Your Guide to Original Local Music

[DarthDominus]

Most of the bands around here have been in action long enough to already have learned the following facts, but the newer musicians could benefit from the experience we all can share…

General Preface

1. Have at least an hour worth of music written and practiced that you are confident in.
2. Have decent recordings of at least two songs to show to promoters and venue owners, preferably diverse in your specific style (a ballad and a rocker).
3. Make sure that all the members of your band are cool with the dates of your potential shows BEFORE you accept them.
4. Make sure you have adequate equipment. Drummers, don’t use caved in drumheads. Guitarists, buy a tuner. Don’t have a job? You can donate plasma for $50.00, average band 4 members – that’s $200.00 off the bat.
5. NEVER take a show you’re not sure you can commit to. NEVER cancel a show unless you have no other option and make sure you do it in a timely fashion. It’d even be a good idea to suggest a replacement band.
6. Don’t bitch about your timeslot. Make sure you find out before you even accept the show and if it doesn’t work for you, then simply decline. If the promoter can’t tell you, then either tell them to figure it out first or accept and be prepared to take whatever you get. Figure on opening a lot of shows when you first start out.
7. Be on time or early. Be as quick as you can to load in and out. 
8. Bring your audience for the WHOLE show, not just your slot. Don’t just play your slot and leave if you can help it, be there to watch the other bands. Making friends is not just polite, it helps build relationships that might lead to other shows.
9. Promote! Do your share. If you don’t have an audience then either a) You didn’t try hard enough… b) You aren’t that good… or c) You’re on the wrong kind of bill. Don’t take every show you get offered, be sensible about the accompanying acts. The more you play out each month locally, the less you can reasonably expect people to come out. Change up your song set and write new material every chance you get, the same 8 or 10 songs over and over will get old quicker than you think.
10. Unless you arrange money before the show, don’t expect anything. If you’re in music to get paid in Louisville, you better join a cover band.


Local Band Contacts - Part I (Continued in Next Message)

Looking to put a show together? Here is a list of local (Kentucky/Indiana based) original and cover bands/musicians. Many also have music posted. If you’re not on here, don’t be offended please, just PM me and I’ll take care of it.

