Anna NeonComp for the Conceited – UWS Band Comp
August 31st 2006 13:42
The third heat for the UWS band comp was held at UWS Kingswood last night and I attended in support of my friends’ band, The Braille Chorus. There were several other bands that played including The Page (winners), White Viper, Stanfield, January Scar and Worst Case Scenario. I’ve probably missed some but none were really worthy of attention to be honest and it may not have necessarily been their fault.
The sound system is always atrocious at events such as this. The mics are borrowed from the music department, the P.A is useless and there are always technical difficulties. But if a band can pull themselves together, technical difficulties do not have to mean a band is out of the running. Shoddy sound is unfortunate but generally it’s something everybody’s band has to deal with so you make the most out of it and do what you can.
One thing that doesn’t help though, and only adds insult to injury is when competing bands get drunk, rowdy and generally nasty. Everybody knows it’s a competition. Yes, the bands are competing and yes, there can only be one winner. But that is no excuse for giving the other bands a hard time and being generally rude and arrogant.
These kids who nobody has ever heard of, join a band and suddenly think they’re rockstars. They get up on stage, sing their self indulgent, self-proclaimed hits and think they don’t have anything to learn. And believe me, most of the bands left much to be desired. Then when their band is finished and they are in the clear, they harass and harangue the other bands like drunken monkeys and think that it’s amusing.
This is what’s wrong with the music scene in this country. Sure, it’s competitive, sure, not every band is going to make it, but if we had a more supportive industry maybe more bands could make it. I’m not suggesting bands get out there and purely rub each other’s egos but part of being professional is learning to respect and support your fellow musicians.
The sound system is always atrocious at events such as this. The mics are borrowed from the music department, the P.A is useless and there are always technical difficulties. But if a band can pull themselves together, technical difficulties do not have to mean a band is out of the running. Shoddy sound is unfortunate but generally it’s something everybody’s band has to deal with so you make the most out of it and do what you can.
One thing that doesn’t help though, and only adds insult to injury is when competing bands get drunk, rowdy and generally nasty. Everybody knows it’s a competition. Yes, the bands are competing and yes, there can only be one winner. But that is no excuse for giving the other bands a hard time and being generally rude and arrogant.
These kids who nobody has ever heard of, join a band and suddenly think they’re rockstars. They get up on stage, sing their self indulgent, self-proclaimed hits and think they don’t have anything to learn. And believe me, most of the bands left much to be desired. Then when their band is finished and they are in the clear, they harass and harangue the other bands like drunken monkeys and think that it’s amusing.
This is what’s wrong with the music scene in this country. Sure, it’s competitive, sure, not every band is going to make it, but if we had a more supportive industry maybe more bands could make it. I’m not suggesting bands get out there and purely rub each other’s egos but part of being professional is learning to respect and support your fellow musicians.
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