Chuck: As a vetren of the scene no one has more of a right to input than you do. Please contine to join me in this conversation. G.
 

New Haven died as a music scene the minute Toads Place preferred having cover bands headline their stage, while local original acts get left in the dust. I guess nowadays its all about selling to college kids with fake IDs. Thanks for nothing, Brian Phelps!
 

Thanks Andre`:

I think Toad's is just trying to suvive. There is no longer an infastructure to support them. Toad's is a pay for play situation. Anyone can play there if they move tix. I would like to see Toad's work closer with the bands. Band don't do a good enough job promoting ourselves. We need to get out a pump it. Toad's has years of experience in marketing their venue. I'd like to see Brian bust his vendors balls a little more amd find a way to make local origanal nights profitable. At the end of the day even though I'm an Art First person, It's all about making money and selling beer for all of us If Toads doesn't make money they'll close or move, That's not good for any of us.
 

I agree that yes to a point they do need to turn a profit in order to stay in business, but in turn that way of marketing is destroying another avenue for original artists to shine. It also doesnt help that when they do have their few-and-far-between original nights (if they even do anymore), they cram about 8 bands with a 15-minute changeover between sets on a Tuesday or Wednesday night. When you have odds like that thrown against you, it makes it nearly impossible to get your foot in the door and off to a good start. Weekdays are horrible for a national act to draw from, so who is gonna show up for an original, unknown act? Its a vicious cycle.

I remember the days when it was unheard of for a non-national act to grace the Toads place stage, and if they did you were like "wow...howd they do that??". Granted, it's a good thing that they eased up and made it a possibility after a while, but now it seems that has all gone out the window for the quick buck. Toads to me now is just another bar, albeit it with a great stage and sound system and a heritage thats getting dragged into the mud.

I still stand firm that Toads should go back to the way it was...a place for national acts to rock the house to a intimate crowd, and an avenue for original music to be showcased and flourish so that one day they themselves could be the "next big thing". Cover bands are made for bars, and I most definitely include my own in that equation!! We are human jukeboxes..nothing more, nothing less. We all play the same songs because honestly the bar demographic prefers it that way. They have their favorite songs and want to hear them played by band A, B or C ad nauseum...sometime even twice in a night! (which is even lamer!). I refuse to play Toads with my cover band. I find it ridiculous. Its not the place for that kind of thing. It is a nationally recognized musical venue. The Stones played there! Bob Dylan played there! Billy Joel played there! So what right does a cover band have to so? Its apples and oranges man, and thats why I dont do it.

Toads proclaims itself as "where the legends play"...I hardly think that term applies to a cover band.
 

Okay Andre good points made: Now my problem is how do we revive live music in New Haven for all local and regional acts. Toad's could be part of a solution. I think the picture is bigger than your seeing. There are as many different kinds of cover bands as there are kinds of people. Your not playing the same songs as Rearview or the Cobalt Rythm Kings. And their audience wouldn't want to hear what you play as much as yours wouldn't want to hear theirs. One of the problems is that we are so devided into genres that we can't or won't help each other with a commom problem. Andre when was the last time you played in New Haven NOT at Toads. This is the problem I'm dealing with. Any solutions?
 

New Haven is turning into more of a club scene, it's not like it was back in the day. I remember going from bar to bar to see all the different local bands. The Advocate was like my weekend map!
 

My brothers band just played at Toad's in Feb (opened up for a Springsteen cover band that travels around the US). Place was empty, what a shame.....That place used to be wall to wall packed. The bands did their fair share of promoting and handing out tickets, but got paid nothing. An artist time is money too and that needs to be taken into consideration as well. Toads is not what is use to be and it hasn't been in some time, not sure they will ever be unless someone gets off their hump and makes some changes.

Everyone I talk to wants to see live local bands, the only places I know of to see a live local band is Milford from time to time and now I am noticing Bridgeport is bringing in more local acts. When I hear New Haven, I think club scene and DJ's.......nah no thanks!
 

