mike campbell faxed me on friday, sorry thursday, with a response to
my fax. first i just want to say that my fax had nothing to do with
that pei thing and i take no credit for it. that was planned and done
and taped long before, well before anyway i sent my fax. his response
is long, so read at your leisure. he does make some good points.
some. but my overall take of the thing is that his attempted
validations for all my complaints are lacking. slacking. it just
doesn't cut it, but no matter how i put it to the guy, he just won't
get it. he's in the right, and i'm in the wrong. it's an ego thing.
so read and enjoy. i loved it......
to: john bartlett (jon!) from: campbell mucheast -the show that
sucks- subject: i can't believe i spent the time writing rock 001
hey john (jon!!),
thanks, i guess, for your recent fax concerning the pitiful state of
my show- mucheast. it's gratifying to know that there are those out
there who understand exactly how difficult it really is to produce a
one hour weekly television show by oneself.
before i start, and really where does one start, let me correct a
few of your loopier assertions: - i have been to fredericton twice (as
well as the tobique reserve near perth andover)
- i have been to p.e.i. twice - i have been to nfld. twice, in fact i
did two shows from there featuring a dozen bands. (i realize that by
introducing facts into this discussion i might not be replying to your
fax in kind)
now here is where the going is tougher- stay with me, here's some
math. i've done 45 shows generally they average 5 items per show.
that's 225 pieces. so if i understand correctly, you suppose i could
find 225 "new" bands if only i would- "get off of (my) birland stools,
sober up a little, and look for it"!!! sorry john (jon!!), you
suppose wrong. the reality of the situation is that as much talent as
there is in the
region there isn't THAT much that is ready yet. here i suspect is
where we will differ philosophically.
i do not believe that it is my job to beat the bushes all over
atlantic canada checking basements and garages for bands that haven't
even gotten it together enough to know that if they have an
independent release, the prudent - no OBVIOUS- thing to do would be to
contact me, send over the cd with a decent bio and some sort of gig
itinerary. that way i'll know they exist. it doesn't mean i'll do
womthing with them but it's a start! if the band doesn't have
anything recorded and play sporadically for their friends, i'm sorry
that doesn't constitute grounds for national television exposure.
musically of course one man's pleasure is another man's poison. i
guess if you're so confident that your taste is the only taste and
bands like "sandbox, sunfish and the big picture make awful music
anyway..." then you've a lot more gall than i do. i wouldn't for an
instant assume that only things i like are worth liking. obviously a
percentage of stuff on the show will be things i'm not particularly
into but then again i'm also responsible for placating the celtic
community, the fold communtiy, the mainstream, etc. etc. another
misconception you seem to have is that travel is free. it isn't and i
am sorry to say that my budget isn't what i'd like it to be but the
upshot is i'm not at liberty to jump in the "r.v." (pathfinder
actually) and toddle off for days flushing out talent. as for
birdland- what's your beef? they're the only club in the region that
books decent stuff. however, i have shot in the mcinnes room, the
grawood, the gorsebrook, lower deck, my father's moustache, the oasis,
vinnies etc. i'm sorry but one has to be based somewhere and like it
or not halifax it is. i like fredericton but waiting for someone to
play the dock every once in a blue moon does not a happening scene
make. anyway, john i appreciate that you took time to express your
concerns. if you want to contribute to the rehabilitation of the
hurtin' "crapeast" i suggest you round up some of this "amazing
talent" teach them how to use stamps, or a phone or fax machine and
enlighten me!
best regards, mike campbell mucheast
p.s. was that too harsh?
