tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839146967530098790.post5780452692683260796..comments2023-03-22T01:59:08.989-07:00Comments on ProgRockin': As in politics, all music is localBGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08024085550417622898noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839146967530098790.post-79454099035459838182008-01-28T12:11:00.000-08:002008-01-28T12:11:00.000-08:00Hey Sean-I appreciate the way you've articulated y...Hey Sean-<BR/><BR/>I appreciate the way you've articulated your perspective on the music biz in Milwaukee. Here in northern California, I see the small venues I prefer to play in as a solo singer-songwriter struggling to make ends meet. Coffeeshops and cafes come and go every year here. <BR/><BR/>However, I am very grateful that I was able to make a CD this year at SunSound Studios (www.sunsoundstudios.com). Having a CD helps me selectively submit my music to different festivals. A good resource is www.sonicbids.com for bands looking to submit their work for gigs.<BR/><BR/>I also recommend Groove House Records for duplication. They use real-time glass masters and eco-friendly packaging. Plus, they hook you up with a free membership to CDBaby and can hook you up with HostBaby for your band's website.<BR/><BR/>Of course, with a little know-how, most folks can design their own website. I did my own - would love to hear what you think of it!<BR/><BR/>www.catherinesmusic.comCatherine Scholzhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12832010460398864423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839146967530098790.post-81060835415212620562008-01-28T08:06:00.000-08:002008-01-28T08:06:00.000-08:00Thanks for your great commentary Ray. It sounds li...Thanks for your great commentary Ray. It sounds like you've got it pretty much the same as we do over here. And for the record I love Freak Kitchen and I dislike Starbucks :) <BR/><BR/>So we keep forging ahead and keep doing what we do because its like air for us.Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04076164080096427562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839146967530098790.post-64339318444270266062008-01-27T15:20:00.000-08:002008-01-27T15:20:00.000-08:00Quite good word, Sean!Seems to be a global problem...Quite good word, Sean!<BR/><BR/>Seems to be a global problem that people aren't interesd in local acts. Over here people mostly are interested in music from bands that are beyond the big pond, If it isn't from the USA, it's not worth its price or something like that. You can get a chance if you're from England, though. The metal fans, of course, like bands from Scandinavia, it is accepted that music from there is ok, too.<BR/><BR/>It happens here and then, when we hang around in one of the few metal bars and the dj plays one of our songs, that someone asks him what band it is he's hearing. When they got told that we are the musicians, they are very surprised, yes, stunned that a local band can make such music.<BR/>Of course we appreciate such moments, and are proud a bit, but in the end one still wonders about the over all ignorance about local bands.<BR/><BR/>I often shake my head about it.<BR/>I heard a friend of mine say about Freak Kitchen: "Their lyrics are so hopelessly European."<BR/>As if we "Continentals" had a certain inability in making music....<BR/><BR/>Well, I shouldn't make this a statement that concerns music only. We take everything that comes from the US and think it is cool. If music, movies, theater plays, art, fashion, tv serials, or whatever. Even the coffee from Starbucks is better. We seem to reject almost everything that comes from Europe. (espresso of course is great ...)<BR/><BR/>There is a movement at the moment that gives hope: A couple of pop bands that write German lyrics are quite sucessful right now. But I take that as a temporary effect, just like the silly Neue Deutsche Welle we had in the early eighties.<BR/><BR/>So how can we locals enter the stage under this situation?<BR/>Nobody would organize an evening for a band that has so little support so we do it ourself. We book a venue ourselves, invite other bands and hope they bring their fans with them. We even pay them to play at our event, find places for them to sleep, produce flyers, and all that. <BR/><BR/>Success is something different, though. Whether is is our own evening or one of other locals, I always see musicians, friends of the bandmembers , their students; an me in the audience.<BR/>But hey! I forget that Munich never has been a good place for live music.<BR/><BR/>But I won't give up. I'm a musician, and I need to make music. Dreamscape and Vanden Plas play on several progpower festivals, so why not me one time. :Dstringrayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08729065479503588877noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839146967530098790.post-47189231356371082302008-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:002008-01-25T07:25:00.000-08:00Thanks MAV, and I swear, the Strange Land cd is ge...Thanks MAV, and I swear, the Strange Land cd is getting worked on and we will be asking you to finish that logo soon:) In addition to life's normal interruptions our photographer also had back surgery. But I think we've got some cover images now. And the recording process is coming along, slow but sure.Sean Gillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04076164080096427562noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839146967530098790.post-35289416398108114352008-01-24T22:36:00.000-08:002008-01-24T22:36:00.000-08:00Excellent insight into the biz Sean.And as always ...Excellent insight into the biz Sean.<BR/>And as always -articulate :)<BR/><BR/>Man, I can not imagine how hard it is anywhere in the world to "sell" your music to people who usually rather smoke, than to see an "opening" band. Or as you said, a DT fan that would love to see a LOCAL act such as yours but miss out.<BR/>I wonder all that, at my friends from Prototype/Psychosis and Artisan, they are sooo professional and skilled, but they play very out of the way clubs with NO foot traffic, unless they are VERY fortunate to play in Hollywood, or off the Sunset Strip, and maybe an opening gig for a major act (VERY cool that you got to open for Kings X).<BR/><BR/>But even the BIG guys don't get respect. 2 shows that were affiliated with TOOL from the same management as King Crimson, these 2 performed together as top bill, the show sold out here in Los Angeles within 2 hours! I worked at Tower at the time and I asked many customers that went, most were TOOL fans and I asked them, "So what did you think of KC?" - either I got "oh I left", "I never heard of them", "I heard a bit, but I went out to smoke" . . . 0.0<BR/>KC fans on the other hand were fans of Tool or became fans.<BR/>When TOOL came again, this time it was Meshuggah "opening", again sadly was not able to go because the show sold out in the same 2hrs.<BR/> . . . same story, "I was outside smoking when they came on".<BR/><BR/>Prototype is very involved in their craft while doing their 9 to 5 for their families etc. been lucky enough to attend festivals in Europe and are VERY approachable and friendly to other bands (Yet they told me how arrogant a popular DT-like band was toward them as a "U.S." band), now for the past 3 years or more, have had a terrible time finding a drummer that can "play" and keep up to their form of music. they may even inlist a HUGE<BR/>"math" drummer for their next project . . . even without a drummer, they still manage to record and write.<BR/><BR/>I still wish I had my Voice and had gear for my Guitar, I'd still love to give it a go with 2 different Prog bands, (but for now, I'm the guy who provides the Logo) yet I can not imagine the obstacles to get your music seen and heard.<BR/><BR/>I know Sean, that you take pride in your craft and treat everyone with respect, and your just rewards are around the corner, I hope you write more columns and wish you well.<BR/><BR/>-MAVIIIAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com