Post by "The Freq" on Sept 12, 2011 10:38:07 GMT -5
With more bands than ever fighting for even less live venues for said bands, things are looking pretty grim for local talent. Gone are 2 bigger venue bars like the Eastgate and The Riverrock, replaced by bars like Smokies that don't promote live entertainment. You can't really blame them though. They're making big money by catering to people who just want to stand outside on a patio, smoke, drink and yap to friends while a DJ who thinks he's a musician, plays crap digitech puke by Lady Gag Gag :-) Personally, I can do that at home but for some reason, people want to play a cover charge to do this kind of thing in a public place. ooh pinch me!!! Remember when going to see live entertainment was actually......"entertaining"? I guess with the change in dull technology like texting and cellphones, dull T.V. shows all based on "reality" and movies based on visual effects instead of solid acting and talent, it's no wonder why live entertainment doesn't interest people these days. It might jolt them into to actually having an emotional episode rather than have their senses hammered to a dull blunt edge by this sad state of media. |O|
Judging by attendance at most of the bars, "live music" is taking yet another big hit in the Sault. True, there are pockets of interest such as Lop Lops and the Rockstar, but nothing like it was over a decade ago. The local music scene and across Canada and the U.S. for that matter has lost it's way. It's a chain reaction of events really. Music that companies bring to us through TV and Radio is pretty much crap and force fed to you via radio stations that really don't have the freedom they once did. They drive the same 200 songs into your head daily. Psssst. in case you didn't know, there are 1000's of bands with original music in just Canada alone and corporate radio plays 200. Do the math!!! There is really nothing great to wet your ear drums on from local radio and that is truly unsettling. What happens then is that it gives birth to "classic rock" bands playing the same old slop we've heard millions of times because they can't stand those 200 songs radio plays, OR we get bands getting desperate and learning material that would crack your skull after 3 songs should you be subjected to it. Then we have the safe fluffy music that I like to call pussy music that has no balls what so ever but if you want music to knit by, you're covered. Not only has the local scene lost something but music in general has lost it's soul. Yes, great music is still being made, but it's not being promoted and because the new generation have teenie weenie attention spans that have to be fondled by something within 3 seconds or they black out into a no responsive coma, this great music will never see the light of day. Gone from the spotlight are bands that can actually "play" their instruments and gone is music that actually made you "think". Gone is music that had "melody" or the preverbial "hook". Gone is music with "taste". Gone in music is "quality" and most of all, gone is the type of music that used to take you on journey without the aid of narcotics. Gone in music is the ability to write
a lyric without using the word "F#@k" 49 times in 3 paragraphs, or "yo" or "booty". Why don't we just insert "DUH" into songs now because
it's not about writing a good story. It's about potty mouth talk and that's it which is what you hear in public every day. Can't we escape everyday life through music,lyrics, movies, etc?? Apparently not.
People ask me why I don't go out much anymore to see live bands. Excluding me having to work most weekends, the main reason is that the local music scene has become "dull"!! After 30 years in the music scene, I can no longer go out and watch cover bands play the same old cover songs that I played when I started in the music biz. I also can't stand seeing bands brag about how great they are at covering a song by someone famous who clearly grew up with "swing" in their history and yet this new band plays it without one spoonful of swing. You can brag but you've missed the entire concept of "covering a song". New music doesn't swing or have soul and that's why it sucks and sounds lifeless. If you're too pig headed to research that, you'll always be a hack. ;-) I also cannot stand to watch bands who use crap P.A. systems where I can't hear what people are actually playing or singing. This seems to be the norm these days. Sorry, but I like my hearing. Ever hear of a "clear" mix? I'm also sick of being confused by bars that can't make up their minds on what kind of music they want to have. I want to know where a bar is that plays "rock" or "country" or "fluff". Although I can't get into the music Lop Lops has most of the time, they do in most cases, stick to a common theme. You won't see a thrash band in there. That being said, I truly dislike local media favouring the music being played at Lop Lops over what the rest of the city has to offer. Yes, this has been my consistant piss off with local media. Then, we have our local media, be it , paper, online news sites or radio stations, not supporting local talent 99 percent of the time. It's pathetic like my grammar and spelling on this post. |O|!!! Then, we have our new hockey arena that when it first opened, had concerts, but then after the novelty wore off (one year?), we have almost zip for concerts. Now that is a crock of shit. If I had to choose between Greyhounds and concerts, I'd take concerts. There are tons of recording acts out there "wanting" to play and yet, we get squat here. Come on Sault Ste. Marie, get your ass in gear. This city feels like a senior summer camp where we sit around in lawn chairs, drinking prune juice, while belching and farting all day and talking about how crunchy the Melba Toast is. Honestly though, seniors love live music more than the new generation and they experienced the peak of musicianship and music creation. The new generation is missing the boat.
