The funniest part of the whole story is that my boyfriend is one of the quietest people I know. When I learned that he not only was a drummer (a feat which implies loud noise to begin with) but that he played in a heavy metal band, I was shocked. After over a year of knowing him and watching his career in music grow, I can safely say that my entire view of heavy metal, and of the music industry itself, has changed for good. Here are some of the things I’ve learned.
1. Drum kits (and their parts) are expensive.
Watching my boyfriend loom in and out of the aisles of Guitar Center, carefully calculating prices in his head, stresses out my bank account just from observing. Between breaking sticks and cracking cymbals, drums have a lot of small parts that can frequently get broken -- and those costs can really start to add up. A decent crash cymbal (which is usually 16" - 18" and is used to accent certain notes or parts of a song) will run you upwards of $200 and drumheads (which need to be replaced regularly, like guitar strings) can hit $30-$40, just for a snare drum.
2. On that note, changing drumheads can take hours.
Drums are time-consuming! When bands plays shows, drums are usually the first things to go on the stage and the last things to come off because it takes a while to take them apart and put them back together. The arrangement has been perfected down to a science and the small details in the set-up matter a lot. Changing the height of a cymbal could mean the drummer cuts his knuckles when he comes down too hard, because he isn’t used to that obstruction being in his way.
3. “Death Metal” is not a blanket term for the genre.
You’re probably guilty of using this; I certainly was until continually catching and correcting myself. According to data collected by Spotify, there are over 25 different subgenres. They include, but are certainly not limited to: progressive metal, black metal, thrash, sludge, neo-thrash, nintendocore, folk metal, beatdown, post metal, southern metal, and metalcore. Some bands are heavier than others, just like some subgenres are heavier than others. Once you familiarize yourself with the different styles, the differences are usually pretty easy to hear!
4. Being in a band is 10% knowing how to play an instrument and 90% dealing with people.
It takes more than talent to be successful in this industry. Charisma will often take your further than your ability to play an instrument or do vocals. You not only have to be able to personally deal with your bandmates, but you have to be able to handle yourself professionally when you’re playing at venues or working with photographers or merchandise producers. First-impressions matter just as much in the music scene as they do in any other field.
5. Fans of the genre have created a true subculture.
I had never been to a metal show before May of 2015 and every time I go to another, I am continually amazed at the mutual understanding everyone seems to have. There are a plethora of unspoken rules, universal hand gestures, and slang words that are still foreign to me. Shows attract a huge variety of people; they all look different and act differently and, if not for the genre, would probably never be brought together into the same room to enjoy the same things.
6. Mosh-pits are full of rage and aggression.
But if you fall down, there will always be at least three people there to pick you back up. It’s rare, and almost always accidental, for someone to be seriously hurt in one because there is such an emphasis on respect and caution. The people who are moshing are trying to have a good time, not trying to ruin someone else’s day. Sure, sometimes accidents happen and you might get knocked around but whoever hits you will stop to check that you’re okay before continuing to flail themselves about the venue manically. It’s all in good fun.
7. Merch pays the bills.
You might be under the impression that local bands who pack out small venues make a lot of money for their time there, but your $5 cover only goes so far when split up between the venue and the three, four, or five bands who are playing that night. The best way to support your favorite local talent, financially, is by purchasing their shirts and stickers that they sell at shows. Not only will they profit from the $10 it costs you, but when you use the things you buy, you get the opportunity to advertise a cool band to other people!
8. Veteran bands want to set up new guys for success.
There is a certain camaraderie among local bands. Some groups have been around for over a decade and some have been together for less than a year. When you bring those two ends of the spectrum together, it’s evident that the groups who have been established for a longer amount of time are genuinely interested in the success of other groups. They understand the importance of supporting other local talent and will go out of their way to help each other.
9. Almost every influential musician or musical group started out as local talent.
This is a realization that took me a while to come to. At one point, the artist you listen to on the radio was probably strumming away on their guitar in a sketchy bar on the far side of town with no one paying attention to their act. Overnight success is a rare story; artists have to put in a lot of work for a small amount of recognition and it can take years of recording in their parents’ basement for a decent following to accrue.
10. There is more (good) local music than your heart could ever desire - and the artists need your support.
Before I was so aware of local music, I had no idea that there were so many bands playing shows around town and I honestly would not have expected such talent to come from the gangly young people who live here. It’s astonishing and beautiful to see such creative, dedicated minds at work, doing something they love so deeply. Success, even on a small scale, is mostly related to the amount of work the musicians put into what they do but none of that matters if they play to empty rooms and post to Facebook pages that are only liked by their moms. Support the talent in your area by making a point of going to shows, buying merch, and sharing links to singles as often as you can. The amount of work and energy that the musicians pour into a five-minute recording or into a live show is endless and they deserve recognition for it.
