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Selling out: the Joys and Horrors of Alternative Music, As Opposed to Mainstream.

“Every song that’s played on the radio sucks.” “Every song by an amateur indy garage band sucks.” “Everyone sounds the same.” “All the independent bands sound the same, and all pop music on the radio sounds the same.” “That band were good, then they got popular and sold out.”

Everyone seems to think that the undiscovered band they uncovered on an obscure myspace is the second coming. Or that quirky little band that plays a youth centre every few months will be world famous some day, and they’re the one who’s supported them from early on; they’ll always be a real fan! And then when that band gets a bit bigger, they’ll despise all those “new fans.” Where were they at the beginning? And now my favourite band’s getting played on commercial radio? Those sell outs! They were only good when they played in their garage and let me come watch.

Alternative music and indy music are more popular than ever. With the internet, easy bootlegs and free media, finding music is easier than ever. Artists can get popular from myspace, CD’s don’t sell as much, word of mouth from gigs is more important than ever. But is alternative music better than mainstream music?

Generally with independent alternative artists, they’ll make their own music. They’re not selling a product or an image, they’re selling art; music. Unlike the Britney Spears’ or the Katy Perry’s, we have people writing their own songs, creating their own compositions, doing things themselves. Without money and studio restrictions, creativity blossoms, and with all the cheap yet advanced technology currently available, we have people recording themselves in their home studios, mixing and mastering, playing numerous instruments and putting out their own demo’s. They can experiment and try new things without wasting money on studio’s and producers. They can create something interesting and new and get known for that.

But the big point is that, just because something is “mainstream” or famous or big or shown on VH1 DOESN’T MEAN IT’S BAD. Sure, there’s a whole lot of crap on continuous rotation, but there’s a whole lot of terrible, derivative indy bands who rip off their favourite artists and regurgitate chord progressions with terrible vocals. But just because a band has become popular, doesn’t mean that they’ve “sold out” or are no longer any good. In fact, in their eyes, they’ve been accomplishing what they most likely set out to do.

There are artists, of course, who sit on both sides of the fence. John Frusicante (guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers) releases solo records in between tours and albums with RHCP. He records them quickly, independently and releases them for those who are interested. He doesn’t really promote the music, make music videos, or go on tours, he just makes it and puts it out there. Some will like his work with RHCP better, others will think his solo work is more honest and outstanding, either way; it’s there for those who want it.

Imogen Heap is another who springs to mind. She writes and composes her own music, produces and mixes it herself at her home studio. She makes experimental electronic/pop music. Always pushing the envelope and creating new, creative sounds. Yet, she still sells her music out to popular TV shows (Heroes, The OC, Ghost Whisperer). Does that make her any less of an artist (some would say musical genius)?

It’s all mixed up. Sure, there are bands that clearly just do things for the money, and don’t care about what they’re putting out, as long as it keeps them in the public eye and keeps their letterbox filled with pay checks. But the two aren’t mutually exclusive. You can make good music, filled with artistic integrity, and still make money for yourself. There’s nothing wrong with that. But there is something wrong with generalising thousands of artists as “bad” or “sell outs” just because they happen to be popular with a radio/TV audience.

The more obscure something is and the less people know about it doesn’t make it better. There’s good and bad on both sides. There always will be. To dismiss all mainstream music, or to dismiss all alternative music, would just mean you’re missing out. Find what you like, enjoy it, let it make you happy.

Jump Aboard The FOE Train

In the beginning, Canberra group Friend Or Enemy were just another local heavy band, belting out a few power-chords and riffs, with the odd melody thrown in. And like all bands of their type, they were worth a look live, but overall, nothing spectacular. Front man Rory’s attempt at screaming, while valiant, wasn’t great – something that was greatly supplemented when guitarist Jay Farleigh joined the group, the man possesses a scream that’d scare off Lucifer himself.

The band released a batch of demos over 2006/7 which were decent, but once again, nothing spectacular. If anything the group showed a lot of potential, but it seemed they were yet to utilise it. With a group of rather plain heavy and melodic songs (the exception being Look At Me Now), the band were one to wait and see what happened. And little did anybody know, it was going to be well worth the wait.

Jump to the end of 2007, and the band announced through their MySpace blog that they had been reworking their sound, and with that, their old songs as well. At the time, it didn’t seem like much to think about; they were, after all, just another generic sounding metal band. But, when they unfurled a few new tracks, and their new sound, it was fucking gobsmacking. Seemingly out of nowhere, Rory learnt to scream, the riffs got meatier, the band got tighter — essentially they got a packed lunch of awesome into them and started cranking out the heavy.

