Looking for a new city

[Bald-N-Bassy]

What are some cities in the US that have a great music scene for a working bass player? Since ive been in NC, ive yet to play with a band that can keep steady gigs due to the fact that eastern NC has limited venues.

Cities im keeping in mind, are NYC, Philly, Boston, and DC. But what are some suggestions.

 

[energyflux00]

I suggest places like Ithaca, NY, Syracuse, NY, and Rochester, NY. Albany isn't too bad either...

Check em out sometime. Each has a decent music scene, but is also in the vicinity of one another. Central/Upstate NY, Vermont, and Mass have really good music scenes, and Central/Upstate NY is one of the best places to be for accessing as many places as possible.

You gotta hunt a little bit, but once you "get in the groove" of the area you'll find many musical connections.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

forgot too mention im a tattoo artist by trade as well. part of the reason i was looking into metro areas.

 

[aguacateojos]

New England is doing me very well now.

 

[Tat2dHeart]

Orlando's a tourist town - you can't throw a cat here and miss a golf course, tattoo studio, or someplace with live music. Then again, I'm a little partial, what with needing to have all those things plus beaches within driving distance and a total avoidance of all winter-type weather.

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

Orlandos nice.

 

[Mystic Michael]

This may just depend a lot on the kind of music you play or want to play - something that you haven't specified, nor is it mentioned in your profile, as you haven't filled out your profile.

New York is a jazz kind of town, but what I see from Craig's List posts here is a lot of residual metal & punk influence in the rock music. There's the usual classic rock thing - and a bunch of other kinds of things, but in much smaller doses, that you really have to hunt for (like me).

Boston has long had a thriving rock scene. Don't know what kind of shape it's in at present, but it seems more attuned to heady, esoteric forms, such as prog rock and fusion - since it is such a university town.

DC supposedly has (had?) an underground hardcore scene, but I don't know if that still exists. I'm sure there are a quite a few cats gigging in the suburbs (probably playing pretty mainstream fare), but I've lived in DC. DC doesn't impress one as a music kind of place, if you know what I mean.

Philly? No idea.

But I agree: Unless you want to play Southern rock and country music, better get out of (eastern) North Carolina. At the very least move to the Triangle area...

MM

 

[Bald-N-Bassy]

Musically im versatile. My dad is a college music teacher/professional session musician. He always pushed me to not pick one style. Id be happy playing anything with a groove.
Id really love to get back to a ska reggae band (even though Ska is not as popular as it was). I played with one in DC years ago. But since ive lived in NC its been metal and hardcore. Which I like.... but gets boring to me.

Id like to find that town that sort of has a diverse music scene. Plus metro area tend to have a good tattoo scene as well.
Eastern NC doesnt have much of a music scene. in my town we have maybe 6 bands that actually play out. 2 venue in town and 2 venues 50miles away. I work for the owner of one of the venues. So the band I play with currently gets plenty of slots with nationals. I have also tattooed quite a few national and regional bands. Made a good bit of connections.

NYC appeals to me as both a city I like. Im no stranger to it. I ve been there quite a few times. I like the city, but dont know much about the music scene. Other than playing with bands from there on tour and etc.. The tattooing in NYC is a bit iffy unless you have a good clientel. most of the shops in the st marks area I wouldnt want to work at haha. but theres a bunch of good shops too.

Philly has a great tattoo scene, and not sure on music.

Boston great music scene not sure on tattooing there.

Im going to be doing a good bit of traveling to various places over the next year.
bc eastern NC isnt cutting it and id would never live in the triangle.