Song We Like: Ukrainian March by Watergate Sandals

Song We Like: Ukrainian March by Watergate Sandals

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I believe in Watergate Sandals. I believe this is a Ukrainian March. Everything that is good about rock-n-roll is smashed and broken and comes through the devastation still so good. The guitars are chainsaw on rusted roadsters. The voice is distorted to the point of human recognition but the screams – “you gotta read between the lines” – are true. This song is the perfect argument that all you need for great music is attitude and belief.

Song We Like: The Sale of Indulgence by Harriers of Discord

Song We Like: The Sale of Indulgence by Harriers of Discord

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Leaning into south-western desert pop punk – this songs feels a little like an updating of the classic “Mexican Radio” by Wall of Voodoo. Which is our highest praise – for another strange catchy musical trip. Spitting lyrics and picking at this bouncy hook-laden song – and walking the line of madness. Featured on our #65 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Song We Like: I Don’t Care by Bad Molly

Song We Like: I Don’t Care by Bad Molly

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Rarely is nihilism so beautiful. Gorgeously simple classic country songwriting reveals layers and complexity of emotion. And a punk-rock declaration becomes a much deeper introspection of introvertion and withdrawal. The voice is rich and true and the bedroom demo recording crackles with authenticity. Featured on our #64 podcast at www.hlycrp.com.

Band Management: Blog 31: Bandcamp

Band Management: Blog 31: Bandcamp

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“Band A” is back from a summer hiatus and has four shows and some recording in the next month. That’s what a band manager should do, right? It was nice to be back with the band. For the first three months of band management there’s been a certain caution (maybe annoyance) from the members toward my management style. But that seems to have receded over the break and now they’re all ready to go again. 
In terms of the wider world, I use this blog to ask questions to anyone I want about the music industry – and I want to explore not just the underground music scene but also the underground music media scene. I suspect there are 100s of podcasts covering the underground music scene, 100s of underground zines, comics, mini-online publications that would love to talk about “Band A.” Who else is supporting the underground music scene? – this will become part of the blog in the coming months.
Still, if you want to talk about the underground music scene you have to talk about Bandcamp. The Moby Dick of the underground music scene. The great white whale. At the start of the Holy Crap Records Podcast we were listening to at least 50 bands a week on Bandcamp to find new music. All the bands we played this past week use Bandcamp as their platform. “Band A” was found on Bandcamp by Kafadan Kontak Recordsand by Divide & Conquer Music magazine.
So this week on our “4 Questions in 5 Minutes” video interview section I get to chat with Joseph Edward Keyes, the editorial director, at Bandcamp.com. (We had some challenges technically, so the sound is a little wonky and you may have to turn it up – but this series is totally lo-fi on purpose?) I always wanted to know how Bandcamp works and what I can do to help “Band A” gain a bigger audience… Also, Joseph Edward Keyes is super nice and a totally legitimate music nerd… Thank you… The combination of the collapse of the music industry, of affordability of good recordings, and Bandcamp make the underground music scene possible… 
(Really, this was recorded using FaceTime and my computer recorded it on a really low volume – so I had to turn it up and the sound is not great…)

