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Local Music

hepcat

By hepcat,
in Huddle Lounge

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hepcat Grand Master

hepcat

Posted
Posted

I would like to have a discussion about local music - and people's opinion/thoughts on it.

As a musician myself, I live by the motto "people like what they know, they don't know what they like." This is why cover bands get paid so much more than original bands. Also, because the music industry (especially local markets) are so saturated by mediocre musicians with little talent and potential, it is an ever increasing challenge for bands to break through in their local markets.

Another issue is the market itself - I mean how many people REALLY enjoy a local band regularly? I'm not talking about you going out to a bar and there is a local band playing there and you listened to by proxy, but I'm talking about following a band you found some way or another. Is there even that caliber of music locally, that commands the respect and following of the local music-goers? I believe it's a rare gem to find, when I see a local band that steps on stage and does something that fixates my attention, especially when I'm sober.

With the availability for any Joe Musician to buy a home recording setup for a few hundred bucks, put out a demo and get a gig at Drunky's McBar, local music starves itself out. I admit I've been in bands that haven't drawn anyone besides friends of the band, but that's how it starts...friends tell their friends and things grow. But if you can't hook people with your music or act, which most bands can't, natural selection needs to take a greater role in regulating the scene, which it doesn't seem to do now.

Comments/thoughts?

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Zcustom Newbie

Zcustom

Posted
Posted

Of course I have a up close view of this subject, but...

I follow about 4 local bands (that I'm not in) because they are just crazy talented AND I like what they do. Lindsey Ryan, Snakedriver, Crashbox, and Echo Code.

Reality is it's all about gimmicks if you want to "make it big". You can be the most talented musician in town but if the average Joe doesn't find you interesting you will go nowhere, fast.

Local examples of gimmick bands are

- The Truckstop Preachers (they wear HUGE foam cowboy hats and spend more time working on stage show than music)

- The Avett Brothers (kiss my ass Panthro, they're a gimmick plain and simple, AND they suck donkey balls)

Frankly, my band Stirling Bridge is a gimmick. We have a HUGE loyal following all because we play celtic rock and wear kilts. (We're good too, but again gimmick trumps talent)

Beyond being a gimmick you have to do something new, or at least new to your audience.

I watched an interview with Weezer recently and the lead guitarist said he was the most talented player in LA but his band was going nowhere and he couldn't understand why. Someone told him that popular music has to be written for the attention span of a flea. He formed Weezer and wrote the most simplistic songs he could and BAM! instant success.

For chrissake, one of charlotte's most successful local bands is called "Simplified", and was started as a joke because their old band was a flop and they knew people just can't understand slightly intricate music. Even the Avett brothers started as a joke.

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Panthro Community Regular

Panthro

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You know, I watched their ENTIRE austin city limits show this weekend just ACHING to like anything about them, didn't happen.

My wife was so annoyed by the music she left the room.

The gf doesn't love them and that's fine. They are ] way too polished these days. I liked their concerts when they weren't as commercial. But whatever puts food on the table.

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Zcustom Newbie

Zcustom

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What Panthro fails to realize is that the charlotte music community is tight and really roots for each others success. ANY band that has that kind of success I REALLY want to be a fan of. They have yet to give me a reason, and it wouldn't take much. I mean, at one point all four guys were just beating on their instruments, how is that cool? Ooh look, the cellist was hitting the back of the cello with his fist, OOOOHHH!

They have good voices, that's about all I got.

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Zcustom Newbie

Zcustom

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The gf doesn't love them and that's fine. They are ] way too polished these days. I liked their concerts when they weren't as commercial. But whatever puts food on the table.

I suspected that when I didn't see them each playing a percussion instrument during songs. But then the last song they all did, still didn't do it for me.

As a local musician you want to see other bands "make it", hell some local guys still look up to Firehouse.

To get back on topic though, you just have to either be innovative or a gimmick. Frankly, innovative is hard to come by these days.

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Zcustom Newbie

Zcustom

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To address the thread: Bar music is so bad. So so bad. I wish it would go away so I could have a quiet place to talk to my friends (ie myself)

check your FB event invitations :cool:

we'll see if we can't change that perception

but you're right

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Jase Apprentice

Jase

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innovative and talented bands tend to not get gigs.

I was a part of a really talented band back in college, we had a great drummer, guitarist and singer (none of which were me) and we couldn't get gigs partially because all of the music was original. We did 2 shows and that was it for us over the span of a year.

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Carolina Husker Newbie

Carolina Husker

Posted
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To address the thread: Bar music is so bad. So so bad. I wish it would go away so I could have a quiet place to talk to my friends (ie myself)

This.

We didn't come to your restaurant to scream across the table to each other over the butchered versions of your crappy covers.

I won't eat at restaurants that have live music.

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