Music Scenes (or the decline of live music)
Wednesday, July 16, 2008 at 11:40PM I was at lunch with a friend today and we started talking about music scenes, here in Phoenix, and in other cities. The Phoenix music scene has really dwindled over the last 10 years in my opinion. There used to be a lot of bars and clubs for original bands to play, especially in Tempe. Nowadays, there are only a handful. The Dygmies played hundreds of shows in the late nineties and early aughts. As we finish up our latest album, we're getting ready to start prepping to play live again but I'm not sure where we will end up. Tempe/Mesa still have Hollywood Alley, and there's The Sets and Yucca Tap Room. Phoenix has the Rhythm Room, Trunk Space, Modified Arts, Phix, and Paper Heart. There's really nothing in Scottsdale. If anyone knows of any other cool venues for original music, please let me know!
As far as other cities go, live music still seems to be thriving. I recently took a trip to Chicago and I saw two bands while I was there, Sea Wolf was at Schubas, great venue and a great show. The Ginge was at Park Grill, another good show. I was also there for the start of the Chicago Blues Festival, what a fantastic event! Four days of free, live blues from all over the world. I wish we had a comparable event here in Phoenix. Boston has always had a great music scene. My brother Randy lived there for many years during their music heyday and I can't think of a more sustained, thriving live music scene than Boston. I lived in Chapel Hill, NC during its peak. Austin, San Francisco, Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles, and of course New York, all have great scenes too.
With all the MP3 piracy going around, my hope was that it would help to create a resurgence of live music again. Playing live now seems to be the best way for a band to make money, since it's hard to rely on CD sales. Although these gas prices are putting a damper on that too. Be sure to support your favorite bands by purchasing shirts and other stuff at their shows. That's one of the most profitable ways for a band to make money.
Music
Reader Comments (2)
from what i hear, the Atlanta music scene is pretty happening too…there are tons of clubs and tons of new acts, many that you’ve all eventually heard of in some way or another…i don’t get out to see live music too much anymore and usually when the word “out” and “music” are together in the same sentence, it’s me out playing…both of my bands play strictly covers so i can’t really give you much feedback as far as playing original music goes, but the Creative Loafing (same idea as The Whoot for those of you with ties to southern New Jersey) is always full of cool venues and bands that play them…
I don’t get out much either ’cause I’m usually dead to the world by 10pm, but we two freebee entertainment papers that have fairly large listings of music playing every week. When we have made it out, mostly we find cover bands with a few originals thrown in. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a completely original act.