I think one of my biggest piss offs the Sault has to offer is Rotaryfest main stage.. I've yapped about this lame event for years. I truly don't get how people can gather at this event to listen to the same bands from year to year play the same old tired cover songs. Local bands should be ashamed of themselves for "milking it" but local organizers should fire whoever is in charge and at least attempt a "fresh idea" for this tired old event. I simply get bored to death with this Rotaryfest mainstage thing. Thankfully, Rotaryfest Second stage has it's moments but then they ruin it by getting out of town bands involved. Come on, there's more than enough local talent doing original material to play this event. When I see out of town bands headlining local shows like this, I'll be blunt, it pisses me off. Does it piss off other local musicians? You better believe it!!!!
Is it fair? Of course not. Can you change it? Not a chance in hell. |O| I have tried to change the Rotaryfest Main Stage thing for years and got the big "blacklist" from some power tripping knob who organized it years ago. So you will never see "The Freq" on the mainstage at Rotaryfest unless I'm in disguise. haha. Does it bother me? Not a damn bit because someday, people will get bored and want change. Of course, it will be when the event loses money and not because of someones suggestion for change.
Why haven't I supported local bands these days? Ah... I use to, probably more than anyone but does anyone remember what happened when I did? I got slammed for it. Remember my original local forum Musicians Central on Soonet? There's your answer. This city is full of pricks who love to ruin good things that good people are interested in. After dedicating almost 10 years to promoting local talent, it became quite clear that a lot of local musicians just want to live in a music scene of backstabbing and "prickisms". "Prickisms" are things like "thinking you're
the greatest musician since sliced bread yet you can't play a damn note. It's also about those washed up or wanna be musicians who sit in the shadows and condemn the positive work of others under annoymous names. It's also about local musicians who say nice things to your face but as soon as you turn around, stab you in the back. This also refers to local media and local events who year after year snub local talent that doesn't fit into their fluffy little perfect world. Prickisms are also related to those egomaniacs that think that just because their band can fill a dance floor by singing a song they wrote, slamming other local musicians, they are the amighty top band in the Sault. Wow, what an honour. So what exactly is the trophy for being the top band in the Soo?? Last time I checked it was ...........>Nothing<! It's a false goal with absolutely zero reward except braggin rights to your family at dinner time or with your friends and bandmates at the local watering hole. If this is your goal in music, being tops in the Sault is a hollow victory. It means nothing except possibly a paycheck with a few more bucks than some other slob. But yes folks, some local musicians have this quest which is to be, or brag that they are, the best band in the Sault. Now that is some small thinking. So who do I think is the best in town? No one! In my opinion the caliber of musicians has dropped, the music is brutal and except for a few shining moments of some local artists, the topic of who's the best in the Sault is nil and void. Honestly, I can't believe how many egos are in the local music scene. I've seen one guitar player in a band with such a huge ego that when I heard his band, I had to ask people what song they were playing because it didn't sound familiar at all. Turns out, I knew the song but this guy played it so badly, I couldn't recognize it. Yes, he thinks he's great. |O|
So now, we hit the "support of local original music" section. HA! There is none except for the Rad Zone and the now defunct CD Plus. I am notorious for buying local artists music. In fact, I've got a ton of it as far back as cassettes from local bands, and yes, even on LP vinyl. Support for local original music is so small, that it's disgusting. When you can't get your local radio stations to play your stuff, there should be a simple way to protest. We're being slammed with crap from our radio stations with other peoples slop from around the world, why the hell can't be be force fed crap from our local musicians?? HAHA! That has always urked me. I remember years ago when I played in a folk rock band Rainhorses going up to Mix100/ Q104 and trying to get them to play our music. They gave us a short interview, played one song and then quicly kicked us out and threw the CD in the garbage pail never to grace the local airwaves again. True story. Has that happened to you??
Who did play our music often? A few U.S. main stations and a slew of U.S. college stations. Yes local media... you suck ass!!!
