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The importance of being local

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sp2:
Here's the thing.

Coldplay suck.

Oh wait, that's not the thing. Well, it's part of the thing. Not the entire thing, though.

Here's the thing.

A lot of people determine what they like and what they should like by reading magazines and listening to radio shows that tell them what they should like, or by checking out sales charts. They buy a best-selling album by a band and immediately proclaim it the most awesome thing that ever existed. If you are talking about political punk, someone will inevitably bring up American Idiot, even though Green Day really have no place in the political punk scene. Anti-Flag? Yes. Dead Kennedys? Yes. Bad Religion? Yes. (International) Noise Conspiracy? Certainly yes. Green Day? Yeah, no, sorry. Try again. That's the problem. Many people assume that they can read an article in Rolling Stone or Spin and suddenly be musically literate. But you'll never be a punk from reading mainstream commercialized literature. If you want to understand the movement, and you want to know what bands are out there and are worthwhile, you need to read independent 'zines. You need to get involved with local organizations. You need to support your local scene (there was a time when every other kid had a "Support Your Local Punk Band" sticker on their skateboard, but most of them couldn't name a local punk band if they tried). I'm using punk as an example, but really any movement has the same problems.

Then you have these megagroups, like Coldplay, which are really nothing more than concerted marketing attempts. Some of these groups, like U2, write songs with the intention of selling the rights off for use in commercials. Others make a career out of being completely inoffensive and thus write shitty soulless play-by-numbers elevator music, like Coldplay does. Others try to co-opt aspects of music that is supposed to have a counter-mainstream message (punk or death metal, for example) into music that has a mainstream message but retains the sonic appeal of the counter-mainstream music (so then, Good Charlotte or Christian Death Metal). Then you have bands that are perfectly decent, but they make a career out of being perpetually decent, rather than taking chances and actually doing something meaningful even at risk of losing some fans (especially at risk of losing some fans). A good example would be Foo Fighters, who initially did some interesting stuff, but then proceeded to just do the same thing, over and over, without taking any chances. You also have bands that change their music regularly just to follow current trends rather than because the artists are maturing musically. An example would be Green Day's album American Idiot, which was an obvious and shameless attempt to cash in on the anti-Bush sentiment in 2004, and which offered little insight into the political situation, unlike some of the more serious political punk and industrial bands who also put out albums that year.

The simple fact is, much of the popular music out there is crap. That's not particularly shocking, because most of the music out there, period, is shit. Go to an open mic night and you'll hear some of the most abysmal shit ever played on an acoustic guitar, and most of those guys don't even have fans (thus disproving the Hipster theory of music quality, or whatever it's called). The problem is, people tend to swallow crap if it's served to them as a 5 course meal. It takes no effort to find music by Coldplay, it takes no effort to hear about them, and it takes no effort to spread the word to your friends, so that's why people listen to them.

Additionally, buying Coldplay CDs and otherwise supporting Coldplay does nothing for your local music scene. Buying Coldplay albums won't make more bands come to your town. Buying Coldplay albums won't support local talent that helps enrich local rock bars, coffee shops, music shops, and so forth. Buying Coldplay albums won't establish an environment in your town that will support you if you decide to put together a band of your own and play small shows around town.

If you want good bands out there, either in the mainstream scene, the indie scene, or the local scene, you need to support the local scene, because without vibrant local scenes, good bands don't make it to the national/international indie scene or the national/international mainstream scene. Supporting the local scene means buying local music. Going to local shows, and paying the $5 cover to see 6 bands play. Talking about local bands. Buying your music from that beat-up used record store, even if they cost a dollar or two more than Best Buy, because they carry flyers for local shows and albums for local bands. Telling other people about local bands when they're touring nationally, because even if they get abundant press in your own town, people in other cities probably know jack shit about them, and word of mouth is much more effective than a 2 sentence blurb in the paper at the bottom of the page in small print.

