Fan support in State College

[Dead34]

Honestly, I think to many people put playing in State College on a pedestal; I know, because I used to be one of them. Our band, Represent the Lie, has 3 members who have lived in State College for the past 10 years or longer - we also feature a couple of musicians that have played in venues downtown on a monthly basis. We have a great deal of people just aching to see us play, but none of them want to travel to out of town shows because then they can't drink and have a good time, unless one person gets boned into being the DD. Unfortunately, you cant make venues give you a shot - so what we did is just say F*#K State College, and we took the energy we were spending on trying to get into that area and invested it into surrounding areas and built an even bigger and better following. Don't get me wrong, we still try a club or 2 once every 4-5 months, but if they so no - we don't really care - we kind of figure it's their loss and move on. Honestly, the more Ive been downtown to see some live bands, the more I dont want to play in State College. The scene there is dying because they have the same 3 bands playing the same 3 sets of music every friday and Saturday night - If you dont see a band at skeller on Friday night, you can catch them at the Brewery or Saloon on Saturday - and they'll more than likely be playing the same 3 sets in the same exact order. Bottom line is - although it's nice to play in your home town - it's even more exciting to get out of town and meet new people to play in front of!

[Jim Price]

All you need to do is stand along College Avenue near Club Indigo around 10 PM on a Thursday or Friday night, and observe the long lines stretching down the sidewalks waiting to get in. That's where a lot of the college students are heading to get their dance, drink and socializing on.

There's no easy solution to this as far as your band is concerned. My suggestion is to keep nose to the grindstone and do what you do. Determination and longevity build followings over time, and the fans you do win will be the ones that want to be there for your music. Then as that fan base builds, more rooms - perhaps even in State College - will start paying more attention. It can be frustrating getting to that point, but stick to your guns and watch for opportunities wherever they may develop.

[Blue Reality]

I only would like to play SC becuase its my back yard. I don't mind traveling but why travel when you have a place that holds bands this close to home?

We're gonna keep going. I have more reason to be energized than ever. We've been playing our original material for a while and it gets very good honest reviews. Anyone who has heard me play guitar knows its the real deal and my singing is better than ever now that I've trained for 2 plus years. We will represent the area and and play our asses off in Pittsburgh at the blues challenge. I hold my head high.

The thing we lack is road miles and polish from playing live. And you can't get that any other way than gigging all the time. And you can't get that here. My original post was only to say that we're gonna have to build it ouside the area and I am frustrated that I have so many venues so close to home that are almost impossible to play. I have to remind myself that any effort I spend trying to build something here is probably not the best use of my time.

[mjb]

Anyone who has heard me play guitar knows its the real deal

thats some funny shit right there. where can i hear some of your real deal originals!

heres some blues reality for ya, real deal

i went to every blues challenge in pittsburgh last year, also hopped a plane to memphis for the ibc. after reading all this you sound pretty full of youseelf and if your blues influence only goes back as far as hendrix clapton and zep.....well.... you will get laughed out of tennesee you have alot to learn.ALOT! to tell you the truth the bswpa probobly already knows who they are sending to the ibc this year and will go through the motions of having chalenges because thats what the rules say you have to do and thats how the local blues society makes money. hate for august to come and for you to get dissappointed that nobody recoginized how awesome you are.

i NEVER heard a blues musician so full of themselves.

good luck!

[Blue Reality]

MJB Blah BLah Blah.... This is fairly typical. I make a post and can't add every tiny piece of information and you fill in the blanks. You were at Ten? Well good for you my friend.

I never said I was going to win anything, only make a good showing. You can project anything you want to on that.

Oh as for blues... Well i started learning the Muddy Waters Blue Sky catalogue with Johnny Winter, and the Beano album note for note. Umm moved on the Freddie and Albert (last names of King in case you didn't know). Spent lots of time with BB too. Loved Albert Collins. Must confess that I don't connect with chester bernet (know who that is....). then I moved on to Hendrix Cream and Van Halen because I chose to. You have no clue as to my blues roots. Thanks for asking by the way......

MJB if you play music you need a little confidence....... If you need a place to vent, deal with what I say not what you want to make me to be....

[witchhunt]

I couldn't help it. I had to post this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2vCUO82vsY

[Dead34]

Witchhunt - I do believe you captured the direction this thread was going beautifully with that video LMAO!

