This, from Mark Rowan of Breathing Space is just depressing.
I need to pre-empt this by saying that it is worthy of note that Breathing Space are what may be called (for want of a better genre) a ‘classic rock band’. We’re a six piece band with 2 keyboard players. Some of the sounds we use are quite complex as you may know, for example Distant Train – we play this to a basic click track (this has always been that way, even when MA performed it), Iain and Ben play numerous different sounds during the song. I myself play the original flute motif on guitar synth, then switch to standard guitar for the build up chords and the closing solos. As a band we nominally play 2 x 45 minute sets.
So, after explaining all this to the promoter, they get a gig at the Mixing Tin in Leeds. Then this happens…
Unfortunately the promoter unbeknown to us until yesterday, booked us along with 7 other bands, each playing 30 minute sets using equipment provided by the headline act. :\
OK if you’re an indie band, (thrash/bang/you’re my wonderwall/thanks goodnight/go home), but not much good when you’ve got Distant Train in the set!!!!
Trying to get something booked in it’s place at a more suitable venue.
Breathing Space are a great live act. They’re good enough that I’ve travelled from Manchester to York to see them, got home at 5am, and still think it was worthwhile. There is something terribly, terribly wrong with the music scene in Britain when a band this talented struggles to get gigs.
I’m not having a dig (honest!
) but the ‘prog’ label is major baggage. I can’t say I’m surprised there’s a problem finding promoters wishing to book such a band.
Talent just isn’t an issue. I’m not suggesting there’s any ‘dumbing down’, and that less-talented bands are favoured; I mean quite literally that talent is less relevant than *what* a band plays.
Whoa there!!!
1) Where have I used the P-word?
2) Where have Breathing Space themselves used the P-word?
3) The whole “We’re not prog” thing (Steve Wilson I’m looking at you!) smacks of ‘Battered Wife Syndrome’. No matter what label a band uses, the self-appointed culture police will dismiss anything that’s not dumbed-down all style and attitude and no content. There’s no point in trying to appease the drooling cretinous disciples of Paul Morley and Tony Parsons. All we can do is try to reduce their influence.
Supreme irony is that I saw Breathing Space on Sunday in what technically *was* an all-dayer. They shared both the backline and the drumkit with the headliners. The fact that they were sharing the *drummer* with the headliners may have had something to do with it.