Band Websites That Stand Out

[Sweet T]

Sorry I haven't been around in awhile. Busy. I finally recorded two songs with the guitarists I'm working with. But on to the subject...

I think Kiss and Poison are extreme examples of bands that use image to entertain fans. If you push them out of the discussion because they ARE extreme, and look at the majority, I think you'll find that the band takes on it's unique personality based on the musicians in the group. In my opinion, the goal is to "become one", and when you do, wouldn't you also end up with something somewhat theatrical? I'm thinking of my own little band, we have a great guitarist, who makes some pretty expressive faces when he's playing solos or really getting into the music. With time, rehearsals, and a good full length mirror, I think a band's image will develop naturally. Kiss's image is ~pushed, over the top~ and if you want to come up with something original like that, fine. But I think most people who go to listen to a band play are NOT overly absorbed as you are, Brandon. Most of the audience is indeed entertained by watching the band and hearing the music. I know I enjoy the eccentricities of individuals within a band, whether they are simple or heavy and amusing.

In the end, a band is going to have the best chance of making it if they rehearse, dedicate themselves to the group, and play regularly. I know there are many artists that we can all point a finger at and say "he just got lucky" but the majority of musicians out there worked for it, and the work they did in rehearsals is what created their image.

I do admit that sometimes I can get bored, and that a band should indeed consider the theatrics and not just the music. But I think it will develop, just as the music does.

[brandondrury]

But I think most people who go to listen to a band play are NOT overly absorbed as you are, Brandon.

I think you are out of your mind. You have WAY more faith in humanity.

Take a look at the movies that our barely capitalist system chooses as the most popular movies. Bruckheimer is ABSURDLY successful because he cranks out dumbed down shit that is fun. The over-the-top action is completely obvious and there is no digging needed because there is no depth. People want Star Wars, The Matrix, and Armageddon in most situations. There will always be an IFC (thank god!) but that market is WAY smaller.

If you are talking about a coffee shop gig, I guess I can see your point, but that's heavily genre dependent. When people pay $40 for a ticket they want to feel low end knock them in the chest and they want a blinding light show. They want it LOUD. They want to feel like they are part of something. It's this way for just about any big show.

I know lots of REALLY talented musicians who play for 4 people most of the time. I know a few bands who play the latest radio crap and play for 500 people most of the time.

I agree that a band / person can seem fake, but in my experience I've only seen maybe 2 or 3 bands who have looked corny. The other 10,000,000 bands have under-entertained. A person's face better look like Don Rickles, if that is the visual highlight of the night.

Again, it depends on where you are coming from. Amos Lee plays be different rules than Motley Crue.

Brandon

[Sweet T]

Oh, yes, I was definately thinking more of the lower key venues, not a big theatrical/auditorium style concert. I totally agree that the effects and theatrics are absolutely expected and even necessary at a large concert.

You know what's funny? As a listener, I don't even consider going to a large concert as a musical experience. It's more like going to a movie, I expect to be caught up in the lights, action, and well, the noise! Truth is, you aren't going to get much of a musical experience in a venue that requires that type of amplification anyway! You don't expect it, at least I don't. When you need the amount of equipment necessary to perform at a place that big, to me, it's the sound engineers who are responsible for what I end up hearing, not so much the artists. Top that off with the fact that you can't even really see the actual music makers in action, what you are left with is lights and noise.

This just shows where I fall in this game. I'm not anywhere near your league yet, and possibly never will be. My band just named itself, recorded it's first two songs, and is still looking for small venues to perform and get noticed.

[izzme]

you know it's like art who the fuck really knows whats what untill they try it.i was in high school in 64 and everybody was dressin preppy. i had just put a 7 piece r&b band doin a 20 song james brown show,yeah cape and all!!! i had a pair of candy apple red shoes with stacked heels. i started wearing them to school,wow that was the best advertiseing i could get for my band!! i was the front man and my band was the talk of the school!so don't sweat it,or do sweat it but do it, see if it works cause thats the only way to see what works.

[brandondrury]

I guess I come from the old school punk attitude of show up and play.

This has its merits, but most of old punk dudes even had a visual image that separates them from Hugh Heffner or Bill Gates. They've tried to bottle this and sell it at your local shopping mall with high profits, but little success.

Martin Scorcese was talking about how the world is so fast, fast, fast these days. Read this in .5 seconds (boom, pow, crash, bam, kabang, zap). Well, I didn't plan that to sound like a Batman fight scene.

Anyway, I don't think a person really has to put much thought into their clothes and things of that sort. I don't even like to think of it as "image" either because that makes it sound like the focus isn't the music.

You take the time to write your songs in the garage and hammer them out until they are as bad ass as you can make them. Then, I think a band has to think about a visual of some kind. Like it or not, a decision to have no visual is taking the "anti-visual" route. It probably was shocking once, but I think it's been over done.

In the end, I just want to have fun at a show. Luckily, Budweiser really helps with that!

Brandon

[DT Chris]

Originally Posted by metrio

A genuine connection is when both parties are being open and honest and they understand each other. When your lyrics, or your text on your website, or what you say to your audience verbally, is not honest (in other words, BS), a genuine connection is impossible.

Hmm, I disagree. I think a catchy tune, that appeals to the masses, will be more powerful than sincerity.

Check which song on my MyCrap space gets the most listens... Yep... the stupid one.

There's also a related story I told about going to MusicWest one year, where I purposely wrote a dumbass, sex song that was 'commercial' just to see how it would stand against the rest of our songs we submitted.

Guess which one they would play on the radio? The super-musician rock? Nope. The dumbass song I would never catch myself performing dead was the hit.

[brandondrury]

I think a catchy tune, that appeals to the masses, will be more powerful than sincerity.

I think a catchy tune IS sincerity. The robo artsy fartsies will say "anyone can write a 3 minute pop song", but if that were true why are so many starving artists delivering pizzas?

If I could write a hit, I would write 200 of them and I would blow up cars and people for fun. Then, I could make a real, sincere piece of art about how depressed I was.

Brandon

[izzme]

i agree with el supremo!the art of the hit song is sublime! einstein,said "Beyond complexity is simplicity."

[EnSkorSang]

I think that when dreaming up your image, you should just be yourself.
If you're music is strong and interesting enough to reach many people, then you yourself must be an interesting person..I'm saying this because I think the music and lyrics we write are just another medium for presenting our personality: therfore, good music = good image.
Of course the very succesful bands are able to pinpoint what it is exactly about their music/personality that is interesting, and push this to its maximum extent. I dont think you have to dream up crazy gimmicks or try and trick people into visiting your website with little incentives...it should just reflect who you are andwhat you're trying to get across.

[brandondrury]

I think that when dreaming up your image, you should just be yourself.

If the context is right, I agree with this. It's my personality to want a live show that is better and more expensive than KISS. Some people would prefer absolutely nothing that distracts from the lyrics or whatever. Both have their merits.

If "be yourself" means you can't have bombs on stage because a person should act exactly on stage as they do in a public bathroom than NO WAY!

Brandon