Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with bands

Small Claims Court Question

scottbass — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:15:02 -0800

I'm trying to figure out which party to take to small claims court or if i should take both. The band i play in was hired to play at a bar by a promoter we have worked with before. At the end of the night there was no check and still is no check. We have sent a demand payment letter to both club owner and promoter and both claim they are not responsible for paying us. Do we sue both or just the club owner ?

The Birth of Rock and Roll

netbros — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:50:03 -0800

What was the really good music of the fifties and sixties? Even though I am a child of the fifties, I didn't really start paying attention to music until I was in high school in the late sixties. I know... my head was somewhere else.

So what did I miss? Who were the really good groups, bands, singers, musicians and songwriters of the fifties and sixties? It's never too late to learn and enjoy.

What was this website?

Kiwi — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 05:27:12 -0800

Looking for a (previously linked) musical-connections bubble-diagram. I think I saw this linked on Metafilter, maybe as a FPP, many moons ago.

It was basically a bubble diagram with musical groups linked together according to their similarity. So for example, Blur might be connected to The Kinks; Gorillaz; The Good, The Bad & The Queen; and further away, Oasis.

The diagram was zoomable and panable. Might have been Flash.

Any ideas what the website was?

Help me make a rock/metal playlist!

Sufi — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:47:28 -0800

I need about 40 musical artists that would please a crowd that likes mainstream rock & metal. The catch: I'm trying to avoid stuff that can easily be heard on the radio. Tool, Nine Inch Nails, Nightwish, Switchblade Symphony and Type O Negative are on the list because they are the few "heavy" bands that I actually enjoy and believe my audience would like. Could you guys help me put together a list of other artists that would fit with this genre?

I'd prefer not to play too much stuff that is or has been overplayed on the radio, and it must be danceable!

(I have looked at this askme post but I'm worried most of those recommendations may be too far off base. You tell me.)

Cover songs reworked in different time signatures.

querty — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 01:09:47 -0800

Looking for cover songs that have been reworked in a different time signature. I got the idea for this question when I came across this. The song you hear this band performing in the video is played in 3s (in a 6/8 feel), but on the album, the song is in 4/4 time.

So I wondered to myself, there must have been bands/artists in the past decade or two that have covered (famous) songs, but took the songs apart while keeping the original lyrics and put it all back together in a different time signature.

Youtube links would be great. 70s~90s pop/rock preferred. Would love to hear some Beatles songs redone in different time signatures. Bands have done this right?

Modern Rock for the Classic Rocker?

Alabaster — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:41:44 -0800

Best modern bands for a classic rock fan and musician who wants to hear some genius? Who are the best *musicians'* bands out there today?

I'm a big classic rock fan, especially Led Zeppelin (for sheer awesomeness), and The Beatles (for variety, creativity, and brilliant songwriting).

I tend to like interesting music with variety in harmony, structure, and arrangement. But I also like a good 3-chord jam if it's got some real grit and groove to it, especially if there are genuine soloists. (Lynyrd Skynyrd's 3 chords, yes; Limp Bizkit's 3 chords, not so much).

Current bands I do like:
Radiohead
The White Stripes
The Mars Volta

I'm NOT a stylistic purist -- it doesn't have to sound like classic rock. Hip hop elements are fine, electronic elements are fine (I like System of a Down), metal is fine, genre-crossing is fine. Also, when I ask for musicians, I don't necessarily mean progressive/virtuosos -- I'll take brilliant songwriting, clever arranging, etc. Basically, who are the really, objectively, *great* bands out there today?

Bonus question: What did I miss in the 90s when I was listening to my Zeppelin box set instead of joining the grunge era? I like Radiohead and NIN, and I'm prepared to take a dip in the Nirvana pool to catch myself up -- what other worthwhile 90s bands should I seek out?

mountie repellent

Potomac Avenue — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 14:15:03 -0800

Do American musicians need a special work permit to play two shows in Canada? I've found some information that says we do, mostly from musician's unions that want lots of money to send you letters to give to border guards. I can't find any official word from either country or musicians informally saying what to do.

Experiences? I know, YANML, but what actually happens when we show up at the border in a van with some musical equipment?

(Would have posted this in the last touring advice thread but this seems mighty important and obscure to append to an old question.)

Thanks greatly MetaFilter of the Gods.

