Conquer and Divide
Break it ’til you make it.
I played a show just north of Boston around Christmas time years ago with a few other bands, some pretty famous, some simply great and on their way.
I was standing at the merch booth meeting fans with a guitar player from one of the bands that I was completely blown away by. They were signed to Columbia Records. It was winter and the snow was coming down outside of the auditorium.
The current weather conversation led him to mention that his band was headed back to Cleveland, OH after the show. It would normally be over a 10-hour trip on clear roads.
When I asked why they weren’t just staying the night, he said that he had to work on Monday morning. I asked, “work?” He said, “Yeah, I work at a gas station.”
I’ve never forgotten that. Major label…gas station.
My eyes immediately opened and the term “record deal” took on a whole new meaning.
He was a fantastic guitar player, I don’t recall him singing at all during the show or even having a microphone in front of him. Maybe that was it. It’s hard to have a side hustle as a solo performer for a lot of artists who don’t also sing. Then again, I’d worked at a gas station/convenience store long ago. It actually was probably my favorite job of all back then. I met a ton of people, got to see repeat customers, and learned a lot about them. There was never a lack of good conversation with them and those that I also worked with. Plus, at the end of the day, I could leave the job right there until my next shift. The money wasn’t great, but the job sure was.
Making room to grow
On a Tuesday evening, I decided to quit the cover band that I was in. It was at that same convenience store when during my shift, a friend of mine that I hadn’t seen in a few years walked in two years prior and asked if I’d been playing music. I had been, but nothing serious. He asked if I wanted to get together with his band. I agreed, and the next Sunday we rehearsed for 10 hours.
The next morning, they fired their guitar player and for the next two years, we built the band up bigger than it had been, got some great endorsements and sponsorships, and recorded a single that I had written. The area radio stations were all about us and pushed us like crazy. Every venue had a line out the door for each show that we played, and we played a ton.
On that Tuesday, I couldn’t shake the few conversations we’d all had about what was next. It was clear that they were happy right where we’d managed to be at that moment- cover shows, maybe record another song, filling venues and dance floors. Unfortunately, that wasn’t me. When I hit a ceiling, I either break through or quietly exit and move to the next building to see what’s inside.
I called a couple of the guys to try to schedule something to get together to break the news, but they knew something was up and wanted to hear it right then. I was out.
We had a last weekend bash at one of our favorite venues and played two packed nights to so many people who had supported us during that time. I remember the four of us standing with our backs to the bar at the end of the second night and someone coming up and asking why we were breaking up. Without saying a word, the other three all pointed their fingers at me.
With a little help from my friends
I started playing some solo shows at local clubs. Within a month or so, I borrowed some recording gear and spent the next three days recording three songs that I’d written while writing three more and recording those as well. I barely slept, but I was full of determination. I loved every minute of it. I had a plan. I had no money, but I had a plan.
Everything was recorded and mixed down, but I was financially strapped.
I had a good friend whose family owned a pizza place in town and another in the next town. He was a fan of the band that I’d just left and I shared my vision of going solo. I told him about the recording and how I was stuck on the financial part of it. He graciously offered to fund the duplication costs in trade for his restaurants being added to the liner notes.
If you can find a physical copy anywhere, you’ll also find their names. Both are still in business and doing just fine. I have a feeling that my release helped in absolutely no way, but man, I’m still so appreciative to this day for his generosity and friendship.
The best way to describe the release? Raw and stripped down. Clearly. Not. Polished. However, it was mine- my songs, my voice, something tangible. It sold literally zero copies on the night it was released to a bar full of people. Wanna hear that story? My podcast has “The Flannel Bandanna EP Story.”
It’s not you, it’s me
I hooked up with a fantastic booking agent who kept me very busy for the next few years. I flipped the solo thing to a duo, we played close to 250 shows a year and released the single “Goodbye” which got some serious love in the Boston area both on mainstream and college radio. That story? Yep, on my podcast- “The Goodbye Discussion.”
We had also released a live record that you may be able to find a copy of tucked away in a box in the closets of college students who are now all responsible adults.
Within days of the last duo show, I got a call from a management company wanting to work with us. Strangely, that was also on a Tuesday.
I’d definitely heard of them as they also promoted some of the biggest shows north of Boston. I broke the news that the duo was no more and said that if they wanted to work with me as a solo artist, I was in. The question on the phone was, “Well, you write the songs, correct?”
Yes, I do.
That began a few years of great shows, another record (“July”), and some great opportunities.
Remember that ceiling? If only I could see what others see as the top before I embark on that journey with them. If only we all could.
I hit it again. This time, though, I didn’t know where to go. So, I just played.
I played a bunch of cover shows while tossing in my originals where I saw fit. I played some shows with fantastic musicians, some names everyone knew, some with names everyone should know, and I’d made a choice to start over from where I was, which meant taking some steps back.
I pushed along. I played shows including some that were all original to areas where I knew I’d had a fanbase and was pleasantly surprised by the support that I’d received.
During that time, I also dabbled in some concert production efforts promoting some pretty great events.
When opportunity knocks
Fast forwarding a little bit, I performed a couple of shows with someone that I’d grown up with. We’d played in a high school band together and he’d gone on to do some pretty great things that generated him a couple of top 20 & top 30 hit songs.
We had just wrapped up the last date. Walking to our vehicles and saying our goodbyes as we left the green room, he stopped and said, “Come to LA and let’s make a record.”
Fast forward again, and the “Everything Has Past” EP was made. Incredible musicians and music biz pros.
Produced by Steve Bertrand (The Tories, Avion), “Everything Has Past” features drummer Kenny Aronoff (best known as John Mellencamp’s drummer), bassist Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morrisette), guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme (The Calling, Lifehouse) and keyboardist Scott Simons (LA-based Solo Artist). Added to the mix were Grammy Nominee & Juno Award winner James “Jimbo” Barton assisting with engineering & world-class Mastering Engineer Tom Baker (Precision Mastering). The EP contains a power-packed punch of fresh, new material that will fit perfectly into the collection of any fan of today’s new rock music. Bertrand states of the new release, “Snow Patrol meets Kings Of Leon……the best recorded version of Sean McCarthy to date.”
That’s the write-up. It was another opportunity to get to another level, to break through another ceiling.
Since that record I’ve released a couple of singles and a live EP. I’ve put out some new and old demos of songs on other formats, written a bunch for film and television, and I’ve been focusing more on getting the music out to more people and performing.
If you’re reading this, thank you. Your time & support mean more to me than you know. I hope you like the music, I hope you’ll come to see a show or tune into a live stream.
