Fan Death Records to D.C. Bands: “Stop Sucking”
It's hard to deny that Sean Gray and Christopher Berry have some bragging rights. In the last year their label, Fan Death, has put out a number of noisy 7-inches, 12-inches, and cassettes, including music by Drunkdriver, FNU Ronnies, and Ringo Deathstarr. In terms of productivity, they've outpaced just about every other D.C.-based label. More importantly, those records have made it out of their basement and into distro bins around the world. Last year the label's annual concert series, DNA Test Fest, packed out the Velvet Lounge. But most of the bands they release and book reside in other cities—Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Austin. Turns out, there's a reason for that.
Yesterday All Our Noise posted a mammoth three-part interview with Gray and Berry. Among the topics discussed: the label's humble origins, why they moved this year's DNA Test Fest to Baltimore, and how they came to release Clockcleaner's Hawkwindesque, 15-minute cover of Negative Approach's "Ready to Fight" (performed, of course, while opening for Negative Approach).
Also covered at length: The general suckiness of D.C. music. Gray and Berry let loose, calling out D.C. bands for their careerist attitudes, Brooklyn-centric touring schedules, and wimpy songs. Names are named.
The haterade really starts to flow at about the 10:55 mark of part 1:
Here's a transcription of the relevant portion:
Gray: D.C. is a shitty place, with shitty bands, and a shitty outlook on life. I mean, it’s kind of sad in a way, there’s a lot of history here that everybody knows about. I don’t think it went down the path that I would have wanted it to. I think with D.C. there's this thing that bands want to make it...they think they can make it in D.C. because they’re from D.C. there’s that history there and that that’s an automatic foot in the door to whatever they’re doing. But even beyond that attitude portion of it, there’s just not good music. There are two good bands in D.C.
Berry: Screen Vinyl Image and Lotus Fucker.
Gray: You can’t name me another D.C. band that’s been remotely as good as those two.
Berry: And you can’t tell me that another D.C. bands sounds like those two.
Sean: I will flat out name you who are garbage bands in D.C. If they want to tell us that we’re a piece of shit label that’s ok, too.
Berry: US Royalty.
Gray: The Dance Party. And this guys is really nice–really nice dude–but I hate his band Ra Ra Rasputin. That band, garbage. The thing with D.C.–these bands think, they don’t go outside of D.C. They don’t have any sense of perspective. They think if you play New York and D.C., if you go back and forth you’ve kind of made it.
Berry: There’s nobody playing in Philly, nobody playing in Boston. People are trying to get known media-wise in D.C. by D.C. media. We don’t really care about that, we put out what we want to listen to. And because what we put out is good, we don’t have to have an angle.
12:52 pm
I'm sure it took about 30 seconds of imagination to name the Dance Party (who live in L.A.), Ra Ra Rasputin, and US Royalty as shitty bands.
1:11 pm
meh, they are just saying what we are all thinking.
1:24 pm
Oh look, Chris Berry and Sean Gray are talking shit again. Shocking. What are you two doing for DC? Oh right, nothing, move away and talk a bunch of shit, that's the answer.
1:49 pm
Duh
1:55 pm
Why stop there, Chris and Sean? All bands suck, and so do all cities.
1:59 pm
Looks like Gray and Berry have lifted a page straight out of the Lily Allen, Noel Gallagher et al. playbook--from the chapter entitled, "I believe I have the monopoly on truth even though all I'm really doing is engaging in baseless ad hominem tirades against other bands." Unimpressive.
2:06 pm
haha. i love his smug look and his facial expressions. clearly trying to get a rise out of readers so more people will know about fan death.
this sentence is great in how it contradicts itself: "D.C. is a shitty place, with shitty bands, and a shitty outlook on life."
nice work assholes. go back to selling an image. at least we will forget you are selling shitty music.
2:08 pm
They said what I was thinking, except i was thinking it about them, right after they said it.
2:19 pm
ok, ringo deathstarr isn't shitty.
2:23 pm
"Gray and Berry are just two shitty dudes, sitting on a shitty couch in a shitty polo and a shitty sweater talking about how they shit gold. pure, beautiful, shitty gold." Great article! I'm going to go buy a Fan Death Records t*shirt right now! ...and wipe my ass with it.
2:26 pm
I'm offended that some asshole who I've never met would tell me that I don't "have a sense of perspective in terms of what I'm doing".
2:35 pm
Regardless of what anyone thinks of any of the bands mentioned in this article, it's clear from watching the video that these two are small-time, smug cunts trying to garner attention for themselves. I'd recommend not giving them any more.
2:40 pm
I've said it before...
"Dear DC, this is No-Wave calling, we want our 16th note back. You're all almost 30 years too late, you have to make up a new beat of your own, sorry."
