I never understood the hype personally. There are far better bands in DC than them. I did, however, especially like the comment comparing Them to The Killers on Heresahint.org though! haha Good stuff.

Yeah, but hype is an important skill, and they had it. There are far worse bands who have the grasp of networking, advertisement, and brand identity that those guys showed. The Bonapartes were a real band, though, unlike several advertising companies running around this town with guitars in their hands.

and you're forgetting a key detail: they're hot.

"unlike several advertising companies running around this town with guitars in their hands."

Who would that be? I find most bands in the area to be terrible at marketing themselves.

I think Rude Buddha would be the obvious example, but Welbilt, the Speaks, and Death By Sexy could all be considered contenders. Pretty much any band whose name you hear for months, maybe years, and then when you hear the music you think to yourself "No way this is the band everyone was talking about; this sounds like my cousin's cover band." No one can argue that they don't all work hard at what they do, and judged by the generous standards of college-student performance art it's arguably a success, it's just that that doesn't extend to the music they're writing. When you finally get down to evaluating the product on its merits, it becomes painfully clear that the hype is top-down, and the sophistication of the marketing is head and shoulders above the sophistication of the art. A good analogy would be Avril Lavigne; for I don't know how long I heard her referred to as "punk" and all the pictures I saw were flashy and her hair was spiked and she was sneering, and when I finally heard a song it was a friggin' Diane Warren ballad. It just seemed fundamentally dishonest, like it was an expensive con game pulled by people who really ought to be providing a conduit for music to get to the consumer, not creating a saleable image and then sort of sloppily coloring in the music behind it. Now if you put real, decent-quality music behind that kind of carefully cultivated facade, like for instance what Georgie James or Kanye West or Beck have, then you've got something really special, and that's what I thought was really cool about the Bonapartes.

Haha! I told him as much in his own house. Whether he remembers or not is another question. Death By Sexy's songs serve their image. If that's what you're into, go see them.

FMOM's name IS kind of terrible. Sorry.

Sorry, I can't hear you from up here in my ivory tower. I like Full Minute of Mercury's name. Especially because they encourage you to dork out and abbreviate it FMHg. Science!

Ack! I'm blind!

And, I do belive it's HATAHS. Sheesh.

Bingo. Accept your destiny, Luke.

Oh--they rock. That's such a thorough description of Death by Sexy's music. Thank you for enlightening us.

Death by Sexy are friends with the Eagles of Death Metal--they are very good at the same type of garage meets sludge rock with sleazy themes. But no one can deny that image is a huge part of the band, so talk of the hat is fair game. On stage they use lighting effects that could be described as cheesy--but I think they're there for ironic effect. They dress in choreographed outfits.

It's debatable whether DBS is more gimmicky than musically enjoyable. Gimmicks sell.

The Bonapartes, on the other hand, were talented at music and marketing. Their fatal flaw in my mind was they didn't have enough variety in their material. A lot of intensity but no real thematic shifts.

First of all:

Bands in DC market themselves? WTF? I've never seen a single poster on a telephone pole advertising a show, bands in DC don't do in stores and I've never seen a band setting up on the street or pulling crazy publicity stunts.

Why must we be in search of "decent" music in DC? Why arn't we in search of "great" music here? Whatever happened to rock and roll? Since when did Georgie James, Kayne West and Beck get so great?

Stop complaining about losing a quality band in these parts. Get yourselves motivated and make a "great" band emerge in DC. Whatever happened to fans and commuinty support, what about the words local following? Where is this local following?

If you don't like a band, ignore them, don't give them free advertisment by complaining about them.

Hats? We've digressed to the way a lad wears his hat?

Well, Death by Sexy can focus even more on the marketing/image now that the dummer isn't all wrapped up with that Bonapartes project. (Never seen 'em, so I'll take y'all's word for it).

As for DC bands and publicity. In-stores? Where? I haven't seen any in-store appearances since DCCD closed its doors. Is there a record shop in the city that a band could play at? I mean physically fit into.

