Today I happened upon a post that really upset me. The link came from Ultragrrrl’s site, but it wasn’t for the post that fired me up. All the Young Mod Soldiers recently threw up a post titled You Are The Generation That Pays To See Shows And You Get What You Deserve.. This kind of hate on Webster Hall doesn’t have any grounds, and let me try to explain why.
First of all, the indie soldiers who troll the streets in search of the good ole days are becoming saltier by the minute. How can we avoid this? These bands we carried on our sleeves for the past six years have finally received their just deserts and we want to punish them for their popularity? It doesn’t make any sense to me. Yes, I understand there are a few bands that have quickly risen to stardom over the past couple years with little or no effort, but are they to be punished for the road paved by their older brethren? Are these bands no longer considered indie rock because they reach a larger audience? Would you rather be subject to more boy bands or worse yet, more terrible rap core? Sometimes I hear a song from The Killers, and it makes my blood boil. Then I take a second and thank Christ it isn’t another Slipknot single, (sorry Stevo). Kids should listen to The Shins, Bright Eyes (though my distaste for them has been proven), Spoon and other rising indie rock bands on the Webster calendar. It’s better than most of the shit I had to sift through as a kid growing up in central Pennsylvania.
Secondly, why should we persecute these artists for playing larger venues? Is it their fault the audience has grown, (hopefully the answer is yes)? Why should we hold a grudge against these people who are trying to make a living? Sure, I understand it’s a problem when financial gain becomes more important than the creation of art, but again if I had to choose between Brandon Flowers and Fred Durst, you can call me Mr. Brightside anytime. Should we turn away from bands that are capable of selling out larger venues just because they’ve walked away from their indie sweaters, (whose thread you’ve slowly pulled)?
Finally, the one thing so many of us have forgotten is the common ‘enemy’ in this whole equation. Enemy is put in quotations because some of the people who work for the huge media conglomerate are employed merely to make a living and not to push the agenda of its high ranking board members. Though I only know a few, it seems as though many Clear Channel people know they work for a giant machine, but it pays the bills and they get to be involved in music. Sure, give me all that holier-than-thou indie credibility bullshit, but it doesn’t stand up when you are starring loan payments, child support and the monthly pain of rent directly in the eyes, (and you are without any financial security or fall back).
That being said, let’s remember that Webster Hall’s rock shows are put on by The Bowery Presents which consists of the same good people who’ve kept us entertained over the years at The Bowery and The Mercury. They’ve successfully positioned an alternative to Clear Channel directly in the heart of our locale. It would be the same as SUNY putting a campus on Washington Square North. Everyone would bitch and moan because there is another school facilitating the influx of young, culture hungry kids. But wouldn’t an alternative to NYU’s ridiculous tuition costs be a good thing for the neighborhood? Like NYU, no amount of bitching will ever stop Clear Channel, but baby steps such as the booking of shows at Webster Hall makes for a success story that gives us the same hope we carried while seeing shows at Brownies and Tramps. Though it may be on a larger scale that’s just what some (not me) might call an inevitable, unfortunate sign of the times.
It’s important to note my particular bias in this whole argument. Yes, from time to time I work at Webster Hall. Yes, I believe their sound system is far superior to that of its equals. Yes, I love many of the bands that have come through the club. But this bias doesn’t change the aforementioned statements.
So let’s stop the hating and realize that Webster Hall is a great alternative to Irving Plaza, Roseland and Hammerstein. Isn’t ‘alternative’ what started it all anyway? There was no intention of starting beef with this post. It’s just something I’ve had on my chest for quite sometime, and it’s great to finally lift it.
4 Comments:
Nice rant with some very valid points. Everyone hates it when their favorite undiscovered band is taken away from them and becomes popular. People hated it when Nirvana started getting radio play, harking back to the club dates. It's always gone on in the UK too. Maybe everything happens quicker in the new media age, where bands don't have to spend years playing the toilet circuit first. Bands that still end up playing tiny venues years later are usually there for a reason - 'cos they're crap. Interesting piece on NPR yesterday about the Shins and how they could have sold out much bigger venues on this tour, but chose not to. Webster certainly seems like a good compromise.
Anyway, it's all a good opportunity to get out there and discover some new favorite bands at small clubs.
WT
truth winston. the new media age has a lot to do with it. can we stop it or should we embrace it? since there is no way to make the former a reality, we'll have to take the ride and turn a more careful ear to the bands getting hyped in our favorite magazines or by our favorite blogs or our favorite friend. either way, do you have a link to that shins thing... ?? please hook it up.
Well said. I'm not a hater of Webster Hall. I've enjoyed all the shows I've seen there. If you go early enough you won't be pinned in the back. Conor played Town Hall for the first tour but now he's at the non-Clear Channel Webster Hall. Good for the Bowery for putting on shows there. Like you said, it's better than Roseland and Hammerstein. Point taken Mitch!
The Shins on Morning Edition. Made the drive to work bearable.
Another point is to look at how many shows have sold out so far this year at Bowery Ballroom, Mercury Lounge, Maxwells, NorthSix. The result - touts making money. (Though I have to admit I sold my Bloc Party tickets for a tidy profit, as my gf baled the day before and I couldn't have got home)
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