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Blind item! What downtown venue was behind screwing over yet another band? We never did like blind items, so we'll just tell you through part of this letter we received from the disgruntled band behind the latest booking botch-up:
We had a really bad experience at the Annex, on Orchard St. last night. Basically we showed up for a 5:00 load in to find out that our show had been canceled. The two other bands on the bill faced the same problem. One of the bands had driven 5 hours through the rain from Boston just for this show, only to find out that it had been canceled. None of the bands had been called.While we'd have to agree with their view on The Annex, the band goes on to say that nearly all New York venues are "disinterested and disorganized" and that this city has a reputation "for being a terrible place to play." And now they seek revenge through (presumably, New York) blogs!No one in the club had any answers or solutions. No managers seemed to be available to answer any questions. The booker was not there and was not answering her phone. The people left at the club were clueless and disinterested in our problem.
A little digging and we find that the band, The Milwaukees (pictured) from New Jersey, recently trashed New York, its concert-going residents, and its bands to The NY Times, saying they are "better prepared than their urban counterparts. 'We show up in a van, and guys in New York don’t have a van, so they want to borrow all our equipment.'” New York music fans...The Milwaukees think you sort of suck, too, saying “In the city everybody has their guard up — no one admits when they like something, and that rubs me the wrong way." Finally, they add that being in a band from New Jersey associates you with "a toughness." Well boys, toughen up, as old blue eyes once said, "If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere." And he wasn't referring to his home state of New Jersey.
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Wow. They suck and they're whiny. They do have good PR sense though, shame they can't back up all this press.
"disinterested and disorganized"
wait!!!
did you guys ever work in an office?
Like at a *job*?
because that sounds like the last 3 jobs I had.
So "toughness" means wearing white pants and a long flowing scarf? Right....
Live music's best chance is to abandon the clubs that suck and start booking their own spaces. There are places around the city that will let you rent out their spaces (VFW Halls, Community centers, etc.) for shows. Bands can get together, pool their money to rent out such a place for a show and put it on. The money they charge at the door can go towards the rental, and whatever is left over the bands can keep. Fans can bring their own booze (do you really think $3 for a can of PBR is a good deal?) or, in the case of VFW halls, there may be a cheaper bar in house. Plus bands can sell their t-shirts, CDs etc. It may take a lot more work, but if you're going to be treated like shit and not get paid anyway, why not put on a show that you have more control over?
Unfortunately, NYC crowds are pretty awful. The whole glued to the floor posture that concert goers in this city adopt robs the experience of the energy present at live shows in other cities. Last Saturday I was at a concert with a few hundred other people. The headliners wanted some clapping, 5 people obliged.
well, we all know the Annex sucks...
the band is a little pompous...they are from JERSEY! at least they have good songs. that i have to give them. and yeah, lead singer, loose the scarf, tough guy.
you know, I might possibly know nothing, but the whole thing of playing live shows is a risk.
My band schmoozes the hell out of the places we want to play, so we know the people there well...well enough so they don't want to screw us over. And we know how they run things
Their payoff is us bringing the goods that we promised: people.
That being said, playing for promoters/parties that use venues like the Annex is the biggest risk of all. You have to be prepared to track the mofo down for your coin. You have to be prepared to go on 3 hours late and be ready for all the people you brought out to be long gone. Basically, you have to be prepared to be stepped on, kicked, and shit on. If you can't handle it, don't do it.
The more you educate yourself about the way a place does business, the less surprises you'll have waiting for you.
Music is a business like any other. So, when you get screwed, you can whine and complain, but you really only have yourself to blame for it.
OK, regarding the comments in the Times, we also said in that article that if you tell people you are from Connecticut people are going to "think your Dad is the President of Merrill Lynch." I think in context the humor is more apparent. You can read the whole story here and decide for yourself. Most of the feedback we got on the story was from amused New Yorkers.
Don't get me wrong, we're not looking to back down from being critical of a lot of what goes on in the rock world in NYC. There is plenty to be critical of. We're hardly the first to note this. I really love New York and am embarrassed when I hear bands on the road talk about how they hate playing there.
I wasn't seeking revenge. I thought that maybe if people talked more about some of the crappy stuff that goes on at many clubs in New York, then club owners might be pressured into shaping up. Then NYC could be a really great place to play.
Finally, as for the cheesy pictures and the flowing scarves, well, you have us there. We have really grown to hate those pictures. We were trying to have some fun and be goofy, but it just came off cheesy and we neglected to take them down. We all make mistakes.
-Jeff
the Milwaukees
ok... so signed up on this site just to respond to all of the people who jumped the gun and took the side of a bad system... against the hard working bands that got screwed. I have shared a stage with, and attended many Milwaukees shows. Every one with the same result...A room packed with people ready to empty their wallets at the bar and sing along.
yes, a club owners dream...
so Before anyone decides to put this band down to an amateur level, check them out, and get the facts. because you are talking about a top notch band... a band that has already learned the Do's & dont's and should get some respect when they show up to bring some money into your venue.
Wait a minute...I thought Hootie and the Blowfish had a black guy as the singer?
signed up just to comment.
The Milwaukees are a very hardworking band. They have been around longer than all these little 16 year olds with myspaces and protools. Yes, music has been around before myspace! Shocker! I've been a fan and a friend for close to 10 years, ever since I saw them open for Shades Apart. (bonus points for people that remember them). They have paid their dues and toured across this country, Canada, and Europe. They got screwed out of a show without any notice. Thats a waste of gas, money, and time.
Being a band is hardwork and it doesn't help when a promoter and venue make it even harder. Who has it worse? A venue or a band? If you say venue, you've never been in a band. I've been in bands, booked, shows, and promoted. Band is the hardest. Trust me.
I have booked The Milwaukees on numerous occasions for shows and they have been one hundred percent professional and friendly every time.
Trying to create a NYC VS NJ argument is stupid and childish. Right up there with making fun of pictures. Maybe type some 'l337 speak' and you've got yourself some serious 'pwn8ge'. Its a shame that a venue can't take responsibility. I'm sure this isn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last. Luckily there are plenty of venues in New York and we can all ignore this one.
Its cute how it wasn't mentioned that a band came all the way from Boston to play this show just to be turned away without even a 'sorry'. Get some more facts before finger pointing and weak name calling.
um the milwaukees STARTED the ny vs. nj fight. and if they've been playing shows for 10 years and they're playing the annex, maybe it's time to break up.
wrong, this was started when the venue and promoters screwed MULTIPLE bands out of a show.
and by saying they should give up cause theyre playing a venue is actually an insult to the venue, now isn't it? well done. +10 points for you.