|
Post by quartermass on Oct 11, 2009 21:17:01 GMT -5
I have to be honest. Most heavy bands these days look look like ex-cons and that doesn't appeal to me. For me, it's a package deal. Good looks and good music. I never heard the term, sausage rock, before I joined this forum but it's funny to know what it means. ;D|O|
|
|
robfrules
New Member
http://saultmetalscene.blogspot.ca
Posts: 33
|
Post by robfrules on Oct 12, 2009 10:26:26 GMT -5
I've found over the years that the cycle of popular music will bring in the crowds while other styles on the way out will have their audiences fade with them. In the 80's, local bars like the Eastgate, The Vic (now gone) and the Royal (later called Riverrock) were packed almost 7 nights a week. It was crazy and a wonderful thing to experience. When grunge came into the picture, the bar scene changed almost overnight. Grunge music may have been a breath of fresh air to the younger audience, but it was the kiss of death for the glam rock metal 80's. The bar scene really hasn't recovered from it. I agree that certain bands have loyal fans and they can sustain the numbers and I also agree that most "rock" bands locally can't pack a bar on every gig they play. It's the style of music that is popular at the time that brings on the best crowds. Heavy music is popular and Prog rock is surging forward too. It's nice to see really. Unfortunately in the 80's, almost 70% of an audience was women. These days, the term "sausage rock" follows a lot of these heavier bands. That's just a slang term meaning the audience is mainly all male. Women favour dance music in most cases. The 80's metal music merged both male and female tastes in the same way the 60's music did. You're correct in saying that only a few bands seem to get consistently good audiences. "Billy Bastards" seem to have a great following and do well with their shows. In Soo Michigan, back in the late 90's a band called Mama's Boys were the top draw. My band Crank Shop were in rotation with them and we both did well but they were the top draw by far. I didn't think they were that good but the audience saw something I didn't. |O| Clique venues (that's what I call them ;-) have loyal followers too and it doesn't seem to matter what bands play these types of establishments, the crowd is there for the bar first, band second. It is true what you say Rob that you have to support unknown bands too. I play in 2 unknown bands and would love the support |O| This city is just finicky when it comes to new music and new bands. It's always been like that for this city for some reason. Yeah, things do cycle. Punk sadly has, there used to be tons of active punk bands and shows here, there's barely any now. The Oddfellows Hall used to have shows all the time for the punk kids, there's been very few in recent months. Even emo (which has a popularity level beyond my comprehension, no offense) is sagging locally. The Crossed had a huge following, now they've broken up and you don't hear much about emo in general around here. The Mama's Boys are actually still active, last I heard. I remember hearing them playing shows with Henry Switzer's other band Jager (now known as Monkey's Uncle) as recently as February, but they haven't updated their MySpace page in a long time. I can't judge attendance levels at Sault Michigan shows (too young for most), but judging by the amazing frequency of bookings over there, they've gotta be doing something right!
|
|
|
Post by floyds machine on Oct 12, 2009 20:52:26 GMT -5
Mama's Boys were ok. Lots of energy. I think Freq was in a band with Henry some years back. He's got a really high voice and an ok shredder.
|
|
|
Post by quartermass on Oct 13, 2009 18:05:05 GMT -5
Shredder? What's that?
|
|
|
Post by Sgt. Bilko on Oct 14, 2009 8:15:45 GMT -5
It's a guitar player with bad hair
|
|