Down On The Corner

By Paul Moffett

• Recently, I was at the receiving end of a series of emails from musicians about whether or not to play open stages and jam sessions, the "anti" argument being that open stages and jam sessions take work away from musicians. The "pro" position was that venues couldn't draw enough audiences to pay for musicians on the open stage/jam nights, so it didn't really matter if players went out and played. OF course, the discussion settled nothing, as there isn't really any way to determine the facts, but the question is really one of how musicians (and venues) might draw bigger/better-paying audiences to the shows. This question is one that I have been asked and have asked many times over the past twenty-five plus years and the answer that I have gotten and have given hasn't really changed that much: to wit, treat shows as entertainment first and foremost and, as musicians, entertain the crowds that are that. If musicians did that and succeeded in entertaining audiences, they will draw more audiences.

A great many musicians appear on stage dressed as though they just got through cutting the grass or working in the garage – in short, looking like slobs. It has been noted that the main difference between audiences and musicians is that the musicians are on stage and thus are seen as 'special'- they can play an instrument or sing - yet they don't seem to act as though they were. When audiences then treat them like ordinary joes and pay them no attention, musicians complain. You can't really have it both ways – either you are just some (ignorable) workers making loud and intrusive sounds in the club or you are special entertainers who should be watched. Take your pick and act accordingly. You might be surprised at the result.

• New Louisville CD releases. Actually, this is one report that routinely gets overlooked and out of hand, since a bunch of bands have been releasing CDs over the past few months. Those with publicists tend to have the edge, however. Anyway, here goes:

Your News Vehicles, Red Hot Zen, September 7

Shipping News, One Less Heartless To Fear, November. 16.

Cheyenne Marie Mize, Before Lately, Fall 2010

Douglas Lucas, Handsome Death, July 4

OK Zombie, Listen to the Anchorman, current.

Nick Peay, Polar Bear Parade, July

Jenn Stout, Wrong About Me, August.

Coliseum, House With A Curse, June

• For those artists interested in recording cover tunes, CDBaby has a new single-song licensing package. They'll handle the licensing for $15 plus mechanicals, which run less than $.10 a copy.

• Discmakers.com is offering a free recording guide, calledThe Complete Recording Guide. Log on to the site and click on Free Catalog, which is not a free catalog but a catalog of free publications they'll send you.

• Kentucky Homefront is in need of more volunteers to help out at the shows. Contact Janine Linder: janinelinder@insightbb.com

The Louisville Free Public Library has added a new "Music Corner" to their website where you can browse for available CDs and place a request for any you might find. There are other pieces of information and assorted music links as well. The direct link is http://www.lfpl.org/music.html

• Bare skin wasn't the only thing gone red after the HullabaLOU Festival – Churchill Downs lost a not-so-cool $5 million dollars on the project, according to the C-J. Apparently, the Downs is not deterred by the loss, even though it was double the expected loss, as they are already planning for next year.

CODAS

Proctor, David W. 64, died in Louisville on August 20 ,2010. He was a bass player and singer in the Past, Present and Future Band, the Rock 'n' Roll Revival Band and several others in the area.

Vincent, Randy Joe, 58, died on July 29, 2010. He was a local musician.

Williams, Clarence L. Sr, 68, died in Louisville on August 7. He was a musician in the Louisville area.