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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 14, 2009 23:55:17 GMT 1
View and vote here. Bands in the running this year are P For Persia, To The Moon Alice, Hayley Savage, Rumiko Jr, Regular John, The Occasionals, capital, Natalie’s Box, The Ryes, The Late Greats, Purple Bubble, Acusis, My So Called Life, City of Ashes, Data Select Party - some of whom have been quick off the mark and been asking their MySpace/Facebook etc friends to vote for them already (and some of whom, so far, have no votes at all). This is just for an article in next month's issue of the mag, of course, no prizes involved. Those of us (well, me for a start) who contributed to this shortlist shouldn't really vote on the East site poll as well, of course - that'd be skewing the results rather. There's space on the East site to add your own criticisms and comments too, of course. |
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 15, 2009 12:07:07 GMT 1
Over 150 votes so far...
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 15, 2009 14:57:46 GMT 1
Over 200 votes now... Still no takers for Hayley or The Occasionals yet... Lots of arguing though...
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 16, 2009 17:18:49 GMT 1
Interesting poll this - way over 1,000 votes now. Even taking into account people fiddling the poll, that's still loads of bands & their friends & fans getting involved. Shows it's possiblt to mobilise around 1,000 music fans in the area anyway...
In an effort to make their poll a bit fairer, I've used the East MySpace to add Comments to the bands' MySpaces, highlighting the poll's existence. As long as a handful of bands accept the East MySpace Friend Requests I had to send (eg Hayley, Regular John, The Occasionals and City Of Ashes) I'll be able to Add the Comment on their pages too. Otherwise some of them will be stuck with 2 or 3 votes, compared to 100s for the more internet-savvy bands...
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 17, 2009 19:54:47 GMT 1
Fantastically bitchy. Especially enjoying the Acusis at Seraphina Studios anecdote. How long before East bottle it and pull the comments?
Nice to see Jacques Hatt bigging up Rumiko - mind you he owes us, we've recession proofed his business.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 17, 2009 20:52:37 GMT 1
Well, it's been pretty much left up to me to moderate the comments on the feature, so I'm keeping an eye on it but trying to hang back (and not rise to the bait of some of the posters!)
Members of Acusis have posted some comments on Adam's own Facebook page that indicate that, really, they've not been too fussed about it so far, but if I do get the impression that that's not the case I'll have to start deleting the odd post (there's no facility merely to edit posts, unfortunately).
Still, the popularity of the poll has taken all of us (and, I think, the bands too) by suprise...
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 18, 2009 0:00:31 GMT 1
In an area where the wider press never venture there is an understandable desire for column inches. Most of all I think it's just good old fashioned inter band rivalry and Natalie's Box clearly disabling the cookies in their browser that is feeding the high level of voter participation.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 18, 2009 10:21:56 GMT 1
There wasn't a poll last time, but the inter-band hoo-haa also took place, on a more minor scale, back when East did this in 2007: You can still read the contributors' opinions and readers' responses here. |
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 20, 2009 9:40:33 GMT 1
The poll's closed now, with over 2000 votes, if you want to see where your favoured band came. Opinions?
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 20, 2009 10:34:30 GMT 1
Oh, hang on, it's not closed yet after all - I was reading Adam's last Comment wrong! Time for a late surge then?
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Post by Marcsu on Apr 20, 2009 14:09:42 GMT 1
Stu does this unprecedented response mean that we might see some wider coverage of local artists in East in the future? There seems to be an unwillingness to feature anyone local until they relocate to London and bend over to take it in the ass from what remains of the record industry. It would be newsworthy to cover those groups that have retained their independence and are forging musical careers outside of the industry. There are many of us.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 20, 2009 18:07:02 GMT 1
Again, you're probably better off asking Adam or Dave this directly - I put stuff their way, and have some involvement with the features they've already decided on, but that's about it for my editorial input.
I think the local bands' content per issue is very high - and certainly we try and cover everything of interest and everyone of note, but there needs to be an exchange of info between the musicians and the mag. As you know, I put the music listings and music news together for the mag at the moment, but I've only got a limited amount of time available to track stories down, ring around venues etc. It really helps if bands and venues also have the time to mail the mag their news and concert details (some do, some don't).
As far as major articles & (particularly) the front cover goes, I suspect there's an advertising bottom-line that comes into play. Of the recent 'regional' music cover stars, only James Yuill is a complete out-of-towner now: both capital and (of course) Logan are based locally still. capital may have got onto Fierce Panda through London gigging, but that's also a label with a good track record of picking up on what's happening in the regions (Keane got signed from London dates, but Easyworld - then playing as Beachy Head, I think - were picked up on from a gig at the Crypt: I've an interview with the label's Simon Williams somewhere that fills in the background to this).
