Small Town, USA - Big Cane's new band from The Rolling Stones

What an honor to start a thread for a massive new band! 🙂

The biggest rock icon in the country has launched a new project, and after reading his killer interview with Rolling Stone, I'm totally sold.

Back in Small Town, USA, my heart finally came back to life. My passion for music is reborn. Now, I don't have to stress over whether anyone will actually understand my lyrics or find themselves in them. I feel as free as a bird... The people showing up to our rehearsals go through these moments of pure catharsis and cleansing; you can literally see tears in their eyes. Real truths are surfacing... Even our band photos—we just radiate from those shots...

The first four tracks posted on their Facebook page sound incredible. For instance, check out Small Town, USA - Paranormal Activity, or Small Town, USA - Thursday Hit

They’re playing in Chicago at Hard Place this Thursday, November 20th. I wouldn't miss it for anything.

P.S.
And yeah, The Rolling Stones are still alive and kicking, thank God. Big Cane says they've recorded a "heavy-hitting album" dropping this spring.

You know what, ever since the old days fell apart—right around when Cane had that throat surgery and was dealing with his drug issues—everything just shifted. He turned into this pathetic, rambling guy obsessed with nationalism and religious fanaticism. Total rock bottom. Honestly, just hearing someone call him "one of the biggest stars in the States" makes me sick. If people like him are the top tier, what does that say about the crowd following them? To me, he’s basically become a closet version of Bor Djordjevic, and his music is no better than some country singer or those old pop acts... just folk music played through distorted guitars. There's nothing left of the Cane from the first Rolling Stones album, maybe a little bit of the second and third. After the third one, it's straight down the drain. From singing about God (like on that "Sweet and Sour" album where he's all "Mother Mary, look at what they're doing to your kids...") to standing up after a show telling people how the nation and God are sacred and must be respected (I remember seeing it at Rock Otocec in 2003, and later at Factory 2007 or 2009, I can't quite recall...) etc. Sorry, but that mindset has zero connection to R&R. That isn't R&R! It's just masked nationalism—tribal territory marking, like dogs—mixed with religious zealotry. He, Bor, and those other guys are all the same when it comes to religion, just like those other negative types out there. I mean, Cane actually tells someone in an interview on YouTube that he needs to go on a pilgrimage, even though his own "divine path" is going in a completely different direction. Look, you should actually get to know musicians (the way I do), listen to their actual music, and *then* talk. Most people don't have a clue—kind of like with most other bands. Sometimes it's better not to meet your idols. People cling to this nostalgic memory of the Cane from back before everything changed, but the Cane we have today has nothing to do with the guy from the old days. And that's three exclamation points for you!!!

By the way, unspecified isn't exactly playing chess here—he's not nearly as deep as his music makes him out to be, kind of like some pop act trying to preach to the masses... And look, you can mask a lack of depth if you're clever enough, but he's not even that. He just throws out lines in his lyrics that someone actually smart wouldn't dare say. Then there's whoever from unspecified who carries certain vibes, but even they aren't hitting any intellectual heights. They talk short and sharp—never deep or detailed—just so nobody catches on to how empty the tank is. Honestly, they’re probably smart enough to know their limits, which is why they dodge any real debate. But unlike unspecified, unspecified actually had an ear for sound and a drive to experiment, which is how they built something unique with unspecified—it was all about finding that right band dynamic. The only one operating on a high intellectual level, both in thought and intuition, is unspecified from unspecified, but the general public doesn't get it. People just swallow whatever they're fed. It's just like that song, "People only know what they're told." Look, none of these guys are bad people—not scum or anything—but there's way too much mystique surrounding them. We need to get real about who actually brings what to the table musically... bring it back down to earth. Unspecified had similar thoughts to unspecified, though not quite as profound, but musically? Pretty weak compared to the others—just mass-market pop-rock. Anyway, that's my take... I know all of them, by the way... (except for the late unspecified)

PS. Another guy from that crew who's easily one of the smartest is unspecified from unspecified. Everyone in that group is decent enough, but unspecified stands out from the pack. Out of that whole scene—unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, unspecified—he and unspecified are the ones I respect the most.

