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There's hope for the younger generation yet.:)
Music always has the potential to be cross generational, and I think that's one of the many beauties of music for sure! My partner's dad who is nearly in his 70s loves Lady Gaga, as an example. On a drive up island one time he offered to let me control his spotify account which he had hooked up via bluetooth in his car, and he was pretty shocked when I searched up and put on a German rock music from his youth. There's always going to be music that won't be to everyone's tastes (I'm not a fan of Lady Gaga), and I think truly that it boils down to personal taste and not actually one's generation that they belong to. Thematically speaking, there may be some lyrics that are more specific to certain generations, whether that's using music to comment on current events that kids born 20 years from then may not have context for, or even just generational ideals. But, overall, I think that themes such as love, adventure, heartbreak, wanderlust and much more are accessible to just about everyone and can resonate no matter when you were born. That was very eloquently stated. I’ve listened many music styles from childhood in the 50’s when I would go to bed with an all night radio station though out my life. Your point about the commonality of themes crossing multiple genres is thought provoking and can serve to link seemingly disparate generations. We are sitting on the porch of a B&B looking at mountains as I type and the vibe of your post fits in very nicely. Thanks! J&B
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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Oh that hurt  But it did bring back some fond memories 
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
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Yeah, that's rough dude Let a man dream  pretty creative production
I do not work here, but the benefits are still awesome
Make your sound your own!
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<...snip...>
I remember a time when I used to work all day as a mailman and then go to the bar and drink and dance until closing time.<...> When I was younger and greedier than sane, I used to book two gigs on the same day if I got the chance. An afternoon gig poolside, and another at a lounge in the evening. That included schlepping the gear too. I now turn down a second gig on the same day. I guess I'm less greedy and saner. On non-gig-days I used to walk 4 miles a day for exercise, now I only walk 2. I guess I'm getting lazy in my middle-age. Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
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eddie1261
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When I was younger and greedier than sane, I used to book two gigs on the same day if I got the chance. Notes, the Motown band I was in was in such demand that we worked a schedule most would not. We played Thursday night as most bands here do. Then we did a 5pm Happy Hour show Friday, then a 10-2 Friday night. Saturday we did a 1pm show, then a 9-1 bar show. Sunday was the same doubleheader. We had 2 PA systems and 3 guys who we taught to set it up. They would go to our storage, load the "night PA" into the back of the truck, and the "day PA" in front of it. They'd go to the early gig, set it up (we brought our stage gear other than my rack and the guitar amps which were in the truck) then beat feet to the night gig and set THAT PA up. Then they'd come back and as we drove to the night gig they tore down and loaded. So we played 7 shows in 4 days, from May 1 through September 30. Monday we laid in bed and rested. I was in my early 40s then and could do such things. Now I don't play at all because I don't want to move gear. I don't need more money than I bring in, so why? To stuff a bank account full to leave for the state to steal when I die? And THERE is my personal generation gap. Between my early 40s and my early 70s I traveled a LOT of hard roads... No more. Musically, that generation gap is well bridged. People decorate with retro knick-knacks, wear retro clothing, and listen to retro music. No gap! Well, maybe Gap Mangione...
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I would definitely do two gigs per day if I had someone to set up our gear for us.
Mrs. Notes and I have neither roadies nor children to help us schlep.
Our typical gig is now 3 hours. We get to the gig 1.5 hours early. It takes an hour to set-up, and the half hour is a buffer in case a cable goes belly-up or something else needs to be fixed. This rarely happens, but if we don't allow time, that's when it will pop up. It takes us another hour to tear down. So on a 3-hour gig we spend 2.5 hours set-up and tear-down.
Add to that getting the gear in the minivan, getting to the gig, driving home, and bringing the gear back inside. I live in a safe neighborhood, I have electronic protection, and the chances of someone stealing gear from my van are slight, but if it happens, the penalty is great, so I never-ever leave the gear in the van. It comes in every night no matter how late I get in.
When setting up and tearing down I sometimes think "Why do I bring so many instruments? What should I leave home?"
But when I'm gigging I think, "I wish I had also brought the ______."
I love what I do, and schlepping heavy equipment gives me weight-bearing exercise without a gym membership. And the gig goes by way too quickly. Time flies when you are having fun.
Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
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eddie1261
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And with those long days that start and end with very physical work, the verb that hoes with this job is still "play". That used to make me SO angry when people would call me and ask "You playing tonight?" My standard answer was always "No. I am WORKING tonight, but I am not playing." They see that stage time and think that's all there is to it. Somehow missing all that physical work, the solo practice time, the band rehearsal time, the expense of buying gear, the expense and time to maintain it...
Though I dished it out too. I used to rag on one of the bartenders I was close to telling her "Oh geeze. You cut fruit, you open bottles and you wash glasses. And you call that WORK?" Knowing full well they got there at 5 and worked until 3, running back and forth the whole time.
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............ They see that stage time and think that's all there is to it. Somehow missing all that physical work, the solo practice time, the band rehearsal time, the expense of buying gear, the expense and time to maintain it...
.................. I auditioned a couple of so called musicians who thought the same thing. They didn't get in the band.
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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I schlep gear, that's work.
I practice, that's not work, it's just prep time. When I figure things out and/or achieve a new skill, I get a feeling of accomplishment.
The cost of the gear is investment.
The time I spend on stage, making music for an appreciative audience, is definitely play time. It's the most fun I can have with my clothes on. For Mrs. Notes and I, it makes the schlepping, practicing, and investment worth it.
Of course, that's just us. YMMV
Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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.
The time I spend on stage, making music for an appreciative audience, is definitely play time "The only time that seems too short Is the time that we get to play" Care to guess who wrote these lyrics?
https://soundcloud.com/user-646279677BiaB 2026 Windows For me there’s no better place in the band than to have one leg in the harmony world and the other in the percussive. Thank you Paul Tutmarc and Leo Fender.
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I have been noting the fairly recent phenomenon of younger kids getting into classic music on different forums. I do maybe 10-12 gigs a year in Avalon on Catalina Island. It's a big time tourist attraction from spring to the Jazz fest in October. Cruise ships anchor just offshore and a fleet of water taxi's run people into Avalon. I'm in a classic rock band and I'll usually start things off with some funky jazz stuff then we start with the Doors, Joe Cocker, The Stones, Santana etc, etc.
The gigs are outdoors with people sitting, walking, whatever and it's all ages with a tilt towards younger. They love it. Everyone in the band has their "groupies" including me, the usually lonely keyboard player. Young people will hang around their favorite player and they seriously dig it, they're not just being polite, they really like the classic stuff. I did a gig a month ago at a nice restaurant in Marina Del Ray called Killer Shrimp with a very nice medium sized club adjacent to the restaurant part with leather couches and lounge chairs instead of bar tables and it had a dance floor. That band is different than the Catalina one, more classic soul music, Motown, War, Sly, Ohio Players, no Stones, Santana or Doors. Same thing though with young people, they loved that band as well.
Personally I'm loving it, it's giving me a whole new perspective and appreciation of young people who could be my grandchildren. I'm not talking about 40-50 year olds, more like 25-35. I've been watching what are called "Reaction" vids on YouTube where 20 somethings react to classic music they say they've never heard of before and unless they all are very good actors they are totally blown away with. It's not all rock either, it's Tom Jones, Pavoratti, Johnny Cash, Bobby Darrin, Elvis, a whole diverse plethora of singers and bands from the 50's onward. The Beatles are big with that bunch too. Those kids had no idea who any of these artists were and their reactions are fun to watch because for the most part they're very impressed. I think many of you would enjoy watching some of those. Just search YT for a singer or band with the word reaction and tons will come up.
Bob
Biab/RB latest build, Win 11 Pro, Ryzen 5 5600 G, 512 Gig SSD, 16 Gigs Ram, Steinberg UR22 MkII, Roland Sonic Cell, Kurzweil PC3, Hammond SK1, Korg PA3XPro, Garritan JABB, Hypercanvas, Sampletank 3, more.
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Just thinking out loud and only half serious here...
Could it be rebellion against the previous generation???
Not for any artistic reasons, but for the young people, rap/hip-hop is the music of their parent's generation.
After all, the first rap stars are old enough to go on Medicare now.
So is listening to grandparent's music a better alternative?
After all, it's the child's duty to rebel, and music is a safe thing to express that rebellion.
Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Just thinking out loud and only half serious here...
Could it be rebellion against the previous generation???
Not for any artistic reasons, but for the young people, rap/hip-hop is the music of their parent's generation.
After all, the first rap stars are old enough to go on Medicare now.
So is listening to grandparent's music a better alternative?
