so long and thanks for all the fish
I know it's a little late to be writing this, but for the sake of all the unanswered questions out there, GET BENT is no more. We've all moved onto different things, and just simply do not have the time to dedicate to this site anymore. We tried for a little while to find new people to take over, but that never materialized in the right way, so we're just going to take our cue and bow out.
Unfortunately, the domain name has expired as well, and since the .fm is a little pricey, we won't be able to renew it any time soon. (Maybe later though, just for old times.) That means all email addresses are down as well. If you for some reason urgently need to contact someone about something, you can try the old [email protected] address, but we won't be checking it on any sort of regular basis. Some content is still accessible here on tumblr, but most of the posts from the past year or so will go to dead links. Sorry for the inconvenience.
I'll stop speaking in the collective we now. I, at least, have cherished my time working on this website, however short it ended up being. I had my share of successes and failures, mistakes and triumphs, and in the end, I've learned a lot about music and journalism and business and myself. For everything that happened, good and bad, I wouldn't change a thing.
However, with the increasing success of bands like Black Lips, Ty Segall, Dum Dum Girls, etc., which has paved the way for the garage genre as a whole to gain exposure at a more mainstream level, it seems like there's less of a need for a two-bit blog to talk about the "underground." But still, I know full well that there are plenty more talented bands out there waiting to be heard, and there always will be. GET BENT just won't be the one telling anyone about them anymore. Nevertheless, there are still lots of blogs and zines to sift through for music if you're so inclined, and I strongly recommend checking out Raven Sings the Blues, Rubberneck, Nashville's Dead, Styrofoam Drone, Tiny Grooves, and Pork, if you don't already. They're some of the ones that still do it right.
But ultimately, a lot of blogs and reviews are mostly full of meaningless comparisons, waxing poetic and ego-stroking. One of the main things I've learned through this experience is that if you want to hear about new music, go to shows and decide for yourself. Don't google or facebook or soulseek or spotify... get your ass up, go to a show, get there early enough to watch the openers, and pay for your music. If you like it, tell the band afterwards. If not, go home.
Lastly, I want to say one last thanks for all the support throughout the years. It meant a lot, every single day. I hope to stay in touch and involved, in whatever capacity the future finds me. So until we meet again... happy listening. Stay bent.
--Rebecca Seung