Years ago, I had this idea of what it meant to be successful as a
musician. I now believe that success in this field may be matter of
perspective. The definitions of success are many.
TPeterson wrote: "To see almost totally untalented people make it big
is kind of hard to swallow sometimes, while super talents sometimes
don't....." I totally agree. For me, it's hard to swallow ALL of
the time.
A few nights ago, there was a show on tv profiling the success of a
certain rapper. It showed him throwing money around, hooking up all
his old homies from the hood. Just a lavish lifestyle for this guy
who, by his own admission, can't sing and plays no instrument. He
has achieved super-stardom and wealth. While watching them partying,
my sister, who was watching with me, said simply, "disgusting". I
didn't even know she was paying attention.
I can relate to everyones wanting to see Monte achieve all the things
we feel signify, "making it big". Over the years I've heard many
times, "he just needs that one big break". This is true and I've
said it myself. But a lot has happened in these last few years.
I've seen Monte play a few times. I saw him play for almost a year
before I knew he had a band or ever paid a cover. They were all solo
shows at restaurants and bars. Some nights there were less than 10
people in attendance. A few times he played for just me and the
staff. But he knew I was there and I was listening.
Sometimes the places were packed but no one was 'really' listening.
They were busy shooting pool, darts, drinking and having fun with
groups of friends. He was simply the background soundtrack to
whatever was going on in their lives at that moment. But I'd be
sitting there in front of him, watching, listening...in constant
awe.
He could have played anything and half-assed it. No one would've
known because they weren't really paying attention. But since I was,
he would play the R & J, Sultans, Tight Rope, Watchtower, Rescue Me,
Girl Like You, HYSD, The Fall, It's Alright, Tuned to Blue mixed
set. I loved his covers and knew all the words to all his songs. It
was a special time. One that had a major impact on me.
I have several friends that are musicians. One friend was the lead
guitarist of a local 80's rock band called Napoleans Machine Gun.
They were supposed to make it big. Their big moment came when they
opened for Legs Diamond in front of 20,000 people. Then, they were
gone. That friend, Denny, still plays around town doing the bar and
grill, solo/acoustic gigs. He's totally happy, makes his money and
goes home to his wife. Just to be able to still play is success to
him.
In contrast, Monte (Denny and Monte played alternate nights at a bar
here in town and Denny sat in with him a time or two.) has moved on.
I used to sit there and these lyrics by Billy Joel would come to mind:
It's a pretty good crowd for a Saturday
And the manager gives me a smile
'Cause he knows that it's me they've been comin' to see
To forget about life for a while
And the "guitar", it sounds like a carnival
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, "Man, what are you doin' here?"
Just a few years later I'm arriving at the Shiner Bocktober fest and
I can here 'Bringing me down' clearly from about a quarter mile
away. That was awesome!
Just a few years later I'm pulling up to Antones at 1045pm and its
standing room only inside but there's a crowd lined up around the
corner and down the block to pay $15 to get in to hear him.
Just a few years later he has 3 nationally released cd's, an online
fanclub of 629 hardcore members that are spreading the word to anyone
with a heartbeat, a nationally shown segment on Austin City Limits,
two full page ads in Guitar World and Guitar World Acoustic for his
Alvarez guitar endorsement deal, a poster released featuring his
endorsement of Alvarez guitars and Crate amps.
Just a few years later he has the touring schedule of a true road
warrior playing hundreds of shows a year for the last several years,
he's opened in his homebase cities premier venue, he has his photo,
full page in some cases, and story posted in newspapers in many of
the cities he plays in.
Just a few years later there is buzz about him getting a spot on the
Conan O'brian show, he's working with the same booking
agent "celebrated for launching the early touring careers for artists
such as Vertical Horizon, Dave Matthews, Phish, Widesperead Panic,
and more" as stated in a press release for Montes show during SXSW.
Just a few years later he's won consecutive Austin awards for Best
acoustic guitarist and best musician. He makes a living doing what
he loves to do, doing what he feels he was put here to do. Not many
people are able to make a living doing what they love to do. In
doing so, he also has the ability to affect many lives with his music.
He has a lovely wife and two wonderful daughters...and with the
original band all back, he still has two of the best musicians in
Texas backing him up.
I have been touched by his music as have all of you. I know we all
want the very best for him. If he said right now, "I am happy and
successful." Then I would understand and easily agree. No one can
define success for Monte but Monte. If for him it's the big label,
the world tour, the videos, the Pepsi commercials etc etc etc then
that's what I want for him too...maybe one of us will be one of his
old homies from the hood that he's throwing money down to in his
episode of Dear Diary on MTV. I'm just kidding.
Keep it real,
Daryl
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