Good Weather for Airstrikes

fusionshows:

RE-BLOG THIS IF YOU ARE IN ANY WAY ASSOCIATED WITH LIVINGSTON COUNTY’S MUSIC COMMUNITY!  

Those of us who make up Fusion Shows have been doing shows now for nearly 8 years.  It blows my mind to think about that.  These days, we’re all over the state, doing shows in Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Pontiac, etc.  But it all started in two places.  Irving’s Northlawn Music started in Lansing, and we’ve continued to build Lansing’s music scene.  Before that even, starting in April 2004, I started an organization called the “Livingston Underground”, putting on shows at the Howell Rec Center, and “The Annex”, inside a local church in Brighton.  

Over the years, we’ve built a really cool thing here in Livingston County.  It’s a tough market.  It’s too close to Detroit to be able to pull very many big names.  I always have to fight with agents to let me put their bands here.  Our venue situation is always in flux, using very non-traditional venues to get the job done.  

There’s a reference every so often to the “good old days”, when bands like Borderline Extortion, Silence the Wake, Autumn and the Wasp, Tips, and Monte would play shows in the area.  Forgotten in that are the shows that did 15 people.  Shows where I had to stand on the sidewalk, begging people to come inside to see the bands, because they’d rather be laying in the grass than support the musicians.  

These days, Livingston County’s music scene is very consistent.  There are very few other places that you can go and fully expect 100 people in attendance at every show.  That’s how it works here.  Unless there’s a blizzard, we’re always around 100 people, at every show, regardless of who is playing.  Nowhere else can claim that!  

But we can do better!  I miss the days of bringing bands like Portugal. The Man, The Matches, The Hard Lessons, La Dispute, Forgive Durden, Horse The Band, and For Today to Livingston County!  There were so many shows that 200-300+ kids came out to, and were still shows that we talk about to this day!  Touring bands begged to play here, because the kids were so enthusiastic.  

I also miss seeing a lot of high school talent on display!  It used to be that in Howell, there was always a crazy talented ska band or two (Fanboy, Liable To Change, Boss Ross), mixed in with a variety of heavier bands (Monte, Fuller, Without A Rose).  In Brighton, the style of band tilted towards indie rock and more classic rock based stuff (Set Focus, Tips, Ephphetha, Boston Ivy).  Now, I think there might be 1-2 high school bands in the mix in the area, and the rest are college kids, half of whom have moved out of the area.  

So this is what I’m asking.  Starting with the October 14 Good Weather For Airstrikes CD release party at the Hartland PAC, we’re re-committing ourselves to the local music scene here in Livingston County, like we did in the Livingston Underground days.  We’re going to present more shows at the Hartland PAC, the Opera House, and at our new venue at Great Escape in Howell.  

To make this possible, I’m seeking the following:

- New Livingston County high-school bands

- High-school music fans that want to pass out flyers in Howell, Brighton, Hartland, Fowlerville, and Pinckney

- Help in promoting from all persons interested in seeing Livingston County’s music scene return to what it was.  Even if you’re not playing a show, if you see something happening in the county, please get behind it!  Post it on Facebook!  Tweet about it!  More importantly, tell your friends in person!

- Attendance.  If you’re in a band, and you want to be involved, I need you to come out and support the other shows, even if you’re not playing.  Yes, it costs you money to get in.  But if you want to have people watching your band when you play, it makes sense for you to support the others.  

Interested bands or potential street teamers, please email me at natedorough@gmail.com.  

Finally, on Twitter, let’s use the hashtag #livingstonunderground when talking about Livingston County shows and bands.  We’re going to release some cool memories here and there, via Fusion’s social networks.  Old photos, videos, flyers that we’ve dug up.  There’s so many memories here.  Let’s create a million more.  

Last but not least, I’d like to host a meeting of Livingston County’s bands.  Please spread the word about this.  

Tuesday, October 11
“LIVINGSTON COUNTY MUSIC SUMMIT #2”
Location: Fusion Shows office (inside Howell Chamber of Commerce building)
Address: 123 E. Washington - Howell, MI 48843
Who’s invited: All band members from Livingston County bands, and anyone else interested in helping promote and just being involved in general in Livingston County’s music community!
FB event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=295415170475028

Much love to everyone,
Nate

P.S.  Want some fun reading?  We had an old message board from the beginning, and I dig it up every once in a while.  Head over there if you want some laughs, and a good history lesson: http://thelu.proboards.com/ 

Livingston County is our home, and always will be. Let’s build this scene back up, and let’s make it last.