What makes a band stick out to YOU?

[TCA]

Just a general survey I am doing for a portfolio of mine.
I want to know what makes a band stick out to YOU!

What I mean by this is... other than just their music, what kinds of things interest you in a band.

Say you have never heard a bands music before... why would you check them out in the first place?


Leave responses!


Kyle Barrington
The Crimson Armada
Email: thecrimsonarmada@yahoo.com
Website: www.myspace.com/thecrimsonarmada
Phone: 1(614)-557-6728

[thesafeword]

I like it when the band members don't look like douchebags and when they don't post in my forums promoting themselves.

[thespearkid]

Go away.

[hockeyguitar99]

I like it when the band members don't look like douchebags and when they don't post in my forums promoting themselves.

:highfive:

[guitarpickheart]

Being serious now, I would listen to a band for a lot of reasons. Other people telling me they're good, if they have an interesting name (I Hate Myself, Nirvana, The Strawberry Alarm Clock for example), if I know they play in a style I like, even if other people tell me they're really bad. Then, if initially they sound good to me, I'll listen to them and put them on my list of bands I like or on my Last.fm. If I really, really love them I'll get their CD from the library or buy it.
I hope this helped :-)

[ForeverDelayed]

I've bought a lot of albums by bands I had never heard of just because the album cover/booklet looked cool. Ehh, I'm an artist, I notice these things.

Also, an interesting musical lineup helps. I love guitar-bass-drums as much as anyone else, but throw in something a little different and I might just check you out.

[chaosB4storm]

i always find screamo/metal album covers the most appealing...so i quit checking bands based on the covers.

[theguy77]

if my friend will likes them hahaha

our tastes in indie-ish and folk-ish stuff are like identical.

[Klatzke]

I've bought a lot of albums by bands I had never heard of just because the album cover/booklet looked cool. Ehh, I'm an artist, I notice these things.

Also, an interesting musical lineup helps. I love guitar-bass-drums as much as anyone else, but throw in something a little different and I might just check you out.
I agree. Horn sections, piano's, strings, wayyyy better than the standard drum-guitar approach.

[ForeverDelayed]

i always find screamo/metal album covers the most appealing...so i quit checking bands based on the covers.
Yeah I've gotten a few duds that way, so I usually only do this if it's cheap. But there's a lot of classics I probably never woulda bothered with if not for the cool album covers - Sunny Day Real Estate's Diary comes to mind.

[Carlo Marx]

lyrics and face melting shreddability. not necessarily in the same song.

[IWasaCamera]

Good music is totally my favorite trait in a band.

[Whimsikill]

Goofy videos, direct lyrics that talk about different stuff than the average band, crazy live performances.

[Neo Cassady]

lyrics

[Carlo Marx]

not christian metal. this band sucks. heil satan.

[chipdip18]

Talented musicians who know what they are doing with their instruments. Good singers, with good lyrics. I don't care what their set-up is (bass, drums, guitar, etc.) just as lot as they have chemistry as a band and take a fresh spin on their style of music.

[wewascontenders]

When a band uses naked pictures of their parents and siblings as a backdrop for their set.

[whatwewant]

i tend to discover a lot of bands by hearing/reading the name somewhere and just checking out the music, regardless of what i've heard about them or where i've picked up the name.

as for the non-music side of it...
not coming off like an asshole during a live show is always nice. if you treat your crew, fans, onlookers and venue employees decently, i'm a lot more inclined to listen to and like your band. seeing band members come out and pretend to be "rock stars," only seeking to be adored and act like brats, will almost instantly turn me off of your music. it's especially easy to tell with small bands, where the rooms they play and crowds they play to are tiny. there's a big difference between "onstage charisma" and just being a dick.

[chipdip18]

When a band uses naked pictures of their parents and siblings as a backdrop for their set.


Please tell me you have a story behind that.

[wewascontenders]

Please tell me you have a story behind that.

Sadly I do not. I'd just like to see it done.

[chaosB4storm]

Sadly I do not. I'd just like to see it done.

lmao that makes your comment soooo much funnier!!!!! hahaha

[sugarcoatedlies]

facial hair!

[tfar06]

name/label/word of mouth.

[TCA]

Thanks dudes, this actually helps me alot.
I am going to be using this to help out labels.


=]

[BrokenMirror]

Lyrics. If I'm undecided on whether or not to buy an album from a new band I go find a lyrics site and take a look.

[SLoT]

If my mom hates them. I listen to them.

[thesafeword]

Thanks dudes, this actually helps me alot.
I am going to be using this to help out labels.


=]
Apparantly you're not if you're still posting here.

[alltimelove]

This is vague- but the overall sound. I like something that I can hum in the most awkward of situations. I like a good beat and memorable lyrics.

Basically if it sounds similar to a band that I already like, then I'll probably dig it. 'Tis the sad truth.

[alltimelove]

lmao that makes your comment soooo much funnier!!!!! hahaha

Is that a pic of you in your default?



Edit: That sounds way creepy. My apologies.