by Pam Baumgardner
VenturaRocks.com
As incredible as it may be, Ventura’s music scene is keeping its preverbal blood flowing. I’ve been watching so many live streaming events, where you can purchase to view and some where you can make a donation to the “tip” jar. Our artists and musicians are doing what they can to keep our scene alive. For this column, I reached out to a number of musicians and asked how they’ve been dealing with the Stay Home order.
Shawn Jones Singer/Songwriter
How is the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?
Shawn: Well, for the next half of the year all my work is gone. Everybody is in lockdown mode and all of the clubs all over the world are closed as well as outdoor events so there you have it. I had four international trips booked in Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, Costa Rica, Ireland, Hawaii, Seattle, and local gigs that are all gone. It’s impacting me pretty severely.
Is there an upside to this?
Shawn: There is an upside to it in regard to things slowing down, having a chance to reflect, a little bit of writing here and there, inventing new ways to create and to share your music, getting things done around the house, etc.
But the downtime is also filled with chasing down new ways to make money in the music industry and looking into COVID-19 bills that have passed and grants that are possibly available for musicians and freelance gig economy people. Before we were never counted in and now, we are because of this horrible pandemic we are finally being recognized as a working class of people that have rights as well.
You have a new record ready to release, right?
Shawn: Well I was supposed to be doing a release in Liechtenstein for the new vinyl that we did that included Sam Bolle on bass and Gerry Morgan from Ireland on drums. It’s a live album from our studio live session at Little Big Beach Studios in Liechtenstein. That will have to come out in the fall at this point if everything goes well.
Additional thoughts you’d like to add?
Shawn: My heart goes out to all of those that are suffering right now so that’s kind of more the important thing on my mind and being responsible in my actions and staying self-quarantined.
I am also doing a lot of writing and trying to cut it close to the heart as possible and get to some very thought-provoking topics and issues for the next project which will come out when I am ready and since I am independent it’s when I’m ready instead of when the record company tells me I need to release it, so all I can say is it will be sooner than later!
(Shawn Jones is the king of social media, you find him on most all platforms including his official website, ShawnJonesMusic.com)
Kelly Zirbes, singer/songwriter of Kelly’s Lot
Are you and Perry (Kelly’s Husband and Guitarist for Kelly’s Lot) still working a day job?
Kelly: Perry is still working. He is finishing up a post-production sound on the new Ghostbusters movie. He can do that from home and meets with the team on Zoom for updates.
How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?
Kelly: We have switched gears and started planning, arranging and writing a new record featuring songs from the Facebook Word Challenge that I have been doing for a couple years. Fans give me a word and I write a song in 2 hours. I miss playing with my band but a new CD is nothing to complain about. I am blessed.
Do you find an upside to this?
Kelly: No, not with all the fear, sadness and suffering. I don’t mean to be negative, but live music helps so many and creates a community that is missing right now.
What are you doing to fill the time?
Kelly: Just writing more songs and checking in with people. We feel blessed that Perry is still working so we have reached out to those who are not working now and have helped in different ways. We all need to look to the left or look to the right and see who beside us who is hurting and do something to help.
Add anything else you’d like to share.
Kelly: If you’d like to help a local musician, just think about who you loved going out to see in your local pubs and reach out to them. Maybe they are doing an online concert or selling CDs on their websites. Maybe they need to hear from their fans, maybe they need financial help. If you are working and okay, maybe help someone who is not. I’m sure they would really appreciate it!
(Kelly’s Lot can be found on most social media platforms as well as their official website at KellysLot.com)
Dan Grimm, Singer/Songwriter & owner Carbonite Sound
Are you still working your day job?
Dan: Hell yeah I am, and I’m surprised! When I took the job at Lynda.com to start the tech support team for online learning, I didn’t think I would be there long –– I thought I would sign a new artist contract and be writing for an artist or touring within the year. Amazingly, 14 years later, my love for the technological evolution of human learning has never been stronger. I’m having some Deja vu these days because when the economic bubble burst in 08′, Lynda.com skyrocketed with people needing to learn new skills to survive. Linkedin acquiring Lynda.com was unexpectedly awesome, and I am proud of how many people’s lives we have helped improve with the massive platform for learning.
But sadly, the music industry as a trade has been demolished over that same time frame. Streaming services have become disastrous, live venues pay 1/10th the money they used to, and while people still value music so greatly –– there isn’t the same class of fair pay for work you see in trades like plumbing, electricians, and carpentry. I’m actively working to try to change that using every platform at my disposal, and I think every musician and industry person should be too.
