The Garage Band Paradigm

The garage band paradigm is nothing new. I think the term originated sometime in the 1960s to describe the type of bands and music that was coming from generally young, amateur musicians developing their sound in their own homes.

In my opinion, I think this system has worked well. It allows musicians to hone their abilities before investing too much into them. It affords experimentation and innovation through both casual atmospheres and competitive ones. And, perhaps the best result, it can imbue music with a sense of raw purity that shortens the gap between artist and audience (at least in ideal scenarios).

With qualities such as these, it is no wonder why movements in punk, alternative, indie, and even lo-fi have been so successful over the years. Music labels and producers have tried desperately to find ways to replicate the garage sound of bands inside the studio because of its appeal to a wide range of listeners. However, with new technology for home recording becoming available and affordable even to the recreational musician, it seems less likely that the garage sound will be reproduced inside the studio and more likely that the studio sound will finally be produced in the garage.

This renders limitless possibilities for nearly all genres of music. With a little bit of experience with music editing software such as Apple's GarageBand or Logic, an unknown musician can have the means to produce professional quality music. I find this particularly exciting not as a musician (which I am not) but simply as a fan of music.

Bands dependency on major labels to pay for their equipment and studio time is weakening to the point of extinction. With this also comes less reliance on music hubs like New York, L.A., or any other city with a massive music industry. Bands do not need to go to "the big city" any more to make their music, they can do it right in their garage.

I think this is exactly what a place like Pittsburgh needs to develop its music culture. Bands can make their music here, and they can stay here. All it takes is the local listener to stop looking at the big cities (like I mentioned before) to determine what type of music they should be listening to. In the past it made sense - that was where the music was being made, so that was where you looked for it. Now, it seems almost pathetic for a city like Pittsburgh to rely on other places to tell them what kind bands they should like...especially when we have some pretty amazing bands here already.