The ‘Enthusiastic Suck’
// January 28th, 2011 // Uncategorized
When I go to a bar to see a live band, or several bands in a night, there is usually one or more bands that I would call the “Enthusiastic Suck” (or sometimes even the bands we are playing with!). These are the guys who are terrible musicians, instruments are out of tune, and couldn’t play together with each other if their lives depended on it. And each of member of this band is having some kind of “conniption fit” on stage because they are supposedly “getting into their music”. Or it’s the guys who think their own originals are so awesome yet the lyrics make you wanna cry…and not in a good way (i.e. I reach for the skyyyyyy and I wonder whyyyyy…etc.). Their music has no hooks and all the cliché stuff used in it at every point possible…and they are also having a “conniption fit”. I would probably feel better if I only saw this once in a while, but I see it at least 7 out of 10 times I see any live band play.
Kinda goes to show what’s out there. Everybody and anybody who can barely hold their instrument can get a band together and play any club that will let them in it seems. Which just clutters up the space and makes it more difficult for those of us that can actually write and play. Meaning bar owners and managers really put the gears to us if we are not represented or won’t even talk to us about playing in their place due to bands like I mentioned: no ifs, ands, or buts about it. And it’s sad.
Then there’s the other side. The bar owners who want to get the “freebie” from the good bands, using this excuse about all the “Enthusiastic Suck” out there for not letting TLA play, which is valid to a point I guess. But too often it doesn’t seem to matter if we have testimonials from reputable clubs and people, video, or what have you to support the fact that our band is really GOOD. And some of the lame excuses these guys come up with like “Everybody has a press kit, video, and testimonials. We want to see that you can really play before we let you play in OUR special little club”. Really hey? Somehow I doubt that everyone has those items. And if they say they do, then invest the 2 minutes that it takes to VERIFY that these things are real! So in the end, the bar owner/manager wants you to come down to their bar and play a 30 minute set in some lame “battle of the bands” or some crap whereby getting a free night of entertainment for their bar. And a night of aggravation for us…mostly checking out the “Enthusiastic Suck”. The solution? There really isn’t one other than to be represented 100% by an agency.
Don’t even get me started on the “pay to play” thing. I hope I never see that in Central or Western Canada.
Ah the live music gig. What a ride. This rant is done. I’m all out for today. Until next time…Up Yur Act!
–JL
