Where to send for reviews and indie labels!!!

[the dude]

Hi all!!!
I am in a band called "BLACKFALL" We are based in Los Angeles and are giging in and around LA at some cool and kind of big places. We have a 4 song demo that is mastered and packaged and a press kit and all that good shit! Have been sending it out to some places in hopes of getting it reviewed and/or label interest. Mostly indie labels because we ARE NOT mainstream music. It is all acoustic (2 12strings/1 6 string) bass, wurlitzer, and hard driving hand percussion. The music is ROCK music but very alternative. (Think, Alice in Chains meets an african tribe, smokes some green stuff and jams.)
Anywayzzzzzzzzzzz, my question is where do you or have you sent alternative music to get reviews or do you know of any cool indie labels looking for bands. WE ARE VERY TIGHT and have our shit together in every phase of our music. Please hit me back with any and ALL info you might have and as always, THANK YOU!!
Sorry, dont have a link up YET to our website. Peace, the dude

[the dude]

OH and if anyone is interested in hearing our demo, you can email me your address and I will send you one. WE wrote, performed and RECORDED the entire thing ourselves in my homw studio. Had someone else master it. I think you will be pleasantly surprised. If I DO send you a demo, all I ask is that you email us and tell us what you think. good and bad. Thanks again., later fellas. email to: blackinthefall@hotmail for free 4 song demo~

[Blue Bear Sound]

Just post a cliip or two... much easier....!

[the dude]

sorry blue bear, no links YET. we have a website that will be up and running in less than a month. Kind of behind in that area

[the dude]

SOMEONE has to have some info@@ come on HELP ME!!!

[maryslittlesecret]

It's hard to give you advice on where to go without hearing your music (which certainly sounds interesting). I can't imagine that there aren't a million 'zines in L.A. dedicated solely to the music/art scene...? Try finding press in Iowa

My best 'generic' suggestion would be to grab a copy of the Indie Bible. Though I haven't used it much myself, it claims to offer thousands of website, zines and ezines, indie radio stations, etc. that are willing to listen to, play, and review independent bands (some obviously better than others). You can check it out for yourself at http://www.indiebible.com

If we were closer in style, I could point you to some sites that we had luck with but I'm willing to bet that we're a little more aggressive than your band... Best of luck -- if you find any good places, be sure to come back and share

J

P.S. If you've got your live shows happening, make a web presence your top priority -- even if it's just an mp3 page on one of the many services (mp3.com, broadjam.com, nowhereradio.com, etc.). It's a must have for an indie band in this day and age...

[Verbuse]

www.cdbaby.com a good place

[David Hooper]

www.gajoob.com is a great place to get your stuff reviewed.

David

--
KR TIP SHEET - Film/TV Music Placement and more...

www.krtipsheet.com

[ignition]

Tape op reviews demos and stuff in their mag. If you have a subscription, you should be able to find the address in there. If you don't have a subscription, GET ONE! It's free

travis

[David Hooper]

Yes, TapeOp is great!! It's like the Mix of home and project studio recording.

--
KR TIP SHEET - Film/TV Music Placement and more...

www.krtipsheet.com

[mbuster]

Originally posted by maryslittlesecret
Try finding press in Iowa

Haha, no shit. I live in Burlington, IA and there is ZERO music scene. Cedar Rapids, eh? How is it up there? I recently got in touch with another musician from CR. Is there a scene up there?

[tanlith]

Originally posted by mbuster
Haha, no shit. I live in Burlington, IA and there is ZERO music scene. Cedar Rapids, eh? How is it up there? I recently got in touch with another musician from CR. Is there a scene up there?

Ummm guys?

Is there zero music scene? Or is there just no press for the scene? I mean, if there's enough musicians in your general area then maybe you should create your own press? Start with a website... arrange a "battle of the bands" thing etc...

just my 2 cents... which with the current excange rate means I still owe $12.95 Canadian

- Tanlith -

[David Hooper]

Originally posted by tanlith
Is there zero music scene? Or is there just no press for the scene? I mean, if there's enough musicians in your general area then maybe you should create your own press?

Exactly!

You can create a scene simply by going out to clubs 2-3 night a week. If everybody did that...instant scene.

--
KR TIP SHEET - Film/TV Music Placement and more...

www.krtipsheet.com/

[the dude]

Hey guys, thanks for the help. I set up an account with CDBABY.COM. our music will be up in a matter of days, hopefully today! It is under the name BLACKFALL. take a listen and let me know what you think. Again, it SHOULD be up today or tomorrow. Thanks again everyone! peace the dude abides

[the dude]

hey guys!!! our music is FINALLY on the web at www.cdbaby.com/blackfall. you dont HAVE to buy it, but take a listen and tell me what you think!!! BLACKFALL!!!!!

