Way too many sucky "metal" bands out there............

[moronmountain]

There are a ton of good metal bands out there..

There are some good ones, but I'm talking mainly about at the "local club scene" level.

How old are you? I remember when I was 21 and "into" the scene and all the bands and everything.........and there would always be that 40's something guy lurking around who was friends of a friend and he thought everything sucked and it was better when HE was young. He always had that sarcastic smile when he heard new stuff, he was never impressed by anything.........and I remember thinking it was wierd for a 40 year old to hang around 20 year old's

Dude, that's why I was done with Bars/Clubs at 35. I refused to become that guy..

I couldn't imagine trying to play in clubs/bars now unless it's a more suburban/rural scenario with as many old goats in the audience as on the stage. I'm 43 years young but it might as well be 83 when I look back on my years in my early 20's in the bars and clubs playing.

I actually quit playing out when I was 29, because I figured I was getting too old to "make it" and all that crap. Cut my hair, put the gear in a closet, etc. A few years ago I was watching some stuff, and thought, who gives a crap what I look like, or how old I am. I still love to play, and I can still do something that fits in with today's styles, so f it! We have tons of young peeps at our shows, and I love playing to the younger crowds. They are way funner than the "old goats" who just sit back, act stuck up, and golf clap. I used to think the younger guys would think I was ridiculous playing heavy music, but they actually don't seem to care one way or another. In fact, they always come up and want to check out my gear, and ask me questions, since most of them are still in the Randall solid state income with Schecter guitars. Nothing against Randall SS or Schecter, just an example. Anywho, it is what it is.

 

[metalmaniac93]

Hate to say it since I am one of the biggest metal fans around, but Metal at the local and even the major label level in this country is and continues to decline. Not too many good metal bands aorund the US these days!!

I suggest you move to Scandinavia, Finland, or Germany for quality metal!!!

I have to disagree. There are plenty of good bands in the U.S. you just have to look passed the bullshit metal-core breakdown stuff to find it.

Yes, there are some good bands but Europe especially the countires I mentioned above destroys the US for metal!!! And i mean metal; not that metal-core BS!!! Nevermore was the last great US metal band for me as well as LOG IMO!!! Yes, there is an underground scence bur I have yet to find a band that makes me go WOW WTF was that? Dendera is a great that I enjoy listening to though!!! It is also hard to find a band that actually has a singer who can sing!!

 

[JerEvil]

There are a ton of good metal bands out there..

There are some good ones, but I'm talking mainly about at the "local club scene" level.

How old are you? I remember when I was 21 and "into" the scene and all the bands and everything.........and there would always be that 40's something guy lurking around who was friends of a friend and he thought everything sucked and it was better when HE was young. He always had that sarcastic smile when he heard new stuff, he was never impressed by anything.........and I remember thinking it was wierd for a 40 year old to hang around 20 year old's

Hehe I'm 44, but I don't "hang out" at clubs at all. This rant came up because I have been booking us, and finding other "metal" bands to play with is friggin hard to do. I actually prefer alot of the newer style of music compared to all the 80's crap to be honest. I just wish more of the musicians at the local level could actually play and write something that is not completely hideous. So far I've insisted on us being the first band to go on, because so many of the bands out there will clear a room in about 10 minutes. I always bring a decent crowd with me, and alot of them are younger and like heavy music, but they almost never stick around much after we're done. Not because they don't like to stay out and party, but because so much of the music (writing and playing ability, not genre/style) sounds like ass..........

I tend to agree with most of what you're saying. With that, I have to ask, who is your band? What is your draw? Are you guys really so good that you are worried about who you are associated with?

Remember tone of voice does not translate to interweb posts. Not trying to be a dick but are you and your band all really that good? Link to some clips/vids?

 

[moronmountain]

There are a ton of good metal bands out there..

There are some good ones, but I'm talking mainly about at the "local club scene" level.

How old are you? I remember when I was 21 and "into" the scene and all the bands and everything.........and there would always be that 40's something guy lurking around who was friends of a friend and he thought everything sucked and it was better when HE was young. He always had that sarcastic smile when he heard new stuff, he was never impressed by anything.........and I remember thinking it was wierd for a 40 year old to hang around 20 year old's

Hehe I'm 44, but I don't "hang out" at clubs at all. This rant came up because I have been booking us, and finding other "metal" bands to play with is friggin hard to do. I actually prefer alot of the newer style of music compared to all the 80's crap to be honest. I just wish more of the musicians at the local level could actually play and write something that is not completely hideous. So far I've insisted on us being the first band to go on, because so many of the bands out there will clear a room in about 10 minutes. I always bring a decent crowd with me, and alot of them are younger and like heavy music, but they almost never stick around much after we're done. Not because they don't like to stay out and party, but because so much of the music (writing and playing ability, not genre/style) sounds like ass..........

I tend to agree with most of what you're saying. With that, I have to ask, who is your band? What is your draw? Are you guys really so good that you are worried about who you are associated with?

