Between a Rock (and roll) and a Hard Place
n Logan, there seems to be a great divide between mainstream and underground. Popular venue Driftwood Manor shut down, and the alternative music store Graywhale was closed, but the local music scene is still managing to survive.
Christopher Jensen, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, is a member of Logan indie-rock band The Castanettes. Jensen, who said he is influenced by bands like Pedro the Lion and Fugazi, has been watching the Logan scene for years and said it is a little discouraging.
Jensen said since forming in 2002, his band has played everywhere from the Fun Park to Club NVO, trying to find a solid location for shows.
“The Fun Park was one of the worst,” Jensen said. “People aren’t there to listen to music. It’s high school kids that are there to meet up with their girlfriends and hang out.”
Cannon Holmgren, who is also a member of The Castanettes, and Jensen said they both think there are a lot of problems associated with Logan venues, and it may be one of the reasons the music scene is not exactly thriving in Logan.
“The Logan scene is somewhere between a rock and roll and a hard place,” Holmgren said. “It would be better if there was a place that consistently had shows.”
Jensen said he and Holmgren grew up together in Tremonton and that they have had problems finding places to play ever since he can remember.
“Even if the place had a reputation for playing shows, it would be better, and if it didn’t keep closing down or changing management,” said Holmgren, who is undeclared while he finishes his generals in order to transfer to a film school.
USU’s Independent Music Club President Ben Hibshman agreed that the lack of publicized venues is one common frustration of local bands.
Hibshman, a senior majoring in public relations, said giving local bands a place to go is one reason he got involved with the IMC.
“I’ve been doing music my whole life, and I wanted to help promote bands and find them a place to play,” Hibshman said.
Through the IMC, Hibshman said bands can book shows and get the word out on campus.
Although small coffee and gift shops like Cafe Ibis and Citrus and Sage have opened their doors to local musicians, one complaint is that these venues are too small for larger shows and can’t properly house all the band’s equipment.
“It would be nice to have a place just solely for shows,” Holmgren said.
Club NVO, located at 339 N. Main Street, is another place that has tried to open its doors to local bands. According to the NVO Web site, Live and Local night, which occurs every Friday, is open to all bands and has recently housed bigger shows like The Spill Canvas and Sherwood. However, since NVO is only available on Friday nights, Jensen said it is still not an ideal place for shows.
“I like NVO,” Hibshman said. “The only problem is the way they promote. They barely get anyone to come.”
No one was available for comment from Club NVO, but a visit to the club’s Web site reveals an empty schedule for Live and Local night.
“If you look at Provo’s music scene, you have two to three venues supported just by local bands,” Jensen said. “It’s weird, we don’t even have one.”
Jensen said when The Castanettes have played in Provo, they have seen a very receptive crowd, and it made all the difference.
“They listened to all the bands instead of just the one they might have come to see,” Jensen said.
Member of the Salt Lake-based band, Shape, said they have yet to play a show in Logan, partially due to the fact that there is not a high demand for bands outside of the area.
The band hopes to someday tour South Africa, splitting up to play a show via satellite and possibly recording an album. Members said they would be more than willing to play a show in Logan if they had support from fans. The members of Shape said in order for a show to be worth playing, they have to know that people will come.
Hibshman said getting a band’s name out there is an instrumental part of drawing a crowd and that the bigger the crowd, the better the reputation for Logan’s music scene.
“In previous years we’ve had The Brobecks and a lot of Salt Lake bands come,” Hibshman said. “But if only a few people come, we don’t have money in the funds to pay the bands.”
One way for bands to get their name on the radar is by playing at house parties. Although they aren’t often recognized as credible venues, Bailey said house parties can be just as good as playing at a music venue and that it depends on the crowd.
“I like small, intimate shows,” Bailey said. “House shows are fun.”
Shape said one of its favorite shows so far has been at a house party.
“We played a house show in someone’s living room, and there were nails sticking out of the wall,” Vincent said. “But it was fun.”
So what can be done about Logan’s deteriorating music scene? Hibshman said any bands who want to play should get in contact with him two weeks in advance so they can make arrangements for a show and use the university facilities for free. Hibshman said he urges people to drop their preconceived notions about the IMC being full of pretentious people and to just come have fun.
“We try and steer away from the pretentious indie kid image,” Hibshman said. “We’re all about having fun. It’s a comfortable atmosphere and no one cares how you look.”
Hibshman also said he encourages music aficionados to check out the IMC’s Web site, www.myspace.com/independentmusicclub for links to local bands so students can listen and get a feel for local music.