be allowed. All ticket purchasers must be present in line during the on-sale in order to be admitted entrance into the show. We will be placing wristbands on all individuals who purchase tickets (one per fan). Any tampering or damage to the wristband will result in non-admittance. No video or audio taping allowed. Good luck and we’ll see you tonight! - Team JM

I was only five years old when my family moved away from L.A. ... but whyyyyyy?? I guess it wouldn't really matter anyways, cause chances are I'd probably still be here in the middle of nowhere that is the Midwest.

I'll be back there someday, but all these "secret" shows make me wish I were there now. It pisses me off, because I know I'm a bigger fan of John's music than at least half the people that show up to these last-minute performances out of sheer convenience and location. It sounds stilted and pretentious, but I'd guess only a select few that show up have actually ventured on to the message boards or beyond what they've heard of JM on the radio. But whatever ... being bitter doesn't help anybody.

I just want to hear about it from people that are lucky enough to go that DO care! And the fact that the announcement came from his management might mark the start of more official promotions for Battle Studies, which means there might just be a release date. From afar it looks like things are definitely in the works ... but I guess I shouldn't be too hasty.

... Battle Studies for real?!?!

Battle Studies

November 17, 2009

As found on www.amazon.com. I ran across the same date on Wikipedia a few days ago but didn't take it too seriously. His fans (myself included) are scratching their heads but are afraid to become attached to a release date that hasn't been confirmed by John himself yet--and rightfully so.

He needs to tell his fans the truth so we can have something to fervently look forward to again! (Or not, if that date isn't the actual one.) Everyone's awaiting Battle Studies, but as more time passes it's getting harder to believe there will even be an album out this year ... which, in turn, would most likely push next year's tour dates back. I feel like I'm being led on! I swear, I CAN handle the truth.

Anyways, I've been super busy lately but should ideally have more time now to post as frequently as I did before moving and all the crap that went along with it ... even though I'm moving again in about a week. But I'm going to forget about that for now for the sake of my sanity. Hopefully I'll even be able to play catch-up before the weekend's over ( ... everyone enjoying JM's impromptu nocturnal radio shows? They crack me up.)

... could change be near??

An e-mail from the jm.com store announced its "Huge Clearance Sale" and "the last week left to save" on a wide array of items. Also, a Tweet from WearYourMusic.com rings hopeful that JM-related news is coming ...

Strings are on the way from a frequently requested artist! Will let you know when they get here!

New merch could be news of prep for the album release! (Better keep saving my money ... I'm all about a Battle Studies era guitar string bracelet.)

:: EDIT ::

A change I am positive will happen in the future will be one that I have started today and will MAKE happen. I'm going to quit this yo-yo dieting thing and practice healthier eating habits that will last me a lifetime. I really just need control so I'm not too careless OR too careful. Lord knows I've been on both sides of the issue ... I just need a little help finding and establishing a happy medium now to last me forever.

John Mayer Twitters Genius 'Ninth Year' Theory

Posted 7/27/09 11:26 am ET by Kyle Anderson in Music

Over the weekend, everyone's favorite Twitter aficionado John Mayer made an observation that lead to an interesting exchange via the social networking site. Yesterday, the guitar giant tweeted, "Listening to the hits channel on Sirius. I will reserve criticism but say that every ninth year of a decade really brings the junk." He went on to point out that the charts in 1979, '89 and '99 are all relatively low-quality, and in the meantime, the "2" years ('82, '92 and 2002) all seem to produce greatness. Mayer uses the example of Warrant to throw 1989 under the bus, which is a brilliant strategy considering that their album Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich was not only gigantic but also represented the predominant trend of the era (that being hair metal). But is it a fair assessment of the decade? And how do those other years measure up?

Mayer is a little unfair to 1979, as the top singles from that year were a mix of disco tracks, one-hit wonders and the first big influences of punk and New Wave. Blondie's "Heart of Glass" bridged the gap between dance music and their brand of icy rock, while the Knack's "My Sharona" was a brief hit that ended up being far more influential than anybody could have imagined. Of course, hindsight is 20/20, so it's possible that in the present tense those songs were utterly unacceptable. But it ended up being okay. There were plenty of duds (Chic's "Good Times," Bee Gees' "Love You Inside Out"), but it was also the year that saw Michael Jackson's "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive" can't be all bad.

