Chain Me Free

In 2001 I was unemployed.  I left my last job and was depressed.  I got into the music business because I was such a fan of music and had no musical talent.  I was just really good at listening and liked to share music with people.  A&R was my way of doing just that as a job, but beyond a mixtape turning friends into bands already out, I could now “discover” artists that hadn’t broken through and I could work with to take it beyond a mixtape… take it to the world.

But after 10 years of living my dream job, it started to make hate music… so after my last job, I walked away when my contract was over.  I thought it was over.  At that time in Los Angeles, there was a need for teachers and there was an opportunity to take a test and by passing it, you would be granted an emergency teacher credential… I loved teaching, so dove into that… it had been over 10 years since I had been in school or thought of any of the things that would appear on a test for teaching.  I ended up enrolling in a class that was given on weekends at California State College.  It was a 6 week class and I’d drive over every Saturday to dive into my next career.  I would drive in silence.  I used to drive listening to music.  But at this point, nothing sounded good.  Silence was magic.  At the end of the course, I took the exam and passed.  I got my credential and signed up for substitute opportunities… I would call in ever morning at 7am

And see if there was a place for me.  Some weeks I’d work 5 days, some weeks maybe once.  The service I worked with only did private schools and I was available for Kindergarten through 12th grade.  The service also took a chunk of the pay out, so a full week paycheck was not a very livable wage. Especially coming from the music industry.  I was lucky that over the years I was doing well, I never lived beyond my means and put away money for situations just like this.  The saved money helped cover what the job was shorting me on financial responsibility. 

Substituting taught me a lot.  I learned about kids and milestones, I learned about how easy it is to lose a kids attention when teaching something they didn’t care about… I also learned that it’s so easy for teachers to have burn out.  But, I also learned that at the end of the day, you could have made a difference in someone’s life.  Parents would thank you for something you said or did that their child told them about.  A feeling I hardly ever felt from being in the music business.  If something did well, the person responsible was the last to get the credit.  A “thank you” wasn’t going to happen, so you learn never to expect it.  So when I’d get one, I had no idea what to do with it.

Being in private schools, I would see people I worked with dropping their kids off and would have to hide to avoid the “what are you doing here” an the look of “poor guy” that you know was going to come if face to face.   Kids of famous people, who are now big executives, actors, musicians.  Great kids when I had them in a class and I can only hope they still are.
It was a rewarding gig and I loved it.  Again, It wasn’t making ends meet, which really increased my admiration of teachers and all educators.  What was a bonus is that I would drive to my assignment and started listening to music again.  I was enjoying it like I used to. Would make a mix cd and just be back to what I loved.  This was a huge breakthrough as everything I had listened to up to that sounded like white noise.  I couldn’t tell if anything was good anymore.

The other thing that happened over that time was I wanted to go see shows again.  That had been something I did on the regular since I was 13 in NYC, but lost the desire. But much like not wanting to run into the parents of the kids at school drop off, I didn’t want to go to shows and run into friends that were still at it.  I didn’t want to have to answer “what are you doing”… which is the 1st question asked in LA.  Status is everything.

So I decided to go to where I would t run into people.  One of those places was leaving LA, getting on the 5 to the 91 and exiting on Lincoln Ave, making a right and a left on Lincoln and pull into the strip mall parking lot.  Chain Reaction.

I first heard of Chain Reaction from a young assistant for an agent, who was one of the biggest go getters I had met.  I have always been just as interested by the next agent, A&R person, manager, label in the making as I have about the next band.  I befriended her and couldn’t have been happier to go to shows with no job, no reason other than seeing music with people that were just working their hustle to get a move forward.  Today, Corrie Christopher is everything I knew she’d be and more.

Going to Chain Reaction was the same as teaching.  A room full of innocent, happy people in a community away from parents and living and creating an identity for themselves. That was the bands as much as the audience.

I was used to going to see bands that had a manager, a lawyer or some kind of buzz.  A full room of industry people looking around the room reading reactions to see how they should be reacting.  The more industry people in the room, the higher the deal… 2 songs on a demo tape and 45 minutes of forgettable songs.  Not Chain Reaction.  Chain Reaction was the physical version of MySpace.  Where people could meet in person and share common interests and experience things together beyond a computer.

