Lindsey L. Fountain, manager, agent and label VP for The William Wyatt Band, shares a revelation she had on St. Patrick's Day while attending a Bob Dylan show. From a recent band newsletter, Lindsay writes about the guts & glory of performers from a fans perspective, re-defining "The American Dream" for the music biz and a call-out to William Wyatt fans to show their active support. Show updates and links are also included too. Click "Read More" below.
Dylan, White, Wyatt & The American Dream
by Lindsey L. Fountain
On St. Pat's Day (or as my Dad likes to call it "Amateur Night") Wyatt and I went to see Bob Dylan at the State Theater. It was a great show. Dylan played piano all night and Jack White showed up and jammed on the last tune. The most interesting part of the show was two drummers playing the same thing at the same time. It took a lot of talent to pull that one off.
I'm sure a lot of you are thinking Dylan was great. He was...well okay, so you couldn't understand a darn thing he was saying but that's not the point. Watching Bob Dylan is, to me, like seeing a living legend. I felt honored to have been able to see him live, even if his performance isn't nearly what it was 20 years ago.
During the show I had a revelation (and I had a long time to think because I could only understand every fifth word). I was reminded of why William Wyatt and the band fight so hard to make their dream come true, to stand on that stage and amaze people like me. It takes a lot of guts. No, not guts - it takes balls to chase a dream like musicians do.
In recent months, each of the band members have been asked why they don't want to live the "American Dream". This made me wonder, what is the American Dream? Does it have to be a white picket fence, 2.5 children, and a minivan in the suburbs? Why can't the dream be to live on a tour bus and see the world first-hand instead of living vicariously through the manufactured lifestyles of television shows and magazine ads?
A similar conversation came up a couple weeks ago while The William Wyatt band was playing. A friend said he was jealous of the band because he doesn't have a "dream" to chase. I'm sure if he dug deep enough within himself he'd find something he was that passionate about, though it might not be music. We're each entitled to our own version of "the dream" and if he wants to, he'll find his.
From the time we're old enough to walk we're told that we need to grow up, get an education, get a "real job", get married, and raise a family. But what is a "real job"? In my opinion it's a job in which you love what you do, do what you love, and apply yourself 100% every time you go work. But, it seems, if you don't have the same values as "Mr. Bob Businessman" then you are deemed lazy, or worse yet, irresponsible.
Well I have lived both lives; that of a 9-5 professional and now the esoteric life of an agent in the music biz. Let me tell you, the latter is much more difficult and challenging. My 9-5 life was much easier; I did my work, I got paid ( even if I didn't do the best job possible) and I went home at the end of the day with basically no worries. Now, I have nobody to blame for failure but myself. I can't pass it off on the guy sitting next to me. It's all up to me to make it happen.
I think I speak for a lot of musicians, agents, and managers when I say we dare to dream. It's not an easy road and the chances of falling flat on our faces is always a threat. But ya know what? We get back up, dust ourselves off and keep trying until we get it right.
Imagine, all this from seeing Bob Dylan and not understanding a word he sang!
By now your probably wondering what my point to that whole story is, right? My point is, these guys, The William Wyatt Band, need your support. They need you, their friends, their family and fans to come out and hoot and holler, raise your glasses and scream for more. Call in to the radio station that they are on, ask questions show your support, request songs whatever it takes in order to help them obtain the success that they deserve.
William Wyatt Appearance Updates
The WWBand is starting off very early in the morning on Friday March 26th, at 7:30am Wyatt will be live on the air at WEFG 97.5fm with show hosts, John & Rick. WEFG is in Muskegon so if you are within a 60 mile radius you should be able to pick it up. Check it out, they will be interviewing Wyatt, playing a lot of music from the latest CD and inviting all of the listeners to come out and join us at the Lakeshore Tavern on Saturday night.
Friday March 26th the William Wyatt Band will be at Czars 505 in St. Joseph, MI from 10pm-midnight. Czars is a great club with an awesome crew so come check it out, you can visit their website for directions www.czars.com
Saturday March 27th takes the band just a bit North, from 9:30pm-1:30am the band will be at Lakeshore Tavern located at 1963 Lakeshore Dr. Muskegon, MI.
I know I'll see some of you at the shows, we'll raise our glasses together. Oh, and I'll be listening for those call-ins on Friday morning!
Lindsey L. Fountain
Encompass Records
P.O. Box 73
Hartland, MI 48353
www.williamwyatt.com
mail@encompassrecords.com