Genre labels are a construct of record labels. It's a marketing technique to effectively sell more records. Any music store/iTunes music store would sure be a lot more hectic & confusing if genre's didn't exist. Also labels make it easier for people to communicate what they like - despite the fact that labeling music is an impossible exercise. If you're in a band and are worried about what genre you fit into, theres a problem with your band. A good band can say "rock n' roll" or "rock-sock hoppin' blue beat thrash" & it will not matter, all that matters is what comes outta the speakers when your band's track is queued & "play" is pressed.

The Terrorists said:

Garage is trendy because it's a safe word-- nobody ever got beat-up cause they played "garage." Unlike punk... 

I've heard many bands that are definitely punk-influenced and whose members have never heard a garage band before except for maybe The Sonics, and i even doubt that much. They don't even hear the music that those garage bands grew up listening to, which is the key to coming up with a believable sound. If you honestly don't listen to rock n roll and blues, your "garagey" sound is likely to come up quite dull.

Not only is a safe word, but it also implies you went through the trouble of listening to music that isn't mainstream, which makes you hip. If only that was true.

These people won't stop at garage, i've heard bands claim they play gospel and surf influenced music and I just dont' hear it. 

now what are we supposed to do? joe willy hates us.

Joe Willy said:

Band's that work like dogs and are ignored play (with few exceptions) very poor music. Either the recordings are so lo-fi, presumably in an attempt to cover up the lack of a strong melody/progression, that the words are impossible to understand, or the band lacks originality with an alluring quality to their music. All in all, band's that work like dogs should consider focusing their time/efforts on bettering themselves as artists, instead of working a hard days night to endlessly promote recordings that blogs aren't playing... perhaps there's a reason for that other than that they're ignoring you? It's just a possibility is all I'm saying.

DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUR said:

axel- you CAN"T spell rocknroll rong. there is no right way. also if you are getting press ANY press! then you are really fortunate. in chicago the local reviewers write mainly about big time acts or their fellow reviewers acts. all the reviewers are in bands and thus have easy access to press. we have seen feature articles about a reviewer's roomate's drunken train wreck band thrown together for a one off night of baloney and then called the new hope of rock and roll. press space is wasted on 3rd rate FRIENDS. bands that work like dogs to achieve something are ignored.

Axel Björnsson said:

I totally agree with you.. haha I always spell rock n roll wrong.. 

Ok my band was playing at international festival in my town and by older rewiews and describes (including from ourselves) we're described as a 60's revival psychedelic rock. (ofcourse we have influence from bunce of other genres as well) But that description really tracked us down. One journalist was not happy with us.(fuck journalists by the way) I can respect his opinions and all that crap but he killed his credbillity by saying that The Piper at the gates of dawn with Pink Floyd is what psychedelic is supposed to sound and our music were just chaosistic. (has he fucking listened to 13th Floor Elevators? That's what psychedelic is supposed to sound for me thou) The chaosistic is the psychedelic.. Different opinions.

 

 But really my point is descripion can be dangerous.. at least when we're are talking about ignorant journalists..

DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUR said:

that usually doesn't cut it with potentially interested listeners not familiar with your music. sifting through the gazillion choices requires some specific glittering shiny object word or phrase. sad and as unhappy as it may  be the term rock n roll is meaningless.( FUCK!! NOBODY CAN EVEN AGREE ON HOW TO SPELL IT!!!!!) to one person it means you may be death metal or to another you could be jimmy buffet or you could be a 1953 rhythm and blues offshoot. it would take longer to describe what you mean by rock and roll than to describe yourself. clubs, bookers, websites, bloggers and online mags or whatever will not even bother to listen to an unknown quantity without a stinkin' category marker. we really and truly do not know what category we are supposed to be stuck in. and its a sure bet that like yourself many other bands do not now what they are until someone else tells them..
Axel Björnsson said:

I was onetime obsessed with analyzing my music, talked endless about it. I'm still obsessed with it but I keep it to myself because I think it's dull to describe my art to another person. Recently I just tell people that i play Rock 'n Roll.

excellent strategy for getting pub my man!

Axel Björnsson said:

gaddanmit. fuck the press..

