aaaaa The music scene in Windsor isn't a very big one. There are a handful of good bands and even fewer places for those bands to play.
aaaaaSo should these bands just give up? Should they move to a city where local music is appreciated and recognized? Or should Windsor change
a few things to make it easier for bands to get gigs and get noticed? If more people took an interest in local bands and attended their concerts,
local bands would be more in demand and maybe be able to catch a break. As it stands now, for a band from Windsor to get discovered, they
would have to travel to Detroit or Toronto and make a name for themselves there.
aaaaa The bands in Windsor are not at all happy with our small music scene. Talent, quality, money and the bar scene downtown are all
problems faced by local bands. If Windsor is looking to make it in the music business, it needs to address these problems. Local bands
have a lot to say about these and other factors that are hindering the growth of the music scene in Windsor.
Local Bands on the Music Scene.
aaaaaLocal bands are "pretty cool," says Chris Sarros, singer of the band Swallowing Pennies, but not many people are into the local music scene.
aaaaa "People would rather go to a bar and pick up chicks," says Adam White, lead guitarist and singer of the band Sewing With Nancy, (SWN).
aaaaa "People don't want to see a band, especially an original band. People want to go out and dance (or whatever); they don't want to see a band.
They want to hear what they know," agrees John Oleynik, drummer of SWN.
aaaaa With the obvious lack of interest in local music it's hard for bands to take themselves seriously. Why should they take themselves
seriously if no one else is going to?
aaaaaAlthough Windsor has a lot of good bands it's not going to be the next Seattle.
aaaaa"No one's going to get discovered in Windsor," says White. "You either do it yourself or you don't do it at all."
aaaaaA lot of bands are only playing for the fun of it, not actually trying to make something of their music.
aaaaa"People play in bands, that's what they do," says SWN bassist John Armstrong.
aaaaaIt is a shame that a lot of these bands don't take their talent seriously. If more of these bands took into consideration
that they have the potential to make it big, instead of just playing in a band for lack of something better to do, then maybe Windsor could be the
next Seattle.
Money Matters.
aaaaaGreat bands like DuNcE, Sewing With Nancy, Moon Patrol and Swallowing Pennies (just to name a few) put on fantastic, energy-filled shows
whenever they take the stage. Whether that stage is in a bar or a church; at a peace rally or in the lobby of a school, you will always get you money's worth
(if you even have to pay!).
aaaaa Tickets usually cost around five dollars, although for some of the more popular bands or with more than one band playing (at a rock festival, for
example) the cost can sometimes skyrocket to around 15 dollars.
aaaaa Where is the money going? According to the bands, it's not going to them.
aaaaa"We only get paid about 20% of the time, and even then it's only like 50 bucks. What are we going to do with 50 bucks?" White asks.
aaaaa Should bands always get paid?
aaaaa"Not if it's for charity," says Dave Mailloux, guitarist of Swallowing Pennies. "That's something we're volunteering to do; something to raise
money."
aaaaa Most bands believe that 10-15% of the profit would be good enough pay for them. John Oleynik remembers when his father was in a band.
aaaaa"Most bands a long time ago used to get paid a lot even by today's standards." he says. "When my dad was in a band he would get paid
sometimes a thousand dollars for two nights (a weekend show)."
aaaaa When a band puts effort, equipment, time, energy and sometimes their own money into putting on a show in a bar, wouldn't you hope that at
least 10% of what you paid to get in be given to the band as compensation for their work?
Quality is Important.
The problem now is less quality. Bands no longer have to audition to play in a bar.
aaaaa"You can call up and ask for a gig and the bar will basically say OK." says Oleynik.
The lack of quality of some bands in Windsor is surprising.
aaaaa"A lot of the bands getting gigs and recognition are trendies. Many of the bands in this city that get gigs all sound the same. Then there is real talent out there,
bands doing their own thing and they can't get gigs anywhere." complains Rick Ouellette, lead guitarist of the band DuNcE. "It sickens me," he continues.
"How some bands can get gigs and their lyrics have no meaning. Then there are bands like us who write lyrics that have a message and are trying to say
something, yet we can't get any love from anyone in this city!"
Quality is important.
aaaaa The lack of quality may be the reason that many bars are only playing dance music or why many people don't want to see a local band.
aaaaaIf bands were made to audition for gigs and the quality of the music was raised, perhaps more people would be interested in the local music scene.
Local Bands on Clubs.
aaaaaAnother problem may be the clubs themselves. Other than the fact that most of the bars in the city are "booty dance clubs" a lot of the clubs don't provide
much for a band that plays. The club owners may also neglect to pay the bands, which could in effect, lessen the quality of the show.
aaaaa "It might be nice if they paid us once in awhile." Ouellette says.
aaaaa"Provide an adequate stage, a sound system vocals can go through, and pay us." says Oleynik. "Basically provide what The Loop does."
aaaaa"Definitely more set-up time is needed." advises Jason Latreille, guitarist of swallowing Pennies.
There are not many bars or clubs for bands to choose from for their favourite place to play. Favorite spots for many bands were The Spotted Dog and
The Pterodactyl Lounge, but sadly both of those places are now closed down.
aaaaa "Bistro 507 is my favorite," says Doug Mansell, singer of DuNcE. "But only because they kicked us out."
aaaaa Most bands are not happy with the club scene in downtown Windsor. A lot of bars will turn a band away if their music is a little different than what is
popular.
aaaaa "The only chance you have at getting a gig is if (your music) is what is considered 'in' at the moment, but music is changing all the time." says Ouellette.
"There are no bars anywhere that will give us a gig." says DuNcE drummer, Jesse St. Antoine, referring to their style of music.
aaaaa Bands shouldn't be denied gigs just because the music they play is a little harder or a little different than what is "in" at the moment. If bars and clubs
were more open-minded about letting original bands in, they would have a better experience than if they chose to let a "trendy" band play.
Looking to the Future.
aaaaa DuNcE--"well, we have some stuff in the works. People should look for upcoming DuNcE shows in the near future. Just look for out fliers, they'll be around."
aaaaa Sewing With Nancy--w/ HOPPIN' MAD, Sunday November 28, 1999 @ MILK, 68 University Ave. Downtown Windsor. 8:00 PM all ages. $2
aaaaaSwallowing Pennies.--A CD coming out in early 2000.
Words of Wisdom.
aaaaa "Don't do it for money, because if you live in Windsor and you do it for money, man, you're in the wrong city. Just do it for love."--Rick Ouellette
aaaaa "Know that chances are, you ain't gonna make it--I'm being honest."--Doug Mansell.
aaaaa "Stop hating other bands for no reason, be nice to other bands and other bands will be nice to you."--Adam White.
aaaaa "Put on a good stage show, don't just stand there and play your instrument because that's boring. No one wants to see that."--John Armstrong.
aaaaa "Be into your own music, and sing loud into the mic."--John Oleynik.
aaaaa The interest in local music is at an all time low. People no longer want to see a local band and no longer care about the music scene in Windsor.
aaaaaSometimes no more than 10 people will show up for a show (and 80% of those people are friends of the band). Will the music scene in Windsor be destined
to extinguish by lack of interest or will it spread into an all out forest fire? It's not up to me; I go to the shows. The fate of the local music scene is in your hands.
