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What's your local music scene like?

Rudreax

Rudreax

Jun 14, 2008
1,209
104
35
New York, NY
#1
Having been on this forum for as long as I have, I've started to wonder how everyone is doing in their own little microcosms around the world, or rather how those microcosms are doing themselves.

So, the question is simple enough. Hows the music scene in your neck of the woods? Would you say it's thriving or dying? What kinds of music are most prevailant? How large is it? How long have you been involved? Do you have a significant role in it?

Of course, there are many other questions you can answer about this that I didn't mention; if you think of any, post them and answer them if you can. Also, obviously if we can't see where you live on your profile please post where you're from.

I'd answer my own questions, but I haven't been involved in NYC music long enough to know anything...so I'm looking forward to what you guys have to say.

Finally, if this is in wrong forum, I'd ask that mods move it to where it belongs.
 
#3
Omaha, NE. We've got Saddle Creek, and the indie scene is still going strong. The growling hardcore bands have mostly moved on but a few still rock it. Apparently there's a strong Jazz scene but I don't spend much time around that crowd to get a feel for it. It's not hard to get a gig, there's not a huge amount of competition, but there are few GOOD venues. The ones that will give you a shot early on are not easy to work with. I think the scene is due for a revival; people here still love their music (pearl jam sold out in 10 minutes, paul mccartney in 6, clapton took 9 minutes, and we're looking forward to claypool, fleetwood mac, Kings X just played, lots of big names), but the underground scene is sick of the self-indulgent emo bands and the lack of variety.
 
#5
There are two "scenes" where I'm at. And they're both pretty lame. There are plenty of awesome players, just not really anything cool happening. And the two scenes are sooooooo different in age demographic that unless you're in your early twenties, you only have one scene to choose from. Or none at all.

The first is the hardcore/metal/punk rock scene. It consists of high school kids and recent graduates. Gigs are usually played at whatever venue can be found. Skateparks used to be the thing. Now all ages shows will pop up at bars that have been bought for the sole purpose of providing a venue for these bands. Butttt.... the bar eventually fails (these shows don't really bring any money) and someone will pick up another bar on the other side of town, then it will fail, and so on and so on. It's a vicious cycle.

The second is the bar scene. Everyone knows how that goes. I think it's a little worse in my town though. We only have three bars to play at and only two bars that actually have stages. None of them have p.a.'s. The music that gets played at these bars is usually southern rock or blues or some southern rock sounding originals. Don't expect more than 250 to 300 a night. Unless you're The Wall a band that's been playing here for about 20 years and consists of members of an old band called Stillwater.

I know 90% of the bar scene musicians and have played with 90% of them. The scene is really only two bands, The Wall that I mentioned above and whatever guys my buddy Dwayne Boswell brings to his gig. Sad thing about is that the guys from the Wall are awesome players and just about everybody that plays with Dwayne is in the Air Force band or some local church bad *ss, but there's no one around that appreciates it or cares about music.

We grew the Allmond Bros., Otis Redding, and James Brown. But all anybody cares about is Skynyrd or Jay Z or some other raptard. It gets depressing. So you don't see many people playing for a living. If we're gigging, it's definitely just for fun. If you wanna make money or get your band heard you've got to go to ATL.
 
#6
I'm in Warrenton, VA and the music is kinda hurting. Just a bunch of whiny punk/emo bands. There are two metal bands. I play in one of 'em and the other... well they're nice guys and they try hard so, props for that. Yeah, not a lot of music or places to play. We have Nissan Pavilion like 15 minutes away, but you have to be doing something big like Ozzfest to play there. I think our town is due for a comeback any day now. Haha, here's hoping.
 
#7
It's OK in Sacramento compared with other places. Definitely a lot of original acts as opposed to cover bands. Even frat-boy-friendly sports bars host original bands. Not a lot of profit for the bands though... and there are some shady promoters and venues and schemes. But as long as you stay away from those, it's not hard to line up pleasant gigs at decent places around here. But unless you draw huge crowds and sell decent amount of merchandise, you won't make a lot of $$ though.
 
