IMPROVING YOUR GRADES WITH MBG

(ACTUAL E-MAIL RECEIVED 4-22-99)

oh, i feel as though i should tell you that i wrote a paper for my world music history class about an interview i recently had with a

dr. jon bruschke about his band and his music. i got the only A in the class. are you surprised? well, i hope you are not mad, i didn't

make anything up, it was all true, i even used your website. well anyway, i just felt guilty and i wanted you to know, i hope you don't mind. but,

it was mainly stuff that we have talked about anyways. well, i should stop now

bye

me (name changed to protect the innocent)

COMMENT: How the hell did that teacher get put in charge of a college class. Doesn't he know anything about music?

Another actual email:

When these two guys, Bill and Jon, agreed to fly from Waco and Fullerton play at our Salt Lake City wedding in 1999, at no charge, I knew we had some dudes really committed to the process of making their music, or dudes that just needed to be committed. Half way between Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah, up a canyon called Parley's, is a little patch of green and trees called Mountain Dell Park and Golf Course. Normally, recreating at about 6,000 feet elevation can be a nice break from the concrete-enhanced heat of SLC, but at the end of September, the temperature

can be described as nothing short of *(&$(*) cold! Not only did these two old (thirty something) guys with questionable circulation play that blustery Saturday, but they played with enthusiastic abandon. I mean, you could actually see on their faces and in their posturing the look of pure joy at having another opportunity to play and share their music. (Or perhaps the posturing and facial expressions could bemore accurately attributed to attempts to stay warm?) Anyway, let me tell you that Jon himself was SO committed to the opportunity to play that he even volunteered to marry Liz and me that day as well. How could we possibly decline? And, just so you'll really know how far Jon is willing to go to play music, he even sang MacKenzie's (my then 8-year-old-daughter) request for Smashmouth's "All Star" (then all the rage, of course); and he did it, as Arlo would say, "with feeling." I still carry the scars from the tears freezing to my face that day. Jon and Bill, I hope you two keep playin' and sharin'! And so, in addition to Spring Training in AZ, and trekking AK, I now have another travel dream: To make it to Knuckleheads or some future venue to hear you guys actually play your own music live one day ...

Respectfully submitted, Leo Leckie

COMMENT: We hasten to point out that not all audience members are scarred so literally. We typically play with the abandon mentioned here, although what is often abandoned is the key and the melody. We thank Leo for his kind words.

THESE ARE WHAT OUR COMPLIMENTS SOUND LIKE (you should hear what the insults are like)

(ACTUAL E-MAIL RECEIVED 5-4-99)

John,

Bill sent a copy of your CD and I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised. In fact, I loved it. I was not expecting such high quality, hip tunes.

thanks for the auditory enjoyment.

COMMENT: This note pleasantly surprised me, and praise surely surprises us more than the music surprised you.

THESE ARE WHAT OUR INSULTS SOUND LIKE

Okay, Jon. I've had time to process your songs. "Miss Anaheim" got to me a bit ... ya see, I know about these type of women that you (sort of) despise, but usually, there's more to becomming this "type of woman" than what meets the eye. So I have read many a psychology book (and have appropriately learned the "psychobabble" terminology) to better understand human behavior. Many glamour queens have hidden bruises that makeup and coiffed hairdos (pretend to) conceal, as I'm sure you are aware.

I'm sure that you know that beyond the glamour, there may be an individual just as insecure as everyone else (for the most part). And many of these women are actually taught to identify with looks at the expense of everything else. What's worse is that many do not learn to rely on more, and beauty is ephemeral, as your song so poignantly suggests.

Why am I so intent on responding to this song??? Oh, it was just an opportunity to click-on the "Feedback" button and give you a hard time! Actually, it's another one of those deals where you think that you have "fan" mail, (notes from groupies, whatever), only to find out that it's some pain in the neck, complaining!! (The price for fame and fortune and being a "rock star"!!)

(I'm really not trying to give you a hard time. I think you write well.)

Best of luck to you and Mary's Garage Band. I'm sure the band sounds great.

COMMENT: Most people are sure that the band sounds great until they actually hear it. I will say that there was a 3rd verse to the song originally that was more conciliatory, but on Bill's suggestion I took it out. The result is something more bitter. The song was meant to be an indictment of the beauty culture and the damage it does to everyone, including the contestants, but I guess that didn't come across so well. Other songs ("Wake up") have capture that idea more adequately.