"Dude, that band totally sold out for playing at ___"

A while ago Lawrence Arms bassist/vocalist Brendan Kelly posted on his blog The Bad Sandwich Chronicles about bands playing big venues (specifically he was referring to Against Me!) and how silly and stupid it'd be to stay an underground band with bills and a family and NOT want to progress to making more money...This makes absolute sense to me. His band hasn't blown up like underground sensation and friends Alkaline Trio, but they've probably come to terms with that. They've got super loyal fans all over, but just don't have the 'sound' to be dragged across radio waves on a mainstream level. Now I can see from both sides how the cause and effect of a band once small blowing up can be. From the fan's point of view, you loved watching your favourite band play intimate venues and hung out with them afterwords at the bar. They get bigger and play larger venues with a hefty ticket price or with bigger bands you don't have the slightest interest in. You then feel like they've 'sold out' since they're playing with band you don't care for, maybe on a sponsored tour package...such is life right? Imagine being the band starting out with next to no money, making the records in living rooms using a closet as a vocal booth. They hand-silk screened the shirt you're wearing and pulled up to the venue in a rusted van that also doubles as their hotel for the night. You watch them play that night as they give it their all putting every drop of energy into their set. They pick up their small amount of cash they made (since the venue screwed them over once again) and drive to the next town. Fast-forward 8 or so years from now. They've made 5 or so records, can afford a better vehicle and now can make the record at a somewhat better recording studio. Hell, they can even tour more cities with a better chance of hitting your hometown again. I guess after years of struggling to get bigger in the music scene and business, I can't turn my back on a band that deserves success. I mean, what band would want to stay on the bottom food chain while their buddies in other bands make a more comfortable living doing the exact same thing they do? It doesn't make sense to me. We all have goals in life. And Every band most likely would enjoy to continue to be successful doing what they love: playing for the fans and spreading their music. That would be like telling your favourite athlete they should have stayed playing minor ball or whatever because that would be "keeping it real".

2009-A Year In Review

Ah, 2009. It's unbelievable how fast you went. Thankfully, you left a trail of great music and even some decent television shows! My favourite album of the year is almost a toss up. Decibully's World Travels Fast is near perfect, but at the same time The Lawrence Arms's Buttsweat and Tears is pretty amazing. It's too tough to call, so I'm going to call it even. I waited such a long time for both and listened to them way over 10 times in a week.

In 2009, I discovered a band that has been around for a while. Tegan and Sara. One night, they played the Tonight Show With Conan O'Brien and rocked their new single "Hell". It was very Alkaline Trio-ish and I had to dig deeper to see what else they can do. My guitar player is a huge fan, and ripped me his favourite songs. All of them catchy and brilliant.

This year I didn't go to too many shows due to my wife and I purchasing a house in March. We did go to two great shows. Maritime+ The Smoking Popes at Turner Hall in April, and most recently, Decibully in December. Both shows were very memorable. After the Popes show, Jill because a big fan of them, and for the first time in many many years, Bryan and I got to go to a concert together.

And now, some of my favourite songs of 2009

The Slowing Drink At the Saddest Bar On the Snowiest Day in the Greatest City

-The Lawrence Arms

Somewhere in the World

-Decibully

Hell

-Tegan and Sara

Best God in Show

-NoFX

Airport Security

The Bouncing Souls

Hurricane Season

The Emergency Room

As far as television is concerned, Modern Family wins for best sitcom. We watch it every Wednesday, and it's pretty hilarious. Even the idiot from Married With Children is funny in the program.

2010 should be a pretty good year. Alkaline Trio has a new album coming out. I've already heard a few songs from it on youtube from live performances and they sound pretty good. Ted Leo has a new album coming out. Obviously that'll be awesome. So here's to another year, and cheers to 2010.