By The Way, My Bands Name Is Ashes of Erin

Ashes of Erin played with In This Moment tonight. It went VERY well. Crowd reaction, overall turnout, merchandise sales, compliments, and stage presence was the best it's been so far. It made me remember why I play music.


I've been pretty negative as far as the music scene goes. I fucking hate promoters, or "organizers", which I like to call them. They rent out the venue, hand out tickets and flyers to the bands, and make the bands do all the foot work for flyering and ticket sales. THAT IS IT. "Promoters" are supposed promote the fucking show and get people to come out. The bands PROVIDE the entertainment. I'm not opposed to bands selling tickets, that's more incentive for them to get even more people out to the shows, but when ticket sales determines whether or not "promoters" work with that band again and what time slot you get... it's bullshit and fucking backwards.


Anyway... tonight went very well.


BUT:


After we packed up our gear and switched from performance mode into hangout mode, I began to people watch. I usually take off as soon as our set is up, whether we are headlining or not, but this time I stuck around. And I came to a realization...


I am very sick of the music scene. I'm sick of the macho mosh-pit guys, I'm sick of the same overweight middle-aged dudes in various black band shirts, jean shorts and straggly long hair, I'm sick of the same girls who pay to get into these shows only to spend the night texting, I'm sick of the same "How you doing out there?!", "You guys alive out there?!", "Give it up for so'n'so!", "This song is a very special song about death/strife/struggle/life/love/etc.".


Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm the only one that is tired of it. Maybe I'm the only one that wants to evolve. I love the music I create and play. I love the shows. I love the conversations I hold with strangers before and after the show. I love the compliments (who wouldn't?). I love the energy.


Am I asking too much for the things I love without the things I hate? Do I really expect people not to start a mosh-pit when we hit a breakdown? Is that what I want?


I suppose it all comes with the territory. I suppose I'm just the odd one out.