Your Band May Talk The Talk But Can It Walk The Walk?

I don't guess there's that many bands out there any more. There is one in Lubbock that I think has a huge chance of making a career out it if they took the right steps. The problem is, they still treat being in a band as a part time job.  No one is saying you have to quit your job, and no one is saying you have to get neck tattoos, but if you're going to play genre music, your visual style should reflect that genre.

It's tough writing this without putting a spotlight on the band I'm talking about, so let's reverse the discussion a little bit. When you go to your favorite bands shows do they look like they just walked in off the street? Do their clothes, their hair, their demeanor reflect their band, or do they look like people who are on break from stocking shelves?  This was one of the biggest problems I've always had with he Austin scene. It was just boring to look at. They apparently didn't take note when Stevie Ray or even the T-Birds dressed with a little style when they played.

Now some of you will say that this time of thing is "posing" or being "poseurish".  Well guess what, you'll never make it dressing like an accounting intern. It just doesn't happen. People need the visual stimulation and they need to know your music represents a lifestyle.  You know what killed Megadeth for me?  Seeing them at the Fairpark Colosseum and Dave Mustaine starts the show by dancing across the stage in a sports coat.

One of my favorite bands in town has this problem. Their music is top notch and seriously good enough to hook up with a nationwide tour.  Their singer occasionaly looks the part but the rest of the band look like they are on break from loading trees onto a truck.  Once again, this might work if that's the kind of music you play, but especially if you play genre music it doesn't work.  To clarify, no one wants to see a guy in an Italian suit play country music, or see guys in sports coats play metal. It just doesn't ring true as authentic (these are just examples, because if I used the exact genre it would be too easy for some to figure out who I'm talking about).

So take my advice or leave it. It's far easier to call me an asshole on the internet than it is to make positive changes that may help your band.  I still refer to exhibit A:  What does your favorite band look like onstage?