So, how do we fix this local pit of "same old same old"? Well, a local radio station that played "rock" music that also supported local music would be a good starter. People in the Sault are not going to come and see you play if their is no way to get them hooked on your music. The internet just won't do. Most people on the internet won't click your link even by accident. The internet is tunnel vision to the individual and their mission is their own. You're music has to hit them by LUCK! We need to start a local rock music station. If you're an original country band, then you're going to have to kick in the doors to Q104, braid the nuts of those lame DJ's and force them to play your music. Q104 blows chunks anyways but if you can find a way to convert them into playing local country music, all the power to ya. Rock fans have NOTHING locally for radio.
Next, local bars need to stop booking the same tired old bands every month for years. ARe you nuts??? You can thank Gsis Murphy for that pile of crap method of booking bands. It's stupid and eventually you sink the ship and they did. Walking into bars these days is like a chinese torture where you're "thunked" in the head by the same sound over and over until you crack up and choke some neighbours chicken.
Mix it up with bands people!!! . If you suck as a band and you can't get bookings, just give up and try something else. If it's not working, change. If you're an 80's metal guitarist, get over it, the 80's are gone. Take your chops and learn something new!! Musicians in this city are trapped in time warps and they have to learn to let go if you want to make a difference. Bars, have to learn that there is music beyond classic rock. There is also music beyond metal. Like come on people, lets not turn the Sault into a retirement home. If our music scene continues like this, the sound of a toilet flush will be our new theme song for music. :-)
Ok.. in closing I'd like to say that Kid Rock SUCKS! And So does Metallica.
Kid Schlock takes two previously written songs, slams them together, puts gay ass lyrics over the melody and those small minded people buy it that I mentioned earlier. You're kidding me right? I don't care if the bands that wrote the original music sold the rights to this no talent, but the fact that a record company put out this shit and people bought it, is the crime when there are 1000's and 1000's of great songs out there waiting to be heard. The music industry is absolutely f**ked.
And Metallica. This band is so overhyped that it makes me vomit. I've seen them live on the Monsters of Rock tour and a new band at the time called Kingdom Come kicked their asses one song into their set. Ok, like Metallica songs if you wish, I like a few but if you think they're great, you head is full of saw dust. I was so happy their last album sucked because if finally showed loyal fans how crappy they really are.
Lady Gag gag... Need I comment?
American Idol... Ok people.. you need to stop watching shit like this and feeding the egos of some of the most talentless spoiled brats in the industry. I blame the public for this mess.
Justin Boober. Yeah, I know, every generation has it's pop candy idols
but honestly, The Monkees did it better than anyone because 1. they were talented 2. they had great personalities 3. They wanted to evolve
4. they weren't patethic cheese balls.
That's my rant for today folks.
IF you agree, great, if not, go talk
behind my back like always and then when
we meet, say happy things to me. I'm use to it.
It's the way of the Sault music scene right? ;-)
P.S. I will fix grammar and spelling on this post later.
Until then...........learn it........love it......live it!
Always giving the love,
The Freq.
Judging by attendance at most of the bars, "live music" is taking yet another big hit in the Sault. True, there are pockets of interest such as Lop Lops and the Rockstar, but nothing like it was over a decade ago. The local music scene and across Canada and the U.S. for that matter has lost it's way. It's a chain reaction of events really. Music that companies bring to us through TV and Radio is pretty much crap and force fed to you via radio stations that really don't have the freedom they once did. They drive the same 200 songs into your head daily. Psssst. in case you didn't know, there are 1000's of bands with original music in just Canada alone and corporate radio plays 200. Do the math!!! There is really nothing great to wet your ear drums on from local radio and that is truly unsettling. What happens then is that it gives birth to "classic rock" bands playing the same old slop we've heard millions of times because they can't stand those 200 songs radio plays, OR we get bands getting desperate and learning material that would crack your skull after 3 songs should you be subjected to it. Then we have the safe fluffy music that I like to call pussy music that has no balls what so ever but if you want music to knit by, you're covered. Not only has the local scene lost something but music in general has lost it's soul. Yes, great music is still being made, but it's not being promoted and because the new generation have teenie weenie attention spans that have to be fondled by something within 3 seconds or they black out into a no responsive coma, this great music will never see the light of day. Gone from the spotlight are bands that can actually "play" their instruments and gone is music that actually made you "think". Gone is music that had "melody" or the preverbial "hook". Gone is music with "taste". Gone in music is "quality" and most of all, gone is the type of music that used to take you on journey without the aid of narcotics. Gone in music is the ability to write
a lyric without using the word "F#@k" 49 times in 3 paragraphs, or "yo" or "booty". Why don't we just insert "DUH" into songs now because
it's not about writing a good story. It's about potty mouth talk and that's it which is what you hear in public every day. Can't we escape everyday life through music,lyrics, movies, etc?? Apparently not.
