Where do you think the music scene is headed in Altoona?

[Herman]

Just curious!

[Banned]

WoW, what a question...good one though. Hard to tell, genre's change so often it is hard to tell.

[Herman]

I think the art of being creative and original makes a big difference

[Banned]

Or being so "different" that you actually stick out.

[Banned]

If you like jazz----absolutely sucks.

Blues, a few bands play blues, but only a few pure blues bands. And they do not get too many shows. Burgi's Roundhouse used to have some. Now closed.

Progressive/Fusion -- one night I saw Flame Sky and Wine of Nails play in Victory Lane. Wow what a night. Bar torn down. Says it all right there.

Peter C's, Victory Lane, gone, The Bar, no more bands. The Hilltop, no more bands or closed. Burgi's, closed. We are going to run out of bars who let bands play.

[Herman]

Yes....music is all over the place these days....the more you put into the music you play the more it will show ex: Blues and country combined, plus, alot of other types in the mix....you need the right 'chemistry' to make it work....

[Herman]

Re-vent the music scene in Altoona....try getting a music conference into town....do something different...unite and become a indie label....there is so much that can be done.....think out of the box.....

[Banned]

Re-vent the music scene in Altoona....try getting a music conference into town....do something different...unite and become a indie label....there is so much that can be done.....think out of the box.....

You sound like a guy with a good head on your shoulders. That or your one helluva Jedi!!

[Herman]

I know the biz....let's leave at that......

[KeithReynolds]

I was wondering when you would be on rockpage Jim.

[Herman]

You have me mixed up with another white guy....they walk, talk and look the same....Herman is the name.......

[KeithReynolds]

Im sorry, i was going by how you signed one of your posts. It said Jim.

[JackANSI]

I hate it when its called 'the scene'... it is, to me, like fingernails on a chalk board to other people. Just me being lame, just ignore.

I'm surprised there aren't more people jumping on this thread.

If you're not rock, blues, or metal (or play whatever else to the captive old-person audiences), its hard to find a place to play. Well... unless you find a way to pull the D.J. crowd out to your live performance. But that brings trouble in the way of fights and parking lot shootings it seems...

I think the area is going to continually go back and forth on the see-saw of DJ's and bands. With nothing really new taking hold.

The one bright spot on the fringe is the two or three man acoustic act, and they'll play the stuff everyone has already heard a million times. They just do it differently than they have heard live before. But you need a killer singer to pull it off.

If there were any place 'upscale' around here to eat, and people could afford to eat there, you'd have a 'dinner band' or two around that also had a 'jazz thing' they did on the side.

You either belong to a cover band that plays 3-set-nights that appeal to many people, or you belong to an original band that plays 30 minute sets with 3-8 other bands that also make up the majority of the audience.

Either way there isn't a whole lot of rooms left to play at, and even fewer wanting to risk having bands when D.J.'s make them so much money, then fewer still who even want to deal with the hastle thanks to a bad band experience they once heard about from another bar owner years ago...

[Rich]

"Ding"... you are correct sir...

[Herman]

Good concept....I question why a place like Altoona, Huntingdon, Mt. Union doesn't have any indie labels? The most I see in indie labels in the area are ALL metal or punk. [Which all sounds the same after awhile.] I feel if there was some type of direction in which to place the music in Altoona....it could go far. At the same token, you don't want to hear rehashed music that's been done over and over again. I feel Altoona has a few goods, but needs more. Get about 5 new indie labels in Altoona and things could roll....

[Rich]

Hmmmm...

[DirtySanchez]

Working on starting an indie label with a friend right now.
The "scene" is what you make of it. Bands tour for a reason.
I don't know what you mean. I'm cool with it. If you're wondering why there aren't hundreds of people at every show it's pretty simple. The times have changed. I think the day of the "Iconic rock Star" is numbered. I couldn't be happier.

[DirtySanchez]

Good concept....I question why a place like Altoona, Huntingdon, Mt. Union doesn't have any indie labels? The most I see in indie labels in the area are ALL metal or punk. [Which all sounds the same after awhile.] I feel if there was some type of direction in which to place the music in Altoona....it could go far. At the same token, you don't want to hear rehashed music that's been done over and over again. I feel Altoona has a few goods, but needs more. Get about 5 new indie labels in Altoona and things could roll....

Here. Check this out:

http://www.myideaoffun.org/

not all "metal and punk" as you say.

Or are you just trolling the board?

[slackin@dabass]

where's the scene headed?


out of altoona, it'd seem. unless your ok with playing the same 4 rooms every weekend.



an indie label in altoona? what could it offer bands in the area? what kind of bands would you put on the label? how does one start building their own label?

[RobTheDrummer]

The scene goes where "we" take it. This Herman guy does seem a bit Trollish...

[Jim Price]

I think as far as musicians and music goes, the Altoona area continues to have an abundance of talent, and I would argue that there is probably more diversity present on the local music scene now than at any point since I first started following the scene over 25 years ago. Last month's SoFar Festival alone provided ample proof of that.

The problem these days is a limited number of venues to showcase that music, and the battle of getting people out to support and recognize it. At SoFar, for example, you had in the neighborhood of 20 different and diverse bands and performers displaying their talents under an outdoor pavilion, free of charge, in nice sunny weather, in full earshot of the bulk of Penn State Altoona's dormitories. But the students largely weren't interested, whether because of studies, other happenings, or - the most likely culprit - they were stuck in front of their computers or gaming devices.

I contend that the biggest challenge is finding ways to get new people interested in supporting live music. Musicians and music proponents need to continue to brainstorm ways to get folks interested in local live music; get people to step away from their computers or video games, and choose the live music option over deejays, karaoke, trivia, poker, mechanical bulls or whatever else live music is competing against. It may take "thinking outside of the box" to come up with new strategies and ideas; perhaps even "thinking outside of the bar scene" to generate that interest. If the area music scene can collectively generate this interest and start drawing more new fans in, I think we'll see more opportunities for shows as venue owners and other organizers recognize that there is interest in live music again.

One big positive thing that is currently happening is the Commonplace Coffeehouse near Penn State Altoona. Harold Taddy and Colin Lennox have started to build something special here, giving a diverse array of artists the opportunity to display their talents, from music to spoken word and more. While the emphasis is acoustic, there seems to be growing support for the happenings there, and I hope it can continue to grow.

[Herman]

So true, it's where you want to take it, as far as Trollish, I don't think so...so you can take it or leave it......but, at the same token, do really have what it takes... you can taste it, so, so bad...you really, really want it, but don't know how to get there ...now what?

[Herman]

Thank you Jim....I appreciate your insight on this....keep in touch....

[RobTheDrummer]

So true, it's where you want to take it, as far as Trollish, I don't think so...so you can take it or leave it......but, at the same token, do really have what it takes... you can taste it, so, so bad...you really, really want it, but don't know how to get there ...now what?

What are you talking about anyway? Have what it takes? Taste it? Go where? What exactly are you getting at?

[DirtySanchez]

So true, it's where you want to take it, as far as Trollish, I don't think so...so you can take it or leave it......but, at the same token, do really have what it takes... you can taste it, so, so bad...you really, really want it, but don't know how to get there ...now what?

I hope I didn't offend you. It just seems that every once in a while people start taking blind stabs at "the scene" or community here.

As far as the rest, that's exactly why I'm gonna start this label, to help bands by giving them opportunities.