The first band you linked to are an excellent example of garagerock rock. The Velvet Underground, the Strokes, Guided by Voices all come to mind... 3 bands that epitomize "garagerock". I think the high production value of the recordings might be throwing you off, as lo-fi recordings are only a small aspect of what makes something fit the "garagerock" genre. Your band has some very poor recordings that happen to be lo-fi, unfortunately the vocals are unintellible & the mix is, well... not sure if it ever was mixed. Lo-fi recording is just a style of production, if done correctly its the song & vocals that grab the casual listener, whether you record it live in your garage or live in the studio is much less relevant in my humble opinion.

Band's that work like dogs and are ignored play (with few exceptions) very poor music. Either the recordings are so lo-fi, presumably in an attempt to cover up the lack of a strong melody/progression, that the words are impossible to understand, or the band lacks originality with an alluring quality to their music. All in all, band's that work like dogs should consider focusing their time/efforts on bettering themselves as artists, instead of working a hard days night to endlessly promote recordings that blogs aren't playing... perhaps there's a reason for that other than that they're ignoring you? It's just a possibility is all I'm saying.

DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUR said:

axel- you CAN"T spell rocknroll rong. there is no right way. also if you are getting press ANY press! then you are really fortunate. in chicago the local reviewers write mainly about big time acts or their fellow reviewers acts. all the reviewers are in bands and thus have easy access to press. we have seen feature articles about a reviewer's roomate's drunken train wreck band thrown together for a one off night of baloney and then called the new hope of rock and roll. press space is wasted on 3rd rate FRIENDS. bands that work like dogs to achieve something are ignored.

Axel Björnsson said:

I totally agree with you.. haha I always spell rock n roll wrong.. 

Ok my band was playing at international festival in my town and by older rewiews and describes (including from ourselves) we're described as a 60's revival psychedelic rock. (ofcourse we have influence from bunce of other genres as well) But that description really tracked us down. One journalist was not happy with us.(fuck journalists by the way) I can respect his opinions and all that crap but he killed his credbillity by saying that The Piper at the gates of dawn with Pink Floyd is what psychedelic is supposed to sound and our music were just chaosistic. (has he fucking listened to 13th Floor Elevators? That's what psychedelic is supposed to sound for me thou) The chaosistic is the psychedelic.. Different opinions.

 

 But really my point is descripion can be dangerous.. at least when we're are talking about ignorant journalists..

DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUR said:

that usually doesn't cut it with potentially interested listeners not familiar with your music. sifting through the gazillion choices requires some specific glittering shiny object word or phrase. sad and as unhappy as it may  be the term rock n roll is meaningless.( FUCK!! NOBODY CAN EVEN AGREE ON HOW TO SPELL IT!!!!!) to one person it means you may be death metal or to another you could be jimmy buffet or you could be a 1953 rhythm and blues offshoot. it would take longer to describe what you mean by rock and roll than to describe yourself. clubs, bookers, websites, bloggers and online mags or whatever will not even bother to listen to an unknown quantity without a stinkin' category marker. we really and truly do not know what category we are supposed to be stuck in. and its a sure bet that like yourself many other bands do not now what they are until someone else tells them..
Axel Björnsson said:

I was onetime obsessed with analyzing my music, talked endless about it. I'm still obsessed with it but I keep it to myself because I think it's dull to describe my art to another person. Recently I just tell people that i play Rock 'n Roll.

gaddanmit. fuck the press..

That , he is. You can say you don't dig his humor , or that he's a little bit too over the top for you , but , at the end of the day , he's a very pleasant , likeable cat (Pardon my Sammy Davis Jr. - isms.) , and I'm proud to call him a friend. " Doot Doodle Doot Doot - Damn straight. ".          Besides , would Thurston Moore have had the moxie to goof on Gorbachev AND Gerald Ford ?!        John.

swt said:

That Nardwuar is a charming fellow. Christ, I nearly broke my computer half way through the video.

 

     Derek (Bloodshot Bill) would be tickled to hear that , tho' NO ONE could take Charlie Feathers' place. Also , Charlie's son , Bubba , puts on one of the best Rockabilly shows you'll ever see , WITHOUT Stray Cats ' dos "Vintage " threads or standup Bass.       Yeah , I was really into The Stingrays , too. They got lumped into the "Psychobilly" thing , just because they had a standup bass...I kept all their old records , so , maybe , I'll dig 'em out , soon. 

