Once upon a time....

I can’t remember the band name, but they had a record deal and played at Gullifty’s many years ago. The band was from Philly and played with 2 local acts. At that time I used to do show reviews on the web page mixed in with the show photos. I mentioned in my review the label band sounding horrible and the locals outshined them. The label band was also cocky to the bands playing the show and to the staff of Gullifty’s. Since I saw it, I wrote about it and gave examples. If my aging memory is right, I believe we had about 200 people a day coming to HBGOnline at that time. Unlike the 1500+ coming to the website today. I was shocked at the amount of emails I received for my show review. Many where there and agreed 100% with what I said. I also got emails stating this was the first time they can remember anyone saying something bad about a band from the area. It created a flurry within the area. Others in the media thought, that would be our end for sure.

Well it wasn’t. I continued to give my opinions of things I saw and found out about. In the old days, nothing was sacred. I gave it to MODE for their lack of local band coverage and they in turn tried to shut us down by lawsuit threats. I called out Unsung Hero for their poor quality of shows that no one showed up for. I busted on The X many times for their overall support of local music. I even busted on the Hardware Bar for a Vanilla Ice show that was a disaster. (That one we did lose our Jager and Bud Light sponsorship over)

In the old days, I was new to the music industry and didn’t know how things worked. I was like this rebel that was feared by many and loved by the rest. See my opinions were that of an outsider to the industry. Back then I was self educating myself on how things worked. Our site popularity was growing every week and so was my knowledge of the local music industry.

I’m not sure when it happened but one day I noticed we jumped from being an “underground” website to become part of the area’s media. The same media I was railing against every time I saw something that wasn’t right. Many came to me and said it was a time for change, if not we would lose our appeal. I’m glad I never took their advice, because 8 years later, HBGOnline is still here and more popular than ever before. Why? I think because we still “tell it like it is”. Unlike our competition, we don’t write articles off press releases from bands. We actual see them play and then tell you what we liked or didn’t like. That’s the way we roll and will continue to do so. Plus isn’t that why you keep coming back?

I give this long website history lesson because once again it seems like PennLive, Patriot News and PA Musician saw nothing wrong at this years MMC main stages. Well I did and I wrote about it on our Message Board. How could they not see or hear what I did? Unless you were blind and deaf would be the correct answer. Or maybe they didn’t want to be the one throwing the rock inside the fragile glass house. I did and boy did the house come crashing down. As I also mentioned in my message board post, I was awestruck by the continued sub par sound and the same issues occurring nightly that should have been corrected. I’ll make this perfectly clear, I have nothing personal against the sound company hired for the MMC main stages. If it was Rit, Dynamax or My Wifes Sound running the show with the same problems I witnessed, they too would have gotten my review of what I saw and heard. To me the MMC is top-notch event and in my opinion the sound at the main stages over the weekend was not. So if I pissed off a few people because I wrote about what I saw, you’ll just have to deal with it.

I had the pleasure of chatting with John Harris during the MMC. We spoke about a bunch of things, half of which I’ll keep to myself. One of the topics we spoke of was the lack of local bands again at the daytime education panels. I get so many emails asking for help with promotions, bookings and other band related items throughout the year from local bands. So it amazes me every year at MMC how many local bands I don’t see.

What really amazes me is the bands playing showcases that don’t bother coming to the daytime panels. Why? Because if you play at night, you get in for FREE to the daytime panels.

I’ve seen and heard all the negativity each year leading up to the MMC, you know the John Harris get rich quick comments, Pay to Play comments and so on. From what I know about putting on shows, I highly doubt John is getting his money from MMC. I’d be surprised if he’s breaking even on the event. Yes you do have to submit an application that cost money to be part of the showcases, however a discount was given off the fee to all local bands. Plus you got into the daytime panels for FREE.

How many original bands would love to play at Gullifty’s or Chameleon Club? Come on raise your hands!!! Ok keep your hands up. Of those with your hands in the air, how many of you went to the Promotions and Bookings panel at MMC on Saturday? Yea that’s what I thought. I snuck in on this panel and booking reps from the two clubs were advising what they book, how they book and what they expect from the bands they book. Chameleon even mentioned how bands could get on shows with national acts. This panel alone would have been worth the money.

But then again what do I know. Most local bands rely on others that are here today and gone tomorrow for help. They talk a good talk, but don’t know shit and then when nothing is happening, the bands are free and clear from blame, because they have “people” doing stuff and it’s their fault. If that doesn’t work, don’t forget you can always blame the cover bands for your problems.

Do you remember the anti drug commercial “The mind is a terrible thing to waste”? Well if you’re in a local original band “The MMC is a terrible thing to waste”

I applaud John and his staff for spending the time and effort to put on such a valuable service for musicians each year. The MMC is what you make of it. The opportunities to network, educate and have a good time while doing so, are here in our own backyard every year. I just wish more locals would make an attempt to see what they are missing.

Well that’s enough for now, time to prepare for another snowstorm. Maybe I’ll spoof the media again with our Storm Team Coverage updates. The last one was a lot of fun!!! Thanks to everyone that took the time to send me an email. Glad I could put a smile on your face.

Lator Gators - BigJim