On Twitter and Musicians - by Mike Brooks

Sunday morning, coffee(s) in hand and here's the thing...

How does one work this Twitter thing?  I am way outside the age demographic chronologically, and relatively new to the medium. I have found amazing resources and bands, no shortage of assholes and a bunch of acronyms I don't understand.

The ability to interact with an artist is great!  However, I can't help feeling slighted when I see a tweet from a person I follow answering a question I have asked previously without a response.

I'm not talking about Gaga or Beiber not responding to my "go away" requests. I don't follow people with millions of followers, which is sad because those I follow IMO deserve them.

It is such a rush when an old man like me, that had lost all faith in music, gets a "thanks" from @hayescarll, or when @jasonisbell and I share a Clarence Carter reference.  My highlight this year was @bonniewhitmore telling me I should come to her birthday show!

Chad Sullins, Blackberry Smoke, C-leb and the Kettle Black...Wow...way to make an guy feel like he is part of it.  @USaquarium, I would never have found out about the band were it not for Twitter.

Of course, my iTunes account has not been the same since @twangnation!!

Keep us fans in mind, you artists and bands.  After all, we think you are looking directly at us individually at the Shows, and in my case, you have read my diary before you wrote the songs.

I'm building you fans in Canada..hoping to drag you here...hey...maybe we can hangout!?

@1960Strat

YouTube Junk: SEC Bound

College football gets cranked up for another season tonight and these boys from Mizzou thought it'd be a good idea to do a song about their team's inaugural season playing with the big boys in the SEC. Possibly, the SEC should rethink this whole expansion thing.

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John Rich's Songwriting Tips #62

Sometimes if you need a little inspiration to write a rockin' new country song and you're just too drunk to put any thoughts in order, look outside of yourself. Watch a movie. I find a good porno takes the edge off to get me in the mood for making a masterpiece. You can also find lines and ideas on the mental level of the typical country listener in the script of a skin flick. Listen to music. I put on some Nickelback or Creed or Godsmack or Skid Row and do a little headbanging. That knocks a little dust off the old melon and gets my creative juices flowing. Also, these artists have songs that you can just insert the word "truck" into and turn down the guitars a tad and have yourself a top 10 in no time! Read books. Ha ha ha. That one was a joke. Only goobersmooches read books. Maybe flip through a Hustler while you're pinching a loaf and you might find some ideas for a romantic Luke Bryan hit. Now, what the f**k are you waiting on? I just let you peek behind the curtain and see how I stack them Benjies. Get to work, buttwads. 

*Not actually written by John Rich.

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