I think what they mean to say is most... all DC bands of this generation are not inventive.
2:40 pm
Two white guys, one with glasses, telling people what they know is true about underground music.
Hm, that's new.
NEXT.
2:50 pm
@greg:
Regardless of what you think of these bands, I find it hard to believe that you could say that, for example, Imperial China, Hume, and Le Loup aren't inventive.
2:58 pm
@Haterade
Inventive maybe, boring yes, and that's just a subjective assessment. Risk takers? Definitely not. Those bands are all "safe" to say the least. Pull your head out of the ground and embrace the chaotic world.
3:06 pm
Good DC Acts:
Drop Electric
Caverns
The Cornel West Theory
Christylez (also in the group Triflava)
3:15 pm
@Greg:
I will put my music collection up against anyone's for variety and general weirdness, so don't give me that high and mighty bullshit. Your subjective opinions are not facts out here in "the chaotic world." Deal with it.
3:24 pm
Ok. Let's get straight to the point. These kids are complete dicks. I get where they are coming from with bands like US Royalty. It is very apparent that US Royalty is shooting to be the next Kings Of Leon. And good for them. They'll be on MTV one day. But there are DC bands doing different and cool shit. (the sounds of) Kaleidoscope is a perfect example. They are better then ANY band on Fan Death. Imperial China, Benjy Ferree, True Womanhood, The Points, The Apes, Tennis System, & Aquarium are all doing amazing things in and out of DC.
FD says DC bands just do a NYC trek for recognition. Why don't you take a look at the shows the bands I just listed are doing. They're all playing shows in Baltimore, Delaware, Boston, Virginia, The Carolinas etc.
I once the dick-heads that are fan death at a My Bloody Valentine show. You say you signed Ringo Death Starr because of your love for MBV. Dude, everyone of their songs is a complete MBV JAMC rip-off. So how can you even begin to talk about being different? Where's the originality there?
Fan Death is a joke. Sean why don't you do an interview standing up?
3:28 pm
The reality here is that this whole thing is based in subjectivity. One asshole's opinion is not any more valid over any others. It's only when its tossed out there as being supreme "just because i said so" that the value of a statement plummets. This town has a lot of good artists, bands, emcees, musicians in general. If you believe that, then you are supporting it. If you don't, then you might not be paying attention.
which is where i find the value in labels like fan death existing, bringing attention to niche artists. but having said that, it works both ways. you just might not be into what else is going on outside of your specific tastes. and that's valid too. but that doesn't make everything else suck. that is basic.
bottom line is you can either reinforce lame pretentious hipster stereotypes or focus on contributing, either through your own art or supporting/nurturing artists around you. its a waste of time to just sit back and sling mud.
3:36 pm
Ringo Deathstarr sucks, guys. Sorry to break it to you.
3:41 pm
wait a second, who the hell plays in delaware?
3:46 pm
i endorse this post
3:51 pm
Really? You do? Maybe you should start another math-rock band, how'd that work out for you last time?
3:56 pm
Ken from Ra Ra Rasputin, your band is not good :-(
Jonesin', the statement "Imperial China, Benjy Ferree, True Womanhood, The Points, The Apes, Tennis System, & Aquarium are all doing amazing things in and out of DC" is a blatant lie
4:14 pm
wow... these fan death kids are some real fuckers. hey sweethearts, if you're too cool for DC why don't you move the fuck out of dodge? eh?
4:15 pm
Oh Christ. Here we go again. The effing internet... Music, as with any other form of art, is a matter of opinion. And while I agree with these two idiots on some level (Dance Party,) I can't really get on board with most of their garbage... If a band like Ra Ra Rasputin is so bad, why have their past two shows been packed? Obviously their are plenty of people who appreciate the sound their putting down. What' the implication here, that every person who goes to one of those shows doesn't know shit about music? Give me a break.
Not to sound like an overly tolerant idiot, but RELAX, everyone. Some of those bands may not be my cup of tea but I'm not going to put them on blast just because they're a bit different...
4:16 pm
I apologize for my overly passionate grammatical errors. Ha.
4:19 pm
It's not news that these guys hate everything. What sucks about this particular interview is that Sean and Chris named of bands they hate, but refused to name the "DC media outlets" that irk them. Total hypocrites. You'll hate the bands from far-away, but ooooo you don't wanna piss off the media. Don't wanna lose that precious media coverage. Gotta get pics of the bands rockin! Gotta get a snap of the kids drinking PBR.
You put out a bunch of records. Cool. But aside from the venom, this interview was painfully boring.
Oh and much love to the City Paper and AON fanning the flames.
