Point Park Battle of the Bands, Night Two

Tonight ended Point Park's two day battle of the bands saga. The Unsmokable Brokes finished in third, earning them the prize of having a song put into circulation on WPPJ, Point Park's radio station, and an interview by one of Point Park's DJs.

In my last post, I mentioned how there were only three bands playing. This would put the Unsmokable Brokes in dead last. However, one of the bands from last night (that withdrew) showed up and played. The competition was not the issue, and actually having four bands there makes winning third prize more significant. The suspicious thing was that the band that "managed" to show was the only band from Point Park, they had to have known about the show for a while, and a decent amount of their fans made it on such short notice.

When I say the competition was not the issue, I mean it. The prizes were nice, especially for a small competition, but they were not the kind of things that would forever change a band's career. Because the band showed up (and showed up late), in order for them to perform they had to cut into the Brokes set. They nearly cut it in half. Personally, I think it was bad etiquette on their part, but it really isn't worth focusing on too much.

Tonight's performance was overall a lot better than last night. The location changed spots from Point Park's University Center to Lawrence Hall, and as a result, I think the sound quality was better. It is amazing how even a little change can make such an impact on an overall performance.

In the spirit of Halloween, the band wore costumes. Mike went as "Dexter" from the Showtime series by the same name. Will was an unusual drag composite of what appears to be David Bowie, Andy Warhol, and...Lady Gaga, maybe? Nick boldly wore a "Green Man" costume inspired by the FX series "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia."

There was no real consistency or purpose to the costumes. Mostly, the band did it for fun. It is hard to say whether they were an asset or a distraction and, in general, I am opposed to most things that may be considered a gimmick. Gimmicks have the potential to distract from substance, and it doesn't take long for most people to either see through them or get sick of them. Even still, two days before Halloween, it made things a little more fun.

As usual, check out the myspace for all the pics. There is also a video of the band performing "Sundance Cave", and I would love to put it right in the blog but cannot for some reason. Sorry.

New Format

I remember learning somewhere that in advertising your general formats should be consistent in order to instill repetition and remembrance into your audience. When I changed the format of the myspace page, I felt like the blog format should change,too.

I also remember learning that this consistency means you can't simply change everything when you feel like it. My preferences change quite frequently, though, and I think this new format is overall more visually pleasing. I am hoping this is the last change to the format I will have (at least for a long time). Anyway, I hope everyone likes it.

Point Park Battle of the Bands, Night One

Tonight (10/28) was the first night of Point Park's Battle of the Bands. The schedule called for six bands to perform and four of the bands to be invited back tomorrow night for the final round of competition. That is not exactly what happened.

One of the original six bands was unable to perform due to a faulty bass guitar. The other five, including the Unsmokable Brokes, performed and some promise was shown. However, one band withdrew from the competition immediately after their set because they could not make it tomorrow night. A second band withdrew for apparently the same reasons before the night was over. This guaranteed the three remaining bands spots during the second night.

Tomorrow night three bands will play, and the three contest prizes will be given away. I feel pretty confident guaranteeing the Brokes will take one of those prizes. I actually feel bad for the people at Point Park that set up the event. By no means has it been a failure. It has actually been well organized up to this point, and I am not sure how they could have prevented bands from dropping out.

Anyway, the competition may be shot, but there is still the chance for people to check out bands and bands to court potential fans. I will be sure to chronicle the official results (and perhaps a review of the bands that play) tomorrow night.

Renaissance Men of Music

It is not enough just to write any more. After spending many more hours than it should take working on the Brokes myspace page last night, I am beginning to realize the many hats members of a band must wear, in a way that I am assuming marks a change in what it now means to be an artist. A band needs:

(obviously) to play instruments

to line up gigs and network with bands and venues

to design webpages, t-shirts, and album covers

to take photos and videos

to record and engineer songs

to publicize and advertise for shows

to prepare press kits and profiles

(and of course)to write songs and music.