As I said, I think the poll response is interesting, 'cos it happened in much larger numbers than I was expecting (previous recent polls - which have been much simpler Yes/No affairs - have only had a handful of responses). East may have under-estimated the amount of interest local musicians have in getting coverage etc in the mag, but without hearing directly from the bands it may have been hard to judge.
Also, East have managed to keep going over the last few months where some other titles have folded - with the amount of regional listings magazines getting smaller in the past year or two, maybe the mag has greater responsibility to local artists now than previously.
I dunno really - these are all areas that I know Adam is interested in hearing people's views about. Which, again, is why the comments on the East site have been valuable.
You and I haven't really talked about all this East stuff off the boards recently, but I'm happy to try and thrash things out down Smugglers next time, or wherever.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 20, 2009 19:14:31 GMT 1
I take your point that East fulfills it's role as a listings magazine and now that John Shotton is no longer with us it maybe the last one standing.
From talking to other musicians there is a general feeling that East's editorial thinking is that those who are getting label attention/national media interest are more newsworthy than those who are creating music outside of the circus of the industry. Which is a fairly narrow view as there are fewer record deals available now than at any time.
Of course I maybe doing them a disservice and that it is just an Eastbourne bias (which geographically would make sense) and Eastbourne bands tend to be terrible careerists, willing to throw themselves into whatever rehashing of the recent past is flavour of the month this season.
Anyhoo that's my gross generalisations for the day. I would be happy to chew the fat over it some time. It's month end at The Smugglers soon if you want to chat.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 20, 2009 19:59:46 GMT 1
I guess we don't know what's happening with Ultimate Alternative yet, but it could carry on (it ran for 2 or 3 years before Shotton became editor). It's even more specific, but I think The Entertainer's still going? There's another one called The Scene you can sometimes find, although I think that's centrally written, and then tweaked for the regions. Pulse appears to have gone quiet again.
Arguably, bands with label/media interest ARE more newsworthy, of course. They just may not have as much to say. In the long run, I think East needs to cover both areas of music making (commercial and independent).
There will still be an Eastbourne bias with East, just 'cos of the people who create it being more familiar with that end of things. I'm sure they'd prefer an even mix of Hastings/Bexhill/Rother and Eastbourne/Hailsham/Lewes sides, but they're lacking contributors from our end (hence the regular appeals for gig reviewers etc from the Hastings area).
I agree a lot of Eastbourne acts seem more careerist (I think I've mentioned this in the mag before) - they're also better served with transport links etc to both London and Brighton, to their advantage.
Anyhow, for more careerist Eastbourne bias, check the Lamacq show later (if the bit I recorded this afternoon gets played)! While I was on the phone to the studio, I did manage to sort out a clearer line of contact with the producer, so hopefully that'll be beneficial to everyone further down the line.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 20, 2009 20:27:17 GMT 1
Arguably, bands with label/media interest ARE more newsworthy, of course. It's an increasingly weak argument. The music industry is on it's knees - it is inevitable that the safer a bet a band is in terms of commercial acceptance the more likely they are to get signed. The lowest common denominator will be what is chosen. I know that East do not have any agenda in backing independent music in the political sense but they must recognise that a good number of bands will never get a deal despite adding value to the cultural life of the area that East cover. Some such as Rumiko and Regular John have rejected the chase for a deal and are happier for it. As you say a true balance between those still in the game and those who aren't playing would serve their readership better. It is a shame that you can't find a correspondent for the Hastings scene. Unfortunately I am too close to it or I would volunteer. |
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 20, 2009 21:11:27 GMT 1
Except... East are fundamentally a listings magazine, so are going to highlight things that appear to be moving forward and in-the-now. You know how I mean?
The ongoing self-sufficiency of Rumiko, the John, and that whole Basement scene, is newsworthy and remarkable, but is something that a specific music magazine would be better able to handle, and place in the context of longer cultural arcs.
In some senses, and without trying to undersell myself or the magazine, it's like the difference between the NME and the monthlies, or Radio 1 and 6 Music. The former being more focussed on immediacy of context than the long view of the latter.
But East are trying to get a good balance, and I think their music coverage is getting broader. At least I've pretty much got a free hand to smuggle more interesting bands into its pages with the reviews and opinion colums.
Anyway, I flagged this thread up in an email to Adam earlier today, when discussing the readers' poll results and comments, so he's aware of some of your thoughts, and hopefully respond to some of them somehow soon.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 20, 2009 21:40:21 GMT 1
I grant you "Regular John in cultural value shock" isn't as grabbing as "the time sponsored by Accuwrist done a tour" but new releases at least should be reviewed (especially after 4 years, 2 drummers, distribution on four continents and an aborted album). I've never seen a gig review of any of the Hastings acts that I care about (regular john supporting Mondo Generator excepted) - small wonder that half the East readership were puzzled by why they hadn't heard of half the bands in the poll.
