WARNING! Music rant!

EatADeadGoat · #1 02-09-2011, 05:23 PM

So, I have officially found out that the music scene sucks (at least in my area, but I think it may just be california)

Everyone wants to start some screamo band that is a ripoff of the bands that are getting all the attention now, with the reasoning "Well, everyone shows up to their shows so they'll show for ours" and all they do is mimic their style to the point of being boring and unoriginal. I mean, even more than average screamo. Seriously, chugging open notes through an entire song? I don't claim virtuosity at bass, but I would NEVER play like that. It's irritating, because musicians are supposed to be creative beings that leech off of our friends and families, but I guess we can take creative out of the mix now. All people ever do anymore is drop their instruments to C, have the drummer hit the snare and cymbals every now and then and just double bass up the place, the guitarists and bassists hit nonstop open notes that are mainly just breakdowns after breakdowns. Oh, and then their vocalist, who just screams and thats it, writes the most hollow lyrics that are an attempt at being edgy and thinks that they're br00tul.

Basically, there is no reason to actually get somewhat proficient at playing. Hit open notes on a heavily downtuned instrument because that is the ONLY WAY you can sound heavy nowadays and you're good. KNowing notation? Nah. Just play for like a month and you're in the band. Oh, and you HAVE TO WORSHIP EVERY BAND WE LOVE.

Ugh. Just needed that outta my system.

funkybassinator · #2 02-09-2011, 05:27 PM

Get in on the jazz scene. IME only place where everyone is held to high standards.

EatADeadGoat · #3 02-09-2011, 05:34 PM

I've been thinking that; plus a lot of my favorite metal bassists know jazz, and they're the ones that rock out. I like to mix a lot with my playing, keeping it interesting, with varying speeds and styles. I just like to make music, really don't care if it's angry / heavy or emotional / sensetive. I just wanna make good music. But I guess not everyone who "wants to get famous" is as serious about good music as someone who plays PURELY for self gratification.

funkybassinator · #4 02-09-2011, 05:36 PM

Jazz is the best place to do that, IMO. But be careful, it might completely alter the way you appreciate all other music, for better or worse.

tangentmusic · #5 02-09-2011, 05:36 PM

Or start a new age Prog band.
This is not a new trend. Do you realize how many bands emulated the Beatles in the '60's? Or wanted to be the next Zeppelin in the '70's? Or when Hair bands were everywhere in the '80's? There's nothing but bands doing the popular / trendy thing now as well as then. But yeah, the screaming thing, is a trend that's currently popular.

EatADeadGoat · #6 02-09-2011, 05:38 PM

I'm honestly just focusing on my skills really. It doesn't have to be technically insane, but unique and different. Some of my favorite riffs are simple. It's just the way you "phrase" it. I used to be one of those million notes a minute guys till I realized I was overcompensating for lack of skill.

EDIT: I just think we should all be creative. Yes, draw from our influences, but put a part of ourselves in the music that sets it apart, that really makes it different. I enjoy some scream vocals, but tbh I really prefer someone with range who can just sing like he has nails in the back of his throat, or just a powerful voice. I think scream vocals should be like distortion, used tastefully, not all over the place. Some female fronted bands have a scream vocalist providing choruses, or even "singing" along as backup, providing a beauty and the beast kind of thing going. I like that because it's done tastefully.

MRDOOM · #7 02-09-2011, 05:39 PM

Look at it this way, if most of the bands in your area are trying to be screamo/______core, then it will be easier for bands that are different to stand out and actually make an impression.

EatADeadGoat · #8 02-09-2011, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MRDOOM

Look at it this way, if most of the bands in your area are trying to be screamo/______core, then it will be easier for bands that are different to stand out and actually make an impression.

That is my beacon of hope in all of this, (sort of) but I really don't want to get famous anyways, I just wanna have fun.

ShredderMaximus · #9 02-09-2011, 07:30 PM

nor-cal bassist here, all I see for the most part are lame screamo bands and wannabe technical deathcore whatever bands that play all these crazy notes but don't know how to laid down a solid thrashing riff, and imho, seeing these bands live may be visually amazing (when you can actually distinguish what they're playing) but really, I go to a show to head bang, drink, and mosh, and alot of whats coming out doesn't drive me to do these things, to busy trying to figure out the correct tempo to bang my head to...

