930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: Vas Deferens on March 21, 2006, 11:29:00 pm
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I just noticed that many SXSW acts that played San Francisco right after SXSW week skipped DC... Is it because NYC is only 4 hours away? Or, there are not much fans in DC?
Jose Gonzalez
Snow Patrol
dEUS
The Bats
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We also got two of the nine U.S. Pogues dates. It's all logistics, what the band can do. I've been frustrated in the past myself, but the truth is we get just about everything.
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Originally posted by Bags:
I've been frustrated in the past myself, but the truth is we get just about everything.
Agreed. Some bands will always play DC and some always Baltimore, but with Sonar now in full swing, bands will now be even more inclined to skip DC. I'm not griping because it's better than skipping the whole region all together and it's only a 45 minute drive there, but just an observation.
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Originally posted by andyrichter:
Originally posted by Bags:
I've been frustrated in the past myself, but the truth is we get just about everything.
Agreed. Some bands will always play DC and some always Baltimore, but with Sonar now in full swing, bands will now be even more inclined to skip DC. I'm not griping because it's better than skipping the whole region all together and it's only a 45 minute drive there, but just an observation. [/b]
I'm sure I'll get flamed, but I've only gone to B'more for a show midweek once. Just too far. But, I'm used to a 7 minute commute home once a show is over, so my normal situation is too sweet and I'm used to it.
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if you really want to know, i can tell you why certain bands skip dc. the lack of a mid-size venue (like the ottobar) has a lot to do with it. things will be changing soon, however.
i know my taste in music is pretty much out of the mainstream, but since i started doing show three years ago, i've been able to bring many bands to dc that would otherwise have skipped it. if you're into experimental, noise, psych, doom metal, acid folk, free jazz, and electronics, you know what i'm talking about.
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Why do They Might Be Giants never skip Baltimore?
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Originally posted by snailhook:
if you really want to know, i can tell you why certain bands skip dc. the lack of a mid-size venue (like the ottobar) has a lot to do with it. things will be changing soon, however.
i know my taste in music is pretty much out of the mainstream, but since i started doing show three years ago, i've been able to bring many bands to dc that would otherwise have skipped it. if you're into experimental, noise, psych, doom metal, acid folk, free jazz, and electronics, you know what i'm talking about.
I couldn't agree more snailhook. Hopefully the Rock n Roll Hotel will help improve this. But i think part of the problem lies with the Black Cat. I love the club and the people, but it is a tough place to book shows if you are an out of town band without a track record here. It almost doesn't matter how much buzz you have. I literally couldn't get the BJM show there last year without it being on the backstage, simply because they hadn't been huge at the club before. I mean, we could have easily sold 400-500 tickets for that show. Since this has been our only "mid" size venue, this could make it difficult. That doesn't explain a band like Snow Patrol skipping DC, especially since we are a cash cow for them.
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Well many UK bands are coming over for SXSW showcases that in some cases are being funded by the arts councils over there, so they have limited funds as to where they can perfom. New York is obvious due to the numerous media outlets, record co, population, etc up there. Tis a shame the majority of the media coverage in DC is of the political nature, what a WASTE of broadcasting facilities. Hopefully, with NPR Live doing so many shows from the 9:30 club more bands will be inclinded to come down here for that.
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Originally posted by redsock:
Hopefully the Rock n Roll Hotel will help improve this.
What is this??
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Originally posted by redsock:
That doesn't explain a band like Snow Patrol skipping DC, especially since we are a cash cow for them.
They're not really 'skipping' DC -- the album isn't out, and this is just a very mini-tour before that, I'd bet likely based on the SXSW dates/promotion (they did several industry-only events in Austin). They're only hitting Atlanta (before SXSW), SXSW, San Fran, L.A., Boston, N.Y. and Toronto. Club dates, which I'll bet we don't see from them again. Goodness knows they've hit DC a lot.
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Originally posted by redsock:
That doesn't explain a band like Snow Patrol skipping DC, especially since we are a cash cow for them.
Hasn't Snow Patrol played here something like 4 times in the last year? It sure seems that way.
Not every band can hit every city on every tour. Frankly, I think we're spoiled here in DC. We get TONS of shows.
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Originally posted by Bags:
Originally posted by redsock:
Hopefully the Rock n Roll Hotel will help improve this.
What is this?? [/b]
http://www.rockandrollhoteldc.com/ (http://www.rockandrollhoteldc.com/)
just found it searching around online. apparently very new and large venue in H St. NE. High on Fire is going to be playing there according to LycosMusic.
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Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
Not every band can hit every city on every tour. Frankly, I think we're spoiled here in DC. We get TONS of shows.
I was just thinking the same thing.
How many cities get as many shows as D.C.?
New York
San Francisco
Chicago?
Seattle?
LA?
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Having grown up in a city that gets far less acts than DC, believe me, even if you think bands are skipping DC, it could be much much worse.
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ditto... nothing worse than watching a band do a show in Toronto, then probably pass through Detroit on the way to Chicago... DC isn't as big a market as many people think it is.
