Let me first start by saying that Friday Night / Early Saturday morning left a few friends of mine with the feeling that Rochester is a hopeless culture vacuum and that any good music or art that comes from this town will probably die here as well.
One of my pals was so bothered that he has now purchased the domain, “www.rochesterhatesmusic.com.”
When it’s up and running, “Rochester hates music” will be a site dedicated to exposing Rochester music and musicians that never ever ever ever ever get talked about or exposed in the other 2 or 3 places that you have a shot to be written about in. (Problem B is going to be getting traffic to the site so that these musicians are actually read about.)
Next I’d like to point out that in no way do the following opinions about to be expressed in this column represent Dragonflyeye.net or it’s affiliates, nor should the comments be taken out on any of the author’s affiliates - again, who are we kidding because in a culture vacuum nobody reads this stuff anyway…
There is a myspace page and a website called Rochester Underground, and frankly I see nothing underground about it.
I see a lot of flash and glitz, I see a lot of photos of hot bar girls, and Abercrombie / Hollister looking 20 somethings out bar hopping, drunk and sucking down lame ass light beer, chasing down the American dream in a new computer age perverted sort of I-Phone holding statue of liberty with her thong showing and a look in her eye of no more than a 15 second attention span, while shitty clean cut A-street cover bands pour on the schmooze over a Sublime song that will have everyone singing along. They covered the fucking East End Fest for Christ’s sake! It doesn’t get any further from underground than that! Who played this year - let me guess, some old dues and Uncle Plum again?
I walked on stage at 11pm Friday night at the Dub-land underground (coincidence here?) to a pretty large spill over crowd from the East End Fest. I Found out that 3 kinds of people came. Dressy looking club people trying to get laid who probably thought they’d hear another Alexander street style cover band and some straight from the 60’s hippies. Dirty looking smelly bastards who act like they’re loaded all the time and dance like they’ve watched the Woodstock movie a few too many times. Neither of these two types of people really wanted to pay at the door to the underground part of dubland - where the bands play.
The cover started at 3 and steadily worked it’s way to free just to get people down there and hope to recoup from sales at the bar. I stood and watched the remaining members of a now broken up band play a duo acoustic show to a great crowd who danced and cheered for every song.
The third kind of people came to see the second band - my group the Spirit of Ontario. They paid whatever price was asked of them because they understand that is how this whole thing works. They came to listen to music and have a good time. They gritted their teeth and tried very hard to be polite to the first band who honestly wasn’t very good. They covered a Bob Marley tune in a soulless white boy that would have stole the fire from the Rastafarian’s spliff.
Still the room was doing pretty well for itself when shortly after 11 I strapped on my Telecaster (a guitar by the way which some 19 year old kid at RIT told me he hates, cause it’s lame and looks old.) and the band began to vamp the opening riff for Albert King’s “Oh Pretty Woman.”
By the time the first verse was wrapping up - and we’re taking a blues tune, so that wasn’t very long - more than half the room emptied out. But It was still packed upstairs - as well as that part of town still getting the spill over from East End Fest.
We ripped into a few originals that usually go over well with crowds. More people were leaving and less and less were coming down.
By a 1/4 of the way into our set I was playing the guitar with my teeth and throwing every bit of guitar player flash into the show to try and at least win a response from the new people - and I hate that shit. If that’s what it takes to get people to pay attention then I have a serious problem with it.
With my top lip was bleeding, my throat burning from singing over a terrible stage monitor system, I was sweating like someone threw me into a pool, and I realized that I was playing for the converted. That’s how it stayed for the next hour. So we turned into a jam band and just fucked off the rest of the night. We even made up a few songs.
Point is - see past my bitterness here - I know from playing around here for a few years that there are many people who put on excellent shows in town. I know there are many people who write songs that contend with Dylan or whoever. I know there are bands that are just good bands with a great sound and good songs who never get any attention. If it was just me and the boys I’d just assume we sucked or we’re too loud, but other bands who are great get the shaft too. I’ve heard some metal and hardcore bands who are pretty damn loud too, so I don’t by the volume thing anymore either.
So here’s my promise, as my band is usually on the verge of going away any how. I am going to record to the best of the abilities we have and to the best quality we can get (better then you think I bet) the most kick ass Rock and Roll record we can muster up. I’m actually going to aim for the middle with the song selections. Something most people can dig and can throw in the car and speed to. Then I’m going to flood this town with copies of it. If I don’t get any radio stations or local independent news places to talk about it then I give up trying.
