2008.07.03
Let's hear it for the bands!
Hey, everybody. Tomorrow's Riffs is about how July 4 is the one day out of the year when people can't avoid live music. I've written a lot about the struggles of live-music venues over the years and the difficulties bands have finding lucrative gigs. DJs, iPod-docking stations and satellite radio have replaced bands at social gatherings. People don't hire bands for parties and dances like they used to.
But on July 4, you can hear the breadth of American music the way it sounds best -- live and outside.
"the way it sounds best -- live and outside."
In one word Ralph-Amen. Here's to Live music for human gatherings.
Comment by Bill Hudson — July 5, 2008 @ 3:14 pm
I completely agree with your thoughts in this latest Riffs column. When I got married, I wouldn't have even considered hiring a dj for the wedding reception. I hired a great band (my buddy Corey Hunley's formerly awesome, now defunct Blind Vision) to play, but so many of my friends went the dj route for their receptions. Live music will always be better than some loser playing cd's. I mean, how many times should a person be forced to listen to "Brick House" in one lifetime?
Comment by Quinn — July 6, 2008 @ 1:31 am
Thanks Quinn and Bill.
The funny thing, Quinn, is the band I saw played "Brickhouse"!
Comment by Ralph — July 6, 2008 @ 10:16 am
Live music blows recorded music off the planet. When entertaining, I usually put on records because the average non-music person gets a kick out of hearing an album and it sounds better than a cd or mp3. But, if I could get Led Zeppelin or even the almighty Monkeyfuzz to play at my party, I would choose live music every time.
PEACE. DRAKES
Comment by Franklin Drakes — July 7, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Always prefer live music to a DJ. And we can always use more original live music. Hats off to bands who work in at least some songs that they wrote themselves into their set. Too many venues frown on this because they think people only want covers, and then they hire DJs because it's cheaper to pay one guy spinning records than several guys playing covers. Where we vacation in Florida it's all covers with a few outstanding cover bands but some places actually hire one or two guys singing over a karaoke machine...ugh. PS - Quinn - Hi! Your reception did rock BTW. See you July 12 @ the Hard Rock Festival!
Comment by Shirley — July 10, 2008 @ 5:03 pm