In a day and age where hipsters and douchebags tell all of us what is “in” and acceptable, there are still those of us that refuse to listen. The ones of us who are brave enough to say screw what people think and just be you. And out of us, some make it as musicians. This is about those musicians.
Four years ago, as I was trying my own hand at being a starving musician, I stumbled upon a group of individuals who not only inspired me to make music, but interacted with me (a fan) in a way that I didn’t know existed. They just wanted to try something that other bands had just given up on; caring.
I am referring to Say Anything and company, a band that has seen a steady rise to fame since their first album “…is a real boy” in 2004. The front-man I was referring to is none other than Max Bemis, a New York City native who suffers from Bi-polar disorder and minor manorexia. “…is a real boy”, which really could have been entitled “Max Bemis is a real boy”, because he wrote the entire record almost single-handedly when he was just 20, changed my entire outlook on life. His sharp lyrics, bold melodies, and almost offensive arrogance gripped me in a fashion I’d never experienced. The honesty of the songs literally dripped from his tongue and you could feel it like a right hook. He drags you in with every song deeper into a story of love, sex, drugs, pain and irony. If you have not heard this album, I am sorry your life sucks.
In the following years I tirelessly, and unsuccessfully, attempted to form a band and create music that could reach fans like Max Bemis reached me; to inspire a mess of kids to grow some testicles and chase down their dreams. Of course at this time it was 2006, and Bemis had his bi-polar disorder under control after almost derailing the band before they even got started. And while I did not get to witness Bemis in his excessive drug use and ego-maniac days it seems to me he was a drastically different person than he is today.
As time went on I developed into a devoted and loyal fan. I bought every album they released (…is a real boy, in defense of the genre, & their self-titled album), sometimes twice, and never missed a show. Not long after that, Bemis came up with Song Shop, which is an affordable wish-come-true project where Max writes full-length acoustic songs for his fans at the price of $150.00. I bought one and had no regrets; I would have paid triple that amount. However, even had he made the price $50.00, people would still have complained and bitched, exclaiming that he sold out and is trying to exploit his fans by making money off of them; as if that is not the point of being a musician: to make money. And people did this. Fans did this. I couldn’t figure out why people were bashing the Beem-dog just because he was offering a time-consuming service that was unique and innovative, it’s not like you have to buy it! Bemis made fans happy, like me, in exchange for money; the same concept as buying an album. But the difference between the two is: for a short while he was writing a song about what I was feeling at that point in time, really connecting with me (a fan) in ways that most artists are afraid to. Once again, utterly inspired, I ran my own “song shop” and wrote songs for my fans from purevolume.com. Although my services were free, I got to see why Max does it; it is so rewarding. I touched people’s lives even if in the smallest of ways and the fans really opened up to me. For a split second I helped someone get through a tough time in their lives or just made them smile.
Last year at a show in Austin, TX at Emo’s referring to the connection made between his and his fans he said, “There is a moment where I lock eyes with one of you and it is really intimate, almost too intimate…” Of course he meant this in the least sexual way possible even though many people, mostly females, took it the opposite and hurled sexual remarks back at him. At this particular show, I brought my acoustic guitar and decided to entertain the fans who showed up early in line by playing some Say Anything favorites. I expected nothing more than a good time with fellow SA goers but what ended up happening was a night that I never will forget. Not only did the entire band notice, but they all went out of their way to say thank you. Jake Turner, one of the guitarists, came out and chatted with me and the fans for a good half hour, Max interacted heavily with me on stage and even let me join in on the bridge of “Ahh…men” as I shouted the words “can I lie with you in your grave?” at the top of my lungs into his mic. Coby Linder (drummer) sought me out after the show to give me an autographed drum stick he used for the show. I remember specifically a moment at the end of the show where Max and Sherri were rushing to leave so that they could spend one night at home in Tyler, TX before their next show. Max must have told seven people that he could sign one last autograph before he had to go but he signed one after the other unable to disappoint and tell them no. Bottom line is: they proved to me beyond a reasonable doubt they truly love their fans.