4:28 pm
http://cuteanimals.todaysbigthing.com/2010/01/27
4:32 pm
I would like to thank the following DC bands (an ongoing, incomplete list) for inspiring me to pick up an instrument (the bass guitar) instead of sitting on my a** and spewing nonsensical hatred for the sake of publicity: Ra Ra Rasputin, The State Department, Last Tide, Lode Runner, Tennis System, Laughing Man, Detox Retox, Exactly, Imperial China and The Childballads.
4:34 pm
I love how some fat hipsters can move into a city, live there for two years and be experts. Dance Party was selling out Rock and Roll Hotel when those kids' parents were still paying for year two of five of their European History degree at JMU.
4:40 pm
The comments section to this article proves them right about everything they said
4:48 pm
So Colin and Greg, what have YOU done to help make things better other than talk a bunch of shit on a message board? Greg you don't even know what No Wave is. Just because you read a book by Simon Reynolds doesn't make you an expert on underground music.
For the record, Sean and Chris went to Maryland. This explains a lot...
4:48 pm
clockcleaner - racist
drunkdriver - racist
fan death - racist
4:49 pm
all of the people getting riled up over this are fuckin clowns.
4:50 pm
hey guys when's the fan death true womanhood picture vinyl coming out
5:28 pm
Every single band named in this article is shit. I've never heard of a single one. Whats up with the midget with the glasses? Why is he sitting like a retarded cripple?
5:29 pm
lisa - rapist
5:31 pm
@fourfinsoftherocket (aka Bobby Allyn): someone really ought to slap you for writing that. feeling a little haughty after spending some time in europe? if anyone's band deserved to be called out for sucking, it's yours. seriously, shut the fuck up.
5:51 pm
Pink Noise Records. It lives on in infamy.
6:11 pm
Hey guys, I once had a show on Maryland's radio station, so I'm like, pretty sure I know what I'm talking about. STFU.
6:33 pm
"CeCe" - You have some fucking nerve.
7:12 pm
It's just opinion. Everyone dislikes things. So, Sean and Chris happen to dislike the current state of music in D.C. And I must say, the last handful of shows I have been to in D.C. with opening bands from there have been abysmal at best. I'm sure there are some good bands from D.C., but the ones that I have personally witnessed are not good. Opinions are opinions, don't get so offensive.
7:16 pm
@ DC
Why have you always drained my wallet when I've played in your overpriced town? $5 for a Yuengling are you insane? Why could you not fill up the 930 Club of with 200 more measly people for the JESUS LIZARD?!! HOW DO YOU UNDERSELL THE JESUS LIZARD?! Show some respect! And lets not even get started on the 930 staff removing people for the least bit of rowdiness. DC has just become the tea drinking little wimp cousin of Baltimore. Where have your cojones gone DC?? I tell you where... they've been co-opted! Remember when the Northwest was awesome and now it's all overpriced shopping for white women and ONE overpriced record store. And I quote a resident of your fair city "Black Cat! Black Cat!"
7:45 pm
that was very cerebral BALLsy of you, sean.
7:59 pm
HAHAHHA "They think if you play New York and D.C., if you go back and forth you’ve kind of made it." the dance party live in LA and are recording a record for Atlantic.
you, mr. slouchy nugget, are what's wrong with dc. why don't you go blog about it.
8:12 pm
The thing Grey and Berry haven't yet grasped is that these bands (The Dance Party, Ra Ra Rasputin) are different from others because their whole goal is for people to have a good time and party. Life doesn't have to be lived in the dark. We all had fucked up childhoods and eventually you get over it. Give them a few years, the FDR boys will learn how to hold an interview constructively. I am rooting for them.
8:32 pm
People who just want to have fun with their art are regressive children curling into a psychological fetus position. You have to tear down/tear apart old art to put up the new and then do it all over again. There is no time to stand still.
8:41 pm
"the dance party live in LA and are recording a record for Atlantic."
Atlantic? I think you just proved Sean's point as far as The Dance Party are concerned. When was the last time a label like that signed anybody worth a shit?
8:45 pm
everybody is so upset. who gives a fuck if two guys hate your city? you all sound like whiney girls. you wish fan death would put out your shitty band.
8:58 pm
The Dance Party are from DC
http://www.facebook.com/thedanceparty
9:15 pm
Jonesin' you're a real piece of work. And by work I mean sh*t.
"Sean why don’t you do an interview standing up?"
There's a big difference in Sean dissing bands for sucking (they can practice, write better music, change their situation, plus it's just an OPINION) and you busting on Sean for not standing up (yknow since he was born with a potentially life-threatening medical condition, can't change the situation).
You don't like people who talk shit on unimportant things (like the quality of a band) but you'll talk shit on something like that? Get a life. (And better bands)
9:21 pm
Is this gonna be the next East coast vs. West coast rivalry? DC vs. B-more? I do like how this is shaping up, let's keep it going. I can't wait till someone sleeps with the others girlfriends. wait, I think Chris and Sean need girlfriends first.
