Getting too worried about bad trends

By TERRY JOE WILES

I sit in wonder at the speed that time flies in my life.

I have seen things come into place that could only be imagined in books, later movies. My grandpa would witness progress in science, medicine and society that changed the world every decade or two, but I live in a world where moment by moment, in my opinion, things are changing that take away from natural transformation. The human involvement is being removed and set aside.

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I don’t mean to be spreading rumors whenever an acorn drops on my head, and I think that the sky is falling. That didn’t work too well for Chicken Little, who ran to warn all but ended up suffering demise by a fox. The moral: The story is a fable that serves as a warning against spreading panic and a lesson not to believe everything one hears without proper investigation. My concern is being heard often on my favorite talk radio and blogs, so do your own proper investigation.

Caution: Here comes a “way back moment”! When I hit the ground in 1951, we didn’t have a television in every home, BUT there was certainly a radio. We had family moments like “The Waltons” where several families would sit on Saturday nights and listen to “The Grand Ole Opry” live from Nashville, Tenn. Cars had radios to listen to the top hits on the road. It was a chance to hear recorded live music. Living in rural America, live music was seldom available. In the middle to late 1950s, televisions gave us “The Ed Sullivan Show” and “The Lawrence Welk Show.” The country saw Elvis and “The Beatles.” Records brought music to life and an album cover to get information on singers and

musicians, and there were jukeboxes. I had a 4-track player in my first car, then came 8-tracks, cassette tapes and compact discs, all giving us the choice to pick our own music. Seven decades later, with all the conveniences of computers and the Internet, we are quickly losing the passion for listening to live music. We will just let the computer pick the mood, style, message and music for our listening pleasure.

Don’t get me wrong, there’s a skill set to using the program and helping create popular music with a guaranteed moment of successful enjoyment that music brings. One opinion (Suno) says, and I quote, “Whether you play

guitar, piano, drums, horns, sing or use Suno, it is all creating music.” However, for me, I’ll season my life with live music, human interaction and personal choices — just the same as always.This new phase that we are experiencing with AI-generated tunes is for the birds. It is just kind of creepy. My rant is over, so please continue your own choices. Pay no attention to my agitation. Just a note, my folks thought that “The Beatles” would be the end of the world, so there’s that!

As for live music this week, The 906 Lounge on Garrison Avenue in Fort Smith, Arkansas, has become the best and most eclectic venue for live music in our area. For instance, this Thursday, one of the very best pianists in our area , Bruce Hawley, and one of the most talented singers around, Niki Waters, will perform from 7-10 p.m. On Friday, it’s “Mark Albertson and the Groove Diggers” from 8 p.m. until midnight. These guys never fail to entertain offering rock to blues, soul to R&B. On Saturday from 8 p.m. until midnight, “The Brooke White Band” will liven up the place and roll out the rock and roll. There will be good food, an awesome atmosphere and awesome music. Make plans to join in.

The most talented couple in country music, “Make It a Double” or Connie and Dave Abbott, will be in Krebs at the McAlester Veterans of Foreign Wars Building on Saturday at 7 p.m.

“MJ and the Geezers” will be downtown Poteau the Shop Dog Brewing Company, located at 315 Dewey Avenue, on Friday. This band is a favorite here. Bring friends, have a tall craft beer and enjoy the sweetest sounds of MJ, Chuck and Rodney for two hours of great music from 7-9 p.m. This band will be ready rolled for your pleasure! See ya there. Thanks to Shop Dog Brewing Company for having live music and supporting our city.

Also in downtown Poteau, celebrate live music, poetry and community talent on Friday at Rough Day Brew Company, located at 108 South Witte Avenue. It’s Ballads and Bards Open Mic. There will be local talent, original tunes and poetry that will start at 6:30 p.m. and last until 8:30 p.m. Come by and enjoy the craft brews and hear some awesome local talents. All of this brought to you by Rough Day Brew Company. Support them and support local Live music and arts. Thanks!

“The Libby Starks Band” will be at the Lower Feed Room at Akins Barbecue in Akins, just northeast of Sallisaw on Oklahoma State Highway 101 beginning at 9 p.m. Saturday. It’s family friendly with barbecue, awesome music and a country atmosphere. See you there.

Muldrow City Limits will have “Backroads” on Saturday night. This pretty, unusually-warm weather has been bringing dancers out in droves to the tune of greater than 100 people. There’s a big dance floor, along with awesome hosts Shelia and David Keith. Shelia and David will provide the safe NS/ND atmosphere that is good enough for my mom to go dancing. This will be the Thanksgiving dinner for the dance hall family with a potluck dinner, so bring a favorite dish. The music will start at 7 p.m., but if I were you, I’d get there when the doors open at 6 p.m. Y’all have fun.

Do not worry! I am still so full of it that more will ooze out next week. If you are interested in AI-generated music, do some research. Google will give you several AI-generated music articles about AI music, or search YouTube for your favorite artist and bands and see what it says. Love most ya’ll. Thanks for supporting local live music!

For additional information about any live-music events or to let me know of any such venues, call or text message me at (918) 649-5736, get with me on Facebook or e-mail me at tj.wiles61@outlook.com.

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