My friend used to work with their Guitarist (Mark?). Alec Palao , of course , came here , to the land of milk and cold beer , and has since played Bass with  The Magic Christians and the latter day Chocolate Watchband , and works with Ace/Big Beat , his "G.S. I Love You" series (Japanese Group Sound .) should be his proudest achievement....to date.        I even have a Vibes 12" EP.  Time was , if you could find that stuff at all in the states , you could find it cheap , because no one wanted it. Anyone remember The Huns? They were Americans from the Midwest (One of 'em played baseball on the grounds of my old Public School in Glenview , Illinois) who joined the Prisoners /Stingrays / Milkshakes axis in The UK. I need to listen to their EP again - Like The Cannibals with Stoogey Guitar and maybe somewhat more irreverent humor.

Lucky La Rocka said:

YAY, another fan of english early 80s Garage !!!!  My formative years , one of the best gigs ever for me was The Stingrays & Vibes at Retford Porterhouse ....great days !

Bloodshot Bill is great ....a worthy successor to Charlie Feathers !

SarahJayne said:

It's for this reason that I don't limit my tastes to just a few genres. I can find at least one song I'll dig from ANY genre - even mainstream pop music, lol.

As far as 60s style tunes, I'm big on the whole trash revival that evolved from the early psychobilly scene, and consider those bands underrated. THE VIBES (!!!!!), Russian Roulette (pick up the 'fuckin' car 7" if you're into the Cramps), Stingrays, etc. etc. Garage covers with an upright bass, fuck yeah!

I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for them : ).

PS, new G&R blows. Amen.

mr willy,

we did not imply that we thought that kelly's last suggestion was one for which we did not care. quite the contrary. we are very grateful that she went to all that trouble to find  for us (and we hope others here) that very helpful list of blogs. we really thought that kelly understood that. the punk stance was meant to be satirical. from now on we shall proceed with the utmost gravity. obviously this is no place to be a smidge light hearted.

Joe Willy said:

Kelly just offered you a concrete answer/tip to your original question... and your response is an attempt to be funny while implying you don't care for the suggestion, and have no gratitude for her time spent helping your band-that-needs-lots-of-help in many areas, most of all your embarrassingly weak attempts at being "jerks", as you've let everyone now know. If that image of being punk-mother fuckers is more important to you than taking advice freely offered to you, I advise you to replace the members of your band (the want-to-be jerks) with natural born assholes who don't give a fuck. Either be rude fuckers with attitude (which you're not) or don't post discussions politely asking for advice, afterwards dismissing the advice given because you've remembered you're supposed to be wearing that cracked, oversized mask full of holes.

Drink a pitcher of your band's picture & let me know how it tastes.

DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUR said:

thank you kelly. people like you make us feel bad about being what we are. if we hung around with you we could lose our jerk cred.

kelly alvarez said:

Maybe try looking here? http://www.clickitticket.com/blog/post/top-20-music-review-blogs-on...

 

 

Kelly just offered you a concrete answer/tip to your original question... and your response is an attempt to be funny while implying you don't care for the suggestion, and have no gratitude for her time spent helping your band-that-needs-lots-of-help in many areas, most of all your embarrassingly weak attempts at being "jerks", as you've let everyone now know. If that image of being punk-mother fuckers is more important to you than taking advice freely offered to you, I advise you to replace the members of your band (the want-to-be jerks) with natural born assholes who don't give a fuck. Either be rude fuckers with attitude (which you're not) or don't post discussions politely asking for advice, afterwards dismissing the advice given because you've remembered you're supposed to be wearing that cracked, oversized mask full of holes.

Drink a pitcher of your band's picture & let me know how it tastes.

DEPRAVOS DE LA MOUR said:

thank you kelly. people like you make us feel bad about being what we are. if we hung around with you we could lose our jerk cred.

kelly alvarez said:

Maybe try looking here? http://www.clickitticket.com/blog/post/top-20-music-review-blogs-on...

 

 

thank you kelly. people like you make us feel bad about being what we are. if we hung around with you we could lose our jerk cred.

kelly alvarez said:

Maybe try looking here? http://www.clickitticket.com/blog/post/top-20-music-review-blogs-on...

