Dedication…
Sometimes, it takes a lot of work to do your part to support local, music-driven, movements. Some artists are so deserving of support that it can become necessary to really go out of your way. Music can be local music without being local to my hometown, and if it’s music I love then I consider it local to me personally.
Trevor Hall and Marc B played a show together last Saturday. Both of these musicians are amazing individuals who are working very hard all the time to promote love, peace, and social consciousness. They are working to start a grassroots movement with the ultimate goal of fixing the ills of our world. I’ve got my fingers crossed and I’m onboard.
Unfortunately, this show, which I absolutely had to attend, was occurring in Santa Monica, CA, a cool three and a half hours south of San Luis Obispo. I had to decide if the show would be worth seven hours of driving.
Easy choice: yes.
So I’m going to utilize google maps to document the experience. Check it out.
Also, here‘s a video from that night. This was the first time this song has ever been performed for the public and as far as I know it is still a work in progress. Enjoy.
we’re upgrading!
So, this blog has been fun, and I’m very much planning to keep it going. It will be a bit different, but the goal will be to make it more useful and more user friendly.
The blog is now located at slomusicblog.com
Check it out.
PK at Pavillion on the Lake
Last Sunday, the 22nd, I went to a show to see the illustrious PK. They are a true presence in the Central Coast music scene with an ever growing influence. Seems like everywhere I go, I hear people talking about PK. Everyone knows their music and everyone knows the members. They are awesome musicians and possibly even better guys.
So, I was not able to make it to the show as early as I would have liked. I arrived about halfway through The Mighty Fine‘s set. They surely lived up to their name, I must say.
Then on came PK. They put on a great live show. For any music enthusiast living in SLO they are truly a must see.
Their music is fun and accessible. I honestly can’t imagine anyone not being able to appreciate their sound. When combined with their amazing stage presence, you’ve got a pretty cohesively awesome live show.
Also, PK has an album in the works right now. It should be released very early in 2010.
SO: Keep your eyes on their page for show dates and please try to make it out. I promise you won’t regret it. They are a true standout in a local scene rife with talent.
Photos courtesy of the extraordinary Lauren Gan.
New things on the horizon
I’ve recently purchased a domain and am going to host this blog myself in the interest of control, flexibility, longevity, etc.
SO, I’m in the process of getting that set up. I’m going to try really hard to make it very cool, cohesive, and content rich.
I’m still looking for more contribution though, so if you want to help initiate a very cool, grass-roots movement, let me know. I want to make this blog a staple of the San Luis scene. In fact, if we can make this really cool, we can try to grow it beyond SLO. But we’ll start here.
The point is, if you want to be part of this, if you’re even slightly interested, let me know. It will cost you nothing but time, and you can have your writing posted here. If writing’s not your thing, pictures, audio, movies, pretty much any medium that I can figure out how to host is welcome here. The only requirement is that it’s relevant to our music scene.
And if none of that appeals to you, there’s designing and distributing of posters, stickers, maybe compilations of local artist’s music, anything we can collectively come up with. I’m always down for ideas, and everyone is welcome to help. I’m all about the community.
So please good people, leave me a comment here or email me at austinmmello [at] gmail [dot] com
Just a Rant.
There are two things I want to mention in this post: music as a fashion and the different types of people that are associated with several “rock” scenes.
Music is a universal language. It moves and inspires people to be a part of it, whether by fan support or creatively composing a piece.
I’m not a skilled musician nor am I a band groupie, but I do enjoy listening to all genres and observe what the general trends and stereotypes are of today.
(The following is based solely on my own experiences.)
When Avril Lavigne cranked out her tunes, it seemed like every girl in high school wore ties and carried guitars. Every girl jumped on the band wagon and took up guitar lessons. It was cool to go to local shows and know of the underground movement. At least for me, I felt like I knew what I was talking about being ahead of the game.
I was different though. I didn’t do it as a fashion to be purposely labeled in that misfit group. (Some people wore band shirts and weren’t really fans of that band.) I actually took up guitar lessons and wanted to start my own band. I failed miserably by the way. And, I loved listening to the ‘details’ in every song. Still in high school, I remained wearing the same color every day, black, and I was criticized for the music I listened to by the “mainstream”, popular crowd at school. Funny though, Good Charlotte became way popular by the very same people who criticized me. They started wearing the studded belts and various punk looking outfits, and oh, not to mention those jelly bracelets. Somehow, that was when I knew that rock became the ‘in’ thing.