I think DC would be a great city for crazy band stunts. Guaranteed coverage after the Secret Service stomps their asses.

dear Message board,
I just thought I'd respond. For giggles...
- to be fair, Chris from Full minute of mercury is not my boyfriend. We haven't even gotten to third base yet, and I'm not sure if that constitutes a real relationship. I have trouble committing. Its my albatross.
- We really, really try to write sophisticated music, but it just seems to be out of our grasp. I'm sure everyone can tell that we're tryin' real REAL hard to write the next Brahms Concerto(for guitar and tabourine). The damn cowbell always gets in the way. I just wish we were smarter and more creative.
- I wish someone would recognize that we, also, are just pretty boys playing popular music. I couldn't think of a better thing to be, frankly.
- I didn't realize that we were "college rock". As it is, only one of us went to college, although we both graduated form high school. A more accurate term would be "Community College Rock".

in conclusion, I think everyone who truly loves music is going to have strong opinions about ANY band they see. Some people choose to keep these opinions to themselves, and others choose to post them on message boards. Its just heartening to see any discussion at all about DC music. And, there's no need to be defensive, people, if you are putting yourself out there, there are bound to be people who both enjoy and don't enjoy what you are doing.

but, As a wise pedophile philosopher once said(no not Plato, the onther one, Jacko)...I'm a lover not a fighter.

peace, greases.

-j.r.
DXS

Sh*t! And I REALLY agree with DXS' statement above. Good for them I say!

Thursday, I agree with what you're saying about in-stores. I just can't think of any stores in the city that have even a small amount of space available. I suppose if a place like Kemp Mill or whatever wanted to push some CD racks aside, there might be room. Other shops I can think of aren't much larger than my kitchen.

I think myspace is taking the place of flyers. That was one thing I noticed with the bonapartes was the steady increase in "friends" on their myspace page. I don't know if that was the result of them seeking people (I get at least one friend request per week from some random band) or people seeking them. But it must have helped.

And you're right. I imagine most flyers would get torn town fairly quickly. So they're mostly relegated to that big public posting spot at 18th and Columbia or the wall by the restrooms at the Black Cat.

My friends and I always joked about renting a U-Haul or Ryder truck and seting up in the back and just driving around town. But the whole sniper thing sort of killed that idea.

MySpace has become a venue for living vicariously through the electronic world. It's sad, but I crack out on MySpace all the time while I'm at work.

However, there is alot to be said about fliers. Fliers express a bands dedication. As someone who has put up a great deal of fliers in my time, I know that after awhile your arms start to ache, you're soaked through 'cause of the rain, and you end up tearing off all of the skin on your lips in an attempt to rip tape. I have a plethora of bands I'm friends with on MySpace. Am I likely to respond if they post a bulletin though? No, MySpace isn't the real world, and nothing effects us as much online. How often are you engaged in real-life, faction-packed conversations in real life? This could only happen in the neutral forum the internet offers. But when a pedestrian is walking around and sees someone working so hard to put up posters they are intrigued. I've offered countless personal invitations to strangers who wanted to talk to me 'cause I was putting up fliers. When a pedestrian sees a poster outside of work, and all the way down the street to their apartment they are effected. Bands have to market in the real-world if they want to have people listen to their music, not just sit idly on your friend's page.

Mike - the U-haul idea is ingenious! You should totally reconsider that!

In the spirit of promoting harmony amongst the DC musician's community - what's the name of your new band eh?

The fact that all of you are whining and bitching about them breaking up just goes to show you how fucking lame and dry this scene is. If you really miss them, trust me there are 500 bands in anytown USA just like them all jockeying their skinny ties, white belts, cute haircuts, homoerotic undertones, and tired rehashed ideas. Honestly, I wouldn't want DC to be associated with a second rate Killers/Interpol ripoff. It's funny how people mention playing from GA to NY. Playing to six local barflies in GA is not glorious. The funny thing is a bunch of 20 year olds such as the Arctic Monkeys blow these hacks completely off the friggin' stage. Get a fucking clue people.

Just to be clear, the "dude, you're an asshole" comment on HAH had nothing to do with Death By Sexy. It had to do with some piece of shit CELEBRATING the break up of a band. And yeah, in my book, that's not cool on a local, unsigned level. If you want to celebrate Creed breaking up, go right ahead. They had their time and place and made boatloads of cash. But being in an unsigned band is unrewarding enough given all the time, energy, hard work, and passion put in. To then have someone celebrate the death of something you put everything into is fucked up. Maybe the person who made that comment isn't in a band. I doubt it. But anyone who has ever been in a band knows that one of the most devastating feelings in the world is when you work so hard for it and it all falls to pieces. It's like losing the love of your life, ten times over. And I'm sorry. Where I come from, celebrating someone else's misery is fucked up, not cool, and really indicative of just how miserable, jealous, and pathetic a person you really are.

