Basements and Living Rooms
66 pages / $2
Full disclosure: the audience for this zine is about 30
years younger than I am. Squeezing into
a basement with a group of loud, sweaty, possibly inebriated people is not anywhere
on my list of enjoyable things to do. So on one level I have an innate bias of
sorts. However, on another level I thoroughly enjoyed the
spirit and intent expressed within these pages.
Music needs to be taken back from the commercialists and the
corporations and American Idolatry. Music was never intended to be an “industry”.
Music is something we are all capable of creating. Not that long ago, instead
of X-boxes and ‘rock band’, people had pianos or guitars, or other instruments
in their living rooms. Before arena rock, the joy of music involved sharing
moments with our friends in an intimate space.
House shows are a way of returning to, or evolving, how
music was meant to be – homemade, unpretentious, heartfelt, warts and all – not
the glittery ‘perfection’ found on television singing competitions. Basements and Living Rooms – A Zine About House
Shows and DIY Music is infused with personal stories, perspectives, and
experiences of DIY bands and practical advice on setting up your space as a performance
venue. This zine is generous with comics, photographs, and practical
information. I’ve even heard one of the bands (out of dozens) mentioned – Mega Bog.
Maybe I’m not so old after all.
My advice: tear up
your U2 tickets (or whatever mega tour is happening this year) & make your
own scene.
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