My music is my life
Above everything else
It's my soul
Pure bliss

And you just stand there on the sidelines
Constantly counting my mistakes

Never once reaching out a hand to help
Never once reaching out a hand to help

Go ahead, spit, kill me
Cut me, burn me
But understand this
You can't touch me

My music is stronger
Than any weapon
My music is stronger
Than any weapon

Take a good look now
Because I am everything
that you will never have

That track is from the Ice Age album back in '97—second song on the record. Unspecified did the production and played on "generation." But man, when you actually look at those lyrics—which would be killer under any other circumstances—once you realize where unspecified is mentally these days, thanks a lot... "I am everything you can never have"... that line should basically be aimed right at him. It’s a damn shame what a guy turns into. But hey, enough bashing. It's just a waste because the audience here is totally brain-dead... These are the types who pack stadiums, just like unspecified would, while unspecified can't even sell out a venue like Madison Square Garden—even though they're easily filling venues over in Mexico, Canada, or the Netherlands... That's just how people are around here...

silentridge84 said:You know, ever since the old era collapsed—right around when unspecified had that throat surgery and was dealing with substance issues—everything changed. He turned into this pathetic chatterbox obsessed with nationalism and became a religious fanatic. It’s rock bottom. Honestly, just hearing someone call him "one of the biggest stars in the region" makes me sick. If people like him are the biggest stars, what does that say about his audience? To me, he's essentially become like unspecified, and his music is just like those other bands... basically folk music played on distorted guitars. There is nothing left of the guy from the first album, maybe a little bit of the second or third, but after the third, it’s all downhill. From singing about God on the "Kiselo i Slatko" album to preaching at concerts about how the nation and God are sacred and must be respected (I remember seeing him back in 2003, and again later at a club around 2007 or 2009...) etc. Sorry, but that mindset has nothing to do with Rock & Roll. That isn't R&R! It’s just disguised nationalism—that tribalistic territory-marking mentality—combined with religious fanaticism. He, along with others like unspecified, Bora, or even those guys who lean into religion, are all part of that same negative vibe. I mean, unspecified tells someone in an interview on YouTube that they need to go on a pilgrimage, yet claims his own path leads elsewhere? You really should get to know musicians and their actual music before judging. Most people don't have a clue (sometimes it’s better not to meet your idols), and they cling to a nostalgic version of him from the old days, but the man today has nothing to do with the man from the old era. And that’s just my three cents!!!

🤣

Come on, come on... unspecified is a musical legend and pretty much everyone knows that. Besides, most of what actually mattered in the American music scene happened back in the day, not now.

Where has the talent gone since unspecified passed away? Nowhere to be found, apparently. But at least the "old wolves" (the rockers) remain old wolves. They keep coming back to revive the music, not out of desperation, but to fight against the mortality of the entire music scene and the whole region. Bless! 😁

There's a show at Quasimoda in downtown NYC this Saturday, but honestly, I doubt I'll even make it.

It could potentially be managed under those circumstances. I suppose we just have to hope it doesn't end up being too tight.

silentridge84 said:You know, ever since the old era collapsed—right around when unspecified had throat surgery and was dealing with substance abuse issues—everything changed. He turned into this pathetic chatterbox obsessed with nationalism and became a religious fanatic. Absolute rock bottom. Just hearing someone call him "one of the biggest stars in the region" makes me sick. If people like him are the biggest stars, what does that say about the audience? To me, he’s basically become just like unspecified, and his music is no better than some generic pop-country act. It’s just folk music played on distorted guitars. There’s nothing left of the guy from the first album. After the third one, it’s all downhill. From singing about God (like on that one album where he asks if God sees what's happening to children...) to preaching at concerts about how the nation and God are sacred and must be respected (I saw him back in 2003 at a local club, and maybe again at a venue around 2007 or 2009...). Sorry, but that mindset isn't Rock 'n' Roll. That isn't RNR. It's just masked nationalism and religious fanaticism. He, unspecified, and those other guys are all the same when it comes to religion. He even tells people in interviews they should go on pilgrimages while claiming his own path leads elsewhere. You can find it on YouTube. People need to actually learn about these musicians and their music before talking. Most people have no clue. They cling to nostalgia from the old days, but today's version of him has nothing to do with the guy from the old era. And that's three exclamation points for you.

What mature reasoning... NOT.🙏 So, if the guy had just stayed an addict or joined some pagan cult that sacrifices chickens, you'd still like him? But because he didn't, he's automatically a hillbilly?🤣

A person's religious, political, or any other beliefs are their own business. Once you realize that, life gets a lot easier.☕

George Hill4 said:What a load of "mature" thinking... NOT!🙏 So, what you’re saying is—if this guy happened to be a total junkie or joined some weird pagan cult that sacrifices chickens and whatever, he’d still be your favorite person? But since he isn't, he's automatically some low-class hillbilly? Seriously?🤣

Look, a person's religion, politics—whatever else they believe in—is their own damn business. Once you finally wrap your head around that, life gets a whole lot easier.☕

