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Shining the spotlight, page 2
by beth wick
Solheim says bands like Arcade Fire and The Raveonettes often prefer a club-like environment while playing, which makes smaller venues in Wisconsin attractive.
“They like to play for smaller places. They can connect with the audience,” Solheim says. “A lot of the bands like the club. They really like the staff, so a lot of the bigger bands that would be playing at a larger place … will come and play Mad Planet because they like it here.”
While Wisconsin venues have increasingly tuned into the underground scene and competed with other cities for national shows, opinions vary regarding the health of the state’s music scene. These relationships must sustain the local scene by increasing local awareness of bands’ visits.
Brian Kramp hosts the radio shows “Alternative Nation” and “The Scene” for alternative radio station 102.1 WLUM-FM in Milwaukee. Kramp feels that Wisconsin, especially Milwaukee, needs to create a stronger network among radio stations, promoters and venues so the scene can stay afloat and flourish. He thinks these elements must be in synch to bridge the gap between musicians and fans.
Kramp says 102.1 works with The Rave to help bring alternative and indie bands to Milwaukee. He credits The Rave with booking talented alternative bands, which 102.1 supports. Radio links bands to fans, and by allotting airtime to bands that play at venues, listeners will be more aware of bands coming to the area, attend concerts and increase visits to smaller venues, which will greatly improve the overall music scene.
“Both parties are hoping that 102.1’s current format is going to survive long enough to make a difference for the local groups we support,” Kramp says. He says the station’s current, alternative format affords him the flexibility to give visiting bands airtime.
In the fall, The Bravery, a nationally known band, played at The Rave. Kramp estimates fewer than 1,000 people attended the concert. A lack of promotional airtime and a seemingly non-existent fan base in Milwaukee created a humiliating turnout––reason enough for some bands to opt out of Wisconsin gigs.
“There is not a lot of airplay for a band like The Bravery,” Kramp says. “I think Milwaukee is a very niche-type market. In general, Milwaukee is not known to break bands or to promote bands that aren’t mainstream.”
Radio stations and venues need to play off one another to cultivate an underground music scene to ensure that talented musicians will frequent smaller venues and play to a supporting group of fans. Radio format is also critical to the local music scene because it links bands to fans.
Madison and Milwaukee have student radio stations that promote alternative bands, but the majority of commercial radio fails to give airtime to the bands slated on the bill to play at smaller venues. The relationship between The Rave and 102.1 is the first of many steps toward ensuring the health of the music scene in Wisconsin, and many feel that commercial stations need to follow their lead.
High Noon Saloon works with low-frequency radio stations such as WSUM and WORT to promote shows.
“We work more with community radio and the student radio station than we do with commercial,” Dethmers says. “It’s harder to work with [commercial radio] because they have set play lists. Unless the bands you have are on them, they are not very willing to throw it into the rotation to give it the exposure it would need to draw for the show.”
To combat the problem of exposure, many people turn to the Internet to find underground bands. This process requires enthusiasm for music and know-how for finding bands online, but the Internet is increasingly becoming a medium by which bands establish a fan base.
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| front man: Nic Adamany performs lead guitar with the Mighty Short Bus at Angelic Brewing Company. photo:beth wick & nate koch |
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curb magazine 2005: balance for wisconsin's young professionals
