Meade Sings

 This is a reprint of a now deceased article from Death and Taxes Blog printed June 20th, 2012 Meade Skelton’s ‘Hipsters Ruin Everything’ may be hipster anthem we’ve all been waiting for Meade Skelton is a guy from Virginia who hates Obama, hipsters, and untucking his shirt. He has a blog, and spends most of the day blogging about how much he wants to sing, how much he hates Obama, how much he dislikes drums, and detailing his weight loss. He also uploads a lot of his songs to YouTube. Now, the cynic in me wants to simply write him off as a guy in a small town with a keyboard (which he names “Bessie,” by the way) – but to be honest, there’s something about him that screams “outsider art” moreso than most any other random YouTube / blog find. He comes across like the Daniel Johnston of keyboard-based coffee shop country – a description that no doubt will set his rivaled hipsters ears on fire. For all the vast amount of information that the internet has to offer, its rare to ...

From "We Talk In Circles"

From the Album "Coffee Shop Country". Had fun filming this in town and in my bedroom.

I released a new singled called "The Courage Ride". Available now through Bandcamp The Courage Ride-Bandcamp Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Everyone! I had quite a few Christmas parties this year. Sadly,  I didn't do much with the band. But we are working on our new album release. We have plans to go out to Memphis next June and sing at Graceland. They have a very awesome stage for bands to play there. I miss getting out and singing the way I used to at the coffee shops and the small clubs. But I believe God will be opening more doors for me again soon. Perhaps that chapter is over, and a new modern one begins. To date, I have written over 200 songs that I feel have quality potential. I like to try out new styles. I verge on the Pop at times, but my forte is the "folky side" of Country Music. That is where my heart lies. I am going to take guitar lessons and voice lessons again soon to improve my technique. I'm also back in college now. So I am do...

In High school I was active in choir, and even did some class plays.  Eventually, I did have a nervous break down and had to be home schooled, but at that point, I became more serious about doing musical performance. I didn't really perform out much as a teenager, but I did get my start doing the nursing home circuit. When I was in my mid to late teens, I performed at various  nursing and retirement homes all over the Virginia, Maryland, and West Virginia area. I did a variety of songs, but very few of my originals. I did mostly covers from the past. A lot of the old folks seemed to enjoy it. They would ask me how I knew all these "old songs". I just told them from my grandfather's record collection.  In those days, most of the people were still alive from the World War II generation. The legacy of Patsy Cline was strong, because she sang at many of the bars and restaurants in the Tri State area.  This area was her stomping ground. Some people in the area still res...

My first musical livestream went pretty well. Here it is in playback mode:

It's hard to believe that this show is still on. I suppose it's no accounting for the taste of the general public. None of these "singers" are really talented.  Why don't they just call it "cookie cutter idol"?   Every singer on American Idol feels the need to sing as loudly as they possibly can at the top of their lungs. With no idea about what purpose the song serves. No nuance. Just loud belting. No artistic interpretation.  But forget about all that. This show has been on the air for coming almost 20 years now?  And it has produced nothing. This show is also so dated. It's stuck in the early 2000's. We have had You Tube for quite awhile now. Alternative media is rising. No one really needs reality television anymore to get a fan base. I remember when Richmond local Eliott Yamin was the toast of the town. We are about the same age. I remember being very jealous of him. Now I feel sorry for him. It's as if the show American Idol killed hi...

Hello Readers, Please take my music survey when you can. The purpose is a peer review study in order to find out how I can improve, and what perceptions people may have. It is anonymous, and your feedback is greatly appreciated. Here is the link:  MEADE SKELTON MUSIC SURVEY

I have been in the "business" awhile, and here are some Pro tips for the younger folks who may be trying to get foot in the door of the music world. Whether it's just local, national, or otherwise,  I hope these tips may be of valuable use to someone who is trying to find their niche. 1.Don't Try Too Hard To be "Different" or "Original" Just being "different" for different sake, is not going to work long term. It may help as a gimmick, but people grow tired of this. Try to be authentic, and true to yourself. If you are a bit odd, that is fine. But don't try so hard to be "unique". It will look forced. There is nothing new under the sun. If you are struggling, try and make music that exploits your own personality: something that funnels and channels who you are as a person . Audiences will respond to that. Be yourself on stage. (This does necessarily not apply to tribute artists) 2.Try to Sing in Your Own vo...

More Recordings Come soon, folks!  I am going back into the studio in the Spring to record some songs  with The Meadow Street Band. We will do some the favorites we play in our shows, as well as some of my original tunes. Songs that will be recorded this year include: -Some Christmas songs such as    "In A Humble Place" -"Say Yes"- A semi CC number I wrote a few years back -"Night Rider's Lament"- A Garth Brooks tune -"Love Is A Rose"- An MSB standard And my newer Pop Country tune "Let's Run Away". I have some other songs as well. I am planning to try and get my Christmas album vinyl release by Christmas 2019. Not sure, yet. If not, it will certainly be available by next year. It will be the continuation of "Christmas Joy"- with 12 Christmas songs for Yuletide Merriment and reflection!

I some times forget that I'm a public figure. I assume most no one has heard of me. But upon occasion I will be reminded by someone I encounter in public that has heard of me or my music, or both. that there is definitely more people that know of me, than not.  I usually air on the side of caution when being approached by strangers, but I am very appreciative of people who enjoy the music and I really think they are swell! Some times people do ask me if I'm that musician guy who wrote the "sweet tea song"... Or they mention hipsters.  I get approached by a lot of people from out of nowhere and usually when I am least expecting it. The other night , a man next to me in the check out line of Kroger's,  was singing the words to "Sweet Tea". He then broke out into some song by the Georgia Satellites. I guess he didn't want me to know who he was ,but that he know who I was.   So, things like this do happen! He definitely had good taste in music. Some ...

                                          I had the pleasure of singing at Colonial Williamsburg again for paying gigs, and it felt great! The backdrop of the historic area is very inspiring for a musician, and it's a great atmosphere that lingers on the palate. I did the Williamsburg Farmer's market in late September. Still very humid, but I made it through. I had a lot of children that enjoyed some of my songs such as "Me and My Horse", "Old Bus 48",   and others. The weather was splendid  Afterwards, I stopped to get a sandwich and was pretty tired. I had planned to stay at a hotel the night before (for an early morning show) , but just couldn't muster the nerve. So I left Richmond about 7:30 A.M. to make it to the market on time. The 9-11 A.M. slot isn't bad . Some ...

This is a song from "Joseph and The Technicolor Dream Coat"

Stylistically, this song is much different for me. I don't usually sing these types of songs, and this song has a much  different feel than "it might be you". It's pure Pop! I'm trying to expand my vocal and using different styles to feel more comfortable singing in different ways. Honestly, though, I don't really know how to be any other kind of singer than just "me". So I just sing it Meade style, I guess. So here's "Nothing's Gonna Change My Love For You", by Glenn Medeiros

This song definitely has a Country-esque feel to it, and it happened to be the theme song in the 1982 movie "Tootsie", starring Dustin Hoffman and Jessica Lange. Stephen Bishop sang the title track, although he did not write it. I always like Stephen Bishop as both a singer and songwriter. Turns out he was in quite a few things as an Actor too- including the guy who got his guitar bashed up by John Belushi in "Animal House".