Well, Since I'm him, it would be reasonable to assume that Luke MacNeil is not the winner in the "Band that doesn't exist" category... I might just be a songwriter you've never heard before.

But I'm flattered, really.

The criteria to be nominated for the awards is... someone has to nominate you. Thankfully, ... enough people have to vote for you for the nomination before you can be considered a candidate, in this case, the top 4 nominated parties in each category move on to be finalists. The same person cannot vote twice, so you can't just sit at the computer and crank out votes.

.... And I don't think it's the physical award that people are competing for, it's the press. "Winner of the 2007 Worcester Music Awards" might not mean anything to you.. but to some booking agent in Minnesota, the guy (or girl) with that is going to get the gig before the guy with no press.

I love songwriting, and even moreso interpreting and sharing other old folk tunes, but this is also a business... and those of us that are serious about it, treat it as such. We're competing for the press which may or may not attract new fans, or make us more marketable in the future. Not for a metal plated microphone stuck in a piece of wood.

-Luke.

http://www.lukemacneil.com

http://www.myspace.com/lukemacneil

"Saying things like "...guy (or girl) with that is going to get the gig before the guy with no press." sounds good, but I don't think that is true. In my experience thus far, your draw and if you are very lucky, the quality of your music will get you the gig, long before a Pulse Music Award will... "

You are certainly correct. Your draw is the biggest asset that local venues are looking for.. When we're talking about out of state touring though... The press kit plays a very important role. And an award or two doesn't hurt it. It certainly doesn't make or break an artist.. just something to add to the list of accomplishments for a rising performer.

But I can see where you're coming from about locality.

I know the folks at Pulse, they're very nice, and no matter how much bashing you guys do, they really are making an attempt to do something for local artists. The reviewed my CD last year (Which does exist by the way) and were very kind. I even interviewed a band for them a while back, I went to their house, met with the members of the band, and tried to work with the band to the best of my ability to get their message out.... So don't just blindly knock these folks. They want ideas, and they want to be a publication that you want to read... If you have an idea to make it better, talk to them, write a letter to the editor, start writing your own reviews and sending them in.. forward your press releases... if you want it to be your paper, make it your paper. 

I play at the Java Hut quite frequently, and I make it my goal each time I play there to try and get just one person to stop smoking or playing magic the gathering long enough to listen to one song. If I've done that, I consider it a good gig. The goal is not to sell cds, not to get mailing list entries... simply to get one person to pay attention for one song.

There's always those few lines in a song that catch people... and you can see from the stage when something hits someone.. when they stop for a second to think, or get choked up... those are the good gigs.

Some other venues have built in listening rooms. Every seat is silent and they are absorbing the material for a sheer love of music... That's a different deal entirely. Now, I've already got the attention of the room by default, my goal is to invoke some sort of emotion... and then sell records. Mostly I find at these types of gigs I learn more about the tunes that I'm playing from the audience.

I'm not knocking either type of venue, they're just very different. All of the worcester clubs I have played are the former... the goal is only to engage one audience member.

I'm glad you dug the tunes, and hopefully I'll see you around sometime. I'm also glad I stumbled upon this site, I'd have been active long ago had I known it was here.

-Luke

www.lukemacneil.com

www.myspace.com/lukemacneil

Quote:

lukemacneil wrote:
I'm glad you dug the tunes, and hopefully I'll see you around sometime.

to be clear, I didn't actually say I dug the tunes, I just checked them out. :lol: I hope to see you play live sometime also, be sure to post about your shows up here.

Quote:

lukemacneil wrote:
I'm also glad I stumbled upon this site, I'd have been active long ago had I known it was here.

Happy to have you here, we need more voices contributing to this place.

I have to agree with Terrible Buddist here....I had no idea what specifically this thread was discussing until Katatonic posted the list

 

If there was a Worcester or Central Mass or even a New England Music Magazine would a readers poll/awards still be dumb?

 

How do you gage what people are paying attention to? I know thats one of the problems with Worcester but what do you suggest? Should there be no attempt at music awards until all the music venues in town sell out on a regular basis? Who gets to decide when why and how musicians in the area get to be recognized? At least Pulse and WoMag make an effort and by doing so maybe they get someone to pay attention in the process.

