dealership

tuesday, june 26 (01)   [link]

jane:  (i've exceeded my post quota for the day but i just had to put this in: from the onion, so you know it's pure gold. ok, g'night, everyone!

tuesday, june 26 (01)   [link]

jane:  Lesson of the day: you can not be too cynical.


I mean, I'd always suspected that giant marketing conglomerates shaped youth tastes, but to have it laid out for you like this is just chilling. I feel so helpless. What can we do against a goliath like viacom? But I should take heart, I suppose; we are doing something, by listening to indie bands for one; and we'll always have the net, where some high schooler's weblog has as much chance of screentime as CBS's latest ploy for more sales. I never thought I'd say this, but hooray for the internet. The last free place on earth.


Now back to my regularly scheduled cynicism.


At the same time the internet "sets us free" or whatever, its very nature makes those marketing companies like the incredible Look-Look such aggressive cool-hunters. Sharon Lee, co-founder of Look-Look, says, "It used to take a year-and-a-half to two years for something to move. And now it can take a couple of months. . . " A couple of months? That's the lead time for a company to seize upon and market a new trend? Jeez. But it makes sense, given that so many kids are online and exposed in the blink of an eye to the latest in cool.


Which is why when the "cool hunters" find the cool thing, they invariably end up killing it. Vicious, no?


Well, so why do I care? I'm not a teenager; I don't rush out to by the new trends in fashion or music. I'm not really aware of trends. I'm kind of a style exile, I guess. It just disturbs to imagine these marketers running after kids with their digital cameras and their laptops trying desperately to understand them so that can make money off of them and perpetuate the idea that kids must spend money to be cool; when in fact those very same marketers acknowlegde that the truth is, the coolest kid is the one who bucks the trend and refuses to buy what's being sold to her. This is the kid, the elusive trend innovator, that these scouts look for. Just so they can make the kid's taste obsolete in 3 months.

monday, june 25 (01)   [link]

jane:  Mmmm...smells like rain. I love the great, hot summer we've been having, but it's so refreshing to have a little break. I'm sitting here by the open window breathing in the evocative scent of wet asphalt and loving it! "California is my religion." (Anyone remember who said that? I don't...)

sunday, june 24 (01)   [link]

jane:  Hey everyone! Some new content (at last!): if you check out that pink sidebar on the right, you'll see that there are some new things to read, including a review of a movie that I haven't really seen yet, but since the review isn't really about the movie... oh never mind, maybe you should just read it and judge for yourself. Also I write about my dream rpg game and that other favorite pastime of mine, cartoons. So, check them out if you are so inclined and write to me with your thoughts and comments, which are always dearly appreciated. Thanks!

friday, june 22 (01)   [link]

jane:  updates coming soon: i promise. i've been working on a bunch of articles, mostly about movies, for some reason, as well as the continuation of the gaming thing which i've done but i haven't put up yet. all will be put up this weekend.


i have also had fun the last couple of weeks playing shows (see chrisw's post on the scrumtrulescent summer we're having). it was really great to meet origami, who were terribly sweet and funny and played beautiful music. we've been really lucky in getting to meet wonderful people in great bands. but i guess there's a down side, too, as anyone who's suffered through disorganized, late, or otherwise frustrating aspects of small indie shows can attest. and that inspired me to jot down some thoughts about band etiquette. of course, we're not totally blameless all the time, but the following are rules that we try to live by, and when people blatantly violate these, we get a little upset. and fantasize about setting fire to guitars. or maybe that's just me.


so anyway, for your edutainment:


Miss Manners' Guide to Playing Out
by Jane for Judith Martin, the real Miss Manners, whom Jane adores.


These days in the hurly-burly world of indie rock/pop, it's easy to forget oneself. But your aspiring Rock Star status does not exempt you from generally accepted rules of conduct. These societal niceties are not mere conventions to constrain your so-called "free spirit"; rather, they are the means through which we may all agreeably get along and function smoothly with a minimum of conflict. After all, indie bands have enough conflict in simply getting gigs to play, record deals, and so forth; it does not make sense to add interband tensions to the list.


So, I offer up the following as a gentle reminder to those who might have forgotten everything their mothers taught them.


1) Always call ahead to confirm details such as the load-in time, soundcheck time, order of the bands, pay, and so on. It's amazing how many of these details will have changed since you booked the gig two months ago. Calling a few days to a week before the show will save you frustration at the show itself.


2) Do some research. If it's a new club you've never been to before, it helps to find out some details. Try to go see a show there before you play, so you can get an idea of the room size and the sound, the atmosphere and so on. If you're on tour, obviously this is impossible, but sometimes the internet can have information. Amazing, this internet!


3) Which reminds me of point 3: it's good to be able to do some research on the other bands who are playing with you. Download some MP3s, listen, visit the website. For extra points, link to their sites from yours when announcing the show. They'll appreciate it, and so will your fans, who will want to know who you're playing with.


