How Much Is Membership To Your Super Exclusive Club?

Not doing shows is starting to get to me. It's good for us to be putting all of our focus on recording the new songs rather than practicing for a show, but it seems like it has been forever since we've had a show!

FOR-EV-ERRRR

So, I need to remind myself that this "down time" is a good thing and not worry about not getting on any shows right now. But, I can't help but be bothered by some of the flyers I've seen lately for upcoming local shows. Basically, what is happening is the local scene is getting super "cliquey". Actually, it's been that way for quite awhile now, it just seems like it's getting worse.

It's one thing to play a lot of shows with other bands that you get along with and/or other bands that have a similar sound, but to exclusively play with only a handful of bands is, well... it's fucking boring! 

I open event invites and surprise surprise, there is a flyer listing the same four bands that played together last week only this time they are at a different venue. Same exact bands, different venue. And even worse, sometimes it's the same fucking bands AND the same fucking venue; playing within just a couple weeks time span.

Really people? You can't switch it up a little bit? Did these bands sign some sort of contract that says they can't play with any other bands? I feel like the promoters just copy the bands from last weeks flyer and paste it to a different picture. Maybe it helps with their overhead?

There are a couple things at play here. One, is there are some bands that like to "big time" other bands. By that I mean, they act like they are better than (far superior than) other bands who may not have as big of a following (yet) as them or who haven't been together as long. So, they won't play shows with them. Maybe they can't associate with bands that haven't gotten the "right" amount of press. But, let's be real here, The New Times seems to only write about the same bands over and over again as well. My theory here is that there are new writers getting journalism degrees interning at the New Times and the only local shows they see are all based in a small radius around campus in Tempe, which is where most of these "cliquey" bands play. Seriously, it's like these bands are those snobby Manhattan-ites who never leave the city limits, pretentiously thinking there is nothing else out there worth their time; only these bands are just hipster rock bands playing at dive bars in Tempe, Arizona.

 AIR-EH-ZONE-UH

(say it like "forever" from Sandlot)

Trust me, if you've ever or even never been to Tempe, I can tell you it's cool, but it's not that damn cool. Also, these bands who "big time" other bands better be careful, one day they might find themselves on the other end of that unforgiving stick.

On a side note, I must say that The New Times has seemed to get a little bit more diverse since the new music editor took over, but there is still a lot of room for improvement there. I could definitely stand to see more variety in the styles of bands they cover. 

I could be shooting myself in the foot talking shit about a publication that could potentially help my band in the future, but... fuck it. I'm just trying to keep it real here. And considering my band isn't an experimental, hipster, garage band, I think the odds of anyone from there actually reading this is pretty slim. 

That leads me to the other reason we are seeing the same bands play together over and over again. It seems there are strict guidelines you have to meet if you want to play a show with these bands. Basically, you have to be an experimental, hipster, garage band. Some criteria might include, exclusively drinking PBR and whiskey, having a beard (if you are a guy), and generally just being "too cool" for anyone or anything. 

I'm really struggling here with whether or not I should call out some of these bands. I really want to, but my guess is, they already know who they are. Besides, If I do decide to call them out, I have a much better idea on how to do it. But, I've got to say, that some of these bands are really good and I am actually a fan of some of them. There is definitely some good music to be heard at these shows, it just bothers me that a lot of them are so damn stuck in their high school-like clique to let any other band share a show with them. There are a lot of amazing bands here in the valley and they don't all fit this "criteria" and get the love they deserve, Catfish included.

Maybe that's why we've fit in so well with the reggae scene, even though I wouldn't classify our sound as reggae. We definitely have reggae influences, but it's not our primary sound. The thing about the reggae scene is they love everyone. They are definitely all about the irie love for everyone not about exclusivity.

Sorry. I just had to talk about it. I'm sure other people have noticed, but I haven't heard anyone else say it.  I just had to get it off my chest.