Seattlest Pix 09Nov07
Around the Sound: The Week in News
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Seattlest Pix 09Nov08
In short, no. (Duh.)
But, Paste magazine ran an article recently suggesting that, perhaps, it's on its way out. We thought the article made a lot of valid and interesting points, like this one:
“Mayor [Greg] Nickels and other city leaders don’t have a clue about the impact of their policies on this community,” says Tim Hatley, lobbyist for the Seattle Nightlife & Music Association. “If you’re Dan [Cowan, owner of Seattle fixture the Tractor Tavern], why would you invest in a booking person and upgrades like sprinklers and soundproofing when you could make more money as a pool hall for the yuppies in their brand-new condos right across the street?”
Being that we moved to Seattle to make music, and have spent the rest of our time here writing about the local scene, we have a few thoughts about what's going on with the Seattle music community--none of them involve any sort of demise. In fact, we think even entertaining a demise of the local music scene is attributing far too much sway to local politics, commerce, and development, rather than that of the artists. Music doesn't happen because of clubs. Music happens because of the artists, musicians, and songwriters who get up every day, rain or shine, and feel some level of inspiration. They put ads on Craigslist or in The Stranger seeking other like-minded artists with whom they can form a band. They find each other at bars and open mics, at parties, festivals, and even more often, on tour. They need clubs and venues to make part of their income, but not all of it; and, let's face it, even if those clubs start catering more to the condo-living folks than the artists, the local music scene will remain what it is: a place for artists to be inspired between tours.
Here in Seattle, we have killer hip-hop groups, country bands, folksingers, rock bands, honky tonk artists, loud metal bands that have been together forever, and fun rockabilly bands. We've got SubPop, KEXP, and any number of awesome indie labels. We've got some really great recording studios and other resources for artists. Plus, we have a very literate, socially conscious populace, beautiful scenery, and plenty of weather that makes you want to stay inside and do something with all that inspiration, like write songs and make great music. We can't speak for other artists, but when we're making music, we're not thinking about what ordinances are being discussed at City Hall. We're thinking about how much we love making music.
Newsflash: the entire music industry is changing. We've been in it long enough to know that it's not dying, and it never will. The artists, venues, record companies, promoters, and festivals that survive will be the ones who figure out ways to make a living that don't rely on the ways they've been making a living the past 50 years. If that means artists like us--who live in condos in a town where music venues are feeling the pressure to cater to condo-livers--need to saddle up to evolving technologies, giving our music away for free (as it should be), and making our income in other ways (touring, merchandise, advertising, a day job), that's the way it's got to be.
The Paste article raised some questions about whether artists have ever been able to survive in Seattle, citing the fact that Kurt Cobain netted a mere $33K when Nirvana first broke, and still couldn't afford his less-than $200/mo. rent. We don't make much more than Kurt did, and our share of the mortgage is nearly four times as much as his rent was. Go figure.
Being an artist in Seattle doesn't mean scraping the streets for rats for food, because The Man is holding carrots in front of the noses of the Tractor Tavern (and elsewhere). It means evolving along with an ever-changing industry, finding house concerts to play at, getting out of town now and then, and making friends with the variant new Web sites popping up everywhere to help artists get their work out there and make a living.
We're not saying we don't understand why so many gifted former Seattleites have departed for Portland's cheaper rents and more communal songwriter scene. We loved Portland the two years we lived there, back in the day. But we're in Seattle now, we're not the only ones, and we're pretty stoked about the music that's getting made here. In fact, we'd go so far as to say that something's in the air in the Seattle music scene, and that our time on the national stage didn't end ten years ago.
That fabulous shot of Thee Emergency comes to you courtesy of Seattlest Flickr Pool users, and blogfriend SoundontheSound. Are your photos in the pool? Jump in.
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Right the Fuck on Kim! I couldn't agree more.
I miss some of the great clubs that have closed during my almost-13 years here, but I don't think the loss of a club means the death of a scene. As someone said when the Croc closed (a club I do NOT miss), clubs are supposed to close or else they stop being relevant. Or something like that. I'm paraphrasing, but for someone who grew up in NYC and walked past CBGB time and again because it was more tourist attraction that relevant venue, the point is completely valid.
I think you're spot on here.
In lieu of a working "killer hiphop groups" link, I will supply some names: Dyme Def, Cancer Rising, Grynch, J Pinder, The Physics. Just to start.
Also, I agree: music's not dead just because some clubs have closed. Clubs come and go. Music abides, and that doesn't change just because some guy in Portland said Seattle couldn't foster his creativity well enough.
Finally: day jobs are good for character.
woops....i got a little dyslexic in the code on that "killer hip-hop groups" link. should work now (or in a few seconds after the lag time). yeah, dyme def!!
I don't feel like "dying" is quite the appropriate word, but I am baffled by how anti-live music the powers that be act in this city. Club owners are terrified of huge fines because of minor infractions and new legislation that seem to have the goal of making it impossible to run a successful live music venue. I've spent a little to a lot of time in quite a few cities across the country, and the difference between here and somewhere like Austin (or even Portland) is striking.
Makes you wonder what we miss out on because our mayor obviously hates rock clubs.
Hmmm, I wonder how often these people who declare the Seattle music scene dead (and use too many cliches) actually go out onto the streets of Seattle?
I do, every night, and if the Seattle scene is dead then I must be writing this from the grave. Are those worms on my keyboard? Where did all this dirt come from?
Seattle is on fire, people! Check it out here: http://blog.culturemob.com/seattle-is-on-fire-burn-baby-burn
I've been a professional musician in this city for over 8 years and I can agree with alot with what you are saying but there is a huge disconnect here because I don't know any musicians or artists who can afford a condo!!! We share houses for rent and rent appartments. The real problem is that this city is being taken over by these yuppies who move into condos right DOWNTOWN next to a NIGHTCLUB who complain about noise! What's even worse is that these city politicians like Greg Nickels have their pockets greased by these developers who want to pander to these cultureless, boring, white, young professionals by giving them a "quiet" place that is "safe" from everyone different than them. Fuck Portland. I hate Portland. It's exactly what Walla(Death Cab guitarist) said it was: a city full of a bunch of adult kids...hippies.