4) Always arrive on time. (See number 1.) If, by unavoidable circumstance, you are late, do not insist on a full soundcheck unless you're playing a fairly large venue and you are the headliner. If the sound engineer is generously inclined, she will offer you a soundcheck; but it's your own fault you were late and you have to "suck it up and deal," as the kids say.


5) On a related note, never anger the sound engineer. Always say hello, and offer suggestions in a warm manner. Condescension and patronization can never be tolerated, in this or any other circumstance. The added bonus to building up good relations with sound engineers is that they are more likely to remember your band the next time they do your sound, and the sound check will go far more smoothly. A professional sound person will never make a band sound bad for being rude, but you never know - there are some unprofessional people out there.


6) Introduce yourself to the other bands. Don't be falsely chummy, but be friendly. You're all in this together. And if you followed my suggestions in point 3, you'll even have something to say (something nice, I trust) about their music. Don't lie, but there's always something you can say, even if it's "Your website is quite logically designed." Save the air of aloofness for the European tour. Sometimes you run into bands that are simply mean and/or stupid, and there's nothing you can do about that. At least you tried.


7) If you are the first band, please begin your set on time. Nothing angers the later bands more than being pushed back an hour because you were waiting for more of your fans to show up. Remember, the reason you're playing first is probably because your fans are fewer in number than the other bands', and you are risking pissing off the people who came to hear the headliner. Is this really worth waiting for Joe FratBrother to show up? We've all had to play to the bartender and the boyfriend; it's just part of being in an indie band. Some day you, too, will be a headliner, and you will wish the opening band to go on on time. That is, unless your tactics have pissed off too many potential fans.


8) Never play more than 40 minues of music. You may be exempt from this if you are a headliner on tour in a foreign country or if your band is breaking up and this is your final show (for example, no one minded that P.E.E. took over the stage for an hour; it was, actually, quite wonderful.) If you are in a supporting slot, you may want to consider trimming to 30 or 35 mintes. This means ten songs at the maximum, eight if you tend to banter between songs (which is unadvised but sometimes necesssary as you tune up or switch instruments.) You may be allowed more if you are masters of the one-minute ditty.


9) Unless you're flying out to your grandmother's funeral on the red-eye flight, always stay to watch the other bands. There's nothing more rude than the opening band who packs up and takes off while the second band begins to play. It's just disrespectful. If the music is not to your taste, you are of course welcome to participate in the other activites commonly offered at clubs, drinking, playing pool or pinball, conversing with your mates; but leaving the venue is an such an obvious slight against other bands that it is to be avoided at all costs.


10) Do try to make contact with the other bands after the show, even if it's merely an exchange of smiles. Don't say, "I loved your set" unless you really did. Not only is it insincere (and, often, obviously so) it may provoke discussions about playing together again, which you want to avoid if you really didn't like their music much. A simple "Thanks for playing with us" with a warm smile will suffice.


11) Get your gear packed up and off the stage as quickly as possible after your set; at the end of the night, try to load out quickly, before the bartender has to yell at you. There's nothing more depressing to a bartender and doorkeeper than for your gear to be strewn all about the place at 2 in the morning. If you are swift and efficient, they may let you have a drink after last call, and that's the time to celebrate your gig with your friends.


Finally, Gentle Reader, if you still believe that rock music cannot be subjected to the principles of etiquette, I offer this reason to follow the above guidelines: think of it as self-preservation. Remember that the indie music scene of your local area is a small one. Your bad habits will come back to haunt you, I guarrantee it. Other bands will not want to play with you, bookers will not want to book you, and you will have alienated potential fans with your boorish behavior. You do not want to do this, unless you are an ACDC cover band, in which case I encourage you to be as rude as you can be. Thankfully, in my experience, the most ill-behaved bands I've encountered are the ones whose music I do not care much for in the first place; perhaps this is some version of the Darwinian theory at work.


Rock On Politely!

wednesday, june 20 (01)   [link]

chrisw:  I had a great weekend, thanks to the recent shows!*


*double post from Massless, but, as David pointed out, it's more appropriate here... :-)


Chris W. from Dealership Officially Designates This Summer "Musically-Scrumtrulescent!"*
Manic-depressives everywhere delay their emotional apogee in anticipation of A Great Musical Summer.

Adobe Books.

Two days ago -- Sunday:
With a Built to Spill concert happening somewhere else in the city, Dealership gathered at Adobe Books to perform for the Mission Creek Festival. The show was extremely fun. It was the show closest to home for us...literally since Chris lives one block away from the store. We missed too many of the other bands due to scheduling issues...and because of a late afternoon party enhanced by summer drinks made with blood oranges and gin.


I've said it before and I'll likely say it again: I love Pepito's song "Tourismo."

Origami.