Chain Reaction was a packed room from doors to the ending.  No alcohol, just a candy stand, walls lined with t-shirts of bands that played there, $10 tickets (or less) for a night of fun and community.  And a room full of kids singing every word of every song… bands whose names you never heard, but they sure as hell did and were committed to this new scene. Well, new to me.
This was 2001.  In September of that year, the world would change.  Innocence would be lost and a refuge for escapism would become the Emo Scene… there were no major label Industry people within 5 miles of it and it was beautiful.

When going to this venue, I got to meet some people who I still am friends with today.  First, Jon Halperin (who just texted me today and I love and we were born on the same day, same year).  Booking shows, working the box office and the best host you would ever meet. Genuine music lover and kind. Kevin Knight aka theScout.net, working the door, cleaning up after shows, another true music lover who was hungry to take the next step,  Chad Pearson co owner of indie label The Militia Group.  Fresh off a stint of working at Tooth and Nail Records and taking it all on to start from scratch.  All people I would get to know and remain close with some even today.

Jon was doing just fine.. putting on shows, hoping to be a stepping stone for so many of these amazing bands coming through. He made Chain Reaction the venue that would welcome and host bands that weren’t big enough for LA and guaranteed a place for kids to go.  A always loved the email address for Chain Reaction was www.allages.com … you couldn’t describe the club any better.  Bands loved playing there, it was a built in audience.  People came for the community and for the scene. You couldn’t buy what was happening there.  

Kevin started his website www.the scout.net and would make mix cds and try to get them to industry people.  I took notice of him and he was the portal to the scene of anyone who would pay attention, Hands down. Nobody was paying attention at the time, trust me.

Going to see bands and meeting Chad, I started listening to the recordings The Militia Group was putting out.  Noise Rachet, Rufio and The Beautiful Mistake, who I would end up managing and am still very close to.  Chad is not only a visionary, but he’s one of the kindest people out there (see a pattern at Chain?)… too nice for what the business can do to you.  I remember him being legitimately “honored” that I would take his call or talk to him about his label and the business.  I was less of a big wig and more of a Farmer Ted.  I would give advice, they were doing better than anyone could in that scene, since they lived it, but when it came outside of their bubble, they were deer in headlights.  I remember they didn’t have a lawyer and I hooked them up with my pal Doug Mark, who was the attorney for Epitaph.  If anyone would know how to work with an indie, it was Doug.  I also made an introduction and got the wheels in motion for The Militia Group to get a distribution deal with Sony.  I still was unemployed and loving it.  

It was at Chain Reaction where I fist saw a bad called Death on Wednesday.  A bad that was one part The Smiths and another part Social Distortion.  The bad was good, but I didn’t love them.  But there was one stand out…both as a musician and also as a person.  His name was Jorma Vik, and he was the drummer of Death on Wednesday.  We became friendly and I remember after a show at a skating rink (also in Orange Country) they played with another up and coming band called Sugarcult featuring an old friend named Marko Desantis.  Jorma asked if I would manage Death on Wednesday.  I wasn’t ready to do anything yet, but I told him not this band, but whatever he does next, I’ll do it… fast forward a year and I run into Jorma in front of the Troubadour with a guy who he introduced me to as Joby, the guitarist for his new band and handed me a CD with a paper sleeve and a stamped logo that looked like an ad for roach killer that just said The Bronx Sure Death.  I think I called him by the time I got home listening to it on my drive home saying “I’ll do it”… that’s another story.

My going back to shows again for fun, eventually lead to many things for me.  One was discovering bands, bringing them to A&R friends with no reason other than feeling these artists could be something with the right people.  I had no ties to any of them other than being a fan and a connection to the industry (for better or worse)… from the artists getting signed, many times, it would lead back to me.   Also, while teaching, I would ask kids if they had ever heard of any of these bands (90% would not have, but I promise would become their favorite bands the next year). 