Thanks, Tim. Put me down for #'s 3, 5 & 8.

I write for the Pulse and I have no "documented" brain damage. But I do wait till the last minute to get my stories in...I work well under pressure.
What can I say, I enjoy writing, and it's a lot more fun than covering town meetings for the Telegram.

I think PULSE sucks because:

its a aimed at people that are not like me. Its aimed at college kids, (which i am not) and lacks relevence in any article, contest, award etc., .I think its just a way for somneone to get money from local Worc business' for ads. I like publications to have a purpose, a point, meaning.

I think we know the main problem with both awards is that no one knows the what the criteria is to be nominated for a Turtle Boy, and that the ONLY criteria for the Pulse is that you can get a lot of people to vote for you, whether they know anything about you or your band at all.

And Duncan, even though we all know that these awards will not get a band any extra CD sales or any more people at shows, it is still nice to be recognized. I think it's why I get upset when I don't get nominated in Womag when 7 other chicks, most of whom I've never heard of, and one is a back up singer, get nominated. Yet, my band gets nominated for best metal (which we aren't) and the [other] band gets nominated a bunch of times too. I guess I don't get why my bands are qualified, but I am not. Like you said Duncan, those ommitted are "bad". So I am a "bad" singer, but my bands are "good". Confusing.

ok i looked back at that thread. Its too bad that these things are so ineffective. Apparently people in Worcester havent been paying attention for a long time. You can complain and dissect and re evaluate the awards over and over but until they actually are effective why even bother? You can't blame the magazine's if the public doesnt care enough to google your band after they saw it in print. 

Duncan(and anyone else) Let me ask a simple yes or know question. Should who ever Womag (or Pulse for that matter) has nominating CD's for local CD of the year, listen to every locally released CD before they vote on local CD of the year?

Quote:

Katatonic wrote:
Whatever, I guess I shouldn't care, but it's hard not to take the omission personally. I know I shouldn't, but I do.

You should take it personally, those bastards at WoMag are saying you aren't the best in Worcester by your omission in their best of poll. It's up to you and the public to decide if a WoMag music poll means anything.

Quote:

Katatonic wrote:
"I don't see a great conspiricy to cover up a criteria so that the real talent in Worcester can't win."

I never said that, and I never implied that either. Obviously it's who they think are good. I'm guessing that's all that goes into it. I'm dropping that...

As for the other girls nominated....Dawn and Sunta Africa were the two I knew, and Cathy Cah is the backup singer. I didn't know the other people I think. I don't remember their names. Oh wait, maybe Lisa Marie....anyway. Whatever, I guess I shouldn't care, but it's hard not to take the omission personally. I know I shouldn't, but I do.

Admittedly, I haven't seen any of Cathy Cah's recent musical endeavors, but she certainly has a history as a ripping lead singer. The first time I heard her sing a tune, I think I said "holy shit!"

Just because you or I might not be familiar with a name on a ballot doesn't automatically mean that they're not worthy. It may make you feel like you don't really know what's happening in this city. It's a different story when you ARE familiar with names on the list and either A) are of the opinion that they aren't very good, and/or B) are not as good, in your opinion, as other names that were not on the list.

So if you care enough to think about this for more than a minute, you're wondering if either the names that are on the lists are there out of politics, laziness, or because these artists are campaigning for the attention.

Just goes to show us how both small and large this scene really is....read on...

Quote:

barry wrote:
Duncan(and anyone else) Let me ask a simple yes or know question. Should who ever Womag (or Pulse for that matter) has nominating CD's for local CD of the year, listen to every locally released CD before they vote on local CD of the year?<br />

In a perfect world, the answer is a resounding YES. Awards or no, there is nothing more basic or obvious than the idea that the local entertainment reporters should by all means listen to every local CD that is released. If that's what you're basing any of your biases about their respective awards on, then you should look at the issue that A) local musical acts need to get their music out to local press (seems like common sense to me) and B) local music press should be aware of what's going on in all facets of the music scene.

On one hand, this should be the most obvious and easy thing to accomplish. Worcester isn't that big of a city, and if there are a total of 5 or 6 journalists from mainstream press in charge of knowing what's going on, it should be as easy as can be. Right?

