Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, August 22, 1995 TAG: 9508230023
SECTION: WELCOME HOME PAGE: WS-24 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: DAVID JACKSON SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Perhaps you came to school as a seasoned musician, having played parties with your pals since the eighth grade. Maybe you even brought them with you. More likely, though, you've been toiling away at your instrument, maybe writing songs, maybe just honing your technique, and cursing the backward town you live in because no one listens to the same music as you.
College - the rock 'n' roll light at the end of the tunnel.
You've always wanted to start a band, since you were little, air-guitaring in front of the mirror to your sister's copy of ``Frampton Comes Alive.'' Now's your chance. It's a proven fact that there are more musicians in college towns than there are permanent residents. ``But ... but how?'' you ask.
Step one: Find someone with whom to play. Bulletin boards around your college town will be overrun with fliers that say ``Bassist needed to play experimental skronk-jazz with a Southern-rock edge'' or ``World's greatest guitarist seeks established band to Get Signed!'' or ... well, you get the idea. Answering these is a bit, um, scary, but remember that some of the most successful bands in history formed as a result of carefully placed ads.
Duran Duran, for example.
If you place your own ad, remember a few things:
Be specific. ``Musician wants to form band. Must have own equipment'' will get about as much response as ``Dryer Lint for Sale.'' State what you have in mind (covers or originals? any particular style?), and always list your influences, even if they range from Balinese ritual music to suburban three-chord punk.
Avoid hyperbole. Would you enjoy playing with the ``World's Greatest Guitarist''? If you're in it primarily for fun, the words ``No Experience Necessary'' always achieve interesting results.
Expect the unexpected. All kinds of crazy freaks answer ads - just ask anyone who's ever tried to sell a refrigerator.
When all else fails, borrow someone else's stuff and teach your friends how to play. Start with easy songs and work your way up to ``2112'' by Rush.
Another obstacle is finding a place to practice. Dorms, for obvious reasons, aren't conducive to loud rock 'n' roll. Most of the people in most of the neighborhoods in most of the college towns in the world are used to a little bit of noise, so basement rock is generally the way to go. Talk to your neighbors before you rock and don't play after 10 o'clock at night or the cops will come.
If no one in your band has a basement, talk to people in other bands to find out where they practice, and then trick them into letting you practice there too.
Another popular option is self-storage. In Radford and Blacksburg at least, there are dozens of storage complexes that are very cool about renting to bands. Rates and sizes vary, but if you shop around and combine resources with other bands, you can jam economically. The most obvious pros are that you can turn up as loud as you want most places and play anytime the complex is open. Cons include the cold of winter and the heat of summer (not much insulation here, folks) and the often spartan wiring (usually a couple of outlets rigged into the light socket).
So your band's been playing a couple of months now, you've got 10 or so songs together, and you want other people to hear it. There are a number of ways to go. A popular pastime among college students is something historically referred to as ``The Party.'' Young people gather at these occasions to foster stimulating discourse and express feelings of good will that will cement the bonds of friendship for years to come. As a result, they also like to rock. That's where your band comes in. A little foresight, and you might even make it through with only residual equipment damage. Don't play too loud or too late, though, or the cops will come.
Bars often like to organize live music as well, to break up the monotony of patrons drinking themselves into oblivion to a soundtrack of today's recorded hits. Go and see some bands at these places, both to support ``the scene'' and to get an idea of where your band might go over best. Cool places that have bands will let in students who are 18-and-up, and some places even have all-ages shows. Many fine, established bands, as well as bands like Hootie & the Blowfish, got their start playing in stinky, wretched ... um, well-maintained and pleasant drinking establishments. Often, a lucky local group can get an opening slot for the next Green Day, which is one step from being the next next Green Day. And that means recording your music for posterity.
If you think you have something going on, it's not difficult at all to scrape together enough dough to do a 45 or even a CD. Many bands have gone on to various levels of success from the New River Valley, and there's even a record label or two floating around in the area. The point being, all these records and CDs are a direct result of bands Doing It Themselves. Talk to local bands who've been at it awhile to see how they did it. It's just like Luke Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi.
If, once and for all, you decide you're content goofing around with your friends and making up songs about your favorite '70s action show, and you couldn't care less if anyone else heard you, than just rock to your little heart's content in your own basement and don't share with the rest of us. We don't care. We've already got our own band.
by CNB