From that I got calls from executives asking for meetings.  From thinking I was done, I found the passion again and got a second shot.  I was offered full time teaching jobs, but I wasn’t ready to give up my passion yet (for better or worse) and took a job and stayed working for many years.  I also was working (on the DL) with an up and coming management company bringing the talent I thought was great, but not ready for prime time and could “ghost manage” them and help develop.  See, back then, managing a band while having a job was conflict of interest and was forbidden. Today it’s just the norm.  Triple dipping is rewarded.  But at that time, I was able to put “emo” in the mainstream music business.  The bands I brought in were by no means "big" but very well known in the scene.  This company was the only "reputable" management company that represented any bands from the scene and it those bands helped become the endorsement when meeting with bands later that would create the dynasty the company is today.  I wasn’t the first by any means, but I know what we did…

My last trip to Chain was last year when (another band I managed) Further Seems Forever played a show.  It was the same parking lot, the same (some updated) t-shirts, a bar now vs candy bar, but the same vibe, just new faces in the moment of community and music. Seeing Jason Gleason 20 years later in the same space was beautiful and took me back to the feeling I had back all those years ago.  Music is about taking you back to a time, a feeling that will never happen again, so is a venue like Chain Reaction.

Anyway, 2002 Chain Reaction was the Orange County 1977 version of CBGB’s.  I could write for days about the people I met there, saw there, what it did for bands, what it did for fans… but reading its closing on December 18th is the end of an era… I hope there is another place out there making a safe space for music and kids to grow and discover, to build their independent foundation of the person they will become through the influence, memories, friends and impact a venue can have. 

The list of bands that came through Chain Reaction is so big and so impressive, i'm not even going to try to list them.  I can only say I saw a handful compared to the kids that spent their youth being part of the community.  Chain Reaction is the venue many can say 'I saw....there before they blew up"

I think about those days very fondly and am thankful of Corrie, Jon, Kevin, Chad, Jason, Jorma and so many others for bringing me life again at a time that the business had slowly been poisoning me… Chain Reaction.  You are a legend.  Salute.

Up In Smoke*

*I couldn't think of a better title that describes cannabis and the state of artist discovery and development in 2016

I had a blast the other night appearing on the Elevate the Conversation podcast/show with @IAmDoctor420.

I'm a huge advocate for the use of cannabis as a medicinal alternative. I always have been. I think the amount of prescribed and over the counter medications that exist that are part of the pharmaceutical is such a huge business and so dangerous in long terms and in addiction, that to ignore the benefits of naturally grown cannabis to deal with the ailments a lot of the patients go to use cannabis is absolutely criminal. Cannabis is considered a class 1 drug by the DEA. That puts it in the category with Heroin, crystal Method and other drugs that are chemically created and have a dangerous effect in long term use. This alone is absurd.

Of course, the social and recreational use is a huge part of medicinal cannabis, but let's look at what we are talking about. It's not heroin. Seriously.

I have always heard the term "gateway" drug when referring to cannabis and that in itself is ridiculous. That's like saying beer is a gateway to alcoholism. These are both social and recreational substances that when enjoyed are normal. When abused, sure they can be dangerous. The only difference is you don't get in fights when medicated. You go to sleep. You don't hear about medicated driving as much as you hear about drunk driving. Shit, more people drive high on Xanax daily (pharmaceutical approved) and that's dangerous as fuck. Combine that with alcohol and you have people blacking out. You don't black out in cannabis.

The "gateway" factor comes from something deeper in someone's subconscious and issues that elevate the opportunity of addiction. But, you can't blame that path in cannabis. If you do, blame Zoloft, Paxil, klonopin, Xanax, oxycontin and every other prescribed medication. Abuse is going to happen as long as people are prescribed them and don't deal with other issues that drive them to addiction.

I grew up with a mother who had rheumatoid arthritis. I think she was on (at least) 6 different meds a day to treat various things. She didn't want to live on those. Who does? In the mid 80's I remember she was prescribed medicinal cannabis to help with certain parts of her daily pains and ailments. I don't think she stuck with it as long as someone would, but in 1985, medicinal cannabis was not understood or agreed on socially and medically. So, in the long run, she stuck with prescribed meds and drank socially. Socially of course leads to drinking daily. She wasn't an alcoholic, but defiantly drank to close out the night. Again, I don't blame her. I can't imagine what it was like to be in her body, looking at the world through limited opportunities, mostly physically. Not being about to walk, do things independently, like cook dinner for us. But she was my queen in teaching me how to do it through her. I'm grateful. I can't imagine how life would have been if the stigma of cannabis use was not so frowned upon. I think she would have had an easier time than resorting to drinking. Plus, for a frail woman, her appetite would have increased rather than not being able to eat well because of all the pills that I'm sure mixed would make you nauseous and unable to actually eat.