So, sorry if my defense of bands that are anonymously slagged on on this and other sites is offensive to you. But I don't think that anonymous, pussy attacks (which often turn personal and have nothing to do with music criticism) should go unchecked. I don't love every band in DC, but with very few exceptions, I've grown to love and respect the people in them. You probably would too if you weren't such a cowardly, hateful prick.
As I've stated ad nauseum - feel free to reveal whichever band YOU are in at any time. We all know you're in one, as nobody gives a fuck about this stuff except for people involved in the scene. So why don't you stop being such a pussy and come out with it? Oh, that's right, because you're probably sucking one of bands that you rip on's cocks to get your shitty band on a show as I type this.

Slag our name or a stupid picture of our bass player all you want. At the end of the day, we'll be playing in front of 750 people tomorrow night - it isn't the first time; it won't be the last. What will you be doing? Wondering why no one even gives a shit enough about your band to talk about you anonymously on some message board?



Lastly, undoubtedly not knowing its etymology aside, you must think our name has some ring to it, since you continually bring it up every time there is an anonymous hate-fest. :) I mean, I'm all for you turning every single discussion into a thread about us, but if you're really trying to make an impact and stop us from getting great press and playing great shows, you might want to rethink your strategy. I don't think your current one is working. :)

Tootles!

Michael, I'll let you know what the new band name is, as soon as we know. We're lazy like that.

I'm posting this while hyped up on Vicodin (a story for another day) so forgive me if I wander.

If you knew much about Full Minute and Chris in particular you would know they are unabashed lovers and influencees of everything 80's so them playing with Eddie Money makes sense, for them, and I don't doubt there will be a full room for the show. So "who in the god damn world cares?" Well obviously they do and if things go their way a bunch of people at the show to see Eddie Money will dig Full Minute and check them out again. It wouldn't be something I would get geeked over for myself but I'm not them and they'r not me. I would give a body part to play a show with Hanoi Rocks if they ever toured the U.S. and I doubt many other bands would be as fired up to gig with a bunch of 50 year old glam dudes from Finalnd as I would but that show would just be so cool TO ME that I would want to do it regardless of the venue, bill, payout, etc. Maybe it's the same with Full Minute and Eddie Money, maybe not. The point is I don't know so I'm not in a fair position to denegrate them for having the gig even if I thought it was a bad one.

As for playing at PJ Skidoo's or whatever, no one knows the in and outs and motivations of any certain band except that band. Maybe it was the best show they could get for an open date on their calendar, they hadn't played a show in NOVA in a long while, somebody's brother is coming to town and they wanted to play a show for them close by or maybe they got a payday offer that was hard to refuse. I have no idea but neither do you OMG anymore than I know why WSC played TT Reynold's or why Ian McKaye did a show for Pancake Mountain. Bands do what they do for any number of reasons and to blanket them with "it's because they're pathetic" is pretty unfair.

At least I think so.

Back to the drugs.

Hey, Castor, you holding out on your friends? For those who love hearing live music, who cares where it's played? Anyone here ever been to Austin - especially during SXSW? Music is played everywhere and anywhere...a tent in the backyard of an art gallery, in a parking lot with rock blasting over the sound of gas-powered generators, in rat infested store-fronts opened only for their music festivals... TTReynolds, Fairfax Grill, Galaxy Hut---hey, music fans, at least they have indoor toilets. As to the local bands - well, I'll keep showing up: Worst case, you'll have great fun hanging with bands and fans - best case, you'll hear some damned good local bands...and, one day - you might even earn the right to say, "I was their fan when only six of us showed up to hear 'em at the Rhodeside Grill." Rock on DC.