1989 was more questionable. The aforementioned Warrant was all over radio, as was Duran Duran, New Kids on the Block and Debbie Gibson. Using Mayer's theory, 1992 was far superior, featuring hits by Nirvana, U2, R.E.M., TLC, En Vogue and Dr. Dre. But perhaps to counter the greatness, there's a tremendous amount of junk as well: Remember that 1992 was the year that brought us Color Me Badd, some of the worst Madonna singles ("This Used to be My Playground") and the strange trend that was Jon Secada. Still, the good probably outweighs that bad in that instance.

The comparison between 1999 and 2002 is especially interesting because the hindsight is only just starting to form. On the surface, 1999 is way, way behind, because the top singles were tracks like Lou Bega's "Mambo No. 5," Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)" and Baz Luhrmann's "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)." Meanwhile, 2002 boasts instant classics in Nelly's "Hot in Herre," Eminem's "Lose Yourself," Ashanti's "Foolish" and Usher's "U Got It Bad" (with stuff like Snoop Dogg's "Beautiful," the White Stripes' "Fell in Love with a Girl" and Avril Lavigne's "Complicated" lurking just underneath). Plus, Mayer probably has a particular attachment to 2002 because his own "No Such Thing" and "Your Body is a Wonderland" became big hits as well.

But does that mean that 2009 is inferior? Obviously, we won't know until we have the 2012 charts as a comparison, but Mayer says, "Watch your back for the next Cobain in '12." While the big songs from this year don't seem particularly memorable (especially all that stuff from the Black Eyed Peas), it's impossible to tell what's going to have a life beyond the charts. Because pop history decides how good your song was via a combination of chart success and where it sits in the public consciousness (so it's entirely possible that people will remain attached to "Boom Boom Pow" well into the next decade). But Mayer's theory about the ninth year of decades being a little lightweight for hits seems to hold water. Well played, you wacky boat captain you.

I thought it was a pretty interesting observation myself when I was reading those Tweets in real time. Maybe that's why he's stalling on the release of Battle Studies this year!!! Hmmm ...

I wanna go!

Flint, Michigan to Host Rock Poster Exhibit This September

By

Liz Stinson

on July 27, 2009 11:18 AM

From the widely-celebrated psychedelic art that was birthed from the Fillmore in San Francisco to the hand-made posters plastered on the wall at your favorite local venue, the gig poster has always been intricately woven into the fibers of the rock and roll fabric.

John Shipman understands the appeal of vintage rock posters—the bright colors, the familiarity and, of course, the timeless music that served as their inspiration. But Shipman, who is the associate director of the University of Maryland's art gallery, readily admits that his real passion for posters lies in the new.

"Everyone knows the older posters from the '60s and '70s, but I don’t think people are aware that there has been a whole resurgence of gig posters," he says. "There are more of them now than ever before, and they’re actually better, if you want my opinion."

Shipman, who curated a contemporary rock poster exhibit last winter for the University of Maryland, is currently working on a similar exhibit for the Flint Institute of Arts in Flint, Mich. So far he's gathered an impressive roster for the show— the exhibit of contemporary posters will feature more than 30 artists and collectives, many of whom crank out some of the best rock and roll graphic designing of our time (Seripop, The Small Stakes, Zeloot, to only name a few).

The exhibit, appropriately titled, Graphic Beauty: Contemporary Rock and Roll Posters, will be shown in conjunction with an exhibition of vintage rock and roll posters pulled together by the Flint Institute of Arts. The 80-plus posters, taken from the Bill Graham collection, will include psychedelic art luminaries like Rick Griffin and Stanley Mouse, but also lesser-known works from New York and Boston that departed from the famous psychedelic look.

Check out a few images from the contemporary exhibit, which runs Sep. 26 to Nov. 8.