There are many more things that these categories leave out, but that isn't the point. Now, making music is a battle between the availability of all the tools necessary provided you have a few instruments and a computer and the difficulty it is for individuals to execute all of these tasks. It is not enough just to write any more. A band must spend as much time, if not more, working on getting their music out there as they do writing it.

As I said before, this is a battle. Now that all of the weapons are in our hands, we must ask the questions, "Can we use them" and "Should we use them?" Essentially, this allows a band to have complete creative control. They can play at the venues they want to, decide what goes on the t-shirts and structure their albums without answering to a label or corporation that signs their paychecks. However, this also leaves out the advice and advantages that comes from answering to superiors, and it cuts down on the time a band gets to spend writing and composing. And...a lot of times it leaves out the paychecks, too.

In this upheaval of typical artistic structures I feel it is safe to say we are currently experiencing--in many fields even beyond music--there are two questions among many that must be answered and answered quickly. I ask them both, as a fan of music and someone involved with the creating of it. The first is whether all of these changes will make music and music culture better or worse, assuming it is available to fans. The second is whether artists will be more or less motivated and capable of creating music (or any type of art, really).

I realize these questions are loaded, and because of this, they are incomplete in themselves. I will continue to tackle more specific topics, but I am attempting to think ahead before I do. However, I think the right questions need to be addressed by all in order to solve some of the problems at hand. Music is for all to enjoy, and unfortunately when something is wrong with it, these problems are for all to solve.

Pittsburgh Music Blogs

So since there is quite a few blogs I have been following recently, I figured I would list them for the sake of organization. (in no particular order):

1. Pittsburgh Music Blog Reader

2. HUGHSHOWSREDUX

3. PITTSBURGH MUSIC REPORT

4. SONGS IN THE KEY OF TOUCHE

5. speed of the pittsburgh sound

6. The BNAC Music Blog

7. unrescuable schizo

**I will add/delete as I go along so no need to search other posts for blog that I read.

#1 City that Rocks???

I could not fit enough question marks in my title to capture my reaction when I found out about an Esquire article from April 2004 about the national music scene. Which city was topping the list you ask? Apparently...Pittsburgh.

I found an old article in the Pittsburgh Tribune Review entitled "Local music scene cheers 'Burghs rockin' ranking". According to the article, Pittsburgh has the best unknown music scene in the country, and the way it sounds, the best music in the country. A lot can happen in five years, but from what I'm finding out, it seems to have only gotten better.

Unfortunately, I could not find the Esquire article. If anyone has any ideas how I could, I would love to hear them.

So the question still remains: if Pittsburgh music is so great, why is it so difficult for anyone to put a finger on it? As before, I am perplexed. However, the more I look into questions like these, the more answers I find. The goal is to find these answer without looking for them and to help other music fans find them, too.

"Promoting your band"

Here are some tips for promoting shows courtesy of the 31st Street Pub. They posted them on their website for bands looking to have a show at their venue, and they are good advice. This is the type of information sharing between band and venue that will be necessary for a good music scene...so congrats to the Pub.

Tips for promoting your band.

Playing a good show isn't as simple as showing up and plugging in. We ask that ALL bands promote their shows as best as possible; after all, it's you on stage. Here's some rudimentary promotional tips:

1. Make FLYERS to bring to the Pub at least 3 weeks before the show. Make them attractive and legible, and put them everywhere you can, especially local record stores, bars, colleges and anywhere else that you can legally post them.

2. Make HANDBILLS (small flyers) and hand them out personally at shows you attend. Some bands even print their handbills on adhesive paper and stick them in conspicuous places around the city.

3. Tell everyone you know to come see you play. The more people that know, the better, including family, friends, co-workers, etc. Often times bands mistakenly assume their friends know about their shows; don't assume anything.