I've known many addicts and alcoholics in my life. I must say, it's a rare thing when you get to know one who doesn't have a story of some sort of traumatic experience that has been buried or silenced for decades that comes out eventually and they turn to substance abuse, but never has it been from smoking a joint.

I'm a casual user. If I was Cheech and Chong, I'd be Cheech. The guy that looks the part, acts the part, but when it comes down to it, is a huge lightweight. When I'm with friends, they can blaze up and I just look in amazement on what they can take down and function. I know my limits. My best friend is my Chong. She could match Snoop Dogg dab for dab. But what's amazing to me is, she's 100% aware, functional and responsible. Sure a pothead, but not the stereotypical, living in her parent garage not working and not doing anything. I admire the dedication and love she has for her job, being reliable and aware. That's today's real cannabis users. Of course the basement living stereotypes exist, but it's not all of them.

There people that I always have had a problem with that criticized and looked down upon cannabis use. I think I'm pretty safe to say that 80% of them were wine drinkers. Very judgmental while having no problem posting photos of them at a winery enjoying a Merlot or at a "classy" gathering of cheese and wine.

Well, let's compare the two.

Both come and are cultivated by the earth. Makers of wine are artists. They blend, they are scientific about it, where they grow it, weather conditions. The same can be said about cannabis growers. What they do with earth, blending and cultivating grows these plants into beautiful works of nature.

The time to harvest, the time it takes to actually get it ready, pick at the right time and prepare. Both growers are very organic and try not to grow with pesticides and harmful products to compromise their grows.

In wine, you have a Sommeliers who is an expert in wine to help you find exactly what you are looking in taste and mood as well for pairing with food. In cannabis, dispensaries have experts who go the same. What are you looking for in flavor, mood, feel and ailment.

When you open a bottle of wine, you smell, taste and have a process to judge the quality. With cannabis, the dispensary will have jars of flower that you can smell, look at under a magnifying glass to see the bud up close and see the beauty, colors and texture of the strain.

Even to the point of the enjoyment, the crafting of glass. In wine, beautiful glass is made to drink from, decanters all for presentation and use. Same is done with cannabis. Glass is blown for pipes, dab rigs and bongs. They are works of art that are useful.

So, in the end the similarities are there, but the stigma of cannibus makes these wine appreciating people superior culturally over cannibus users.

My thing about this is that is I feel like these people that frown upon cannabis users while drinking their wine is they maybe should put themselves in the place of these people that use it for medicinal purposes to aid them with an illness that include nausea, loss of appetite, migraines, fatigue, anxiety and so many other ailments people go to cannabis for... Ironically, the same side effects you have from drinking too much... Wine.

You go to a dispensary in Los Angeles and it never fails who you run into. People of all races, religions, age and socioeconomic backgrounds. It's a legitimate alternative for people. They don't judge each other while in there, the people who run these places look happy to be able to offer this service that makes people feel better. Dr. 420 was a very successful spinal surgeon prior to becoming a doctor who can give recommendation letters to grant these patients the opportunities of cannabis. He will be the first to say that it's the most gratifying thing he's ever done, because these people who come to him have been in hell for years and this is their final chance. His service is great, because in our world, the continuing stigma attached to cannabis is still frowned upon and the way he does it is not by going to Venice Beach and walking into some weird house that makes you feel like you are doing something wrong. It's over his site, he gets online with you talks to you about your issues and supports your decision. If I wasn't a patient already and wasn't sure of the decision, after talking to him, I'd be sold from feeling good about it.



The show was informative, funny and I got to talk about the music business. A few people I know watched it and thought the insight I had with regard to today's music industry and musical artistry was good. I'm far from an expert. I'm a dummy who used to be in it and has a passion for music, trends (music, technology, etc) and just wants to figure it out.

If any of this sounds of interest to you and you are tired of the olympics, the 24 hour news cycle, Donald Trump and all the other bullshit we get stuck with, watch this Interview and the others he's posted from his show. There are video versions on youtube and podcast versions.



Itunes Podcast version

He's a funny motherfucker.