So You're Thinking of Starting a Promising Local Band? Why? "Let's make it yeah, we'll cause a scene
It's Indie rock'n'roll for me" (Brandon Flowers)
I have been fortunate to live in a number of beautiful cities in my life, from coast to coast here in Canada. I've even had a couple stints in Europe. Every place I've lived has had it's own energy, it's own history, it's own culture, it's own breath and shape and allure. Every city has also had every shape of try-hard local band that expects me to actually pay money to see them live out their childhood fantasy. Bands that have bought into the 'ethic' of starting and managing a band, being the coolest thing to do and to tell friends about. They beam self-congratulatory excitement when their parents and girlfriends attend the shows. They plug other indie bands while they themselves plug away, year after year, wondering why on earth they aren't being recognized for their ability to get on stage with instruments and try really really hard.
"Tonight, I'm a rock n' roll star" (Noel Gallagher)
Yes, the local try-hard indie band. You've seen them. They wear tight Kiss t-shirts, dirty jeans and chain wallets. Some actually still wear trucker hats. They think they know a lot about music until you quizz them outside of their top five bands, which invariably include Neil Young, Led Zeppelin, Modest Mouse, and Neil Diamond (just to show that it's hip to be square). They will spam your email inbox with their myspace address and upcoming shows. They will practice until all hours - the intro, the outro, the timing, the scales. They will not practice writing songs. They will not try to be honest. Honesty, you see, has nothing to do with being cool. You will hear more cliches than at a Hallmark office party. You will hear barre chords. You will hear amusing solos. You might even hear some start/stop punk maneuveurs. You will hear not singing but yelling. Punk rock yelling. You will see some girlfriends.
And then you will go home and scratch your head. Where do these people find the bravado to perform something as expressive as music without really understanding it? Or themselves? Why does their past-time become my Tuesday night? It doesn't anymore. If anyone tells you to support your local indie scene, ask them how many bands support the listeners scene? That's the scene of people who are assumed to be automatons and are forced to suffer fools gladly. Not anymore.
So if you're thinking of starting a band, please don't do it for yourself - do it for what you can share with others that no one else can. Do it as a way to express who you really are. Do it honestly. I would rather see a band struggle with their instruments and arrangements, but honestly make the effort to craft songs and honestly put themselves out there.
"We care a damn lot about music...so what if you mess up a couple of chords? Big deal. The point is you tried, and that's what counts" (Johnny Rotten)
That's how you'll connect with real people. By honestly trying to express who you are, even if the hardest thing in the world to do is to explore what makes you tick.
There will always be people who treat music as a lifestyle, the same way people desperately seek trophy wives or fancy cars. Don't be one of them. Instead, be 'rock n' roll'. Have arrogance and bravado because you spent a month perfecting the lyrics to your second verse, and the following month rehearsing something that means the world to you.