"Blitzen Trapper" by Zach Hobbs

"Raveonettes" by El Jefe Design

"Moe" by Hero Design

Scratch that--I'm going. It'd be a weekend getaway totally worth 12 hours of driving alone.
Plus, it'll be good practice for next summer. :)

Dear Fate,

I don't know if you're taking advantage of the fact that I believe things happen for a reason and, in turn, serendipitous signs that might appear to give me a nudge in the right direction. But you would be such a tease if I couldn't have Austin. I've seen too much Longhorn apparel and burnt orange way too far away from home for it to be coincidence. If it's not fair game at this point to call such instances reminders of what I hope to achieve, or even hints of what the future (hopefully) has in store for me, then it's just plain mean.

I trust you, but please don't get my hopes up just to let me crash and burn.

Love,
me.

Hanna the Hobo.

I said earlier that I'll soon be 'homeless' ... and somehow in the past few hours, I became homeless-er.

My roommate apparently has to be out of her house (where I was planning on living after moving out of here and until our move-in date) earlier now than what we discussed with our landlord, so I'm truly in purgatory right now. As if I needed my nose rubbed in the fact any more.

Don't know where I'll be staying and don't know where I'll put my stuff. That 'knapsack' aforementioned was a metaphorical one ... 'stuff' actually refers to my bed (and includes the frame, mattress and box spring), my furniture (a storage bench, desk with swivel-y chair, dresser, two night stands, a TV and its stand), and 20 or so boxes containing everything else I own. Even if my parents did put me up in a hotel--an idea they threw out there when I told them the house I'd be staying in between moves may or may not have cable and electric--there's still the issue of where to put the 'stuff.'

I really need some good news. Sooner rather than later is preferable. I need something to make me feel like all this logistical crap is worth suffering through.

Hey, you ... light at the end of the tunnel. Shine brighter, please.

'True art.'

John never ceases to amuse. Here's proof, posted himself on YouTube:

I was nice enough to teach Bob's kids a classic children's song that my father taught me.
He told me how thankful he was in private, so there's no reason to go into it here, but he knows he's welcome because I told him. Enjoy, and teach your children this song.

Might not make it to Battle Studies, but entertaining nonetheless.

He also quite possibly never ceases to drink. Margarita Pic #2 in two days is proof:

Wish my weekend were this fun! Still just packing and cleaning and stalling moving stuff out by just moving it around. Just four days till I'm homeless for two weeks THEN move in. Oy.

Forget 3x5's. I've got 16x20's!!!

Completed my project! And completely on my own no less, since I found out that you need permission straight from the photographer if you want a professional pic blown up at Kinko's! Makes sense, but what a hassle.

For a homemade job (and my first time using Photoshop), I'm pretty impressed with myself! They'll look even better over my bed once I'm in my new house. And they match the desired color scheme previously discussed perfectly ... especially since I also bought some new pillows and a lampshade, too, to tie everything together.

At least if I don't know where home is, I can surround myself with things that make me feel a little more comfortable until I figure it out.

I could use one of these right about now.

Well shyah, a half naked John would be nice. Hell, I'd even settle for a fully clothed one!

... But a margarita would be handy, too. I wonder if he even knows it's National Tequila Day, as I just learned from Conan on The Tonight Show! Just when I thought John couldn't be any more perfect, I read on Bob Maron's Twitter--Bob is John's manager and friend--that he's a beastly bartender.

John Mayer. If you weren't already, you are now officially my hero.

"So much sacred in the month of June" ... on the 22nd of '07, to be exact.

My last post reminded me of pictures I have on my phone from that same concert at the Superpages.com center way back when. It was my stepdad's phone at the time, and he had much better seats than I did ... I was on the lawn. They're not high quality, but they're better than nothing!

One (hyphenated) word: life-changing.

I'm hyped for the next go-around just thinking about that show!

If the journalism thing fails, I think I'll try interior design.

Thought I'd take some official pics from my first and only JM show so far and find a way to turn them into decor for my new room. Right now it's transforming them with relevant colors, and later it'll be a trip to Kinko's to blow them up to poster size! I bought a super cute pink and turquoise (such as in the far left and right images) paisley comforter the other day that I'm going to base the rest of my decorating on. That and--silly as it sounds--a cute headband to fill in the rest of the color palette ...

... and the cute comforter!

