Arrogance

I just read a Facebook post that had a childless woman berating parents for allowing their children to misbehave on planes and in restaurants. She was aided by another mean girl in this and, from what I read, had alienated and hurt a bunch of moms who probably didn’t need to feel any worse about themselves. In subsequent comments, the childless woman reinforced her opinion that there was a way to raise children so that they would act like short adults and not ruin her good time. Which is to say, she believed she knew what she was talking about when she clearly didn’t. Anyone who isn’t a parent who has advice for people who are parents about parenting just shouldn’t.

These days, this, (not knowing what you are talking about) stops no one. In fact, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find someone who has a clue. But it doesn’t stop there. In 2018, people are creating, making things and starting companies doing things they may not know how to do. Or do very well. But they think they know how or more accurately want to think they know. That is enough for almost everyone.

The craft beer fad is a good example of this arrogance. 20 years ago, much of this beer would be called ‘hooch’. Something a guy brewed in his garage. His buddies would come over and drink some with him and tell him that it was good even though it assaulted their palate. It got them drunk which, for many beer drinkers, is 100% the point of beer. These days, this glorified moonshine is on the shelves of your liquor store, there to make you feel like a rube if you buy a beer made by a brewery that has been making beverages for generations instead of one by a couple of guys in beards with access to yeast and a clean bathtub.

Mrs. Berg and I have travelled to the southern US pretty much yearly for the past decade and a half. I had acquired a taste for southern barbecue while touring and recording in the US with TPOH. My wife and I regularly eat at BBQ places in Georgia, Alabama and Louisiana. I remember wishing, ‘I would love for a place like this to open in Toronto.’ A few years ago, a bunch of places did open up. People, probably like me, fell in love with wood smoked meat and figured they’d try their hand at it and open up a restaurant that serves it. After checking out many of these places, I revised my wish to, ‘I wish someone whose family had been smoking meat for generations would open up a BBQ restaurant in Toronto.’ Because it was clear that merely buying a smoker and some wood chips doesn’t make you a BBQ chef. But in 2018, buying a smoker and some wood chips IS all you have to do to be a BBQ chef.

It’s like when you talk to a kid who tells you, ‘I’ve been a music producer since I was 13.’ Which roughly translates into, ‘I’ve been dragging samples into a timeline in a program I downloaded for free from the internet since I was 13.’ 20 years ago, none of these guys would ever be producers at anytime in their life, let alone when they were 13. But their access to technology has given them an unearned title and they feel completely justified using it.

Can I state here, unequivocally, that this is not a shot at people who create electronic music. EDM, in all it’s subgenres, and hip hop are the present and future of music and anyone who thinks otherwise is thinking wishfully.

At this point, it’s a cliche to state that social media and 24 hour news stations are largely to blame for this. At a time when democracy is in peril in so many other ways, the media is completely democratic, socialist even, where everyone’s opinion carries pretty much the exact same weight. I never get tired of watching that scene from The Newsroom where the actor from Dumb and Dumber who isn’t Jim Carrey talks about ‘giants who were revered.’ when talking about newsmen. Yes, people who spent their life in pursuit of the truth without regard for political gain.

My fear is that people are ignoring how hard it is and how much work it takes to be good at something. About musicians working at their instrument their entire childhood, teenage years and well into their adulthood to finally have some success. And that many who pursued this path still didn’t achieve anything because there was someone else who tried and practiced and sacrificed a bit more than they did. Also, people who took recipes handed down from their parents who got them from their grandparents and great grandparents and still worked for years to perfect them before attempting to serve them to the public.

(This is maybe a right turn or maybe on course, I don’t know). A few months back, my Italian food loving sister was in town. Mrs. Berg, myself and my sister went to a restaurant in one of Toronto’s Little Italy’s. We arrived and noticed that the entire staff was Asian. So much for authentic Italian food, we chortled. Then the chef, an older Japanese fellow, came to take our order. As we got to talking, he told us about the years he had spent in Italy learning to cook. Then taking his skills to Japan and opening an Italian restaurant there and perfecting his recipes for a decade. Then bringing all of this knowledge and experience to Toronto to cook in a tiny little place that, I’m assuming, barely makes enough money to keep the lights on. He complained to us about culinary programs in Canada that had people who didn’t know the first thing about Italian cooking teaching students in our colleges. I thought, joke’s on us, here is a guy who has devoted his life to learning to do something he loves. He didn’t appear to have become rich doing it. I thought the meal was great but honestly, I know crap about authentic Italian cooking.