Anyway thanks for flagging up the thread to Adam.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 20, 2009 23:00:34 GMT 1
Well, the magazine doesn't run live reviews any more, although they are on the website: Sara Humphrey is the person to email, at reviews@eastmagazine.co.uk, if you want a gig reviewed, or feel like being a reviewer yourself (generally, not necessarily you Marcus if you don't want to). Her pool of reviewers is biased towards the Eastbourne end though, and, as I said earlier, they do want Hastings reviewers.
Hopefully I managed to get Reuben and Danielle, at least, contributing to the next issue of the mag (and I did try for lots more Hastings folk). If they, or anyone else, wants to contribute online or in print, then hopefully that will increase the number of acts reviewed who are the ones you care about. Or just give me the heads-up, and I'll try and get there.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 20, 2009 23:24:34 GMT 1
I might just start sending them press releases thinly disguised as music journalism.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 14:17:48 GMT 1
It might help if I ask you (not just Marcus, but also people who browse these boards generally), who or what specifically would you like to see East covering in the near future?
Are there gigs and stories that you think should be reported on the website?
At the thin end of the coverage scale, are there musicians who haven't had a MySpace/cd review in the mag that you particularly want to see? These, at least, can go in my 'To do' pile.
Are there musicians who you'd like to see in the mag's Meet The Band & Live Music column; receiving a half-page Music feature; a full page Q&A; or 2-3 page in depth interview (and possible cover)?
I can type-up an index of people who've had substantial coverage in the mag if it helps jog your memory, or if you want to compare who's been covered with who hasn't.
Feel free to suggest yourselves, everyone else seems to! Here to help, and all that.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 14:59:11 GMT 1
Nice idea but the 2 lengthy emails I sent to Adam and Dave suggesting a feature detailing what Rumiko have been doing between releases (booze, lost album, redemption - all tropes of rock journalism, the piece would write itself) has resulted in precisely nothing. I invited them both over for a pint so that we could have a chat, show them the Basement etc and I have heard nothing from them. Which kind of kicked off the thought that we might be living in the wrong post code.
If that isn't the case and they might be interested in featuring us can they avoid describing us by what we aren't? The antidote to electro??? For fucks sake our keyboard player is Michael! We are all about the electro, cut me and I bleed Grandmaster Flash.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 15:33:20 GMT 1
As you probably know, I agree that the musicians who have coalesced around the Basement/Musical Xchange/Smugglers contitute a story worth investigation, which is partly why I included it back in my first Feedback column. Is this something you've also suggested to, say, Pablo & Plum?
I should be seeing most of the East office on Friday anyway, if it helps, so keep the suggestions coming.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 15:37:22 GMT 1
Am off my high horse now - will think about features.
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 16:22:14 GMT 1
What's Paul & Plum's involvement?
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 16:51:56 GMT 1
Just that they're both freelance reporters, along with Nick Georgiou. Not for East though. I wondered if you'd considered approaching them with feature ideas too? Plum's just done an interview with her out of The Laylanas for a fashion website, for instance.
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 17:51:58 GMT 1
I've just dug-out East's Top Bands 2004 issue (you remember, the one that had Disaster Plan B on the cover. Deano's a veteran of this stuff!)
There were 10 other bands featured. Without cheating, can anyone guess who any of them might have been? At all?!
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 18:09:32 GMT 1
Errrrm - Mumm-Ra? The Crayons? Starscream?
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 18:17:53 GMT 1
No, No and No! Although they're valid guesses. I think you're aiming too high though! Honestly, if you remember more than 2 or 3 of them (once I've told you who they were) I'll be suprised. Fickle scene...
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Post by marcusjr on Apr 21, 2009 18:49:52 GMT 1
Ok - charlottefield, Summer Born Wild, Lazy Creek, Red Shift
Also who were that lot with the Futurist style posters? Began with The ? The something?
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Post by stuhuggett on Apr 21, 2009 19:04:49 GMT 1
Well, you got Summer Born Wild right, but seeing as we could spend several weeks trying to guess the rest, I'll tell you. Step up...
The Fray (not that one)! Libido! Threefin! Drugpigs! Beverley! Lucid! Ripchord! Tasfuira! Redi Masters!
Some of these musicians are still playing, but I think all their bands have split? Puts the competitiveness on the East site last week into perspective rather.
I'm not sure who you're thinking of who used Futurist poster designs - Maybe a quick check of The Hastings & Rother Music Archive on Facebook will reveal all...
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