Archive for August, 2008
The playlists of your life
Aug 28th
Everything I do in life has music in it somehow, literally like a soundtrack playing. The most amazing thing about music is the way it can see you through the best and very worst times in your life.
The in-between times seem to be when most people listen to the radio or put their iPods on shuffle. But when it really counts, when you know in 20 years you’re going to remember what you heard that day, that’s when you think harder about what you will hear.
For example, choosing the songs for your wedding day can take forever. When it comes to needing comfort or wallowing in despair, it’s strange, but the song choices seem to come easier. A song either resonates enough with the listener to work during this time or it doesn’t.
Today dealt with the latter for me, and as soon as I woke up this morning I put together a playlist. It’s a combination of songs that are just mellow enough to calm me, but happy enough to not be depressing.
I’m curious as to what everyone else would put on a playlist for specific situations. We have a feature on the Weekender page in the newspaper called Mixed Tape. It’s not a list of your 10 favorite songs, it’s a specific list of songs you would put together for a playlist.
I would love to have everyone’s list, so please submit one to jmartin@whig.com and we will publish it. Or if that’s to much work, throw one up as a comment on this blog.
Now there’s something I need to say that you may seem a bit bossy, but GO TO A SHOW THIS WEEKEND!
There is no excuse. The weather is supposed to be beautiful and there is nearly every genre of music at several locations to choose from. Everything from acoustic at Spirit Knob to metal at Midwest Fear Fest in Hannibal to an ’80s cover band in Macomb.
Below are the live event listings for the weekend. Pick one and hit it up.
UPCOMING SHOWS
Hairbangers Ball (rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Thursday
WHERE: The Forum, 124 S. Lafayette, Macomb, Ill.
INFO: www.myspace.com/hairbangersball
Staggard (country/southern rock)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: The Grape Festival, Nauvoo, Ill.
INFO: www.myspace.com/staggard
Pike Station (pop/Southern rock)
WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Pittsfield Fall Festival, Pittsfield, Ill.
INFO: www.myspace.com/pikestation
Anniversary show with Mayhew the Traitor, Dope Boy Allstars, The
Ghostwrite, Katchmare and Black Magic (indie)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: The Day Old Basement, 1111 W. Adams, Macomb, Ill.
HOW MUCH: Donations welcome
INFO: www.myspace.com/thedayoldbasement
Spirit Knob Winery’s “Wine Down” with Cheeks McGee (acoustic)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Spirit Knob Winery, 2213 E. 640th, Ursa, Ill.
HOW MUCH: $5, patrons 21 years of age and older welcome
INFO: www.spiritknob.com
MIDWEST FEAR FEST with NoCeBo, Anti-product, Giant Killing Machine,
Doomface and many more (metal)
WHEN: noon Saturday
WHERE: American Legion, 3819 Highway, Hannibal, Mo.
INFO: www.myspace.com/noceboitsallinyourmind
Comatose Kitty, Neighborhood Ghost and The Popular Vote! (rock)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Music @ the Mall, 300 Main, Keokuk, Iowa
HOW MUCH: $5, all ages welcome
INFO: www.myspace.com/musicatthemall
TORQUE and All’s Forgotten (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Kerley’s, 214 N. Maine, Hannibal, Mo.
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO: www.myspace.com/torquerocks and www.myspace.com/allsforgotten
Nigel Mack & The Blues Attack (blues/funk)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: The Club, 1023 N. 10th
HOW MUCH: free
INFO: www.myspace.com/nigelmack
The Mudcats (country/rock-a-billy)
WHEN: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: American Legion, 116 N. Eighth
Don’t forget to come back Monday for another blog. Be safe and have a wonderful weekend!
Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.
Want to make a good show better? Try these ideas and tips
Aug 25th
I had a good time this weekend stopping by the Turner Hall Concert Series Friday night. However, as I go to more and more local shows, I realize they could be better organized — for example, with more cohesive lineups, better sound and greater promotion.
Earlier in this blog, I talked about how Quincy does things in the music scene different than anywhere else. It’s not bad, but it could be better, and one specific way would be how bands and venues handle booking shows. The lineup, set lengths and the mechanics of the show all could be tweaked to really shine.
Michael Bidegain owns and runs Demo Entertainment in Chicago, a promotion and artist management company. He offers ideas and tips for booking a successful show.