Remember tone of voice does not translate to interweb posts. Not trying to be a dick but are you and your band all really that good? Link to some clips/vids?

I am not trying to say way are "that good," but yeah, I'm somewhat particular about who I play with if there is a chance they will clear the place out. I normally bring about 20-30 of my own friends. Maybe only 10-15 if playing out of town, but can bring even more if it's super local. We are supposed to record next month, so I will gladly put stuff up when we do. We are fresh out of the garage, still finishing up enough material to do a full CD, and just started booking us a little.

I consider myself a very average player, and that's actually part of the reason I get pissy about things. I mean being just an average player, if someone sux so bad that I can't stand it, wtf must everyone else be thinking?

 

[moronmountain]

Oh and someone remind me not to post a rant after I just put back a hundred beers lol! I know I sound like I'm stuck up, but if you knew me, you'd know that I am really quite humble about my skills. I have friend that can play circles around me, but I play well enough that it's a good time.

 

[glassjaw7]

I agree, but at any given time, there are some really good bands and a bunch of really lame ones IMO.
Random thought: The new Dream Theater is pretty badass. Best in many years.

 

[moronmountain]

I agree, but at any given time, there are some really good bands and a bunch of really lame ones IMO.
Random thought: The new Dream Theater is pretty badass. Best in many years.

Absolutely there are. Heck the 80's were getting so lame that as soon as someone came up with something more simple, all the hair bands went bye bye. Don't get me started on the Indie bands Portland is flooded with as well!

 

[glassjaw7]

Truth.

 

[Bloodrock]

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that kids only listen to one or two bands over and over, then pick up a guitar and think they are a musician. Rock bands used to be influenced by everything from Chuck Berry to Zeppelin to VH and Sabbath. Lack of diverse influence = lack of diverse sounding bands imo. Pantera was the last real metal band if you ask me and look how many clones of that style are out there, yet zero have Dimebags chops or Phils songwriting skills.

 

[Deleted member 8761]

I agree, but at any given time, there are some really good bands and a bunch of really lame ones IMO.
Random thought: The new Dream Theater is pretty badass. Best in many years.

Amazing musicians, but most on that album is not metal to me.

 

[moronmountain]

I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that kids only listen to one or two bands over and over, then pick up a guitar and think they are a musician. Rock bands used to be influenced by everything from Chuck Berry to Zeppelin to VH and Sabbath. Lack of diverse influence = lack of diverse sounding bands imo. Pantera was the last real metal band if you ask me and look how many clones of that style are out there, yet zero have Dimebags chops or Phils songwriting skills.

Yeah that is something that I've always thought as well. I mean I listen to everything from The Cranberries, DON'T LAUGH lol, to LoG, and a bunch in between. I could name a ton of bands that alot of youngsters have never heard of that are REALLY well known. Heck one of Phil Anselmo's influences was David Lee Roth lol! I would guess that most kids that try to sound like Phil would think DLR was sucky. We did a show with this pretty solid band from SoCal not too long ago, and they could do their thing really well. The songs weren't all that catchy, but at least they were tight and the guys looked somewhat fun on stage. Well there was some empty room on the bill, and I was hitting it off with one of the guitar players, so I told him we should jam some covers for fun. The club was cool with it, and the crowd would've been as well. Especially since it was a local show, and I knew most of the people there. Well none of the guys wanted any part of it, and one of the reasons was, "man I only play in drop C and don't know any covers." Well I guess he knew parts to some LoG songs, but didn't know any well known rock or metal songs all the way through. Even when I was young, green, and dumb, I coulda pulled at least some Priest, Sabbath, AC/DC, Hendrix, or some other old crap at least. The dude didn't even understand what a 1 4 5 was when I tried to explain it......... Having said all that nonsense, they guys were still a very tight band, had decent tone, were very cool off stage, and could do some things that I still struggle with after years of playing.

 

[maddnotez]

For the sake of good metal. Check these "locals" out.

They don't have any desire to tour or anything. Although I think they could do well in the metal world.

http://www.reverbnation.com/comicarson4

I really do agree with the op though.

There are alot if shitty bands but, hey not everyone can be great at music.

Most of them just doing what they like.

On the plus side, if the crowd doesn't bail then the actual good band on the shittt bill gets 5x the response.

 

[Blitzie]

No matter how "sucky" you think they are, there is someone out there who digs it. Back when you were in your 20's, there were probably 40-50 year old dudes listening to Van Halen going "what is this nonsense? why is it so loud? this guy can't play!". To each their own dude.

I don't like Van Halen. This isn't a "if they're too loud, you're too old" thing. Most dudes my age play classic rock and blues. In fact I still play heavier stuff than most of the kids here. I wrote this original post right after struggling to find a way to tell a few bands that I don't want to be on their bill, because they were so sucky, so take it for what it's worth. If you read my last post, I said that I thought the 3 videos had skilled playing on them. And yes, to each their own......."dude."

I don't know why you would quote the word dude but I'm trying not to think that was just you being a dick for no good reason.