9:23 pm
What a bunch of cry babies on this comment thread. So someone gave an opinion, and a strong one, and you don't agree. Boo freakin' hoo. I wholly endorse people voicing their honest opinion about other bands/labels. Indie rock/punk/whatever has gotten too soft, where you're not allowed to say that a band you don't like sucks. Get over it!
And for the record, I think most stuff on Fan Death rules (except for RDS).
9:24 pm
...oops I hit Submit too soon:
And for the record, I think most stuff on Fan Death rules (except for RDS, who are borrrring).
9:59 pm
love the haters, they are a sign of success
10:19 pm
I can not for the life of me imagine why these two men would trash D.C. I mean come on man D.C is full of rich musical history. I was reading Banned in Dc
10:24 pm
whoah don't know what happened there dudes. All I wanted to really say was this. Sean can't walk because God obviously hates him. And he is just mean and bitter because God gave him a challenge to hurdel and he chooses to run the next Amphetmine Reptile with a caca attitude
11:07 pm
Question: what in the hell are you guys getting up to over at WMUC anyway? first I hear about some football headed mid 20 yr old dating a fine 16 yr old spring chicken, hon glasses and all, and now I see sean and "the eyes" sitting on ricki lake's couch doing an interview with a human cartoon.
it's because of people like you, that people like me (and that amateur Abdul) refuse to pay dc bands.
ps: I'm a prick. and the longer the scene sucks, the richer I get - i guess that goes for your label too, sean.
12:50 am
screen vinyl image - terrible.
i agree that in d.c. 99.8% of DC bands suck, but if these guys are saying that and truthfully think screen vinyl image is any good, than we are REALLY in trouble.
if these guys are gonna be pretentious and think they know what a quality band is, they should namedrop some bands with talent. i repeat screen vinyl image sounds like a diarrhea fart with reverb, some distortion, and a drum machine. Maybe not as good, but close.
Good D.C. bands:
Deleted Scenes
Bellman Barker
Greenland
New Rock Church of Fire
uhh.....I'm sure there are more, actually, no I'm not...but you can't mention a bad band list without mentioning DEATH BY SEXY. More like Death by Worst band ever to step on a stage in DC I wish you would give your guitar to a crackhead so he can learn how to play it and make some money to get his next fix and still end up playing better than [you].
and I don't like Death by Sexy, either. If I failed to mention that at some point in this comment.
12:51 am
Wow, what no draw band are you afraid to say you are in Mr."Steve Lambert"?
1:01 am
the only thing worse than the dc scene is wmuc (and the alumni). more apt to complain and shit talk than actually actively making a change.
i love ringo deathstarr, i dont particularly care for ra ra rasputin, and i think us royalty are musically sound- if not very inventive.
grow up and get out of dc if you hate it so much. your label is probably good, but it gets you nowhere to say who you hate.
6:09 am
Cowards. All of you. Quit your life. Play music.quit ur comfortable life.
Sound like animal collective, be a shitty MBV, be a broke rip off of the cars, claim nickel back as a major influence. Who gives a shit.quit ur life and play music for a living.
Bands that have done this from dc in the past 2 yrs: these united states, deletes scenes, the dance party, jukebox the ghost, middle distance runner, the points.
Hate success, these bands work harder than yours.
They might be better looking than you. They might write better pop songs than you. They might be less indie than you. They might dress better than you. But they QUIT THEIR LIVES to play music.
Get out of dc. tour. Sell out and get a publicist. WRITE GOOD SONGS. PRACTICE UR INSTRUMENT. Music is subjective. Hard work isn't.
Call ur label "fan death" and watch you gain no fans. Give a pretentious interview and check out how foolish you look on camera and in print.
This shit is unbelieveable.
And btw, don't get pissed when Brightest Young Things reps someone else and not you. Sorry the "local media" doesn't give a shit about your band. Your band that sounds like a highschool band ripping off dc in 1981 sucks dude, sorry.
10:18 am
One, two, three, four,
who's punk, what's the score.
10:37 am
These guys are overlooking Fly, The Ignobles, Ashes, the social activism of Luke Sissyfag, the video work of the Betapunks, etc. etc. Pick up a copy of Crack DC and get educated.
10:38 am
I just want to see the rest of the video with these guys...where "Barry and Gray (Levon)" go "Awwww Yeah...its time for $240 worth of pudding...we had the 240 so we had to have the puddin! AWww Yeah baby you got it going onnnn!"
haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpuUemDBz-8
Hmmm, well I never heard of them and I guess I just dont get what they're talking about---my band is doing amazing things and they're are a bunch of great bands here in DC. In fact I'm going to see one at RNR hotel on Friday. Yeah Steve Lambert, lets get paid!!!