BEGINNING
When planning a show, first check availability of members, venues and time to secure a date for a show. Also make sure they have all the proper promotional materials.
LINEUPS
Try to book a show with a bill of similar sounding artists to give fans a chance to find new bands like who they came to the show to see. It’s only fair that bands help each other by bringing fans to shows to gain maximum exposure. MySpace and other music outlets are great ways to search for bands within your genre and gives you a chance to look and talk to bands. All you have to do is get in contact with them and make friends. From there, you can trade shows and help promote one another. This is an important way to build your fan base in other areas and make friends to help support your band.
PROMOTING
BAND/BOOKING AGENT: Have fliers made and handed out in the general areas of the venues. From experience, the biggest success in promoting shows is using bulletin boards on MySpace and Facebook and re-posting new bulletins every couple of hours to keep fans updated and informed.
VENUES: Venues could help by putting more ads in local publications and running radio ads. Also, using music outlets such as Myspace and Facebook to promote the way bands do and by creating venue street teams like that of Chicago venues like Schubas.
TIP: When posting bulletins, delete previously posted bulletins to avoid cluttering the boards.
SHOW PREPARATION
- Stay in contact with venues at least once a week, every week until the day of the show. Do this to ensure all is still as planned, and when the show is ready to begin, there are no surprises.
- On show day, send out last minute bulletins, emails and other reminders to let fans know the day has come. Also send reminders to all the bands to make sure they know what time load-in is and what time their set will begin.
- Be on time to the venue and have your bill ready with time slots and stage set-up prepared.
- As long as the venue has all of their staff on-site at load-in time, all shows should go as scheduled.
- Always follow venue rules and regulations.
- The worst thing for any venue is when the sound system is inadequate. It doesn’t matter how good or bad a band could be, if the sound system is no good, then the show is not going to be good. Nobody wants to hear a bunch of feedback or no sound at all.
- If you plan to play shows at the venue more than once, be sure to get along with those who run the show or you will not be invited back and/or have a terrible sounding set.
- Don’t think that if you burn a bridge at one venue that another venue will not get word. It’s a big industry, but we all have friends within it.
SUCCESSFUL SHOW
This is when a show had a good draw and the bands, staff, promoters and venue all get paid and leave with a smile. This is why we all need to work together to promote and make every show a memorable one.
BOOKING MISCONCEPTION
Bands tend to think that the more shows they play, the better their chances are of getting another show. Some bands like to think if they have played the Metro (Chicago venue) or another bigger venue, that they can book any show they want to get on. Pay attention to bands that promote themselves and have a following that is decent enough to bring people to a show. If you book a show and a band doesn’t draw, give them a second chance. If they do not bring anyone the second time around, don’t book them again. If they can’t find time to promote their own shows, then they aren’t serious enough to be musicians. Promoters and venues lose a lot of money because of bands/artists that don’t care to self promote.
DEMO ENTERTAINMENT
Michael Bidegain (aka Mykee), owner of Demo Entertainment, promotions/artist management company created in 2006
CONTACT: www.myspace.com/demoentertainment or demo.entertainment@gmail.com
CLIENTS: White Hot Knife (booking and management), Flowers for Dorian (booking and management), Winner Takes All (booking and management), Dormlife (booking and management), Dr Manhattan, The Felix Culpa, Socratic, The High Court, Rediscover, Kiss Kiss, Treaty of Paris, Rookie of the Year, The Sapiens, Company of Thieves, Thomas Ian Nicholas (actor/musician), Amrita, 1997, The Junior Varsity, The Audition, Shock Stars, The White Tie Affair, The Elation, A Kidnap in Color and others.
SUCCESS STORY: My most successful experience with a band was managing Flowers for Dorian. In only 4 months as their manager, I had them flown to New York City to MTV studios to film three music videos, and one of the videos premiered during the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards. Since then they were featured on MTV2’s "The Drop" in June 2008, Comcast On-Demand Cable (MTV2), commercials on FuseTV, Top 8 Unsigned Artists in "Alternative Press" magazine (June 2008), featured artists of the month in "Substream Music Press" magazine (June 2008), a spot on the 2008 Vans Warped Tour in Chicago, headliners of Looptopia Fest 2008 in Chicago, performed shows at The Metro, House of Blues and other great venues.
