Guest Column: How To Support Underground Bands When You're in Your Thirties and Don't Care Anymore

Getting old is grim. How do you keep a scene alive when it physically hurts one to stay up past 11 on weeknights? Today, we feature a guest column on the topic from Jessie May, who plays in the bands Owl Maker and Turkey Vulture, and also runs the music site Alternative Control CT.

How To Support Underground Bands When You're in Your Thirties and Don't Care Anymore

By Jessie May

As an underground musician and music enthusiast in my mid-thirties, I've come to a startling realization: most of my friends don't care about The Scene anymore. Even friends I used to be in bands with! They've found better things to do on the weekends than stand outside while three shitty bands play, just to hear one good one (or to pretend they like my band, or to perform with their/our band while other people go outside). And I can't blame them -- we all spent our twenties going to shows and pretending to like other people's bands, and after a decade-plus it gets tiring. 

This harsh truth got me thinking about different ways to support underground bands when you are a full-fledged adult with many more important priorities. The top tier of supporting any band, in my opinion, is to go to the show.  This not only takes driving and money, but probably a five-hour commitment of time on a weekend evening when you could be doing a plethora of other things. Attending a friend's show in your mid-thirties is the gold star of supporting the scene -- if I'm spending five hours on a Saturday night driving to your show and watching you play, drinking beers, and trying not to die or get pulled over on the way home, I really fucking like you. Maybe I even like your music!

Let's face it, though -- your friends would probably rather spend time with you drinking beer on the couch and actually speaking with you than yelling conversation over shitty bands and pretending they like your latest drone ritual. Luckily there's another good way to support an underground band: buy the thing. This requires no time commitment and various levels of spending depending on what merch and music a band has to offer. Even a paid digital download, often the least expensive option, is meaningful -- because how many other people saw what this band is doing and didn't buy the thing? Lemme tell ya, a lot!  When you buy the thing, it shows you care -- and you don't even have to leave your house!

Sidebar on buying the thing: buying a thing on bandcamp is GREAT because this platform allows you to follow other users' music collections. When one person sees that another person bought Black Metal Dead Chicken Experience, it influences them to consider making a purchase. Also -- if a band you like is offering name your price downloads with no minimum, give them a dollar. You don't have to -- you could also give them more, if you want -- but if you're bothering to download something, you must like it at least a dollar's worth, right?? Again, many people download the thing and do not give a dollar. By giving the band some inconsequential amount of money, you are showing you care AND the download will be added to your collection for others to see.  I have personally given Bone Church and Keelrider each a dollar this weekend and I'm still waiting for my Gold Star of Scene Support..... If you like stoner rock, you should hop over to their bandcamp pages and give them a dollar too!

What if you don't want to go to the show or buy the thing?  You can still share the thing.  A social media share takes very little time and expands the band's potential audience.  Sharing with an enthusiastic caption or video is even better, so the folks in your feed know why they should care about this thing you're sharing.

Finally, if you don't want to go to the show, buy the thing, or spam your social media feed with underground band news... You can like and follow the band's social pages. It takes zero effort, but those numbers add up to make it look like more people care -- and thus, there are more people to share the thing, buy the thing, and go to the show. 

When the scene has become tiresome but still like your friends in bands, every little bit counts. Now get out there and show 'em you care!

Follow the scene at Alternative Control, and definitely listen to Jessie shred in Owl Maker and Turkey Vulture.