What's your local music scene like?

[Rudreax]

Hope y'all don't mind me reviving an old thread...anything change in the last 4 years?

Not sure what it was like back then, but I'm involved in the hip-hop/jazz scene in NYC and it's growing constantly. Always more and more places to play and jam, and tons of players that want to meet up. Pay's not the best, but that hasn't really changed much.

 

[Winfred]

Richmond, VA. Pay is the same as it was in the 90s. Cover bands that play dance friendly, well known covers can get gigs. Bar gigs are all the same.

Lots of old money here, so if you can get in the private party scene you can make decent pay.

Original music really struggles to go anywhere.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

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,
nor is it good to see many major acts here...

Boy has it changed in the last 15 years. in 1999 - 2000 My job took me to Memphis about four times. Each time, Beale St. was buzzing. Almost every store front was either a tourist trinket shop or a bar with a band in it. There were street musicians playing for tips. I used to go sit in with bands when I was there. Last time I was there was about 2009 and it was with an act that played the half time at a Grizzles game. After it was over, I went down to Beale St and there very almost no bars at all. It was all trinkets. The 2 or 3 bars open were almost empty with bands that outnumbered the audience. I noticed smoking has been banned in bars. That will kill the bar business as fast as anything.l

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Fort Worth, Texas.
Dive bars and country bars is about it. We have a lot of vanity hustles here. There are 2 clubs that are always doing the, "come play on xxxx and you may get a paying gig" scam. Lots of open mics nights. The A venues are all country.
The jazz scene, I don't know much about. I have seen a couple of groups in restaurants or for Sunday Buffets, but I don't know if there is a real following or not.
And, like most places there days, there are far more bands than places to play these days.

 

[spanndrew]

The Atlanta hardcore scene is pretty Alive, and my band is reaping the benefit of it. I'm also not having trouble getting jazz gigs.

 

[ZenG]

Top-notch musicians playing all the songs I never liked way too loud.

Or they go the other end of the spectrum......little trios and quartets playing weird acoustic stuff like:-

Afro-Celtic jazz....or.....the works of Perry Como by Flutes Forever....or Chopin Goes Elton John.....etc etc .....

So I don't go...because they bore the living crap out of me.

 

[richntiff]

Around here - you'd better be a country covers band, or a newgrass/folk/Americana band. Seriously - one of the best venues in town, I'm pretty sure won't hire a band unless they have at least a mandolin, resonator guitar, banjo, or a dude with a harmonica on one of those neck holders. Preferably, all of those....

 

[rufus.K]

In Los angeles, is saturated with junk, with pockets of cool.

 

[Robroy]

I'm in Kentucky. Dry county's. 'Nuff said.

Now, when you get into the wet counties, it's a different story. Especially Louisville.

It's interesting how dry counties roll up the sidewalks at dusk. It's not that alcohol makes the world go round, but drinking establishments tend to be the center of an active evening culture. When there are none, everyone goes home to watch tv, play video games, tip cows, etc.

 

[Robroy]

In Los angeles, is saturated with junk, with pockets of cool.

One time I was in a very small town in South Dakota on a Saturday night. Where did everyone hang out? Why, the bar at the bowling alley, of course. Live band and everything. And what to my wondering ears did I hear, but an incredible rendition of Comfortably Numb. I was slack jawed...

 

[PMagers]