tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post553464700925554711..comments2023-10-31T05:44:28.016-04:00Comments on HUMAN PYRAMIDS: SXSWTF: This Year's Thing and a Response to the Stuff That Was SaidAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11392226040634976602noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-2481495487570237932011-04-13T01:53:12.021-04:002011-04-13T01:53:12.021-04:00(editor's note: I removed the word "reall...(editor's note: I removed the word "really" from the following, because it appeared over two dozen times. Really!)<br /><br />Hi Ervin, <br /><br />Thanks for throwing down! It is quaint, ainit? Especially in this age of twnety-year old bloggers in their bedrooms droppin a hammer on musicians who've been playing & recording for a decade by bein' all "They look sleepy up there, I'm drunk" in their reviews. I try not to hold music journalism to any sort of standard these days because I heart Lester Bangs and stuff like that, the old stuff, so maybe I secretly do or think that we should? Is it even useful to do so? Anyway its fun to talk about and I'm always hoping that eventually someone will be good at it. Some contemporary journalist/ critics are: Sasha Frere-Jones is always interesting to read whether or not you agree with him, and I love Jessica Hopper's work. <br /><br />I'm glad to hear that Austin has awesome bands. I like and respect Church of the Friendly Ghost and deserve a wrist-slap for not mentioning them. Except that I didn't want to go tit-for-tat Austin to Baltimore scene but I also sort of deserve it for calling Austin backwards. But regarding the backwards, I DID read on le facebook de one Amy Waller that during relay weekend places had closed their public restrooms and there was general citywide shutdown due to actual racism? Also, death penalty? Oh wait, Maryland has it too. We had Spiro Agnew, you had the Bushes. Tit. Tat. Ta Da!<br /><br />Will you make an Austin mixtape? There's a good Baltimore one here, from Bmore Musically Informed/ Friends Records: http://www.bmoremusic.net/2010/12/baltimore-2010-bmore-musically-informed.html?spref=fb. Do not ask me why none of my bands nor Cex are on here, it will only make me/ us confused. <br /><br />I know that you guys have better weather, less crime, more tacos, better food, more relaxed dudes, bike culture, swimmin holes with fresh cold spring water, good coffee, no sweat livin etc etc etc I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. You also have Thor Harris and Bill Callahan DONT RUB IT IN. <br /><br />Also, I like SXSW. Its a big weird crazy fun time full of odd convergences and exciting opportunities and a truly gross window into humanity. Thanks for sneaking into our show! You were one of maybe twelve people there. <br /><br />What shows have you thrown at SXSW? email me at meetamountain at gmail dot com. Anybody can. Have fun!<br /><br />Again, thanks for droppin by and keep up the good good!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392226040634976602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-62038542570443652011-04-13T01:43:14.617-04:002011-04-13T01:43:14.617-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392226040634976602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-19634623407347052412011-04-13T00:35:56.020-04:002011-04-13T00:35:56.020-04:00ps, as someone who throws shows over sxsw, you can...ps, as someone who throws shows over sxsw, you can call the Home Slice thing a Noise Complaint issue, but really what it was was a Permitting issue, i.e. on the promoter, not a function of general chaos.Ervin Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14562549183445057536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-69152082864560725752011-04-13T00:34:11.477-04:002011-04-13T00:34:11.477-04:00Yo Lexi. Long time listener first time caller. L...Yo Lexi. Long time listener first time caller. Lifelong Austinite here, ive seen sxsw up close and nasty for ~8 years, been throwing shows at it for 5.<br /><br />1. I think its quaint you might even expect music journaists to do anything. The wave of the future has come to Austin....its strictly content providers, we dont even have this charade of music journalism anymore, may it R.I.P.<br /><br />2. We can taco bout it at length, but I would be more than happy to pit Austin's top 5 against Bmore or anywhere else. Who yall got, Beach House, Future Islands, and Dan Deacon? Im a little outta date, I'll bet you roll a little deeper than that, and I have seem some pretty good Bmore stuff come thru town, but if I'm just giving my picks, I'll take When Dinosaurs Ruled The Earth, Soft Healer, Yellow Fever, Holy Wave, Total Abuse, Pataphysics, Strange Boys, Golden Boys, etc etc etc...bands we got em, no need to hate on the ATX scene, it is literally way better than 99% of America. You learn at a young age to turn the Stevie Ray guitar filter on, and that just kinda gets to the point where you dont even notice it anymore....<br /><br />3. Another nice thing about Austin vs. Baltimore, besides the weather and the lack of crime, is that its pretty easy for a touring band to get a show here, which I have not found to be the case with your fair hamlet (although when I did play there, the people were super extra nice).<br /><br />4. I think its a good point that the social dynamics of Austin vs Baltimore make a comparison a little stupid. Dont look to Austin for the answers, please, you might convince people to move here. <br /><br />5. Sxsw is still cool because its what you make of it. Locals tend to ditch their friends entirely and completely for the duration and then you just compare stories at the end. And it gets to be like "damn, I thought we were friends cause we had common interests, but we did literally none fo the same shit except for that 10 minutes i saw you at..." The fact that its a zombie wasteland, well, in a few days everything is gonna return to normal. Just need one good hard rain thats all. Ex. One time I wanted to see Lexi Mountain Boys play an official showcase, but i didnt have a wristband, so I just cut up a shirt, wore it like a headband and said I was in your band and "sorry Im late, were about to go on" and the doorguy let me in, no waiting in line. Extra bonus, got to see Citay and Jad Fair, suweet!<br /><br /><br />I had to write all this twice so thats how you know I care...I could go on at length, actually I already did, twice, but thanks for writing this piece, I can't remember how I stumbled on it any more .... :PErvin Berlinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14562549183445057536noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-88889731854540027672011-04-12T17:36:43.304-04:002011-04-12T17:36:43.304-04:00Thanks for responding, Sam.