(intheclear) - http://www.myspace.com/intheclear (Active)
1080 - http://www.myspace.com/1080 (Inactive)
13th Level - http://www.myspace.com/13thlevel (Active)
16 Bones - http://www.myspace.com/sixteenbones (Active)
4 Storie Failure - http://www.myspace.com/4storiefailure (Active)
7 Day Sun - http://www.myspace.com/7daysun (Active)
88 Sins - http://www.myspace.com/88sins (Active)
99 MPH - http://www.myspace.com/99rocks (Active)
A Cold Sleep - http://www.myspace.com/acoldsleep (Active)
Abra Cadaver - http://www.myspace.com/abracadavermusic (Inactive)
Absence of Faith - http://www.myspace.com/absenceoffaith (Active)
Adaptize - http://www.myspace.com/adaptize (Active)
Amalgamate - http://www.myspace.com/mynameisrichardvoth (Active)
Amendment - http://www.myspace.com/amendment502 (Inactive)
Anagnorisis - http://www.myspace.com/anagnorisis (Unknown)
Anna Lies - http://www.myspace.com/annaliesdown (Inactive)
Antikythera - http://www.myspace.com/antikythera (Active)
Anton Mink - http://www.myspace.com/antonmink (Active)
Anvil Grey - http://www.myspace.com/anvilgrey (Inactive)
Arcane Saint - http://www.myspace.com/arcanesaint (Inactive)
Artifex Pereo - http://www.myspace.com/artifexpereo (Active)
Artificial Zero - http://www.myspace.com/artificialzero (Inactive)
Ashes Eve - http://www.myspace.com/asheseve (Active)
Assisting Sorrow - http://www.myspace.com/assistingsorrow (Active)
At One With Nothing - http://www.myspace.com/atonewithnothing (Unknown)
Bags of Flesh - http://www.myspace.com/bagsofflesh (Unknown)
Blackroom - http://www.myspace.com/blackroommusic (Inactive)
Blade of the Ripper - http://www.myspace.com/bladeoftheripper (Inactive)
Bloody Knuckles Crew - http://www.myspace.com/bloodyknucklescrew (Active)
Bolt Action Thrill - http://www.myspace.com/boltactionthrill (Active)
Bonejinn - http://www.myspace.com/bonejinn (Active)
Boom Orangutan - http://www.myspace.com/boomorangutan (Inactive)
Boozer - http://www.myspace.com/letsgetdrunk (Active)
Broken Vault - http://www.myspace.com/brokenvault (Unknown)
Burn to Shine - http://www.myspace.com/burntoshinemusic (Active)
Casting Ashes - http://www.myspace.com/castingashes (Inactive)
Chainfire - http://www.myspace.com/chainfirerocks (Active)
Chaotic Vengeance - http://www.myspace.com/chaoticvengeance (Inactive)
Day of Ruin - http://www.myspace.com/dayofruinband (Active)
Demon Wind - http://www.myspace.com/demonwind (Inactive)
Descention - http://www.myspace.com/descention (Active)
Dogwater - http://www.myspace.com/dogwaterrocks (Active)
Dreadfall - http://www.myspace.com/dreadfallmusic (Active)
Dye Hollow - http://www.myspace.com/dyehollow (Active)
Dying Kind - http://www.myspace.com/dyingkind (Inactive)
E-Flat - http://www.myspace.com/eflat (Unknown)
Embertide - http://www.myspace.com/embertide (Inactive)
Empyrean Asunder - http://www.myspace.com/empyreanasunder (Active)
Escaping Memory - http://www.myspace.com/escapingmemory (Active)
False - http://www.myspace.com/false (Inactive)
Flatlyne - http://www.myspace.com/flatlyne502 (Unknown)
Flaw - http://www.myspace.com/foundationhome (Inactive)
Gravity Bomb - http://www.myspace.com/gravitybomb (Inactive)
Grinstead - http://www.myspace.com/grinsteadrocks (Inactive)
Guthook - http://www.myspace.com/guthook502 (Unknown)
Guttersluts - http://www.myspace.com/Ihatetheguttersluts (Active)
Halfway Hollow - http://www.myspace.com/halfwayhollow (Active)
Hanover - http://www.myspace.com/rockhanover (Inactive)
Hardlein - http://www.myspace.com/hardlein (Active)
Hark the Harold - http://www.myspace.com/harktheherald (Active)
Hate Cast - http://www.garageband.com/hatecast (Inactive)
Heaven Hill - http://www.myspace.com/heavenhill (Active)
Hicks Road - http://www.myspace.com/hicksroad08 (Active)
Holbrook - http://www.myspace.com/holbrookband (Inactive)
Hydrogen - http://www.myspace.com/hydrogyn (Active)
Hyndsite - http://www.myspace.com/hyndsite (Active)
I Will Defy - http://www.myspace.com/iwilldefy (Inactive)
Incursion - http://www.myspace.com/incursion666 (Inactive)
Infradread - http://www.myspace.com/infradreadmetal (Active)
Inner Blue - http://www.myspace.com/innerblue (Active)
Institution - http://www.myspace.com/paddedcell (Active)
Intent to Kill - http://www.myspace.com/intenttokillband (Active)
Kentucky Death Wish - http://www.myspace.com/kentuckydeathwish (Active)
King Sonic - http://www.myspace.com/kingsonicmusic (Active)
Lost in Life - http://www.myspace.com/lostinlifemusic (Unknown)
Maude Flanders - http://www.myspace.com/maudeflanders (Active)
Mind Petrol - http://www.myspace.com/mindpetrol (Active)
More Machine Than Man - http://www.myspace.com/moremachinethanman (Active)
MSD - http://www.myspace.com/msdspace (Active)
Mungus - http://www.myspace.com/mungusband (Active)
Nailgun Strategy - http://www.myspace.com/nailgunstrategy (Active)
Never the Man - http://www.myspace.com/neverthemanfans (Inactive)
Nothing in Return - http://www.myspace.com/nothinginreturnmusic (Active)
Nova Red - http://www.myspace.com/novared (Active)
Ominous Erotica - http://www.myspace.com/ominouserotica (Active)
Overload - http://www.myspace.com/untiligetitright (Active)
Overthrone - http://www.myspace.com/metaloverthrone (Active)
Patrick Michaels - http://www.myspace.com/patrickmichaelsrocks (Active)
Poetry of the Dead - http://www.myspace.com/poetryofthedead (Active)
Point of Anger - http://www.garageband.com/pointofanger (Inactive)
Porno Fishtank - http://www.myspace.com/pornofishtank69 (Active)
Prey For Maria - http://www.myspace.com/preyformaria (Active)
Primal Dust - http://www.myspace.com/primaldust (Inactive)
Pulse 8 - http://www.myspace.com/pulse8 (Active)
Raising Einstein - http://www.myspace.com/raisingeinstein (Active)
Rampant - http://www.garageband.com/rampant (Inactive)
Red Eyed Lies - http://www.myspace.com/adamwop (Active)
Resin8 - http://www.myspace.com/resin8ed (Active)
Revelation - http://www.myspace.com/revelationforever (Active)
Sacred Sorrow - http://www.myspace.com/wearesacredsorrow (Active)
Scary Uncle - http://www.myspace.com/scaryuncle (Active)
Screwface - http://www.myspace.com/screwface13 (Active)
Seclusion - http://www.myspace.com/seclusion (Active)
Second Hand Grenade - http://www.myspace.com/secondhandgrenade (Inactive)
See Emily Play - http://www.myspace.com/sepmusicdotcom (Active)
Serene - http://www.myspace.com/rockserene (Inactive)
Sever This Illusion - http://www.myspace.com/severthisillusion (Active)
Shatterstone - http://www.myspace.com/shatterstone (Active)
Shinerunners - http://www.myspace.com/shinerunners (Inactive)
Silent From the Struggle - http://www.myspace.com/sftsrocks (Active)
Snake Eyed Savior - http://www.myspace.com/snakeeyedsavior (Active)
Society's Plague - http://www.myspace.com/societysplague (Active)
Somatica - http://www.myspace.com/somaticamusic (Inactive)
Sonic Epitaph - http://www.myspace.com/sonicepitaph (Active)
Sowing Discord - http://www.myspace.com/sowingdiscordmusic (Active)
Sphere - http://www.myspace.com/louisvillesphere (Active)
Steel Mist - http://www.myspace.com/steelmist (Active)
Stonecutters - http://www.myspace.com/stonecuttersky (Active)
Straining to Vent - http://www.myspace.com/strainingtovent (Inactive)
Surviving Thalia - http://www.myspace.com/survivingthalia (Active)
The Big Rock Show - http://www.myspace.com/thebigrockshow (Inactive)
The Layzees - http://www.myspace.com/thelayzeesoflouisville (Active)
The Passing Hour - http://www.myspace.com/thepassinghour (Active)
The Revenants - http://www.myspace.com/revenants (Active)
The Scarlet Veil - http://www.myspace.com/thescarletveil (Active)
Thomas Medicine - http://www.myspace.com/thomasmedicine (Active)
Tornacade - http://www.myspace.com/tornacademusic (Inactive)
Tragic Twinz - http://www.myspace.com/tragictwinz (Active)
Two Pump Chump - http://www.myspace.com/twopumpchump (Active)

