I have been a part of the music scene in Albany for many years so I have seen how it changed over the years. There is a huge difference between the music scene from the past and to today’s music scene. In the past, it used to be that it was mostly cover bands becoming established and getting the spotlight. In the past, there were also original acts becoming established but the well-known musicians used to be adults. These days established musicians and bands are pretty young. Established musicians who are between their 20’s and 30’s years of ages. It’s weird how the aging of popular bands have changed over the years isn’t it???

I partly blame that on the internet and garbage reality shows like “American Idol”, “America’s Got Talent”, “The Voice”, etc. I know that most bands around here are pretty young.

It seems that the young musicians around here have it pretty easy for them. They can get popularity and success with no problem while the older bands continue to struggle in the scene. The older bands try to get the same success the younger ones are getting for the older bands it is tough. It takes the older bands a long time to get success and popularity while it seems quicker for the young ones.

Why are younger bands becoming more successful and established than the older ones??? Well, the answer to that one is easy. The younger bands is what people around here wanna see. Most of them are young and good looking. They are more fun to see live than the older bands. So therefor, that is part of what draws people in to see the younger bands.

While it’s a good thing that young bands are getting success and popularity… at the same time, it can get quite annoying.

A lot of young bands don’t really understand how the music community works. A lot of ’em are not careful with the gigs they choose. They fall for pay to play scams easily and they jump at every opportunity they can get… playing the “yes” man. Saying yes to everything that throws at ’em. A lot of ’em don’t really understand how to run gigs smoothly and professionally. They really don’t understand how to be professionals like they think they do. Some of them feel the need to go through garbage competitions like Battle of the Bands and other radio contests in order to get somewhere when they didn’t need to.

In other words, the younger bands have a lot of learning to do when they want to play music on a professional level. It’s a tough world out there. They think they can handle it but I think they can’t.

I’m glad for these bands wanting to do their thing and get themselves out there but they have to be careful with themselves. For one thing, they have to be careful on how they treat people ’cause a lot of them make the mistake that they can treat people how they want to since they are so big and successful. Sure, bands don’t like other people but the professional thing to do is they should just keep their negative opinions to themselves and be friendly to the person anyway.

Young bands think they have “it” but they have a lot of learning to do. Tons of it.

The older bands who have been playing around the area for years know what they’re doing and they understand things ’cause they’ve been doing it a long time. The young bands should get advice and help from them.

I’m not trying to knock the young bands. I’m just being realistic. Some of you might even agree with everything I said. I’ve had my share of gigging around the scene myself so I have every right to bring this up.

Kev