Rocking Show, But For Thirty Bucks?

Last Friday, the local radio station, the Peak, 107.1 had a show down at the Vintage in White Plains NY. It featured two relatively unknown acts, Daniella Cotton and Back Door Slam. both have been getting some attention though, and that attention is deserved. Hopefully, we will hear more from both of these acts!

So two cool acts at the Vintage, which is a great bar and venue in White Plains. And the place was packed! It was very cool to see a capacity crowd for a rock show happening in Westchester. It confirmed that folks will come out and support rock and check out a good show! It was nice to see someone working to bring rock to Westchester and succeeding!

The one thing that threw me, however, was the price tag. To get into this show, the price was $30. That is alot of money for two bands that are really just starting. Remember, the Wild West had some decent acts in the Vintage awhile back, and some folks were upset that I was charging $10. Packing the place at $30 a head just entitles the station to that much more credit. No doubt they had their costs and I trust the bands got paid. We are talking a radio station that boasts world class rock.

What was amazing to me was the amount of advertising done on the station to get the word out, It was the Peak's birthday celebration too but boy they truly did push this event! That is the scary part. Today you have to do that much advertising to fill a venue.

I just do not think it was always that way. It is today though. It is a challenge.

Do Note-the flyer at the top of the page is from 2005! It is a flyer from another show with two very cool bands, but not advertised like the Peak show. It took place three years ago and is done!

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Some Holiday Thoughts. . . December 24th, 2006

And while reading bizarro thoughts. . .do listen to the Wild West Podcast which just released its holiday edition complete with local and some classic holiday rock and roll! - 12/24/06

December, the holiday season is a wonderful time of year. Forget the shopping, sales and that crap. If you can strip that stuff away you can find something. And no I am not talking religion here. Yes I know Christmas and Hanukkah are religious holidays, but for me it is not about that either.

No it is simple. Christmas, Hanukkah, the holiday season is a time to celebrate life. I do latch on to the metaphors that both offer. Birth in the case of Christmas, continuance or overflow, an abundance, in lack of a better words, in the case of Hanukkah. Both come out of the everyday, but yet wonderful in reflection. Look at Christmas, which for many of is celebrated in winter or at least it use to be. And with Christmas and Hanukkah, in the holiday season, we celebrate a birth. Birth also is an overflow or an abundance of life. Move over to Hanukkah and you have what was thought sufficient for one day, lasts for seven. the candles, like life overflow and continue. There is an abundance of light.

Jump from metaphor to everyday and it is just nice to reconnect with family and friends. This year has been very nice as I have reconnected with a range of folks and kept in touch with others and I think of all of these now in the course of this season. Add to that family and it is just a rich brew. If nothing else this season asks us to reflect and consider those connections, those people past and present. This season allows one to mix these various threads, to reach out and say hello again and catch up, break bread and wine with those we encounter.

Those meetings, those get-togethers are the overflow, the celebration and sharing of it. My only thought on looking at the idea above is these things should been done through out the year, a theme I have heard before. It is just hard to do and besides, you have to start somewhere.

Sorry to get new age philosophical but once in awhile it is appropriate.

Enjoy and do have a great holiday season!

The Wild West Podcast which just released its holiday edition complete with local and classic holiday rock and roll! - 12/24/06

Will be in the itunes Podcast section shortly. Previous Wild West Podcast can be found on iTunes today!


Bob Schaffer
bob@wildwestrocks.com

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