After meeting the entire band and Max’s wife Sherri, who I am convinced is more responsible for Max’s amazing turn around mentally and spiritually than anyone (I say this because I have first-hand experience with an amazing woman who turned me around), I left once again utterly inspired to make music and share the experience I just had with a loyal fan, to really make their day. It didn’t end there. Interaction continued on Twitter and through various mediums. All the band members and Sherri, who undoubtedly deserves to be included in this group, go out of their way to make sure the fans know that they are appreciated. Because of this, my admiration of them has taken a different shape. It has turned from a star-struck fan mentality to now an actual mentor type respect for them. I have been able to communicate with my favorite musicians so frequently that I no longer see them as these musical gods that I once saw but as talented musicians with influences similar to mine who are thankful to the people that got them where they are and want to show them…inspire them.
I keep using the word “inspire” and I will tell you why. There are countless bands who write countless songs that I have listened to and even met many of them, and not one of them left me feeling like I could be better, like I wasn’t trying hard enough; they didn’t “inspire” me. Getting a tweet from Max or Sherri Bemis, or listening to one of their songs literally sends me to my guitar to write songs. That is why I continue to support both Say Anything and Eisley so passionately. I have no problem calling out the bands that I have observed and met only to be completely disappointed in their attitudes. They acted like they were owed the success they had been blessed with just because they are talented. I’ll name a few: the get up kids, brand new, and Trent Reznor. All of them are great musicians and I respect their work whole-heartedly but IN MY OPINION they have forgotten exactly how they got so far. If you have not had the chance to check out either Say Anything or Eisley, please do so. There are thousands of fans who feel exactly like I do for a reason. In a time where it is as hard as ever to get paid to be a musician bands like this deserve our money, they are earning it. Support them so that they never have to pack up shop.
It is extremely rare to find a band, or even a single musician to truly inspire and actually want to maintain a relationship with their fans. To be honest, I understand why many do not. Fans can be dicks, real dicks. Many of them are haters and jealous-hearted kids who want to do nothing but say negative things and make artists want to cut off contact and simply make music. I am not mad at them for doing that. But Max, Sherri, Jake, Coby, and the rest of the band allow the fans in, and let them be a part of their lives. That is rare.
More than likely, I will never make it to stardom as a musician, but that isn’t the point. This particular group of musicians makes me want to be something great and to reach for the stars. Whether they know it or not, that is far more important than coming out with a triple platinum album. That is what music should do. That is what it was intended for; to inspire the next generation to take the torch and burn brighter. For me, it has fostered a lead by example type of reflection. If I ever am able to make it as any kind of musician I want to hold myself up to that same standard, to truly appreciate my fans and know that without them… I don’t exist. When you do that, you have loyal fans who actually WANT to give you money. You don’t even have to ask for it. Like when Eisley’s tour bus was broke down and I just felt obligated to send a donation or buying Max’s song shop or buying all of their albums, going to shows etc. In fact, there is a very good chance I will be recording an EP with Jake Turner of Say Anything at the end of August. How many of your all-time favorite guitarists have given you the opportunity to make a record with them? These guys are revolutionaries. Someone once told me, you can make a living as an artist if you have 1,000 loyal fans that are willing to spend $100 dollars a year ($100,000 a year) on you. All I know is I am one of those loyal fans and will be until they stop making music. It isn’t even about the music, even if they sucked uncontrollably I could still respect them for the effort they put in every day. One day, somewhere, someone will fufill a dream because of the inspiration these people give and they should feel proud. Say Anything and Eisley may never be the biggest bands in the world but they will always be different. And different is good.
P.S. Haters start posting all the reasons why I am wrong and why Say Anything and Eisley suck. I can’t wait to hear your all-knowing logic behind your reasons.
For What It's Worth 