When it boils right down to it, I had a lot more fun playing in the basement with a tape recorder… making demos and running on a dream of getting it together enough to play at Milestones, the Bug Jar, and Waterstreet to a full house.
The bubble burst and I’m getting closer to 3o - and feeling closer to 50.
I don’t really know where the real Rochester Underground is, but my guess is you’ve got a better chance of finding it at bars like the Lux Lounge where there usually isn’t anything but a schizophrenic juke box cycling between the Ramones, disco, rap, and The Sex Pistols.
John, reading your rants always puts a grin on my face. I went through several years of that frustration, but reached a different perspective on everything. there is an “underground” here, though its a bit clique-ish and fickle which is to be expected. these folks could give a damn about finding success through rochester’s masses, and instead concentrate on a somewhat secular community based on creativity. i know a bunch of these people, and they’ve gradually opened their doors for me over time (reject of the above ground rochester music “scene” that i now am). and i guess that’s what really matters after all, surrounding yourself with a support group, content to inspire each other, and anyone else willing to listen - but having no desire for the mainstream and it’s trappings. i slowly became (or re-joined after many years absence) integrated into that community once i stopped fighting to be accepted by the hordes. i still get frustrated sometimes, but i feel a hell of a lot better being a creator/ artist first, and an “entertainer” last. one common theme i’ve discovered over years of reading about other musician’s successes, is the successful musicians usually have no idea how they got there. they just concentrated on their music, regardless of what anyone else thought, and just accepted whatever outcome was meant to be. so i tend to believe now what an old producer/ musician friend once said to me, the cream does rise to the top. if your music is meant to go there, it probably will. and ironic as it might sound, i think ultimately it’s out of your hands… the only thing you can be responsible for is what you create. once its made and sent out to the world.. who knows whats going to happen. great songs/ artists tend to find their way by the choice of the people, the listeners who with modern technology can turn an unknown nobody into a bonafide rock star overnight. good example: iron and wine. the guy never had any intention to “make it” in the music biz. he just loved to write songs and record them for his own pleasure and family + friends. but some of his recordings were shared by these friends with other friends… until lo and behold, iron and wine had a growing cult following everywhere. but all that aside.. we know rochester is not a place where you’re going to find wide acceptance as an original musician/ artist. it’s just how it is. trying to change this fact is like trying to walk on water. i don’t hate it here at all, but ultiamtely i’m the only one to blame for things not going the way i wanted them to here. i should have followed my instincts and left years ago. i’ll probably finally be doing that within the next year or two. cheers.
I was wondering where all of my frustration and my angst had gone. Turns out you stole it. Congrats my friend. I don’t have the energy to start the fire anymore- but I sure as hell can throw some gas on it. You are the best at what you do. Thats good enough for those of us that appreciate it. Look on the brighter side. As long as the East End morons and Monroe Ave hippies reley on City and Freetime to dictate where to go and what to do, they will be as far away from good music as they could ever get and we don’t have to weed out the clowns to find the listeners. And what were you doing at dub-land? isn’t dub short for douche bag?
I can certainly say “amen” to a lot of this post. The Rochester Underground thing I’ve never gotten, though they’re on my Friends list on MySpace as well. Chicks making kissie faces for cameras do not often dwell in the “underground.”
The East End Fest thing has just become a sad, sad thing. I used to really dig it when I could catch The Buddhahood or other local bands playing their own shit there, but that was a long time ago. I saw the Atomic Swindlers play a few years ago, and they got treated like they were mimes at a Republican Convention.
In my own desperate search for art and music in this city, I stumbled upon 34 Elton Street.
Potential Life Studios is an art/design gallery and music workspace off University Ave. Sundays feature a project called Output:Noise.
From the official site:
“Every sunday from 6pm–9pm the gallery holds improvised collaborations open to area musicians.
This weekly event is intended to bring together like minded individuals; musicians interested in working together to produce new and exciting music. From classical to musique-concrete the only required commonality is the willingness to improvise along side each other to create something truly unique and inspiring for our listeners.
If you are curious, stop by the gallery sunday evening to relax and listen. if you are a performer and interested in participating, please contact us at noise@potentiallifestudios.com
Note: all sessions will be recorded. Selections from these recordings will appear in a monthly compilation, output:noise, available only by subscription.”
The gallery also brings experimental underneath-the-radar artists to Rochester for special performances. I strongly encourage Rochestarians to stop in to support these shows, and to experience (or take part in) a different kind of music.
Find out more at: http://www.potentiallifestudios.com/
Hi…I’m Sarah from Rochester Underground!