NH
11:09 am
I'm eating boysenberry yogurt right now, and it's really hitting the spot! It's Dannon, and I guess I could've gone with the generic Giant brand, but this one says it has 7 Benefits right on the front.
Anyway, sorry to interrupt. I just wanted to put in my two cents to let these guys know we don't take this lightly. Which reminds me, this yogurt is 99% FAT FREE!
11:13 am
im not in a successive band, co-operating a niche record label, (and booking talent for multiple d.c. venues)... but sean and chris has some guts. big ups.
11:49 am
DC Bands really do suck. look at the pieces of shit that come to their defense. point proved. good job tellin the world the truth sean and chris. fan death for life!
-your "friends" in bmore.
1:05 pm
I like that the criteria the author uses for these two douches to have "serious bragging rights" is that their concert series has packed the Velvet Lounge. I love the Velvet Lounge, but it's a seriously small venue. Nearly every DC band Berry and Gray calls out as sucking has packed the Velvet Lounge as well as much larger venues. Berry and Gray may not like US Royalty, the Dance Party, or Ra Ra; but DC does. Stay in MD guys.
1:53 pm
Alright, y'all, so I finally finished that yogurt. YUM!
Now I'm drinking a G2. Just 50 calories! I'm being so good today, girlfriends!
2:04 pm
Also the first Test Fest didn't even pack the Velvet Lounge, it just barely filled the WMUC show room, which is just over half the size of the roughly 100-capacity VL live room. As a few points of comparison, DC9 and Black Cat backstage are ~200 cap., Hotel is ~400 cap., Black Cat Mainstage is ~700 cap.
2:13 pm
Are y'all in middle school? If someone doesn't like your music, or if someone disses your faaaaavorite band, just move on and keep doing your thing. Dudes gave a run-down of how they feel about some shit, it ain't like its some surprise in 2010 that some people don't like the same music that other people do. The idea that everything has to be some huge, polite, integrated scene is ridiculous.
A lot of the bands and venues of the DC scene right now have this old school rock/nu school blog house vibe like "let's party who gives a fuck" a la the Rock N Roll Hotel, boisterous party rock rap bands etc. and for them (or their fans) to turn around and get pissed that these dudes don't like their music is mad funny. If your vibe is Guns N Roses (or super snooty NYC-style fashiony bands) then dudes (and dudettes), just do your fucking thing and stop trying to force everyone to empathize with your approach to your own life/band/etc. To quote Katt Williams: "Its called SELF esteem"
Like, are people really trying to blow coke and stagger into cabs like DC is LA, while simultaneously getting whiny and butthurt about some dudes who put out sick small press noise records? UGH get a grip on your own vibe and roll hard with it. You're gonna be both ignored and adored many times over, no matter what band you're in. Stop being bitches about it and....play MUSIC.
And to all these weird comments about the dude Sean, that type of vibe is fucking crazy. Are we 12? UGH get that vibe the fuck out of DC for sure. Take that shit back to the Reston rowing team locker room or the Magruder lacrosse field.
These dudes do great shit to foster their scene. Do some great shit to foster yours too!
2:14 pm
Also Screen Vinyl image is tight
2:19 pm
hey chris, i think i owe you some money.
3:43 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvPcgJUQFso
3:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX-Gdrmsl6E
3:44 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgrWF3JQtpw
3:47 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sjttfJagIs
3:56 pm
Steve from Middle Distance Runner, those drinks are usually 50 calories per servings and 3-4 servings per bottle, so watch out, also I don't like your band very much
4:03 pm
Everyone,
stay calm.
step away from the computer.
take four long cleansing breaths and take off your shoes and socks.
put on your favorite record. (today mine is: Simply Saucer "Cyborgs Revisited") (it changes often)
listen to it all the way through. (perhaps while looking through any kind of window; or, in the outside)
repeat as necessary.
remember why you love music?
we are all guilty; no one is clean.
Love from afar,
Damien
4:21 pm
Really? You signed this band?
myspace.com/dryptoluminum
4:50 pm
no jon.
4:51 pm
This is the same kind of cliquish bs that's been going around the DC scene since 1980. We've got the crab pot syndrome - once a band starts to pull itself up, everyone has to pull it back down into the pot.
I'm sick of kids in DC shitting on DC. Move out and quit bitching. That goes for Imperial China, too, who profess their love to be greater for Baltimore when in Baltimore. Once back in DC, it's "support local music [cause that's us!]"
5:35 pm
Only reason all these snot nosed kids get to play shows in a different DC venue every week is cause of my trust fund.
8:47 pm
THANK GOD YOU'RE SO HEAVILY INVOLVED IN THE DC SCENE WHAT WOULD WE DO WITHOUT YOU? YOU SAVED US.
