In 2012, an intern for NPR’s All Songs Considered named Emily White started a music-sphere poop-storm with an unintentionally incendiary essay, titled “I Never Owned Any Music To Begin With,” about being an avid music fan yet only having purchased 15 CDs in her entire life, mostly listening to Spotify or copied digital files. She closed the essay by asking, “All I require is the ability to listen to what I want, when I want and how I want it. Is that too much to ask?” My instinctual curmudgeonly internal response was to shake my rake while mumbling profanely about entitled Millennials, but the essay bluntly illustrates the reality that many people just aren’t used to paying for music. Years ago, bands would tour in order to support an album, but now, career musicians must increasingly depend on performance or merchandise (clothing, beer koozies, beard shavings, etc.) revenue; the performing arts and recording arts are two different things, so now, it can be a dire situation for many recording artists. I have seen several amazing shows at Nightfall, Chattanooga’s summer-centered weekly free outdoor concert series, and it warms my heart to think about its 2006 Sun Ra Arkestra show, seeing people (children, parents, bikers, etc.) who probably would not have otherwise paid for such a show, getting a taste— perhaps their first—of world-class free jazz insanity, and enjoying it. It’s hard to compete with free, though, and local venues have adjusted accordingly, with some even taking advantage of the postNightfall crowd. Having a sustainable music career is difficult, but having one that is fulfilling, while not necessarily paying all the bills, is a more reasonable and meaningful goal. So, I offer this to musicians and promoters: be creative and flexible (passthe-hat arrangements can work!) and understand your audience’s expectations and possible mental barriers; some may gladly buy a $10 gourmet burger but balk at a $10 admission. And to audiences: I don’t want to preach about morality or what is or isn’t stealing. But, when you receive a gift, at least what is owed is an expression of gratitude, and that expression can come in many different forms, including: kind words, a Facebook “Share,” or cash.
New Local Release MiniRoundup
Dine-In • Carry Out • Delivery
Segaworms (formerly known as Segamented Worms, segamentedworms. bandcamp.com) adopts the invented genre of Soilcore, influenced by dirtdigging insects, pestilence and other unpleasantness, on its latest album Polychaetes. One of many projects by multi-instrumentalist Joseph J. Micolo III, Segaworms offers knob-twiddling electronics, crunchy apocalyptic noise and highfrequency ear-bleeding tones; if viruses could scream a battle cry and robots could whimper in pain, this is what they would sound like.
PIZZA & WINGS
1 Large Pizza with Premium Mozzarella Cheese & 1 Topping, and your choice of Jet’s Wings or Boneless Chicken.
17.99
$
Expires 12/31/14. Chattanooga location only. Extra or premium toppings, tax and delivery additional. Must present coupon. Prices subject to change without notice.
PIZZA & SALAD
Fans of doom metal may find Red Necklace (rednecklace.bandcamp.com) and its self-titled debut album on Failed Recordings/Inherent Records, available on cassette and as a digital download, to be up their alley. It sports monolithic heavy sludge power chords from guitarist/singer Bill Robinson, who alternates between a metalgrowl and throat-shredding vocals, and brutal poundings from drummer Patrick Wilkey, balanced with cool-down sections before further violent tumbles down the mountains of madness.
1 Large Pizza with Premium Mozzarella Cheese & 1 Topping, and a Large Salad. (Salad Choice: Antipasto, Chef, Garden, or Greek)
18.99
$
Expires 12/31/14. Chattanooga location only. Extra or premium toppings, tax and delivery additional. Must present coupon. Prices subject to change without notice.
chattanoogapulse.com • February 27-March 5, 2014 • The Pulse • 13