Steve, while I'm...Thanks for responding, Sam. <br /><br />Steve, while I'm sure you've had plenty of positive phone calls and feedback about Sam's reporting, I can creatively respond to his work in a public forum inasmuch as the work itself was posted publicly. I'm certain that I am indeed providing a service to any blessed readers I may have in bitching about current affairs, writing stories about my jobs, posting stupid lists and asking popular artists what they think about David Lee Roth. Regarding "having all the facts," what are all the facts, precisely? The facts are that NOT ONE BUT TWO different media outlets were responsible for sending a reporter to Austin and the end result, as far as I could read, is that 1. Austin somehow figured it all out so yay for them and here's why, sort of, and 2. the reporter didn't make it to most of the shows he tried to see. It is telling that Baltimore's cultural output is outpacing its journalists. <br /> <br />Yes, to be fair, Sam never explicitly stated that he was there to see Baltimore bands. Sure, he can see those artists in a "more relaxed setting" here at home and I'd like to see him do so. I'd like to see a list of the shows he's seen in the past year or two. The articles seemed very disconnected from what is actually happening in Baltimore. <br /><br />The idea that one approach could be carbon copied legislatively, when the two places have such a different identity, geography and history, falls short of any actual investigation into the reality of either city and thus benefits neither. <br /><br />One dark question SXSW raises is "Does Music Need to Be Fucking Everywhere All The Fucking Time?" It already is (in our hearts dude), and the thing about SXSW is that it imposes a forced celebration of music so aggressively onto the landscape around it that it denies any private enjoyment or sense of choice in the matter. You know why the Wye Oak set at Home Slice was cancelled, along with several others? Noise complaints. <br /><br />We have a really solid handful of spaces, and I'll be glad if any discussion or panel can help keep them in business. I'd be even gladder if the neighborhoods around them and far beyond were provided with places to buy fresh food and other valuable community resources. Baltimore needs businesses run by artists and creators for the benefit of all. Places that host performances at night and are libraries by day, places to host classes on healthy cooking with food stamps and studios where high school kids can learn sound recording and make CD-Rs with their friends. Places for dance classes and gallery exhibitions and all-out rager hardcore shows. Rap battles and espresso bars. Synthesizer workshops, book readings, produce aisles and guitar lessons. <br /><br />It is telling that many of Baltimore's semi-prominent clubs have failed right alongside a real boom in interest in the city and increased musical traffic. Poor management, uninteresting shows, awkward space, cumbersome overhead, economic downturn, lack of visionary action. Baltimore needs a more holistic approach to live entertainment on the whole. When much of Baltimore's teens are highly at risk and funds for arts in schools are at risk as well, it seems somehow irresponsible to debate the need for a better approach to live music. What about a better approach to making opportunities for Baltimore's kids? Creative, non-profit venue management for the purpose of community centering could be very effective in providing outlets for underserved portions of Baltimore's varied and diverse population. Lets not squander the opportunity to expand the definition of what a venue can be. <br /><br />Thanks for reading, everyone! Please feel free to add your two bits.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11392226040634976602noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-49558212743003925302011-04-08T14:09:13.940-04:002011-04-08T14:09:13.940-04:00Sam, Lexie,
This is an issue I am really interes...Sam, Lexie,<br /> <br />This is an issue I am really interested in. As a long time city resident, huge music fan, frequent Austin visitor for work and pleasure and architect who has worked in and with the city, I have no unique qualifications only enough exposure to have opinions.<br /><br />What has always impressed me about Austin is its commitment to understanding and promoting what is unique about itself. I believe this is the idea Baltimore needs to take away. Rather than trying to copy what another city has (this has been the failed strategy of the Baltimore Office of Promotion for the last 20 years), Baltimore needs to capitalize on what is unique about it and its artists. For example its great buiding stock that allows for great venues, galleries, etc.<br /><br />Sam, I would really love to be part of your panel to help in anyway I can. Even if its just as a witness. I believe in Baltimore's strengths and want to be part of making it better for artists and patrons, not just bitching about it. I would love to be part of future discussions. Email me if I can help in anyway.<br /><br />scottvieth@gmail.comAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09756124040082598195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-73498700923744921602011-04-07T14:46:33.255-04:002011-04-07T14:46:33.255-04:00It seems it would have made more sense for the sco...It seems it would have made more sense for the scope of your piece then to have gone to Austin during a normal time, when you could have gotten an honest assessment of Austin's music scene. Though that may not have conformed to the story you basically had written in your head already.Travel Lighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14179372898240636307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-35875534776367584322011-04-07T14:18:13.966-04:002011-04-07T14:18:13.966-04:00why does anyone need to call you to see why you wr...why does anyone need to call you to see why you wrote an article the way you did? shouldnt that be a part of the story if you think it requires defense? rigoddamndiculous<br /><br />/oh and/ unless you are british and/or a care bear please don't say cheers /end rant/katehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14939467318188838272noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-3509283605923368192011-04-06T08:55:40.870-04:002011-04-06T08:55:40.870-04:00Lexie,
