Reviewing Shows

There were a couple reasons to start up with this site: I've been encouraged by a few people to write about local music because they find merit in my writing, my Gear Page doesn't provide an honest outlet for shows without amazing pedalboards, many local reviewers never veer from the one kind of music they exclusively listen to, and I might just get into a few shows for free... one can only hope.

First and foremost, as a guy in a Seattle band, I will not post negative reviews.  There's plenty of people in bands telling tales about peers they'd like to see fail, condemning the lack of talent of people they don't like, bands they find derivative, and anyone that's been rumoured to have said a negative thing in their direction.  I have no intention of doing that-- if a show pops up here, it's because I enjoyed it, and we can all find our trash talk elsewhere.  Not every write-up will be worshipful, of course, but if I'm writing up the show, it's because I want to draw people to it, not defame it.

I wanted to start writing show reviews because, aside from the encouragement I've been receiving from friends, it seems like only a few band names are ever lit up in the social media around Seattle, and they're never the bands I would like to see highlighted... call it the "why is no one writing about these guys?" syndrome.

As a guy in a band, I relate to that; lots of people see shows, like them, and talk about them, but the literal "word of mouth" relies on your circle of friends.  For a long time, grassroots movements in music and word of mouth meant independent press like local free papers and 'zines, both of which are struggling under the ubiquity of blogs... more of us need to sit down and spill some on-screen ink over the things we want to see thrive.  Unless people can locate the things we're celebrating and want found, no one will find or celebrate them.

My tastes are varied, too-- though I default to a lot of punk and metal shows, I don't want any one genre to overtake the feed.  Similarly, though the blog is local band-themed, I won't hesitate to write about touring bands as they come through town, or bands I see when I'm out of Seattle.  Finally, I'll say up front that I love my band, but I'm not vain enough to review us... someone else has to pen that one.
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