What is your local music scene like?

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peckhart

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Curious what the music scene is like in other towns across the US.

I grew up outside of Allentown PA and it didn't seem like there was much of an outlet for live bands. Granted I was never really a part of the local scene and didn't spend much time in the area when I hit 21 and could go to bars. There were 2 or 3 places to go check out cover bands.

Now I live in Rochester NY and I gotta say it's a pretty cool town for music. I have been a part of the cover band scene for the past 10 years and a lot of venues have come and gone, but there are still a decent number of bars that we can count on getting a good crowd at. In the summer there are festivals and carnivals that feature live bands. Most of them draw really great numbers and fun crowds.
A lot of places to play if you are an acoustic/vocalist act as well, but as primarily an electric rocker that needs other musicians to do what I want to do...it's a good scene with venues and patrons that give us an outlet to rock out.

What's it like in your town?
 
One day out of the month, some old dudes go to the outdoor mall to play some jazz.
They are really good. About 50-80 people show up for it.
 
Texas metal scene isn't too bad. I am sure some friends would say otherwise.

But if you are content just to see some live music of any stripe,there are a lot of places to see people rip it up here. Great country,blues and solo performers almost everywhere in Texas.
 
Sacramento is solid. More acts coming through more so than 5 years ago. Local showcases are worse though
 
Detroit is tough for original power pop....We get International Pop Overthrow Festival once a year here but the love in the scene is for tributes and covers for the most part....Then there's pay to play places that book 5-6 bands deep before a national act...We won't do that and it makes it really hard to get quality gigs...

https://www.reverbnation.com/mattfig
 
NW suburbs of Chicago. Many bars for cover bands to play (the all original bands usual play in the city). The bars out here have decent stages, lights and PAs. Not much pay-to-play (sell tix in advance) except of the larger places. Most of the cover bands play blues or rock (60s - current). There are basically 1 or 2 promotors who book most of the bars.
 
Phoenix is pretty big on tribute bands. Would you believe we have TWO Eric Clapton and TWO Rod Stewart tributes? And there's everything in between - Foo Fighters, GnR, STP, Dokken, Zeppelin, Ratt, Rush, and on and on. Cover band scene is ok too, but they only make real money at private and corp. events, not in bars. It seems everyone is in at least three bands, but there is a sense of solidarity among those in the scene and everyone seems willing to help out, share backlines, sub, etc. I like it.
 
St.Louis- Dead. A lot of my friends in touring bands from other cities don't even want to come here now, because of rampant gear theft/break ins. If you want to start a butt rock cover band you might get a show at a shit club and make next to nothing. Really sad considering back in the 90's, this area was a vibrant live music scene and community. I would go so far as to say that if you are a musician and considering coming here on tour, don't. :(
 
I'm in Orange County Ca close to L.a to hop on the 101 and see Junkyard at the Viper room or cruise to Alex's bar in Long beach to see Throwrag and the pushers and there's San Diego to catch a Damned show or the Cult ...Rawkin stuff
 
East TN, Tri-cities area, music scene is very awesome. Tons of good local bands and plenty of touring acts come through but other than that we have several awesome punk bands, heavy metal, thrash, some very progressive sounding bands, blues, rock, cover bands. Also, some very talented bluegrass, country, Jazz. I mean you can always find something cool going on. Of course we have lots of bad bands too, but a lot goes on here and it is awesome to see.

Some really great clubs down here too, always treat you right, and welcome any style from extreme black metal to just straight up noise-yes noise is a thing and it's actually pretty interesting

I consider it a really good scene- not all of it is my cup of tea, but it is still good to see so many people turn out for so many different types of shows.
 
Seattle pretty much sucks for music in my opinion !!!
Some of the coolest clubs don't exist anymore .
Promoters suck as well .
 
Seattle live scene died about twenty years ago. Last few years the place had become a expensive freak show with mayor McRape.
 
Zachalou":22m37g71 said:
East TN, Tri-cities area, music scene is very awesome. Tons of good local bands and plenty of touring acts come through but other than that we have several awesome punk bands, heavy metal, thrash, some very progressive sounding bands, blues, rock, cover bands. Also, some very talented bluegrass, country, Jazz. I mean you can always find something cool going on. Of course we have lots of bad bands too, but a lot goes on here and it is awesome to see.

Some really great clubs down here too, always treat you right, and welcome any style from extreme black metal to just straight up noise-yes noise is a thing and it's actually pretty interesting

I consider it a really good scene- not all of it is my cup of tea, but it is still good to see so many people turn out for so many different types of shows.
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Hey man! I'm in the Tri-Cities area too! I thought I was the only one on this board around here! I must be missing out (I probably am since I hardly ever get out) because I never hear about any good bands around here. There is plenty of bluegrass and flatpicking though, which I'm not into. I'm more old school rock and metal.
 
