da solo

In her reply to the Down Beat, chansi wrote:

"How about our solos? What is everyone doing? I'm considering doing a poem to the drums. I'm going to try to use it as an opportunity to express the internal to the audience. I'm hesitant because I don't want to A.) piss anyone off B.) have to edit my thoughts to please, C.) Be misunderstood."

Mechanics who hesitate are lost! Don't hold back, because A.) who cares if you piss anyone off, and they might need pissing off B.)you don't have to "please" anybody but yourself as creator, because C.) those who dig, will.

If we as musicians truly want to express the internal to the audience, we can't be limited by their external demands and expectations. Art (in the biggest sense) can certainly please, and be entertaining, and have wide appeal, and register with the masses. But if these are one's artistic goals, then one's art runs the risk of being safe. Music as art can't ever play it safe. Therefore, the musicians can't play it safe. Sometimes the audience needs to be challenged because they have grown dull and complacent, and sometimes the audience wants to be challenged, because they are tired with the safe and seek the real.

Make your expression, Mechanics, and don't hold back. Take a risk, do your thing, make it real and real fun, and all else be damned. Let the drummer drum!