I want to back Sam up here. The point of s...Lexie,<br />I want to back Sam up here. The point of sending Sam and the other members of WTMD staff was not to see every Baltimore Band playing. We can see Baltimore bands in Baltimore in a more relaxed, less hectic setting where we are able to tell their stories more completely.<br /><br />Sam did astounding work for WTMD and the Baltimore Sun. We've received listener feedback praising him and the station for bringing back a story that will benefit the growth of the Baltimore music scene. <br /><br />When you have a thought, good or bad, about our coverage, please, pick up the phone and find out why we approached a story the way we did. Reading a critique of our coverage without having all the facts does disservice to your readers.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01271351710493425599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-34563418848711895302011-04-06T08:48:16.476-04:002011-04-06T08:48:16.476-04:00Oh and sorry for leaving the 'e' off your ...Oh and sorry for leaving the 'e' off your name, Lexie. One of the perils of typing on my phone's tiny keyboard.Sam Sessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141372420589789305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-9001912055053068892011-04-06T08:02:24.114-04:002011-04-06T08:02:24.114-04:00Lexi! Thanks for reading my stuff. I appreciate yo...Lexi! Thanks for reading my stuff. I appreciate your comments, and think you make some valid points.<br /><br />I really wanted to see baltimore bands, and looking back, one of my biggest regrets was that I didn't get to see more. <br /><br />My plan was to go to austin, do some reporting, see some baltimore bands, come back and work on a piece about austin's policies that encourage live music, and what baltimore can adopt to be a better live music town. A day after I got there, my editor called and said he wanted the piece to be filed that Friday. So instead of seeing many of the bands I wanted to see, I had to spend a huge chunk of time interviewing club owners, austin musicians, baltimore musicians and government officials, and then hole up in cafes and my hotel room to frantically write the piece. Drat!<br /><br />I caught up with j roddy and june star, saw dan deacon, played phone tag with ami dang, eureka birds, lands & peoples and some other bands. I walked miles across town to see/interview wye oak at home slice, waited for a half hour only to be told the show was canceled. When I asked christina from merge to reschedule the interview, she never got back to me. Double drat!<br /><br />Right now I'm working on an hour-long special for wtmd about austin's live music policies, which I think deserve an honest look from our city government. I think that's a fair question. A couple years ago, I did a piece which talked about wham city's frustration that despite all their efforts, they couldn't find a proper home base due to the city's backward-thinking live music policies. Baltimore has an awesome music scene, but I think our city could be doing more to help on its end. <br /><br />In may, wtmd is organizing a panel, with club owners, neighborhood association leaders, promoters, and hopefully stephanie rawlings-blake who, to her credit, has made live entertainment a priority. I'm going to pose the question: what can baltimore do to be a better live music city? We're still hammering out the details, but id love to see you there, and add your voice to the discussion.<br /><br />The past six years, I've tried my best to be an advocate for baltimore's music scene, through the sun, wtmd, and freelancing for other publications. I've made my share of mistakes, but its been such a pleasure to watch and interview baltimore musicians and artists, including you, Lexi. And again, thanks for sharing your opinion about my work. I've got your number, and in case you don't have mine, its 410 332 6689. Cheers!Sam Sessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17141372420589789305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-63265003007486814112011-04-05T12:06:39.823-04:002011-04-05T12:06:39.823-04:00Yes, this.Yes, this.Travel Lighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14179372898240636307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4848602327233657814.post-54271867920929338392011-04-05T10:40:10.646-04:002011-04-05T10:40:10.646-04:00Austin has a music scene. In that people play musi...Austin has a music scene. In that people play music. Create music they do not. Everywhere else usa could stand to borrow from austin in their commitment to local business. And while sixth street always looks like being at the mall except people are drunk. The mall looked more bravely corporate than ever. This years fest was an internet conference for the pre game. And it was much larger than years previous. I got out the second day of the music. But what is really really really really awesome. Is when that many people are on their I phones or pads.. they don't work. And suddenly people are asking you directions again.. and what looks cool or happened. And I just remebered the dream I had last night it was the twig Harper cilantro double chz burger from bk. So he holds up his finger to shoosh me and says yeah im the new sound guy so bk wants to name a buger after all of us.AMY WALLERhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15626221345813825169noreply@blogger.com