"Technology has totally democratized rock."

The story chronicles the fledgling but startling success of bands such as the Muldoons and the Tiny Masters of Today – bands made of up kids under 12 years old. Do-it-yourself music produced by these bands is possible because of technologies like Apple's GarageBand and blog sites like MySpace.com. My 16 year-old son is in on it with at least one song out there and I even helped out on a CD (Le Coupe) produced on a Apple Mac in my friend Josh's studio apartment.

What does it mean? Well, perhaps a lot of music gets made that would never have made it out of the garage only a few years ago. Is all this music good and worthy of production? Will anyone listen?  Who is to judge? 

That is the point. We the people judge. We vote by downloading on iTunes, listening on myspace and watching on YouTube. That means anyone can make music, put it out there and see if someone is interested. No music industry suits to coddle, impress or bribe. Just make music and share it. And on the other side, anyone can search and find music to their taste.  No industry suits to meddle and overcharge.

My friend Ryan Williams is trying to live the dream. His plays drums for I’Kona. Their songs have been played almost 100,000 times and list about 8,000 friends on their mypace site. I’Kona caught enough attention to open last week for Grammy award winner Blues Traveler for four dates in Southern California and Las Vegas at the House of Blues. According to Ryan, the best part was how John Popper and the Blues Traveler guys treated the I’kona band members and encouraged them.

It was a dream come true for the band and perhaps a connection that may get I’Kona over the hump. In any case, for Ryan and his band mates it was inspiration to watch and learn from an accomplished and critically as well as commercially successful band. Ryan said, ”Right after our set I'm chilling taking down my drum kit and up walks the legendary John Popper himself. He was the COOLEST guy!!! It was such a pleasant surprise at how rad he was. He chatted with me for a good five minutes.” By the last show at HOB Sunset, I’Kona was feeling it. According to Ryan, “After the show John (Popper) goes up to Aaron, our front man, and tells him ‘You’re right there man, right there, don't give up, you guys are gonna make it, you’re right there!!!!’ Talk about inspiration for us as a struggling up and coming band!!”

Most of us are up and coming at something. It is always nice to get a vote of confidence and a hand up from someone at the top.