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 19: Dauntless Promotions

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 19: Dauntless Promotions

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This year I am managing “Band A.” The stated goals are to get “Band A” onto a record label, to play at a festival, and to get 100 people to a regular show. I started this investigation because no one seemed to understand the current music business. Bands don’t seem to know how to get on radio, how to put together a tour, how to get press, and how to get onto a label. Basically, bands and artists don’t know how to create a sustainable business out of music.
I started to research these questions and the first article that was clear concise and helpful was by John Richards of KEXP​ titled “Getting Airplay.” (https://www.kexp.org/about/getting-airplay/) This essay mentioned “promotion companies” – which I just kind of understand, like I kind of understand what “booking agents” do… John Richards listed promotion companies he likes and trusts – these are the companies that have a relationship with KEXP – companies like Dauntless Promotions, and Jennifer Daunt. John Richards said that it was worth it for a band to hire a promotions company if a band was on tour and they wanted to saturate the press and radio before a show.
So Dauntless Promotions represents courtney barnett​, Sharon Van Etten​ – a bunch of truly bad ass artists – and Jennifer was kind enough to chat with Holy Crap Records Podcast. In this interview, Jennifer talks about getting radio play, how Spotify has become the most important medium, and that building a buzz in your local scene is still the best way for a band to get noticed. (Also – this is the Dauntless Records Spotify playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jwJLJKSFRUNSqtp5qjmq1?play=true&utm_source=open.spotify.com&utm_medium=open)

4 Questions in 5 Minutes: John Richards, KEXP

4 Questions in 5 Minutes: John Richards, KEXP

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John Richards, host and producer of The Morning Show for KEXP, creator of International Clash Day, wrote the influential essay “Getting Airplay. ” Holy Crap Records Podcast interviews John about how bands can get their music played on the radio.

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 8: Jordan Duttinger, Godless America Records

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 8: Jordan Duttinger, Godless America Records

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I’m in the business of band management. I have one-year to move “Band A” onto a label, get them on the festival circuit, invited by KEXP to play live at their studio… Hey I’m not the smartest, but I pay attention and follow trends through Holy Crap Records and the The Asheville Rock Collective. What are the best local bands doing to take those first steps to recognition and infamy? Godless America Records puts out an annual mix-tape of the best songs/bands submitted to them during the year. Tongues of Fire is on their mix-tape. Bubble Boys are on their mix-tape. It’s how we find a bunch of bands for the Holy Crap Records Podcast – by listening to this excellent curated mix-tape. So I have to get “Band A” onto one of those mix-tapes. And I totally had to interview Jordan Duttinger for the “4 Questions in 5 Minutes” section. I fucking love hanging out with someone smarter than me. Like Sean from BURGER RECORDS, Jordan started Godless America Records because no one was representing and promoting underground music. Godless America Records is basically Jordan – and finding the sustainable model of putting out great mix-tapes and releasing bands on cassette is what works for him. Yeah, I will be submitting “Band A” to Godless America Records, but I’ll use my second email and see actually what Jordan thinks of the band. Thank you Jordan.

In other management news. F*ck. I busted my ass. I sent of “Band A’s” latest release to 20 college radio stations. I figured out the emails and the DJs most likely to play this type of music. I did it right. F*ck. Let’s see what happens.

This is the email I sent:

Thank you for being a champion of indie and underground music. I am the manager for “Band A,” an Asheville-based new wave / garage rock band. I am sharing their lead single from their latest release for your consideration.

“Band A” have been around for 6 years in the Asheville indie/underground scene. They were voted the number 1 punk band by Mountain X-Press in 2015. (And then Mountain Xpress stopped that category – who knows why? ) Their sound has evolved from raw garage punk to that indie new wave sound of bands like Blondie, Talking Heads, and B-52s. These songs are a catchy ear worm in your brain. “Band A” are recreating and updating the 80s sound like The Strokes with “You Only Live Once” and Sharon Van Etten with “Comeback Kid.”

