Do you like any local bands in your area?

I've been thinking a lot about local bands / musical acts recently -- partly because I've been toying with the idea of dabbling in it myself (However I'm still a ways away from that -- although I have played open mics, I know I still have a way to go before I'll be good enough to feel comfortable [and competent] performing for people).

However, the more I look at local bands in my area, the more I feel like it's somewhat hopeless. Seems like most bands have their friends show up to shows, and that's about it -- people don't really follow local bands as musical entities; they are more like social entities.

I'm sure lots of people here are in bands: Any thoughts on this?

There was a local band called Scapegoat a few years back that were pretty good where I live.  Kind of a Blink-182 meets Korn rip-off.

Check out the band No Scope, they are from Fort Worth, Texas and pretty awesome: www.noscopetheband.com

I used to play in a band when I lived back in Kamloops, BC about fifteen years ago.  It was exactly like you mentioned it, the only people that showed up were friends of the band.  If you are a good band people start to show up, but it takes a while to build up a fan base because 90% of local bands suck and you need to spend an obscene amount of time to find the bands that don't suck.

I'm in a band, and it's fucking hard to make any impression. We need people to show up at shows for us to climb the ladder, but some of my friends won't even show up, because we haven't really 'made' anything yet. It's a weird vicious cycle - the only way to get into it is just to have fun and take everything else as a lucky bonus. We're kind of a pop punk band who play things louder and heavier than pop punk, it's a weird mix.

I actually go to local shows once or twice a month. I live in GA and yes,most of it isn't great.. There's a "college bro" type band that attracts the kids (it's a college town) though the best days are when the Atlanta bands tour through. I'd say out of the 20 local bands I've seen maybe 4 or 5 have been actual quality.

@Tylea002: Having fun is exactly the way to go. Some of my local friends started a band and they just have fun every show and are funny/entertaining. Because of this they now book shows across the state.

                   

I'm in a band, and it's fucking hard to make any impression. We need people to show up at shows for us to climb the ladder, but some of my friends won't even show up, because we haven't really 'made' anything yet. It's a weird vicious cycle - the only way to get into it is just to have fun and take everything else as a lucky bonus. We're kind of a pop punk band who play things louder and heavier than pop punk, it's a weird mix.

                   

               

@Witzig: I'm studying music through high school, and intend to study it at university next year, and am the primary songwriter. My mate, the drummer and other songwriter has done no formal work, but thinks himself amazing and gods gift to music, and proclaims himself a genius, and the other two are just pretty talented at their instruments. But all you really need is enough to get by and be entertaining. I mean, I can't sing. Or play guitar. Yet I'm doing both in a band and it's going down alright because of the confidence and (never underestimate the power of this) decent compositions.

In my mind, writing your own songs is vital - it can take years to get good, but it's the core of what makes a band good.

These cheeky ladies and fellas

Kilroy was Here in Toronto has pretty great ska. Well, my love partly from having quite a few friends from the band.

Wolves in the Throne Room are amazing.

Yeah, there's a couple I like. One of them became pretty successful a year or two ago: 
 
  

These guys are from my hometown. They're super-awesome. They remind me of 'Local Natives'.

Yup, I love to support bands from my area. Actually some of my favorite bands are local.

No, they are all either country or bluegrass bands. Wish I had the heart to support them, but they don't play what I like.

It definitely takes a bit more dedication to expand outside of the social friends scene, but if you do that is good. As for local bands I listen to, there is this one band called Kithkin (you can get free music here) that I enjoy, and there are a few other local singer song writers.

These guys (the girl isn't really part of the band)

no, i don't really like any local bands. i guess you just have to tell people about the band, and play at bars.
 
my brother is in a band (estrogen highs) he has played bars around the US and little bit of canada. i don't know if they are popular but he doesn't seem to be making any money. his last tour he came with the same amount of money that he left with. 

Titus Andronicus and Clams Casino are from towns like a half hour away from me, that's pretty local, and also pretty awesome

@PeasantAbuse said:

Wolves in the Throne Room are amazing.

fucker :(

I like my buddies' band, but only because my friend's in it- not because they make good music.

@TooWalrus said:

I like my buddies' band, but only because my friend's in it- not because they make good music.

I like my buddies band, both because my friends are in it and they make good music. But their drummer is pretty average as is the singer. The bass and guitar player are the real talent. Besides them I havent seen many local bands.

@SSully: Yeah... I'm not really a fan of their "hardcore" sound.

sarcastic voice," well I do live in Los Angeles..." 

Nope. I'm not into the local scene, let alone the indie scene, or the American mainstream scene. All of my music listening is European and East Asian (specifically Japan and less so South Korea).

I'm in a local band and we're pretty damn great. I'd link you to some of our stuff, but all we have online right now is our embarrassing early demo. Anyway, our name is Left Askew.

Around where I live we have a lot local bands, including quite a few ska bands, a lot of punkish stuff, some electronic stuff as well. A bunch of my friends are in a ska band that has sorta morphed into something weird. It's really hard to get recognized. I don't have any useful advice really, have fun though.

i live in Vancouver so im sure there are a lot of hipster bands out there...

I'm a fan of Local H.  They're from around Chicago here.

There is not much of a music scene where I am. I need to move somewhere else. >.>

There's quite a few local bands I like. Mostly Metal. "Local" in my case means Århus, Denmark.

Hatesphere:

The Burning:

Ildisposed:

Slow Death Factory:

Nephew:

A dude I hung out sometimes in Highschool is in a pretty up and coming band. Not my cup of teas, but I will I usually rep it on forums for them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGS8vvQKg14

Wow, well, I guess the replies here showed that my hopelessness wasn't entirely justified. Sweet.

there's a really hoppin' hardcore scene around here. most of the bands are pretty bad metalcore bands, but there's a few quality ones. then there's the growing emo revival scene (which i am a part of) that just completely dominates. then there's a few more mainstream type bands. 
 
north dakota has a giant local music scene, it's kind of crazy.

Local bands? Nah, nothing in my area.

But there is a San Antonio band i like. They're called Nothing More.

My favorite song from them.