Okay, it’s true. None of these guys are smiling … and it looks like an alien spaceship is hovering only meters above the band. But that’s not what I’m talking about. This photo of U2 is interesting because Bono (the lead singer) is standing so prominently in front. Is he the leader of this band? Or is he just trying to get a better look at the camera?

Of course, some people might say this picture is framed like this because lead singers get all the attention these days. And I’d have to agree. But U2 isn’t alone. A lot of other bands make a big fuss about their vocalists, too. For example, check out groups like The Killers, Arctic Monkeys, Foo Fighters, and Coldplay … who all seem to thrust their frontmen into the spotlight.

Could the other guys in The Killers look any smaller in their photo? And what about Chris Martin? Even though he seems to be telling us there are “FOUR” people in his band, Coldplay, the other boys are a little hard to see way back there in the distance.

Today more than ever, modern bands feel lopsided. So while the lead singers get to bask in all the glory, everybody else gets pushed aside—literally. It’s crazy. Sure, the music industry seems to think this new formula is the key to success. But history shows there are other (possibly better) options. Exhibits A, B, and C:

Probably the most obvious example of a band that did just fine without glorifying any one member is The Beatles. (You may have heard of them.) Also known as “The Fab Four,” this band made it a point to feature John, Paul, George, and Ringo as four equal sides of a solid square. In fact, they even resisted “expert” advice at the time to turn one of them into band leader. And, as a result, they’re still known as the most successful band of all time.

Coincidence? I don’t think so. Apparently, people like the idea of a close-knit group. It’s what fans respond to. So even though you may be tempted in your own band to focus on the singer (or the guitarist, or whatever), think again. Your listeners just might like to see your whole group—rocking out as equal friends.

In fact, you might even say that all great musicians are like that. Because, if you think about it, they kind of have to be … right? Making music is all about patterns, patience, and practice. It takes time and focus. So to get really good at making music, you have to get into it. And that means you have to geek out a bit.

But what’s nice is … it’s all worth it. Seriously—practice doesn’t just make you perfect. It also makes you cool. (Just ask The Cars’ front man, Ric Ocasek, who’s married to model, Paulina Porizkova.) You see, one of the best things about music is that it turns nerds into hipsters. Like magic.

If you don’t believe me, then check out these famous examples from history. All of these people are well-known for being cool (while secretly living the life of a music nerd):

Don’t get me wrong … I love all of these guys. And each one of them is very cool. But that’s because they’re all really good at what they do. And, of course, they got that good because … well, because they’re complete music nerds. Anyway, who do you think is the biggest music geek of all time? And what instruments do they play? I’d love to hear what you think.

Which has got me thinking … what are some of the best songs of the last few decades? And who are the coolest musicians on your top ten list? And while we’re at it, where are the most famous places they’ve played? One of the most famous venues, of course, is shown below. Can you name this well-known concert venue?

I’ll give you a couple of hints. It’s the site of many historic performances … by people like The Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, and Luciano Pavarotti. And it has been the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic since 1922.

Yes, this is the Hollywood Bowl. With a current seating capacity of just under 18,000, it is one of the largest natural amphitheaters in the world. Without a doubt, it’s pretty awesome. And it’s gone through a lot of changes over the last few decades.

The Hollywood Bowl is a popular landmark nestled in the hills outside Los Angeles. For the locals—and for people across the globe—it’s as much a part of Southern California as the beaches and barbecues or the Dodgers and Disneyland.

It officially opened on July 11, 1922 on the site of a natural amphitheater in the hillsides of Bolton Canyon. At first, the Bowl looked totally different than it does today. In the early years, it was very close to its natural state, with only simple wooden benches for the audience and a basic awning over the stage.

But after going through a couple of different designs, the architects finally came up with its dome-shaped stage in 1928. This unusual design is part of why the Bowl is now so famous. Here’s a picture of the venue in 1932:

Since it began, the Hollywood Bowl has been totally classic. And over the years, it’s been a favorite place for all kinds of performances. Here’s a photo of it in 1951, full of people soaking in its unique acoustics:

Tons of legendary performers have stood on its stage, including Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Igor Stravinsky, Mickey Rooney, Simon and Garfunkel, Abbot and Costello, Garth Brooks, Fred Astaire, Elton John, Coldplay, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

The venue has gone through a few facelifts since 1922. A big outer arch was added to the front of the dome to make it look more appealing. And in 1953, a water fountain and reflecting pool were put in to make the stage look even cooler … whoa.

Because it’s located right in the Hollywood hills, the Bowl has been featured in a lot of movies. It’s also a favorite place for people to just go visit and have a picnic. In fact, the Bowl grounds themselves are one of Los Angeles County’s most popular parks—open year-round for visitors to enjoy free of charge.

Yes, the Hollywood Bowl. It’s a pretty cool place. And who knows what the next decade will bring to this classic venue?

So finally, I got wise. And I decided to make a music emergency kit … for those times when I definitely want to remember a great idea. This kit has everything I need. And best of all, it’s easy to take anywhere.

For starters, the simplest thing you can do is just carry a small voice recorder. That way, you can sing or hum a melody right when inspiration strikes. If you’re in the market, prices range anywhere from $20 (USD) on the low end to hundreds of dollars on the high end. I’d personally go with something cheap … but if you want more bells and whistles, a more expensive recorder will also do the trick.

And if you really want to get the ideas flowing, I recommend buying a small notepad and pocket pen. Moleskine® brand notepads are pretty awesome (I bought mine at Barnes & Noble bookseller). These little notepads come in a variety of sizes and page types … like blank pages, lined pages, pages with grid lines, and even pages with music notation staff lines. The best pen I found is the Fisher® Space Pen (which I got at Office Depot—an office supply store).

To be honest, my brother did all the research on these items … he’s been carrying around an idea notepad for a long time. (I think he got the idea from Leonardo da Vinci, who took a notebook with him everywhere he went.)

Anyway, this music emergency kit has been very good to me. I seem to come up with cool ideas a lot more often. And the nice thing is, I never forget them anymore. My notepad and pen are always with me … even when I go for a jog.

In fact … maybe this is over-the-top, but my wife just custom designed an easy-to-reach carrying pouch for me that I take on my jogs. That way, I can quickly stop, write down an idea, and then keep going. I’m pretty sure the people I jog past think it looks awesome (!) Pretty cool, yes?

But I’m just as amazed by musicians in general. Because when it comes to seeing sound, they don’t have any real advantage. In fact, they might as well be blind, too … which is why it takes a lot of time and patience to practice as much as they do. But, hey, people haven’t had choice … until now.

You can use Color Music on any instrument (they use all the same notes, you know). But since we’ve been looking at the piano a lot lately, I thought it would be nice to include some photos of my keyboard.

It’s pretty smooth, actually. I guess I could just ignore that row of colors at the top. But they’re just staring me in the face … showing how things work.

Unlike Stevie Wonder, I don’t have to just feel my way around the keyboard. Each note jumps out and is easy to see.

I sort of feel bad saying this to musicians who have spent years taking lessons, but you really can master music … fast. It just takes these 12 colors.