BOOKING HOW TO VIDEOS
Below are some thinks from Expertvillage on Youtube from music expert David Jackyl:
How to Book a Rock Show : Booking a Rock Show With a Bigger Band
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Use a Promoter for a Rock Show
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Choose a Date For a Rock Show
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Cold Call for a Rock Show
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Avoid Flaky Booking
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Be a Headlining Rock Band
How to Book a Rock Show : How Does Weather Effect a Rock Show
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Sell Merchandise at a Rock Show
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Move a Rock Show
How to Book a Rock Show : How to Get a Guarantee For a Gig
How to Book a Rock Show : Why Have a Contract for a Rock Show
I hope you enjoy this blog and that it helps improve the growing music scene in the area. Please let me know if you would like me to promote and help get the word out for certain shows.
Thanks and GO TO A SHOW and SUPPORT THE LOCAL MUSIC SCENE! Look for my weekend show preview on Thursday.
— Jess
Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.
Grab a friend and hit up a rock show this weekend
Aug 22nd
The weekend is approaching, so time to plan some stimulating activities.
First, check out the Victorian Halls show Saturday.
I’ve seen so many bands live that it really takes something unique to make me stop everything and just listen to the music as it filters through the speakers. The first time I heard Victorian Halls, I did just that. I was talking to someone, and as they started in on their first song, I was suddenly struck silent and staring at the stage.
This happens when I’m concentrating on a band — I can look bored because I’m not dancing around or singing along, but I am paying attention. This Chicago band, which is randomly gracing Macomb’s Day Old Basement, is worth your Saturday night — so go on and give it to them.
A great quote posted on their Myspace page sums them up nicely: "Victorian Halls is so unique in their frenzy that, for a select few, the noise is worthwhile and bordering on genius … Those who love it will love the hell out of it." — Redefine Magazine (read the whole review here)
This may not necessarily be the music you want piping through your headphones 24 hours a day, but they are so committed to performing an unforgettable show that it is very important to catch them live. Gather up some friends (all ages are welcome) and make the trek to see them with Loose Lips Sink Ships at 8 p.m. at the Day Old Basement, 1111 W. Adams, in Macomb. It will be an amazing show, and their merch is one-of-a-kind, so go buy something awesome and help pay their way back to Chicago.
On Friday, I will be hitting up Blues in the District at Washington Park for a bit before heading over around 9 p.m. to Turner Hall, 922 Hampshire, to catch their Friday night Concert Series with Predawn Hour, Thru The Ashes and No Lane Road. Its a chill locale and promises to be a good time.
Other weekend shows are listed below and here.
It should be a wonderfully musical weekend. I suggest you take the time to catch at least one show, unless you really like throwing away that would-be cover money on lame bar music. The choice is yours, but I will be back next week to let you know how my experiences went. Have a great weekend and be safe!
— Jess
LIVE SHOWS AUG. 22-24, 2008
Loose Lips Sink Ships, Dope Boy Allstars and Victorian Halls Fall Kick Off Show (indie)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Friday
WHERE: The Day Old Basement, Macomb
HOW MUCH: $4
INFO: www.myspace.com/thedayoldbasement
Blues in the District with Reverend Ravan and the Chain Smokin’ Altar Boys
WHEN: 5 to 9 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Washington Park
Predawn Hour, Thru the Ashes and No Lane Road (rock)
WHEN: 8 p.m. Friday
WHERE: Turner Hall, 922 Hampshire
HOW MUCH: $5
INFO: www.myspace.com/predawnhour
Rickie Lee Tanner and Powder Keg (country)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
WHERE: The Saddle Saloon, 520 West Highway 22, Centralia, Mo.
INFO: www.myspace.com/powderkegcountry or call (573) 682-2363
All’s Forgotten (rock)
WHEN: 9 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Blueprint Lounge, Hannibal, Mo.
INFO: www.myspace.com/allsforgotten
Metachromatic of Boston, Calea of Long Island and Mad Town Metal (metal)
WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Music @ The Mall, 300 Main, Keokuk, Iowa
INFO: www.myspace.com/musicatthemall
Parrothead Bike Nite dance with the Phins (Jimmy Buffett tribute)
WHEN: 7 to 11 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: On Maine between Fifth and Sixth streets
INFO: Hosted by TNT Action Sports, the Historic Quincy Business District.
Erick Ballard (gospel/blues)
WHEN: 9:30 p.m. Saturday
WHERE: Club Mississippi, Louisiana, Mo.