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Originally posted by kosmo vinyl:
ditto... nothing worse than watching a band do a show in Toronto, then probably pass through Detroit on the way to Chicago... DC isn't as big a market as many people think it is.
http://www.lostremote.com/story/nielsen_markets_2004.htm (http://www.lostremote.com/story/nielsen_markets_2004.htm)
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and seven on down on that list tend to get skipped by developing/buzz bands from the UK,etc
i read some that something like a 1/3 of the US population resides with an hours drive of Atlantic City... so move to Jersey for the most potential concerting options and good luck getting tickets in NYC :D
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maybe bands are sick of Washington audiences talking throughout their sets!
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
http://www.lostremote.com/story/nielsen_markets_2004.htm
If you combine the Washington, DC, and Baltimore markets, however, then we move up to #4 and are only 0.08% behind #3 Chicago. And I think we can overtake them in the long run!
Hey, it works for Dallas-Ft. Worth and San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose...
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Originally posted by rich_WDC:
maybe bands are sick of Washington audiences talking throughout their sets!
or not dancing, wearing the right clothes, not having a college radio station playing their stuff, not enough bloggers,
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I blame BigYawn and Constitution Hall.
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Originally posted by snailhook:
if you really want to know, i can tell you why certain bands skip dc. the lack of a mid-size venue (like the ottobar) has a lot to do with it. things will be changing soon, however.
Took the words right out of my mouth. Hopefully a place like the Warehouse, even though it is a bit smaller, can attract some more bands.
Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
Not every band can hit every city on every tour. Frankly, I think we're spoiled here in DC. We get TONS of shows.
You're right. There's only a handful of cities that gets every single show. Off the top of my head NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, LA. We're in the next group.
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There are also bands that rarely ever play outside their homebase, I'd like to see go on tour. Or the bands that make the trip to Austin for SXSW, I'd surely like to see Aberfeldy but is it worth the madness to get a glimpse of them...
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the rock and roll hotel is going to be open in late april/early may and will be around 350 capacity and all ages. high on fire was going to play but we had to cancel it because we're likely not going to be open by the 20th. i will be booking shows there in addition to dc9 and the warehouse. the red and the black, which is located a block away from the rock and roll hotel, will be open in late april as well, and will be comparable in size to the velvet lounge.
between all of these places, i'll be able to pull bands that would normally play baltimore and/or philly instead of dc. there certainly is a market for it.
the black cat is gradually going the way of the 9:30, where they are intent on booking what sells the most. i can't really fault them for needing to cover costs, but this often means that great bands that draw 300 get left out if the cat won't book them, as noted by redsock and his story about BJM. when i have a sold out show at the warehouse or dc9, people ask why the show wasn't at a bigger place, and the answer is because the cat wouldn't book it.
the bottom line is, dc needs a mid-size venue that can host acts that are too big for dc9/warehouse but too small for black cat/9:30. we're really hoping that people respond to these new venues and support them when we do start getting some fairly well-known national acts.
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Originally posted by ggwâ?¢:
Originally posted by Bombay Chutney:
Not every band can hit every city on every tour. Frankly, I think we're spoiled here in DC. We get TONS of shows.
I was just thinking the same thing.
How many cities get as many shows as D.C.?
New York
San Francisco
Chicago?
Seattle?
LA? [/b]
Toronto :)
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Originally posted by Joe M.:
I just noticed that many SXSW acts that played San Francisco right after SXSW week skipped DC... Is it because NYC is only 4 hours away? Or, there are not much fans in DC?
i'd point out that the noisepop festival is starting next week, so that may have something to do with the large amount of sxsw bands coming to san francisco.
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just like everything else in DC, renting a place out is probaby more.
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Yeah, but none of the bands that I mentioned are playing Noise Pop.
I'm content with the explanation that those acts played the "major" markets (NYC, SF, LA) and skipped the secondary markets, like DC.
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i'd point out that the noisepop festival is starting next week, so that may have something to do with the large amount of sxsw bands coming to san francisco.
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Originally posted by snailhook:
the rock and roll hotel is going to be open in late april/early may and will be around 350 capacity and all ages. high on fire was going to play but we had to cancel it because we're likely not going to be open by the 20th. i will be booking shows there in addition to dc9 and the warehouse. the red and the black, which is located a block away from the rock and roll hotel, will be open in late april as well, and will be comparable in size to the velvet lounge.
this sounds fantastic! can't wait to start seeing shows there.
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is that rock n roll hotel near anything i've ever been to? will it survive if the 'from metro' directions involve a bus, and requesting a stop, in a slightly sketchy (right?) neighborhood?
anyone who says dc doesn't get shows has never lived in pittsburgh
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
anyone who says dc doesn't get shows has never lived in pittsburgh
Hey at least you guys had the Cynics.
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[/B]
anyone who says dc doesn't get shows has never lived in pittsburgh
ain't that the truth. they get almost nothing.