Yeah, sure. But when they actually apply that logic to their work, it’s just repulsive. Once you wrap your head around the fact that nations are nothing more than imaginary cults cooked up by humans—Mother Nature didn't just wave a magic wand and suddenly create borders, flags, and countries out of thin air—you realize it's all totally unnatural. It’s just like religion: believing in something that isn't even there. In medicine, they call that a diagnosis. These delusions are the primary tools used to fuel every war and tragedy in human history. If you don't grasp those basics, you're basically just part of the herd being led around by the nose. So, look—if unspecified starts preaching this primitive nonsense in his songs—whether it's driven by a fear of death (maybe that surgery, or just plain old lack of intellect) or some other caveman instinct—then yeah, he's just a hillbilly. You can't argue against basic intelligence and the laws of nature. People clinging to these psychoses about gods and nationalism aren't exactly mentally sound. We've had enough of the idiots out there pushing these grotesque, 15th-century mentalities. People are sick of this crap.
😉

silentridge84 said:They are. But when he applies it to his work, it becomes repulsive. Once you realize that nations are just invented cults created by humans—nature didn't wave a magic wand to conjure up borders, flags, or states—then you see they're totally unnatural. It’s the same with religion: believing in something that doesn't exist (in medicine, we call that a diagnosis). These are the primary tools used to fuel every war and tragedy in human history. If you don't grasp these basics, you're just part of the herd being led around. Now, if unspecified starts pushing this primitive, rural mindset in songs about God and nation out of fear of death—whether from an operation or just plain lack of intelligence—then yeah, he's a hillbilly. You can't argue with basic intelligence or the laws of nature. People with these delusions about God and nationality aren't mentally healthy. We've had enough of idiots promoting these twisted, 15th-century mentalities. People are fed up with this crap.
😉

Everything you listed falls under your personal opinion. It doesn't bind anyone, and having a different worldview doesn't automatically make someone a hillbilly. In fact, these kind of narrow-minded views are exactly what paves the way for totalitarianism and groupthink.

George Hill4 said:Everything you just listed falls under your personal opinion. It doesn't bind anyone, and it doesn't mean everyone with a different worldview or perspective is automatically an idiot. It's exactly those kinds of extreme views you're pushing that create the perfect breeding ground for totalitarianism and mindless conformity.

Fine, it's my personal opinion—but that doesn't make it any less intelligent, high-quality, or right. If someone attacks my view just because they feel threatened by how much smarter it is than theirs, I'm ignoring that. Whatever. Totalitarianism is a specific topic for a separate debate. If it's set up poorly, it's bad; if it's set up right, maybe it isn't. You know why? Because I start from the assumption—nature's reality—that high-quality people are rare. If they weren't, every second person would be a Tesla or an Einstein in every field of science and art... but we know that's not how it works, because you need baseline intelligence, then education, then massive effort—actual work. Most people aren't any of that; they're average or below. Some lady who doesn't even know what fiscal policy is goes out to vote—how is she supposed to vote if she doesn't even know what's at stake or who to pick? It's theater. People have "freedom," but they're choosing between political parties that were allowed to become popular thanks to the media, and then you "choose"—but since you don't know how the government actually functions behind the scenes or how the economy works, how can you possibly know who to vote for? It's pure theater for the masses. Now, here’s the issue with absolute freedom: this majority—driven by their own mass and, let's face it, the jealousy they feel toward anyone more capable or smarter, which we see all the time—imposes its mediocre or sub-par, moronic solutions and mindset on everyone else. That's why we deal with these issues regarding national and religious mindsets throughout history. Instead of people realizing these things are nonsense and fabrications rather than laws of nature—which actually go against nature—they just accept them. Or maybe it's not in the interest of the masses to realize that? On the flip side, if the intelligent minority actually ran things—if they used a temporary totalitarian approach to break up the stupid mob through education (starting from elementary school) and raising awareness instead of numbing people with nationalism, Big Brother tactics, or trashy pop stars—then a healthy version of totalitarianism might not be such a bad thing. Otherwise, this majority imposes its provincialism, and like they said in *Idiocracy*, we end up in a situation where Stupidity is Universal. And then us? We're stuck dealing with the fallout. Everywhere you look, it's idiots, stupid conversations, dumb humor, and mindless chatter every single morning on the subway, etc. Any normal person would want to snap.

And then you get some guy who spews the same primitive garbage (though if he wasn't wired that way, he wouldn't be saying it) and suddenly we're supposed to listen to him sing about God and the flag? No chance. Not happening. I see enough mental sludge around me on the news, social media, and the subway...
It's a shame; he had a temporary shot with that first album to head down the right path, but he didn't... He can just put on his priest outfit and drone through his concert. Pure horror...