Just an FYI - Were doing our best to turn our site into something that you all fancy…. and we agree with alot of what you are saying or wanting!!!…which is why we are doing this for all of you!!! We have come a long way in such a short period of time.
To be honest with you….instead of ranting and complaining of what your not getting or seeing…why not send it to us..so we can learn of your wants and needs!… or do you feel as if we would just ignore you and not post the kind of information that your looking for??
Better yet…if you find areas of interest…it would be great if you would send us your stories, articles, review of music, retail, festivals or what have you…as long as its not “racey” or “crude”….we want your feedback…..We’re going to be here for a long time and all of you can help shape the direction in which were going…….
If you have any videos, or pics of Rochester and would like to show us and our viewers what you have (and what Rochester has to offer)…then we urge you to keep sending us your feedback and media…help us build our database and take part in the Rochester Galleria:
http://www.rochesterunderground.com/rochester/index.php?option=com_galleria&task=front
have a great day!…
~Sara
(website slave)
http://www.rochesterunderground.com
Well thanks for the well thought out defense and response! I hope anyone reading this will do as you’ve asked and send some info your way on what we all think is cool around here.
The only counter point I’d like to make here is that if I knew where the cool bands were playing or the things worth seeing were happening I’d make it a point to tell people about it - but I usually don’t and so I turn to the local media to give me a hint.
Even if I did, I wouldn’t have been sure you’d care.
I wrote a review of a local group called “The Varnish Cooks” after seeing what was not only a great performance, but also a line of people waiting outside so they could pay to then stand inside - just to see the band! Sort of a rare thing in Rochester. Granted the venue was the house of Hamez, which isn’t exactly huge, but still…
So yeah the problem is that I’m married with a child and have officially entered the lame part of my life. Actually, I’m pretty sure I was lame prior to that so I couldn’t really tell you where it’s at around here anyway.
I, like many other people I know, am dying for some cool stuff to happen around here. We’d all love to see Rochester obtain a scene that we’d approve of and we all think there is a lack of decent press which is needed for such a thing to gain steam. I’ve come to know some talented musicians around here and many if not all of them at some point or another give up, move, or quit playing.
Artsy people - and I like to consider myself one of those - try to stay away from anything that resembles MTV or WPXY if you get my drift. We’re snobby about this stuff - which is really bull-shit, but that’s another story. Often we love to find a band and talk about how good they are until they get big and famous and then we talk about how they sold out and they make terrible art.
Anyway, with “Rochester Underground” you need to decide who your target audience is. Because you used the word “underground” in your name I expected one thing but saw something that had mainstream written all over it.
That was my problem with your site.
See this if I lost you on that… http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_culture
It’s difficult because everyone has a goal to be popular to some point - even if all you want is a small underground following. I write this column hoping people will read it. You have your site for the same reason. It’s hard to be true to yourself and have some artistic credibility while going after a larger audience.
Thing is if nobody reads my rants on here, I doesn’t bother me that much. If nobody checks out “Rochester Underground” will you feel the same way? I’d expect the answer there is no.
I play original music in local bars and coffee shops. I do it because I love it. I’d have just as much enjoyment sometimes playing with a small group of friends in someone’s living-room as I do in public. I have no interest in becoming so famous that I can’t walk down the street or getting so popular that I have to play stadium shows where everyone is just drunk and yelling at me to play my hit song.
However all that said, when we play a show and nobody is there, or even worse, people walk out - I’d be lying if I said it didn’t bother me. I’m jealous as hell sometimes of the coverage and amount of fans that some bands get - especially when I think they’re terrible.
But then again Nickleback sells millions of records every year. If you don’t see anything wrong with that then you probably shouldn’t let a little column like this bother you folks over at the underground…
hmmmm…Wow! deep!…I’m not sure you know how to be “nice” without being so negative towards others??? there is probably a better way to express yourself…don’t you think?…I mean its good to speak the truth and say how you feel (I’m for that!)…but sometimes you just need to chill, relax,…you know..kind of let things be….its very possibly you try to control too many things in your life…get my drift???…and I’m not sure you would know what a “well thought out defense is”….you’ve gone for a 70 yrd pass John…I was just saying hi…being positive…and extended a greeting at the scrimmage line…..ciao for now……feel free to add any of your band events in our RocCalendar: http://www.rochesterunderground.com/rochester/index.php?option=com_extcalendar&Itemid=258&extmode=cal
hahahaha! what about the farmington underground?
don’t forget to tune into 90.5 wber local show sunday july 20th when i will be talking down to the entire city of ROC!!