The truth of the matter is, people WILL listen to shitty mainstream no matter what anyone says or does. I'll take potshots at Coldplay and other insipid and uninspired acts because I think it's necessary, but there will still be plenty of people who buy into these bands because they're there. However, it does take an effort to support the local scene and to find and support decent local bands, so I'm trying to convince the folks here that it is worthwhile (which I really do believe is true) and that you can find good local bands in many cities (which is also true) which are often just as good as (if not significantly better than) the crap you get fed by the music media, be it Rolling Stone or Paste or whatever national music mag you're reading.

A good local scene also doesn't just mean good local bands.  It means more national/internationally touring bands will stop through your town.  It means that nationally/internationally touring bands will give free in-store performances at local CD stores prior to concerts.  It means that you'll be seeing nationally/internationally touring bands at more intimate music venues rather than at informal and uncomfortable arenas.  It means that there will be better instrument stores, with more diverse selection of both new and used instruments as well as amps and other equipment with staff and other customers who know what they're talking about.  It means more divers selection of music at local CD stores.  It means local CD stores which allow you to listen to entire albums before purchasing them, so you don't spend your money on something that you end up not liking.  It means there will be a vibrant local scene that will support you if you choose to go into music yourself.  It means good dance clubs with live DJs.  It means alternative college radio which is well-run and worth listening to.  It means more all-ages shows, for those of you who are under 21.

I'm not just saying "suppport your local scene because it means you'll like bands no one else likes."  This isn't it at all.  That approach is counterproductive because it results in you trying to keep local bands from breaking into the national scene.  Support your local scene, because a vibrant local scene will take care of you, which is something national/international bands can't do.

maxusy3k:
I get that you don't like Coldplay. Seriously. I think everybody gets that now. You can calm down.

People will listen to what they like as much as they listen to what mainstream media tells them to. That's the crux of it... you said yourself that most of the new music out there is shit, both commercial and local, which kind of points out the flaw in your argument... people aren't going to subject themselves to shit music over and over for the sake of being able to say 'yeah, I totally go to the shows of all the unsigned bands around here', not unless they're really trying to prove something. I'm currently seriously pimping out a band from near where I live because they're awesome and because they look destined to do big things...

However... most of the bands from Blackpool are trash, either screamo stuff or what most people would call real punk, which is basically coming off as cheaper, shittier versions of The Sex Pistols. I don't want to listen to that... if people not going to see shitty bands play means the death of a local scene then fine, at the end of the day. A music scene can only live and die on the strength of the bands within it... if nobody comes along to shake it up, then perhaps it's best that area stops trying to produce music.

Some of the biggest bands I got into, Oasis, Ocean Colour Scene, Stereophonics, and, yes, Coldplay, predominently came out of places where there wasn't a thriving music scene... but these people had drive, ambition and, yeah, they probably got lucky, and now they're there, playing the stadiums and festivals and whatnot... and the place they came from? There's a thriving scene there now, because people say 'hey, well, they made it big, so can I'.

I'm losing focus, but then to be honest I wasn't sure what your point was. A local scene full of shit bands will continue to be a local scene full of shit bands if people continue to pay money to see them, maybe there'll be more shit bands... there won't be a drive to be better because hell, you're filling whatever club it is you play at, and every so often an A & R guy comes to take a look at some of the bands.

Also... it depends on your area. Preston - a city near me - has a fairly kicking local scene but it sure as hell doesn't lead to the perks you mentioned. More shows with local bands, more all age events etc, but that's seriously about it.

Not bitching here, and I'm probably not even responding properly to your argument, but like I said, I'm not sure what your point is.

You also seem to forget that, you know, some people actually like the music they listen to, some people don't care how mainstream a band is. I bought the first Coldplay album and I loved it, it's still one of my most listened to CDs. The second album, I skipped it... the mainstream press started gushing all over the band but their sound had changed too much, I didn't like it. The third album is growing on me and I've downloaded it, I might buy it... not because X magazine says I should, or because everybody else is listening to it, but because (shock) I actually like it.