[Blue Reality]

Hey man this thread is decay nicely like all Rockpage threads. Don't get in the way by adding some humor............

[witchhunt]

Everything in life increases in value a bit just by adding a bit of humor/wisdom from The Man.

[nakedtwister]

When was the last time you went and seen a lot of pussy go out to see a blues band?

Well you showed up one night at our show.

[nakedtwister]

Marshall, don't take to much offense to what MJB is saying. He is a great dude, but when it comes to the Blues he is the most passionate MO-FO I know about the genre. It's not a genre that has ever been a big marketing fixture. Take the 'Canes in Memphis, we all wanted them to win it all. They most certainly have the talent, but in these competitions sometimes the judges are looking for a certain thing that a band might not possess. Like maybe a kick ass female singer. I don't know maybe I'm wrong but just keep at it. And hey look for our up coming Blues Jams and join the many fine musicians that show up to play the Blues. You won't regret it. The more you concentrate on one scene the more frustrating it becomes.
YT,
Brian

[Blue Reality]

Hey its all good. i just was just playing a bit of serve and volley with him. Its my own frustration coming through. If you really want to be good at any form of music you gotta play all the time. So I am a bit bent at the scene there is no doubt about it.

I really found my answer here. i just gotta keep my head down, plow forward and forget about my backyard.

I have been meaning to make it to a blues jam. I've got a 2.5 year old and a 5 year old. Both Boys. And I runa business. Man I'm luck to be playing in a band!!!!!!!!!!

[mjb]

hey man i was with ya 100% till you started patting youself on the back.... shit man if you can play all that you should put that on your facebook page and not the icecream man stuff and sell yourself as a real deal blues band, no pun intended. note for note stuff don't do nothiong for me, i like to try cop a certain players feel or tone and a lick or two of course but not note for note,thats just never been my thing, with the ADD thing, i could only dream of such a thing although i appreciate the discipline it takes. dude, chester.... c'mon that is rough and raw as it gets i happen to love him. anyway, the real deal comment kind of pissed me off cuz i felt ya up till then and you are right you do have to be confident but we also have to watch we don't cross the line into saying how good we think we are, let that up to other people.

i hope you kick some ass in the burgh, it will do you some good on the exposure side of things and i'll probobly be checkin you out down there. it was alot of fun from a spectator side of things we'll all be pulling for you guys.

did we have this arguement before .... seems familiar

witchhunt that was funny!

sometimes i just can't help but being a dickhead. i'm used to it though

my band just getting going will definitly be into putiing some mini festivals together with whoever want too.

[nakedtwister]

Yeah I feel ya brother. Was just checkin out your Slow Blues In C. Kick ass blues man. Keep it up.

[mjb]

its tough with the youngins bro, you guys posted while i was in the midst of. i gotta a 4 year old man i def get ya, the frustration is always there that you can't make it to the ever-so -little jam space you have and it builds,i'm there every single day just trying to play a little bit to keep my chops up a bit, but...we do have families, i also have my own business, i know where you are at 100%. no hard feelings man, we got to stick together, its the only way! we'll make our own mother fuckin scene! this sounds like a great idea for my summer party. BLUES FEST and FEAST.
you guys in?

thanks for the words B you da man!

[Blue Reality]

Hey MJB no hard feelings man. It's all good.

You know how it is. You play the blues and people will give you just enough s@#$ for sticking to that form likes its dead and gone. i think I was just trying to tell myself that what I'm doing is worth the fight. Ya know.... Really just telling myself that I play some of this stuff well. Probably did sound a bit arrogant.

Lets do a blues fest and stick together in this

[mjb]

Hey MJB no hard feelings man. It's all good.

You know how it is. You play the blues and people will give you just enough s@#$ for sticking to that form likes its dead and gone. i think I was just trying to tell myself that what I'm doing is worth the fight. Ya know.... Really just telling myself that I play some of this stuff well. Probably did sound a bit arrogant.

Lets do a blues fest and stick together in this

right on man, i hear ya. what you are doing is important, it looks like its up to guys like us to keep it alive. i believe that to the bottom of heart, ill tell anyone about it who wants to listen and by the time i'm done with them, i got them downloading chester burnett its not much but it is all i can do. for right now.

i applaude your confidence man, sometimes when we type shit out it don't really come out like we want it too....i wish i had a bit more myself sometimes. don't let anybody knock you off your path. were on a mission and we all have each others back.

blues on!