Names, the Internet, and search results

Double D called me tonight with the news "we've got a gig." "Really?" I says. So just like that, we're going to be part of Cincinnati's Next Big Band, a competition that Rick's Tavern in Fairfield is hosting. Let's leave aside details on that show for now, since you can read all about the gig on our website, Facebook, Myspace, yada yada. What's more important is that this is a COMPETITION, replete with judges. Unlike the Ernie Ball Battle of the Bands, which is more of a popularity contest, this event actually has judges. Finding out who those judges are so we can bribe them is the next order of business. JUST KIDDING, that's crap and we all know it. If you can't make it on the merits of what you're doing, then you shouldn't be doing it to begin with. The actual next order of business, for me at least, has been to scope out the other bands that are participating to see what we're up against.

That brings me to my point: what's in a name? Whence came After Alms, and why? Before I go any further, let me say right now that I am first and foremost a fan of music. I actively seek out and listen to the locals and indie bands because some of the best things that you will ever hear are there, not on the radio dial where a corporate stuffed shirt is determining what you should hear. After Alms is one of those bands for now, the kind that you have to find online or hear about from a friend (and you are telling your friends, aren't you?) and of course we want that to change, but that's not the driving goal. Well, it's part of it. Goals can be complicated things. But it really all started with a name, one that Derrick had in mind and suggested to me - and which I really liked: After All. It wasn't meant to be, though. There are a lot of bands with that name, and a quick search on Myspace Music proved the point. For a few weeks, we were in a brainstorming tizzy trying to come up with something unique that would allow us to keep the double-A logo that had already been designed. As a group we came up with a lot of things, but one stuck - the name you know now, After Alms. One letter added and one letter changed, and all of a sudden it's unique. There are, so far as I can tell, NO other bands with that name. Not one. And that matters for a lot of reasons.

Everyone (bands, in this example) wants to stand out. It's mandatory if you want to succeed. But how many groups out there choose their name with respect to the modern era? Surely bands like the Pretenders would have had a different perspective if they had had the Internet at their disposal when choosing a name. Maybe not, because the first one to the finish line claims the glory, but when you can search and see what's been used and abused, why not do exactly that? Musicians on the scene these days would do well to remember that you are always going to be a search result now. Search Myspace Music for After Alms. Try Google. Try Bing. You'll see our name in the top of the results, along with partial matches that have nothing to do with us (the racing biz seems to use "Alms" a lot). But the bottom line here is you can find us right away because of the unique name. Club owners remember it, fans ask questions, and it's unique enough that we can truthfully claim to be right on the top - and we can also tell people to search for us online, knowing that they will find us when they do.

If you're an aspiring artist, keep this in mind. You're a search result now. Make it easy for people to find you, embrace it even if you hate it, but never forget how important a name is. Go on now, Google yourself. What do you see?

Friends old and new

Double D and I went up to Play By Play tonight on business and ran into some old friends. It's never a bad thing when you walk in the door of some club and you see people you've played with, brothers of the musical sort - in fact, it's a good thing. We knew Perfect Norm was playing but the surprise was Sleepy Andy Tracy, who stepped in to fill a void when the headliner's van broke down and they had to cancel. Freddy Brackmann, another friend (formerly of the Layers) rolled up after we'd been there about an hour. By then The Norm had taken a set break and we were all outside lovingly complaining about the music business and discussing many other things. I hesitate to say commiserate, we all do it because we love it so that's not strictly an accurate term. Like boaters and Jeep owners, we've all shared this common experience that defies explanation. Some things you just have to experience.

Andy started his set and as always put on a strong performance. If you haven't yet checked out Eazy, Andy's main project, try it now. Machine Gun live... wow, that song is a jam. I didn't notice if Andy went barefoot on stage tonight, though (he's prone to doing that). Old friends... and a new friend: Frank, who was running the bar. I don't know his exact title, but I'd guess bar manager at the very least. No matter what his title might be, the man supports live and local music and for that reason alone I consider him my friend. Come out and drink some of his beer, especially if we book a show there. It's a nice venue more or less centrally located in Deer Park. Don't expect a cover band here - you can find those anywhere. Places like Play By Play are where it's at.