The t-shirt is dead. Long live the t-shirt?

carsonb — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 16:20:55 -0800

My band t-shirts are dying. How can I replace them? I have a couple of t-shirts that are precious to me. They've been staples in my wardrobe for years now, and they're falling apart. Oil splatters, holes in the armpits, wearing designs, fraying edges, etc. This is expected, and they're now my favorite relaxing-around-the-house tees to wear. But I like the designs so much I want them to be in my normal out-going selection still. And into the foreseeable future. They were both purchased at merch tables outside of the respective artists' live shows, and I haven't seen them since. Not at subsequent shows, not on artist or label websites, and not at band shirt-type stores in my area. Where can I get old band tshirts? Where can I get these band tshirts, specifically:

- Yo La Tengo - It's a blue Fruit of the Loom tee with the name of the band being beamed down from a UFO in white on the front.

- The Shins - It's an asphalt American Apparel tee with a green maze printed over the left breast. The name of the band can be deciphered in the center of the maze.

?

What bands should I check out at the Electric Picnic?

Grinder — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 09:58:59 -0800

What bands should I check out at the Electric Picnic? I'm going to the Electric Picnic soon. I don't know many of the bands that are playing, and although I've been checking them out via emusic, MySpace and YouTube, there's a long list and I'm hoping the hive mind can help shorten the process.

I tend to like music with a bit of an edge or quirkiness, but have very wide-ranging tastes: lots of punk/metal/indie/industrial, but also folk and country, some dance and a little bit of hiphop/rap. I tend not to like much mainstream pop and much prefer something with amplified electric guitars. Are there any bands, particularly less well-known ones, at the EP that might fit into that very vague description?

If it helps, the bands that I will be going to see are: Explosions in the Sky, Dinosaur Jr, Flaming Lips, Magnolia Electric Co, Seasick Steve and Rodrigo y Gabriela.

Thanks!

Where does the good stuff hide?

Nonce — Mon, 04 May 2009 09:12:31 -0800

Help me find more of the good stuff on emusic. I've only really found a few totally awesome albums/artists on e-music.

Frightened Rabbit
Harlan T. Bobo
Murder by Death
Okkervil River
The Hidden Cameras
Neutral Milk Hotel

That's probably a fair representation of my taste, and the extent of the A-list to date. The B-list of really good but not great includes Spoon, Heartless Bastards, some Kinks, Immaculate Machine, maybe a few more.

Any recommendations?

Is it possible to have more-than-decent wedding music in the wilds of Northern New Hampshire?

soulbarn — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 09:43:06 -0800

Marriage in WAY northern New Hampshire (20 miles south of Canadian border - we're talking five hours from Boston.) Family is there, but we live on west coast. Great! Problem: music. We need a GOOD band and DJ. Save us from typical oldies/blues-rock/jazzy/swingy mish-mash. Doesn't have to be a typical wedding band, though it should be a group that can entertain a varied (grandparents, parents, friends, etc.) crowd. Maybe MeFiers from VT, Maine, or NH have suggestions? We don't want to spend a lot of $$$, but all suggestions, as well as creative (non-band) solutions, and off-list contacts, are welcome...

how does the interaction between venues and artists work?

helios — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:20:54 -0800

I would like to know everything about how bands interact with concert venues/festivals, including how they contact and negotiate with each other, how their staff interact, and how the money situation works. I'm mostly interested in medium-sized venues (between 300 and 2,000 people). Any suggestions for reading material (or does anyone want to share their knowledge on the subject)? I've included examples what I'm looking for inside. I'm really interested in the interaction as a whole, but here are some examples of things I'd like to know:

1) Does the artist contact the venue, or does the venue contact the artist (or both)? How does the venue know whether a particular band is a good match, or do they care?

2) What's the pay structure for the band? Is it negotiated and/or is there a standard that most venues use? And what about the opening band (that tours with the main band) and the opening band before that that is usually local? I'm assuming that you get paid less the earlier you play, but how is that decided?

3) Who are the middlemen/representatives from each side?

4) Among the sound, lighting and other jobs, how much of this work is done on the band's side, and how much is with the venue's staff? And is it generally easy for the venue staff to work with the band staff, even if there are language barriers? That is to say, is there a universal protocol for light/sound engineering?

5) Is the 120/240V difference between the US and Europe ever a problem?

etc. etc.

Library music?

The Card Cheat — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 09:51:49 -0800

I have a friend on the Local Music Committee of the Toronto Public Library, and they're looking to hire some Toronto-area bands that have a CD and a following, but aren't so popular that the library couldn't afford them or accomodate the huge crowds they'd draw. The group's music would also have to be acceptable for a fairly general audience. However, I'm very out of the loop, current music-wise, so if anyone has any suggestions I'd be happy to pass them along to my friend on the committee.