With the exit of some high-profile bands from the Canberra scene over the last couple of years, some of you may have been fearful for the well-being of music here in the capital. But, with the development of bands like Friend Or Enemy into far more mature and musically adept groups, this fair city’s musical future is looking brighter than the smiles in a toothpaste commercial.

Now with the band in the studio, the prospect of what the band calls “songs to blow your earpussys” is getting more and more exciting. The band made giant leaps of progress between their first and second lot of demos, and with any luck they’ll keep up the pattern with the tracks on this impending album. With demos like “You’ll See The Best Of Me” and “To Our Hell Or Held For Dead” just thinking about the kinds of noise Friend Or Enemy are going to making in the future is one of the most exciting things in Canberran music in quite a while.

So go and check out Friend Or Enemy, add them, and get behind one of the bands that’s going to be keeping Canberra’s music alive over the next few years – support your homegrown talent.

www.myspace.com/friendorenemy and www.friendorenemy.com.au

The band are playing at Liquid Fest ‘09 at the Queanbeyan Aquatic Centre on 14th February and in Goulburn on 1st March.

Bring On The Brutality

I remember, as 2008 was coming to a close, a brutal band by the name of Grim Demise added me on MySpace. Having such a wanky sterotypical metal name deterred me from listening immediately, but a few days later I decided to investigate. As the music was loading, I noticed they were from Newcastle, for some reason this sunk my spirits lower still (if you’re from Newy, and offended… move) but then the first track kicked in and BAM like a limbless antelope being mauled by a lion, I was swatted around the room in a ceaseless musical barrage the likes Australia has been failing to produce for years. What these guys were doing was not revolutionary in any sense, it was something far simpler than that – they were sticking to a proven formula and they had the dedication to make it sound good.

So, sitting there that lazy afternoon, I though “RIGHT! If these guys keep moving along at the cracking pace they’ve obviously been going, Australia’s in for a good kick in the pants next year.” But, alas, my gluteol predicitons were shattered. Half the band dissappeared, all hope seemed lost, for months, I sat there as they begged for members, hoping and praying that Newcastle had someone that could strum six strings and sound angry. And I would be praying a while.

Jump to now, and the band are doing the odd show around town, but are still down a serious vocalist. Hindering them from progressing any further than what they did initially, and it’s monumentally painful to sit here and watch all that potential slowly evaporate into contempt, boredom and an addiction to one or more brands of fast food.  All this is ultimately stopping a proper release, and ultimately a support slot and/or tour.

Australia hasn’t produced a decent death metal band that was worth a pinch of shit for nearly countless years (except Chaos Divine), I don’t care if you disagree with me either, you’re probably a prick. And when a band finally surfaces, demonstrating the skill, determination and love of the music to pull this fair country out of the heavy metal toilet, they can’t even find a bloke willing to scream into a microphone and have some fun.

Mentioned fleetingly in the previous paragraph, Chaos Divine are proudly wielding the mighty sword of death metal and have been slogging it out for a few years now. And low and behold, like a pack of hungry dogs swarming an unguarded pack of sausages, the Australian metal public have embraced them – leaving them with a record deal and a slot at the Perth BDO (if it finds another venue). This is proof that death metal isn’t just for Norwegians and kids who like their black lipstick, it’s an art form for the intellectual and bogan alike to enjoy. And if you’re a person who doesn’t like death metal, chances are you haven’t heard any, and these two bands are perfect to set you on your way to listening bliss.

And yet, with all this potential for Big Day Out appearances and fancy indie record contracts, Grim Demise still can’t find a vocalist. Highlighting the ridiculous “can’t be fucked” attitude in relation to music that seems to riddle a lot of places (Canberra being a strange exception, along with the more predictable Melbourne). Making this predicament even more baffling is the relative ease of being a death metal vocalist – no lessons, no equipment, no strings to replace, no amps to buy, just get up there and scream your head off.

Regardless of their vocalist predicament, Grim Demise have been working on new material and have still got some old demos up for streaming. Donate your listening time to a band putting in the hard yards for the music they love, and doing a stand up job of it (they’re far more deserving than Fall Out Boy, anyway) And if you know someone who can scream and/or yell their head off living in Syndey or Newcastle, point them in Grim Demise’s direction, and you may help start something amazing.
www.myspace.com/grimdemise

And you can’t forget the jaw-dropping, fist pumping Chaos Divine. Serving up their distinctly different approach to death metal, while retaining all the elements that makes the music great. If you’re in Perth anytime soon, check these guys out live and prepare for one the best experiences of your life; or if you’ve got a couple of spare bucks, why not pick up their album – 10 tracks of mind-altering intensity for $20 (they’ve gotta make a living).
www.myspace.com/chaosisdivine