S'ok, it's 4:00 in the morning and it's time for me to hit the lights and sleep... right after one more song...

Doing things the hard way (because there ain't no easy way)

Greetings and salutations, friends. Sometimes my world is surreal: I'm sitting here listening to Spongebob cover "Don't Stop Believin'" - which After Alms also covers - and submitting our new release to music blog after music blog, hoping to catch a break and maybe even generate some buzz. I mean, you can get your buzz in a bottle or at the end of a cigarette (the funny kind especially) but the buzz we want and need is grassroots kinda stuff. You know, where you tell a friend about this great little band you heard online. Or maybe even saw live, and if you did bless you (and keep doing it).

So, music blogs. If you're reading this, you're probably a music fan, so I think it would be worthwhile to mention a few sites to whom we've submitted our release to. Support them too, and help us generate that buzz. Tell your friends to go to our website or our ReverbNation profile and download some free songs. SHARE THEM. Send them to people and tell them to take a listen... or link them back to the page, because that helps with the BUZZ. This is how people find out these days; they read a blog that might only have 500 readers, but those the people tell their friends, and we'd bet their friends would rock Superstone too.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's no rest for the wicked and there are a lot of music blogs that I need to send our stuff to. Let me share some of the ones I've already hit up in the hopes that you will go to their site and demand that they review Superstone.

• I Am Fuel, You Are Friends
  
• Can You See The Sunset From The Southside
  
• Panic Manual
  
• Muzzle Of Bees
  
• And Everyone's A DJ
  
• Stop Me If You've Heard This Before

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Moving right along

Tonight was rehearsal night and it was a good time. We haven't officially announced this yet, so I guess this makes it official - Jeremy, the Jman, is on hiatus for the time being to prepare for his first child. Bad timing, no doubt about that, but kids come when they want to and you have to give the man kudos for doing what he needs to do. That said, Mike Gorman sat in with us tonight and gave the skins a working over. Mike also happens to play for Joey's other project, Sapience, which made it a lot easier for us to see what he's got - and Mike's got it. Now it's crunch time in After Alms-land yet again as we bring Mike up to speed for our next show on April 24. Join us in welcoming Mike aboard and stay tuned for details on the upcoming show. We'll post details soon, it's your next chance to pick up an After Alms shirt and Superstone CD while catching a live show. And as always, we're working on a few surprises for the show. You know, just to keep things interesting.

Peace,

Mark

Superstone CD Release Party

Wow, what a great show at Mac's! We had a bachelorette party in the house, and lots of friends and musical family too - Joey's other band, Sapience, opened the show at 10 and rocked it hard. They've got some videos on Facebook from the show. Our friend Nick Huber, the man behind TriChrome Glass, ran the merch table and gave away a few pairs of earrings as well as CDs and T shirts to some lucky souls. The Future Sutures joined us for a short set and Adam Singer of the same also joined us onstage for Don't Call Me, which he sings on the album. I think that might have been the best I've ever heard that song played, Double D added a new harmony on the verse and it was absolutely amazing. I'm thinking we'll keep playing it that way live in the future... Tommy Cappel, who engineered the sound recording on the record, was playing a few doors down at Baba's with Josh Eagle and stopped by. He promised to come back around midnight so I could embarrass him... I don't know if I accomplished THAT, but I gave it a Boy Scout try. What a great night, really, truly, no kidding! We've got a show coming up in late April that we'll be posting details on soon. Right now, all that's definite is the venue, and we'll be there with the CD in hand if we don't sell out of them first. Even if we do, we can always order more ;) hint hint.

Some pictures below... check our Facebook page for the rest of them. Love ya all, thanks for the support now and in the future! You're the reason.

-Mark