People ask me why I don't go out much anymore to see live bands. Excluding me having to work most weekends, the main reason is that the local music scene has become "dull"!! After 30 years in the music scene, I can no longer go out and watch cover bands play the same old cover songs that I played when I started in the music biz. I also can't stand seeing bands brag about how great they are at covering a song by someone famous who clearly grew up with "swing" in their history and yet this new band plays it without one spoonful of swing. You can brag but you've missed the entire concept of "covering a song". New music doesn't swing or have soul and that's why it sucks and sounds lifeless. If you're too pig headed to research that, you'll always be a hack. ;-) I also cannot stand to watch bands who use crap P.A. systems where I can't hear what people are actually playing or singing. This seems to be the norm these days. Sorry, but I like my hearing. Ever hear of a "clear" mix? I'm also sick of being confused by bars that can't make up their minds on what kind of music they want to have. I want to know where a bar is that plays "rock" or "country" or "fluff". Although I can't get into the music Lop Lops has most of the time, they do in most cases, stick to a common theme. You won't see a thrash band in there. That being said, I truly dislike local media favouring the music being played at Lop Lops over what the rest of the city has to offer. Yes, this has been my consistant piss off with local media. Then, we have our local media, be it , paper, online news sites or radio stations, not supporting local talent 99 percent of the time. It's pathetic like my grammar and spelling on this post. |O|!!! Then, we have our new hockey arena that when it first opened, had concerts, but then after the novelty wore off (one year?), we have almost zip for concerts. Now that is a crock of shit. If I had to choose between Greyhounds and concerts, I'd take concerts. There are tons of recording acts out there "wanting" to play and yet, we get squat here. Come on Sault Ste. Marie, get your ass in gear. This city feels like a senior summer camp where we sit around in lawn chairs, drinking prune juice, while belching and farting all day and talking about how crunchy the Melba Toast is. Honestly though, seniors love live music more than the new generation and they experienced the peak of musicianship and music creation. The new generation is missing the boat.
I think one of my biggest piss offs the Sault has to offer is Rotaryfest main stage.. I've yapped about this lame event for years. I truly don't get how people can gather at this event to listen to the same bands from year to year play the same old tired cover songs. Local bands should be ashamed of themselves for "milking it" but local organizers should fire whoever is in charge and at least attempt a "fresh idea" for this tired old event. I simply get bored to death with this Rotaryfest mainstage thing. Thankfully, Rotaryfest Second stage has it's moments but then they ruin it by getting out of town bands involved. Come on, there's more than enough local talent doing original material to play this event. When I see out of town bands headlining local shows like this, I'll be blunt, it pisses me off. Does it piss off other local musicians? You better believe it!!!!
Is it fair? Of course not. Can you change it? Not a chance in hell. |O| I have tried to change the Rotaryfest Main Stage thing for years and got the big "blacklist" from some power tripping knob who organized it years ago. So you will never see "The Freq" on the mainstage at Rotaryfest unless I'm in disguise. haha. Does it bother me? Not a damn bit because someday, people will get bored and want change. Of course, it will be when the event loses money and not because of someones suggestion for change.
