Lansing Noise Top 10 Pick of 2011!
Thanks to the Noise for naming my EP Where the Sand Meets the Tide a top ten pick of 2011! You can still download it freefree here. The Noise article: http://t.co/uKV2Dq7J
In response to my last blog, I thought I’d list places where I discover new music. Please note, my favorite genres leans towards roots, folk, indie rock, indie pop, and sometimes blues. I’ll keep adding more when I find time.
Music Streaming Subscription Sites:
- Spotify – I have a subscription to Spotify and share new music with friends. Other friends of mine use Rdio, Grooveshark or MOG.
Free Downloads:
- Noise Trade – great site where artist offer free downloads.
- TheSixtyOne – a music adventure, artists post music and listeners explore and stream
Blogs:
- Hypemachine – a music search engine that indexes audio files on blogs
- Pitchfork and Stereogum,the biggies in the music blog world.
- Daytrotter Sessions – You have to pay now, but there’s a free trial
- HearYa
- SoundsthatMatter
- Mostly Midwest
Video Take Away Shows:
- La Blogotheque
- SouthernSouls
- Daytrotter should be here, too.
Radio Shows:
- Ann Delisi’s WDET’s Essential Listening Parties at the Majestic Cafe (Third Tuesday of the month)
- Ann Delisi’s show Essential Listeing on WDET (Sat and Sun from 11 AM – 2 PM)
- Pam Rossi’s morning show at uDetroit Cafe (weekdays from 11 AM-1PM)
- The Set List with Rick Westover on WCMU
- Jeremy Baldwin’s Roots Music Project on WEMU
Print/Online News:
- I’ve always read Metrotimes and Real Detroit Weekly
- Lansing Noise section in the LSJ by Anne Erickson
- I subscribe to American Songwriter Magazine. They also have a website.
Concert Promoters
- Fusionshows – I check Howell based Fusion’s events to see which new groups are coming to town and what locals are playing in the state.
Venues:
I like to check these Michigan venues’ calendars. I also follow venues’ Twitter accounts or like their Facebook pages to see their updates:
- The Ark in Ann Arbor
- Blind Pig in Ann Arbor
- Old Town in Ann Arbor’s acoustic Sundays
- The Trinity House in Livonia
- The Strutt in Kalamazoo
- Old Dog Tavern in Kalamazoo
- The Intersection in Grand Rapids
- Pyramid Scheme in Grand Rapids
- MXTP in Grand Rapids (sadly closing in Jan 2012.)
- Magic Bag in Ferndale
- Majestic Cafe in Detroit
- uDetroit Cafe in Detroit
- Flint Local 432 (grand opening coming soon)
- Callahan’s in Auburn Hills
House Concerts:
- Carrick’s House Concerts in Clarkston
- Pump House in East Lansing
- GW’s Black Crystal Cafe in Ann Arbor
With the demise of top-40 radio, the slow death of printed news, the over-saturation of reality shows on MTV, and the overload of Internet blogs and sites, there’s lamenting from music critics that we are lacking filters to find new music now a days.
However, I also think the explosion of having too-much to sift through on the Internet has also shown us that many people just aren’t in to music that much. Now-a-days, it takes a little work to find a new band, and I don’t think everyone is willing to do that work. But the rewards are more fruitful.
I’m actually amazed people complain about the state of music now a days. In middle school, I used to tape STP and Pearl Jam’s new release off the radio, which was the only way for me to first hear it! Now, music is a click a way.
It’s a golden age, but it’s easy to get lost in the Easter egg hunt. 15-20 years ago, people could turn on the radio and MTV, they knew what small number of bands were making an impression in the States. There was a shared conversation for music lovers because the filters were there. Finding an indie bands was a conversation away with a close friend or reading the local zine, but there were less bands making recordings. It was easier to stay up to speed.
Now, everyone is creating Bandcamp sites and doing Kickstarter campaigns. The freedom is wonderful, but the ability to find music that one will like has gotten more difficult. And the ability for the country to have a shared conversation of music is so limited to Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, and the old timers, it’s not even relevant anymore. (Just look at the top songwriters from Vh1’s post. So narrow-minded.)
Honestly, there is more great music out there and many ways to find it. The top and medium sized blogs are now established. However, I think many people who “loved music” 15 years ago because they could flip a switch or click a controler, now need to do a little more work. They need to read. They need to take a chance. Attend a show. Branch out. The fact is they just don’t love music that much to put some work into it. This isn’t a criticism, it’s just a reality that musicians and music fans need to face. The general population might not love music as much as we do.
I also think two types of statements are going to die soon:
- People still saying, “I’ve never heard of that band!” with shock and disbelief when I tell them “Oh yeah, this group just sold a few 100,000 digital releases and are touring sold-out clubs.”
- People still criticizing others for discovering a band (one that’s been around six years) yesterday. (“Jeez, Mike, I thought you were into music!” Um, sorry? They just weren’t on my radar. Doesn’t mean I don’t have a radar seeking music.)
People still don’t get it. No one is going to hear of every band that’s making waves any more. It’s impossible. However, there are some ways to stay in touch with music, and I’m going to offer a few of my favorite spots in my next blog.
Set List for the Blind Pig
Ann Arbor
Dec. 14, 2011
Mike Vial and the Great Lake Effect traded off songs, two at a time, with Mark Fain of Gun Lake for this showcase.
- Love & Be Proud
- Change Your Tune
- Driftwood
- Empty Cup
- My City (by Leah Taylor)*
- Made a Mess
- Only the Rain Knows Why
- Ohio (Neil Young cover)
- Intelligent Fool
- Mahogany
*Leah Taylor played her song, “My City” during the set.
Great Lake Effect:
Stuart Tucker on drums, Kevin Vines on bass, Leah Taylor on keys/vocals
Setlist for Green Couch House Show
Flint, MI
Dec. 17, 2011
Special thanks to Jason and Lisa for hosting the house show tonight! Also, thanks to Aaron and Andrew for bring out their Flushing/Flint area crew.
- In the Meantime
- Love & Be Proud
- Made a Mess
- Christmas Song (Dave Matthews’s Cover)
- Only the Rain Knows Why
- Empty Cup
- I Will