Staredge · #10 02-09-2011, 07:36 PM

Good surf scene in SoCal.....some pretty good bands in NorCal as well.

dj150888 · #11 02-09-2011, 07:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybassinator

Jazz is the best place to do that, IMO. But be careful, it might completely alter the way you appreciate all other music, for better or worse.

While I agree with the spirit of your point, I didn't find that starting to play jazz in any way detracted from my enjoyment of other forms of music. I guess its a personal thing. For me, it was fusion more than straight-ahead jazz. It let me see how simplistic other music was, but I don't necessarily need to be playing something as complex as fusion to enjoy playing. I sure as hell don't need it to be complex to enjoy listening to it. I just want to have fun playing music. For me, at least, that requires playing multiple genres.

To the OP, just step outside your comfort zone, take a brief foray outside the scene you're currently playing in. Maybe, as per funkybassinator's suggestion, spend a little time in the jazz scene, or as staredge suggests, the surf scene. Don't let the stagnation of the music you're a part of cause you to stagnate personally. You'll find lots to keep you cheery when everything is very new!

samc2527 · #12 02-09-2011, 07:54 PM

ever think its because emo girls are hot?

MadDogM · #13 02-09-2011, 07:56 PM

I'm in SoCal and it's really jsut the same thing over here

zachoff · #14 02-09-2011, 08:02 PM

There's gotta be other music out there besides that junk, man. Search around. Maybe it's not what your immediate acquaintances are into, but I'd just go see a bunch of shows of bands you've never heard of or search myspace for bands in your area and see what else is out there. Denver's not a big city and there are quite a few "scenes" to pick from.

Pilgrim · #15 02-09-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Staredge

Good surf scene in SoCal.....some pretty good bands in NorCal as well.

Join or start a surf band. That music requires good skills, you don't sound like very other band, and the music doesn't require radical tunings. Maybe you won't get to play to crowds of 15 year olds, but I personally consider that a feature, not a bug.

Interestingly, some of the the biggest fans of surf bands are 20-something young people. A lot of them really get it. Of course, there are plenty of boomers who love it, too.

Learn the lead guitar part to Misirlou and report back later...since Pulp Fiction, everyone recognizes and likes it again.

Schlyder · #16 02-09-2011, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funkybassinator

Jazz is the best place to do that, IMO. But be careful, it might completely alter the way you appreciate all other music, for better or worse.

Hahahahahaha yessss the DarkSide. You will never hear music the same again.

pklima · #17 02-10-2011, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatADeadGoat

Seriously, chugging open notes through an entire song?

Hey, I want a gig like that!

EatADeadGoat · #18 02-10-2011, 10:18 AM

+ to the surf rock idea. I have been a fan of surf rock since I was like 12. I was into that before metal!

It was just irritating, I had on my bandmix profile, I do not play that style. If that is what you are doing, then please don't bother, you will waste my time. How many people call me? 4! What do they say? Well, it's what's in man. And then they get snippy and butthurt when I tell them "I am not interested in following trends, so you should find someone else, best of luck"

Ugh. Rant over I think.

jollygiantchris · #19 02-10-2011, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EatADeadGoat

+ to the surf rock idea. I have been a fan of surf rock since I was like 12. I was into that before metal!

It was just irritating, I had on my bandmix profile, I do not play that style. If that is what you are doing, then please don't bother, you will waste my time. How many people call me? 4! What do they say? Well, it's what's in man. And then they get snippy and butthurt when I tell them "I am not interested in following trends, so you should find someone else, best of luck"

Ugh. Rant over I think.

^^^^
Keep in mind that they do that because its hard enough to find a good bassist but its extremely difficult to find a good one that wants to double the guitar chugging the low string. And the sad part is you do need a little skill (at least a good sense of time) to do that. And if you have that skill the last thing you want to do is chug that string.

I am pretty much in the same boat as you I want to do metal but the few bands (like 3 that I've seen in the past 2 years) that want to do the same metal as me my work schedule prevents me from joining.

You could always do what I did and switch to guitar mostly and write your own ****. Judging by the craigslist and other ads around here at least its probably easier to find a good metal bassist because the vast majority of bands aren't going to let them really play.

RonGillman3 · #20 02-10-2011, 11:40 AM

I stick with Prog Metal, and Smooth Jazz (odd mix I know), a lot more technical in my opinion. But up here it's all Country, and some indie bands that sound like Death Cab for Cutie...