I probably did this list in the past a couple of times before but I’m gonna do it again. A lot of people wonder why I’m always critical about Albany’s music scene. I have been a part of the Albany’s music scene for over 10 years. Had my share of performing some gigs (which I don’t do much anymore) and I have supported other local bands shows (which I also don’t do much anymore). I have no interest in the Albany music scene as much as I used to.

In this list, I’m gonna name 10 reasons why I think the Albany music scene is crap. I know some musicians around here and some local band lovers are gonna get their panties in a bunch, cry about it and get all offended but I don’t care. I’m a realist and tell the truth no matter what anybody thinks. Some of you out there may even agree with everything I said but either way the truth is gonna get said.

Here we go:

• THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY VENUES TO PLAY AT: Venues come and go around here. I’ve seen it happen all the time. Long time venues close down and new ones open up. This is one reason why it’s getting harder for bands and musicians to book gigs ’cause of the lack of venues around this area. No places to play at anymore. You may play at some crap bar rooms and coffee houses, that’s about it but you’re not gonna find too many venues with a large stage.
• SHOW BOOKINGS ARE GETTING MORE STRICT: If you’re a cover band or an original country/bluegrass act, you’ll do fine in booking ’cause that’s what everyone wants to hear… but for an original rock band or a solo acoustic act, good luck on getting gigs around this area.
• TOO MUCH NEGATIVITY, DRAMA and OPINIONATED PEOPLE AROUND HERE: Need I say more??? There are way too much musicians and local people around here who feel it’s okay to say what they want about others. A lot of bullying and harassment around here. Especially online. I’ve witnessed too many crazy stuff with musicians around the scene. A lot of people like to look at musicians as friendly and wonderful people but not all of them. Yes, there are a lot of scum bags and dishonest people around here that you can’t trust, get over it.
• TOO MANY PEOPLE WITH LARGE EGOS: A lot of people like musicians living in their own delusional fantasy worlds. Thinking they’re rock stars and all.  Too many who think they’re the shit. Not naming names.
• PAY TO PLAY HAVE TAKEN OVER THE SCENE: I have noticed this. Pay to play is a new thing in this area recently. I would NEVER do pay to play just to get my foot in the door at some bar. Not gonna do it. Musicians are too dumb to fall for these “pay to play” schemes around here. When you get a gig booked and the venue gives you tickets to sell, that’s “pay to play”.
• TOO MANY BAND COMPETITIONS AND RADIO CONTESTS: This have been going on a lot in this area. Band competitions and radio contests where they have local bands enter and they win “big prizes”… Yaaayyyy!!! Ridiculous prizes like $5,000 worth of studio time, opening for a national act and shit like that. You don’t need to win awards to prove something. Yeah, your music may be good but that doesn’t mean that you’re gonna win every competition out there. I hate when bands enter every contest. If I ever get my own band going, I’m never gonna enter these things at all. I’m totally against band competitions. They’re nothing but popularity contests, that’s all they are, in my opinion.
• NOT A LOT OF GOOD TALENT AROUND HERE: There may be like a few good bands and solo artists that I like around this area but that’s about it. I remember in the 90’s, there were a lot of great local acts but there’s not much good talent anymore. The scene isn’t what it used to be.
• NOBODY GOES TO SHOWS: Once again if you’re in a cover band or if you’re in a country/bluegrass act, then you should be fine getting people out to your shows… however, if you play original rock, metal or acoustic music good luck on trying to get people to support you at your gigs. It’s very hard to get people to go out to your shows. No matter how hard you promote your show and no matter how many people you ask to come out, nobody shows. Chances are an original rock band or acoustic act would probably get a small crowd like 2 – 10 people.
• IT’S GETTING TOUGHER FOR BANDS TO GET NOTICED: Yeah, it’s getting tougher for bands to get some local press here like making the cover of newspapers or getting radio interviews… things like that. I don’t know why it is but it is what it is. There is a lot of great talent getting ignored around here.
• THIS SCENE IS OBSESSED WITH DRINKING AND PARTYING: Sorry to say but I’m not a party kind of person. I used to be but grew out of it. It’s amazing how this area is obsessed with drinking alcohol at local band shows. It’s like it seems that’s the only reason people go to shows for in this day and age. Bands playing at bars and clubs is getting popular around here ’cause all people wanna do is drink and get hammered. Well guess what, I’m not that kind of guy. I’m not a bar and club kind of person. I stay away from bars and clubs as much as possible. I try to stay away from playing at bars & clubs and I have played gigs at them before but if I were to play a bar and club again in the future, I would have to get paid for it. It be nice if we had more non-alcoholic venues like Cafe Lena for bands to play at but the bar and club scene is dominating this area.

That’s it. Enjoy it or get pissed off at it or whatever.

Kev