Thursday, July 15th, 8 PM American Legion Post 80, Grants, NM Pre Fire & Ice Biker Rally Warm-Up Show 121 S. 3rd Grants, NM $5 cover
This one is a result of playing the Crawl. The sound guy at the venue liked what we were doing and set us up with this one. The totally talented Edith Grove will be on the bill as well. I know it is a long drive but they are well worth it.
10 views, counting the one for me to respond.....I'm starting to agree with rutraven.
I mean WTF, if you are not a metal/punk band in this scene then you don't count? Do you people not appreciate music that you can think to? Is it all about fashion and mosh pits? If so, I'm gonna kill Dave for getting me involved in this scene. I got a better response playing a crappy coffee shop in Hobbs of all fucking places. At least 12 people were interested in what I was doing there. Maybe this town is only about the bands that sound like the rest of the bands in this town.
No wonder no one ever thinks of Albuquerque as having a REAL music scene. No wonder why the bands that have "made it" had to go somewhere else to do so.
And I will answer the responses before they start coming in with...."Oh and you're a success?" PALEASE!!!!
I have a friend involved the music scene and this person is regularly bitter and generally disappointed with the scene in Albuquerque. This friend is a difficult person to be around because of his/her attitude about EVERYTHING. It starts to become a deterrent in going to see the band at gigs. But I try to get along with this person as much as possible because everyone needs support.
I don't mean to offend, but in my opinion, the best attitude to have in anything is a positive one. We almost fell apart because of the negativity we were generating. It was palpable in the band. We weren't getting anywhere that way.
You know, Jasper, I've listened to a song of yours. It was about a month back, I got it off the NMN. I remember liking it. Its been a while, but I'm going to take another listen to it.
Don't get me wrong Gio....I do appreciate ALL the support I have gotten in this scene. I have dealt with some super people here, but even the best of them stuggle. My friends and family would vouch for the overly optomistic attitude that I normally have when it comes to music. I just don't get how bands like The Handsome Family, Stan Hirsch, or Edith Grove can't get support in their home town, when, and this is not to take anything away from anyone, certain bands get the best shows because so and so knows Joe or Leonard or whoever. AND the "best" shows(like the crawl) will only pay 100-150 bucks, and that's if you have a "good" night. I have been negotiating with management companies, and they refuse to book shows in Albuquerque because their cut ends up being $25 a show and that is for the highest paying venue. If you look into the surrounding cities with music scenes, you will notice some amazing stats.....like Albuquerque and Austin have the same amount of "bands".....There are fewer "bands" in Denver than in Albuquerque....Phoenix "bands" outnumber Albuquerque "bands" by about a hundred. I could go on and on about the un-professional attitude of this town, but I've already started a book here.....so my questions for you are: When was the last time you guys made more than $100 playing here? Does it happen often? Could you do it three nights a week? And your friend, the bitter one, was he a bitter person before he started playing here, or as a result of playing here?
Its rare we get paid more than $30. That sucks. But if we were doing this for money, we'd have quit a long long time ago. You know what I think would really help the scene? City involvement. Getting people to go to shows for the music and not just to get drunk would help too. This city has a university, great weather, lots of history, a small but decent downtown district...these are things that should create a more outgoing community. So what's so wrong with Albuquerque that's keeping people at home, watching Fear Factor or "M"tv??? I don't know. Lack of money?
And as for this friend of mine, he/she has always been a pessimist, but its gotten almost unbearable lately. "Albuquerque sucks."
I agree that with more support from the city, there could be a better scene, however, I believe that one of the biggest contributing factors is the bands themselves......by that I mean that the locals have been treated with the attitude that venues are doing them a favour by letting them play for nothing, and the bands have gotten so used to it, that they are willing to play anywhere for anything. Which is fine when you are starting out, or if it is a hobbie, but tends to lead to these "good time" gigs, where the band is all fucked up before they go on. Such things have negative effects on all the musicians who are not doing it as a hobbie or whatever. And just to say that I am not the complete pessimist, I have really high hopes for this project, I just don't think it will happen here.
By the way, I read an article on the Handsome Family in Harp Magazine (out of Chicago, I think). It was cool. I also saw an ad in there for Nels Andrews & The El Paso Eyepatch's upcoming album. They had an article in there on the Shins as well.
Yeah, I agree. Maybe it would help if there was no cover charge. If the bands would get part of the bar tab, or hell even just if the bands would just get some drinks for free that would be cool. I don't mind playing for free, if it means that more people will show up.
Then you see what I'm saying Gio.....Both of those acts got more support in Chicago, and I don't think the Eyepatch has ever even been to Chicago.
Matt-The last show I played downtown was (allegedly) for 10% of the bar....there were anywhere from 30 to 70 people making there way in and out of the bar, and MOST of them were having a drink or two...a few of them stayed all night and got shit-faced.....imagine my surprise when the venue manager gave me $8 as payment, and refused to let me see the books....
You just cannot play the Abq "scene" and be concerned with the money....we, as local musicians, are virtual indentured servants to the clubs....I guess one could learn some Santana covers and play some biker bars and make a few bucks--but where is that at? Abq, however, is not a bad place to hone your craft, record relatively cheaply, and work on your plans for world domination...go out and tour and not have to battle the vastly more competitive scenes in larger cities--every band everywhere is the red headed stepchild of their local scene, playing for scraps, and a few cheap beers(one might suppose that in lieu of actually getting paid the club might let you have a decent beer instead of whatever is about to go out of date)-you just have to focus on other places, and other ears...and consider your Abq shows as chances to practice on an actual stage through an actual p.a. There are folks all over the world who are interested in whats happening in this part of the country---just do not hope to think that the local club owners will validate you. Expand your horizons folks!
S.N.A.F.U.!
Posts: 32 | Location: usa | Registered: August 19, 2003
Thank you Honky, Your opinion is always welcome here.....I guess the Handsomes proved me wrong(well somewhat) by having a good show on Saturday at the Launchpad, but despite having people at the show, they still didn't make much money.....Probably why they tour Europe......
I will try to improve my attitude about the local scene, and perhaps set up some local shows, if the venues will have me. Then, after I get my live practices out of the way, LOOK OUT!!! Cuz me and the honky are gonna take over the WORLD!!!!!!!! AHHH HA HA HA HA.....Oh wait, sorry Brain.....
Its all good.....I'll just have to find a local venue that will have me. I recently got some contact info for the press club, which would be a perfect place for what I'm doing.....I think I'll also check into some of the "Hippie" places, and coffee shops......so much for making money.
Any one got any contact info for the casinos? I heard they are always looking for lounge acts. I could pull that off I think.
