Climbing the musical ladder
As the Baltimore-based hardcore band Octaves celebrate signing to their first-ever record label with cigars and shots of Crown Royal, 23-year-old lead singer Phil Fosler can’t help but sit back and reflect on the road they had to travel to get to where they are now.
“After all the late-night practice sessions, getting rejected to play at bigger clubs, and having to perform in dingy, run-down basements and bars, it’s nice to finally get some recognition,” said Fosler. “It feels good, man. And that’s not just the whiskey talking.”
Having signed with the label Hotfoot Records, several incentives lie in store for the band formed in 2008 such as stronger promoting and advertising, merchandising deals and the distribution of their first full-length album entitled “Greener Pastures” which will be done at music venues larger than so-called “dingy basements.”
“We’ll be kicking off our tour and the release of our CD on the 24th (of April) at Sonar,” said 22-year-old Tony Savero, who plays bass and also does vocals for Octaves. “From there we’ll be going all over the place. From New York to Kentucky.”
Unfortunately for smaller, unsigned bands and artists that are aspiring to make a name for themselves, the luxury of performing at bigger clubs and scenes aren’t as easy to come by.
21-year-old guitarist Mitch Cavell and his Washington, D.C.-based punk rock band The Shamefully Unashamed have been relying on performing at smaller venues in their area to promote themselves such as the lounge and sports bar called Club Soda located in Cleveland Park.
“Honestly, we’ll play anywhere that gives us the chance to play,” said Cavell. “The people over at Club Soda are real cool. It’s good to know we can comfortably book a place even though we don’t have much of a following.”
Booking a place seems to be the biggest challenge for up-and-coming bands. Luckily, music clubs like The 8X10, located off East Cross Street in Baltimore, offer programs designed for musical groups to overcome that feat.
“Every Wednesday night we have this event called ’5 Bands for $5′ where new bands get the opportunity to showcase themselves without the risk of losing a lot of dough,” said Abigail Janssens, booking agent for The 8X10. “If they can sell 30 to 50 tickets on their own, they’re in.”
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For musicians that aren’t all that interested in recognition, but still want to publicly express their passion, open mic events may be the best solution.
The 8X10 does offer open mic nights almost every Tuesday, however for the more timid artists that are unsure of how the audience will react it may be a better idea for them to perform at a venue with a more centralized theme.
Club 347, a jazz and R&B club located off North Calvert Street in Baltimore, offers a jazz jam session every Monday night and welcomes all musicians which is ideal for 27-year-old saxophonist Colin DiBlasi.
“I try to come every Monday night I can,” said DiBlasi. “The atmosphere here is always so chill. The other musicians here are incredibly friendly and we sometimes even improvise jazz together in front of everyone.”
These different locations offer plenty of options to musicians of various backgrounds. Although people like DiBlasi are content with staying where they are now, bands such as The Shamefully Unashamed are still striving for bigger and better things, which is a feeling Octaves’s Phil Fosler is all too familiar with.
“You’re not going to get anywhere without having to start at the very bottom,” said Fosler. “We’ve accomplished plenty but we still have a lot more to go to get where we want to be. We’re nowhere near the top.”
“Yet.”
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