Ryan Sprute dot com

Update #6 - Show Recap, Cancelled Show, Sound Off, New Shows

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:04:57 -0500

So I’m just going to change these to “Updates” instead of “Weekly Updates” because clearly that’s not happening. So first thing’s first, The LAB show. It was really amazing from start to finish, it was definitely the best show we’ve been a part of. Big thanks to Teo Crider, Sadie Ava and Us On Roofs for making it so badass. And thanks to everyone who came to the show, some people said some really nice things and it means a lot that you guys enjoyed the show.

Speaking of shows, unfortunately we’re going to have to cancel the Ground Zero show. We are pretty squeezed for time with Sound Off coming up, as we’re practicing 4+ hours a day and we can’t afford to lose a week preparing for the show. Also, Elliot and David can’t make it so it would be a half-hearted show at best anyway; big apologies to Ground Zero and anyone in Bellevue who was psyched to see us. We’ll be playing there sometime after Sound Off I’m sure.

Like I said, we’re practicing like crazy and deep into songwriting mode. We’re in the process of writing 4 new songs to try and make our set the best it can be, and we don’t write songs that quickly so it’s a bit of a time crunch for Sound Off. Luckily we were put in the last semi-final, so I think it’s definitely do-able.

Speaking of Sound Off preparations, we have 4 shows planned in the last two weeks before Sound Off, three in Seattle and one in Bellingham! We’re excited to go there, Paul especially as he was attending Western before we all took the year off, and is a popular comedian there. Here are the shows:

- Thursday, Feb. 18th - The Den
- Friday, Feb 19th - WhAAM with A Cozy Kitchen and Candysound
- Thursday, February 25th - The Cake Room with Sea Fever, Us On Roofs and Brooklyn Pool
- Friday, February 26th - The Ballard Mine

and of course the big one - Saturday, February 27th is Sound Off! Tickets are on sale now and they WILL sell out - they’re not even selling them at the door so visit the EMP or call 206-770-2702. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $7 for students or EMP|SFM members.

Oh! Big announcement! I am proud to say that we have our music now on Amazon, iTunes, Rhapsody, Napster, and many others. So if you haven’t bought our debut release Blue Blood EP go do so!

That’s pretty much it for now, I probably won’t be posting that much until late February but I might try to have some “Update”-unrelated posts, just general music industry stuff or maybe a little Great Waves FAQ. Got a question for Great Waves? Band history/gear/whatever send it to greatwavesband@gmail.com. Have a good one guys.

- Ryan

Show Update!

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:57:00 -0500

OK so we have some changes for tomorrow’s show at The LAB, but I think you guys will like them so hoooorayyyy!

Anywho, unfortunately A Cozy Kitchen had to cancel the show but we lucked out and got not one but TWO replacements! We were lucky enough to know the nicest people on earth, Us On Roofs, so they’ll be playing with us and they’re awesome so we’re excited to have them aboard. I am also really excited for our other replacement act, Sadie and The Crooked Road. I discovered her myspace when she was just Sadie Ava and she is crazy talented so I’m pretty psyched to play a show with her as well.

Alright guys, so try and be there if you can, I really do think it’s the best bill we’ve ever been on and I’m pretty excited for it. Show starts at 7pm with Sadie and The Crooked Road so be there right at the beginning!

Excited to see you guys there!

- Ryan

Weekly Update #4 - Shows, Interview, Honing our Live Show

Sat, 02 Jan 2010 19:27:00 -0500

FIrst off, we have 4 shows this month:

- January 8th at Bop Street Records 8pm FREE
- January 15th at ACOUSTAX! at KTUB 8pm $6
- January 23rd at The LAB 7pm $5
- January 30th at Ground Zero 8pm $6/$5 with a can of food

They should be pretty good, we’ve got some new songs and these will be the debut shows with our full live band so it should be a good time.

Ashley and I also did an interview for QRO magazine, so check that out.