Kai:
I just don't like the local scene here simply because, like max, it's pretty much a plethora of shitty punk and hardcore bands. Nothing really new (with the exception of some bands that died like, 10 years ago and 3 old guys writng songs about Lawnmowers) . But yeah.

sp2:
My point is that you can probably find good local music that you like, and you don't have to listen to it "just because you have to."  One of my favorite songs (and it's been one of my favorite songs for several years) is by a local band.  I'm not talking about a shitty high school band or the kind of "band" that plays one man acoustic shows at open-mics.  I'm talking about real talent that is just as good (if not better) musically as nationally-recognized bands.  I'm not saying "go and see shitty bands over and over."  I'm saying that you should find the good local bands and support them.  I mean, look, my town is full of shitty wannabe Phish knockoff jam bands.  Do I support them?  No.  Do I participate in that scene?  No.  But I do like avant rock and punk, and so I listen to and support bands like The Swayback (avant gothcore), DeVotchka (avant folk-alternative), Bright Channel (avant hardcore), Matson Jones (avant), Tin:Tin (progressive), and so forth.   It requires sifting through the shit, but there are good bands in most sizeable cities, and most good bands DID come from towns with a vibrant scene (you mention Coldplay and Oasis, but really, both those bands are more marketing campaigns than actual quality musicianship).


--- Quote ---Also... it depends on your area. Preston - a city near me - has a fairly kicking local scene but it sure as hell doesn't lead to the perks you mentioned. More shows with local bands, more all age events etc, but that's seriously about it.
--- End quote ---


You're not going to get all the perks, but some are better than none.  I've lived in towns where the only place to buy music is best buy and barnes and nobles, and trust me, a music scene where 90% of the local bands suck on stage is better than a music scene where 100% of the local bands don't leave the garage, because 10% of them will be doing decent stuff on stage.  You don't have to support all the bands...let the shitty ones die out, sure.  But support the good ones.


--- Quote ---if nobody comes along to shake it up, then perhaps it's best that area stops trying to produce music
--- End quote ---


There normally are bands that DO shake it up, but if you completely abandon your local scene because you'd prefer to listen to Coldplay, then there isn't anyone to support the good bands.  It's like voting.  If you don't get involved, you have no right to complain when other people's say takes precedence over your own.

Finally, if you don't get actively involved in maintaining the existence of your local venues, they will disappear.  And not just the little local ones.  When your local venues start dying out, people in general make concerts a much smaller part of their lifestyle, and even mainstream venues stop selling out shows.  When this happens, many bands stop coming through town because they'd prefer to play venues where they know they're going to be selling out the venue, and the venue owners lose money.  Eventually, even the mainstream venues go out of business, and then you don't even have anywhere to see mainstream shows.  I've seen it happen in the town I grew up in.  You'd be surprised how few good bands actually stop through in Pittsburgh for how large a city it is.

I'll bet good money that there's at least one band worth listening to in your local scene.  In fact, I don't even need to bet, you've stated so yourself.  And I bet there are other bands around your local scene that are just as good, but that you haven't heard (yet).  And it may take some looking to find those bands, but that's what I mean when I say that it takes work.

ASturge:
.
--- Quote ---
Here's the thing.

Coldplay suck.

Oh wait, that's not the thing. Well, it's part of the thing. Not the entire thing, though.
--- End quote ---


Hahahahaah

You already win. Now, to read the thread!

EDIT:

I think you're pretty much correct.Problem is, 90% of my towns local bands are terrible. I only go too two band's shows regularly since all the other ones are boring Metal bands playing Slayer covers.

It's weird, since I dont go to enough local gigs but then expect people to come to my bands shows.

Sometimes they do, sometimes they don't.....They'd better buy our godamn demo once we've finished it though...

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