Please enjoy “Band A” – “Song A”: ***********************

JP Kennedy
Band Management

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 5: Social Media Fail

Experiment: Band Management: Blog 5: Social Media Fail

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I do love one of those shows when you have to shove the pool table to one side, bring all your own equipment, have no monitors, and all the people at the bar stare at the band like they’re aliens. Of course I didn’t shove the pool table – I’m management. Here’s a plus about “Band A” – they don’t have a hard time getting shows. So generally they’re well behaved, they have songs, and they’re bring a handful of friends along. Lowell Hobbs of Tongues of Fire says that you shouldn’t book too much, that each show should be an event. I’ve heard this from @Derek Allen too. I’d subscribe to that theory if “Band A” was destroying each show. They’ll have a great loose show – and then only four of them will show up and it will be entertaining but not a religious experience. I want to book them shows until they get sulky and arrogant and obnoxious. 
That was the good part of band managing this week. I also failed on social media. How do you reach a larger audience? On Wednesday I paid social media for likes – because I believe 5,000 likes will make it easier to get them on a label, play at festivals, and get 100 people to shows. I paid $5 to social media. “Band A” has +11 likes this week. About 50 cents a like. So that didn’t work. Or maybe the ads need to be smarter?
So how do you get people to listen to this music? Bumperstickers? Music videos? People do like music videos. So a music video, of the band sitting around, or looking artsy and angsty is fine – but “Band A” is having a local show soon and I want all their friends to show up. Because if all their friends show up, they’ll act wild, and then they’ll tell all their friends they’re in a music video. Organic marketing!!! (Please someone get in a fight, or make-out on the dance floor, or at least I hope the smoke machine will be working again…) We’ll see…
Also, looking forward to this week – we will be interviewing Sean from BURGER RECORDS and Jordan from Godless America Records (and hopefully Tristen Colby) for our 4 questions in 5 minutes section.

Gabriel Bernini on Northampton, MA, and who stole his cowbell

Gabriel Bernini on Northampton, MA, and who stole his cowbell

Gabriel Bernini just released his favorite record yet called “Record For Bailey,” for which he made all of the songs on his own in his basement on Lovefield St. in Easthampton MA. He has another record in the works at the moment called “Sweeties” that should be out later this year. We featured his song “My Girl (Pass the Mic)” on our #41 podcast.

My favorite thing to wear onstage:

Makeup. It feels like putting on a mask of some kind, so I can really be an onstage character rather than trying to be myself.

My favorite musical instrument or item that I purchased recently is:

MXR Phase 90. It fits guitars into the mix really easily and makes the whole track nice and squishy.

Responsible for Van Halen’s “Tone in a Box” sound

The musical instrument or item that I really really want is:

Cowbell. Someone took mine and it’s been a real bummer when I want some cowbell on a track.

The artist who has influenced me most is:

Bob Dylan. He so tapped in. We all strive to tap in as much as Dylan.

Something I wish I’d known before joining a band:

Protect your ears!

I live in this city:

Northampton, Western MA. I grew up here and went to college here.

The general vibe of this city is:

College town. Great music scene, lots of artists, lots of food.

Editor’s note: That is the Northampton flag. Bet you didn’t know they had a flag.

The best place to play music here is:

The Parlor Room. They’re nice people.

The best place to SEE music here is:

Any basement show. It’s a real scene.

My favorite local band (aside from my own):

Sun Parade, Carinae, Kind Radio

I collect:

Vinyl Records. I love buying, listening and looking at vinyl records. It’s a great hobby. It’s such a thrill to find a record you’ve been looking for at the right price. It’s a real high.

When people look back on our culture in a hundred years, they’ll say:

It’s crazy compartmentalized. There’s so much going on. Everyone’s into cool different stuff and it’s all available on the internet.  

My favorite thing to watch on tv is:

Joe Pera Talks With You. Feels new and exciting!

A winter indulgence that I would never forgo is:

I don’t know, I usually indulge in the summer I guess

The last music I downloaded was:

Nina Rota soundtracks. A fun listen

In my heart I wish I was:

A smoker. Because I would have a raspier voice

Editor’s note: IKR!! Also, smokers get breaks. Nonsmokers get no breaks!!

A beauty staple that I’m never without is:

My trusty beauty staple

why

I trust my staple

My personal analysis of the current state of the music industry is:

Probably for the best!

When people come to visit me, particularly if those people are cooler than I am, I take them to:

Our tallest bridge

Why

To push them off for being cooler than me.

Favorite seasonal beverage:

Hot chocolate

Why

Chocolate but hot.