DRIVE

[Gary Peters]

I've just released an album of easygoing driving music called DRIVE. Here's a nice country groove with me playing steel and Tele just like a good 'ole country picker.

https://garypeters.bandcamp.com/track/wagons-roll

[Bill Fisher]

I really like this. Superb.

Bill

[Dan Kelly]

So Gary, if I am reading this correctly, you only have 65 full album releases in your discography... right?

[Gary Peters]

Undeniable.

I have numerous albums in the Bandcamp holding bay, so if you fancy another one I'll release it now just for you.

Steel playing's a full-time job, right? Maybe I should go part-time. But then what would I do with the rest of my time? Masturbate? Same thing really.

[Dan Kelly]

Well Gary, I really never thought of it in those terms before.

My first album took a good amount of time and practice. My second is in progress but going slowly. So, I am humbled by your achievements, for sure!

One thing that became very evident to me is that it is one thang to produce an album (full time job, as you say). It is another full time job to promote it. An indie artist is at a huge disadvantage compared to someone who has a contract and a record label doing the promotion. The labels own Spotify and others and are not interested in giving indies play time.

Steel Cut Country - Dan Kelly

Spotify: https://tinyurl.com/KellySteelCut

Apple: https://music.apple.com/us/album/steel- ... 1638417001

Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0B81GS ... dcmpgns-20

Pandora: https://tinyurl.com/Steel-Cut

[Gary Peters]

Hi Dan

You're right: I'm often ecstatic (OK, a bit of an exaggeration) when I've finished a hard day's work at the steel, announce (again) to my long-suffering wife that I'm a genius, have a well-deserved glass of Bobal (I'm in Valencia as we speak) and then descend into a deep trough of despondency at my complete and utter anonimity. Then I go to bed, get up and the cycle begins again. Apart from my two releases for Scissor Tail records (who actually contacted me through Bandcamp!!!) the rest is jiust a vanity project. I sometimes muster the energy to contact a few indie labels but so far so pointless. Lots of people listen to what I do though, so that's all that counts I suppose. But I deserve better (Ha!)

I will click on your links now.

Cheers

G

[Dan Kelly]

The same here; I keep telling my wife that I am a genius (and that I have secret Kung-Fu Powers) but a distained glance, a roll of the eyes and a reminder that my credibility has all the integrity of a block of Swiss cheese is about all I get.

I live in the Boston area and found out long a go that nobody even knows how to spell "Traditional Country Music" around here. People just don't know what it is. A pedal steel guitar? HA! "For-gaad-a-boud-it." There is just no place to play out. So recording gives me the motivation to continue to improve. I mean I love to play and learn, but I do much better when I have a good reason.

I know a professor at Berklee and they have a "Music Business" tract. He said it is almost impossible to teach because things change dramatically during even the term of the semester. His solution is to get a good booking agent, pay him well and spend 250 nights a year on the road. Build a a fan base that you can milk for the the next 20 years and sell them CDs.

Today, an indie musician has to produce produce music (and all that it entails)and cover all the bases of social media, the streamers, getting on play lists, doing YouTube videos, finding and incentivizing "Influencers" et cetera, et cetera, et cetera! And, at the end of the day, most of that activity will generate meagre results, at best.

And all for .003 to .005 cents per stream!

And then there is the negative side of things!

[Gary Peters]

Amen to all of that...you should try living in South Somerset, UK!!!

Very much enjoyed your album...nice playing and production, keep at it.

G

[Dan Kelly]

Thank You, Gary!

[Gary Peters]

For the record, I have 45 albums up on all the available streams. In the three years since I started this effort I have made 67 Dollars, 48 cents. Not bad eh?

G