Last week -- Thursday: We arrived at the Stork Club to find that the power had been cut off to the Stork and the surrounding neighborhood. It was a warm evening. A few drinks were had and we met Origami, a wonderful band from Australia who are winging a U.S. tour. After a while (no one seemed to be stressed out about possibly not playing - it was such a nice night) the power was restored but not before a nasty accident occurred at a nearby traffic intersection that had been deprived of guiding red, yellow, and green lights for far too long.


So why is this the most musically-scrumtrulescent* summer? So many concerts are happening - on Sunday night alone our friend Jason bounced from seeing Lunchbox and From Bubblegum to Sky, then us and Pepito, and then The Foibles. So much interesting and wonderful stuff. The concerts in conflict reminded me that there are so many great musical events in The City this summer. Coming soon are Imperial Teen and Quasi concerts at Bottom of the Hill in San Francisco! Wow. Both of which we were asked to play, and can't schedule because of, well, money/time issues. Yes, I know, I know we're lucky even to have been considered for such things...still......poooooo-oo-o-o-py! Also coming up is the super-anticipated 2001 Pop Fantasy. Look all you RPG playin' nerds, you're going to want to leave the house for this...


*"Scrumtrulescent" is a term coined by Will Farrell as James Lipton from The Actors Studio while evaluating a performance by Charles Nelson Reilly. The parody is very funny. Know it? Read this forum. Don't know it? Will Farrell is an actor on Saturday Night Live. Saturday Night Live is a T.V. show on late Saturdays. Still, no idea? John Belushi, the guy who played Bluto in Animal House, got famous from this show in the 70s. Still, no idea? Alright, back up five pop culture references. Ok, click.

friday, june 15 (01)   [link]

chrisw:  The mp3 format has just evolved...thanks to a new standard released yesterday by the creators of the mp3 format that can create new mp3s that are half or less the size of original mp3 files with equal or greater sound quality. The new format is called mp3PRO and has complete backwards and forwards compatibility.

From Thomson multimedia (a company which played a crucial role in the development of the mp3 and mp3PRO formats): "Your old mp3 files will play completely normally on a new mp3PRO player. New mp3Pro files will play normally on old mp3 players, but without the dramatic mp3Pro improvements."

You can download the free RCA mp3PRO encoder/decoder from the Thomson multimedia site and create your own mp3PRO files from your own content and test if for yourself. I will if I get some time and I'll let you know my results.

monday, june 11 (01)   [link]

jane:  hey! (sorry to interrupt your pecan pie news, chris g) - sign up to get free tickets to an advance screening of Final Fantasy the movie! ... am i the only one who's that excited? well, anyway, the tix are free so what are you waiting for?

monday, june 11 (01)   [link]

chrisg:  hi everybody! (hi dr. nick!)


i'm so behind on writing articles for this site, as a friend recently pointed out. i have the sudden urge to write, but wanted more of an instant gratification-type thing, where i don't have to worry too much about spelling or grammer or cohesion. in other words, i'm high on caffeine and feel the need to babble. i almost feel like not writing because i see that jane recently posted something and i don't want to move it. instead, i'll just try and keep it short.


listening to an album that chris and jane think i'm insane for liking. it's by this group called the freedesign that were around in the late 60s or so. think spiritual parents of danielson famile, but with harmonies a la carpenters. it's just so unabashed and sugary and happy that it makes me smile. probably the kind of people that you would want to slap if you ever met them because they seem unnaturally jolly. but it makes for some good songs.


made my first pecan pie last night. was inspired by a pbs marathon of america's test kitchen. the tv makes everything look easier, like space travel and baking. i mean, the pie tastes good i think, but i totally messed up the crust.


anyways, promise more articles. maybe more 'dear chris' stuff too if i get more questions. seems everyone's happy in or out of love right now.

sunday, june 10 (01)   [link]

jane:  it's been a long time, kids. how is everybody?


me, i'm just fine, thanks for asking. actually, not totally. i think i'm developing a mild case of agoraphobia. seriously.


also, i'm in kind of a tough spot in my game, in a really hard area with lots of gnarly monsters. i got almost all the way down to the boss, and then i died! and i got really frustrated and had to put it away for a while. but i still kinda want the keychains. how cute are they?!?


in other news, i made my first ebay purchase today. it won't seem real to me until i have my nerdy product in my hot little hands, but i am pretty happy. and now, stricken with ebay fever, i am scouring my place for stuff i can sell to the deserving public. no, not my pinky and the brain toys. some things i could never part with.


'nother funny thing: a few days ago my sister says, "hey, did you know they're making a lord of the rings movie?"


um, yeah.


she, a bit irked: "oh, so you saw the Entertainment Tonight thing, too?"


no...


she: "And it's being directed by some British guy..."


Peter Jackson. a New Zealander. his other movies include Heavenly Creatures and The Frighteners.


she: ".... how do you know all this stuff?!?"


ahh... she hasn't discovered the internet yet. the source of all trivial knowledge. the haven for hard-core fans of anything. isn't it wonderful? don't you just love it?


in case you couldn't tell, i was being sarcastic.


why are the pretty ones always insane?