Talking about L.S. Dunes (and criticising the music business)
I've been a Frank-Stan for about 8 years, I love all the projects he's ever been a part of. This man and his music shaped me, made me who I am. Especially Stomachaches has given me so much... I would go in depth but I can't bc then this text would get wayyyy to long.
What you should know about me is, I'm a musician myself. When I discovered MCR and especially Frank Iero/ Stomachaches in 2014 (I think I was around 15 years old) I picked up a guitar for the first time. I looked for people like me, and I found a few friends who started a band with me. I'm now 23, the band has become a big part of my life. We released a few songs, and played many festivals in our area, even a few bigger ones. I met many people and got introduced to many scenes during these years. And here comes the annoying but, sadly, true thing I have to criticise (again).
When my band just started out, we had a few gigs, people liked us. Our local scene is mostly just Punk or Ska bands, we, as a Alternative Rock/ Indie Band were new and special. Though, we didn't know many people in the scene. We were super young and had no friends outside of the band. Thus lead to us not even having the chance to get booked outside of being the opener band. Outside of our local scene, we'd get booked for other stuff, some bigger things even. But at home, at our rehearsal space, with the people we started out with. Nothing. It felt like they were a closed party, and we didn't even get the chance of being included as a full band, who has fans and plays fun shows.
Then, new bands were forming, with people who already were in the scene and in the friend groups. And these bands got booked for bigger shows, slots even late at night without ever having to play any show before, note these bands were mostly, again, Ska and Punk bands. They got all that, just because they had a few friends in the scenes. While we, on the other hand, worked our asses off and still got nothing. Only getting booked as the opener, playing when everyone was outside smoking. I can't loose this feeling that this might even have something to do because everyone was male, while we had two afab people in the band during that time (now we're three afab people)
Back to L.S. Dunes. I love their music and I know how special this project is to the members. I appreciate that very much and I am looking forward to their album.
This criticism goes out rather to the music scene and business than to the band personally. But yeah.
We have a band of 5 dudes, well known dudes. Who have lots of money and a name in the business. These 5 dudes form a band and get a slot at Riot Fest, without even having anything released. It's just so easy for them to be there, as a band. And yes, I know they all got famous because of hard work, again I am in no way criticising the band members. They do what they love, as they should. But it's just hard, especially for female artists to get seen or heard. To get booked and appreciated. Especially at big festivals. I have no clue about Riot Fest, I've never been there. Hell, I hope I get the chance someday but I'm European so it's pretty expensive to get to Chicago. But a good example is Rock am Ring who keeps booking the same damn bands year after year. While there's so many amazing smaller artists who should get a slot at those festivals. Especially female artists. That's a big point a lot of people have to say about Rock am Ring. Too many men, not enough activism. Which leads to a lot of sexism on the festival, trust me, I've been there.
Again, I love Frank Iero and every project he ever has been a part of. But this specific time I'm just like.... ugh goddammit it's just five dudes who play rock music again. There's so much more to music. And I know that Frank probably has the same to say about the music business as me. I know that's the business. I just wanted to vent.
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