Man, I was totally going to respond in the vain of Jason DXS and say something to the effect of, "Yes, TGI-Friday's was booked and Bennigans wouldn't agree to some of the terms of our rider," but Castor had to go and be all sensible-like. So, for the record, 1) some of us in bands actually have FUN playing shows and it really doesn't matter where we play, as long as there is reasonable expectation of the chance of sounding good and winning some new folks over, 2) seeing as how we are the antithesis of everything bar band, we thought it would be fun to experience how the other side lived, and 3) the 10% bar payout in addition to 100% of the door will be nice, considering we are almost out of our first press of CDs and will need to order a second soon. So, like Steve said, there are multiple reasons for taking a show like that, some business related and others not; we have a lot of weekends we can't play this summer, so we'll be doing a lot of Thursday nights. The promoters came to us. It sounded like something we might want to check out. We're willing to try anything once.

I wouldn't say we were geeking out about Eddie Money. What we were geeking out on was yet another opportunity to play a big stage, with great sound, in front of hundreds of people (which is something I would think any musician would be excited about). The show we opened for The Smithereens at State in January was hands down our best show ever - 750 people, record night in merch, great stage sound which meant a solid set by us, etc. - we'd had a couple shows like that in the past, but it was before we put out the record. I did not bring it up to brag. I simply thought douchebag needed a little reminder of the fact that while he was sitting at home, memorizing every little detail of our website and posting vitriol on a week old DCist thread, WE were out having a blast and making lifelong memories. I took the picture below during Eddie Money's first song, which was exactly 15 minutes after we hit our last note. The floor was packed to the gills. If playing to a crowd this size is pathetic, I'll own it:

http://myspace-573.vo.llnwd.net/00719/37/56/719566573_l.jpg


I guess I should be flattered by all of this. I mean, how often do you inspire such jealously and hatred in a person that they memorize every little detail of your website and show calendar and feel the need to bring you up at every single turn? Next thing you know, dude will be jerking off outside of my bedroom window or some shit.

Moral of the story? I agree with J. I understand that people are going to have their opinions when it comes to music, but the local scene needs to be treated for what it is, not what it should be. In the end, it's a lot closer knit community than some may think and regardless of whether you like the band or not, the majority of people in them are really good people. Above all else, it's all we fucking have. So if you want to write some constructive criticism on a band's song, or performance, or what have you, go right ahead. But have enough courage in your convictions to own up to what you say. I don't agree with a lot of what Gabe says, but I will give him credit for having balls, backbone, and belief for owning up to it. Personal attacks are retarded and incredibly transparent. There is simply no need for it and jealousy and insecurity are your only motivations. Otherwise, you'd own up to what you say. But you won't, cause pussies like you can dish it out, but can never take it. And I'm sure it would be like shooting fish in a barrel if you did

While it is not your obligation to mourn a local band breaking up, celebrating it is fucking disgusting. End of story.

To those who don't like the DC music scene, there is probably more music out there than you are aware of. Sites like DCist and HAH are doing their best to raise awareness of how much local music there is to choose from. When the local radio doesn't touch local music, you're pretty much forced to do a Myspace search for DC bands, or drag yourself out to the Black Cat or DC-9 or wherever else and just take a band in from scratch and see what happens. And all a band can do is play, any and everywhere, and hope that somewhere along the line you might like their stuff. If it's not for you, then you can kindly pass and move on. But there are plenty -- TONS -- of people putting their heart into music in this town, and until you try it, you truly don't know what goes into it. As a local music fan, it is my own personal opinion that DBS, FMHg and whoever else you feel cool enough to rip on, are doing what few people have the courage to do in this town: be creative, be original, and have fun doing it. Why everything in this town must be politicked to death escapes me. The security of the nation doesn't depend on whether Chris' band's name is cool or not, just get a beer take it in. If FMHg set up to play in your bedroom when you're trying to sleep, ok then -- maybe THEN you can knock them for their decisions, but no one forces you to see them at Iota, Velvet or any of the many venues they do play. In the end, just realize that the people on stage that you love to hate are having a blast and enjoying their youth, while you're trying to come up with witty lines to type about them and the scene in general. There's more to playing music than trying to get signed and trying to make a city known for its music.

Have you seen the lineup at PJ's lately, there have actually been a lot of good bands playing there, Full Minute of Mercury is just one. Bands like Bob and Running with Scissors, Baba G'Nush, Stillwell, Fistful of Fifties, etc...are playing there as well. Members of Welbilt play there acoustically each week as well.