[UPSTROKE]

Maybe we need a thread just for whacking on each other. Or complaining about shtick that happens to all of us every day. This IS a very frustrating business. The market has shrunk in all fields of music. There are too many musicians for every job and that is a sad situation. We all have our opinions of how to hold the sticks, how to play, what to play, how to sit, how to talk and how to walk.
If nothing else, after we beat the h*ll out of each other, maybe we can brainstorm some solutions to create places for musicians to ply their craft. Are their any community facilities in your community that might be available for your band to have jam sessions for your kind of music??
We would need to respond in kind by keeping the place clean and drug and alcohol free. Many communities have facilities that are there just to feature musicians. Some pay very well for the entertainment. See what's available in your area. Share your information with the rest of us. If our town doesn't have a facility like that, we can find out how to get one going. What's out there???? What don't you like??? Who don't you like??? This is where you can rant & rant & rant. Enjoy!

[skinslapper]

I hate Crap Indie rock!! My local music scene has been plagued with all manner of losers playing songs about sweaters, with practice amps on stage. It's making it impossible to be taken seriously in a rock band around here, not to mention getting the gigs in the first place.

Now, don't get me wrong, I like good, experimental music (Sonic youth, The Pixies, Mogwai) but this is not it. This is songs that 5 year olds could have written being played by posers to make up for a genuine lack of musical ability. Oh yeah, and their drummers suck too!

[UPSTROKE]

There, there,--Now don't you feel better?? All warm and fuzzy on your drum throne.
Now--Give us some positive ideas on how to promote musicians, or in come the two big ugly Italian guys. There, There, now I feel all warm and fuzzy--Isn't that just special??

[mouse]

If it makes you feel any better the pubs here have been taken over by Kareoke, D'J's and two piece "bands" with drum machines, pokie machines and large screen horse and rugby sports showings. 5 piece bands such as mine have reverted to the wedding brigade, at least we get a dedicated crowd, drinks, food and a decent pay. Just have to wait for people to tie knots.
Let's hope the managers after a decline in patronage wake up and get some decent bands back for entertainment.

[UPSTROKE]

Mouse; Thanks for your contribution. The same thing started here several years ago. And we said --"Just wait--business will decline. People want to hear a real drummer. Karaoke is just a bunch of drunks seeking their 15 minutes of fame. It won't last. Those managers will be on the phone looking to get their crowd back with a live band with a real drummer, not an electric clock".
The bad news--We waited for years. The managers took the attitude that their overhead and problems went way down without the problems that bands brought with them. Many people know nothing about music. They don't know about being on key when singing. As a bonus, the more you drink, the better they sound. Start to look a lot better too. So the world went on without us. Sad. In our town, just in the last year, Live music is COMING BACK. Coming back in a big way for our little burg. It's exciting to watch as bands are getting real working gigs. One of the major changes is that the clubs don't want to book a house band. They currently have a different band every night. But, that will change as customers decide that they like this band more than those other guys.

[Pyrochazm]

This is the sound you hear in most of the bars/clubs recently: UMM-tss UMM-tss UMM-tss UMM-tss UMM-tss UMM-tss UMM-UMM-UMM-UMM UMM-tss Ect Ect. GOD! I cannot stant techno. Or the people who generally listen to it. I swear to god that the next drugged out E-tard who waves a glo-stick in my face is going to get a knee to the chest. Top forty pisses me off too, being as 87% of the music in the top forty sucks hard.

[givemethebeat]

I think if you wait for people to want to go back and appreciate real music played by real musos then we will all die waiting. Take a look at the youth culture of today and unless you have some traditional values most of the kidz are vegies or into sports. With computer games and internet more available than ever, parents use these tools as a fix to get the bored kidz outta their face.
Them idea of contributing to the community is great, until it eats into your own overheads, year gear gets trashed by kids who don't give a rats and the parents use you for a drop off point.
I have heaps to say on this topic but I gotta run....Don't go away......

[UPSTROKE]

Dude; I really got off on that UMMtss-UMMtss sound you wrote down on your message. I like --kept repeating it over and over. It just like just uh, um- like zoned me out dude. Can you maybe like uh record it like in a real studio dude????
It took me two hours to come back down dude. Like, what's in that UMMtss stuff anyway man.?? Is it like legal and everything?? Can I like get in a band that does that stuff regular man??

[UPSTROKE]

Thanks for jumping into the middle of this. The rules are that you get to whine your *ss off about whatever really p*ss*s you off the most. (I think guitar players will end up getting screamed about the most.) AFTER you have liberated your rant,--then your supposed to offer a constructive thought on how to promote music in our areas. A small point, I was not- repeat-not suggesting that we contribute our instruments, facilities, or our time to help young players.
I would not mind helping out some where, but I don't care to become a free baby sitting service either. I'm not just talking about young players, but rather all players and finding some sort of community area or facility for our use.
Ideas??? Anyone--Please- just step right on up. Don't be bashful. The only bad idea is no idea. Anyone?????

[Pyrochazm]

I really enjoy the fact that even over the internet I have the ability to confuse, scare, and even MESMERIZE people. Never get tired of it.

What I was refering to was that THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP THUMPTHUMPTHUMP THUMP THUMP THUMP you hear if you walk by a techno club or some bars. If you (God forbid!) are dragged into any of theese places you can hear the THUMP more clearly and it becomes more of an UMM sound. After the UMM there is usually what sounds kinda like a closed hi-hat hit; the aformentioned "tss"

Anyhow what I didn't do was suggest something constructive, other than the abusing of an E-tard. (An E-tard, for those of you who don't know, is someone currently on or has abused enough ecstasy as to become stupid and highly annoying) An idea that I have had recently was to have sort of an open mic night at some sort of community center or bar, except it would be a "open band" night. The instruments would be already there, you and some friends could sign up and make fools of yourselves! Just bring your own sticks, picks whatever.