4. Last, but certainly not least, contact the press! At least have your event listed, and perhaps you can garner some media coverage if you send in a CD, press releases, etc. Here are a few links to local media outlets, but there are more outlets if you seek them out:

Pittsburgh City Paper - www.pghcitypaper.com
Pittsburgh Pulp - www.pittsburghpulp.com
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - www.pittsburghpostgazette.com
WRCT Radio (Carnegie Mellon University) - www.wrct.com
WPTS Radio (University of Pittsburgh) - www.wpts.pitt.edu
WDUQ Radio (Duquesne University) - www.wduq.org
WYEP Radio (Adult Alternative) - www.wyep.org"

Great suggestions, thanks again 31st Street Pub.

BATTLE OF THE BANDS (@ Point Park)

It looks like the Unsmokable Brokes will be participating in a Point Park Battle of the Bands next Tuesday (Oct. 27). Unfortunately, I don't have a time or place verified yet. I will post that information as soon as I find out.

The show is a full-band gig, complete with sound systems and drum kits. As far as I know, each band will play a half-hour set (about 6-8 songs). I don't know what the turnout will be like, but the band and I are approaching it like any other legitimate gig.

We have had some experience with Battle of the Bands-type shows before. On the downside, the judging is not the fairest it could be. The shows are usually set up by a band or by someone closely tied to a band, and the location is never neutral. On the upside, these types of shows have the potential to draw a large crowd with varying musical interests. Also, there is the guaranteed audience of the other bands performing, which always means opportunity to network.

At the very least, Battle of the Bands can be viewed as any other show. They present the same opportunities and the same audience (if not a larger audience). The only worry is that your band might not get many votes, but as I said before, the judging is often meaningless. All in all, I am looking forward to the opportunity and to scope out Point Park as a venue and a pool for potential fans.

OTB Bicycle Cafe Show

Last night was the first live performance in a while for the Unsmokable Brokes, however, there will be many more to come (hopefully). The OTB was a decent venue. The bar/restaurant is more of a bar, and it is rather small. However, it was very well decorated and kept. There were only about a dozen people there to listen to the music. I think it is safe to say though that the people who were there really enjoyed themselves and the music.

Although I feel pretty positively about the benefits of performing, I am finding it difficult to assess the value of playing shows at small bars like the OTB Bicycle Cafe. These shows can be good for networking with other bands and bar owners, and they are always good for practice. If the goal is exposure, I can't say these kind of shows offer much. However, any show that might provide adequate exposure is going to be difficult to find. In Pittsburgh, these shows are few and far between.

All in all, the gig at the OTB Bicycle Cafe was a step in the right direction. At the very least (in my opinion), the music was good and the Unsmokable Brokes sound better every show. So when the right show does come around, all this experience will pay off.

A Shifting of Gears

In the roughly two months that I have been following any lead I can find about music and the music scene in Pittsburgh, I have made a few observations worth noting:

A. Initially, I thought the organization of Pittsburgh’s music-related resources (bands, venues, fans, production companies, etc.) would be the key to reaching a more active and mutually prosperous music scene. Although I have not entirely abandoned this goal, I have found that there is a fair amount of organization in place already. Bands and venues have intricate web pages and resources. There are thorough listings for shows in the area – these are slightly harder to find but mostly logical and accessible. Surprisingly, I have found at least a half dozen blogs already and some of them are very good.

B. There are a few things I’m beginning to realize do not work. Myspace can still be used as a way to network with other bands and venues, but fan traffic and motivation is not promising to say the least. The same can be said about the blogs (…the other blogs, of course). Another thing is that most venues in Pittsburgh, although well organized, care about money not music. They want to know that a band is going to bring in people because those people will buy stuff. A new band looking for exposure cannot appeal to their sympathy. Being able to make a fan commitment (around 50-200 people in most cases) is what venues want.

For the time being, I will continue to search for resources. However, I will be looking into anything and everything as long as it is related to understanding the Pittsburgh music fan. I need to find out what they read, where they go on the internet, and the venues that draw a devout following.

I am not sure how this will be accomplished, but it is a step in what I assume is the right direction.