After all, it's the child's duty to rebel, and music is a safe thing to express that rebellion.
Notes ♫
I certainly hope so
Waitress "How did you find your steak sir"?
Me "I just looked next to the potatoes and there it was"!
64 bit Win 10 Pro, the latest BiaB/RB, Roland Octa-Capture audio interface, a ton of software/hardware
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but for the young people, rap/hip-hop is the music of their parent's generation. I think I'm going slightly off topic here, but I joined a local U3A group here, just to play more music, only to learn that mostly they played in retirement homes (OK) and that most of their music was, well, old and stale. "But we're playing for retirement homes". "Well, yes, but many retirees now will be fans of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, rather than of wartime songs." I couldn't get any enthusiasm within me for the music, so I parted. C'est la vie.
Last edited by Gordon Scott; 04/26/22 09:10 AM.
Jazz relative beginner, starting at a much older age than was helpful.
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That was very eloquently stated. I’ve listened many music styles from childhood in the 50’s when I would go to bed with an all night radio station though out my life. Your point about the commonality of themes crossing multiple genres is thought provoking and can serve to link seemingly disparate generations. We are sitting on the porch of a B&B looking at mountains as I type and the vibe of your post fits in very nicely. Thanks!
J&B
That was very kind of you to say, thank you so much! I hope that your B&B trip was lovely and revitalizing.
Cheers,
Ember
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That was very eloquently stated. I’ve listened many music styles from childhood in the 50’s when I would go to bed with an all night radio station though out my life. Your point about the commonality of themes crossing multiple genres is thought provoking and can serve to link seemingly disparate generations. We are sitting on the porch of a B&B looking at mountains as I type and the vibe of your post fits in very nicely. Thanks!
J&B
That was very kind of you to say, thank you so much! I hope that your B&B trip was lovely and revitalizing. Thanks! We love hiking and mountain biking in new areas. J&B PS Pardon my typos in the above … I was distracted by the surrounding beauty
Our albums and singles are on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, Pandora and more. If interested search on Janice Merritt. Thanks! Our Videos
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but for the young people, rap/hip-hop is the music of their parent's generation. I think I'm going slightly off topic here, but I joined a local U3A group here, just to play more music, only to learn that mostly they played in retirement homes (OK) and that most of their music was, well, old and stale. "But we're playing for retirement homes". "Well, yes, but many retirees now will be fans of Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, rather than of wartime songs." I couldn't get any enthusiasm within me for the music, so I parted. C'est la vie. Part of what we do is play retirement homes. Rarely we have even played "assisted living facilities". And we mostly play for mixed audiences at a restaurant right on the public beach and a huge RV Resort. The clientele ranges from toddlers to the elderly, plus tourists from all over the world. I don't agree with the old and stale - but to each their own. Old? Yes. Stale? That depends. The oldest I listen to and enjoy is Beethoven. Add Dvorak, Suk, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovitch, Saint-Saëns, de Falla etc., and Zeppelin is new.  I may be weird, but I just like listening and playing music from many eras and many genres. There are songs from just about every era that I like, and those that are written for other people. I play music for a living, and I feel very lucky to make a living doing music and nothing but music. No wage-slave day-gig, no storefront business to own with employees to contend with, no waking up to an alarm clock every day, and no answering to any superior. Playing music for a living involves playing what the audience in front of you today wants to hear. Whatever they want to hear is fun for me to play. The time on stage is when I'm truly alive, and the gig is always over way too soon. We collect requests from our audience. If something gets requested enough by the general audience, or if something gets requested by a frequent audience member, and if we can cover it (we're multi-talented but can't do everything) we'll learn it. I don't care if it's from Al Jolson or Bruno Mars. There are things I don't want to play and there are things we cannot cover as a duo. Examples: Heavy Metal - I'm not that good a guitarist, sax (the instrument I'm best at) is out of place in that genre, and we don't have amplification that will play that loud. Rap, is another. I can't talk that fast, and don't consider it music. Poetry to a beat is definitely an art form, and I have nothing against it, but as a musician who specializes in melodic instruments, I have no place in that world. Fortunately, there are enough other genres to keep me working. Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Thanks! We love hiking and mountain biking in new areas. J&B PS Pardon my typos in the above … I was distracted by the surrounding beauty No need to apologize at all, I would be distracted to! While we're here, what's some music you feel crosses the generational divide well? I'd love to hear your thoughts! That goes for anyone that would happen to run across this too.
