Found a series of articles in the L.A. Times that I thought were interesting enough that if you are an artist looking for new ideas/what’s happening now and/or someone considering launching a label – these articles cover a lot of what’s happening – or at least from an indie perspective – presently via some snapshots of a few artists/labels.
So my label put out GGMU’s debut EP. It seems I should have maintained a working relationship with them (don’t worry we still have sleepovers all the time). Why, oh little reviews like the following for their debut LP, ZOMBIES!: The Toronto Star wrote:
Ground Control had this and more to say:
Herohill wrote:
Wowzers!!!!!!!! Congrats guys! RELEASE SHOW TONIGHT (Thursday July 8th)
Posted in Shows on 06.25.10 12:07
There is a benefit show tonight downtown featuring some of Halifax’s best metal bands raising money for one of their own fighting cancer. It’s a great lineup without the additional good you’ll be contributing too so metal fans should make an effort to get down there this evening. They have a good patio too if it stays nice out this evening.
So based on a combination of finanacial, personal and just needing change reasons I am [edit2: MAYBE] getting out of the Rock Garden. I will shutting down after this weekend most likely. Although I am hoping to find someone to continue to operate the space as a jam space, a potential offer may keep me around a bit longer but I need out. [EDIT1: I actually already have one meeting lined up, so fingers crossed]. EDIT3: The space is 100% not shutting down. I just have no idea what my future role in it will be. The above was a little dramatic. I don’t recall but I am hoping I was drunk when I wrote that! Drama is not my style. I was sad and bitter and not liking recent events but…c’est la vie. Currently I am trying to make arrangements to replace the investor I lost yet work less. Once that plan has definitely failed I have been contacted by a number of great people that could continue operating the space as an hourly rental space. I hope to rule out my preferred options ASAP and then move forward with talks with others. Will update as things develop one way or the other. Pretty much from day one things were behind. So the space has never been quite where I wanted it. I have basically built a life-style business – for a lifestyle I can’t sustain. Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavricks, wrote: I’m also a big believer that financial debt is the ultimate dream killer. Now I wouldn’t say debt killed my dreams, but it sure made sleeping difficult sometimes. That’s the crux of my decision. For the amount of hours I spend at the space compared to the returns, I know I could be doing better. Of course, when things are good, they’re good. But when they slow down, there are still payments to be made. Now the days are rare when no one is here, but I still sit here for a longer than average work day and think – well I just made no money to put on my debt. And the good times have balanced it all out to date [the space was profitable the last 4 years, just not profitable enough for me], but the uncertainty – and no guarantee that the next month WILL be better – has made it difficult to agrressively tackle my debt. And that has been weighing heavy on me. A lower but consistent income now would better suit where I am in life versus the highs and lows that come with running a small business. If someone ever wants to make a deal for a personal investment contract, so game [because of its focus on debt]. To make things work even close to the way I want them to will require more money put into the space. And that in turn requires a committment of another 1-2 years here myself for sure. And that is something else I don’t think I can do. I barely see my wife. She works days and is in bed by the time I get home. To varying degrees, that has been the last 5 years. Hands down the shittest part of my job. I had an investor earlier this year who due to problems with his existing business partner had to bail. That derailed a lot of plans and put me in a tighter position than I had been previously. So the “required money” noted above was gone and that got me questioning all the other points laid out here. I will miss being surrounded by music on a daily basis and hearing new bands before everyone else. But I will also enjoy seeing the sun more than I have over the last 5 years. If future business ventures are successful I would love to do jam spaces again but would now know how to do them right from day one [and would be ideally debt free]. And I am not totally giving up on business or the music biz yet. It is probably easier to consider winding down the Rock Garden as a new opportunity starts. Ryan Cooper, one of the partners in the space, is also a partner in a new donation/pay-what-you-want/crowdfunding service for musicians called IOUmusic. So that will be quietly entering public beta this week or next. The personal bonus there is that it will not require 12 hour days and even if it did I can certainly work it around my wife’s schedule. So going forward my three main focuses for the next bit will be: I took on partners last year, and I thought they were amazing then. I don’t even know how they could talk to me right now. Not only could they, their understanding is off the charts. So to my wife Joi, partners Ryan and Joy Suttle and to all the bands who have graced the space over the past 5 years, thank you for your patience, understanding and support. It has been the most amazing 5 years of my life [I just fear a 6th or 7th may have ruined it all!]. All the best, or as my friend Andrew Gillis signs off, in music,
Any money raised will be going to the Canadian Cancer Society. I have worked and volunteered for the CCS. I can tell you first hand they have many programs where money raised directly impacts the lives of of people fighting cancer. From helping supplement the cost of drugs patients need to providing them a place to stay when they need to travel to Halifax for treatments. The services they provide make a world of difference to the people they help. For those interested in baking cupcakes, you can sign up until this Friday. There will be prizes awarded the best cupcakes including some swag from Johnny Cupcakes. For those that just like to eat cupcakes, there is already a pretty good list of bakers signed up with most contributing multiple kinds of cupcakes. So take a walk this Sunday coming and stop in for some sweet lil’cakes! Kudos to fellow sponsors for their support. The Hub is the venue for Cupcake Camp. While photographer Chelle Wootten will be snapping shots of all the edible goodness for the bakers and then folks enjoying their hard work during the event. Chelle also took pics for the poster and it was put together by one Isaac Hansen. In case you cannot read the text on the poster, it says: CupcakeCamp Halifax
June 20th 2-4pm
The Hub Halifax @ 1673 Barrington St, 2nd Floor
Free, but donations going towards the Canadian Cancer Society are suggested!