Not much other news, we’ve been busy writing new songs, we’re trying to have a pretty new set for Sound Off. Will’s been using Sibelius and writing out the parts, as we’re looking for a more dense orchestration for the next EP and it’ll be nice to give the strings players’ a write out of what they need to play instead of having to work it out in the studio and waste time doing that. This brings the added bonus that we may have chart music for the EP, which is cool.

We’ve also been working on our live show. It’s pretty funny, we’re practicing our stage moves (as lame as that sounds) in a room where it’s just us so we all feel pretty awkward at times. If you think about it, the stage is one of those places you can do things that would be pretty weird offstage - I mean c’mon look at Thom Yorke, he does the goofiest stuff on stage but it works for him - so when you don’t have the liberating presence of the stage it feels funny to pretend. We’re still trying to figure out what kind of band we want to be.

At the Grammy U songwriting contest, John Roderick talked about the 4th wall, how there are some bands that intentionally break that wall and make the audience feel like they are not only spectators, but a part of the show - a good example of this would be Ben Folds, who often has the audience sing harmonies or horn parts, or a local example would be The Lonely Forest, with the charismatic leadership of frontman John Van Deusen. On the other hand, there are some bands that keep that wall completely intact - a good example of this would be Of Montreal, a band that has costumes and stage personas and everything, or the local band The Globes, who speak very little and simply put on a spectacular show. The audience isn’t a participant but simply a spectator. The problem that bands run into is when they are unable to choose what kind of band they want to be, when they initially try and keep a 4th wall but inadvertently break it and then try to erect it again. So I guess that’s where we are at the moment. We would ideally like to keep the 4th wall intact, but we have to make our transitions better if we want to be successful. Luckily, we have 2 months and 5 shows to get our live show where we want it to be for Sound Off.

So that’s it for now. January 10th we have our big Sound Off meeting, so I’m pretty excited to meet all the other bands and see what exactly is in store for us. It’s a huge opportunity to even be accepted into the final 12 so we’re incredibly honored. Hope to see you guys at some shows!

- Ryan

Blue Blood EP Out Now

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 09:27:34 -0500

Well, the day is finally here. This record has been roughly 6 months in the making, and we’ve gone through a lot to try and pull it together. On behalf of the band I want to thank Joe LaRosee for being such a stellar producer and everyone else at Jupiter Studios for making recording as smooth of a process as it could be. Thanks to our friends and family for all the support you’ve given us. We’re very proud of this record and we hope that you enjoy it.

Being in a Band (caution: this post meanders)

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 19:32:00 -0400

Today is kind of a slow news day, so I thought I would take the time to talk a little about myself, well my band.

I’m in a very unknown band called The Matirns, although we are changing that name pretty soon, and hopefully we’ll become less unknown come the end of November, but that’s yet to be seen.

Being in a band is a weird thing, and it’s hard to compare it to many other pursuits because it’s a weird clash of business and art. First, clearly you are in a band because (hopefully) you enjoy making music and doing it with people who have a similar taste and style in music, who can help you create at a better level - this is certainly the case with my band, without a doubt I am the weakest member, and I consider myself to be an adequate drummer.

However, there are many other factors that a band has to deal with besides making music, and that is where the weird conflicts come in. Yes, we deal with many creative decisions, but they aren’t always musical ones. We argued for TWO YEARS about a band name, but that is a rare example of something we can’t resolve quickly. See, being in a band is a lot about compromising - not necessarily artistically, but in other ways.

You aren’t always going to get your way, and you’re not always going to be happy about it, but that’s life. If you can’t work with other people in your band, you might as well leave. I consider myself very lucky in that I enjoy being around my fellow bandmates, but I definitely still have my frustrations and trying moments. I have no idea what it’s like to have to deal with a “diva”, but I’d imagine it would be spectacularly unpleasant.

I think it might be hard to imagine exactly WHY bands fight, and you hear about bands that were torn apart by the industry. I can’t speak upon the impact success has on a band, because…well…we haven’t exactly HAD any major success yet. But I can say that making music can be a very emotional and exhausting process, and one can become very attached to ideas. It’s easy to get personal, and being in a band successfully - something I believe I CAN speak on, considering I’ve been with my band for nearly 3 years now - relies on your ability to not take things personally and think about how something affects everyone in the band, and not just yourself.

