'Beat Farmers' A mix tape by Doug Edsel

I was a little rude last night as I stood drinking at a local watering hole’s bar. I was grabbing the last drinks of the evening with my friend Christine and trying to have a conversation. We were basically yelling at each other because the cover band playing across the room were incredibly loud and they weren’t all that polished.

I tried to start up the chant… “Short break!… Short break!… Short break!” But it didn’t catch on. All I got was few laughs from others that could have possibly felt the same way… OR they were just enjoying the antics of the guy drinking Red Oaks with the occasional shot of Jim Beam. Feel free to draw your own conclusion.

If you didn’t realize it… And I’ve pointed it out too… I’m a music snob. With that being said, I generally don’t care for cover bands.

When I lay down my hard-earned legal tender, I want to hear an artist tell me something about themselves. I’m there to listen and have a good time. I don’t want to hear the same songs that I can easily listen to at home by popping in a CD or turning on the radio. I want a piece of you and your story.

That’s why many people make music in the first place… They want to express themselves.

Now don’t get me wrong… I like a good cover tune like everyone else. And I’m not saying that I dislike all cover bands because I’ve been in some bars when Walrus plays.

Walrus and his band tend to put on a show… Songs that seemingly have no connection are brought together by them. The path may start with a Stone Temple Pilots song with KC & The Sunshine Band and Mickey Gilley tossed in before ending with a Skynyrd tune. It can be very fluid and spontaneous. And half the fun of seeing a Walrus show is figuring out what songs are mixed in. You get your brain worked out, that’s for sure.

These guys last night needed some more work before heading out to play in front of folks. The drummer kept time with the precision of a plastic toy watch. The bass player kept turning up his amplifier and that got to be annoying, but not as annoying as his other habit… Kissing his girlfriend while playing along with the band.

That my friends, is a no-no. Nothing makes you look more stupid and desperate for attention than tongue-flogging your girlfriend while playing Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock n’ Roll”.

And that’s another thing… Do you have songs that you could go the rest of your life without ever hearing again?

That Bob Seger tune is one of mine… Along with KISS’ “Rock And Roll All Nite”. And the rub with KISS… They’re my all-time favorite band and I know they’re going to perform it every time I see them. They just won’t tire of it! I just have to stand there and roll my eyes until the song is over.

Sorry… Back to the cover band… I had no idea who they were because I never heard them mention their name. So now I won’t be able to steer clear of them in the future.

Hmmmm… Steer Clear would be a great name for them!

And it has been awhile since I last wrote this statement… The title of each blog is the musical choice of the day. Today’s choice is a Beat Farmers mix tape compiled by a man named Doug Edsel. His mix tapes (of the various artist variety) inspired me to try to create the same types of masterpieces. He was or is a genius… I have no idea where he’s at or doing now.

I was given this mix without a case or song list and it seems that the tape was a recycled prerecorded cassette. It adds so much more charm and that’s why I posted a picture of it. It’s strangely beautiful like Sandra Bernhardt.