... is any of this working? I don't think it's a bad start!

"I wish I was Homeward Bound."

johncmayer In honor of my utter homesickness, I'm going to declare this 'East Coast, What's Good?' Weekend... What's good, Secaucus?

Good to know I'm not the only one, though my sentiments reach a little less east and a bit further south right now.

Ultimately I want to take my knapsack and my adult life to L.A., but not because it's where I was born (... though I can't help but think it's some sixth sense that draws me back.) It's an entertainment capital and music hub where there's obviously plenty to write about. But I know I'm not ready yet--emotionally or professionally.

In the meantime, my heart's set on Texas ... where I can find comfort in being near my family and a greater opportunity for professional growth through greater accessibility.

In the meantime, I'm just crossing my fingers.

You could win ......... !!!!!!!!!

Nooo, not John. Sadly. But the next best thing could only be the guitar he's signing in this very picture, don't you think? The news came from his official website late yesterday, and directs anyone interested in further bidding information HERE!

I'm happy to share because I'm determined to exercise the necessary self control to keep saving my money for the purpose I initially intended--ROAD TRIIIIIP. So I hope someone worthy (who can also, preferably, play the guitar) gets their hands on this gem!

John Mayer Joins Guy Sebastian In The Studio

by Paul Cashmere - November 1 2008
photo by Ros O'Gorman

The next album from Guy Sebastian will feature John Mayer on guitar.

Guy has announced the news to his fans in his forum at his official website, guysebastian.com.au.

“So I think this may be the best day of my life,” he posted. “I’m in LA at the moment recording and the band I have playing sounds crazy. I have John Mayer on guitar/background vocals and the rest of his band playing. The groove is amazing to sing to”.

It is still early days for the album but it may surface in the first half of 2009.

Guy returns to Australia this week for more shows with the Australia Army band. He also has his own shows scheduled for next year.

Dates are:

November 7, Melbourne, Hamer Hall
November 13, Castle Hill, Hills Centre
November 15, Hobart, Wrestpoint
November 22, Darwin, Entertainment Centre
November 29, Townsville, Civic Centre

March 27, Melbourne, The Palms
March 28, Melbourne, The Palms
April 3 Sydney, Theatre Royal

I know nothing about Guy Sebastian other than his name and that he was apparently the first winner of Australian Idol. I'm skeptical now, but I'll have to take a listen before I pass any more judgment. (After all, my second guiltiest pleasure is Kelly Clarkson, pre-her most recent album.)

P.S. - I am severely missing John's long hair lately.

Random thoughts before bedtime.

I'm subscribed to a Google alert for John Mayer and am appalled daily by www.examiner.com ... which seems like an at least semi-legitimate news source at first glance, until you read and realize that the reporters can't spell or use correct grammar for their lives. At the same time, it's a daily self-esteem booster that gives me hope for a future career in journalism.

And I was happy to hear that someone defended any contact John had with Jessica while she was with Tony as being completely harmless. I didn't believe the gossip when I heard it--plus, as much as I love love LOVE the Cowboys and Tony Romo, he is a bit of a crybaby--but I don't think John deserves the 'Mayer the Player' reputation that seems to unfairly precede AND follow him.

I was going to go on a Jessica and Jen and John tangent, but I changed my mind because it's pointless because I know nothing about it. And I think the press should stop acting like they know anything about anyone's personal relationships, too. All the media should take credit for is the damage they have done and are doing to people and their relationships by spying, prying, lying.

THE END.

In the black/dark.

Tomorrow's paycheck might put me at my guesstimated budget for the trip I have planned next year! To California and back to Texas for a handful of JM shows with the best tickets I can get my hands on to all of the above ... assuming there's an album sometime in our future.

Being the most impatient person I know is definitely taking its toll in almost all the facets of my life right now. I'm bored but anxious because I can't do anything but wait ... for Battle Studies, for an admissions decision, for the rest of my life.

Isn't it sad? I feel like I'm running out of time and opportunities, and I'm only 20. It's been a while since I've found myself in such a bout of pessimism, and Indiana's a terrible place to be when you need to be distracted ... which I do.

