RTP-area local music and culture

[grady <grady AT ibiblio.org>]

Well, keep in mind that the bands have generally all already ponied up, 
as you say, for the studio time to record the songs you're gonna put on 
this free-giveaway comp. To be in a local band around here is almost 
never a moneymaking proposition, once you factor in everything (practice 
space, gear, gas to shows, recording, promotion, blah blah blah). It's a 
hobby, and most everybody willingly pays the toll, whatever it is, but 
it's for that very reason that so many local bands seem so ambivalent 
about self-promotion. They just wanna rock out & have a good time, and 
sometimes the idea of 100 strangers watching you do it can actually be a 
disincentive.

Some of them may/do certainly want to spend a little to help put out 
comps (there have been collectively-released comps in the past, as well 
as one-off CD-Rs to promote shows--John Harrison of North Elementary was 
on a roll with those last year, though I haven't seen any of his 
handiwork lately), but it may be reaching to assume that bands should 
feel obligated to donate a song *and* kick in some cash to press/burn 
the things. Many/most do plenty of that sort of thing already (there's a 
poll question: how many local releases of the past 5 years broke even or 
made money?).

I like magazines with free CDs of the bands inside. It's kewl to be able 
to read somebody ranting/raving about a band & then be able to hear what 
they're talking about with a minimum of effort.

Hey, would you look at that, the Raleigh Hatchet is down with the 
program:  http://www.raleighhatchet.com/

"Hey Bands! check back soon for information on submitting songs to be 
considered for the first Hatchet Music Sampler CD.  "

I betcha they wouldn't mind some free reliable volunteer help over at 
the Hatchet . . . .

Ross

Jeremy Blair wrote:
> The bands on the disc definitely have a vested interest, I'd say they could
> pony up, who else could be leaned on to sponsor a project like this? Suppose
> the local labels would get behind it? Labels can't sign a band that doesn't
> have a loyal following, so helping nurture the local scene helps them in the
> long run. And omg I use the term "scene" ever so humbly, plz don't flame me
> tyvm.
>
>
> On 1/31/06, Ben Davis <ben_dontspamme_davis AT unc.edu> wrote:
> > ya
> > I always say to people outside of the area that there has to be like 2
> > to 300 bands playing around right now -
> >
> > and I usually am not even counting metal or bluegrass bands in that
> > figure - which adds a whole other dimension -
> >
> >
> >
> > grady wrote:
> > > A bajillion?
> > >
> > > I have been somewhat slack at moving inactive bands into inactive status
> > > on my website, so I can't do a quickie database count & let you know
> > > that way (although this does act as a nudge for me to go through & do
> > > some cleanup in that area). Plus I have also been remiss at adding new
> > > bands, at least according to those bands that keep emailing me to let me
> > > know that.
> > >
> > > Here's a random metric for you, though: In 2005 WXDU playlisted at least
> > > 70 local releases, including several comps which featured bands who
> > > didn't manage to otherwise release anything. We received probably at
> > > least that many more (from all across NC) which didn't make playlist,
> > > due to nobody liking them well enough. (note: if your band's CD didn't
> > > get playlisted at WXDU in 2005, it might also be because it got lost in
> > > the mail; Duke's mail system is fucked up.)
> > >
> > > We probably actually playlisted closer to 80, but my recordkeeping kinda
> > > blows in that area, which is also why I don't have a 2005 best-of list.
> > >
> > > There are at least another 50-100 local bands who didn't manage to
> > > release anything in 2005 (like yours, for instance, right?).
> > >
> > > If I can crunch some numbers, I might be able to give you a half-assed
> > > stab at the number of local bands who gigged locally in 2005, but it
> > > would take more time than I have at this instant. We'll see if work
> > > slacks later in the week.
> > >
> > > xo
> > >
> > > Ross
> > >
> > > Ben Davis wrote:
> > >
> > > > Ross
> > > > Do you (or anyone) have a rough guess at how many active bands are
> > > > around in the triangle right now -
> > > > seems like a really fertile time for good music -
> > > >
> > > > Ben
> > > >
> > > > grady wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > It wouldn't hurt, either, if the Indy would host mp3 samples of the
> > > > > nominated songs in their music poll. Would it be so hard to make that a
> > > > > condition of being nominated, that the bands have to make the songs
> > > > > available, at least for streaming?
> > > > >
> > > > > Hmm. I just went looking for this year's ballot but it's not at the
> > > > > logical place, http://www.indymusicawards.com
> > > > >
> > > > > It's linked from here, though:
> > > > > http://indyweek.com/durham/2006-01-25/cover.html
> > > > >
> > > > > I did a zine once with a CD in it. It was fun to put together. I was
> > > > > gonna do another one but, um, circumstances intervened. If I do another
> > > > > one, it'll be a DVD instead of a CD, though. Video being the new audio,
> > > > > of course.
> > > > >
> > > > > xo
> > > > >
> > > > > Ross
> > > > >
> > > > > bendy wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > The editors of a certain music publication burn mix cds of stuff that
> > > > > > they like, mixing accesible fare like The Go! Team with the Locust and
> > > > > > such. Then they drop off the things in coffee shops where the
> > *straight
> > > > > > but indie-curious* hang out. Seeding the potential readers, as  it
> > were.
> > > > > > There's no identifying features beyond the track list- they're just
> > > > > > trying to open up minds and ears.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > copyright is theft!
> > > > > >
> > > > > > - bendy
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Chris Rossi wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > I think most people equate "free" with "suck".  Giving away something
> > > > > > > for free is the best way in the world to completely devalue it.  The
> > > > > > > vast majority of those CDs would go straight into the landfill.
> > > > > > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > > > > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> > > > > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > > > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> > > > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> > > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> > -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> > http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene