okay, so if you've ever hung around me long enough or gotten me drunk on tour, you have probably heard me go off once or twice about how music has fallen into this dark evil period where bands now-a-days are all about the music industry, getting huge, getting the best merch spot, and putting business before friendship. things USED to be about basement shows, good times, community, and actual MUSIC.
seven or eight years ago, before (oh my god) myspace existed, i used to find out about new bands by going to shows and talking to friends about music, staying up late into the night listening to records and bro-ing down. bands used to get signed because they toured non-stop and grew a fanbase and labels would hear about them through word of mouth and hard work. indie labels had integrity, and you used to be able to check out any new artist on your favorite indie label's roster, because you knew they would only sign legit awesome shit.
now most of the indies are just mini-majors. and bands get signed based on how many people click on their myspace profiles. and bands don't get signed unless they have a manager or a lawyer or a booking agent. and a lot of the time, the music is AWFUL. i am so thankful everyday that we're on Equal Vision, which is really, to me, one of the last labels with integrity, respect, and a sense of community.
olympia had the good fortune of starting out with an amazing label and booking agent.. more than most bands dream of having, and we are so grateful for that, but even with those huge advantages, we still struggle to get tours and stay on the road full-time. i could speculate about it for hours.. maybe it's because we don't have a manager, maybe it's because we don't have enough myspace friends, or maybe we just aren't playing the right kind of music at the right time. it could be anything, but the bottom line is... it's shitty that the scene is so overrun with bands and people inherently trying to make money off those bands, that you can't just work hard and be a good band anymore. you gotta have a gimmick or connections or pull stunts. it's a shitty time to be in a band if you want to have integrity.
fortunately, there's hope. there's a thriving DIY scene growing and growing. my good friends in
the riot before are playing amazing music, doing their own tours booked by themselves, and playing mostly house shows, and they're starting to make it work. and there's a bunch of other bands doing it too. hopefully if people keep supporting local music and touring bands, stop buying into the hype machine, and worry more about what people are saying into the microphone than what kind of haircut and jeans they're wearing, we might have a chance.
listen to music that comes from the heart.
listen to music with integrity.
refuse to pay attention to the rockstars and the gimmicks.
i think we can turn this ship around.
love,
phil