[DarthDominus]

Due to the fact each message has a character limit, I'm forced to add any band from this point in a new list. I'd like to keep them reasonably together so the continued list will begin below.

Local Band Contacts - Part II
Alice in the Aftermath - http://www.myspace.com/aliceintheaftermath (Active)
Gods Ugly Children - http://www.myspace.com/godsuglychildren (Active)
LustIcon - http://www.myspace.com/lusticon (Active)
Phoenix Perdition - http://www.myspace.com/phoenixperdition (Inactive)
Project Sovereign - http://www.myspace.com/projectsovereign (Active)
Under Red Skies - http://www.myspace.com/skiesred (Active)




Venues, Promoters, and Stuff     

Phoenix Hill Tavern (Through Kim):
Contact: kim@phoenixhill.com 
Details: The Wednesday night "Louisville Music Showcase" sponsored by 93.1 the Fox is one of the best gigs in town for an original band. You get $100.00 for an hour long set and you get an unlimited free guest list. Moreover, you can sell your merch too. Some people might say "well, it sucks that it's on a Wednesday - I can't get people out on a weeknight." However, it's freakin’ free and it's from 10 to 11pm, early enough for most folks to get home and to bed when they would have crashed anyway. Great sound, solid staff, and as a bonus you can interview with Mudd for the local hour show on Sunday evening the weekend before in aid to promoting the event. Don’t let this be your only promotional push though.