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#11
6strngbss said:
I'm in Warrenton, VA and the music is kinda hurting. Just a bunch of whiny punk/emo bands. There are two metal bands. I play in one of 'em and the other... well they're nice guys and they try hard so, props for that. Yeah, not a lot of music or places to play. We have Nissan Pavilion like 15 minutes away, but you have to be doing something big like Ozzfest to play there. I think our town is due for a comeback any day now. Haha, here's hoping.
Click to expand...
very true for most if not all of virginia, up north here in the good ol shenandoah its alot of hardcore/death metal christian bands (yes i know) and if you step out of that bubble your basicall shunned out by the local venues and agencies
 
#13
MY scene is dead...I cannot find players who share my approach to music or my tastes. I feel that music is and should be interpretive, not a 'monkey see, monkey do" trick that you master. Also that listening is more important than playing what is in your head. (Can you tell I like Phil Lesh a lot?). But the scene here in Roanoke, Virginia is mostly good, with good variety of players and places to play and types of music, although the money is very bad. Southern Rock seems to be diminishing (fingers crossed!), younger guy's stuff seems to be ascendant, as it should be, and all is good in the world tonight!
 
#14
Memphis as a whole has put out lots of cool acts over the years, its a pretty good smattering across lots of genres, but especially Blues bands.

First the bad:

1)There aren't a whole bunch of good venues to play in.

2)Some of Memphis's laws prevent any non sporting, big event venues from performing if there is a sporting event going on at the same time of the show, so most large tours don't like to stop here.
3) the big scary crime problem scares away any big crowds that could show up to see a show.

Then good:
1) Lots of musicians come here to record at one of our local studios, and sometimes they sit in with some of the local acts...

2) As far as local talent there are a few really good musicians and a few good bands that are sometimes cool.

3) Its a melting pot of musicians, and many different styles can be seen if you can find them.

Overall its not the best for startup bands, :hmm:
nor is it good to see many major acts here...
 
#15
Houston,Texas

Pros-1.plenty venues to play,for all types of music.Bar gigs,resturant gigs,original music venues,tejano venues,zydeco venues,blues venues,rock venues.
2.A whole lot of good musicians here to work with.

Cons-1.City is spread out.You might have a 100 mile round trip to do a local gig.
2.Too many weekend warrior types bringing down the pay scale.
 
#19
In Portland proper the scene seems good for Jazz, think Jimmy Maks where Danny Balmer holds court as well as Mel Brown (with many different supporting players) And touring acts like Linda Hornbuckle, Liv Warfield, Norman Sylvester. From there, also in Portland proper you have a pretty active Emo/Punk scene and a hip hop scene. I'm not nearly energetic enough for those (read too damn old). Moving out to the "provences" I'm only ten miles from down town, but it gets pretty rural pretty quick in Oregon, there's the usuall roots rock, blues venues on a pretty spotty basis and low paying gigs at that. The fetival scene and the concert venues are real nice. Hardly anybody on tour misses us, from Steely Dan to Eric Clapton and in the concert halls we get everything from Chris Isaac to Otmar Libere. Am I happy with it. I'm not that active anymore, but I play everyonce in awhile, and |I'm not that concerned with the money and the rest of the band is happy and in pretty much the same place as yours truly. I do go south (LA, SF)every now and then to record or do the occasional gig that id a bit more high profile
 
#20
I don't get out really but from what I've heard we got mostly hard core metal/screamo bands here. So it kinda sucks for me. At least the people I hang out and jam with play good music, or shall I say music.;)

So far I'm not a part of the public music scene yet, still trying to get an actual, functioning band together.:rollno:

BTW, has anyone from Sacramento heard of a band called The Neutrals? they're local there. My buddy played bass for them, but I think they split up due to family stuff. You can find 'em on rhapsody. The music is alright but I'm not to fond of the singer's voice.

Check 'em out!
 

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