Obviously not.

On the other hand, Worcester's mainstream press, specifically the arts/music coverage, is notoriously overlooked, undervalued, underfunded, understaffed, and as a result deemed ineffectual and lame. For veteran reporters it's hard not to get lazy with regard to coverage of the local scene... Let's look in my inbox and see who has sent me their new CD and press kit... Oh, here's another email from so-and-so, and look at all the shows they're playing. I still haven't gone to see them, but they've got to be good, right?

These awards might be the local press' idea of giving notice to the local music scene that they can't devote more of their time and their advertisers' money on the rest of the year.

To people in the know, specifically the folks hanging out at a message board like this, the whole concept of these awards is transparent and it either bothers you because you feel insulted and disappointed by being excluded, included amongst others you don't feel belong, or because you just don't feel there's any credibility to any of it.

Then there is a slim chance that someone who has less of a clue than what many accuse the local press itself of having, might read through the polls and just file away a name because it's familiar and deemed good enough to be on a poll.

That is where folks like Duncan have a point that it's frustrating that these polls/awards may not reflect what one might consider truly great in this city, in favor for mediocre squeaky wheels who work their email lists like crazy.

But adding to that very point, is my feeling that the list of "regular folks" who read these polls and glean anything from them that lasts is probably more minuscule than the editors fear.

So in the grand scheme of things, we're left pondering whether or not they should even bother with polls or awards at all. Some might say they shouldn't. It's pointless. Give up. You're dead.

It appears that Womag took some of that kind of criticism to heart in the last few years, asking for outside help, admitting that their internal reporters might not know everything that is going on in this city, and getting a list of worthy names to put on the ballot from people who they felt had a better connection to what was really going on. That's a step in the right direction because it shows that they're trying to offer a better awards poll than they have. The fact that they approached outside help at all shows that they're at least interested in doing a better job with these awards polls. Granted, one or two years of intention is not going to undo a decade of bad reputation, but in my opinion, at least they're giving themselves an opportunity to be credible someday.

Speaking personally, I can't say that I'm either bothered with or satisfied with either the Turtle Boys or the Pulse awards. I certainly have opinions about both of their choices and methods, but the bottom line for me is that I'd rather think about something else than to get worked up. (My novella here might say otherwise, but...)

So while I'm adding to the pollution, I'll just say that these awards, this debate, and my perspective on the local scene tells me something about myself, and myself only. It tells me that there is music being made well below the radar that is incredible and I need to stay open to finding out about it, be it from polls, friends, websites and hell, seeing them play. It tells me that I'm guilty of being lazy and jaded about the local scene, and before I start bitching about others not going out to see shows, I need to bitch at myself. It tells me that the cutting edge has moved on, and if I want to stay anywhere near it, I need to look elsewhere for information. With the immediacy of the internet replacing reading weekly papers or listening to the radio to find out about music that moves me, there's just no competition. I can't even begin to scratch the surface of great music that's out there. Every day I find something new or old. Maybe they're from Greenland, and not Green Street, but the fact is that they could just as easily be from Green Street for all I know. If it wasn't for Duncan telling me about Walter the Orange Ocean, a Worcester band that deserves your attention, I'm not sure I would have ever found out about them. Thank you word of mouth. Thank you Musicblogs (how late am I at finding this endless supply of great musical information?). Thank you internet radio. Thank you mix CDs. Thank you Myspace. Thank you India. Thank you Alanis.

I'm going to go about my business now. I'll try to spend at least part of my day helping to make the music scene that I love and love to be a part of, better. Just as Duncan does by doing many things, not the least of which was creating this website for us to exchange our thoughts on. Just as Amanda does by caring about the music scene and doing her part to create the best music she knows how to so some of us might enjoy it. Just as Pez does by playing in many great bands, not to mention being in Huxley, who made some of greatest music I've ever heard. Just as Keith does by always having something to say about the music scene to incite debate and discussion like that that might actually affect something somewhere. Just like Linnea does by not being in a band, yet going to clubs and paying attention to threads like this, showing that she has an opinion even if she isn't in a band. Just like Barry, who might be a pain in the ass, who if no one else ever knows, did more to help recharge Worcester's musical batteries throughout the 90's than almost anyone I can think of.