Bulldog Cafe (Through Darren):
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/bulldogcafe (Send a Myspace message)
Details: We've done shows here where we got a cut of the door and others where we got nothing but our merch sales. Darren is a very good-hearted soul and will do his best to be fair. In our experience, you just need to sit down with him and work out the details ahead of time. 95% of pushing the show is going to fall to the bands though. The biggest downfall to this place is typically the staff is just plain incompetent from the door person down to the sound person. I hear there have been a lot of improvements made to this venue and through Terry Harper some good nationals are coming there from time to time.

Terry Harper Events (Various Venues):
Contact: kentuckytalentbuyer@yahoo.com
Details: Many in town see Terry as the "upper echelon" of show promoters and rightfully so. His events run for the greater part in as professional a way as you're ever going to experience in this area. He brings the lion's share of nationals here and tries to incorporate local bands on these shows whenever possible. Generally, he will approach “you” for a show, but you should definitely make him aware of your band. The only negative experience you may have with Terry is if he can't be present at the event and even then it's not him, it's the fact the people in his stead are not always as on the ball. He advertises, he is fair with the door, and is just a good person in general. You will likely be selling tickets in this instance, but his events are worth it.

Louie the Local Guy (Various Venues):
Contact:  www.myspace.com/louiethelocalguy  (Send a Myspace message)
Details: He's out of commission presently, being incarcerated and all, but I'm sure he'll be back eventually. First off, I don’t think anyone has ever been paid anything on a Louie show, save but maybe some nationals. He’ll be super nice to you, the shows usually run fairly smoothly, but he is a perv. Expect wet T-shirts, banana sucking, and fake orgasms between sets. For some this may be a bonus, for others it takes the audience down to the lowest slack-jaw primates and you have to hope he didn’t just run half the people out of the venue for the night. He was with the Fox radio station, so promotion was fairly good, but I’m kinda doubtful he’ll have that if he were to return.

[DarthDominus]

Phoenix Hill Tavern (Though Eddy Metal):
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/eddymetalrocks (Send a Myspace Message)
Details: Controversial has been this pairing. Eddy does his monthly show with PHT and claims not to make a dime. Neither will you, unless you bring some merch to sell. On the plus side, he does a substantial radio campaign to advertise his shows – probably one of the most earnest efforts in the city. The bills are typically heavy (5 to 7 bands), so it’ll be a long evening and you’ll have to move quickly for load in/out. He has always been very nice to us, but there is a history of other groups and Eddy having this problem or that between them. Otherwise, if you’re over 21 you’ll get cheaper drinks for the evening, which is at least a little something.

Gorilla Productions (Band Battle Rip Off Artists):
Contact: Fuck Them
Details: We’ve never done one of their shows and never will. They are running a perpetual band battle that never sees any winners. What you’re essentially doing is selling tickets, to give them all the money, and then you play a minimal set at whichever venue they are using that month. It used to be they would use Headliners consistently to get the young bands salivating over the chance to play a good stage, with good sound. You are better off contacting a local venue and setting up your own show than dealing with these guys. At least that way you might work out a percentage of the door.

Ville-A-Fied Entertainment (Frank Lewis):
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/villafiedpromotions (Send a Myspace Message)
Details: I believe most shows are run through Shooters, which is a fairly nice venue. They are off and on with their sound, the system isn’t bad but the guys running it are sometimes not very professional. At Shooters, they’ll give you a pitcher or two of beer on the house if you’re over 21. We’ve never done any shows with Ville-A-Fied, though we’ve never been asked either. It seems he tends to run with a stable of select bands. Not certain, but last I heard he works based on ticket sales and gives the bands a percentage of what they move.

Fenders Den of Sin on Crossfire-radio.com (Through Fender):
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/fenderdenofsin (Send a Myspace Message)
Details: Going to call him a type of promoter, but this is a special circumstance. Fender is a tremendous supporter of local music and runs his live radio show through Crossfire-radio.com on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Once a week he’ll have a band on to play from his studio. However, any other day the show is on he is playing the music submitted to him by local groups of all kinds. You’ll never meet a nicer guy and you’d be surprised the doors that can open for you getting your music on a solid internet radio station.