Plus, it’s a lot like a job in that rain or shine, you’re going to have to go to practice. You may be in a shitty mood, you may have other things on your plate, but you have to put your band before yourself. I don’t think I’m perfect at this, but it’s a crucial part of being a good band mate - putting the band first.

So here I am, taking a year off of school with my band to pursue a career in the industry - will I think it was worth it by the end of the year? I guess we’ll just have to see.

I'm Back

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:17:00 -0400

So I’m starting this blog back up again, this time focusing pretty much exclusively on the music industry. Also, this is going to be a lot rougher this time around - I rarely posted because I shelved most of my posts or left them in “to-edit” purgatory. This will just be a place to showcase my ideas about the future of the music industry and how to take advantage of this great upheaval.

So what will the industry look like in a few years?

- There will be no majors

WMG and EMI (especially EMI) are NOT doing well. At all. They are ripe to merge and eventually the toxic DNA that both of these companies hold will be the end of them. I can’t say I’m too sad - I was at a music conference where a WMG rep was talking, every other word was “merch” or corporate-babble about demographics. I’m no dummy, I believe in the power of metrics, but if you are focused more on the method than the art you’ve got a big problem.

The big question is what will happen to “indies” like Sub Pop? WMG has a 50% holding share in Sub Pop, which makes them essentially a major-label subsidiary. I would be sad to see such a prestigious and important label go under, but my gut tells me they will land on their feet. After all, Sub Pop’s motto is “going out of business for the last 20 years”. Megan Jasper is a smart cookie, I’m assuming she’s not the only one. However, if they keep talking about “legacy” like it means anything to anyone besides other industry professionals and young bands wanting to get signed (ahem), it’s gonna hurt them.

- Artists will regain control over IP

The centuries-long injustice of corporations owning intellectual property will soon coming to an end. In Britain they’ve recently started a label that allows artists to own their own copyrights. This IS the future of record labels, I am absolutely certain of it. There are simply too many options for artists for them to foolishly let go of their most valuable card. Actually, it’s not even foolishness, there simply hasn’t been any other way before now.

The internet has allowed artists to directly connect with fans in a way unlike any other time in history. This has allowed the rise of the musical middle-class, who may never be rockstar-rich, they will be able to live comfortably while making their art on their terms.

That’s it for right now, but stay tuned for more.

Headphones - Natural Disaster

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:32:24 -0400

Headphones - Natural Disaster

Guest Blog — The Return of Michael Jackson « Twentysomething in the Music Biz

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:48:12 -0400

Guest Blog — The Return of Michael Jackson « Twentysomething in the Music Biz:

My boss asked me to write about the Michael Jackson comeback. Check it out.

Sidebar Updates

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 15:52:00 -0500

I added some new stuff to my sidebar:

- My twitter updates (at the bottom)

- Some online acquaintances and my boss

- Charlie Hoehn, a great young marketer

Check them out.

Nirvana - Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam This is the...

Sun, 01 Mar 2009 00:01:00 -0500

Nirvana - Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam

This is the live version from their MTV Unplugged set, check it out if you haven’t already.

Tapes ‘n Tapes - La Ruse

Thu, 26 Feb 2009 16:05:24 -0500

Tapes ‘n Tapes - La Ruse

The Smiths - Headmaster Ritual

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 16:21:40 -0500

The Smiths - Headmaster Ritual

Lefsetz Letter » Blog Archive » News Roundup

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 13:34:00 -0500

Lefsetz Letter » Blog Archive » News Roundup:

Just wanted to comment on a couple of things Lefsetz brought up:

- I’m not quite sure what to make of Josh Freese’s new album promotion scheme. First off, it’s a great attention-grabber, and Josh Freese is one of the best rock drummers alive (If you don’t know who he is, think the tastefulness of Dave Grohl, then combine that with intense technical ability on par with any drummer alive. Quite a talent). Anyway, it’s a great concept, and I realize that it’s mostly a parody, but man…is that what it’s coming to these days? Where do you draw the line? I guess that’s up to the individual artist, but I certainly would want to put those hours into the album itself rather than complicated schemes to market it.