Making the World a Better Place, One Cupcake at a Time! Bake, Eat and be Merry!
E-mail cupcakecamphalifax@gmail.com
Follow us on Twitter @CupcakeCampHali
Or join our CupcakeCamp Halifax Facebook group
If you are looking to get in touch with anyone about the event you’ll be contacting Johanna Gerrits. Hope to see you there!
Myles and the Fuzz have hit the road today with the Sleepless Nights, bound for Ontario and the Pitter Patter festival. The festival founded by Keith Hamiliton [booker at the Boat in Toronto, a dj, leader of his band Hamilton Trading Co. - probably lots of other stuff I don't know about] has a pretty great vision that is hard to not get behind:
See that point about easy access for the patrons? Well if you have heard of any of the bands playing but maybe are tight for cash, don’t worry. The festival is now an entirely pay-what-you-can affair for the patrons! Check out the Pitter Patter site for: A Brief History of the Pitter Patter Music Festival and the complete schedule For Fuzz fans, this tour will also be the first chance to grab a preview copy of their new album “You Can’t Heal a Sick Riff” which was produced by Mike O’Neill. The album will be officially released this fall. http://www.myspace.com/mylesdeckandthefuzz Complete Tour Dates:
In the bleak summer of 09, three pals with some time on their hands formed a new loud rock n roll band….. And made it one of my favorite new bands to come out of Halifax in a while. Dirty low-fi power pop punk that KICKS!! Thanks in no small part to Meg’s instinctual beat down on the kit. For a first time drummer she plays with enough confidence and raw ommph to convince anyone this is not a) her first band and b) that she hadn’t played drums before. The band is fronted by KC Spidle – formerly of Dog Day and still Husband and Knife [with BV's bass player Evan playing there too]. This is the band’s first tour beyond the Maritimes, show them some love! You can follow tour updates at: Check out some music and keep an eye for their future return via their MySpace page. My current fav track of the moment = “We’re Dead” Tour Dates:
 So Sundays use to be the busiest day of the week at the Rock Garden. Since the New Year though they have been pretty hit or miss. No real clue why….I am kind of blaming Isaac…..though he really didn’t do anything…. But to try and get folks back in on Sundays, every hour booked on a Sunday in May counts as one entry in a draw for free jams to the end of the year [6 months of 1 free weekly 2h jam - free jams do not have to be used on Sundays]. All you have to do is book time on Sunday, make sure to use your full name or band name and you are entered. We will post the winner of the random draw the first week of June. Saturdays have never been super busy, so we may start offering some deals on Saturdays as well too. Right now this is all an experiment so we will see what happens….. [many of you using Foursquare?] Bookings can be made:
Posted in Business, Rock Garden on 04.23.10 21:44
We will reopen on Sunday May 2nd. If you are booking for Sunday May 2nd or after, leave a message or email us and we will be checking for messages periodically. If you are looking for time while we are closed we apologize for any inconvenience. Our hours and if we are closing for anything like this can be seen on our website at http://www.rockgardenjamspaces.com or on our Twitter feed at http://www.twitter.com/therockgarden [which also shows up on our website]. Thanks
Has the music industry really learned anything in the past ten years? Is it any further along to addressing the issues of torrents and freely available music? I say not a sweet chance!
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