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Personally I'm loving it, it's giving me a whole new perspective and appreciation of young people who could be my grandchildren. I'm not talking about 40-50 year olds, more like 25-35. I fall into this age bracket, and I'm just about to resume working with my vocal coach to hopefully start working towards singing opera. Baby steps though! But on that note, I just saw Don Giovanni last week, actually. I used to feel like a bit of an outlier going to the opera because it was very easy to see that generation gap. But after two years of the local opera society being suspended for in-person performances, I don't know where they came from, but I saw mostly people my own age or younger dressed to the nines to see Don Giovanni. If nothing else, I think that people my age are really open to all sorts of genres and forms of musical performances, from the experimental all the way to the absolute classics. And for the most part, all the opera singers performing tend to be around my age as well.
Cheers,
Ember
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as a duo playing with BIAB generated backing tracks until recently, we found that 60s music went down well with just about any age group. not that we didn't get requests for more recent stuff but no really unhappy listeners.
however, years ago playing with an acoustic band at an old people's home we were a little unhappy that when they saw the guitars they all took their hearing aids out................
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Band-in-a-Box® 2026 Mac Special Offers Extended Until May 31st!
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202 New RealTracks Released with Band-in-a-Box 2026!
With Band-in-a-Box® 2026, we've released 202 incredible new RealTracks (in sets 468-488) in a variety of genres—featuring your most requested styles!
Jazz, Funk & World (Sets 468-475):
Our new jazz, funk & blues RealTracks include a groovin’ collection of RealTracks and RealDrums! These include more requested “soul jazz” RealTracks featuring artists Neil Swainson (bass), Charles Treadway (organ), Brent Mason (guitar), and Wes Little (drums). There are new “smooth jazz” styles (4), which include a RealTracks first: muted trumpet, as well as slick new smooth jazz brushes options for drums. Blues lovers will be thrilled—there are more “classic acoustic blues” styles, including guitar (5), bass (4), and drums (10) with blues master Colin Linden, featuring understated and tasty background acoustic soloing, plus brushes drums and acoustic bass. There are also new electric blues RealTracks, including electric blues with PG favorite Johnny Hiland (3) and soulful electric slide guitar from Colin Linden (4). If you love funk & gospel, there are great new options this year, including gospel organ (3) from Charles Treadway, as well as new funk, tango, and rock ’n’ roll drums (3) and bass (1). And for big, bold arrangements, we have uptempo soul horns (4) featuring a three-part hip horn section with options for a full mix or stems of each individual horn — plus an accompanying rhythm section (4) of drums, bass, guitar, and electric piano!
Rock & Pop (Sets 476–482):
Our new rock & pop RealTracks bring a powerful mix of requested favorites, fresh genres, and modern chart-inspired styles! We have more of our popular “Producer Layered Acoustic Guitars (15)” featuring Band-in-a-Box favorite Brent Mason. We’ve continued our much-requested disco styles (10), and added new Celtic guitar (5) with a more basic, accessible approach than our previous Drop-D or DADGAD offerings. There are also highly requested yacht rock styles (17), inspired by the smooth, polished soft-rock sound of the late ’70s and early ’80s — laid-back grooves, silky electric pianos, warm textures, elegant harmonic movement, and pristine production aesthetics. Fans of heavier styles will love our new glam metal (13), capturing the flashy, high-energy sound of ’80s arena-ready guitar rock. We also have a set of rootsy modern-folk rock (18), with a warm, organic sound combining contemporary folk textures and driving acoustic strumming. And we’ve added lots of new modern pop styles (16) — the kinds of sounds you’re hearing on the radio today, featuring exciting new drums, synths, and cutting-edge RealTracks arrangements.
Country, & Americana (Sets 483–488):
Our new country & Americana RealTracks deliver a rich collection of acoustic, electric, and roots-inspired styles! We have new country pop (9) with legendary guitarist Brent Mason. There is also a potpourri (14) of bouzouki, guitars, banjo, and more, perfect for adding texture and character to contemporary acoustic arrangements. We’ve added funky country guitar (5) with PG favorite Brent Mason, along with classic pedal steel styles (5) featuring steel great Doug Jernigan. There are more country songwriter styles (8) that provide intimate, rootsy foundations for storytelling and modern Americana writing. Finally, we have “background soloing” acoustic guitar (12) with Brent Mason — simpler, but still very tasty acoustic lines designed to sit beautifully behind vocals or act as a subtle standalone solo part.
