To The Locals

Rick Barton said something that is so true about today's music climate. He reminisced about 1980 when he saw the Clash at venue in Boston and it was packed with 2,800 people, and the next night he went back to see three unknown local bands, and there were 450 people there just because. He said now that today people will only go to shows is the headliner is "Green Day, or Dropkick Murphy's," while ignoring the great local talent that a city has to offer. He's right. People are ignoring a local scene that has talent besides hardcore bands. I wish people would listen. The next show my band has is at the Clubhouse with three bands I know, quality acts too! So come out, on a Thursday night, and prove me wrong! The world of local music is full of the next big thing, get there before they get big.

Last night I played a gig with Civet, Continental, and Look Out Look, and sadly there were not that many people there, I mean there were people there, but not as many as there should have been. This isn't a stab at the bands being bad, or unknown, this is a stab at the people that are overlooking local concerts. I have never seen a local show where there have been say, 40-50 people are a venue just because. The closest was Joes Grotto at the start of April, that's a different situation though.

The modern music listener is so infatuated with big radio-pop headliners like Justin Bieber, or Green Day (just saying I like Green Day, but they are a good example.) Meanwhile they will totally ignore a local band who very well may be better than aforementioned musicians, even though Bieber is barely a musician. It sickens me about what people do find good out here. When I told Mr. Barton what was popular out here, the hardcore screamo, grindcore stuff, he had a shiver run down his spine. It is bad. Most of these bands fizzle out in about a year because most have band member problems, or have a shuffling deck of members, and tough to get to know the band because their music is always changing. Also the messages that these bands try and send are disgusting, most nonsensical. I'm going to use one particular local band that I saw recently, Mold Breaker from north Phoenix. One, their music was full if dissonant chords that hurt ones ears; two, all their songs sounded the same; three there, there were no audible words; four, they are a rich kid band who's parents literally pay for everything (the drummer and one of the guitar players father is in Soulfly.) This is what is popular out here. That's not the worst of it.

I am not one to identify myself as an atheist, but pretty close. So you can imagine I do not like any sort of religion in my music, unless it is a call out against it. This is another startling popular scene out here, Christ-core. Upper-middle class kids playing drop tuned guitars, all tattooed up and praising "the Lords name" in their songs. What?! What happened to metal being "the devils" music? Its okay, these bands don't last though. Again, arguments erupt, strangely over girls because all of a sudden they have interested females.

There is a scene out here, but it saddens me that no one pays attention to where it should be. The punks shouldn't have to hide at a 21+ venue in Glendale, considering right now there is a great market for loud ear blistering punk music. Why hide in the shadows. The people that call themselves local music lovers don't really come out, no matter what. You know what that means, great venues close, get re-opened by an investor seeing a second chance, and then it closes again, this time forever. It's not just bands that suffer from a stagnant crowd not coming to shows, it is venue owners.

So I ask you this, please come out to local shows, stuff where there may not be a slew of people, but good acts. To follow these popular hardcore bands out here is, no pun intended, but bandwagonism. Come out to a show, and see that there is some amazing things going on, stories being told on stage, blood sweat, and tears all emanating from one stage, and connecting with the listener. The punk rock scene is really a community, and a weird brotherhood (you'll get into a fight with a person, then the next second be joining them in a mosh pit like you've been friends forever.) But people rather go to shows to fight each other.

Next time you hear of a local show, mine, a friends, or anyone else’s, come out and see what is going on. There very well may be the next big thing, and you can say "you knew them when," or liked them when, ect. So my plea stands. Until next time, see you at the show.