Random notes

Why bands need a thinker in their midst

by Bob Gulla

For a band to have a fighting chance these days someone's gotta be the thinker. I don't care how good the band is collectively, how skilled, someone's gotta know which end is up, what qualifies as a good career move and what doesn't. Next time you guys practice, take a look around you. If you don't see a thinker in your midst, excuse yourself -- something about a pill you forgot to take -- and find a band who has one.

Why think? Because today, more than ever, you've gotta be shrewd to get ahead. I mean, you know it better than I do. There are so many more bands today than there were even 10 years ago -- how in hell do you get ahead and stay ahead? Even bands with recording contracts have to watch their backs; the Next Big Thing might come along and steal whatever wind you had at your back, and all of a sudden you've lost momentum. When you're in a band, momentum is everything.

You may think that a lot of those other bands are good friends, even drinking buddies. In the short term being friendly with other bands is a good thing, it promotes a sense of community, a scene almost. But in the long term, all of those other bands end up becoming your competition. They compete for bookings with you, they compete for audiences, and they vie for the same dwindling pool of cash that people have to spend on shows and CDs and T-shirts. In Providence, where all of those things -- money, audiences, and bookings -- are in short supply, you've got to make a choice: You fight for a slender slice of the local pie or you look elsewhere for your next meal. If there's no one in your band who knows where to feed, well . . . maybe it's time to move along. For many, a career in music can often be an unrealistic choice. Make sure it's not for you.

What else is there to think about? Well, in-the-know music-types understand that they can market their music on the web. If you're looking to make a go of a band-thing, you've got to be wired and not just at the merciless hands of a Starbucks tall Sumatra. There are opportunities streamed across the great www like so many applets and Java script strewn across your desktop. Check it out.

There are old standbys like the Ultimate Band List (www.ubl.com) and the Internet Underground Music Archive (www.iuma.com), two hoary net vets who have got what it takes to provide exposure for your music and the chance to hear what a billion other bands are up to. Plug yourself in and see what happens. IUMA has a thing going where if you link your own site to theirs you'll receive 25 percent of the ad revenue generated by your site. And you don't have to move a finger. Of course that means you've got stick some money and time into a site of your own. Take another shift or two at the restaurant. That oughta help.

The longstanding UBL features some handy local tips, though it's moved to more national and international music coverage and has marginalized its local music slant. Still, it's worth surfing on over. They have tons of contests and industry listings, as well as lots of places to lose your hard-earned cash. Buyer beware. You don't have that kind of money to spend.

Garageband.com is a relative newcomer whose goal it is to identify, cultivate and sign the best of the emerging bands, especially those that fall beneath the radar screen because they're in places -- like Providence -- that aren't media centers. Winners receive $250,000 recording contracts and will be matched with proven producers and other music industry professionals. Though that might feel like nothing more than a carrot a-dangling to increase the site's hits, it does have some good intentions and deserves a good long look. I'm not sure how much this matters, but they just hired the Beatles' own George Martin as chairman of their advisory board . . . A cooler thing is their Frequent Reviewer program. Every time you review music at garageband.com you earn Frequent Reviewer points. Refer a new reviewer to the site and earn 50,000 bonus points. Encourage a band to sign up and earn 100,000 points. Then cash in these points for cool gear. I'm not sure how many points you have to amass to get something worthwhile -- it's a number with lots of "0s" -- but if you have a little time, shut the TV off and put on your critic's hat.

Even Internet mega-mart CDNOW is getting in on the local action by starting their own Cosmic Music Network. It's not up and running yet, but their preliminary marketing tag-line says: "Being in a band is about to get easier." That might be a bunch of bunk -- it's never "easy" -- but who knows? It's another angle you might be able to play on the cheap and it doesn't hurt to have some bases covered. I'll let you know as details become available.

Locally, you might want to check out webmaster Sean's local scene site at www.rattleheadrecords.com. He's looking to compile a list of local bands and start a network of his own. Ultimately, he'll be able to hook musicians up with other bands and other resources. It's got potential, Sean just needs your help to get things off the ground. Here's to him for taking the rattlesnake by the horns and logging time for the good of the team. Check out one of the text files off the home page entitled, "How to Kill the R.I. Music Scene in Four Easy Steps."

WANDERING EYE. The world is full of young blues guitarists as we've seen lately. Mike Welch brings his band into town on Friday night, playing the Call. Welch has promise and drive and he glows onstage when he dives into a lick . . . Heather Rose and company from Providence's alterna-poppers the Mockingbirds hit the Century Lounge on Saturday. The night starts at with Boston's Chromavoid, then Room 18, the 'Birds, Comic Book Superheroes, and Camellia. Lots of good local music so check it out. At $6, still a bargain. Hit the 'Birds at www.themockingbirds.com.

If that lineup sounds a little electric to you, there are bound to be some sweet acoustic sounds over at the Stone Soup, courtesy of overlooked folk legend Gordon Bok. Although his repertoire is wide and varied, Bok is best known for his songs of the sea, not only of New England and the Maritime Provinces of Canada but from seafaring lands around the world. Bearded Souper-man Richard Walton and posse regularly serve up quality talent at in the undercroft of the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (15 Hayes Street, near the State House). Getting there before the 8 p.m. start gives you time to warm up, get a decent seat, a cup o' tea, and a few kind words with some friendly folk folks.

Got some points of interest? Contact b_gulla@yahoo.com