K. that's the question. can live music make a come back in New Haven? Toads isn't what it used to be because the music scene in New Haven is dead. I predict that if we don't do something soon Toad's will close or move out. Do you have any solutions?
 

I think a lot of the problem is the change in generation, these were things we enjoyed but it's not that popular with the kids in their 20's now. The New Haven scene is a younger generation with different taste in music. They would much rather listen to a DJ and dance all night.

The local bands don't pound the pavement like they use to, mostly because bar owners don't want bands. Its a no win circle. Bands are not out there promoting themselves, they find a couple of local bars that will book them and they are happy with just that. The bands themselves need to get out there, branch out more.

I know myself when I tried to book bands it was a tough deal, the owners are not interested in bands and if they are they don't want to pay (we all know DJ's are cheaper).

Maybe you can organize something on the New Haven Green, get as many local bands as you can so they can be seen and heard. Get some of these bar owners out to see these performances. But you and I both know the key is to Promote, Promote, Promote. Just an idea!
 

I agree that the issue is with the generation of today but it starts even earlier and the scope of the problem is larger. Children need to be taught, in schools, about the arts and live performance. We live in a world where the arts are the first thing to be cut when budget problems arise. The history of American Music should be taught to all American children. In the late 1800s blues was born in this country and transformed and grew into the music of today. If children were taught about people like, Charlie Patton, Son House, Robert Johnson and Muddy Waters, they would have a much greater understanding and appreciation for live music. These people truly lived and felt what they were singing about and anyone that listened could feel it.

The influence that the younger generations are getting is from music that is heavily produced and this is one possible reason why they prefer dj's over live bands. The music live does not sound the same because it is stripped down. You do not need to be an accomplished musician to make a record these days, technology does it for you. If you listen to older recordings there is an undeniable truth to them. You feel like you are right there in the room with them.

We live in a world that is heavily into communicating on line, like we are doing right now. The younger generation finds entertainment from there homes. It use to be that you had to go out and interact with people to have a good time. Before tv people would go out nightly to dance and meet other people. The world has grown with technology and the downside is we are losing the need to actually go out and meet people face to face.

In closing I do not completely agree that bands do not promote themselves. Years ago the band just had to show up and play. With the internet you can reach millions of people to hear your music and know where you are playing but it does not translate into more bodies. The unfortunate truth is there are just fewer people in the world that care about live performance because it is becoming a thing of the past. I do however keep the faith that it will swing back in the future.
 

Thanks Al. I agree with you whole heartedly. Kids today don't even know what a natural drum sounds like. Art is dwindling in America. Ufortunatly as Malcom X said " Chickens are comming home to roost" The music industry as a whole is disintergating as we wacth. Al can we start a society that is dedicated to the Futherence of live music as an art form. Jazz, Blues and if it wern't for T.V. commercials Rock and Roll are becoming lost arts. Can we start a organization that will say No Way Not On Our watch and will antone care if we do? G.
 

Greg,
I know the Austin Blues Society is trying to set up a corriculum in elementary schools here in the Austin area. I think it would be a great thing for all the blues societies accross this nation to do the same thing. If blues societies could raise money and awareness then the schools could never cut it out because of funding. The blues and all roots music from The USA are all part of our history yet they are ignored. As far as anyone caring. That remains to be seen. I think if you start teaching children they will care. As far as it bringing more people to live music today. I would say no. This is something that would keep it from dying and bring more of an interest in the future. Do what I do. I go out and find the best musicians I can and make music with them. Continue to work on this craft to better yourself and better the enjoyment of making music. Because that gift, my friend, can never be taken away. It is a gift that few in this world can ever realize. Peace, Al
 

Al: Always so zen. Pretty hip for the guy who turned me on to hot wienners. G.
 

Ahhhhh hot weiners. Boy do I miss em! Nothing better at 3:00 am after a night with jack.