"So you want to be a rock'n roll star then listen now to what I say, Just get an electric guitar and take some time and learn how to play, And when your hair's combed right and your pants fit tight it's gonna be all right…" - The Byrds

I took a listen to this song after reading a post on Facebook by Wando High School student Eddie Lamm. At quite a young age, Lamm has become quite the musician. I have seen him play bass in a few different bands, most notably to me, Casa-Nova. They were the first band to compete in the March Madness Battle of The Bands last month. Although they didn't win, all of the judges were impressed by their talent. I was surprised to find out after their set that it was their very first performance.

But the post contained a film clip from a documentary "Insurgentes" by director Lasse Hoile (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOmn3AV5Zbw), in which Steven Wilson )of the progressive rock band Porcupine Tree) discusses the current state of the music industry. In it, he basically says some things that I have known all along.

In the late 80's, the record companies began to lose control over the industries. Great strides in technology gave artists the ability to record, mix and promote their own music. The DIY (do it yourself ) movement was off and running. Early successes by Guided By Voices and Primitive Radio Gods became the norm as more and more affordable recording devices became available for home use.

As the new millennium began, the Internet became a household portal for every kind of information you could imagine. Social networking sites such as Myspace, Unsigned.com, and Sonicbids, became a launching pad for anyone of any age with the technical and musical skills to get their music "out there".

During my tenure at the Village Tavern, I saw bands from all over the world come through with no label support and no radio airplay, fill the room with local fans that had found them on the Internet. I imagine that some fat cats in the large label conglomerates were shaking in their boots. Good for them. After years of ripping artists off and shoving bland lowest common denominator "music" down the throats of the general public, they deserved it.

The industry response could have been to embrace the diversity of the music that found its way to the general public through these new mediums but they did exactly the opposite. They , riding the wave of "reality TV" (a contradiction in terms), came up with "American Idol." Another way to tell you that more of the same music used to sell products is art.

The truth is, "American Idol" is a glorified karaoke/popularity contest. No artists that aren't mainstream radio wannabes ever make it, regardless of talent. And in keeping with the way of thinking that causes young girls to develop eating disorders, only the beautiful people go to Hollywood. There are exceptions of course, but the only time I watched the show this season, the best singer in the competition was voted off by the viewers. I guess talent didn't matter because the guy was slightly overweight and married with a child. I do applaud the judges for using a one per season save to keep someone in the competition, but the whole thing is a farce and I would bet that ability to fit into toothpaste ads is more important than talent. I expect that some cute teenager with the right haircut will win.

But if you want to see some real music, by real musicians, in honor of and to raise money for one of the best musicians that live in the area, on Sunday, April 18 at Buddy Roes Shrimp Shack it's Billy Koppel Fest. Billy has been a mainstay of the East Cooper music scene for more than a few years. I have seen him play with Lowcountry Collection, with singer/songwriter Robert Hutto and by himself. But did you know that for quite sometime he was a member of The Box Tops? I'm sure there are many other accomplishments that Billy has achieved over the years. Now he has emphysema and some of the major players in the East Cooper music scene are banding together to raise money and awareness.

Here is a list of performers you will be able to see starting at 4 p.m.: Ronnie Johnson, Chris Clifton, Bobby Tobin, Carroll Brown, Susie & Al, David Owens, Jef Wilson, Allnightkungfu, Frank Carlier, Hugh Price, Jason Eary, Kim Johnson and Grace Evans.

What a great cause and a great line up of talent.

Come on out and support this great cause, hear some great music and if you're not careful, you just might learn something!

(Stu Johnson can be contacted at sjohnson@allnightkungfu.com)