 

 

Maybe try looking here? http://www.clickitticket.com/blog/post/top-20-music-review-blogs-on-the-web.aspx

we thought that everybodys pitcher clicked to their page with their music on it. but that's what we get for thoughtin'. it just ain't worth the trouble. 

we would be dead and dug in deep by the time some little steven intern got around to listening to us. we've all taken second jobs so we can afford the entrance fees for all those "opportunities" offered by reverb nation. that's the way to go!

 you are very nice and shouldn't be talking to us. we used to be called The Unpleasant Jerks. thank you for the smiles.

kelly alvarez said:

Demonstrated little interest? I said I am always down to hear new bands, but as I stated earlier, for my particular blog, I only write about female-fronted bands and female musicians; I never said I wouldn’t check your band out, it’s just not something I would blog about since I have an ongoing theme going on :) Also, you didn’t let anyone know that clicking your picture would lead to your music page!! What if you sent a demo to Little Steve’s Underground Garage? I think he would play your songs on the air http://undergroundgarage.com/    

Demonstrated little interest? I said I am always down to hear new bands, but as I stated earlier, for my particular blog, I only write about female-fronted bands and female musicians; I never said I wouldn’t check your band out, it’s just not something I would blog about since I have an ongoing theme going on :) Also, you didn’t let anyone know that clicking your picture would lead to your music page!! What if you sent a demo to Little Steve’s Underground Garage? I think he would play your songs on the air http://undergroundgarage.com/    

thanks kelly but already you have demonstrated how little interest people have in listening to the unknown.

it would take a milisecond to click on our picture and hear our music. we are not a girl band but i was once beat up in the 3rd grade for being a sissy. that should count.

kelly alvarez said:

I have a music blog but I really only review/talk about girl singers and girl bands... I also promised myself to never talk badly about people/bands on my blog because I would feel like some 32 year old loser internet bully :)  I'm always down to listen to new bands, regardless if I like them or not, I just won't really write about anything I don't like them.........  undergroundgirlsblog.blogspot.com    

 

I do agree that people that take the time to have a music blog should at least have the decency to write you back, even if it's "hey thanks for the submission, it will be considered for review"...  I also think if you don't have loads of internet buzz surrounding your band, you're kind of just automatically swept under the rug. Maybe consider writing up a simple one sheet highlighting your band's accomplishments or just describing your sound. Sometimes people are willing to take a chance if your band sounds like bands they are more familiar with or if your band plays shows with bigger name bands they like and admire?  Good luck :-) 

I have a music blog but I really only review/talk about girl singers and girl bands... I also promised myself to never talk badly about people/bands on my blog because I would feel like some 32 year old loser internet bully :)  I'm always down to listen to new bands, regardless if I like them or not, I just won't really write about anything I don't like them.........  undergroundgirlsblog.blogspot.com    

I do agree that people that take the time to have a music blog should at least have the decency to write you back, even if it's "hey thanks for the submission, it will be considered for review"...  I also think if you don't have loads of internet buzz surrounding your band, you're kind of just automatically swept under the rug. Maybe consider writing up a simple one sheet highlighting your band's accomplishments or just describing your sound. Sometimes people are willing to take a chance if your band sounds like bands they are more familiar with or if your band plays shows with bigger name bands they like and admire?  Good luck :-) 

the big time blogs throw you right into the trash without a listen or a real reply. you are unknown and therefore unworthy. everyone understands that some people are not going to think you are anything special but we would all just like a polite listen. or even an impolite listen would be fine. name your fave blogs.

If Bobby's trying to pay the bills because a musician's wage isn't anything then I would do the same in that situation and I would have eaten there out of respect for Bobby. Most musicians don't get paid.

slaughter and the dogs were a great early band check out "Where have all the boot boys gone" Crass were probably the most uncompromising of the british bands, The "feeding of the five thousand " still sounds great over 30 years later" Do they owe us a living " and "Banned from the roxy" are particular favourites, also Steve Albini's Big Black are well worth a listen particulary "Kerosene" . Killing Joke's "Whats This For" sounded pretty brutal when it first came out.

