BlogHe’s been described as a “15-year-old folk hero of the future,” a “wunderkind,” and an “Americana prodigy,” while simultaneously holding on to his teenager-ness; hanging with friends, playing video games, and skateboarding different spots. Sammy Brue just released his debut album, I Am Nice, on Friday, June 16th, and the Portland, Oregon native is undoubtedly about to become a household name. We spent some time with him, asking questions about life as a young artist, musical inspiration, and the grabbing inside scoop on that infamous hat of his.
I Am Nice: Sammy Brue’s Debut Album & Interview
Can’t Miss Touring Tips From NYC Rockers Midnight Mob
So, you want to rock a tour, do ya?? Congratulations on your decision to become a highway pirate! It’s time to cruise the land with your bandmates, crew, your favorite sweat pants, your noble steed, and all your special quirks fully loaded to test each other’s patience and sadistic behavior. Here are top touring tips and suggestions from Midnight Mob on how to make a tour successful, fun, inexpensive, efficient and – most importantly – safe for all.
How to Give Other Artists Genuine Music Feedback Online and Build Valuable Relationships
In a world full of spammers and unapologetic super-promoters, cutting through the clutter with sincere, genuine, and thoughtful music feedback will greatly increase your odds of building valuable relationships with other artists. Ask yourself: Would you rather have someone give you thoughtful insight with actual proof that they listened to your work, or just a two-word comment and an emoji?
If you want to really learn how to provide strong feedback online that can develop into authentic relationships, try putting the following tips into action.
When Band Meets Label: How LuxDeluxe Got Signed By Old Flame Records
Quick thought experiment – you’re a DIY rock ‘n’ roll band from the same area of Massachusetts that produced The Pixies and Dinosaur Jr. and you’re trying to pique the interest of indie labels. You’ve released an album, done a bit of regional touring, got a strong fan base going and some press attention. Ok, what do you do now? Blast pitches all over the place to a bunch of “info@” email addresses? Tag every indie label in the known universe in your album cover art Instagram pics? Now put yourself on the other side of the equation – you’re an indie label constantly on the hunt for fresh talent. You have a rock solid reputation but limited budget and resources. How do you navigate the crowded waters of new music while still developing your current artists? The answer for both sides – queue the self-promotional back-patting for a quick moment – is ReverbNation. This is the story of LuxDeluxe and Old Flame Records, as told by them, with inspiration for any musicians out there looking to make the next big move.
Music Marketing Inspo: Mipso’s Custom Coffee Promotion
So I’m on my Saturday morning coffee run at a local joint called Joe Van Gogh when I unexpectedly experience a great example of unconventional music marketing. While the barista readies my organic Ethiopian blend, I peruse the bags of coffee being displayed at the counter when I see it: a limited-time specialty brew care of a local indie Americana quartet called Mipso. After reading a bit more about the band and the HARMONY BLEND promotion they thought up, I had to pick their brains a bit.
Interview With Bay Area Band Exhausted Pipes
Exhausted Pipes is Hunter “Razzle Dazzle” Steers, David “Crockett” Mayman, and Andy “Sanford” Landgraf. We’re three guys living in the SF bay that have been playing music together for the past 9 years. Hunter hails from Seattle and plays guitar and sings. David hails from the San Fernando Valley in LA, and plays drums and sings backups with the occasional tiny piano. Andy hails from Chino Hills near LA, and plays bass and sings backups. Hunter’s a craftsman (woodworking specialist), Andy’s in the retail lumber game, and David’s a user experience designer (that also makes wooden things). We all met in college in Stockton, CA, and after playing in a few bands started this version of Exhausted Pipes in 2010. The band technically got started a couple years earlier with Hunter and our buddy Ian playing White Stripes covers as an opening act to another band all four of us were in. We didn’t have a lot of options in Stockton…
10 Steps to Easier Touring
Touring is a huge endeavor, even for experienced veterans. A music tour requires months of planning, saving, and contacting other bands, promoters, and venues – and making sure everyone in your act has the time off to go on tour plus the funds to pay for food, sundries, and amenities on the road (*cough*beer*cough*).
But effectively planning a tour doesn’t have to be immensely difficult or near-impossible, even when it seems so. Here are ten steps you can take to make touring easier so you can focus on playing music.
Everything to Consider When Buying Your First Guitar
This post originally appeared on Flypaper by our friends at Soundfly.
Whether you’re thinking about hunkering down and buying your first guitar or looking to upgrade from the $199 Strat pack that your grandma gave you for Christmas to a bonafide AXE, let’s talk about some of the things you should consider when buying your first guitar.