Today marked the release of a low budget music video for the song Day Drinkin’ in Chicago.  Now the title track, as it were, to the upcoming Chicago Day Drinking, Beerfinger’s fourth album, I put the video together over the course of two days.  Quarantine imposed its usual limitations on things, but I tried to navigate them the best I could.  After all, that’s one of the aspects I enjoy about composing music.

I won’t lie about my abilities.  I am very, to put it kindly, limited in my capacity when it comes to instruments.  So, things tend to be considerably basic as far as musical structure.  However, I like being reminded that I can’t shred like Tosin Abasi; that I don’t have the vocals of Brittney Slayes, Randy Blythe, or Devin Townsend.  It means I have certain avenues I know to ignore while others I explore. 

Yes, on occasion, especially because I have issues with depression, those limitations can feel restrictive.  Many times my initial ideas for songs are defeated by my inability to make the music conform to the notion in my head.  However, if I could do the things I want, there’s a chance certain tunes wouldn’t be unique unto themselves.  The original inclination for Uncle Stumble’s Mumble Juice lay closer to Wynona’s Big Brown Beaver than the song it became.  Yet, I’m happy with the outcome. 

After finishing Day Drinkin’ in Chicago, I went over about a half dozen ideas.  None of them bore fruit.  Many of the limitations stemmed from quarantine complications, while others revolved around my desire to spend as little money as possible.  I refuse to be one of those people who tosses a thousand dollars into a gimmicky video.  It’s just not in my nature since, frankly, I need that money my own self these days.  At the same time, having every option money can buy is not always for the best. 

All of this could be summed up by part of the movie Walk Hard:  The Dewey Cox Story.  At one point in the film, musician Dewey Cox is struggling to compose his masterpiece.  As such, he brings in every known musical instrument, choirs composed of gospel singers and tribal chanters, and the whole thing is one giant mess.  That’s what makes limitations great.  It forces a person to work with what they have to make the best thing possible.  There’re no distractions from other possibilities. 

Look at bands like Mantar or The White Stripes.  Two people—guitarist/vocalist and drummer—creating music more layered and expressive than acts like… well, I don’t want to name names.  We all have those performers we don’t care for and the reasoning isn’t always objective.  Suffice it to say, you know bands I’m talking about.  Singers and musicians who have everything at their disposal yet make nothing that sparks a raw feeling. 

My goal is simply to entertain which is oddly enough not that simple.  Yet if I smirk or chuckle at an image it’s a safe bet someone else will too.  I’ve always believed no one is so unique they can’t relate to another person.  Does that mean what I find funny or entertaining will have the same effect on millions?  Statistically speaking, there’re over seven billion people on this planet.  I think a few hundred will enjoy what I do. 

Applying all this to the video, I shot a couple of goofy setups.  It took a heap of time because shooting alone consumes a lot of seconds.  However, once I sat down to edit, I found enough material to flesh out a merrily stupid video.  It’s simple but fun and conveys the spirit of the song.  And for once, instead of trying to do everything myself, I embraced the ease of utilizing stock footage. 

My point with all this is that in these times we’re all limited.  There’s so much we think about doing, wanting to make happen, but only so much we can actually expect.  However, there’s nothing stopping us from producing moments beautiful, funny, goofy, delightfully foolish, and all around wonderful.  It’s when we give up trying that we truly fail.

In the end, who knows what the future holds?  Maybe there’s a tomorrow where all things become possible.  In that eventuality, I might do another version of Day Drinkin’ in Chicago that’s closer to this, this, or even this.  I guess that all depends on how well things sell… unsubtle hint.

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