John Battles said:

I've heard even better than that , but , I really should'nt repeat it. There IS a video , somewhere on You Boob of Bobby on the TV news , yep , working in a pizza place. I would not have wanted to have eaten THERE ! Ha Ha.Yeah , the name sounds familiar , but , not sure. You can tell 'em I said hi , if you like , and see if they go , "OH , GOD !!! NOT HIM !!".

Nick X said:

It's cool to hear more stories about Bobby. My parent's friend (maybe the name Craig Roberts rings a bell?) was telling me that Bobby used to work at a pizza shop and live with his parents and one day he ran into him sleeping in a shopping cart in front of a grocery because he had gone home the night before, after a show, and his parents had moved without telling him.

John Battles said:

Nick , I knew Bobby Soxx , back in the 80's in Dallas. Maybe I knew your Mom and Dad ( I don't want to intrude on their privacy ,of course.).

Yeah , he had a reputation for being crazy , but , mostly , he was just annoying. He was one of those "Look at me ! I'm weird !!!" urban attention seeker types. I did'nt get along with him too well , but that was all kid's stuff.

I only really conversed with him , maybe 4 or 5 times....One could be forgiven for thinking he was generally harmless. I did. I never actually saw him involved in any acts of violence. He struck me as kind of a Punk Rock Ernest T. Bass. Living to piss people off , but , at the end of the day , he did'nt seem like he meant any , or much , harm. Of course , there were incidents. Like the time he slashed The Stranglers' tires at  The Hot Klub because he was'nt allowed backstage to see them. Or making a friend take the fall for his spitting on Johnny Ramone at a Ramones concert. Then - Ramones Roadie, John  Felice of The Real Kids , was sent by Johnny to beat the shit out of the other guy , while Bobby laughed.  But , when he went to prison for the attempted murder of his Girlfriend , there was'nt anything to laugh about. He did 2 or 3 years (?) , and got clean , but fell back on the old ways , and passed away several years ago , from Cirrhosis and other complications. He played one "Comeback" gig ,  backed by either The Telefones (Who played on "Scavenger of Death") or a thrown together group , I forget which. 

Nick X said:

Well, I guess I'll have to check them out now. Just out of the blue, my parents knew Bobby Soxx from the Stick Men with Ray Guns growing up and they said he was about as crazy as you can imagine.

joey fuckup said:

Ha, well, the small rock 'n' roll world we live in...G.G. was best friends with Jeff, matter of fact they recorded together as the Murder Junkies way back in the day. There is an album out of their collaborations, and they did a lot of shows together.

Just thought it'd be remiss if I didn't take this opportunity to wish the father of rock'n'roll and fellow St. Louisan Chuck Berry a happy 85th birthday today. He still plays once a month at Blueberry Hill in St. Louis, kids. You may not have many more opportunities to catch this legend live, so do it now before it's too late!

http://blogs.riverfronttimes.com/rftmusic/2011/10/chuck_berry_birthday_85.php

Slim - It's beautiful.  Good information, too.  I've been entertaining the idea of a twangy type guitar;

Bison 62
http://www.burnsguitars.com/bison62.php

Shadow
http://www.burnsguitars.com/shadow.php
 
Shadow Special
http://www.burnsguitars.com/shadowspecial.php
 
I'm curious about a couple of the features that are different.  The Shadow and Shadow Special both have Knife Edge tremelo like the Cobra and the Bison 62 has the Burns deluxe tremelo unit.  I wonder what's the dif?  I'm concerned about knocking the thing out of tune constantly if I get all Hank Marvin with it.
 
I'm comparing these with a Fender Classic Player Jaguar Special and the sunburst would match my Fender Bass VI perfectly. 
 
http://www.fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0141700309
 
Musician's Friend has these for $799.00.

DiPinto has a couple that have my attention; Galaxie 4 and MachIV (with added twang bar option).

http://www.dipintoguitars.com/category.php?id=1

What size strings do you use?  Flats or roundwounds?

It'd be great if we could get some of these cruise promoters to buy a banner ad on the Hideout! That could go a long way in helping to spread the word...

this one was great too :

http://www.guiltyboat.org/

"The Other Shoe' tune sticks in my head for hours after I hear it.  If I am with anyone they ask me to turn it off but I tell them to piss off.

Anna Lee Cleveland said:

Also added "Fucked Up" and "The Togas"...!