Live Music

Hey everyone,

Was wondering if you guys out there now/who've been before know about many venues/coffee shops/bars that welcome Unsigned Musicians etc etc!?

As i play in a band and some solo music and am interested in playing out in Florida.

Thanks!

Matt x

 

ooo I'd like to know this too? anyone have any ideas? what do you play matt?

James ;D

 

Well genre wise best described as Acoustic/Rock/Emo. Inspired highly by bands/artists such as Dashboard Confessional (Who are from Boca Raton in Florida conincidentally), Bright Eyes, Damien Rice, Dallas Green, Taking Back Sunday, The Color Fred, Blink 182 etc etc.

Been playing guitar & singing for about 4/5 years now and been doing live shows for about 3 of them.

For when i move to Florida in April to start the CR Program, i have a Solo Project that im going to get going. Am recording a CD and getting some cool Badges and stuff done before i head out there!

How about you James!?

Matt x

 

I know they sometimes have freelance artists at Downtown disney

 

I saw some artists on the porch bit of the house of blues when I was around in the summer don't know if we could get some gigs there.

Ive been singing since... erm... i don't actually know lol I've got my grade 8 this may just gone (trying not to sound big headed). and im self taught in guitar and piano mainly but i also have a crack at bass, drums, penny whistle, and the harmonica (not too keen lol) I kinda have a knack for picking an instrument up and playing it. But I have came across a few that I would hate to play lol.

Greatly inspired by... well everything really. Mainly Pink Floyd, The Who, The Beatles, The Flaming Lips, Weller as a soloist and with The Jam, The Monkees (yeh ino they don't write their own songs or play their own instruments (but people took a shine to busted and mcfly (whom im also not too keen on lol))) erm where was I? Hendrix, Lynard Skynard, Like classical music when I'm feeling different, very picky what rnb i like. like damien rice and newton faukler (spelling?) Don't like screamo (thats because all the local tosh from round ere play it and think they are great lol) I like Led Zeppelin obv. and I LOVE TENACIOUS D! I enjoy all the movie themes and what not. and of course really into Walt Disney Records lol. lil mini biography I got going there like lol. Sorry about that.

James ;D

 

Sounds great dude! A nice range of influences there. Who doesn't love Tenacious D, ha ha. I saw them live at The Brighton Center last year, they were fantastic.

I haven't taken any grades or anything for my instruments or singing.

I play acoustic and electric guitar and dabble in Bass which ive been playing for about 2-3 years and I'm slowing building up my piano skills.

Going to be great to play out there! Think the music will be really well recieved considering my biggest influence Dashboard Confessional are from Boca Raton in Florida!

 

Yeah man go for it! I'll pop down to a few gigs n that to cya

Could have gone to manchester to see the D on the same tour and I kick myself everyday for not getting tickets lol.

Still guna have to say that The Flaming Lips are the best live band I've ever seen. Although I'm not sure if The Who are because it's The Who isnt it lol. So yeah one of the two.

So does anyone actually know of any venues then? lol

James ;D

 

I have been looking out for venues where I can see live music without much success. If anyone finds somewhere please let me know. Back at home I can see live indie music everyday of the week but I can't find anything here

 

Hardrock @ universal have massive bands play there
Fall out boy
all american rejects
also i think at the uni in orlando they had gym class heros, fall out boy and other bands play

 

I swear Orlando hasn't heard of Indie music... The only place I knew of stuff happening was House of Blues (well... they had Travis!). As much as fun as watching Save The Last Dance-style-circle-dancing is, I missed indie music playing when I went out...

In answer to your question, I'm sorry but I have no idea where you'd be able to find anywhere but good luck

 

I've been looking into this a lot and haven't been able to find too much out yet... although there is a Starbucks (Hunters Creek) that host open mics every Thursday 6PM-9PM. Sounded pretty sweet to me tho... Phoebe from Friends style haha.

I'm a coffee addict and a music addict so it seems like the perfect combination to me!

I think the universities do stuff too but you've probably got to be a student there so only good if ur on the UCF programme ;-)

Ben

 

I'd love to see someplace like this The only thing I can think of is at Vista the first wednesday of the month (I think)...they had an open-mic type thing at the pavilion. I didn't go to any of them though so I'm not sure what they were like...in my email it says:

Cool Beans Café
9 p.m.-midnight, Vista Way Pavilion
Cast Members are invited to our open-mic night to perform karaoke, sing, play an instrument, recite poetry, etc. Even if you don’t want to perform, we encourage you to attend and enjoy the entertainment and our complimentary espresso bar.

 

Ah thanks Meg I think I remember someone mentioning something about that before so it's good to know!