It seems like the only true meritocracy left is sports and Thank God for sports because it’s one of the only things left on earth that you can only do if you are frigging great at it. That last pursuit where you have to work your ass off for your entire life to maybe have a slim chance of making it at. I don’t see that changing with the rest of the world, although with NFL boycotts based on political beliefs, maybe there will be a RFL starting up that will have players with the right politics playing a substandard version of the game for fans of the right politics. Nothing would surprise me at this point.

As I read this back, I feel a bit old. Am I just cranky? There is another way of looking at this. These nouveau pit masters and brew masters are starting companies and employing people and injecting life into the economy. So that’s great, right? And bedroom producers, if they stick with it, could end up making interesting music. And that’s also good? Is the learning curve getting easier to manage, is world knowledge making it easier to perfect things that used to take much longer? I guess the proof will be in the results. Hopefully, there will always be people who care. Who will want to be great at something and not just good enough to satisfy people with diminished expectations. You have to start somewhere? Maybe my kids will be able to enjoy the beer and bbq made by the children of todays brewmasters/pit masters and it will be awesome. Maybe those children will have the humility to understand how hard it is to be really good at something. Or else people will have moved onto a new fad. In the meantime, I’ll pop the top on a Heineken and start saving for my next trip to the Deep South.

 


14 Responses to “Arrogance”

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    Bill Says:

    No, you’re not just cranky, you’re spot on. That substandard football you speak of is on the horizon…the XFL. BTW, I know where some great BBQ is here in Atlanta and in S.C.

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    Bill Hagan Says:

    I loved your story about the Italian Restaurant. Dedication to your passions is a wonderful path to happiness. You may be a bit cranky but still happy!
    Enjoy a cold one, cheer for your team, and let us all know if you find that BBQ place in the GTA.

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    Craig Erickson Says:

    Great article, Moe. Well said.

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    Fiona McQuarrie Says:

    I couldn’t agree with you more about “how much work it takes to be good at something”. Like you, I think, I see this in older musicians who came up through clubs and other kinds of live performances, and so they really had to learn how to play and to connect with an audience. There’s fewer opportunities to play live now, which is a shame not only for audiences but also for musicians who are missing out on that part of developing their craft.

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    Terry McManus Says:

    Loved it Moe. Lots of good insight and said with passion.

    If I may refer you to the barbecue people of my early childhood in Alabama.

    Carlile’s Barbecue in Scotsboro Alabama. You may not want to come back to Canada after one of their “inside outside heavy on the sauce” sandwiches! 🙂

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    Chris Brunetto Says:

    This was a good read. I think it speaks volumes to what we all think at times as we get older. When I was younger, I used to make videos with my video camera. I had to take classes and get a producers license in order to make sketch comedy shows on public access TV. I thought to myself “anybody can do this if they take classes and learn how”. Then I started seeing a lot of other people making shows on television. Now we have YouTube. Now anybody with a cell phone can make a show. I guess what the real question is, is what will rise to the top from this. If anyone can make a television show then somebody is going to make a television show that’s better than all the others. If people are recording music in their bedrooms, then that may be the new production style. But some will be inspired rise above. There is nothing new under the sun. Things that become easier for all of us will inspire others to go to the next level. People that open a restaurant and serve average food will not survive. It will only inspire others to make better food. If you’re making beer in your bathtub somebody is going to take it to the next level. People are fickle and finicky. There may be 1000 craft brew beer bottles available but people won’t drink them all. People will gravitate toward something better and a new level of taste and quality will arise. One thing is for sure, we all want the next best thing. We eat french fries at the fair because they’re available. We drink beers because of the label on the name. But quality comes with attitude, development, and passion. There is no substitute for those things. I agree with your statements. Anybody can do anything. But if it’s not worth a damn it won’t last long.

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    Tara Says:

    Hey Moe,
    Jc and I spend a ton of time in TX. If you like TX bbq, and haven’t tried it yet, give Adamson Bbq a go. He has spent a lot of time learning his craft in TX and trust me it show….Fine Bbq indeed.
    Cheers

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    Lee Ladouceur Says:

    Well said Moe. You voice what many are thinking but in a much more eloquent way. You help people see another perspective and you get people thinking. Thanks for sharing.