Look at Disney. Hannah Montana, Jonas Brothers, and Camp Rock. Have you ever stopped to observe their appearance? I don’t know what it is, but Disney does a damn good job marketing this rock scene to a younger generation.
I remember there was this one music video played on the disney channel. It had like 3 young boys dressed in what looked like catholic school attire, and they had a bunch of crazed girls surrounding them while they held their guitars looking ‘cool’. At one point, I distinctly remember one of the boys just holding it, almost showing off how cool he was, and not playing a single note. I was frustrated. They just look dumb and fake, and their lyrics sucked. Wherever there is money to be made, this one scene is a solid go.
Metal. Some say its satanic and some say its a great genre to break down the stereotype. Props to bands that can do a good job at not sounding so pissed off but still maintain that same aggressive note.
I notice that the general stereotype of people who listen to Hannah Montana and the like are people in middle school. They’re your average fan girl, screaming away with excitement. This type of ‘rock’ sounds extremely pop rock to the max with cheesy guitar tunes and uncreative, blunt lyrics. Not meaningful in any way.
Then, you have people in high school that dress scene. They wear tight pants with side swept hair and carry with them this dark, almost pitiful cloud of sorrow and complaints. The girls wear too much eye liner and paint their nails black. This particular crowd is where groupies start to develop. They easily support a band, even if they lack serious talent, and will buy merch. In a way, this is the most important crowd for a band because they are the major network group for spreading the word.
Oh, and jelly bracelets and converses are still in at the high school point.
Hardcore and any core related label. These people tend to wear plugs, wear X’s on their hands, and do a whole lot of moshing and dancing. They’re pretty aggressive and get immensely offended if you intrude on their dancing space. Sometimes I think moshing or hardcore dancing is a way to hide your intended punches.
You also have the metal heads with long hair and black. Metal is complicated to break down because there’s symphonic, goth, death, speed…etc. In my opinion, this is the crowd that remains true to what rock was originally seen as.
The last major group, indie. I personally love this genre, aside from metal, and it attracts the college kids. After high school and going through the teeny bopper phase, usually people mellow out and turn to chill tunes. Some support local bands still and some choose to attend hardcore shows, but only to feel out of place because of their age. Indie is like Urban Outfitters and a warm sunny day with an acoustic guitar.
For me, every time I think of Jonas Brothers, Disney pops up. High school hardcore makes me think of braces, attitudes, and monotonous tones. Bands sound exactly the same and will never stand out in my mind. Indie is either boring or tasteful. I’m extremely picky.
What it comes down to is this. If a band can draw a crowd of all ages, you know you’re legit. High schools are a crutch and the kids are already a built in fan base, its cheating.
Lauren Gan
Places to know for music in SLO
As a musician in a small town, I know first hand that it can be tough to find what you need, be it tickets, gear, supplies, or the venues themselves. I’m compiling a map of some of the best musical resources in the San Luis Obispo area. The general idea is to make life easier for my peers who may be unfamiliar with the area.
Also, this blog is very much open to and dependent on reader input. I am well aware that there are more places in SLO that are valuable to the music community. So here’s what we can do:
You let me know what’s missing, and I’ll update the map. Deal?
Thanks much.
Interview with local band Cast Caste
I did a little video interview with a new, local group called Cast Caste. I wanted to see what it is that keeps them playing music even in the face of adversity. In their case, this comes in the form of limitation on their practice space. They have resorted to practicing inside of a miniature room built out of sheets of foam in the corner of one of their bedrooms.
I joined them in the cocoon, as they like to call it, to shoot video and some stills while the practiced. There was hardly room for me to stand, and the heat quickly grew to an uncomfortable level. But in spite of these obstacles, the band members practice weekly and are in the process of recording an EP.
One might think it silly to venture on in the face of such discomfort, but I support them fully. These are the times that we will look back on through the fog of old age and smile at the life we once led. It is from rough beginnings that the most moving music arises. And it is damn good practice to be playing in uncomfortable spaces. Almost every space a musician performs in is bound to be excruciatingly uncomfortable in one way or another.