[Kramer]

Originally posted by the dude

Anywayzzzzzzzzzzz, my question is where do you or have you sent alternative music to get reviews or do you know of any cool indie labels looking for bands. WE ARE VERY TIGHT and have our shit together in every phase of our music. Please hit me back with any and ALL info you might have and as always, THANK YOU!!
Sorry, dont have a link up YET to our website. Peace, the dude

It's time to get a magager or at least and agent who has access to the inside.managers and agents are on every street corner in L.A. so you wont have any trouble.

[Kramer]

"Hollow" is a good tune man.You guys shouldnt have any trouble getting representation of you are serious about your career.

Talk to some of the other bands that play on your circuit and ask them who represents them etc.,and who they would reccomend.

[the dude]

thanks kramer! appreciated the info. Yeah We ARE serious and actuallu have been approached by a producer but right now we are trying to get some reviews or press so that we can LOOK like we are serious about it. and not just talk that way. later bro

[maryslittlesecret]

Sorry to bring this back up, but I just got back online.

To clarify, I understand and agree with the philosophy that you need to create your own scene, but I also think that it's not always that simple. No disrespect intended -- I'm a big fan of your articles, books, site, etc., Dave.

I would gladly go out to clubs 2-3 nights a week if only there were original music in town that frequently. We have essentially one club that focuses on live music and they can barely book the weekends with cover bands, let alone original artists (the heart of a 'true scene', IMO).

We're doing our part to build the scene and have brought in some great out-of-town bands as well (there's no one else in town), but I get a little frustrated with the 'build it and they will come' solution -- great mindset, but not always realistic...

Just my jaded 2 cents

J
thirty seconds of shame
http://www.30SoS.com

[David Hooper]

Originally posted by maryslittlesecret
To clarify, I understand and agree with the philosophy that you need to create your own scene, but I also think that it's not always that simple. No disrespect intended -- I'm a big fan of your articles, books, site, etc., Dave.

I would gladly go out to clubs 2-3 nights a week if only there were original music in town that frequently. We have essentially one club that focuses on live music and they can barely book the weekends with cover bands, let alone original artists (the heart of a 'true scene', IMO).

Believe me, I understand where you are coming from. Your goal is to change the scene though...not support it as it is.

This doesn't happen all at once. If you only have limited places you can go, or limited nights with original music, just do what you can. And let the club owners know what you want to see more of...

This stuff doesn't happen overnight.

The club owner is doing covers (or whatever) because people come for it. If more people come for original music, he'll change things up.

[tanlith]

Originally posted by David Hooper
Believe me, I understand where you are coming from. Your goal is to change the scene though...not support it as it is.

This doesn't happen all at once. If you only have limited places you can go, or limited nights with original music, just do what you can. And let the club owners know what you want to see more of...

This stuff doesn't happen overnight.

The club owner is doing covers (or whatever) because people come for it. If more people come for original music, he'll change things up.

Dave's got a good point... the club owners decide on who to book based on feedback from customers. Maybe you should first gather as many original artist in your area and start going to the club on specific nights to watch the existing talent... then start talking to the club manager as a group ... it's more or less like lobbying... if you get enough people together to sway the majority of customers to a group who support and like original music then you have the edge... the owner will book accordingly so he doesn't lose a large group of customers.

In the Windsor area, there never used to be a place for the "subculture" (or goth/industrial scene) to go so a large group of us started hanging out at two different places on Thursday and Friday evening... after awhile we became the majority of the people there and soon our requests for "our style" of music were granted... the big trick is to keep your "group" in line so as not to cause too much friction with the current regulars. As long as you don't cause trouble things will go smoothly.

Anyhow, it does take a little work and some time, but creating a new scene is a lot easier then one would think. And who's to say that these "cover bands" you mentioned wouldn't rather be playing their own stuff?? Maybe they hold off because the club owner told them to... you could proabably get these bands to go along with you as well... in no time you'll be having an open mic night and booking original acts there...

- Michael -

[glynb]

Can't speak for the States but IMO some towns just will not and never support an original music scene. It's about demographics. Some towns have say Universities and a corresponding high proportion of teenagers/20 somethings into original music (not dancing/clubbing). In these places you have the chance for a vibrant scene.

Other provincial towns are places where this age group move out and leave in order to go away to Univerity, so you have a different type of population and different entertainment needs. In a place like that you have an uphill struggle to get a 'scene' going. Bar/club owneres want to sell drinks to packed houses. whatever achieves that they will support, be it original music, covers, DJs, lap dancing or general knowledge quiz's !!

