I was thinking about how I always miss
bands playing at parties. In sheds, backyards. I have a great memory of
watching bands blasting a shed ceiling off under a cold inky ocean of
stars in a NSW town populated with bored teens. Of a band in an unlikely
yard in Albury, just behind Dean St. The air thrilled. People moved to
the music. No-one got paid.
Not getting paid sucks.
But
no-one gets paid now. Unless they do weddings or functions. And if you
do get paid for a gig, it's so little all you can buy with it is a pair
of sunnies from Chemist Warehouse and a drink. Many places don't pay at
all. Then you're there, performing earnestly to people who aren't
necessarily even listening, sipping rieslings, clattering knives on
plates, smoking, laughing, scowling, maybe remembering a polite clap, or
getting drunk and yell-talking and maybe spilling beer on you during
some underevolved attempt at wooing of a human female. The venue makes
money, the performer, not.
So,
if no-one is making money, and a party provides fun and energy where a
pub may only offer disillusionment and ill matching of musical mood to
present ears, there should be more yard parties, yes?
I
don't know people who have yard parties, but I've always wanted to play
one. It'd be like busking, but more intimate and chaotic and safe. I
like raves and festivals, but I don't dig the techno and wish more had
live music, and that live music festivals and gigs could be happier and
more colourful like raves. And every NYE I wish I was on a stage playing
a metre from dancing people, howling in the new year. Drums pounding
behind me. Whether in a venue, or a cleared shed.
Music for the people, with the people. I lived through the '90s but I crave like someone who has only seen it in films.
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