Guess moving will keep me busy at least until I start my new job, where I will earn the remaining (already promised) chunk of funding necessary for 2010 tour festivities! (Nice segue, no? John said himself, "It always comes around, back to me.") Just not looking forward to schlepping my life around and not knowing how long I'll be feeling nebulous.

Vague enough? Good.

Demi Lovato Couldn't Get 'Inspiration' John Mayer To Shut Up

Posted 17 hrs ago by MTV News in Music

Demi Lovato's new album Here We Go Again hits stores today, and it's a more rocking effort than her debut disc. Lovato talked a lot about the album with MTV News' Jocelyn Vena, but one of the things that she cited was her professional relationship with John Mayer. She had been a big fan for a long time, so it was something of a wish fulfilled when they collaborated on the new record's "World of Chances." She enjoyed the process but joked about how many tangents his hits in the studio.

MTV Shows

Mayer wasn't the only special guest to provide an assist on Lovato's latest. She also worked with singer-songwriter Jon McLaughlin ("Falling Over Me"), the Academy Is... frontman William Beckett ("For the Love of a Daughter," which didn't make the album) and some dude named Nick Jonas ("Stop the World").

One question: Did Mayer really send Lovato "a letter" when he heard about her fandom? Wouldn't he be more likely to Tweet?

You know Miley has to be wishing she were Demi right now. While Miley's spending half of her time in real life still playing a Disney character, simultaneously proclaiming wisdom beyond her years to justify trying to trap men about 15 years her senior, Demi looks to be growing up as normal as a girl her age could in the spotlight. Of all the teen stars right now (Taylor Swift, Miley, the Jonas Brothers), she (and her music) seems the most bearable by far.

She seems real, genuine, and determined to be accepted as an artist--not just a cute kid made famous by the magic of television. And so her collaboration with John definitely makes sense, since he was in that same boat 10 years ago.

AND I just read that she's from Dallas! Represent!

"Hannah Montana ruined my life."

It's what I say to people (semi-)jokingly about Miley Cyrus, since I can't for the life of me avoid that nickname ... even though I've never been to Montana, have no plans (or desire) to go to Montana, and 'Hanna Banana' is much cuter.

But today I get the last laugh, because she thinks she can bag (an almost twice her age) J-May.

Believe me, I could go on about the Disney star for far too long, but I feel like I needn't say more. I'll just keep chuckling to myself ... while hoping she eventually finds a lovely gentleman her own age to make her happy, of course. (I'm not totally heartless!)

Preface

Post #1 might be the beginning of this blog, but it's definitely not the beginning of my personal Mayer mania.

The sequence in brief of my coming around to John and his music would read something like,

1) Mom made me listen to "Your Body Is a Wonderland" when it showed up on a Grammys compilation way back when. I was maybe 12, and I thought the lyrics were gross.

2) Mom made me watch John play said song at the Grammys on TV. I thought, "Ooh, he is cute."

3) Mom bought Heavier Things, and constantly blasted it throughout the house and in the car. I loved it.

4) Mom bought Continuum, and I felt 'eh' about it.

5) I went to the Dallas show in 2007 and was completely inspired--even though I was really going initially because Ben Folds was the opener. Continuum became the soundtrack to my life that summer as I was leaving home for college and wrestling with relationships and my own emotions.

6) I unintentionally put John's music on the backburner as I faced the stresses of higher education, and stumbled upon it again this past Spring Break when I could finally remove myself from the daily grind. I discovered Where the Light Is, whose release had unfortunately slipped under my radar, took one listen to his cover of "Free Fallin'"--which created a magical, sentimental connection between the voices my childhood and adult life (Petty and Mayer, respectively)--and the rest is history.

Now, I'm currently on the Battle Studies bandwagon and have been since the beginning. I can't wait until the new album's released, because I feel like John has given his most dedicated fans enough access to the building process to call it partly their own--a kind of group project, so to speak. Then the 2010 tour dates will be announced and summer shenanigans will commence!

I'm just happy to support an artist whose voice is not only that of our generation, but one that sings so many of my own thoughts and feelings more eloquently than I could ever express myself. It's the least I can do for a musician and human whose music and lyrics have supported me through both the most gratifying and trying times.