Get the fuck out of town you tool.
10:18 pm
Hey Chris and Sean, why don't you shove you head up your ass and smell your own fart.
6:02 am
I think the interview should have also touched on how DC commenters are the worst. I feel like this thread has taken me back to the early 2000s. Before you start working on your song writing, please work on your posting content and style, DC.
6:10 am
DC, listen to one of your own:
Everybody's talking about their hometown scenes.
And hurting people's feelings in their magazineses.
You want to know what it all means?
It's nothing
10:17 am
@Jonesin': Are you on Sean and Christopher's side?
10:56 am
I doubt these guys have heard The Reticents, Police & Thieves, or Supreme Commander.
Blanket, unqualified, generalizations are always a dead giveaway that there are holes in the premise. Of course, these guys have identified some of the problems, but to brand the DC scene in such a generically negative light isn't gonna get anyone to the shows.
11:57 am
btw the best post on here so far is the one from poster "Baltimore"
awesome.
12:01 pm
Sorry, I take back a lot of my first post, because this seems to be a hipster thing goin on here, I wouldn't understand. Good luck guys.
1:48 pm
Your all a bunch of cry babys! Go fuck yourselves! Most bands do utterly suck, and D.C sucks too. Come to test fest I'll show you how much our tunes suck and I'll put my fist threw your throat..... Philly Style, fagot!
1:48 pm
AFP Max is spot on. Damn, you people are pathetic. A couple guys discuss the DC scene, call it for what it is and you act like they banged your mother. Get some self-esteem. Most of the scene sucks. There are a few good bands which are up for debate depending on what one likes. A packed show doesn't mean a band is good.
2:11 pm
Um. Seriously, a lot of bands in DC suck - or are at least outrageously boring and derivative. That's actually the case with many major cities right no, however... DC bands that have gained popularity over the last 10 years (or more) usually sound like whatever was REALLY popular 3-4 years prior, and usually don't go anywhere.
Point in reference, I don't think Chris or Sean are talking about the punk/HC bands here, or the house shows (which most of you cry babies wouldn't step foot in.)
So if you want to run to the defense of absolutely mediocre bands who "like to party" (by way of example: Dance Party, Middle Distance Runner, Ra Ra Rasputin, etc) feel free. Some other band did what they are doing better, a few years ago (or 10 years ago...)
The real problem with DC is BYT. Wannabe frat-boy (& sorority girl) scenester douchebags - every single one.
2:14 pm
amen brother.
criticism should push us all back to the practice rooms to really listen to and evaluate what we have done in the past and what we are doing now. all the hap hap happy collabos going on around town are like a hootenanny- playing with new friends for the joy of it
(which is a ok but not purposeful work)
without any quantitative result or qualitative improvement. my hope is that the criticism and collaboration work to move us into new territory-
the yet undiscovered frontier in dc where zip codes don't matter and the genres start merging and forging new sonic order...
a go go bucket of beats over rhyming couplets
with synth and sax
and that light sabre of a theremin.
stop whining. take off the hair shirts.
the emperor's got no clothes.
wipe those complacent government issued grins off your faces
and get to work.
2:16 pm
"A packed show doesn’t mean a band is good."
Truth
3:00 pm
amen once again...
midnight kids v. HR
3:02 pm
I had no idea that sucking at your instrument, and trying to be as musically agitating as possible made you superior... and I had no idea that all the "talent" in DC was so whiny and insecure about the songs they write. There are good bands in DC and good bands in Bmore... and for every one good band in DC there are ten horrendous ones. And for every one good band in Baltimore, there are ten horrible ones.
These two assclowns are eventually going to become a parody of themselves, especially the dude on the right who is just doing this label thing till he gets that Mythbusters callback.
Had no idea that a location had anything to do with how good music is... if it sucks, it sucks (unless you want to be ironic like these two basement jedis. If it's good, it's good (unless your a DC music snob that still thinks dance punk is awesome).
anyone defending any band on here or publicly slamming another band, is missing the point of music all together. And these "label heads" are quite possibly missing the point of their own artists music. If I were on this label and heard these clowns talking like they shit gold, I would be bowing out of that deal as fast as possible.
4:02 pm
oh, man - I am gettin some wine and popcorn for this shit. thanks for posting this, aaron!! just when I was starting feel bad for being a hermit for the last year or so...
4:17 pm
you've inspired me to get some yogurt for this party. fuck the wine. fuck the popcorn. it's PROBIOTICS time!! it'll make my vagina nice and fruity. dc can have a taste if they want, I'm heading out to the OTHER washington!
-carol bui
4:21 pm
aw, man - it looks like I missed the boat. I'm the only no-lifer on this comment board now. bye!
