This decade is coming to a close.
Heck I have to catch myself.
That’s 10 whole years John.
On the musical side in the last decade our band THE SHAFTMEN released 2 more original blues/roots albums and I released a personal singer-songwriter album Close Another Door
All these are available worldwide on Spotify, Apple, YouTube etc.
I also did some radio shows and recently some local television.
Personally I can say I’m glad to be still on the planet.
It’s early but some health issues I hope are behind me for good.
In the last decade locally and in a few instances out of the city our band did a fair number of gigs and I humbly think I wrote a few quality songs.
All this while keeping up the journalism and attending, listening, and writing about music events here in the city as well as reviewing music and interviewing artists across the country.
It’s been been super cool to witness the rise in live local music concerts and new original music by local artists.
I have to say right here we will also have more features on artists and musicians who have been part of our Timmins and area music culture upcoming in 2020.
On the domestic and international side I will have more quality reviews and interviews in 2020.
We have to acknowledge streaming has changed the nature of how we all experience and find new and even old music.
Streaming has no doubt meant less money for songwriters, but that’s a whole other story.
This may surprise people but I enjoy the streaming aspect for convenience.
Streaming I can find most but not all of my niche artists I have downstairs in my vinyl collection which by the way I still play.
I still listen to new rock roots and blues.
New artists like Richard and the Young Lions, The Jellybricks and others have new exciting original material.
Decade speaking despite all tech advances I don’t find the past ten years as being musically innovative.
I realize music is very subjective but I can do without another Cardi B song.
Personally I always tell my grandson Auto tuned voices and cliche lyrics drive me to run and hide.
But at the same time we both enjoy some some hip hop artists like Madchild, Eminem and rock out to the Who, SRV, Beatles, Rolling Stones and enjoy excellent country artists like Eric Church and Chris Stapleton.
You have to listen not dismiss music out of hand.
In 2020. Timmins music fans can celebrate because the music that brings us joy and makes us feel good will be back at ROTR, The Canadian Kayak Challenge and the newly christened Porquis Music Festival.
To all my family, friends and readers Happy Holidays and good health.
JOHN EMMS MUSIC REVIEWS 