Of course there are plenty of great songs that have endured the test of time. Some artists have even spanned decades. There are bands of the past that have new fans every generation. The Beatles for example still sell a decent number of CD's or downloads. Aerosmith and the Rolling Stones are on their 10th farewell tour.

This brings me to my overall point of emphasis. Why does the mainstream section of the music industry act as if there is a vast difference between music from the past and so called modern music?

Obviously I understand the needful process of placing songs and artists into a genre'. However that sometimes becomes a hazy boundary since many artists have various influences. Not to mention the crossover artists. In a similiar perspective the studio production of today's music makes it sound more modern then the actual notes or structure of a songwriting has actually changed.

Take a band like Nickleback. They are really the same ballpark as 70's rock. Frankly you can listen to music as far back as you can go and the elements of a song are common. This is not to say that nothing has changed. For example James Brown placed the emphasis on the first and the third beat of a

4 / 4 measure when many artists before accented the second and fourth note. It is still a 4 / 4 arrangement though.

So if you take comparable genre's from past and present you sense the theme. That is why bands can last 30 - 40 years. Or why many artists do a cover version of old songs. Even so called newer music like Hip-Hop or Rap is not dramatically different from some "older" music. There is a heavy dose of R&B mixed with a cadence style lyrics. The RAP part, Rhythm And Poetry, is quite comparable to some 1950 and 1960's coffee house rhymes.

Mixing the rhymed cadence with modern technology and putting R&B back beat was a fresh new twist of course. This is just one example.

So why is it that some bands coming up who are inspired by past artists and styles are shot down by major industry reps as being outdated? At the same time this "outdated" music is being downloaded and purchased by kids and adults. It is one thing if the band just isn't good enough or they are trying to dircetly reproduce an artists sound that you already have under contract. Or for example we don't need a modern day Beatles, but that doesn't mean that a present day band can't play in that style.

In fact my kids find these Indie label bands that have their own core following and they are recording and playing in the style of what the big record companies call old outdated music. The White Stripes were a perfect example. Or take the boy bands of the recent past who took a Doo - Wop styled format and blended ot with more R&B to become Boyz To Men or The Back Street Boys.

Or take what the so called Emo and/or Alternative rock bands are doing. They play rock songs recorded in digital technology, thus having some special effects not available in the past. And they throw some growl like screams or "I have a demon voice" into the vocals. Different but not re-inventing the wheel.

In summary, it appears that some mediocre to god awful bands who are deemed relevant and/or modern are pushed and chosen over quality music by quality musicians rewarded. Yes I know it is a financially focused industry but people are buying more of what some call "retro" then the percentage of people buying the garbage that's out there. In fact many of the kids and young adults are buying tickets to see the Indie groups more than big label trendy bands.

And I am not saying that if I do not like it then it is garbage. I don't like Marilyn Manson but I see the talent they have. I don't like Snoop Dogg but clearly he has a unique ability to rap. Where as there are clearly others who are just a cookie cutter or contrived trendy sound that flat out stink to high heaven.

I guess I should just embrace the fact that modern technology and smaller Independant labels are doing what I feel is the right approach. They put plain old good music out there for the most part. I may not prefer it but artists are chosen based on their talent whether they sound modern or classic. Those who may be considered modern and/or trendy but others are keeping the time proven tradition of good solid songwriting presnted in a familiar format. Famaliar instead of "dated".

All in all I probably sound like a whiner. The bottom line is some artists like to find something new while others like maintaining the greatness of the past. Others want to build on the success of previous bands from days gone by while some are trying to break new ground. In the end I wish those with the largest impact on radioplay would not limit those songs that they call "outdated". What's wrong with having a style like Journey, or Chuck Berry, or even Elvis. If it is good music there is a market.

I have always admired people who just seem to know all the coolest, most interesting indie bands and have always wondered how they knew. Now I can finally be a part of this great phenomenon and in this article I want to talk about one band in particular.

FOIL, a San Diego rock band, has been performing for over five years and has enjoyed much success during this time. They have already achieved celebrity in their hometown, with performances bringing in loyal fans who attend eagerly and often with the greatest hope that their personal copy of FOIL's album "13" will get signed by one of the band members: Sir Patrick Mack (lead vocals), Bob (Bass), I-Ball (Guitar) and Cal (Drums).

FOIL's music takes their fans by surprise with positive, uplifting, transcending song lyrics. The messages found in such songs like "I Awake" and "Beautiful Day to Die" appeals to people of all age ranges and backgrounds as well. This rock band has found the key to touching people of all ages in the deepest and most profoundly moving ways possible.

This is what the greatest musicians of our time have been able to accomplish. This is what great music is all about.

This is why FOIL is continuing to enjoy an upward move toward worldwide celebrity; a band that will, without a doubt be in the same company of U2, Pink Floyd, and the multitude other greats musicians that will always be a part of this great country's pride and culture.

(FOIL is also a L.A. Music awards nominee! This is RED CARPET coverage!)