Not too long ago, Burial played Pearl Street in Northampton and no one stayed for us or the 2 or 3 bands preceeding us. I can definitely understand not wanting to sit through a bunch of bands after driving for hours and all that shit, but someone (I really don't remember who) in one of the bands that regularly posts here was wanting to be booked at Fat Cats. Maybe if some of the people in these bands stayed, and then hung out or whatever, I could've pointed them in the right direction for getting a show there. With the exception of xmikex, I don't know why my band has pissed people off. I'd rather it be that they hate us than some bullshit third hand rumor.

Also, someone had a good point about "hall" shows. They fuckin' suck. Don't get me wrong, I know it's the only option when you don't have regular clubs who are open to booking metal, but the hall shows always end up sucking! Has anyone here ever been to a hall show that was packed, standing room only? I never have. If there are no clubs around you, go to where they are, even if it means leaving the state. We hardly play any shows in Mass. anymore and not just because everyone hates us for not being metalcore either. People like metal more in other areas. You have to pay some cash for rental vans and hotels and shit, but if you want to play some great shows---leave Massachusetts.

some of the best shows i've ever seen were DIY hall shows put on by poor kids.

Edge Day II - hundreds of kids packed into an american leigon hall all going insane. this show sold out and then some.

Thug Fest 2002- one of my all time favorite shows put on DIY style by frankie chairs and funded by unemployment checks. The kid couldn't afford to buy food but he put on a show.

SevenDay Curse reunion- DIY hall, tons of kids, one of the best times i've ever had at a show.

chariots of fire fest (day 2) - packed american leigon hall, lots of fun.

the red chord, creation is crucifixion, a life once lost @ the salem elks club - totally packed hall, incredible lineup.

and these are just the first few that came to mind.

SevenDay Curse reunion- DIY hall, tons of kids, one of the best times i've ever had at a show.

dammit mike, i was gonna say that...but anywho, good times had by all. not one fight the entire time, i think the head count was near 400 as well

Yeah club shows are great, but not everyone can go book a club also most clubs in the area are 18 + and some 21 + Which means dont expect a huge crowd to show up. VFW halls and all those halls are the only source for local music now a days. Ive also noticed that barely any kids go to club shows. It seems now that a lot of the local shows in vfw halls are drawing lots of kids. I wish more death metal bands would go out and play VFW halls. Thats why i think metal is dead around here. Hardcore and metalcore bands seem to have all the energy and want to spread the music. But what do I know

<<I wish more death metal bands would go out and play VFW halls.>>
We've done the hall thing too, and what happened was either low turnout, or the majority of the crowd left after the last "core" band. Ideally it'd be great for metal bands and core bands to play the same places, but it seems the crowd interested in the cores lately is starting at an earlier age and thus needs all ages places to play. Nothing wrong with that, but a hall doesn't have a PA system. Put a metal band in there and the sound is anywhere from not so good to buckets of mud. A core band fares better in a hall because the majority of the crowd is there to dance to the groove of the music they're feeling. Breakdowns are easier to notice than changing blastbeats. Metal is better off in a PA'd club than a hall because we're more into standing there and bobbing our heads while (hopefully) hearing all the notes rather than feel the hits or anything. A core band will also sound better in a club, but there there might be more restrictions of the crowd's enjoyment. Give and take. I should write a fucking thesis paper or something. Christ.

If I recall correctly, the last time I saw Ascendancy at a hall show (frammingham) there were a handfull of metal kids there but they all left before you guys played. The only kids that stayed were myself (a "hardcore kid"), in dire need (a "core" band), tom (rustedangel), the rev, and a few others.

the problem is, in an indirect way, the hall because I'd imagine it'd be pretty hard to get a decent headlining metal band to play something like the civic league. If you called up Dimmu Borgir and asked them to come play the civic league they'd ask what the hell kind of a hall has less then a 10,000 person capacity and won't let them have a lazer show. Hall shows are a way for regular kids to books shows for fun. When you've got a genre of music where the more popular bands have all gotten the idea that they're Bon Jovi it's difficult for the regular kids to get the results they want.

This brings me to my next point, which I've made a number of times before; if you want a big metal show you need big bands. Metal kids are different, different in the sense that they're super lame. If your show doesn't have some sort of mega-star name attatched to it, it doesn't exist. They'll confuse you by falsely creating a demand for shows, with countless numbers of people storming the internet pleading for more shows, and to "support the scene.". The catch is that once you supply this demand you end up finding out just who meant what they said. "Support the scene" quickly turns into some lame excuse or cop out. So while halls may be an indirect cause, the heart of your problem exists within the kids themselves.

I wholeheartedly agree with you xmikex. We all know there's a lot of talk with a lot less followthrough. I'd wager a guess that a lot of those metal kids who talk about needing more shows got so used to only seeing touring bands at the bigger venues (Pall./Lupo's/etc) that they don't look anywhere else for shows now, the silly bastards.
What I said before about halls vs. clubs is really more from the band's point of view. I know when we played that handful of hall shows we we're thinking a lot about the sound of the room and how well everything would work and meld in it, and if it sounds like crap people aren't going to hear anything and they're not going to enjoy it.
Also I didn't mean anything derogatory by refering to anyone as a "core" band. I'm not in with those genres, it's sorta like midgits, I don't know what word they like being used.
But on the other hand, yay for this thread staying civil thus far. Discussing is so much better than stupid fucking arguing. Argh. Shutting up now, at least for the next 20 minutes or so.

i didn't think you meant anything negative with the "core" comments.

this thread hasn't turned into death threats yet....kind of uncomfortable.