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Shining the spotlight, page 3
by beth wick
Wisconsinites need to open up to alternative artists, new bands and local bands, according to Kramp. He says people in Milwaukee fail to support the underground and local scene because they would rather latch onto music they already recognize. They are willing to shell out more money to see national shows, and forgo smaller local shows. “They want something that is familiar to them here, and they’ll pay $160 for U2,” Kramp says. “It doesn’t necessarily mean that people aren’t willing to go out and see a show. I think they kind of wait around for their opportunity to go to a show.”
Although his radio station promotes local music, Kramp believes the average radio listener in Milwaukee does not fully embrace local, up-and-comers at smaller venues. The lack of support for local musicians is the biggest problem plaguing Wisconsin's music industry.
“Without that media support these bands are never going to go anywhere,” Kramp says. “The sad thing about the scene is that we don’t have the fan base to continue making this happen on a national scale.”
Ultimately, it is the lack of local support for local bands that highlights why the scene needs improvement. Both Mad Planet and High Noon Saloon book local bands with national acts or even put together exclusively local shows, giving bands a potential base of fans.
“I think as far as the local scene, it’s probably easier for local bands here than in bigger cities because there’s not as much competition amongst themselves to get gigs,” Dethmers says. “I think it is a little bit easier for a local band here to start to build a following through regular shows.”
Nic Adamany, who plays in the Madison-based band The Mighty Short Bus, thinks smaller venues are places where local bands gain a following and are discovered, especially in Madison, Oshkosh and Eau Claire. The smaller venues in these cities readily tap into local music because their young crowd is open to hearing new things. He says Eau Claire club The Stones Throw helped his band develop a strong local following.
“They see things in the long term and they are willing to work with us,” Adamany says. “Eventually, it will be us driving 400 people into the club there. It’s not costing the club anything because they are putting us on with a show that is going to do well. There needs to be more places like that.”
He credits some of the smaller venues like the High Noon Saloon, because they have an approachable, friendly staff and book talented bands night after night, making bands and patrons want to come back to that particular venue because of its strong reputation.
“It really comes down to ownership and management and their philosophy on how to run their club,” says Adamany, who would ultimately like to see better relationships between bands, radio and venues to create a thriving musical atmosphere in Wisconsin.
For now, CBGB is still fighting for a lease and Luther’s Blues remains closed, but a strong push exists to keep venues alive to foster strong presence of alternative and local music in Wisconsin. Smaller venues will not perish because they give alternative and local bands a place to perform, and they play a central role in laying down the foundation for a strong music scene to exist.
“I’m going to do my best to try to help out,” Kramp says. “There is nothing more that I would love to see than one of the bands we’ve played with break out big.”
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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
