Someone asked me recently “Why should local music matter?”. I was, at first, dumbfounded. I thought to myself, “How could it NOT matter?”. I grew up on the local scene in Houston. Bands like Deadhorse, Taste of Garlic, Spunk and 30footFALL were my life. I never knew any different.

If you were to take a moment and actually listen to modern radio you would hear what Clear Channel wants to sell you. There is a reason that NickelBack and Lady Gaga sell so many records. Its because they are played ad nauseum. The sheeple can’t help but rush out and buy this up. I am a musician. Every close friend I have is also a musician. I have listened to the current music being fed to the masses and tried to understand why they are so popular. There is no redeemable quality to this. It’s all protools digital cookie cutter music. Its missing one of the very key elements to music. Soul. It is merely a product being manufactured for the purpose of making money or to sell merchandise to make money. Its not an outlet for the artist to release pent up aggression or anxiety.

Listening to someone like Katy Perry talk about “paying her dues” is a joke. Give me a break. What the fuck do these modern kids know about “dues”? Ask any of the OMBG crew about paying dues (except Dean) and you will get the same answer. Its about heart and soul and hard work. Its not about how many units I moved last week or how quickly I sold out this venue or whatever. Its about Soul. I know that I am repeating myself here, but its really that simple. Heart and Soul.

This is a holiday weekend. Most of you have some extra time off work. Go out and see some live music. If youre in Houston hit up Fitzgeralds, or Rudyards, or Mangos. There are tons of places in town to get your musical feel. There is SO much undiscovered talent out there just dying to get in your earholes.

Remember, the scene isn’t dead.

-Mike Hutson