If you read this far, you need more work to do.

If I wrote this much, I guess I do too.

Roger

P.S.

If you think that someone was sorely missing from these polls, now is a great opportunity to spread the word about them.

If Hot Day At The Zoo are a bluegrass act, then I was wrong in my assumptions about them, which were based on the bills I've seen their name appear on, and the people I know who follow them.

I'd certainly call Uncle Billy's Smokehouse a "jam" band, as they are prone to playing extended improv jams in the middle of their songs. And if their goal is to get their name out to a demographic who would enjoy watching a band play extended improv jams in the middle of their songs, then I would say that is the proper category for them to be nominated.

RE: the "Solo Act" vs. "Singer-Songwriter" issue. They need to trim these categories down, for real. See below.

 

This poll has the same probem as the WoMag awards, in that there's just too goddamn many categories. Narrow the scope down a bit, and nominate the real cream of the crop. None of this "let's-have-a-million-categories-so-we-have-room-for-everybody-and-his-fucking-brother" nonsense.

Best Rock/Pop Act

Best Indie/Alternative Act

Best Improv/Jam Act

Best Hip-Hop Act

Best Metal/Hardcore Act

Best Electronic/Experimental Act

Best Jazz Act

Best New Band

Best Cover Band

Best Singer-Songwriter/Solo Act

Best Male Vocalist (and mention what the hell BAND they're in)

Best Female Vocalist (same thing here)

Best Club DJ

Best Dance Club

Best Live Music Club

Best Live Act

 

You see, my band probably wouldn't get nominated for any of these categories, strictly because the competition would be too stiff. And I'd be fine with that.

Pez, this is Amanda from Standard Deviation, so ya, it's that Amanda.

Roger, I know that Cathy can sing extremely well. I heard her do something at a Green Street and was blown away. I am unsure how often her band played last year, but I am pretty sure she doesn't sing for that band. That's all I'm saying. Shouldn't someone nominated actually sing for a band? Otherwise, I have a bunch of students here at school that sing better than any front-person in any band, know what I mean? I also mentioned earlier that just because I haven't heard of someone doesn't mean they shouldn't be nominated. I am definitely not the most up to date person for all music in Worcester. But I will say that I take the time to look up a these people to find out who they are, and rarely get any good info from Google or anything. Why can't every damn band just get a MySpace....

I find that very weird to read.  It's a primary function of media to showcase and direct culture, not just report on pumpkin carving contests.  That’s the whole point.

Maybe because your question makes no sense.  Instead of looking for creative solutions to otherwise non-existent problems wouldn’t it be easier to just admit that your media outlets don’t function the way they are supposed too?

Ok, I’ll answer anyways.  I’ll print 200,000 flyers for Tim Hansons next show, you hand deliver them to everyone in Worcester.  Let us know how that works out.

What time do you go on? I don't think anyone else on that list was nominated so I don't care if I see them.

I can't blame local media for lack of cultural relevancy?  What a bunch of pedestrians we've become.  Rock on!

“Here Is Why I Call Bullshit.” By PEZ.

Best Blues/R&B: The only one I’ve seen is Jason James. Seen him a bunch of times, and I’ve never really felt one way about him, or the other. Maybe he’s the best Worcester has to offer, but I don’t know. I wouldn’t be terribly surprised if he was in the top 4, though.

Best CD: I haven’t heard any of them. The only one of these bands I’ve even seen is Trebek. But I just heard Walter the Orange Ocean’s disc, and I find it really hard to believe that it’s not at least in the top four. But Almada are in the WBCN Rumble this year, so they must be doing something right. Are they actually a Worcester band, though? 

Best Singer-Songwriter Act: I’ve only heard Jediah. He’s good. Never even heard of the other dudes.

Best Club DJ: I’m only familiar w/ Shame, but he’s impressive enough to get my vote any day of the week. My ex-girlfriend swore by Kid Optimus, but I’ve never heard him.