INFO: www.myspace.com/erickballard1
The Mudcats (classic country/rock-a-billy)
WHEN: 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: American Legion, 116 N. Eighth
Check out our myspace page at www.myspace.com/whig_weekender.
Contact me at jmartin@whig.com.
Music: I don't know everything, but I know a little about a lot
Aug 21st
So here’s the thing. I LOVE MUSIC, all of it. Well, maybe not quite all of it.
Some alternative country artists have felt the wrath of my review rants, but for the most part, I can listen to anything. Good or bad, if it’s music knowledge, I will take it in and try to retain it.
I don’t know everything about one genre of music, but I do know a little about a lot of different genres. When you are working in the music industry, this is important. You can not always cover bands you personally find good, and sometimes I cover a band that I can see is marketable and/or has mass appeal.
I worked in the Chicago music industry for five years, and I’ve been the entertainment editor at the Herald-Whig for 18 months. My first internship was at House of Blues Inc, where I helped with sponsorship of national tours. It was amazing and I learned so much, part of which was how to not freak out when you meet a celebrity. They actually made us sign a paper saying we wouldn’t freak out all over the acts. I also did freelance photography of bands for a few years and eventually had my own local music section in a free press in Chicago. It was great and I really got a feel for booking shows, sponsoring festivals and covering live music.
Part of what this blog will be about is taking my experiences in Chicago and applying it to the way I see the local music scene working in this area. Quincy is different than any other place I’ve been around in the way it handles the local music scene. Not necessarily good or bad, but really different.
A much bigger musical movement is going on around here than everyone realizes, but it’s just not quite connected enough to thrive. I want to help with that connection, meaning that if everyone who is into the scene works together, it could be amazing. This area could be the epicenter of the major Midwest cities of Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago. All touring bands need stops along the way to pay for gas, so why not get them to stop here?
This town has incredible musical talent, and I can’t wait to talk about it on a regular basis in this blog.
FUTURE TOPICS
Show Listings
Band Reviews
CD Reviews
Venue Reviews
Music/Industry rants
General music thoughts
Want to add a show listing and suggest a topic? Contact me at jmartin@whig.com and please check back for this weekend’s show preview blog.
I’m so excited to get started. Hope you enjoy reading.
— Jess
Music: I don’t know everything, but I know a little about a lot
Aug 21st
So here’s the thing. I LOVE MUSIC, all of it. Well, maybe not quite all of it.
Some alternative country artists have felt the wrath of my review rants, but for the most part, I can listen to anything. Good or bad, if it’s music knowledge, I will take it in and try to retain it.
I don’t know everything about one genre of music, but I do know a little about a lot of different genres. When you are working in the music industry, this is important. You can not always cover bands you personally find good, and sometimes I cover a band that I can see is marketable and/or has mass appeal.
I worked in the Chicago music industry for five years, and I’ve been the entertainment editor at the Herald-Whig for 18 months. My first internship was at House of Blues Inc, where I helped with sponsorship of national tours. It was amazing and I learned so much, part of which was how to not freak out when you meet a celebrity. They actually made us sign a paper saying we wouldn’t freak out all over the acts. I also did freelance photography of bands for a few years and eventually had my own local music section in a free press in Chicago. It was great and I really got a feel for booking shows, sponsoring festivals and covering live music.
Part of what this blog will be about is taking my experiences in Chicago and applying it to the way I see the local music scene working in this area. Quincy is different than any other place I’ve been around in the way it handles the local music scene. Not necessarily good or bad, but really different.
A much bigger musical movement is going on around here than everyone realizes, but it’s just not quite connected enough to thrive. I want to help with that connection, meaning that if everyone who is into the scene works together, it could be amazing. This area could be the epicenter of the major Midwest cities of Kansas City, St. Louis and Chicago. All touring bands need stops along the way to pay for gas, so why not get them to stop here?
This town has incredible musical talent, and I can’t wait to talk about it on a regular basis in this blog.
FUTURE TOPICS
Show Listings
Band Reviews
CD Reviews
Venue Reviews
Music/Industry rants
General music thoughts
Want to add a show listing and suggest a topic? Contact me at jmartin@whig.com and please check back for this weekend’s show preview blog.
I’m so excited to get started. Hope you enjoy reading.
— Jess
