The Automatik

House of Blues
September 19, 2003

I’m looking for a song to sing
I’m looking for a friend to borrow
I’m looking for my radio
So I might find a heart to follow
-Hanson, “A Song to Sing”
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Let’s talk about a little-discussed genre of music, the “I’m on tour now but I’ll be home soon” genre, or what I like to call “Tour Trauma.” (If it is discussed somewhere, please point me in that direction.) You know the kind of song I’m talking about. Kiss’s “Beth” is sort of like that, although it’s more about band practice and not touring, but you get the idea. A good example, and a maudlin one, is Journey’s “Faithfully,” where Steve Perry sadly laments that “the road ain’t no place to start a family.” Bon Jovi’s paean to manifest rock destiny, “Wanted: Dead or Alive,” really stretched the boundaries and elevated the rock star to the same level as Billy the Kid.

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I’ve been railing against the RIAA for a long time now, and I’m tired of it. Something has got to give. The latest article I have read is perhaps the worst offender of all.
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