But hey, that's "my" opinion. And the masses will keep doing what they do. Then one day, someone snaps, drops an atomic bomb on that crowd, and suddenly he's the big bad Hitler and a monster—when really, he just cleaned the pus out of a wound, a wound I call humanity.
Things are looking grim for humanity; no matter how you slice it, there's no light at the end of the tunnel...

silentridge84 said:Fine, this is just my take, but that doesn't make it any less logical or valid. [/B]Just because an opinion is smarter than someone else's doesn't mean they won't attack it out of pure insecurity. I don't care about that. Totalitarianism is a specific topic for a different debate. If a system is poorly structured, it’s bad. If it's well-structured, it isn't necessarily evil. Why? Because if we assume—and I do—that high-quality people are rare, then we have a problem. If everyone were a Tesla or an Einstein in every field of science and art, things would be different, but they aren't. You need intelligence as a baseline, followed by education, and then massive effort. Most people fall into the average or below category. An old lady who doesn't understand fiscal policy goes to vote; how can she choose when she doesn't grasp what's at stake? It's theater. People have "freedom," but they're just choosing between parties that the media made popular. Since most people don't understand how the government actually functions behind the scenes or how the economy works, their choice is hollow. It's pure political theater. Then we hit the issue of absolute freedom, where the majority uses its sheer numbers—and the jealousy they feel toward those more capable, which we see constantly—to force their mediocre, sub-par solutions and mindset onto everyone else. That's why we deal with these nationalistic and religious mindsets throughout history. Instead of realizing these are fabrications rather than laws of nature, people cling to them. Or maybe they aren't supposed to realize it. Maybe it serves the masses. On the other hand, if a small group of intelligent people managed everything—even using temporary totalitarian methods to break through the stupidity of the crowd via education from primary school and fostering awareness instead of mindless nationalism or cult-like celebrity worship—then a properly functioning authoritarian system might not be a bad thing. Otherwise, the majority imposes its provincialism, and as mentioned in that one book, we end up with widespread stupidity. And meanwhile, the rest of us suffer. No matter where you go, you see it: idiots everywhere, mindless conversations, and pathetic humor on the morning commute. Any sane person would snap.

Then someone like unspecified shows up, repeating that same primitive rhetoric (though if you weren't wired that way, you wouldn't say it), and people think we should listen to him while he sings about God and country? Not a chance. No thanks. There is enough mental sludge around me already, from the news outlets to the subway.
It's a shame; he had a brief window of potential with his first album to head in a better direction, but he didn't. He might as well put on a priest's robe and drone through his concert. It's a horror show.

But hey, that's just "my" opinion. The masses will keep doing what they do.And then one day, someone snaps and drops an atomic bomb on that mass of people, and suddenly they're labeled a monster like Hitler, when they were really just cleaning the infection from a wound called humanity.
Humanity is headed for a dark future; no matter how you look at it, there's no luck left.

1. It isn't.

2. Here is why.🙏

But let's not troll the thread further. To each their own.☕

Personally, I find this one to be my favorite from the old unspecified days. 😍

Come toward me

you can bark
you can cut
you can stay

but you can run

silentridge84 said:......

Be quiet! 😉

Psst!

George Hill4 said:1. No way

2. And here's why 🙏

Anyway, let's stop trolling this thread—everyone can have their own opinion.☕

1. It is

2. What's the alternative? Voluntary change, sure. Fine. But if the primitivism doesn't stop, then you get conflict. Or multiple conflicts. To prevent that, you'd have to wipe out the root cause (mass primitivism, nationalism, religion, and all those other unnatural psychoses). If they can't be educated peacefully, then what? Otherwise, we’re stuck with hatred and wars forever. Is that not obvious?

No need to troll. Let's just move on, but yeah—resistance from the majority is expected, because people aren't going to walk away from their filth in some polite manner. Hopefully... that's where my comment was coming from.

Susan Price30 said:just shut it! 😉

hey!

Obviously. 😉
🙂

silentridge84 said:Most people don't have a clue...

Exactly. Unspecified doesn't sing about religion, and he sure as hell doesn't sing about nationality. 🙄Honestly, trying to group him in with that lot is just pure stupidity. You've got everything completely mixed up.unspecified - Peace, man. Peace., The crew—unspecified, unspecified, unspecified, and unspecified—is all about sex, drugs, violence, and fear.).

Go write about something you actually understand and care about. You don't know the first thing about unspecified.

Let's get back to the topic. Time to warm up for today. Cheapskates—Sister.

Keep shining, sister.
Shine while you still can.
Don't let them erase you.
Those who don't know how to love... what are they even doing here?

Man, I can already picture what kind of response silentridge84 is going to type up... 🙂

I’m not going to get bogged down in the weeds here, but I don't see how the fact that he was singing against the war twenty-five years ago somehow invalidates the idea that he's become a total rock icon lately 🙂 🙂

Kevin Chavez3 said:God, I can only imagine what kind of response silentridge84 is going to type out here. 🙂

I won't get too bogged down in the weeds, but the fact that he was singing anti-war songs 25 years ago doesn't change the reality that he's become a straight-up rock icon lately. 🙂 🙂

It doesn't change anything. That’s his business. Besides, I haven't noticed him preaching on his last two albums; they're just solid, decent rock records. 🙂