[DarthDominus]

Jason formerly with Oasis (Working to Reestablish):
Contact: www.myspace.com/louisvilleoasis (Send a Myspace Message)
Details: We’ve heard nothing but good about his shows, though we never got to personally do any before Oasis ran into the ground. He is trying to keep the local support going though, so we hope the best for him and anticipate that it’s just a matter of time before he finds a proper venue.

Louisville Rocks on 93.1 the Fox (Through Mudd):
Contact: louisvillerocksmudd@yahoo.com
Details: Hands down, Mudd is the best DJ on the airwaves. You’ll never meet a more genuine and sincere individual in local music. He runs the “Louisville Rocks” show on Sunday evenings to promote local music of all kinds, regardless of genre or any classification of musical style. Send him your CD or MP3s and you WILL eventually hear your band played on the radio. He works with a lot of the other promoters and venues in support of original music, tirelessly doing what he can to get our music out there.

Bizkit Promotions (Through Bizkit):
Contact: http://www.myspace.com/king_bizkit (Send a Myspace Message)
Details: He works with various venues, but most commonly his events are at Phoenix Hill Tavern. Almost everyone knows the man, he’s been around a good long while. We’ve yet to do a show with him, but there is absolutely nothing bad to say about how he runs things. In fact, most bands that we know who have worked with him say the only down side to his shows is the fact they don’t happen often enough.

Uncle Pleasants (Various Promoters or Self Run):
Contact:  http://www.unclepleasants.com/ContactInfo.htm
Details: Many different promoters use this venue, though it is not out of the question for bands to work directly with venue administration toward setting up a show. Don’t be put off by the size of the place. It isn’t one of the larger establishments, but it does have good sound most of the time and the staff is decent. The only real down side to this place is parking sucks. However, if you plan for that and get there early – it’s no big deal. 

Headliners (Various Promoters or Self Run):
Contact: www.myspace.com/headlinerslouisville
Details: Good luck getting in touch with the administration of this venue and if you do, it’d be best for you to be working with a known promoter. I’ve heard various stories on the cost to use this place, but suffice it to say – it appears to be different from person to person or band to band. This is probably the best place to play in Louisville though, in terms of room, stage, sound, the whole deal. Parking has been an issue here, but the lot across the street has largely solved that.

Instrument Shopping Avenues (Local and Otherwise)

Musicians Friend -
http://www.musiciansfriend.com
Far Out Music -
http://louisville.citysearch.com/profile/4070905/jeffersonville_in/far_out_music.html
Mom’s Music General Store -
http://www.momsmusic.com
Willis Music -
http://www.willismusic.com
Music Go Round -
http://www.musicgoround.com
The Doo-Wop Shop -
http://www.doowop.com
Uncle Samms Jams -
http://www.showcasemusiciansdepot.net

Recording Studios (Local and Otherwise)

Canyon Studios -
http://canyonstudios.com
American Recording Company -
http://www.myspace.com/americanrecordingcompany
Avria Studios -
http://www.avriastudios.net
Downtown Recording -
http://dr.summitrecordinggroup.com
Double K Recording -
http://www.doublekrecordingstudio.com
Head First Studios -
http://www.headfirstmedia.com
Mom’s Recording Studios -
http://www.momsmusic.com
Chris Mara’s 1979 Studio -
http://www.myspace.com/maraforless
Spencer Recording Studios -
http://www.myspace.com/spencerstudio

Merchandise Suppliers (Local and Otherwise)

Monkey Drive Screen Printing -
http://www.monkeydrive.net
Custom Ink.Com -
http://www.customink.com/local/louisville-kentucky-screen-printers.htm
Band Wear.Com -
http://www.bandwear.com
The Sticker Robot -
http://stickerobot.com
Café Press -
http://www.cafepress.com


I hope that others will post their experiences and knowledge on this thread so that we can all be a little wiser on the scene as a whole. There are quite a few other venues, promoters, studios, and such that other bands can describe, but the above constitutes some of our general experience over the last two years. Bottom line, you just have to be careful, sensible, and never be afraid to ask lots of questions. Get the answers before you obligate yourself.

