There are a handful of human creations that every person, town, city, and nation share. Language, mathematics, music.
Of course, these things aren’t ever going to disappear on a global scale, but music could disappear on a local scale if we don’t pay attention.
The city that I grew up in has a population of 300,000 and even then, so many small live music venues failed and were ultimately shut down. Even if new owners took over, it was usually only a matter of time until the bills couldn’t be paid.
And the sad part is, I understand. I get it.
In my youth, I’d go to as many live concerts as I possibly could. I was a live music junkie. I loved it so much that I eventually started playing guitars and drums just so I could be ON the stage as opposed to looking at it from the floor.
The older I get, the more an idea of a “late weeknight” becomes more of a deterrent than an appeal. I still play in bands, late, on weeknights, but I don’t get out to just enjoy live music nearly as often as I used to.
As a local guide, I like bringing attention to small music venues and talking about the atmosphere, the quality of the sound system, and the talent of the kinds of bands that play there. From open mic nights, to $35 ticket nights, I like to think I’m helping draw attention to these venues so that they can be encouraged to bring their best so that everyone can enjoy their space for years to come.