OTB Bicycle Cafe

Personally, I have never heard of the place, but that makes sense because I think they have only been open since January. Anyway, Chuck Beatty, one of the blues guys from Geno's that I wrote about a little while ago, has a show there next Saturday, October 17, at 10pm. Like Geno's he invited The Brokes to play there, and it will be all three of The Brokes this time. I wouldn't quite call it an Unsmokable Brokes show, but they will be there playing music, so it should be pretty great. I don't want to steal anyone's thunder though.

It is Chuck Beatty's show and he will be playing for a few hours so he invited the Unsmokable Brokes to come because he liked their sound and will need a break. I am not sure about the OTB Bicycle Cafe yet, as a venue. I checked out their website (http://www.otbbicyclecafe.com/), and it looks pretty interesting. I'll be sure to give it a closer look on Saturday and write more of a profile on it then.

Venue Woes

Mike and I went to scout a venue in Brentwood on Friday. He had heard from a friend at work that they host live music and maintain a nice atmosphere. Upon entering, I noticed it did have some nice qualities, but it was mostly just an average bar/restaurant. The clientele was middle age to older and few people were in the restaurant (there were quite a few people in the bar).

The waitresses were friendly enough, and they directed us to the guy who is in charge of the music that gets played there--any potential this place may have had was lost during a conversation with this man. He spoke to us from his bar stole, asked us question after question and told us little in return. He wanted to know the type of music the band plays, other venues they have played at and how soon we could get him a CD to listen to. These questions are fair, but they were all asked in such repetition with such skepticism that it seemed liked for him, live music was more of a chore than an interest.

He is the type of manager that views music as any other item on the menu. He probably thinks, 'I don't get it, but some of my customers like it...so I'll deal with it.' That is fine I suppose, but for a band it is usually a waste of time. It can be difficult to sift through venues online or even through the way they are depicted in newspapers or magazines, but usually it doesn't take more than a brief conversation with the manager to decide what you are going to get from playing there.

Not all venues are gems, that is why I would always recommend scouting them out before playing a show there. It usually gives you a good idea of the clientele and the manager, which more often than not reflects the atmosphere. All of these elements are useful tools in deciding if it is worth the time and effort for putting on a show. Word to the wise: I have witnessed too many wasted sets and too many shows played to empty rooms not to be selective with venues.

Useful Link: Pittsburgh Music Scene (Cont'd)

I've been looking through the links on Pittsburgh Music Scene and have found some more useful resources as a result. I haven't gone through all of them yet, but there are a few I would like to note.

91.3fm WYEP Pittsburgh:

This is a local and pretty well known radio station from personal experience. However, I was pleasantly surprised by some of their resources on the Internet. It seems like a good way for local bands to put their music out into the airwaves although I am not sure how selective they are with submissions. I will be trying to get the Brokes on soon and chronicle my results. They do have a good list of upcoming local concerts and venues worth checking out though, so it is worth it to browse around their site in the meantime.

Pittpunk

This local blog has more links to bands, venues and events than I have been able to check out yet. My hope would be that despite their name, they are not entirely devoted to punk music but rather cover a wide range of genres. At the very least it is a good source for links.

Pittsburgh City Paper

I posted a link to the City Paper before, and I am still convinced they provide a good mix of local and national music news. They also have resources for local bands looking to get their efforts into print. Like WYEP I will try to get the Brokes in but cannot comment on the experience yet. Regardless, it seems like a good place for fans to receive their Pittsburgh music news.

That's all for now, but my research is far from over. The big question I have yet to answer is where do music fans in Pittsburgh look to find out about shows, new bands, etc. In the past I have relied on word of mouth, but I am trying to put together something a little simpler here. So, to be continued...

Geno's In Lawrenceville

Two of the Brokes, Mike and Nick, were at Geno's Restaurant in Lawrenceville over the weekend. They went with a friend to hear a blues duo group and ended up getting invited on stage to do a few songs of their own.