Why haven't I supported local bands these days? Ah... I use to, probably more than anyone but does anyone remember what happened when I did? I got slammed for it. Remember my original local forum Musicians Central on Soonet? There's your answer. This city is full of pricks who love to ruin good things that good people are interested in. After dedicating almost 10 years to promoting local talent, it became quite clear that a lot of local musicians just want to live in a music scene of backstabbing and "prickisms". "Prickisms" are things like "thinking you're
the greatest musician since sliced bread yet you can't play a damn note. It's also about those washed up or wanna be musicians who sit in the shadows and condemn the positive work of others under annoymous names. It's also about local musicians who say nice things to your face but as soon as you turn around, stab you in the back. This also refers to local media and local events who year after year snub local talent that doesn't fit into their fluffy little perfect world. Prickisms are also related to those egomaniacs that think that just because their band can fill a dance floor by singing a song they wrote, slamming other local musicians, they are the amighty top band in the Sault. Wow, what an honour. So what exactly is the trophy for being the top band in the Soo?? Last time I checked it was ...........>Nothing<! It's a false goal with absolutely zero reward except braggin rights to your family at dinner time or with your friends and bandmates at the local watering hole. If this is your goal in music, being tops in the Sault is a hollow victory. It means nothing except possibly a paycheck with a few more bucks than some other slob. But yes folks, some local musicians have this quest which is to be, or brag that they are, the best band in the Sault. Now that is some small thinking. So who do I think is the best in town? No one! In my opinion the caliber of musicians has dropped, the music is brutal and except for a few shining moments of some local artists, the topic of who's the best in the Sault is nil and void. Honestly, I can't believe how many egos are in the local music scene. I've seen one guitar player in a band with such a huge ego that when I heard his band, I had to ask people what song they were playing because it didn't sound familiar at all. Turns out, I knew the song but this guy played it so badly, I couldn't recognize it. Yes, he thinks he's great. |O|
So now, we hit the "support of local original music" section. HA! There is none except for the Rad Zone and the now defunct CD Plus. I am notorious for buying local artists music. In fact, I've got a ton of it as far back as cassettes from local bands, and yes, even on LP vinyl. Support for local original music is so small, that it's disgusting. When you can't get your local radio stations to play your stuff, there should be a simple way to protest. We're being slammed with crap from our radio stations with other peoples slop from around the world, why the hell can't be be force fed crap from our local musicians?? HAHA! That has always urked me. I remember years ago when I played in a folk rock band Rainhorses going up to Mix100/ Q104 and trying to get them to play our music. They gave us a short interview, played one song and then quicly kicked us out and threw the CD in the garbage pail never to grace the local airwaves again. True story. Has that happened to you??
Who did play our music often? A few U.S. main stations and a slew of U.S. college stations. Yes local media... you suck ass!!!
So, how do we fix this local pit of "same old same old"? Well, a local radio station that played "rock" music that also supported local music would be a good starter. People in the Sault are not going to come and see you play if their is no way to get them hooked on your music. The internet just won't do. Most people on the internet won't click your link even by accident. The internet is tunnel vision to the individual and their mission is their own. You're music has to hit them by LUCK! We need to start a local rock music station. If you're an original country band, then you're going to have to kick in the doors to Q104, braid the nuts of those lame DJ's and force them to play your music. Q104 blows chunks anyways but if you can find a way to convert them into playing local country music, all the power to ya. Rock fans have NOTHING locally for radio.
Next, local bars need to stop booking the same tired old bands every month for years. ARe you nuts??? You can thank Gsis Murphy for that pile of crap method of booking bands. It's stupid and eventually you sink the ship and they did. Walking into bars these days is like a chinese torture where you're "thunked" in the head by the same sound over and over until you crack up and choke some neighbours chicken.
Mix it up with bands people!!! . If you suck as a band and you can't get bookings, just give up and try something else. If it's not working, change. If you're an 80's metal guitarist, get over it, the 80's are gone. Take your chops and learn something new!! Musicians in this city are trapped in time warps and they have to learn to let go if you want to make a difference. Bars, have to learn that there is music beyond classic rock. There is also music beyond metal. Like come on people, lets not turn the Sault into a retirement home. If our music scene continues like this, the sound of a toilet flush will be our new theme song for music. :-)
Ok.. in closing I'd like to say that Kid Rock SUCKS! And So does Metallica.
Kid Schlock takes two previously written songs, slams them together, puts gay ass lyrics over the melody and those small minded people buy it that I mentioned earlier. You're kidding me right? I don't care if the bands that wrote the original music sold the rights to this no talent, but the fact that a record company put out this shit and people bought it, is the crime when there are 1000's and 1000's of great songs out there waiting to be heard. The music industry is absolutely f**ked.
And Metallica. This band is so overhyped that it makes me vomit. I've seen them live on the Monsters of Rock tour and a new band at the time called Kingdom Come kicked their asses one song into their set. Ok, like Metallica songs if you wish, I like a few but if you think they're great, you head is full of saw dust. I was so happy their last album sucked because if finally showed loyal fans how crappy they really are.
Lady Gag gag... Need I comment?
American Idol... Ok people.. you need to stop watching shit like this and feeding the egos of some of the most talentless spoiled brats in the industry. I blame the public for this mess.
Justin Boober. Yeah, I know, every generation has it's pop candy idols
but honestly, The Monkees did it better than anyone because 1. they were talented 2. they had great personalities 3. They wanted to evolve
4. they weren't patethic cheese balls.
That's my rant for today folks.
IF you agree, great, if not, go talk
behind my back like always and then when
we meet, say happy things to me. I'm use to it.
It's the way of the Sault music scene right? ;-)
P.S. I will fix grammar and spelling on this post later.
Until then...........learn it........love it......live it!
Always giving the love,
The Freq.
