Friday, August 15, 2008

"Don't burn the locals"

Greetings.

You have stumbled upon the official blog of the band, Steady Machete.

Last night on "No Reservations with Anthony Bourdain", the host (Bourdain) went to Vegas. While watching, something stuck out besides his complete lack of enthusiasm throughout the entire episode. Every time he talked to a Vegas "local", they all had the same advice: "Don't burn the locals." Interesting advice that I suppose means that if you are playing a non NGC regulated game of poker and cheat to win, you just might end up with a horse head in your bed. Perhaps a timely message.

We are a local band with international aspirations, and as such, it often makes us feel like we're not a local band. Rather, our perception is often skewed so that when we ARE treated like a local band, we feel the sting. This happens a lot.

The most recent occurrence would be our desire for a shot at playing Utah's biggest music festival, The Big Ass Show. To do this as a local band, there is only one way to accomplish such a luctrative feat. Since the show is sponsored by X96, the radio station's beloved local band rep, Portia, organized a battle of the bands (BOTB) wherein 16 lucky, "deserving" bands are chosen to compete. The winner obviously gaining a spot on the stage.

According to her website, Portia received no less than 74 submissions from bands all across Utah (and beyond?) asking for a spot on the BOTB bill. I'm not sure what the screening process was, what criteria or genre they were looking for, or if there even was criteria. Not being plugged into the local band scene until very recently, we have a very outsider type of view on the local scene here. So upon seeing the list, we looked up all 16 bands that apparently won over Portia in some way or another. What we found baffled us to say the least.

We won't name the bands that were chosen--in case you haven't guessed it, WE were not one of them--because that would require actual research. Let's just say that if you are into the local scene, you still won't have heard of some of them. Most of them, actually. Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not. Afterall, who's heard of Steady Machete? Nevertheless, this led us to really take a step back and ask, "Is this the right town for us?" If these are the types of bands that deserve to be showcased in front of thousands and thousands of their peers, perhaps we don't belong here.

If that is the case, then where do we belong? Probably somewhere we could never afford to go. And if we got there, wouldn't the same sort of thing happen to us? In fact, everywhere we go we will be considered a "local" band. So our resolve? To keep at it, simply. Afterall, the best thing a local band can do, is win over the locals. If we were to scream and cry and call bull shit every time we got passed up, the great people of Utah might start to regard us an egotistical, prima-donna band. Our goal is not to piss off our public. And as we already know, you just don't burn the locals.

eh

4 comments:

sashley said...

It's quite likely that anywhere you'd go you'd have the same problem of just being treated as a local band. This will likely happen until you are appreciated nationally, then your home town will jump on the appreciation train.

Nonetheless, that doesn't explain why horrid bands were chosen for the battle. Do other cities experience similar lame battles?

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

I agree Ashley! I'm sure every band experiences disappointment and I honestly think it's a blessing in disguise.

This will only make you stronger! So lets drop the bomb on the street and make it nationally.

Don't forget our Steady Marauders street team! Lets take Utah by surprise. I can't wait for the EP to come out! August 30th baby!

- Kimi G
aka de Manager

Anonymous said...

I appreciate and adore you! I can never say enough about the three of you as people and as a band. Ever since I've been coming to shows, I have been welcomed as a fan and as a friend. I will forever be a loyal and obsessed fan. Sorry boys, you're never getting rid of me. I cannot wait until you make it big!