Poor Watt
Saturday, June 8 2002
Posted by brockp

Well, I tried to go see Mike Watt last night with Miss Kim and D-Rock. I figured set times would be your average two bands on the bill 10 pm and 11pm turning into 10:30pm and 11:30pm. Couldn't get out of the house before 10:30 but still figured we'd have time to see Mike's band and the last song or so of Burning Brides.

Unfortunately I was mistaken, and due to my old scool thinking, we missed out. Things looked good in that Gladys the parking Goddesss showed favour on us by granting a space on Richards just a few blocks from the club. Arrivng at the door, we are asked by the bouncer door-guy if we are here to see the show. I think he asked because we did not look like we were there to dance, unlike the "R&B hoochie-koochie girls" which were about on the street, and the nicely groomed cologne wearing boys behind us. Sadly, we were informed that the show ended over an hour ago, and that not only is the show over, but the band is loaded out and gone. I'd have felt even worse if we'd been able to find some super hot chillies for Watt's taste buds only to miss him.

As it was, plenty sad enough. Consider: Mike Watt is pretty old for touring the continent ceaselessly in an econoline van, and is certainly one of few remaining performers from a bygone era of american punk rock. He is certainly deserving of a good audience and is also a heck of a bass player and all-around nice guy. Sure, Richard's on Richards is a fine venue, but its hardly the big time. Even more sad to me is the thought that Watt and co. are second class entertainment warming up for some local dj and the dance crowd. Why is this so ? I suspect that the cologne wearing well dressed boys represent a well paid segment of society who could care less about the street cred of a guy like Watt. They have probably never heard of the Minutemen or D. Boon or fIREHOSE anyway, but since Watt's audience are more likely to be non-monied Chuck Taylor wearing anti-consumers (ahem...), the club insists Watt be done by 10pm so the dance crowd can enjoy the fine facilities undisturbed by a cranked Gibson EB-3 and some guys doing Iggy and the Stooges tunes for an encore.

I know this kind of thing happenned even back in the day at Foufounes and such, but somehow it just seems more unjust now. There are plenty of places to go for DJ's and dance, but very few for live music of the non-corporate variety.

Of the clubs I played at in this town years ago (and those still available to bands now) The Town Pump has become Sonar and now is dance/electronic oriented, The Starfish Room has been demolished, and Richards is putting Mike Watt on at 8:30pm. Its not even an all ages gig at that hour.

I guess the bright side is that if Watt and co. have a gig tomorrow in Edmonton or something they get an early night and good start on the drive. I mean in some ways, from the band's perspective, its great to be over and done by 10 pm. I personally hate waiting around til after midnight to play. But why can't the people putting on the show make it clearer that its an early start ? The Straight even earmarked the gig with a little "Straight Choices" blurb, but failed to mention that if you want to actually hear the band you'd better get there before the Hoochie Girls arrive.

Why do they do it ?
Thursday, June 6 2002
Posted by brockp

A couple of things about ten dollar local club gigs: First, why do the so-called promoters of these weeknight events insist on having as many bands as possible in succession, with little stylistic continuity ? Second, why do bands so often have no idea what they really sound like ?

I think the answer to the first question is easier to come by than the second. My bitter viewpoint is that these fellows could care less which band is playing, and figure the more bands, the more possible bar customers in their room. Combined with the likelihood that some of them seem unable or unwilling to keep track of dates of the month, it is a sorry state of affairs for the nobody musician looking for a stage and an audience.

Case in point, tonight's Marine Club gig with 500 Head, Very Impressed, and Roadbed. There were rumours floating around of a possible double booking all week. Somebody saw a poster with conflicting info and told somebody else, who called the promoter to be reassured that, no, no one else is on the bill that night. A second time through t the same sequence gets no clearer result. Night of gig arrives, and seven (yes, seven) bands arrive expecting to play. Manditory posturing and tension and forced negociations ensue between bands and promoter guy. Promoter guy says some bands are on his calendar, others are not, but refuses to take responsibility for screwing up the evenings of 21 or so musicians and insists everyone "work together". Notwithstanding the fact that even a sunday hardcore matinee at CBGB only has five bands and at least that many hours to pull it off, somehow, it is decided that all seven bands will play between 10 pm and 2am. MM hmmm.

There actually is a worse scenario than this one and it involves getting up on 4 hours sleep and driving 300-400 miles in a van to get to such a gig. Bonus for that scenario is the knowledge that tomorrow's show is another few hundred miles away and the gas tank is on empty.

As an aside here, I was talking to John K yesterday. His name for this kind of activity is a "shit tour". Precisely.

Anyway, one thing about doing this a few times is that you learn that playing early is a good thing. Get on stage before midnight when the most people are present and not yet deaf, play a short set, and go home. Even better if you don't have to set up your own elaborate rig of gear.

So what do you think ? Why do people do this ? If music decides to appear, is the moment of being really alive worth all the drudgery ? In my book, every time.