The photo was of a stained glass window his friend and bandmate, Herb Houchin, made for him. Also sent was the Anderson County Review, a small town newspaper that had a hatchet job article about Chuck.
Newspapers ain't what they used to be, what with Craig's List making the classified ads about as commercially viable as Confederate bonds, and everyone getting their news faster and more accessibly from practically every other media form there is. I'm surprised there is an Anderson County Review at all.
But Chuck was pissed off because he told the writer in great detail about the guitar and how it was made and so on, and this was all distilled into "...a homemade instrument made by a friend who later made a stain [sic] glass window to match the guitar...'
Allow me to parse Chuck's outrage at this little nugget of hillbilly journalism:
- The guitar was in fact made in a home workshop, though it was made by a gifted and experienced luthier, Kenny McBride. 'Homemade' makes it sound like maybe I slapped it together from a discarded box, a 2x4 and some rubber bands.
- 'Homemade' or not, a guitar like this will set you back more than my car cost.
- The friend who made the stained glass window is the bassist in a band Chuck plays in, no relation to and probably not even acquainted with Kenny McBride, the luthier. Doc Houchin is not only a bassist, he's an optometrist (and apparently a stained glass artist) in Emporia.
In fairness, Dane Hicks, who wrote the article, has most of the bylines in the newspaper, with a couple attributed to Melissa Hobbs, who appears to be their only photographer. Having been in the shallow end of the newsprint biz myself back in the day, I can imagine that these two are also the advertising sales force, the graphic design team, webmaster and the distribution crew.
I can totally sympathize if Mr. Hicks was having a nightcap when he suddenly said to himself, 'Shit, I've still got two write that 'Senior Perspectives' bit.
If you want the straight story, you've come to the right place. Midwest Rock Lobster always gets its facts straight, at least when it comes to Kenny McBride's amazing guitars.
And I never pass up an opportunity to speed-bag a media outlet's balls in a question of shoddy journalism. Because you know there's never been a txpo or an un-verified fact stated in this blog. Ever. ;)
*Kenny has built several guitars, but only two archtops.
1 comment:
Hey douchbag,
I'm the aforementioned Mr. Hicks who did the "hatchet job" on Chuck Cowan. He must not have been too pissed, because his wife came down to the office to get 10 more copies of the paper, which I gave her gratis, and he and I played a couple of tunes together at a local bar not much more than a week after that edition came out. Typical loser-assed blogger, belching up crap second or third hand or stolen- what was that crack about "shoddy journalism?"
If you pulled your head out of your ass long enough to actually READ the article, you might notice the piece is on the life of a working musician, the people he played with in the business and the experiences he had, and what digital music has done to local club live bands and musicians. I realize those concepts might be a little broad for a "blogger," but I assume you have at least one friend who could have read it to you. If I didn't include all the skinny on one of the guy's guitars, sue me.
And actually, the Review is doing quite well, thank you. Another example of your ignorance. Judging from the number of comments (0) and members(4) on your blog, I'd say we're doing far better than this technomasturbatory exercise you have going here. But I guess as long as mom's letting you live in her basement and there's free cable, you're good??
Chuck and Donna are still in Garnett. Ask them if you want. And you can find me at the Review, if you can tear yourself away from your extensive research long enough.
Dane Hicks, Publisher
The Anderson County Review
Garnett, Kansas
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