Rick Lee":14lfo327 said:
Phoenix is pretty big on tribute bands. Would you believe we have TWO Eric Clapton and TWO Rod Stewart tributes? And there's everything in between - Foo Fighters, GnR, STP, Dokken, Zeppelin, Ratt, Rush, and on and on. Cover band scene is ok too, but they only make real money at private and corp. events, not in bars. It seems everyone is in at least three bands, but there is a sense of solidarity among those in the scene and everyone seems willing to help out, share backlines, sub, etc. I like it.
Click to expand...

Sounds about right.
Tribute bands.
Let's just say I don't go out anymore unless I'm playing.
 
Jayy":1zn0kxas said:
Zachalou":1zn0kxas said:
East TN, Tri-cities area, music scene is very awesome. Tons of good local bands and plenty of touring acts come through but other than that we have several awesome punk bands, heavy metal, thrash, some very progressive sounding bands, blues, rock, cover bands. Also, some very talented bluegrass, country, Jazz. I mean you can always find something cool going on. Of course we have lots of bad bands too, but a lot goes on here and it is awesome to see.

Some really great clubs down here too, always treat you right, and welcome any style from extreme black metal to just straight up noise-yes noise is a thing and it's actually pretty interesting

I consider it a really good scene- not all of it is my cup of tea, but it is still good to see so many people turn out for so many different types of shows.
Click to expand...

Hey man! I'm in the Tri-Cities area too! I thought I was the only one on this board around here! I must be missing out (I probably am since I hardly ever get out) because I never hear about any good bands around here. There is plenty of bluegrass and flatpicking though, which I'm not into. I'm more old school rock and metal.
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Nice to meet a local on here! :rock: :rock:

In Johnson City at the Hideaway we get a lot of really cool local bands,Capones recently has jumped on board welcoming more local shows and not ONLY touring acts now too. I've been playing around here for some time so I guess I'm just a little more in the loop haha, We don't really have any awesome straight up rock bands (lots of indie rock, can't get into that) but we definitely have some cool Metal going on, I could definitely point you in the right direction sometime if you want to check some stuff out :thumbsup:
 
-I'm new to OREGON and I'm in the same boat as the other guys from the North West, -(NOTHING)- I think live music isnt -A THING- any more....
 
Houston, TX is horrid for original bands. Not many places to play and not many people here are into original music. Now if you're in a tribute band or play covers, you can do well.
 
peckhart":r5jozlxu said:
Curious what the music scene is like in other towns across the US.

I grew up outside of Allentown PA and it didn't seem like there was much of an outlet for live bands. Granted I was never really a part of the local scene and didn't spend much time in the area when I hit 21 and could go to bars. There were 2 or 3 places to go check out cover bands.

Now I live in Rochester NY and I gotta say it's a pretty cool town for music. I have been a part of the cover band scene for the past 10 years and a lot of venues have come and gone, but there are still a decent number of bars that we can count on getting a good crowd at. In the summer there are festivals and carnivals that feature live bands. Most of them draw really great numbers and fun crowds.
A lot of places to play if you are an acoustic/vocalist act as well, but as primarily an electric rocker that needs other musicians to do what I want to do...it's a good scene with venues and patrons that give us an outlet to rock out.

What's it like in your town?
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I too am from Rochester and we have quite an arty city. I can say that the metal/heavy rock days are long gone. At least for the original bands. Cover bands still do very well here as you know being in Download. There isn't much of a crowd for the original stuff anymore. I remember getting 650 people into Water Street Music Hall and now it's hard to get 50 people into the Bug Jar.

That said, great city with great music all around.
 
Five years ago, there were nearly 20 bars within a reasonable driving distance that would book cover bands. We played at least every other weekend for two years. Then it dried up. Flash forward and there's only two of those places that will book live music. We called it quits because it's not worth hauling 3 tons of gear 150 miles roundtrip to earn $100/each...
 
In the SF Bay Area, it can be a mixed bag. It's not great, but there are places to play. Sometimes there are a bunch of shows happening at the same time, so the crowds will be thin. Other times, when big acts come through the arenas here, it squashes all the bar/club traffic. But musically speaking, it's pretty diverse, actually. We have rock/metal/progressive, indie, acoustic singer/songwriter/coffee house, covers (including tributes). Lots of musicians out here. Also, the communities have been pretty good about hiring out a lot of bands to play for events over DJ's, which I think is great. Leave the DJ's for the plastic club scene and dude-bro weddings.
 
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