In true indie fashion, I allowed myself a few assumptions as I began to think about the dwindling crowds at local and indie shows in Buffalo. One, I assume that you have not been able to give said shows a chance. Two, I assume you care because I think you should. Three, I assume that many of you assume all indie bands are all noise and bad vocals.
The truth about indie bands - and trust me, I hate using this loosely coined term since it's almost as degrading and all-encompassing as emo - is that they slip below the radar when it comes to Buffalo. Yet these are some of the best bands in the entire world. However, because of the pathetic attendance in recent years, the Queen City will never ever see them until it costs $80 to sit light years from the stage at HSBC Arena (absolutely no disrespect meant to the Boss).
Yes, Buffalo, all hail the touring indie band. Or don't hail them, as the case may be. In fact, don't even recognize them. Our city and its surrounding towns and villages have become a veritable black hole for rock to outsiders. As the Gloria Record frontman Chris Simpson (ex-Mineral) said during a recent stop at the Mohawk Place, "We didn't know people came to shows in Buffalo. I'm thinking we're going to have to come back." Sadly, Simpson may come back to an empty smoke-filled room and his old theories on Buffalo. Or perhaps the booking agent will do another fantastic job, and the place will be packed, and Buffalo will see every big show from now until eternity.
Alas, Rome wasn't built in a day, and previous knowledge does dictate that the Gloria Record, or Mineral for that matter, is not exactly a familiar name to the general public. Yet clubs/bars like the Mohawk Place and Broadway Joe's are continually doing their part to bring in up-and-coming bands, and in the case of Mohawk, nearly seven days a week. Not only that, but these shows will also almost always squeeze one or two local bands on the bill. Things can change, and Buffalo has the capabilities to be a thriving rock town. There is something for everyone in the indie community, whether it is punk, hardcore, alt-country, or just plain bizarre. Expand your horizons.
A common excuse is that even when intrigued, it's hard to know where to look. Well, start here at The Spectrum, rumor has it the music writers are fantastic ...
Move on to ArtVoice, which is free and everywhere. Get on the Internet and check out www.mohawkplace.com, check out www.pollstar.com, check out www.wnymusic.com, read the fliers on the bulletin boards! Get ambitious and spend $6 on CMJ or NME magazine. Find something interesting? Spread the word. Go to that band's label and check out their labelmates, links and friends.
Simply put, there is too much out there. Get immersed and find yourself struggling for the room to play your seven new CDs in the five-disc changer. Oh, sweet dilemma! Are you into layered, dynamic, atmospheric, emotional music? Check out Seattle's Woke Up Falling or the aforementioned Gloria Record. Want a call to action or a swift kick via guitars and screaming? Search for the ever-present power of Newark's own Boy Sets Fire or the fervent stylings of Norma Jean. Unless you are one of the 10 people that showed up at the Backstage Pub last summer, Philadelphia's mewithoutYou is certainly something new and interesting.
And the bizarre! How about defunct hardcore band Botch covering "O Fortuna?" Or perhaps everyone's favorite band Jimmy Eat World with its rendition of Prodigy's "Firestarter?" Hip Hop? How about the Roots, Jurassic 5 or Talib Kweli? These folks make pure, unadulterated hotness.
All I'm trying to convey is that Creed has been putting out the same record for six years, and it was never that good to start with, even when they changed their name to Default, Nickelback or Three Doors Down. Ja Rule can only put it on you so many times. In time, John Mayer and Chris Carabba will slide right in with Jamie Walters and Richard Marx. Take a listen and decide who's going to be the Tom Petty or John Lennon of our generation.
Overall point - there is a stigma associated with the word indie, as if the bands aren't good enough to be on the radio. Truth be told, most artists don't want to cater their music to the needs of a frequency, so why should you punish them? There is a show for every type of interest. E-mail nmendola@buffalo.edu, and I will hook you up. I promise. I also promise that Pearl Jam is still the best band in the world. Zing!
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