In my experience, blues musicians are the most welcoming of any genre. I have been going to the Pittsburgh Blues Festival for the past five or six years and have met some of the most interesting and accessible people. Whether I am biased or not doesn't really matter. All I am saying is that blues is at least one genre where the musicians and the audience tend to focus on making each others' music better and making sure everyone has a good time. This is the type of mentality I see the Pittsburgh music scene capable of having.

Note: As a venue, I cannot say much about Geno's. It seems to be more of an eatery/bar than a hub for good music.

The Album and Media

The Brokes and I have been working on conceptualizing and preparing for their first album. A lot of thought is being put into answering questions like:

- What tracks should be included?
- Where should the tracks be place on the album?
- How do the songs relate to each other?
- How do the songs relate to larger themes?

As the process of answering these questions continues, I cannot help but asking myself another, "What is the point?"

Back in the days when vinyl recordings were the medium of mass consumption, crafting the album was a delicate process. Tracks could not be skipped and, except for a little dead air, one led into the next. Albums were meant to be listened to from the beginning to the end...there were few other options.

When the CD came around, it became much easier to pollute albums. If listeners did not like a particular track, they could simply skip to the next. Bands began wasting tracks and album time with a new passion, including not only low quality songs, but also skits or bits in between the music.

Now, with the MP3, the album has officially become an endangered species. Even during the time of the CD, to hear a particular song, the entire CD had to be purchased (Note: in general, things like CD burning and mixes go beyond the basic production-consumer relationship). Songs are no longer written to be heard in succession based on theme or style. The fate of most songs is to be purchased online, downloaded onto a portable device, and left on some playlist to be eternally shuffled with other 'greatest hits' style tracks.

I am not condemning portable devices, playlists, online purchasing, the MP3, or anything really. I feel that these things have their time and place and have actually done wonders for the music industry...maybe not financially, but the music fan can now listen/purchase much more effectively. My only concern is that somewhere in all of this, the album with lose its time and place -- it will become extinct.

For someone who listens to music for more than a mental distraction or something to move around to at a club, the death of the album would be a grave tragedy. A good album has the potential to create a universe. It can take the ideas songs present and stack them on top of each other or pit them against each other. Song is to album as chapter is to novel (which is dying too ironically).

Finding a way to save the album might be a difficult task, but I would much rather try than say goodbye to this musical institution entirely.

Pitchfork's "The Decade..."

Pitchfork.com is doing a pretty interesting review of the past decade in music...even though it is not over. Regardless, the stuff I have read so far did a really good job of helping me place all that has happened to music in the last ten years.

The staff listed their picks for the top 500 tracks and 200 albums among the other articles. I have not gone through all their picks yet so I am not in a position to say whether or not they did a good job, but they do have this thing where you can listen to the tracks/albums and purchase them (at a discount price, supposedly). I am impressed.

While you're at the site try to check out an article by Eric Harvey called "The Social History of the MP3" from last month. Despite all of the confusion surrounding the music industry, Harvey does a good job describing how it is developing by using the MP3 as a conduit for they way people listen to and access music.

One thing he said seems to directly coincide with something I have been trying to understand, i.e. the relationship between artist and audience. Toward the end of the article, Harvey writes:

"If the networked public sphere shaped by mp3s could collaboratively re-imagine itself not as an audience or a market but as members of a civil society, who feel that they deserve a stake in its own culture, then the rules going forward, and our appreciation of music's social and affective values, might emerge like mp3s themselves: from the bottom up."

I feel like this is the type of musical revolution we need. The major record labels are taking a hard hit from the new developments in the music industry, but this certainly is not going to put an end to music. It simply calls for a change (a long overdue change in my opinion). The change Harvey seems to be calling for, I agree with entirely. The idea of having "a civil society," or an artistic community, would be a thousand times better than the label-customer relationship we have had in the past.

The only question that remains is how to make this happen.