In some ways, it is one’s ability to perform and to deliver in spite of such frustrations that truly defines a consummate musician. The best performers and the best live shows I’ve seen are the ones where you connect with a musician who’s as engaged and excited as the listener. Looking back, I see that in all probability these shows that stick with me the most were not going off without a hitch. But the best artists can overcome and will give their audience what the want and find fulfillment in the energy they share with their fans.
Here’s Cast Caste:
Brice's drum set inside the cocoon.
Charlie starting up a sweat parade.
Download a couple demo tracks here:
Phantome
Sun Lakes
Thanks much good people.
Oh, also, I’ve been through a few different themes on this blog over the last couple weeks. I’m liking how simple and straightforward this one is. What do you guys think? I’m often tempted to switch to white on black, since I feel that it’s easier on the eyes. The only obvious reason that I can find for us to turn an entire screen into a light and then stare at it is that we’re used to reading off of white paper, in which case we should revolutionize and reject the black-on-white standard and save our eyes and our energy. Let me know what you think, I read ever comment carefully and sincerely.
Peace, good people.
w/ Marc B at the Clubhouse
We (the Chase McBride band) played a really fun show last night at the Clubhouse. We hosted a great musician named Marc B and his band. They played a really sick set, were very entertaining, and thoroughly cool guys.
They’re doing a little CA coastal tour right now and they joined us for a show at the Clubhouse. They’re blowing up pretty fast these days, and for good reason. Now’s the time to hop on the bandwagon. Please do ME a favor and check them out at: www.myspace.com/marcbmusic or www.marcbmusic.com
So thanks to Marc and his awesome band, thanks to everyone who came out to support the show, and thanks to Steve Key for booking it.
Marc B rockin' it at the Clubhouse. Photo courtesy of Lauren Gan
Also, Marc B has a show coming up in a couple weeks that is going to be absolutely stellar. He and his band are playing a show with Trevor Hall on Dec. 5.
This is momentous. For me, at least, this is momentous.
Trevor Hall is probably my favorite contemporary musician. He puts on an absolutely amazing live show and writes very stellar music. Also, he and his band are awesome people. If you ever see them live, make sure to drop by when they’re done and share a chat and hug before you go.
Unfortunately, there is a complication in my attending this show. We have our own show the same afternoon in Cayucos. Trevor and Marc’s show is roughly 3.5 hours away in Santa Monica and starts at 7:30. I still don’t know what time we’re supposed to play, but I know it’s in the afternoon.
SO:
If we finish playing by 4:00 PM, I plan to drive down for the show. It will require much driving, and much gas, but I give you a promise: This show will be worth it.
Some upcoming shows of the groups mentioned above:
Marc B
Nov. 21- IASL Benefit, San Francisco, CA
Nov. 24- Sandbar w/ Coy Bastards, Santa Barbara, CA
Dec. 5- Dakota Lounge w/ Trevor Hall, Santa Monica, CA
Trevor Hall
Nov. 17- Norva w/ Matisyahu, Norfolk, VA
Nov. 18- The National w/ Matisyahu, Richmond, VA
Nov. 19- House of Blues w/ Matisyahu, North Myrtle Beach, SC
Nov. 21- The Sound Garden, Baltimore, MD
Nov. 24- Northern Lights w/ Matisyahu, Clifton Park, NY
Nov. 29- 3rd & Lindsley, Nashville, TN
Dec. 4- Rock the Resort- Hudson Valley Resort, Kerhonkson, NY
Dec. 5- Dakota Lounge w/ Marc B, Santa Monica, CA
Chase McBride
Nov. 18- The Pourhouse, Paso Robles, CA
Dec. 5- Surfrider Benefit, Cayucos, CA
So keep your fingers crossed for me. I haven’t been able to see Trevor play since summer, and I dunno how much longer I can wait.
Also just for fun, here’s us from last night:
Chase McBride band nice and cozy at the Clubhouse. Photo courtesy of Lauren Gan.
Thanks much, good people. Keep reading, keep supporting live and local music, and keep checking for updates. I’ve got some cool stuff in the works.
ALSO, Check out more of Lauren Gan’s photography.
A Music Blog 