Pribek

So, Bruce Springsteen has a new record out, is playing the Super Bowl, did the inauguration; he’s in the press a lot these days. He also did the exclusive distribution deal with Wal-Mart on the greatest hits package.

Wal-Mart is the last remaining, physical retailer of any consequence. If an act can land the Wal-Mart deal, it guarantees up-front money, units sold and exposure. Wal-Mart only does business with sure things; The Eagles, AC/DC, Bruce Springsteen.

However, with Springsteen, who has cultivated the image that the music stands on principles, some fans took offense to the Wal-Mart deal. Many cited the fact that the retailer has always been a non-union shop.

Bruce touched on this briefly in a lengthy NY Times piece.

But Mr. Springsteen said the decision was made too hastily. “We were in the middle of doing a lot of things, it kind of came down and, really, we didn’t vet it the way we usually do,” he said. “We just dropped the ball on it.” Instead of offering the exclusive collection to Wal-Mart, “given its labor history, it was something that if we’d thought about it a little longer, we’d have done something different.” He added, “It was a mistake. Our batting average is usually very good, but we missed that one. Fans will call you on that stuff, as it should be.”

How much of a “vetting” process do you need to do on Wal-Mart? Are any of you that are reading this unaware of the fact that Wal-Mart isn’t a union outfit? Is everybody in Springsteen’s organization that far out of touch? Seems unlikely. Seems disingenuous.

Bruce sings for everyman. That’s the shtick right?

Wal-Mart is everyman. The overwhelming majority of Americans are Wal-Mart shoppers and/or employees. It’s not like we’re all ping zippy happy about it. The deal is, you shop at Wal-Mart because it’s cheap and you work at Wal-Mart because they are hiring.

But Bruce is acting like a politician down to using the same language and excuses.

C’mon Bruce! You did it for the money, right? Because Wal-Mart is the one that still throws some cash out there, right? That’s something everyman can understand. You go to Wal-Mart for the same reason we do; the money

Singer/guitarist Roy Decker called me a few weeks back to play some gigs at the Double E Steakhouse in Highlandville. The steakhouse is a new place; good food and friendly folks. Last week was the first time I played there. As I pulled into the parking lot, the first thing I saw was a large Brahma bull. The second thing I noticed was that there was a saddle on the bull and a guy riding it. Not something you see every day.

Anyway, we have been doing cover tunes; a lot of line dance country stuff. Roy is a real good singer and plays tight rhythm guitar so, it’s been a fun, low pressure kind of thing so far. I’ve been playing a bunch of solos and singing some harmonies here and there, kind of laying back and letting the groove happen. These guys know a bunch of songs so, I haven’t been singing a whole lot.

Last Friday night, Roy asked; “Jack you want to sing something”. The trick in these situations is to come up with a song that everybody knows the changes to. So, I called off “Hey Joe”. Instead of doing a Hendrix kind of thing, I played some Roy Buchanan type stuff on it. Got the Tele squalling really nice and played above the fretboard, did the Buch’ pull off chromatic thing and some volume swells. I really didn’t plan to do it that way it just kind of fit the moment; totally off the cuff. I had a couple of extended solos in there and it got a really good response.

Last night, in the second set, a couple of the guys are saying; “Do that “Hey Joe” thing again”. One problem with doing something spontaneous is; if it works, they want you to do it again and you can’t duplicate what you did the first time. I know people that are great cooks that don’t use recipes and they can never make the same dish twice. It’s kind of like that.

So, we played the song again and I tried to invoke the vibe that I had the first time. I don’t think it was as good but, it still went over really well. Now I know that every time I go up there, I got to play “Hey Joe”. So, now I will have to think it out some and come up with an actual “version” of it. Some things will have to be in the same place each time, as a point of reference. The reason is, you never have the same conditions as you do the first time; you will never have the same inspiration. You don’t want to be like a junkie chasing that first blast. You come up with an arrangement, something that works every time. You make it “shtick”, an act. But, you try to make it good “shtick” and leave some room to blow if you do have the spark. All the while, I realize that the Roy Buchanan licks were part of what made it work but, I don’t want to just cop Roy’s “shtick”. There has to be the right balance of some of that and some of my own invention to really make it something nice in the long run.

By the way, if you were going to steal licks from someone, Roy Buchanan would be a good one to cop. He has more licks than a cat, as they say.

I will be back up in Highlandville tonight so, if you are in the area come by and see us. Or, if you want to see something truly remarkable, come to check out the bull.

Also, Roy Decker’s (not Buchanan) wife, Anna Lisovski is a very talented mural artist. Check out her site if you want to do some unique re-decorating or, just want to see some nice artwork.