Blame Northside

[hirez]

Well that about wraps it up for g*th. Mr Mercer is entirely correct in his estimations of the current UK scene, how things are on the mainland, Whitby (Google for 'Whitby weekend' - you'll find more mentions of a northen soul weekender, which is both a good and fine thing of itself and largely indicative of what WGW really is) and the startlingly fine writings of one Uncle Nem. It seems almost redundant to point out that if the eminence noir of (UK?) g*th is convinced that the game's up, then it's high time that several tens of unemployables put down their DATs, backed away from the drum machines and toddled off down the labour exchange.

On the other hand, he seems to lay the blame squarely on the bands, which I'm not entirely sure is cricket. Yes, most bands are now running it as an evenings-and-weekends thing that makes it look like a hobby for the middle-class, but that's because it's become largely impossible to go squat someplace and 'live' off the dole in order to pursue your art. I could be wrong though - I don't know how the DIY punk or indie crowd run things because I don't get over to The Legendary TJ's anywhere as often as I like. (Mostly because I'm concerned about Newport Youth's reaction to my car...)

It may also be that unless you can wade into the market with a coke-budget the size of Belgium, you're not going to get the records into the shops because The Majors (all six of them) have the distribution channels sewn up. (Is that a money or funny-handshake thing?) Though that doesn't really explain how random dance twelve-inchers pitch up in the chart. (Though much less so now) Hell - the last time I looked it was 5-600 notes for 500 12" records pressed up and TNTed from the Czech Republic. How many days charlie is that?

[ There was more, but I'm not sure it's relevant. ]

[Update: Splendid stuff! (Thieved from Wendles)]

Comments

[fross.livejournal.com]

Yes, most bands are now running it as an evenings-and-weekends thing that makes it look like a hobby for the middle-class, but that's because it's become largely impossible to go squat someplace and 'live' off the dole in order to pursue your art.

Bingo.

Which is why, also, there is so much more technology in goth music these days. These kids can afford to spend 500 quid on a synthesiser instead of three guitars. And they don't need to give up the day job learning to play them.