¡Necesito música en español!

iamkimiam — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 14:58:04 -0800

Mägo de Oz to Manu Chao...what other awesomeness am I missing out on? Looking for Spanish music recommendations. Latin America Spanish preferred, but all is welcome. I am wanting and needing to learn a lot of Spanish very quickly. I have fallen in love with Mägo de Oz and Manu Chao, and would like to find more bands along this spectrum, and beyond. Links to websites with lyrics and/or translations are a big plus too! Also taking suggestions for how to incorporate more Spanish into my daily life.

FYI, I really dig Manu Chao because the lyrics are simple and easy for me to learn and sing along to. I dig Mägo de Oz because they $O#*@ kick aaasssss! More please!

What shows/bands playing this week in Houston does the hive mind recommend?

Robert Angelo — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 13:52:51 -0800

Houston-Live-Music-This-Week-Filter: Help me be a cool uncle! :-) My nephew is visiting from out of state and he wants to see live music. He is in his early twenties and up for rock, indie, acoustic, whatever; I am a middle-aged stick-in-the-mud who doesn't get out much. He's leaves for home Saturday. He doesn't have a car and doesn't know the lay of the land, so I've agreed to awaken from hibernation and take him out.

What's a good place to take him in Houston or more evenings between now and then? What shows/bands playing this week in Houston does the hive mind recommend?

any suggestions for what this record/band might be

iamnotateenagegirl — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:52:48 -0800

sorry if this is just so insanely obscure it is impossible. I heard this record that was apparantly a new york band. It was pretty obscure (probably the kind of thing reviewed in the Wire or a similar magazine) and may be classed under such genres as 'new weird america' or freak folk. Musically it was sort of a mishmash of electronica and some feedback and acousticy stuff with a male vocalist, and (this is the key thing) was a double album and probably quite recent (2007 or 08). May have been considered suitable for a late night mood. Any suggestions?

Rock My City

Miko — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 09:13:02 -0800

How do you make a town more local-music-friendly? What things can individuals, businesses, and cities do to encourage a better local music scene? I come from a small city in New England. In many ways, it has a thriving local music scene.But there are reasons to be concerned about the health of local music. The number of venues, particularly the 100-300 person type venue that is so important for regional touring acts, has declined as a major room closed and another is in financial straits. A few bars provide local music 7 nights a week, and there are a few successful music series that draw a consistent crowd. But crowds are getting smaller and, overall, it seems like the scene is in a slump.

Tonight I'll be attending a meeting of musicians, venue owners, and music fans to generate some ideas about reviving the scene. What are some things we could put on the table? How has your town or city used its resources to encourage the development of the scene? What makes your town music-friendly (or not?)

What we have:
-a number of active cultural leaders, including a great alternative newsweekly, an indie bookstore active in the culture scene, a real brick and mortar record store, a bunch of small venues, a few larger venues but farther afield, some coordinated music marketing in the form of this website, a good summer concert venue (but weather-dependent), some awesome music-focused annual events like the RPM Challenge

What we lack:
-affordable housing, population density, a lot of young people (the closest college is about 20 minutes away), large rooms, good 'draw' strategies to get people out, and .....?????

We might look at things like:
-developing alternative venues
-promoting - encouraging people to learn the art of promoting
-workforce/affordable housing - are 'creatives' being driven out of the market because of high real estate prices?
-attracting audience - how, when, what gets people out the door?
-genre variety - who goes out to hear music? What kind?
-neighbor issues, ordinances, etc
-festivals
-scene 'branding'
-whatever you recommend! What works where you live?

Please flood me with ideas! Thanks!

Some Kinda Fun?..anybody?

bonobothegreat — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 17:15:21 -0800

The band Teenage Head was HUGE when I was in highschool in the early 80's. Were they popular anywhere outside of Southern Ontario?

The economics of travelling bands

Xere — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:19:49 -0800

I'm told that for bands, the money is in live gigs - not much comes in from album sales. However. I was at a concert in Los Angeles recently, full house of about 500. Three bands, of which two had recently played Coachella. $25 general admission. This, to me, seems like terrible money. What's really going on? Help me overthink my plate of beans. So $25 x 500 = $12500 in ticket sales. Split that up between the three bands, and each gets $4166. This doesn't seem much, considering that two of the bands were from middle US, and one from London. Flights, extra baggage fees for equipment, hotels, crew members...

