https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=744847

Commence you questions rants and raves, and I will dispense my sage retorts. . . some may be right, some may be entertaining, some. . . God willing, might be both.

I try to respond to all questions, and most of the time in the order they're asked.














































Be forewarned, I'm going for more lulz right now. . .

 

Can I ask the first question?

 

It went well.

 

So, in the days before the Interwebz, if you found something you like, you had to do the following things:

1. Keep listening to the radio - which, way back when, was diversified enough (and with more independently-owned stations) that you could hear good, new, fresh stuff being played at select hours.

1a. Keep listening to the same DJ - not too long ago, you didn't need a Music Director to manage everything.

1b. Listen to the college stations - Before there was "Alternative Radio," there was actually college stations, which most subscribed to a service called, oddly enough, the College Music Journal. . . CMJ. CMJ is still around. It's expensive, but they put out a sampler with every issues (I think it's an mp3 download at this point). Your local college station should be juiced in with them.

2. Go to shows. Go to shows, write down the names of the opening bands. Buy the discs there.

3. Follow the label. It used to be that in order to get start-up funds for studio time as well as reasonable space in the music store, you needed a label. It's a little different now. . . the point is, a label will often have the same, or similar, material as what you heard. Even better, the Artists and Repertoire Managers for that label at least love one band you love. . . chances are, they like a few more, and have already signed them. Yep-Roc Records is a label that comes to mind (of stuff I like).

4. Talk to the guy at the CD store. Let 'em know what you like.

4a. Shop your independent record store. Unfortunately, I don't remember the name of any in Portland right now.

Nowadays:

5. KEXP - it's mostly right along what CMJ does. . . I'd even say they've gone one step further, and their branding, and Kevin Cole's programming management, have made them a force to be reckoned with against CMJ.

6. Go to festivals. . . but. . . Because music has become so democratized, you have to pay attention. . . if you're going to a festival with Clear Channel's/Live Nation's fingers in it, chances are heavy the line-up is of known quantities. Conversely, the next festival I'm attending has Belle & Sebastian and LCD Soundsystem as the headliners.

7. Go to smaller venues. Smaller venues often mean acts with fewer fans. Fewer fans either means the music stinks. . . or, rather, it's probably that nascent.

8. Blogs - this is not an avenue I've really explored, but I know there are some rabid bloggers out there. My issue there is that they rarely eclectic enough for my tastes.

 

Sure you can puddin-pop, but it won't be the first answer.

 

So, I'm going to assume you got his/her number. Good job. Stay classy.

 

In my current world, I went one better. Made professional contacts (or will be making in the coming week) that could do wonders to launch my career in this town...

 

Is Brant going to sucked into the political quagmire that is Washington?

 

I certainly hope so...

 

You used the word, "sucked." I tend to believe he had been there already for all intents and purposes. . . Brunt has just stepped one circle further towards the core.