Several weeks ago I decided to try to do something to help out the ailing music scene in our area. I thought what was needed was a little more networking and promotion as well as some good info distribution about bands and venues. I made this profile, gathered a core group of working local bands, began building a web site and  hoped the talent and venue owners would  jump at the chance at more publicity.

(sound of cricket chirping).

In the few short weeks I started this project I was NEVER contacted by any band or venue to cover any show. Those I did contact shrugged off my request for interviews, bio info, photo opportunities and requests for info in general. I plugged ahead anyway and prepared to do a large feature on The Zone in Oxford. The Zone closed down. It was a fantastic venue with all the frills you could want. Good restrooms, concession, dance floor, band lounge, killer sound system, and LOTS of space. HUGE loss. Then I visited Model City Records and saw a pretty darn good show and met some really great talent and took some great pics for a feature story. It wasn't as fancy of a place as The Zone, but it was there for us and they made a great run at giving us all a place to go to see live music. Model City Records closed down last month. Here's an exerpt from their farewell blog:

" After another low turn out to the benefit and most of our locals breaking up/moving(along with someone stealing Mario's Mag light at the benefit) we've talked to our landlord and decided to make Oct. the last month we do Model City Records. We've had a lot of fun but we can't pay the bills and keep doing this when people don't come to shows/keep stealing our equipment when we don't make any money off this."

That's pretty much it for the music scene here in Anniston. The only venues left are bars. That, coupled with an incredibly apathetic (and thieving) public AND bands who have little to no drive and motivation,  I have to decide whether or not to bother with this project. I said from the start that I'm not going to beg and chase people around to get this done. The fact that I myself have been offered the opportunity to play for a band makes it harder to stay motivated to do this. No, not "harder". Impossible. That's a shame. I freakin' love seeing a good band throw down. And there are some good bands here. I said in the very beginning that this is for the bands and fans out there and will go as far as everone out there want to take it. Just like everything else to do with the business, that wasn't far at all. 

Any of you workers out there have any insight as to why our music community sucks so bad, PLEASE share. You folks in the general public are invited to share why you don't go to any of the shows- aside from not being able to find them due to sucky promotion and lack of info when there is any. Not that I really expect much of a response. Buy hey, I tried.