It's about 5 members to each band. London band: doesn't it cost ONE person about $900 to fly coach from London to LA? $4166 won't cover five members and their road crew. Mid-US bands: isn't it about $400, also flying coach? That's $2000 in flights, leaving only $2000. And each band member gets $500 before the venue takes its cut.

I'm assuming more money is accumulated over the course of playing several venues, but it seems that they're only playing five. Similar general admission fees. The mid-US bands accumulate more money here, but London seems to still be playing for pocket change.

The venue's already well-established, even without rock concerts. They don't seem to need to bring bands in at a loss in order to get their venue's name out there.

Not mentioning the bands, just in case this ever gets them into hot water with Upper Management. And anyway, I'm fairly certain this is a common scenario.

Buying on to a tour

lowlight — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:03:55 -0800

Does anyone have advice/experience on how to go about "buying" on to another bands tour as a support act? I understand that sometimes a band that is on tour will (for a sum of money) make available support slots in particular regions. Would the proposition go to the band, the booking agency or the promoter? It seems like if it's being booked as a package deal (in my example for more than one show, covering multi-cities) it would go to either the band or the booking agency. But I'm not sure...thoughts?

Rising sun rock and roll?

soma lkzx — Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:56:43 -0800

Tokyo Damage Report's list of shows and venues has sold me on going to see bands play while I'm in Japan, are there any resources like this for cities besides Tokyo? Turns out that going to a show alone isn't so bad when you're in a foreign country and your cultural/language skills are that of a 2 year old - I just need to know where to go! My musical taste in this case is just guitars and energy; I'll take anything from hardcore to twee to psychobilly. I think my guidebook has things like jazz pretty well covered, but feel free to bring suggestions from that end of the spectrum as well.

I'm going to be hanging around in indeterminate cities between Tokyo and Nagasaki for the next ten days, so the net is pretty wide. Show lists, venue lists, or even venue names would all be really helpful.

(And while I'm at it, if you have any amazing suggestions on less rock-n-rolly things to do or festivals in the next week, you can drop that in, too!)

LA LOCAL MUSIC

klangklangston — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:55:27 -0800

LOS ANGELES LOCAL BANDS, recommend me. I used to cover local music in Ann Arbor. Now that I've moved to LA, I'd like to engage in some more blatant localism, to cop from JFA. I read the Weekly, City Pages, Onion and Record. I keep up with a couple of local blogs. Still, I want more, especially based on the WEST side, including West LA, Westwood, Santa Monica, Venice and Culver City.

Please tell me: Their name, where they're based, WHAT THEY SOUND LIKE, whether they have shows coming up, whether they have records out, WHETHER THEY HAVE FREE SAMPLE MUSIC UP ANYWHERE.

I tend to favor weirdo punk like No Age, Crystal Antlers, Underground Railroad to Candyland, as well as pop, hard rock, jazz (preferably freakout/skronk jazz), metal and rap. But the important part is that they're local and they're playing out, and, ideally, I don't have to drive for an hour to see them.

What cms should I use to host local band press kits?

stokast — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 04:43:37 -0800

I want to create a site for bands in my area to post their info, show upcoming gigs, put up a photo or two, and upload one or two mp3s to stream... something dead easy and bare bones, like The Seattle Stranger's Bands Page. ...What should I use? I've been looking for a cms that can do this for a while now, but I haven't turned up anything I like. Audition is the closest I've come, but it seems to handle only one band. Others get too fancy with social networking doo-dads.

Good country bands in and around AZ?

joshuaconner — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 09:22:54 -0800

Good country bands in and around AZ? I've been put in charge of booking a summer's worth of bands for the western-style steakhouse and bar where I work. I've found some leads through MySpace, and while there were some pretty good groups on there, I feel like I have to be missing a bunch of great ones too.

Who do you recommend? (While I personally happen to love alt-country, anything too indie may not fly with the brass, so fair warning I guess.)

Looking for something a little different to listen to

psmealey — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 11:37:27 -0800

Looking for good, guitar-driven new music that rocks, but that's away from the early 80s influenced, quirky indie pop that's been so ubiquitous of late. Can you help? So, I loved Interpol, the Stills, the Dears, Franz Ferdinand, British Sea Power, TV on the Radio, Arcade Fire and all that, but I'm done with it. Just plain bored. Is there any guitar-driven new music (on iTunes, eMusic, or elsewhere) that has really captured your imagination in the past year, that is cathartic and or just plain rocks? I am just feeling stagnant, and bored with what I've been listening to, and need help moving on.