4:22 pm
Get stuck in the rock'n roll hotel, the 930 club, sonar, velvet lounge or whatever DC/Baltimore club you want to go to. Real music, underground music, is going on under yalls noses.
4:39 pm
Hey gu... Wait. I'm in the wrong room...
5:13 pm
as someone who grew up in the dc suburbs and fucking FLED to baltimore the minute i turned 18, fan death dudes speak the TRUTH. unless you're flag-pin wearing motherfucker or a toothless bike courier, anyone musically inclined living in dc is setting themselves up for NOTHING. dc sucks FOREVER. see y'all in hell, you 850-for-an-efficiency-paying MOTHERFUCKERS.
8:37 pm
I love it that they complain about bands that no one cares about, that's called a "straw man" guys.
I laugh at the guy who moved to Baltimore from DC. $850 for an efficiency? Dude, if you pay rent and don't own your own house you're an idiot. You are paying money to a LANDLORD. What a sucker! In 2004 my house was worth more than a million dollars. Get that in Baltimore.
9:54 pm
How much does talent cost in DC?
2:47 am
i feel like these two guys are comparing two different music scenes which just makes the comparison non-applicable.
they are obviously more into diy hardcore/punk versus indie/pop.
two completely different music scenes.. for real.
3:54 am
EVEN I THINK DC BANDS SUCK.
11:30 pm
IN A CITY RUN BY GIRLS AND GAYS (BYT), DC SHOULD BE THANKFUL WITH THE AMOUNT OF ROCK THEY GET. I'M SURPRISED IT'S NOT 100% TRENDY DANCE POP. NATIONWIDE PUNK VS. DC-ONLY DANCE POP/SHIT IS AN UNFAIR FIGHT.
3:49 pm
dc music is not good on the whole.
12:25 am
Two things:
1. As I was reading this article, I wondered...'Wait, is the City Paper journalist who reposted this who I think it is?" I scrolled back and, sure enough, Aaron Leitko. Of course!! That dude should be sandwiched RIGHT inbetween those two on the sofa. Dude is the biggest music snob ever (just read his stuff for Pitchfork.) No wonder he's reposted this interview. Wherever island we're all talking about sending these two clowns who run Fanboy Death or whatever,we should certainly not forget to send Aaron as well. People like this aren't just hurting our scene, they hurt music.
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.” T. Roosevelt
2. I think we can all agree that Steve Lambert is a waste of space. I encourage all bands to boycott playing any of his venues (Rock n Roll Hote, DC9, Red & Black.) He rips bands off and is laughing all the way to the bank aparently.
3:12 am
I play in a DC musical duo (Bluebrain) -- (I realize we were spared a mention on this thread, not because we're any better than the bands that got hung out to dry but because we aren't as popular and, luckily in this case, not enough people know about us to pass judgement. But I'm sure we'd be right up there getting torn to bits if we were.) I'm identifying myself here because I don't agree with the anonymous nature of the posts and feel people should own their words. The one place I'll side with the Fan Death guys is that they are personally standing behind the things they are saying, unlike many commenters facelessly hurling insults on here.
After reading this article, I went to check out some of these Fan Death bands and, to be honest, they aren't half bad. Nothing too original but I enjoyed listening to Ringo Deathstarr and would certainly check them out if the opportunity came up. (However, some of the artists they mentioned seemed to espouse some extreme racism. Music aside, fuck these guys for helping to put anything like that into the world and fuck them if they share those views.)
But speaking strictly to their criticisms of DC music, I ask them...why? The bands they are tearing down are so far from what they do as a label musically. Why waste time deriding something that has no relevance to what you are doing? And while I haven't heard enough of the music of the band's they talk about, if people enjoy them (from what I can glean from this thread, it's mostly good-times-party-music) why knock it? These bands are selling out big venues and people seem to be loving it! It would be different if these artists were somehow negatively affecting what Fan Death is trying to accomplish. But these two are admittedly unassociated with the city of DC and share nothing musically with the bands they mention, so why bother talking about them? The only reason I can think of is to get attention which, I guess, they've achieved now. But ultimately I don't know how this is a helpful discussion.
I'm personally glad there is a new surge in DC music and hope to see even more spring up in this next year. Thank you to all the bands/DJ's/MC's that love this city enough to put themselves out there.
2:12 pm
It is 100% horseshit to make music for people to have a "good time party" to. Stop being such ultimate pussies, listen to Negative Approach.
2:10 am
DUDE, COMMENT #108 GUY, YOU ARE A TARD.
MOST PEOPLE DON'T GET MILLION DOLLAR HOMES BITCH.
