Mixed Bills & Cheap Thrills

Something written very quickly on farcebook at the arse end of last year after a conversation with Jak & Tom from WACO. I'd just been to four shows on Regrettes/Lauaran Hibberd tour. . .

"...Lauran's genre varies and it’s a whole different circuit though. A word on splicing genres n gig circuits while we’re at it, bare with me. Weirdly, from seeing them live afew times i notice cos of how rigid gig promotion is n the way stuff is going they wouldn’t be likely to blend with the types of bands i mentioned unless they get put on by diy punks. A wider point on this. It’s pretty common knowledge on the punk circuit that I listen to as much Crown Court & Last Resort as I do Teen Idols and Crimpshrine. Like countless others I like to mix it up a ton and my record n cd collection reflects it with everything from Teenage Bottlerocket, Bouncing Souls through The Business, Angry Agenda over to Mischief Brew, Poor Old Dogs, including Meteors, Long Tall Texans, via Waco, Sheer Mag, all the way to Crass, Restarts etc. etc. etc. (not to mention a ton of garage, ska, reggae, musicals, pop, classical piano, tiny bit of hip-hop and the inevitable Taylor Swift).

Here’s the point. In my view there is no reason that Lauran shouldn’t be on a bill with say Knock Off just as The Regrettes could go on with Peter & The Test Tube Babies. Or The Menzingers combining with Gimp Fist. I want to see Girli supporting Cockney Rejects. The Warriors with Murderburgers, Subhumans with Superyob or Cock Sparrer. etc. etc. How about Lauran and Hard Skin double header. Ultimately, now that I’m gonna be putting on shows again this will be a big aim. Get some surreal but awesome combos on the go. Get so-called ‘scenes’ mixing, meeting each other and actually listening to other types of bands not judging a book by it’s cover or by it’s (often falsely) perceived fan base.

Of course everyone has their own mates and tastes but the pathetic cliques that have cemented themselves are getting boring, breeding lame orthodoxies and smothering creativity. I know other promoters do fantastic ecclectic mixes n have had the same thoughts as well, but I want to push it more if i can once i’ve established stuff. Bands who aren’t up for this kinda thing lose my respect abit (waaaah we only want to play with our pals and within a weirdly ill-defined sub-genre where we can feel safe and all look and think the same), it seems to betray the anarchic and wild creativity of early punk. The circuit is getting conformist and stale and this will be one of the ways to revitalise stuff again. Drop the Mean Girls style smug dress-coded cabals and break it wide open. Get people talking to each other, sharing, listening and checking out what’s happening in others’s lives.

Some of the bands I love most have tried to do this over the years as well as promoters. Let’s keep doing it n you won’t be surprised then when more diverse and interesting people get involved and start making better and far more unique music. Plus a ton of younger bands coming in inspired with mad new takes rather than the same old being churned out again and again (however much i love the same old and strongly believe it must have its place). Don’t get me wrong there’s loads great stuff going on but we don’t want risk stagnation.

Ya get me?

  

By the way, i know this isn’t an original thought and many do this already but i’d like to see it more. I also have no problem with same genre gigs or all-dayers they’re great and have their place; i have and will continue to do em myself. (Thinking of getting Crown Court with 2 v similar genre bands next year) However, just pointing out I wish that promoters n bands to step outside comfort zone and shake things about abit more often as I think it makes the most fun gigs and produces more compelling audiences and interactions, chance meeting and inspiration. I suspect the more narrow you think your taste is (and nothing wrong with that per se) the more you will be surprised what you discover...
-Comment from Dan Crawley - back in the good old ICM days (my pre-Watford Punk Collective promotion) I loved a mixed bill. I'd throw bands together that would never have been booked for the same night. We carried this over a bit when we put together the 2 Night Stand but by then, punters didn't seem keen on straying too far from what they know. If I ever return to putting gigs on I'm going straight back to mixed nights. Don't get me wrong, I love a punk rock show but it's like going to a buffet and refusing to go further than the sausage rolls.

And here is what I wrote before the first SCP show - 

"Putting on gigs again for the first time in ages under this new banner. Hoping someone will partner up with me permanent (preferably with a better techie head) to get stuff organised. Need afew more quid in the bank for regular be possible so will most likely get going fully next year (earlyish hopefully). Add Silly Chap Promotions if interested. Will be mainly punk but with a blend from other genres too, anyone who qualifies as a silly chap is welcome including solo acoustic acts. Exciting diverse line up ideas taking shape already. One further concept is for an eventual ‘Pathetique Symposium’ all dayer as tribute to the old Pathetique Convention. Another shindig may be a low key ‘punk n bowl’ but instead of a bowling alley opt for a pub that has skittles. Really want to do a lot of the gigs at decent local pubs in south-east london to help get customers in for much needed revenue in these skint times, not your usual boring ‘rock’ or the usual ‘bar/venue’ type places but traditional old school boozers encouraging the perfect mix of people. Also looking into more obscure arts venues that are needing support as well though. And importantly I want to do some gigs out in west london- white city/bush/acton/ealing etc. as that area is much neglected when it comes to live music. Anyone who wants to help me out with any of that please do shout, would be great."

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