Best Country/Americana Act: I only know the Bees Knees. They’re pretty good at what they do, I guess. I certainly couldn’t fault anyone else for liking them. Three Day Threshold aren't from here. Maybe I'm wrong, but I always thought Hot Day At The Zoo were supposed to be a hippy band.

Best Cover Band: People probably want to bitch about this category even being here, but I understand the need for it, because it’s what a lot of people want to see, when they go out. The only one I’ve seen is White Chocolate. They’re a lot of fun, but with the exception of Ed Barnett, I don’t think I’d consider them the “best” at anything.

Best Dance Venue: Wait a minute… isn’t Rehab in Irish Times? Seriously, what the fuck?

Best Female Vocalist: I just assumed Amanda Lirange was Amanda from Standard Deviation. Is that not the case? Emily Grogan’s not from here, so far as I know. 

Best Hardcore Act: I saw Wreckoning, and thought they were pretty good, but Sullivan still needs to find a band that he won’t totally overshadow. Gabe & I found a Hated CD lying in the street one time. We listened to it. We laughed at them.

Best Jam & Groove Act: I’ve actually seen 3 of these bands. White Chocolate belongs in the cover band category. Uncle Billy’s are really good at what they do. Hint of Lime are fucking boring as shit.

Best Jazz Act: I’m totally lost, here. I was always down with the Sonic Explorers. Don’t know anything else about local jazz, which I kinda feel bad about.
 
Best Live Act: This category should be strictly reserved for bands you go see, because you know goddamned well you’re going to have a good fucking time. There is no way in hell OSB are one of the best live bands in town. Seriously. I don’t even think they’re a bad band, necessarily, but there is absolutely nothing special about them, as a live act. And we played with Trebek one time, and I didn’t feel one way or the other about them. There is still nothing in this town that will compare to a live Balls or Deadites show, both of which are conspicuously absent from this list.

Best Live Venue: No real problems here. I don’t go to shows at Irish Times, but I’m sure there are people who enjoy it.

Best Male Vocalist: Tim Hansen is my personal favorite in town, but the fact that Jediah isn’t nominated is completely fucking retarded. Who are these other guys? Maybe I’ve seen their bands, but don’t know their names.

 

Best Metal Act: I think Craig is a really great singer & front-man. Skulltoboggan doesn’t do much for me, but they probably at least deserve a nomination. Wreckoning is in the hardcore category... Keep them there. I can’t speak for the others.

Best Up and Comers Act: I’ve seen absolutely none of these bands. Maybe some of them are pretty good. Even so, I’d have a really hard time believing any of them are better than Hey Now Morris Fader. It’s criminal to not see them get any kind of acknowledgement. And what about Walter the Orange Ocean? Are they new, within the last year?

 

Best Pop Act: I can’t say I have a problem with this category at all. Jediah & OSB are pretty vanilla for my tastes, but these are all good pop bands.

Best Punk Act: The Numbskulls are some of my favorite people on Earth. They’ve got some really good songs, and I enjoy seeing them. I don’t really think they’re one of the “best” punk bands I’ve ever seen, but they at least deserve a nomination. The Balls are pure awesomeness. I know nothing of these other jokers.

Best Radio DJ: Is Capt. PJ the only actual local DJ listed here? Who’s Mike Hsu? Maybe he’s from here. Regardless, this category is bullshit. (And I really like Carmelita.)

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Act: I don’t even know where to go for good hip-hop in this town. But Nytmare is fucking awesome, and even though I’ve never seen any of the dudes on this list, I’m sure he’s better than at least one of them.

Best Rock Act: Call me an asshole, but I’m pretty sure Gutta is better than at least one of these bands. And Thinner are too, and so are the Black. If I’m wrong on all counts, then the current state of the scene is way better than I give it credit for.

Best Solo Act: I don’t know any of these guys except for Jediah. I also don’t know what the difference is between a "solo" act, and a "singer-songwriter" act, for the purpose of this list.

flyers....
been there done that. it gets about a 2% responce if your lucky.
As far as the local media outlets go...I have gotten plenty of responce to coverage I've had in the Telegram and Gazette.
I still think there's an answer to my non existant problem. I'm leaving for Lala land to look for it. Be back in 20.