I've said it before, and I'll say it again

There were time’s when grabbing some guitars, drum sticks and making music YOU wanted to hear was something called ‘fun’, now days there are people in this world who make what they call music as a way to become rich. Don’t get me wrong, there are stadium rock bands with singer’s or guitarist’s from back in the day who wanted to do the same thing, but there are also some bands now who still have the same DIY ethics as the punk and hardcore kids from Great Britain and the United states around the 70’s and mid 80’s. With the sound dominating the airwaves from bands such as Motley Crue and Aerosmith, there wasn’t a scene the younger generations could relate to. All those band’s sung about getting girls, and driving fast cars. So with Hardcore in the 80’s, kids made there own gigs, tours and scenes. Band’s such as Bad Brains and Minor Threat flew the flag for the underground movement and with this came a whole new power to fight the corporate stadium sounds of Bon Jovi and KISS.

Underground band’s now days aren’t hard to find. They are around use, in every county, city and town, you can hear new and exciting music made by people who are level minded and have the same idea’s as you. With the constant search for ‘the next big thing’ by label’s and industry people it’s hard to come across these bands or artists just before they are picked up by the big music paper or exploited by television shows. But fear not, there are DIY labels and festivals, both British and American that showcase these exciting new talents. Labels such as Oxford based Try Harder records (Youthmovies, Adam Gnade and Jonquil) and Big Scary Monsters (Blakfish, Tubelord, Pulled Apart By Horses). Labels who will only release artists music via old cassette tapes such as Tapeclub Records (Thos Henley, Peter Lyons) in Southampton. And you can never forget the man player in the underground music scene in the states, Sub Pop Records. For just over two decades now this label has had their finger on the pulse of what Is happening under the radar. Bringing bands such as No Age, Fleet Foxes to a wider audience. Any band on the roster of each of these label’s are exciting and new. They are doing the music THEY want to make, not what Simon Cowell or Joe Whiley can make money from and want to hear.

Being in a band is not an easy feat, constant touring, playing disgusting dingy clubs in the middle of nowhere with hardly anyone showing up apart from the local punters and scenters from that town. Never ending plugging you’re shows, releases and new antics via certain music forums. Raising enough money so you can get some studio time together to try and record you’re first seven inch record so you can get some petrol money for more shows so MORE people can hear you’re music, but that is where being in a band wins over many a ‘hobbie’. You’re not working for ‘the man’, you’re not working a shitty supermarket under someone younger than you, you maybe missing some meals here and there in the week, but you’re doing what YOU want to do, making the music YOU want to make. If you’re heart and soul is in what you are doing, be patient, and you’ll get what’s coming.