[Fee]

I'd agree with all of that except Uncle Pleasants...I have never had good sound playing there, or for the shows where I was in the audience, ever....

now granted it's been over a year since I've been in there so they may have fixed some things, but in general that place is just a wall of noise

drinks are pretty reasonable though...

good post Donny

[CARLOS]

This should be a sticky and kept updated.

[MikeFrom]

excellent work.

[DarthDominus]

Thanks fellas. Make sure to post some of your own experiences when you can, cuz I know you guys have been in the scene as long or longer than we have. Mike, you've got a unique perspective too as your musical style is definitely not typical around here. You've probably had history that would be worth hearing to those who decide to form up playing a lesser represented style of original music.

[Headcase]

Yes!  I know when I started my cover band years ago and needed contacts for venues, people like Dave Ernspiker (RIP), Jeff Williams (from Speed of Sound), Ryan Murphy, Devner from Uncle Sams Jamms, etc. all went out of their way to help me out and get shows.

This is a great post.  Thanks.

[jdhood]

i agree about this should be stuck to the top... good stuff..

[RCHRD. HDGNS.]

Donnie,

I always thought you were one of the only dudes that really practice "scene unity" you don't discriminate and you've very constructive...

You're one of the only.... And there's probably 3, people I would tip my hat off to......

I think that's the saying.... Just saying.

Mad respect to you.

[Goratrix]

Nice post! 

[DarthDominus]

Thanks Richard, the respect is mutual. Chris, much appreciated bud.

[MikeFrom]

Thanks fellas. Make sure to post some of your own experiences when you can, cuz I know you guys have been in the scene as long or longer than we have. Mike, you've got a unique perspective too as your musical style is definitely not typical around here. You've probably had history that would be worth hearing to those who decide to form up playing a lesser represented style of original music.

honestly dude.  you are right on the nail... maybe something about helping friends get bands together, or networking, that would probly sum it up.

i repo to mod, to get a perma sticky.  this is NEED to know info for sure, and i dont see any reason why this should not be up there.

like a 502 FAQ.  Donnie, got up this AM, got him some coffee, and dropped some knowledge.

very nice work.  i would say, maybe add the TV show to the list when i get more of a stable venue.  its still up in the air.   

Im Sure you would all agree that this is something that needs to stay up top, right??

Hell, Donnie can mod this post and update it as we go, more info, new venues, promoters, rockets shootin out of asses, w/e

i like. i like a lot. 

like i said, very Distinguished info here bro.  we need to hang out more, you might help me kill my demons.

MOD: forgot to even address the question. haha

As far as being different, its not that bad anymore, but being the Minority back in the day led to lots of shows playing first and shows playing DEAD last.   but it was good time, we had PLENTY of opportunities, met some great people, and some shit heads. 

Just enjoy it, cause tomorrow its just gonna be a memory.

but i can say, if you have a story about some shitty show or some shitty band or rap group, i bet i got 3 to trump it. haha

[MikeFrom]

This should be a sticky and kept updated.

smoke so much, i totally missed it.  and i wrote a gawdamn novel. haha  your totally right.

[BASSGOD]

Brilliant, Donnie.  Thank you.

~ J

[Judas]

Wow, that's tremendous Donnie. That's hands down the best local music guide I've ever seen.
 
Well, it's the I my one I've ever seen, but I could tell how hard you worked. Beautiful job.

-Steve

[Dave W]

Great post Donnie you are pretty much right on about everything that you said. I too think it should be a sticky especially for the younger bands and those bands who have a lot of arrogance surrounding them.

[DarthDominus]

I have a few other sections I'm working on adding, but got lazy. I'll put them in tonight or tomorrow. Gonna try to cover merch options, recording studios, and a general local list.

Joey - You're too kind sir. A pleasure.

Steve - Thank ya bud. It was just something I felt strongly about doing. Didn't take all that long. Glad you dig it.

Mike - We should add the 502 Show on here. It's definitely a worthwhile promotional effort. Thanks for adding that last bit on your post. I think its important to note you guys put up with rough times for being "different" and earned a respectful spot among the locals.

Dave - Much appreciated. Now come over and teach me those fills nigga!

[gruffmusic]

Much love to Donnie.
You da man!