Rant

[year_x]

Haven't had a rant about music for a while, so here goes:

Reading the link that Scott put up on his lj, to a blog on Myspace where Cahir from FWW/JPL moans about the current state of the UK scene, and how it is full of bands with attitude and shit songs. He follows this up with how FWW have split from their management and Agent due to them not

Comments

[gnomatron]

On management - once a band reaches a certain threshold of popularity, they're going to be inundated with requests for gigs, interviews, etc

[year_x]

I always like to hear your views on things like this, because you have a very different relationship to a lot of it than I do.

[gnomatron]

yeah, definitely! I have to look at sellability a lot more, but there's always a struggle to keep artistic integrity as well as making money - there's not many folk who get into the music or entertainment industry purely to make money. There's some folk who end up only being about making money, though.

[year_x]

that is a lot of what I don't like: the change in outlook.

[llamarines]

Why is it when I say in the pub "but those dudes wanted to get famous and sell t-shirts and records" you disagree with me and say "NO, Bob, that's not the fucking point!" etc. but agree with me on the interbutt? ;-)

I do think Flood of Fred are actually one of the shittest bands I have ever seen and will stick by that - I mean, honestly, they're fucking AWFUL - but yer man there from JPL/FWW is an extremely cheeky Norn Irssh chancer so he'll always say things like that, regardless of the situation.

If he feels like he wants to go back to doing toilet venues for no money with no management, more power to him. I guess the guys reasons are his own. (My guess is he wants to be the next Slint or Drive Like Jehu, personally.)

[year_x]

it isnt the point. if you are an artist. However, if you are a performer, then making money and geting famous, just like any other job, is quite clearly the aim. I just get annoyed when people confuse the two.

I'm just annoyed at bands slagging the UK scene for 'changing', when it is just them not looking hard enough for the people who care. People chose to move 'up' and out of the underground, then complain that all the people they deal with arn't interested in the music. It annoys me.

I need to listen to more Drive Like Jehu. You got any? I'll swap it for your Aghast/Baron Noir CDs I still have :D

[cr4k]

Yeah but it makes you a better performer (ie you get more fame and money) if you bend the truth a little and pretend to be an artist.

Also why is 'cathair' or whatever the fuck his name is talking about the UK 'scene' as if it is one cohesive thing? Maybe he is only talking about easily recognised bands with frequently visited myspaz pages.

[llamarines]

Sounds fair. I've got Yank Sounds, which I'll lend you next time I see you

[ghostsmut]

As far as I'm concerned, none of the bands you're talking about have an ounce of popularity and probably sell three records a year. People probably talk about them more than actually listen to them. Therefore should sell out a lot more. They might get a good chart position then. Mind you, they may have to write some songs first. ;)

[llamarines]

Dudes's got a point