Monday, January 18, 2010

What I know about drummers

What do I know about drummers?

1. They have you by the balls.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Double trouble

So there is another band in NYC with our name. I found this out by accident recently but yesterday the problem was brought into stark relief when a promoter we use asked us to confirm a gig we knew nothing about. Turns out they contacted him and he assumed it was us.

If they weren't aware of us already they are now as the promoter retracted the gig offer once he found out it wasn't us.

What to do?

Should we change our name?
Should we ask them to change their name?

Should we both realize that we are unlikely to step on each others toes because

- the possibility of our crowd showing up at their gig is extremely unlikely as we, and them no doubt, play exclusively to 'friends and girlfriends' (I thought about being clever and using an acronym for that demographic but it is... unfortunate).

- neither of us will ever have to argue over lost revenue from CD sales or downloads.

- we both suck

Yet another faux dilema that is resolved by admitting the disturbing truth that your band may be 'good' but most probably, almost certainly, not 'good enough'

So, what am I going to do? Nothing.

BTW there is a signed act on the West Coast that bears our moniker too. Oh well.

Friday, January 1, 2010

Your band's excuses versus technology

So you've recorded a demo but...

In the beginning...

"It's shit because it's a live recording on a tape deck using the condenser microphone"

Advent of affordable four tracks...

"It's shit because we only have four tracks"

Advent of multi-track computer recording software

"It's shit because we can't crank the amps up to a recordable level without deafening the neighbours"

Advent of amp emulation

"It's shit because we don't have the mics to record drums properly"

Advent of V-Drums and Reason Drum Kits

"It's shit because we haven't mastered it"

Advent of software mastering

"OK, it's shit"