The Song Remains Mundane

Dear Ask A Punk -
Oh my god. I have to stop going out to clubs because every band, and I mean every band, seems to sound the same these days. It is unbelievable. I am sick of everything being so predictable and it makes me want to scream. Don't tell me to form my own band. I'm not saying these bands are necessarily BAD and that I could do better, I'm saying that they're all the same. You always tell people to make their own music, but some of don't want to make it, we want to enjoy listening to it. We want to find a band or a couple of bands we really like so that we can listen to THEIR music and enjoy seeing them play. I know you always say that punk rock made it so anyone can be a musican. I get that, but that doesn't mean that everyone HAS to be a musician. Almost everyone in the world likes listening to some kind of music, but most people have no interest in spending their time learning how to make music. So What is a potential music fan to do? - In the Mosh Pit 

Dear ITMP -
OK, you're right, not everyone needs to, or wants to, be their own source of music. As for why every band in your town seems to be "the same," here are a couple of possible reasons.

An entrenched scene.
If there are established clubs for punk rock and alt music, even those places can become pretty rigid in their booking polices etc. because, like it or not, club owners, even if they do love the music, are really most concerned with packing their club with paying fans (and beer drinkers.) They tend then, to go with what they know will work. The bands then, either consciously or unconsciously, start conforming with the established "sound" because they know that is the best way to book gigs. 

Low Tide.
Even in the best music towns, sometimes a fallow period occurs between waves of interest. A few bands catch everyone's attention and interest, they get bigger and leave, or they implode, or any of a million other possibilities, and then, for a while, there is no new interesting band to take their place, but the venues still have bills to fill, and so bands that arent' all that interesting, or unique rush in to fill the void. No town or scene can expect to always be "amazing" and groundbreaking, sometimes the tide just goes out on the talent pool... but the good news is that, eventually, the tide always manages to come back in sooner or later.

In the meantime, while you're waiting - sure, maybe you can take a break from clubbing. Save your money and maybe try expanding your listening into new areas you've never considered before. On that score you've got no excuses... it has never been easier to find "something new" to listen to. Search randomly on Spotify or Pandora or Soundcloud. Explore the 'radio' button on iTunes - I have found some amazing stations there, like one that only plays music by unsigned bands in Norway... I mean come on, how cool is that? Listen to classic ragas from India (or punk rock from India) or awesome tapes from Africa. Put new sounds and beats in your head. 

You'll save money and you'll increase your understanding and enjoyment of music while you keep an eye on your local scene - waiting for that next awesome band to come along. 

Your Name Here (not)

Before we get to this week's question I wanted to call everyone's attention to the following (and since I do these posts a few weeks in advance, my apologies for perhaps being the last person to post about this.) -- In what is probably the closest to a Replacements reunion we're ever likely to see, a story about a new Replacements song, as part of a benefit for replacement Replacement Slim Dunlap who recently had a stroke. Dig it. 

Now on to this week's question.

Dear AAP-
I live in Brooklyn, the now epicenter of hip and hipster and all of that. Sometimes just when I'm tired of  hearing all the stereotype stories in the media, I'll end up spending the day dealing with some douche with a mountain-man beard and a flannel shirt who is trying to tell me all about how his new band is "it's own genre" or "nothing the world has ever heard before." I may only be 28, but I'm in probably my 10th band and I've seen a thousand of them and I listen to spotify and soundcloud and pandora set on "random" just to see what'll turn up next and I just want to scream at these people that there is nothing really, REALLY new... If you're sticking to western style music it is all the same 12 notes, just re-arranged, and jesus everyone with garageband on their laptops thinks they're a band now and I can't fucking stand it. I'm just a normal-ish girl. I just play punk rock and I don't think there is anything wrong with that but I trying to get a show anywhere within a 30 block radius just isn't happening. I don't know what the problem is really. There are a bazillion people here. There has to be 30 or 40 who just want to rock wouldn't you think? - Questioner.

Dear Questioner -
I agree, so what's the problem? What is always the first rule? DIY. You're surrounded by thousands and thousands of your generational peers and they're all looking for something to do with their nights and their energy and their hormones... and these days there are no excuses. Get out there. If you can't get invited to a play at a show start your own. Find a bar or a garage or a livingroom that will let you set up and play, then go out and get/find/kidnap your audience using every means at your disposal. This has always been the first step and never has it been easier for a new band to do. I know that you already know this. 

I'm sure the people reading this are probably thinking the same thing, and they're also noticing that you weren't asking much of a question really. What they don't know is that I had to edit your question rather extensively to take out the (at least) four obvious mentions of your band name and other facts that had nothing to do with a question and everything to do with self-promotion. I know every website wants the world to think that they are a major and influential hub of some kind, but I'll be honest... a mention here on Ask A Punk isn't going to bring the masses to your next gig anyway. 

There are no shortcuts. A good band can always find a gig, as evidenced by the fact that nearly any bad band can find a gig too. Go do something awesome. 

Good luck.