NEWS

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Listen Locally, Listen Socially

The North Carolina music blog The Oak Room is updating again. This is a great one-stop spot to find out about local music, and it's great that he's finding time to work on this again.

There's also now a MySpace group for Triangle area bands. Even before the web started rolling, projects like the Internet Underground Music Archive tried to use the 'net to link together independent bands. MySpace is the first to really succeed because it's intrinsically linked to more general social connections. I and can't help thinking it's become the top social-networking site because it's so intertwined with music. MySpace is plug-ugly, but no more than most of the band sites out there. It gives a common interface for exploring music. It has good content that is easy to find. That's why it's succeded, to the dismay of graphic designers everwhere.

More and more, I think that the experience of music is about 50% social. Sure, we grow to appreciate the formal qualities of a genre of music, and anyone can get a melody earwormed into their head. But it's hard to underestimate the social aspect of music listening- the world of making mixes for friends, getting passionate about an artist no one else seems to know about, getting your heart broken when a favorite band realeases something you just can't dig.

Think about an artist you love. Think about an artist that hit you the first time you heard them. I bet it wasn't just the melody or beat that trapped you- at some level, that song was playing to your ideals. I recall a freind slapping on a Nick Cave disc, and saying, "You really have to hear this song 'Tupelo'." I was aware of Cave, but this was the first time I really listened; the single, simple beat, the mix of Elvis history, John Lee Hooker steals, the biblical references. I was flat out shocked at how perfect that song was. For me. Raw rhythm with a sense of music history so ambitious it could be dismissed as pretentious- that sums up my love of music.

I hear a lot of people in the 30s sigh when they realize that they haven't heard anything new. It's 'cause the push towards middle age usually narrows one's social circle. It's easy for one's listening habits to become frozen in the music of their youth. We make the most new friends when we're young. Including friendships with music.

There's been a great thread on alt.music.chapel-hill this week: The best way to support artists? I'd say the best way to support an artist you like is to talk about them. Like a nut. I do. Go ahead and overrate them, 'cause you never know when they'll live up to your expectations. The major labels have "street teams" to talk up acts that they're trying to promote. At some level, they know that music is a social thing. Even if they can't divorce themselves from the idea that they're selling units, what they're really doing is selling connections.

posted by bendy @ 2/18/2006 09:22:00 AM [permanent link]

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Gig: Feb 10th with Red Smokes White

It's our first show with Big Dave on bass.

At Joe & Jo's in Durham of course. A Friday Night.

So this is the next phase of Blackstrap. We spent 2005 shaken up- disbanded at first, then talking about how to proceed. Then practicing again, but consumed by commitments and loosing a founding member. Dave came in on bass at the end of the year, already familiar with us. He brought his own feel to the stuff right away. At practice last night, we were R.O.C.K. Between songs, we were all philosophisin' about how men and women are often attracted to the worst traits of either sex, Dave said something like "All I'm looking for is someone who knows who Bon Scott is. That is a foundation I can work from." I can relate. The difference between and old rocker and an young one is that us oldies have learned how not to choke on our own vomit. We're quite good at getting it down. It's an important part of staying employed.

Dave has done time in all sort of local scene greatness, from the Chrome Plated Apostles to Jett Rink.

Jett Rink - Mittens


Red Smokes White are doing something right, 'cause I can't decide whether to describe them as spooked-out chamber rock or boogie metal. Is that a cello or a upright bass sawing away? I haven't seen them live yet, so I can't tell. It's like you took Black Sabbath's folk tendencies and ran with it.

Red Smokes White - SOBs from Earth

posted by bendy @ 2/06/2006 12:42:00 AM [permanent link]

YEAH!!!!!!

said Didier, at 2/10/2006  

Great mooosic! U guys ever cowme up to Virginia to play? There's a place called Fantasy Records & Tapes in Newport News that does a lot of in-house concerts & lets bands promote themselves and sell their mooosic. I think you'd be perfect for 'em!
:=8)

said The MooCow, at 2/11/2006  

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