For the local scene: The 'next big band,' really?

The following piece is by Joseph R. Atilano, an authority on popular music.

When questions arise such as why we are often overtaken by foreign artists, that question should be directed instead to the kids who are going “gaga” and kids who are buying every merchandise and CDs from their latest boy band craze. While it is their right and it is clearly a choice they have made because they are kids after all, and we ourselves have all been through that phase in our lives, it can become a growing concern in the long run. More often than not, the kind of music you are exposed to as a kid will play an important role and major influence in the kind of music you will prefer and will like for the rest of your life. Fortunately, it is entirely different from where I am coming from and the position I am in because I am an avid supporter of our local artists. I grew up listening to our music. It pains me to see how our local artists are taken for granted and are forgotten. To show my support, I make it a point to attend a gig once every other week incognito and to blend with the crowd. We are playing a blind eye to our own local artists. More and more people only enjoy and listen to foreign music and not to any of our local talents. This is a growing problem for many and it is disheartening. I just hope things change for the better — and they should — for the sake of our local artists. They deserve our admiration and support.

While some fans spent P10,000 at least and more to be in the front row to watch a “lady go gaga” a few months ago, this very same artist they have paid to watch even had the nerve to speak against our government, and to misrepresent our flag by draping it behind her motorcycle on stage. No wonder she got banned from performing in Indonesia where it is predominantly Muslim. So just imagine what could have happened to her there had she got out of hand and crossed the line when it comes to the country’s religion and culture. She also drew a lot of heat in Thailand for making insensitive and politically incorrect remarks while she was there. There is already so much wrong in her actuations and come to think of it, who the hell does she think she is not to respect the customs and spiritual beliefs of the countries she visits, and to perform for her so-called “little monster”?! Hey gaga, please don’t label our youth as your little monsters. You’re the monster. In the meantime, it won’t even cost more than P150 to enjoy a good night of watching our local artists perform in various popular venues. That is the easiest way to express support and to also fill in the empty seats and to help pack the venues’ confined walls. The other ways are through writing, spreading the word through RESPONSIBLE social media, and by word of mouth. All these are available options we have to help the local scene. Judging by the number of venues which have high caliber artists performing to only a handful of people, this, indeed, is a sad sight. I can’t help but ask myself just what happened? I remember not so long ago — from the years 2003 to 2007 — that is wasn’t rare to be in a jam-packed venue and to have not one empty seat available. So much has changed in a matter of a few years. Why have these fans turned their backs on our local artists??? Too many questions I alone cannot answer. But I still remain hopeful a solution would be found to solve the problem. There is always a way and it starts with the mentality of people. For instance, when they hear the words OPM or the names of local artists, what are their initial impressions, and do these thoughts lead them to think highly or not of our artists? While it is easy to stay mum and just hope things get better without actually doing anything, how can things get better if nobody speaks up more about these or expresses the necessary concern?! I can’t just sit idly by and bear witness to seeing more and more of our local artists giving up on ever receiving MUCH NEEDED support and believing that they can still have a career here in our country that will be fulfilling, artistry wise and financially rewarding, too.

One thing I don’t quite understand is: How can you market a band as the “next big thing” if this band isn’t that great to start with and, in fact, is mediocre at best when it comes to its songs? And where exactly this band came from and how it got its start… even other bands, owners of popular venues and prominent music figures don’t even know what exactly the band is. But to suddenly have this band able to release an album under a major label bewilders me and after listening to the CD, I found there was nothing special about it — the music falls straight into mediocrity and to conformity to the “sound” that is acceptable ­­— but still bland. There is no bite whatsoever in the music and I can’t imagine why a band like this is given a break. Yet, other indie bands which have been performing for years, released self-produced EP’s and garnered a sizeable and loyal following are NOT signed or at the very least given a distribution deal? If the major label thinks the indie bands are too much of a risk or a gamble, what must have the label been thinking signing THIS band??? I don’t get it and I don’t understand that kind of reasoning or logic, if there was one. Because how in the world will you expect this band to become a success in the mainstream market if it weren’t a success and not a popular act in the indie scene?! Affording them the necessary and much sought after break is great. But to reward it to the wrong band is just absurd! Because I do attend a gig at least every few weeks, keep myself updated through different means, and I make sure I am in the know. So I never understood why it would be hard for anyone to look for a credible, respected and popular new band to sign up or even provide a distribution deal! Why go for bands that nobody has heard of among the popular venues in the gig circuit? Why sign a band that nobody really has a lot of respect for? I am getting to the meat and bone of the issue here: Why look in the opposite direction, Why turn a blind eye and, Why waste the teeming talents out there that are really good??? Expressing my opinions such as these may not make me popular among certain circles and I may in fact get criticized a lot for them. But since when was writing about gaining popularity and praising the undeserving or lackluster. I am doing this for the readers. More so, I am doing this for the bands that seem to never get a break even though their music clearly indicates they should get a fair chance to do so in what should clearly be a level playing field!

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I failed to identify baritone Andrew Fernando as Don Basilio, Rosina’s music teacher in “The Barber of Seville” — RLO