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    Steven Baldwick Says:

    On the craft beer thing…this may be where Moe might be becoming a cranky older guy, finger-pointing at something he’s not used to/comfortable with, something he doesn’t want to try.

    I have gotten into craft beer. I have tried many different ones, now I know what I gravitate towards, as in a hop-forward IPA kind of thing. I stay away from weird words such as “sour.”

    I had the occasion to have one of Moe’s favourite Heinekens recently. Certainly a good beer. But for me, now, there was something lacking. The next one was a Lagunitas IPA. Dude.

    One thing is true. You don’t even need to own brewery equipment to market a craft beer. “Contract” brands just get a recipe and pay a facility to brew/package it. As in Lost Craft. So in that aspect, Moe’s point is taken.

    Love TPOH, looking forward to tonight’s show!

    Cheers!

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    Garth Lienemann Says:

    Moe, I’ve been a fan since I’m An Adult Now was a staple on MTV. I was digging around trying to find out what you (and/or the band) have been up to lately. Seeing you are a music producer now, I’m wondering if you could help with some advice. My girlfriend’s son (age 19) was recruited to play baseball at a junior college in Iowa but broke his wrist in his throwing hand during practice last semester. It’s not healing as quickly as hoped, and he now wants to drop out of school to “make beats and dj”. I don’t think he has delusions of becoming the next Marshmallow, but wants to lay down tracks and see if any hip hop artists will want to work with him (he’s heard stories that Drake sometimes finds a random beat online or posted to his instagram and decides to work with that artist). Would you be able to give me some of your thoughts on the correct way to get into audio production, and if there are legitimate schools he should consider attending if that is truly a passion of his? Thanks for taking the time to read this. Keep rocking!

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    Buck Says:

    “These nouveau pit masters and brew masters are starting companies and employing people and injecting life into the economy. So that’s great, right?”

    You mean like when TPOH came out with their first albums that didn’t sound like anyone else? How dare they. Why deviate from the Stone and the Who and Nirvana?

    That last sentence should NOT have a question mark. it is great. Those BBQ pits in the US South were new once, and so were the Heineken brewers.

    I remember defending your music to “purists” who called it crap. They were wrong and you are here.

    Now get off my lawn!!!!

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    John Leslie Says:

    It feels weird sort of being on the opposition (though I do agree and got a good laugh out of your craft brew analogy).

    First, I wanted to say thanks! I’ve been a fan since hearing “She’s So Young.” Like most I suppose, it started with “I’m An Adult Now” (which, lyrically I can appreciate). Since then, I’ve sought out all TPOH releases (Wonderful World.. sure ended on quite a high note.) I also enjoyed Summer’s Over very much! Hope I don’t sound like I’m gushing here, but lyrically, there’s no one better. One last thing… “Let’s Do This” (my fave song on “White Knight” ) has your fingerprints all over it, but I’m a little disappointed that you weren’t higher in the mix.

    I do have to disagree with your observation about parents and kids though. I’m sure that you’ve been out somewhere and been subjected to the person that desperately needed ear-buds. Going out to eat and wanting to relax is quite difficult, when the person at the next table is watching a youtube video (at full volume.) I wouldn’t impose on others like this and find it inconsiderate when others do. As for rambunctious kids, I think the proper/polite thing to do is to take them outside, until the noise subsides.

    Your music has brought so much pleasure, that I’d practically feel guilty if my words brought you anything less.

    P.S. I can’t pin down a favorite song because it will change depending on the mood. I will say that lyrically, in my opinion, Angelique Is A Free Spirit is the best ever written.

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    Ingrid Says:

    I’m not adventurous with craft beers myself, and am a lager snob. My fav is Carlsberg Lite (less calories lol).
    However, I was recently “forced” to try the new Against The Grain lager by High Park Brewery because it was at a corporate event, and their brews were the only ones available. I was very pleasantly surprised. You can find some of their brews in the LCBO, and you can visit them at Runnymede and St Clair. Great to meet you last weekend.

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    Eric Stahl Says:

    Nailed it. As a fan of craft beer, I was totally on board 15 years ago with its emergence. Now its annoying to me that my local liquor store is too damn confusing to make a selection at. I have gone back to Guinness stout… And I am pleased every time I open a bottle. Heineken??? OMG! Really?

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