- Bob’s right about the price thing, 75,000 is just too much. I’m biased because of how my band works, but why do the formal and EXPENSIVE studio route anymore for long term projects unless you are sure you can make it back (i.e. highly successful acts)? If I was planning to put more than a month into an album, I’d rather just get some sweet mics, hire someone to help set them up and teach us the ropes, and get a cabin or something and record there. Ian Rogers said something like “I’d rather listen to an album that a couple of guys worked on for months in their kitchen instead of something made by hired guns in a week”, and I could not agree more.

- Clearly not an expert by any means, but I just can’t see the majors lasting much longer than 5 years. The companies themselves are just too evil and unwilling to change, not to mention they continue to lose money hand over fist. Shit, DRM wasn’t even about protecting the artists, just about creating sources of revenue using old and evil business tactics. The sooner the better; there’ll finally be some copyright reform and substantial changes to how the music industry operates. I hope.

- It’s almost comical how late I am to discovering new music (I’m finally getting caught up through 2007-2008), but Bon Iver is GREAT. I absolutely love his album “For Emma, Forever Ago”. Simple folk/indie rock, but I think his stuff is really quite beautiful. Check him out at his myspace or buy his album on Amazon.

I have an RSS feed that gathers up all Craigslist - Musicians...

Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:02:11 -0500

I have an RSS feed that gathers up all Craigslist - Musicians postings in the Seattle-Tacoma area with the word “drummer” in it. This came up.

I must say, one of the most creative band names I’ve ever seen.

Lily Allen - Not Fair This song cracks me up. So sassy!

Thu, 12 Feb 2009 21:00:32 -0500

Lily Allen - Not Fair

This song cracks me up. So sassy!

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:37:04 -0500

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us

I Got A Review!

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 15:27:31 -0500

So I found this cool site The Music Snob where musicians send in reviews of their own work, and if they’re good, he posts them along with his own commentary. I sent in a review that was a bit…unorthodox. Check it out.

The Dead Letters - Music Review | The Music Snob

Bob Dylan - Girl From The North Country

Tue, 13 Jan 2009 04:25:17 -0500

Bob Dylan - Girl From The North Country

hypebot: YouTube Turning Into Major Label Revenue Stream

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:59:00 -0500

hypebot: YouTube Turning Into Major Label Revenue Stream:

Here’s what I don’t get when majors make ridiculous claims like this: do they understand the internet? Don’t they understand that nearly anything and everything can be cross-referenced and checked?

Universal claims they are going to make 100 million by the end of the year from YouTube revenues. Really? Because last time I checked, that’s at least 50% of YouTube’s total revenue.

It’s stuff like this that explains why majors are losing more money every year. They are so used to an information advantage that they don’t fully comprehend the transparency the internet fosters. You can’t just straight up lie anymore, because you’re going to get called out in some way.

Once majors understand that they can’t look out for themselves exclusively, that they have to treat fans with respect, and that they have to become considerably more transparent, the music industry will finally start to turn around.

Ryan Sprute dot com

Update #6 - Show Recap, Cancelled Show, Sound Off, New Shows

Show Update!

Weekly Update #4 - Shows, Interview, Honing our Live Show

Blue Blood EP Out Now

Being in a Band (caution: this post meanders)

I'm Back

Headphones - Natural Disaster

Guest Blog — The Return of Michael Jackson « Twentysomething in the Music Biz

Sidebar Updates

Nirvana - Jesus Don’t Want Me For A Sunbeam This is the...

Tapes ‘n Tapes - La Ruse

The Smiths - Headmaster Ritual

Lefsetz Letter » Blog Archive » News Roundup

I have an RSS feed that gathers up all Craigslist - Musicians...

Lily Allen - Not Fair This song cracks me up. So sassy!

Robert Plant & Alison Krauss - Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us

I Got A Review!

Bob Dylan - Girl From The North Country

hypebot: YouTube Turning Into Major Label Revenue Stream

Vulture Realty - 2011 I really like this band.