c/indie-music-scene

My box of handwritten setlists made me see indie shows different

I was digging in my attic for something else and stumbled on a shoebox full of old setlists from shows. They were all scribbled on napkins or torn paper, given to me by bands after their sets. These days, everything is digital and polished, with setlists posted online before the show even starts. It made me realize how much the spontaneous, messy part of live music has gotten lost. I kind of loved not knowing what was coming next.

Our band's cassette flew off the shelves in a week

We dropped a tape with our new songs. There were only 100 copies. They all got bought after two concerts. This tells me people still value physical stuff. Streaming is handy, but holding a tape feels more real. It's a small win that boosts our spirit. Have you seen other indie acts succeed with tapes?

Saying I prefer recorded albums over live indie gigs sparked tension

We were hanging out after a local show, all buzzing from the performance. I casually mentioned that I actually enjoy their studio work more than the live set. My friend looked at me like I said something wrong and called me out. A few others jumped in, saying live shows are the heart of indie music. It got quiet for a minute before everyone started talking over each other, which was pretty awkward.

Sound check times at local clubs are all over the place

We show up when they say, but often end up waiting hours. It messes with our whole set-up routine.

I mean, idk, maybe it's just me but a tiny cafe show taught me more about performing than any big stage.

Hot take: Our band's release party disaster split our fans

We booked a cool venue but a sudden rainstorm flooded the floor right before our set. Now some fans say we should have checked the weather and had a backup plan, while others think the venue failed us. I feel like we lost a big chance to grow our audience that night. Is it worse to blame bad luck or poor planning in indie music?

After my friend's band got snubbed by blogs, I'm done with them

I've been into indie music for a long time, and it's frustrating to see blogs only cover bands that are already popular. My buddy's band worked hard on their new record, but when we reached out to blogs, they all said it wasn't 'hot' enough. We tried ten different sites, and not one gave them a listen. It's like these blogs have forgotten their role in building the scene. They should be helping new voices get heard, not just riding waves. Back in the day, you could count on blogs to find cool stuff before it blew up. Now, if you're not on some playlist or trending, you're invisible. It's killing the spirit of indie music, where discovery used to be key.