There's no way to properly articulate my thoughts about what you've said in this thread, so I'm just going to move on. I hope you find a band that you deem worthy of opening for you and one that won't scare away your wild crowd of 34 people

 

[moronmountain]

No matter how "sucky" you think they are, there is someone out there who digs it. Back when you were in your 20's, there were probably 40-50 year old dudes listening to Van Halen going "what is this nonsense? why is it so loud? this guy can't play!". To each their own dude.

I don't like Van Halen. This isn't a "if they're too loud, you're too old" thing. Most dudes my age play classic rock and blues. In fact I still play heavier stuff than most of the kids here. I wrote this original post right after struggling to find a way to tell a few bands that I don't want to be on their bill, because they were so sucky, so take it for what it's worth. If you read my last post, I said that I thought the 3 videos had skilled playing on them. And yes, to each their own......."dude."

I don't know why you would quote the word dude but I'm trying not to think that was just you being a dick for no good reason.

There's no way to properly articulate my thoughts about what you've said in this thread, so I'm just going to move on. I hope you find a band that you deem worthy of opening for you and one that won't scare away your wild crowd of 34 people

Um you were the being rude in the first place, and now you are really going there but that's cool. I've played to much more than 34 people. Just sayin' how many "freinds" I can "expect" to show up at any given time. So yeah, move along, nothing to see here, these aren't the droids you're looking for.

 

[mooncobra]

I blame Guitar Hero.


BTW - who is that in your avatar?

My wife. Not bad for an old dude eh?

how old are you? is she 14?

 

[Purpleibby]

To OP: Count me in as another who doesn't give a f$#@ enough to address all the bs you've been posting in this thread.....Reading your posts, seems like you don't know what you're talkin' about.

how old are you? is she 14?

+1

 

[moronmountain]

I blame Guitar Hero.


BTW - who is that in your avatar?

My wife. Not bad for an old dude eh?

how old are you? is she 14?

she is 32, but nice try

 

[moronmountain]

To OP: Count me in as another who doesn't give a f$#@ enough to address all the bs you've been posting in this thread.....Reading your posts, seems like you don't know what you're talkin' about.

how old are you? is she 14?

+1

You must be right then. I'm not sure why you have your panties in a bunch, but I bow before you.

 

[skoora]

I agree, but at any given time, there are some really good bands and a bunch of really lame ones IMO.
Random thought: The new Dream Theater is pretty badass. Best in many years.

Absolutely there are. Heck the 80's were getting so lame that as soon as someone came up with something more simple, all the hair bands went bye bye. Don't get me started on the Indie bands Portland is flooded with as well!

One of the big reasons I gave up interest in playing in bands in Seattle was the predominance of the indie or punk scene. I like punk fine enough but to try and put together a good hard rock/metal band that didn't have hardcore vocals or stoner all over it was impossible. Everyone would talk about all the classic shit they loved, but to actually play in that style in a band was somehow a no go. So afraid of what the "scene" would think. In the early 2000's there was a band doing the NWOBHM thing that was a lot of fun called Midnight Idols (are they still going?) but it was not common.

To paraphrase the great Paul Mooney

"Everyone wanna be a Priest but no-one wanna be a Priest"

These days I just got to think that I'm older and out of the loop. I'm OK with whatever people who are in young bands like or are influenced by because it's their time. I had mine. I might think that most new metal is total shit but I respect that someone more current than me might dig it. I don't care if they can't improv or jam or whatever. I don't want to do those things with them anyway

..and I would please ask for other poster's to tread carefully when talking about someone's spouse or family. You could easily cross a line that is not cool. In other words... you ain't got something nice to say, shut your piehole

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I agree, but at any given time, there are some really good bands and a bunch of really lame ones IMO.
Random thought: The new Dream Theater is pretty badass. Best in many years.

Absolutely there are. Heck the 80's were getting so lame that as soon as someone came up with something more simple, all the hair bands went bye bye. Don't get me started on the Indie bands Portland is flooded with as well!

One of the big reasons I gave up interest in playing in bands in Seattle was the predominance of the indie or punk scene. I like punk fine enough but to try and put together a good hard rock/metal band that didn't have hardcore vocals or stoner all over it was impossible. Everyone would talk about all the classic shit they loved, but to actually play in that style in a band was somehow a no go. So afraid of what the "scene" would think. In the early 2000's there was a band doing the NWOBHM thing that was a lot of fun called Midnight Idols (are they still going?) but it was not common.

To paraphrase the great Paul Mooney

"Everyone wanna be a Priest but no-one wanna be a Priest"

These days I just got to think that I'm older and out of the loop. I'm OK with whatever people who are in young bands like or are influenced by because it's their time. I had mine. I might think that most new metal is total shit but I respect that someone more current than me might dig it. I don't care if they can't improv or jam or whatever. I don't want to do those things with them anyway

..and I would please ask for other poster's to tread carefully when talking about someone's spouse or family. You could easily cross a line that is not cool. In other words... you ain't got something nice to say, shut your piehole

Exactly