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July 25, 2006

Trends

At a concert at the Knitting Factory over the weekend, I noticed a trend in the independent music scene in LA versus the Inland Empire.
Indie rock bands are filling what I call the “B� venues all over West Hollywood and Los Angeles. These kids come dressed in t-shirts with funny pictures and sayings, ripped jeans, floppy hair and wrist bands (To wipe the sweat off? No. It’s a statement.)
The Inland Empire is more often run over with folk and classic rock cover bands. But these kids bring it with technical guitar moves and few t-shirt savy jokes.
I hate to be general in this way, but I am talking about trends, which can be no less than a generality. This is not to say that only Indie bands can be found in LA and folk in the I.E. The concert I was attending was a hip-hop/ska band called Ten G Bob. This band has a truly original sound with a funky beat that you cannot help but dance to.
But back to trends. Ten G Bob was second to play at this show at the Knitting Factory, right after this Indie band called Wednesday or Deathcab for Sufjet... something like that. The first band barely had a decent sized audience which was cut in half by the time Ten G Bob began their set. Not only was the crowd minimal, but almost entirely unresponsive as well.
If Ten G Bob were playing at the Vault they would have played until the bar closed. Oso would have had to kick people out (not like he would).
My point is that I so often hear musicians talk about the ambiance at the Vault and the quality of the music. I can tell you first hand, they ain’t kiddin’!

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 5:01 PM | Comments (0)

July 18, 2006

On Venue's: Mark's Thoughts

Bucksworth frontman Mark Nemetz has lived and played all over the Inland Empire and LA area. Now living in Riverside Mark has tried to help the music scene, but said that Redlands and Claremont are really where it’s at.
“I’ve done my share of trying to make the music scene better in Riverside, but it’s like beating your head up against a wall. (Riverside) could learn a lot from towns like Redlands. Redlands has got a cool little thing going,� he said.
The Vault, according to Nemetz, is what really maintains the music scene.
“The people that run (the Vault) are really sweet and want to do the right thing,� he said. “If I had a place I would hope that I could run it like that.�
According to Nemetz, it only takes one good venue to jump start a local music scene and the Vault has truly done that for Redlands.
“When a venue opens it gives newer bands a goal,� he said.
In Claremont, Nemetz notes that the Press and the Claremont Folk Music Center (owned by Ben Harper’s grandparents) are the two venues that really appeal to musicians and concerts goers.
What makes these venues so enticing is not just the ambiance of the venue, a friendly place with lots of character, but also the generosity of the owner.
Nemetz has been snubbed by several venues in Riverside that will not pay the artists.
A few years ago Bucksworth was asked to play at the Orange Blossom Festival and were given a decent pay. The next year the festival asked the band to play again, but said that it could not pay them.
“That’s slave labor,� Nemetz said. “(And) if bands continue to play in places where they are mistreated those places will continue to mistreat bands.�
According to Nemetz, it is rare to find a decent venue with decent pay in Riverside. If it’s not one thing it’s another.
But for Redlanders, the Vault plays fair.
“A lot of bands in LA have heard about the Vault,� Nemetz said. “Mike and Oso treat people well.�
And treating musicians well ensures quality music.
And quality music is all we have here in Redlands.

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 10:34 AM | Comments (0)

July 3, 2006

The Local Music Community

What I find so remarkable about this town’s music scene is the quality of the music and the true community of artists.
Wednesday night is open mic night at the Vault and it is there that the music community really comes together to share their art. True quality.
The open mic night has its regulars, but it is also a welcoming venue that both knowns and unknowns share.
James, the Mayor of Vine Street, keeps the evening flowing with jokes and music while each artist sets up. It is show where the knowns are never tired of and the unknowns really do “keep it real.� Everyone is welcome.
Last Wednesday the audience viewed several amazing musicians — banjo Kelly played a few tunes, three of the four Marbles showed up to play, Lori demonstrated her spoons and mandolin and oso stepped out from behind the bar to play a few favorites.
Several others joined in, all of whom had their own star quality, giving the audience a show that rivaled those seen on daily television (you know, the stuff that the kids listen to these days).
With such artistic quality and honesty it is no wonder that the local music scene has really developed into a musical community.
As I continue to write my weekly band profile, I am still approached by Redlanders who never knew that Redlands had such a great music scene.
Coming from a very musically progressive town (Berkeley, Calif.) I know that such scenes are not just created by strong musicians, but also by musicians who care about the integrity of the music scene.
Each artist that I have profiled has given praise to their fellow community members and other musicians and artists.
This is the stuff good music scenes are made of — the willingness for every artist to thrive for the sake of the art.

Posted by Darcie Flansburg at 4:46 PM | Comments (0)