How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?
Dan: I miss my band and playing in front of a live audience so much. At the same time, it’s good for me because I have to focus on writing and getting solo demos for license instead of taking gigs. On the bright side, there is still a growing need for music behind all that streaming content most folks are binge watching. Plus, if you can’t find material to write about in these interesting times, you shouldn’t ever complain that Bob Dylan, Crosby Stills and Nash, Neil Young, or anyone in the 60’s had more things to address in their music. I’m hopeful songwriters are taking advantage of a powerful moment in history to channel powerful concepts into song.
Tell me how this all is affecting the studio.
Dan: It’s a mixed bag, the part of our revenue at Carbonite Sound (formerly Brotheryn) that comes from recording live bands is paused, fortunately, we have been so busy over the last 6 months with TV, movies, bands, and various sound projects that there is a lot of mixing, mastering, and cleanup work that can be done in isolation. This could go on for longer than we can guess, and we think it’s time we look at ways we can pivot with the post pandemic shifts that may occur. On that note, we think we have a few good ideas in the works and I’m really excited to see what we can do to improve the things we offer artists, industry, and audience.
(Find out more about Dan Grimm on his Facebook page and Carbonite Sound (clientele includes Kenny Loggins, Joe Bonamassa, Izzy Stradlin, Farrelly Brothers and more at CarboniteSound.com)
Karen Parkhouse, Singer/Songwriter of The Barrelhouse Wailers
Do you work a day job?
Karen: I don’t work a day job, but I volunteer teach choir at Balboa middle school, so that’s obviously not happening at the moment. My husband is still employed and works from home.
How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?
Karen: Covid has affected us by performances being cancelled through June resulting in income loss for the band. Also, band cannot rehearse with remote communication only. We are working on some new stuff though, and setting up recording stations at each of our houses.
Is there an upside?
Karen: The upside is learning to slow down; unfortunately, so many musicians rely on gig income, so it’s rough for some. Upside is also taking time to work on writing. I’ve set myself a daily music challenge to be creative and practice/ produce something every day and to document this time in life.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Karen: It’s tough for performers to not perform. It’s like our outlet has been taken away. Thankfully we live in a period that we can still express ourselves and reach an audience through social media where even tips can be sent remotely. The energy level has gone down, but support for each other has skyrocketed.
(The Barrelhouse Wailers have two CDs to date; look them up on Facebook and YouTube and on their official website TheBarrelhouseWailers.com)
Jeff Donovan, Guitarist from The Guitar and Whiskey Club
Do you work a day job? If so, are you still working?
Jeff: I used to spend my days working Monday through Friday from home, so now I spend 24 hours a day at home (except for the occasional store run). My heart goes out to the many people not in a good situation right now.
How’s the Covid-19 Stay Home order affecting you as a working musician?
Jeff: I am trapped at home with the singer of my band as a roommate – how fortunate is that? On the other hand, the rest of the band members are not able to be with us right now, so we have had to develop new material – and do live streaming as the Guitar & Whiskey Club “Lite” in place of shows with the full band.
Is there any upside to it?
Jeff: Yes, there is extra time to create music, but on the downside, I have to spend some of that time sanitizing my groceries and mail, and just about everything else in sight!
(Get the low down on the hard rockers at GuitarAndWhiskeyClub.com and most social media platforms)
Robert Ramirez from Medicine Hat
I know you injured yourself and have been rehabilitating but how has this Stay Home Order been affecting you?
Robert: COVID19 and its impact on myself and Medicine Hat has been quite a journey. This has all happened while simultaneously recovering from broken clavicle surgery. With a brand-new album, corresponding release parties and a trip to play SXSW all being cancelled, we pretty much watched all the hard work and planning slip away, like a carpet being pulled out from under us.
As is for many artists, the Stay Home order has caused us to rethink how we share our music. We’d like to do some live streaming as soon as I’m able. In the meantime, we’re coming up with different ways to get the new songs out there. Medicine Hat plans to post a song a day from the new album, on our Facebook page. We’ll include lyrics, photos and interesting notes pertaining to each track, kind of a virtual Story Tellers. We’re trying to take advantage of this time to work on promoting, submitting the record for reviews and maybe start writing the next one!
(Medicine Hat’s new release Fences is available at www.MedicineHat.net and all streaming platforms.)
Next issue I’ll be checking in with more musicians including Guy Martin, Tommy Marsh and Jon Gindick.