HIP TO THE SCENE: WHAT IS A LOCAL MUSIC SCENE?
By Ray West
What is a music scene? What makes Key West’s special?
Let’s start with the music store. Sure there’s the internet for music supply orders, but that...
HIP TO THE SCENE: THERE’S MUSIC IN THE AIR
By Ray West
In Key West, music is always in the air. On a short walk you can hear that sweet grit of blues slicing through the rhythmic...
HIP TO THE SCENE: THE BLUES IN PARADISE
Recently the world, and Key West in particular, lost a blues icon, one Mr. Bill Blue. Many great articles and tributes have been written about the man,...
HIP TO THE SCENE: THE ART OF THE OPEN MIC
The open microphone: Perhaps the most inviting and intimidating piece of communication technology ever assembled. To some, the open mic at your local bar conjures mental images...
HIP TO THE SCENE: SIDEWALK SINGERS SEE IT ALL
When many of us think of street musicians, we think of the more unfortunate side of homelessness. The reasons people end up where they do is beyond...
HIP TO THE SCENE: UNDER THE INFLUENCE (OF MUSIC)
By Ray West
“Who is your greatest musical influence?” It’s one of the most common questions asked of a famous artist. We’ve all heard the myriad responses, but...
HIP TO THE SCENE: FOR THE LOVE OF AN OLD GUITAR
By Ray West
The world of musical equipment is vast and overwhelming. Every day there is a “new and better,” a “magic tone,” a gadget with every guitar...
HIP TO THE SCENE: NOMINATE YOUR FAVES FOR THE KEY WEST MUSIC AWARDS
And the Iggy goes to…
While the Academy Awards bestow Oscars, the Key West Music Awards are known as the Iggies, created to honor local musical talent.
Key West...
HIP TO THE SCENE: THE SONG OF THE SIDEMAN
From the studio engineer who smiles as he applies auto-tune to a struggling artist's soprano vocals, to the tech who switches the guitarist’s foot pedals from behind...
HIP TO THE SCENE: STRANGERS ‘TIL TONIGHT
By Ray West
One of the musical questions I most frequently encounter is, “How do people who have never played together, play together?” It is a difficult question...
