Page 22 - RYAN'S GIG GUIDE SEPTEMBER 2014

Increasingly tough financial times and a plethora of cheap plonk
on a permanent two for three at the local supermarket are
forcing the natural pub dweller back to the dent in the armchair
poised in front of the calming soft glow of life’s soothing
distraction remote in right hand thumb poised opinion already
forming on the tip of the tongue in preparation of an evening spent
swearing at the world of televisual entertainment ably partnered by his
new chums Mr Blanc Ms Rose and Mr White Lightning
Since the successful introduction of the smoking ban across the range of
eateries that are also drinkeries I have found my nightly activities curtailed
to the monitor of my trusty window on the world my mornings oddly strange
to not start with a kick in the ribs wake up call and a fine for drunk and
disorderly Yet with the descent of my night time dalliances with ‘the Plod’ and
the ascent of my time at the whimsy of the internet it seems a Pandora’s Box of a
musical menagerie has been heaped online before my rheumy watering eyes As the
masses and the millions surfing on a skinful across the virtual seas are beset to sites as
varied and subversive such as a cat demanding lactose infused patties a portal for the
selling of priceless Elizabethan antiques bought on a job lot from that bloke in the pub
with the tiny hands and massive wife there is an exponential dearth of undiscovered Dee
Jay’s and dancers doyens of dirge and dick swinging singers But amongst the pile of
popularist imitation uploads and re mixes of Friday genuine artists are finding a platform
to launch themselves from Whether YouTube or Soundcloud Reverbnation or even MySpace
the number of outlets to upload and sell out across is almost enumerate but probably a lot
Bands need no longer scour the local hostelries and half gone yoof centres ceaselessly for any
gig that will offer even a modicum of exposure and a chance to unleash their phenomenal aural
entreaties upon; a web site and at least one member with a working knowledge of Twitter will
see them on the road to finding an audience no worries Spend some time online lurking in the
shadows and one can locate a fair number of ‘resources’ (*Hem hem!*) for the budding DJ or
musician to record produce and master a release with all the quality of a fairly high end producer
returning to work after a bash on the noggin made him go all whoopsy for a bit like not quite
‘spot on perfect’ but near as damnit when turned to ‘ ’ and happily blocking out the noise of the
neighbours hammering on the wall
ROBERT BAKER
RGG September 2014 - p.22
OUT OF THE MIDLANDS