The Socials

 i was online in 1996

i quickly made the jump 

out of expensive recording studios

to

digitally creating music for tv

running a logic system off a tiny mac

the networks all got hip quick

i watched budgets go from $7000

to $700

times were changing

i rolled along

in 2003

when i started CAL

i told all the musicians

that they would need an email address

in order to go forward with my company

for many of them

this was a big undertaking

i forced many musicians to get online

in 2007 i had an arguement with a close friend

my stance was that ‘likes’ and followers

are going to be the currency of a successful business

he thought i was nuts

and that it had no actual value

in some ways he was right

but not really

all of the alumni share reels and clips

i worry that one day 

while crossing a border

they’re going to confiscate my phone

and see all the ridiculous and inappropriate reels

we all send each other

after that it’s ‘midnight express’ time

in a turkish prison for me

mostly we share cool stuff

i’m always amazed 

that someone went to the trouble

of conceiving 

filming

editing

and posting a video

for the sheer purpose of entertainment or instruction

sure they get likes

and followers

but other than that - they’re just doing it 

for the sake of being human

i always say that it renews my faith in humanity

the past couple of months

i’ve been producing videos

and posting them consistently

our likes and followers have more than doubled

and we’ve become a major presence 

while scrolling

the comments are overwhelmingly positive

but it speaks to human nature

at how a stray hater 

can stick tar to your heels

the haters really go after the zep band

our levee breaks video is getting close to 750k hits

and that’s big for us!

but the comments from the haters are incredible

here’s a couple

- drummer sucks

- singer sucks

- you guys should pack it in

- you’re playing it wrong

it’s astounding!

i don’t let it get to me 

i know who i am and what my company can do

but you know…

before i block them

i click on their profile

and dive in

they all a few things in common

- male 50+

- no likes

- no partner

- pictures of pick up trucks

- balding

i want to copy and paste this comment

“I’m sorry you feel that way. We’ve checked out

your profile and you seem angry and lonely. 

A more positive online persona would do wonders

for your mental health. Being a voice of hatred and

aiming at hard working musicians just digs you

deeper into a hole. Cheer up!”

but i don’t do this

because it’s just blow torches their flame

human nature revealed online is tricky

but i am quick to reassert

that the overwhelming vast majority of people

are good a decent and caring and cool

i’m not sure what the haters think they’re achieving

what is the mind set?

they watch the post

and there’s maybe 100 comments

all happy that we’re sharing music

but one old guy sees this

and thinks to himself

‘i’m going to take a dump on this thread

everyone will love me then’

it’s weird 

like many of us

i immerse myself on the socials

i’m on all the platforms

my attention span is that of a gnat

i can barely get through tv show or movie

without being bored 

i like short spurts of information

i’ve done well on the stock market 

(i just cashed everything out except for tesla and bitcoin)

and my cooking has bumped up to the next level

(making my own stock was a game changer)

i follow er doctors

palliative care nurses

a ship captain

a family in nigeria

a woman who sits on cakes 

artists

ny times

the moth

ron butler (a straight shooter)

a pretty healthy variety of people

all of them sharing their lives 

in hopes of making yours just a little bit better

it renews my faith in humanity

craig martin

(coffee, chocolate croissant)

.

Twenty Five

and we’re off

for many of us

24 was a rough year

the loss of my son seemed 

sadder this year

i put on a brave face

a mask

however there really is something to be said for

maintaining a positive mental attitude

i really buy into the day

that said

on monday

i couldn’t get out of bed

…but i did

my company is doing well

i’ve surrounded myself with good people

we bring out the best in each other

that gives me spirit

and a confidence about going into the uk

essentially

i’m buying my way in

once the dice roll our way

they superglue to the table

and everything is coming up zeppy!

a strange christmas table conversation with some musicians

apparently we all dream about being at CAL gigs

and everything is going wrong

we don’t know the music

we can’t make our way to the stage

it’s a nightmare

i discern this to be good for the series

we can never rest on our laurels

i’m excited about the next exile show

the massey show was rough

i had covid

i woke up and felt it in the back of my throat

fuck

did the gig 

it’s a massive thing to cancel a show

some of the rasp leant well to some songs

on others i was scraping the barrel 

anyway

redemption is close

i’ve had lots of vistors by the house 

turns out

people want to talk about religion

and beliefs

i think they open up

because i wear a cross

i dunno

i just listen

i tell them that growing up 

marvel comics were a big part of my moral foundation

then it was springsteen

now i really enjoy bible stories

the one where jesus is turning over the money tables

that’s superhero stuff

anyway

that’s all i’ll say about that

my son is coming home in a couple weeks

the word freedom has meaning for him

as it does for many of us

it’s nice to see a young person embracing it

without adhereing a self defeating ideology to it

i like my son

a lot of people don’t realize

that i’m still married

to susan

we’ve been through a lot

so both have a zero bullshit tolerance level

there was no point in getting divorced

making lawyers rich

fuck that

i will continue to do anything and everything for her

we’re just incompatible 

it’s mostly my fault 

and my family is going to get smaller soon

my mum turned ninety three

she's so frail

immobile 

but still full of love kindness and grace

I'm very affectionate with her

and I always take the time to tell her that 

I love her

and that’s all of muy shit layed out bare

i want to be clean going into 25

the best i can be 

so that good people can continue to rely on me

for a good wage

on beautiful stages

in front of caring audiences

peace and prosperity 

for 25

craig

(branflakes with maple syrup)

.