BE GLAD YOU ARE A RICH KID OR EXTREMELY BLESSED BY SOME HIGHER FORCE. really lame point...love to see your facebook, twitter, golden nuts, and your dad's old high-miled LEXUS.
OR EVEN BETTER...YOUR NEW SILVER BMW 325i on LEASE.
PISS YOUR BIG MONEY AWAY IN A LIMP DICK TOWN
DCiiiiissssssssssfffffooooorrrCCCCCOOOORRRnnnnBBBBBAAAALLLLZ
BALTIMORE IS BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!EVERYONE KNOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
noteveryonecangetamortgageinthiseconomydumbass.
pointing out your "class status" is cromag.
10:17 pm
Whatever, I was naming names and starting flame wars over worthless bands when these turds were still in short pants. They're so behind the times.
12:32 am
i love this thread...i'm sticking hundred dollar bills up my ass with wonton soup as lube while reading these comments...oh fuck this is awesome...
6:35 pm
have to say that clockcleaner is one of the worst bands ever. terrible fucking show. even worse record. take off that stupid fucking hat, asshole.
2:48 am
most of their bands suck live, but four fins of the rocket are some garbage. good job endorsing that you suck.
2:49 am
i like their songs but it's true "have to say that clockcleaner is one of the worst bands ever. terrible fucking show."
11:43 pm
these brother are on point. the dc indie bands lofted and lifted high by the clubs that have them playing there all the time suck. no creativity and no skill. theya are menace and something must be done.
furthermore, the black punk and rock bands that are GOOD are being discrimanated against by the 'premium' venues in Chocolate City. this is the number one reason why wackness has been allowed to represent DC Indie music to the world.
if you're out there and ready to get down with what's fresh and exciting in Chocolate City...
http://www.godisheus.com
9:11 am
Whoooooooooaaaaaaa!
Just Read Steve Lamberts comments (#60). Let me tell you something about this cat...
Steve Lambert books at Rock N Roll Hotel, Red & Black, and DC9. He's purposely lied to me and others to keep me off show bills.
Steve Lambert told me in 08' i wasn't good enough to be paid for my peformances.
Steve Lambert discrimates towards Black Artists especially... thats why i dont play at the places he books.
...and i dont know why so many people i know, do. :-(
Oh, and I told Steve Lambert that he didnt know who he was Fucking with, and that i would run him outta Chocolate City.
I can't stand a Predator.
Holla Black!
9:28 am
In addition...
Steve Lambert is a HUGE reason why DC Bands suck. He validates their wack shit by booking them. duh..
Battle of the Bands, anyone? I tell you what...
Steve Lambert's favorite wack ass DC Band, or Out of Town Band, vs my band GODISHEUS.
Even if i like the band he picks, on that stage, GODISHEUS will tear into that band's ass as if to ruin their careers... so friend and foe BEWARE!
The prize will be either his exit from the Chocolate City Music scene... or mine. Let's put it all on the line here.
Somebody set that up!
Holla Black, and Love!
4:05 pm
head roc-
your band rocks. i dont know why you dont get booked more, that doesnt seem right. AND i have heard about lamberts shady bullshit as well (starting more than a year ago), that needs to change. A couple of things tho...you cannot summarily dismiss the whole of the DC music scene as having "no creativity and skill". This is shortsighted and detracts from your usual (and admired)speak for the people attitude. sure 99% of evrything sux to someone. but dont fall into that trap. also i would be shocked if comment #60 is actually steve lamberts. in the meantime i am looking forward to the lambert vs Godisheus closed caged deathmatch for supremacy of DC.
oh, and i actually listened to drunkdriver and vinyls screen image, couldnt find any lotus fucker. but to call these the best bands is DC is simply retarded. this stuff is so niche, and really a heartbeat away from being total shite. BUT if thats what you dig, carry on. just dont pass judgement on the 99% of what you think is shitty. cause my 99% includes your garbage.
5:37 pm
There is great music in DC! The problem is the scene itself is terrible. I lived in San Francisco where there is a supportive youth culture that actually love music and support local bands. People don't show up to shows here unless one of their fellow interns is in one of the bands. The communities in DC are too transient for there to be a true music scene.
That doesn't mean there are not sick bands in DC. Some of favorites include: Caverns, Imperial China, Drop Electric, Noon:30, Muhsina, .... I could go on.
10:41 pm
Clubs are a business. If your band has no draw you're not going to play a weekend in a good club. Write better songs, put on a better show, pound the pavement and earn a following instead of complaining on a message board.
2:41 pm
EXACTLY is the best band in DC.
3:22 pm
The only complaint I have with these guys is that it took them 4 months to ship a record.
9:59 am
These guys have made so mouch money off their label they must be correct. Millions I tell you, Millions! Everyone else should stop sucking at making money and they'd understand. Now, if someone could just cook my fries.......