 

Awsome theres an open mic night
wikid cos i was hoping there would be something as im takin (or buyin one out there) an acoustic guitar so wanna do some sets etc with material and covering other bands, just need to find a good vocalist and will be on my way
btw anyone who is out there march who is a good vocalist of acoustic music give me a bell

 

Hey Dom i get here september

 

I love coffee and acoustic music too, so thats a bonus for me! I cant wait to play some shows out in Florida. Got a new CD im currently recording, be great to get rid of a few out there, see what people think! Im going to check out some more coffee shop gigs and stuff so i can start doing the rounds when im out there.

 

That's awesome Matt. What style of music do you play? Anyone you aspire to be like? When you starting out in Florida?

Ben

 

In a nut shell i play acoustic/rock. I'm in a band but am currently recording a solo cd that im going to take out to the states with me and gig with. The band i draw most of my inspiration from/aspire to be like are a band called Dashboard Confessional who are from Boca Raton in Florida www.myspace.com/dashboardconfessional - Theyre on tour in UK at the moment with Maroon 5, Im going to see them for the third time in Brighton on 5th December!

Im starting in June 08 - June 09.

Though i want to play mainly solo shows, the new cd im recording is with a backing band, so it might be a really great idea and a cool project to search for musicians in the program to do some full band shows with!

How about yourself!?

 

Well I started professionally about four years ago doing acoustic gigs with a guitarist... mostly covers. Then I took a music degree and during that I wrote and recorded an album of my own stuff all by lonesome. I also progressed into live shows coz you get to know all sorts of people... you know how it goes.
I was going to move to London and keep progressing with it. I have a few friends in the industry but I had quite a tough year and I decided I wanted to take a break from it all for a while... rediscover myself and stuff... get working on some new material!

Ah I know Dashboard Confessional! Not overly well but I know of them haha. Must say I've been put off rockier music quite a lot over the last few years coz it seems like it is being continually churned out and it all sounds the same to me :S Sorry to anyone who is into it. I actually met some of Maximo Park a few months ago and I had never heard of them :S That's how much I stay away from that kind of music... I felt such a prick coz I seriously knew ditto about them haha.

My style is probably pop but the pop that is ok to like. My influences are quite extreme. I love Elvis Presley but I guess I'm mostly influenced by more classic soul artists... Lauryn Hill, Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Frankie Lymon, Donny Hathaway etc. A lot of people liken my tone to Rob Thomas (the guy who sang on the Santana song 'Smooth'). I'm also into Latin music.

I'm going out in January (50 days time I think!) for six months so we may crossover briefly. I shud know about all the places you can play at and stuff so I'll be sure to let you know! I play keys and guitar. Not so confident with the guitar coz I just use it for songwriting really but I'm good on keys. Won't have a keyboard with me tho obviously... so I'm probably a bit useless to you.

Sorry for the essay here :S

Ben

 

Thats great man! I suppose i should give a little essay back in return seeing as you've gone to all that trouble ha ha.

I started learing the guitar about 4 or 5 years ago. For about a year i had lessons but then i started to teach myself. I began to write my own solo music under the title of 'Second Hand Thoughts'. I played numerous shows all across the UK and recorded 3 EPs and 1 single.

I gained recognition from 'The Fly' magazine which is distributed throughout HMV/Virgin and other record stores, including industry folk as well, in which they said "...You could be forgiven for thinking this may be the next big thing".

As 2HT (Second Hand Thoughts) i supported a variety of musicians from bands to solo artists that include New York bred punk rockers '5 Cent Deposit' and the frontman from UK Alt. Band Reuben who are becoming VERY big at the moment.

I then went on to form an acoustic band entitled 'October In Minnesota' heavily influenced by bands such as Dashboard Confessional/Dallas Green/Jimmy Eat World/Taking Back Sunday etc etc.

We just recently come off of a UK tour in which we played numerous venues including the famous 'Komedia' in Brighton. We've recorded 2 singles and one acoustic ep with a full band ep and full length album in the works.

Now im working on new solo stuff under a different name which i intend to gig with in the states which includes a new CD and a few bits of merchandise here and there. Then when i return to UK in '09 i will be touring with.

Thats about it so far.

Influenced by a range of artists/music such as Blink 182, Dashboard Confessional, The Beach Boys, Kanye West, Akon, Damien Rice, Jimmy Eat World, Motion City Soundtrack, Dallas Green, Yellowcard, The Fray, David Gray, Brand New, David Melillo, Joseph Arthur, Get cape wear cape fly, Bruce Springsteen, Drag The River etc etc and so on and so fourth.

So yeah, different stuff really from pop to rap to emo!

Be good if we can meet up for a coffee and have a chat even if we dont get a chance to jam or anything!

x