Don't wanna sleep out in the rain

I'm always taken aback when I find out what musicians' day jobs are, especially those musicians who aren't big enough to get by on just music. Its hard imagining people that you listen to more than you actually work as commuting, but they're people too, and despite working as hard as possible to create their own worlds, they still have to live in this one. Its a consequence of the decline of the music industry; where musicians used to be selected by record companies, musicians increasingly select themselves. Its pretty funny that the revolution that was punk made us all that much more capitalist. So for those of you who's summers aren't all just sitting around and blogging all day, here are some excellent musicians who happen to have day jobs.

The Aislers Set - Hit the Snow

Some make more sense than others. Amy Linton, lead singer of the former SF band The Aislers Set, was a professional snowboarder for a while. At the height of their success, she was working in local architecture firms as a drafter. She did the artwork for all their albums, and she's really great at picking out the details of street life in her song and making them real. I'm guessing this song is from the former career.

Heavenly - Hearts & Crosses

Amelia Fletcher, lead singer of the band Heavenly, is actually a prominent British economist, which has to be one of the weirdest things I've ever typed. Apparently most of her work involves anti-trust, breaking up monopolies, which I guess maybe sorta makes sense if you're really stretching for meaning. Breaking up dangerous love monopolies?

Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman

On the other side of the spectrum is Percy Sledge, who started as a prominent singer who now mostly does car commercials around Baton Rouge. Said the Gramophone described him as a "salesman of love", which I think just about nails it. "I know exactly how you feel", he croons at the end; Billy Mays has nothing on him. Someone pass him a Shamwow! for those tears.