Check out all the 202 new RealTracks (in sets 468-488)!
And, if you are looking for more, the 2026 49-PAK (for $49) includes an impressive collection of 20 bonus RealTracks, featuring exciting and inspiring additions to add to your RealTracks library. You'll get new country-rhythm guitar styles from PG Music favorites Johnny Hiland and Brent Mason, along with modern-pop grooves that capture today’s radio-ready sound! There are also new indie-folk styles with guitar, bass, 6-string bass used as a high-chording instrument, acoustic guitar, and banjo. Plus, dedicated "cymbal fills" RealDrums provide an added layer that work very well with low-key folky styles with other percussion.
The 2026 49-PAK is loaded with other great new add-ons as well. Learn more about the 2026 49-PAK!
2026 Free Bonus PAK & 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
With your version 2026 for Mac Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, Audiophile Edition or PlusPAK purchase, we'll include a Bonus PAK full of great new Add-ons for FREE! Or upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for only $49 to receive even more NEW Add-ons including 20 additional RealTracks!
These PAKs are loaded with additional add-ons to supercharge your Band-in-a-Box®!
This Free Bonus PAK includes:
- The 2026 RealCombos Booster PAK:
-For Pro customers, this includes 27 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For MegaPAK customers, this includes 25 new RealTracks and 23 new RealStyles.
-For UltraPAK customers, this includes 12 new RealStyles.
- MIDI Styles Set 92: Look Ma! More MIDI 15: Latin Jazz
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 46: Piano & Organ
- Instrumental Studies Set 24: Groovin' Blues Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 19: Songs with Vocals 9
- Playable RealTracks Set 5
- RealDrums Stems Set 9: Cool Brushes
- SynthMaster Sounds Set 1 (with audio demos)
- iOS Android Band-in-a-Box® App
Looking for more great add-ons, then upgrade to the 2026 49-PAK for just $49 and you'll get:
- 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums with 20 RealStyle.
- FLAC Files (lossless audio files) for the 20 Bonus Unreleased RealTracks and RealDrums
- MIDI Styles Set 93: Look Ma! More MIDI 16: SynthMaster
- MIDI SuperTracks Set 47: More SynthMaster
- Instrumental Studies 25 - Soul Jazz Guitar Soloing
- Artist Performance Set 20: Songs with Vocals 10
- RealDrums Stems Set 10: Groovin' Sticks
- SynthMaster Sounds & Styles Set 2 (sounds & styles with audio demos)
Learn more about the Bonus PAK and 49-PAK for Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Mac®!
XPro & Xtra Styles PAK Sets On Sale Now - Until May 15, 2026!
All of our XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAKs are on sale until May 15th, 2026!
It's the perfect time to expand your Band-in-a-Box® style library with XPro and Xtra Styles PAKs. These additional styles for Band-in-a-Box® offer a wide range of genres designed to fit seamlessly into your projects. Each style is professionally arranged and mixed, helping enhance your songs while saving you time.
What are XPro Styles and Xtra Styles PAKs?
XPro Styles PAKs are styles that work with any version (Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition) of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). XPro Styles PAKS 1-10 includes 1,000 styles!
Xtra Styles PAKs are styles that work with the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box® 2025 (or higher). Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 includes 3,700 styles (and 35 MIDI styles)!
The XPro & Xtra Styles PAKs are not included in any Band-in-a-Box® package.
The XPro Styles PAKs 1-10 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the XPro Styles PAK Bundle for only $149 (reg. $299)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
The Xtra Styles PAKs 1-21 are available for only $29 ea (reg. $49 ea), or get them all in the Xtra Styles PAK Bundle for only $199 (reg. $349)! Listen to demos and order now! For Mac or for Windows.
Note: XPro Styles PAKs require Band-in-a-Box® 2025 or higher and are compatible with ANY package, including the Pro, MegaPAK, UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, and Audiophile Edition.
The Xtra Styles require the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition of Band-in-a-Box®. (Xtra Styles PAK 19 requires the 2025 or higher UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition. They will not work with the Pro or MegaPAK version as they require the RealTracks included in the UltraPAK, UltraPAK+, or Audiophile Edition.
Supercharge your Band-in-a-Box today with XPro Styles PAKs and Xtra Styles PAK Sets!
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