Of course I am generalising to make a point, but the principle is correct.

I don't buy the argument that a scene can be nurtured in any town if you simply work hard enough. In my home town of Blackpool night clubs for dancing work, cabaret shows work, bars that put on original live music don't. It's a holiday town and the people that come here aren't the 'right type' of people for original live music. Travel down the Motorway to manchester (50 minutes) and you get a very different scenario.

[tanlith]

Originally posted by glynb
I don't buy the argument that a scene can be nurtured in any town if you simply work hard enough. In my home town of Blackpool night clubs for dancing work, cabaret shows work, bars that put on original live music don't. It's a holiday town and the people that come here aren't the 'right type' of people for original live music. Travel down the Motorway to manchester (50 minutes) and you get a very different scenario.

So basicly you're saying your town doesn't have enough musicians to nurture a scene then?

- Tanlith -

[glynb]

I know you're sceptical (or is it ME whose sceptical?).
Thing is, I have seen it tried again and again over the years in my town (past 20 years) by various people and it hasn't worked. People start out enthusiasticaly 'This is the thing this town has been needing', 'jam night all musicians welcome', 'come down and hang out with other musiciains', etc etc. Fizzles out after a while.

It's not that I don't think that scenario CAN work, just that it hasn't worked here.

In any case, you need an audience of non-musicians idealy otherwise it's all a bit incestuous!

Geography/location has always been a factor in musical success. As an example, The Beatles arguably only existed because they lived in a port and had access to imported records which inspired them - from the USA from all the sailors. Bob Dylan's career took off when he left Hibbing and moved to new York.

There aren't many examples of a 'scene' developing in a small provincial town which has led on to producing great success, without the artist(s) involved leaving and moving to the big city.

Mutual support from musicians is good as far as it goes.

[tanlith]

OK... but I could argue the opposite is true... The Windsor area has had pretty much the same situation as you. All of a sudden several groups of musicians get together and create a scene... next thing you know there's bars all over town hosting jam nights... then after a summer or two of this... things go back to "normal".

Yeah, there are a couple bars in Windsor that regularly support live music... mainly blues or soft rock. No support for hard rock or the like. But for the most part... very little support for live musicians here. (Unless you want to play in Detroit, which is nearly impossible to do with this Homeland Security thing in place now)

Yet, through the difficult task of creating a scene, several well know artists made their way to stardom through the Windsor "scene" -- The Tea Party comes to mind... they burst through during one of Windsor's dry spells...

One thing that I KNOW turns a "non-musician audience" off is crappy sound... and I'm not talking about the talent of the players... if you ever get the gumption to actually get up and TRY to create a scene, be sure you have someone riding the mixing board who has some SKILL. IMHO the "sound guy" is JUST as important a member of the band as ANY of the musicians in it.

Basicly what I'm saying is this: if others have tried and failed, it doesn't mean you will... I would wager that the past attempts focused TOO much on the musicians that they didn't bother marketing (or maketed poorly) to the general public. Make it easy for people to come... DON'T charge a cover... that can kill the whole concept right from the get go... I seen a LOT of arguements about that desicion in the past... Organization is important... Another thing people don't like is when a band starts "plugging" their CD for sale in the lobby etc... I myself have walked out on a live performance over that... every 2-3 songs we got the speech "You all having a good time?" etc... "We have t-shirst and CDs for sale in the lobby!" <--- I HATE that! I came to hear music... and it's pretty hard to miss the big sales booth in the lobby with the big sign over it. Someone actually shouted out "Shut up and play something!!!"

Anyhow... if it's well organized and properly marketed to the public it can work. Maybe not forever, but possibly long enough to generate notice from someone influential. (if that's your goal)

If you live out in the "boonies" why not create a BIG scene... I lived on the outskirts of Windsor for 14yrs, I remember 3 summers in a row we got another local band (friends of ours) to join us and start a monthly Pig Roast... we'd buy a pig; dig a pit fire it up and slow roast that baby for a fer hours... we charged $15.00/head and ran outa pig the first night. We played outdoors and partied till 4:00am... The next month we bought 2 pigs and a keg and charged $25.00/head and STILL didn't have enough to go around ... we ran out of food around 2:00am but the party still went strong till around 4:00am... usually we would either just break even or be +- $50.00-$100.00 -- but it was packed... most times other local musicians would be there having fun and we'd let em play a tune or two with us...

Ahhh the good old days!

- Tanlith -

- Tanlith -