I pay to see big concerts and shows...of course.

The thing with me is I really don't like going to local clubs and bars. I played my first club date 30 years ago, so when I have a night off I hate going back to the "office". Dig? I really don't dig the bar scene.

When I do go to support some local band I don't mind paying, but what usually happens is when I tell them I'm coming down they almost always put me on the list. I do make up for it buy buying booze.

"Supporting live music?"

HA! Get this...

Last year I went out of my way to go see the local "heavy" big band, lead by the local "heavy" trumpet player. So just before the hit I get a call asking if I had my mutes, because the "heavy" forgot his. So I loan them to the cat, who doesn't have the freaking decency to say thank you...not one word. And then at the bar hang after didn't have the decency to shake my hand, say hello, thank me for attending the lame concert (sure was glad to hear Nestico's Satin Doll again), or to say good night as he made it a point to thank every other cat individually for attending...blew right past me. The other cats saw the snub and were totally baffled by it, and commented on it after he left. He was WAY out of line, looked like a real jerk.

But hey, I understand his attitude, thats the way you're supposed to act when you TOTALLY CAVE ON THE CONCERT! Get this, to make it worse, he let out huge audible moans every time his chops folded! He would throw his head back, throw his arms up and yell, "whoooooa", right after each chop failure, you could hear his moans over the band. Its "look at me", even when he's caving.

That kind of "heavy jazzer" attitude and arrogance is another reason I don't rush out to support live music with my hard earned jack. Jazz musicians can blame themselves for the demise of their "art". Funny thing is that almost every cat in town thinks the guy is a jerk, but they put up with it in the hopes of getting a crumb thrown their way. No thanks. Guy tried to get me to sub for him on a 4 HOUR, hard blowing casual a couple years ago that paid a whopping $140. HAHAHA Please. I took a Latin Jazz gig instead, 2 hours for 2 bills. Thats more like it. Anyway...

As you can tell, I'm still disgusted by my last venture out to support the local "jazz" scene...it sucked. Don't get me wrong, I had many friends in that band, and they are terrific players, its not about them, its about the front guy, the lame music selection, and his hooorible attude. Since when did it become cool for jazz "arteestes" to snub their audiences? And they wonder why people don't attend their concerts. I'd rather stay home and watch a Senate hearing than endure that idiocy again.

Ray