By Robo Joe

The “scene”, as it is referred to in the Antelope Valley, is a collection of many musical genres; we’ve got everything. We refer to it as “the scene” but it’s really a community.
Out of the “small” towns of Lancaster, Palmdale, Littlerock, Rosamond, Victorville, Apple Valley and their outliers I’ve been witness to an exciting music community that keeps growing over the last ten years. Bands need a community of supporters like this to listen to and promote their music. It’s locally where you most often hone your skills as a musician and make a name for yourself. Many bands have experienced success after becoming hometown favorites.

Not having been raised here, I’m not familiar with every detail of Antelope Valley music history, but here is what I do know. AVHC (Antelope Valley Hardcore) has been representing the Antelope Valley for a minute with veteran acts like Terminal Holocaust and Stand Against. They have taken their music out of the AV and around the country. Recently bands like Life For A Life and Post Nothing continue to venture out and represent the Antelope Valley. AVHC shows are recognized and attended by many in and out of town; AVHC was and is a player in So Cal.

There can be a downside in spite of all the ups. The community isn’t always big enough to support the many genres; although, it is great to see a core group of local music supporters that frequent local shows. Whether it is folk, country, punk, rap, hip hop, or rock this “core” shows up regardless of what music they prefer. That support is what allows these bands to venture outside of the Antelope Valley and into the rest of California or the country.

I’ve come across a number of bands in Los Angeles and Orange County who are aware of the shows being put on at the Moose Lodge, by AVHC and the Fallout Fest. Many have asked to be put in contact with someone that can help them come to the AV to perform. The news is getting around that we have a lot to offer.

AVHC aren’t the only ones playing other areas or going on the road. As popular as the hardcore music may be in the AV, there are also a lot of VERY talented performers. Many of whom are playing largely original music. Artists like Reverend Red, Thoughtcrime, Tone In Georgia, Get Greens, This Place Is A Zoo, Scarlet Harlot & Her Handsome Devils, Order 66, Undermine, Seconds To Centuries, Vultures of Vinyl, Vatican Assassins (shameless self promotion), Sorry State, Banned For Life, Dorner Youth, Rhyme Village, POSE Crew and so many more. There’s a little bit of something for everyone here and that’s pretty impressive for what some people consider a one-horse town.

Being a part of this music community has made me proud. I have seen a lot of creative thinking in terms of promoting bands and planning shows that rival the rest of So Cal. Supporting our music community is vital, especially if you are in a band, but also if you are just a music lover. Establishing a strong, supportive scene here not only gives the bands the attention they need to be successful, but it gives promoters of touring bands a reason to bring larger acts to the AV.

Why drive to LA or Orange County for a show and stand behind hundreds or thousands of other concert-goers when you can see the same bands in your hometown in a smaller venue for less money? I enjoy standing in viewing distance when I watch a band. At places like the Moose Lodge or The Britisher there is also potential for meeting members of the band and networking; that doesn’t happen all the time at places like the House of Blues.

There are not many promoters that can afford to bring touring/high-profile artists to the AV but the ones that can have been pretty committed to making it work. I know for a fact that a lot of money has been lost trying to give the Antelope Valley a taste of something outside our local music and its becoming detrimental to any future chances of seeing those acts here. Sadly, we not only we miss out on seeing more established acts but our locals miss out on the opportunity to play with these bands.

As a teen and a young adult, music was my life. Writing and playing of music is just part of loving of music; discovering new artists being the other part. Twenty years ago (old man speech), new music was not as accessible as it is today. The internet was still new and was not the promotional tool as it is now. Artists were discovered by attending shows and catching the opening acts or reading fanzines. As non-essential as that may seem today, it was how bands could scrape and continue getting music to new people. A lot of great bands would never have been discovered if social media or sites like iTunes were the only way of being discovered. We all know that there is a wide range of good bands that are not being played on the radio. Some of us don’t even listen to the radio anymore because it doesn’t play the music we are looking for.

Growing a band and a following is a lot of hard work. Not everyone has the money required to further their career by using booking agents, managers, or selling merchandise. That is why attending shows and supporting local artists is so important, and why publications like Pharout need to exist. I’ve been noticing various all ages venues in our area of southern California closing; it’s a sad thing. The AV isn’t the only town that had a venue like IT (Industry Theater) close down. Recently Cobalt Café (San Fernando Valley) closed its doors after about twenty years. It basically comes down to a lack of attendance from the community for the local acts. Venues like this are essential to help young bands who can’t play bars gain experience performing and they are also great for the communities they are in. Backyard shows are fun and provide a place for underage fans to listen and play, but sadly not all promoters respect this as legitimate experience.

I was born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I grew up on rock and pop music, but in my early teens I was introduced to punk rock. Punk rock changed my life and the way I looked at music. Punk rock taught me that I could be a musician and make music the way I wanted to. It also taught me about DIY. Being a “punk rocker” on the south side of Chicago was far from popular. Most people were listening to classic rock, metal or whatever was on the radio at the time. The bars that supplied live music were only interested in hiring cover or tribute bands and there were NO all ages venues. I attended the occasional garage or basement show, but they were quite scarce. There was no support from the community for young bands who needed an opportunity. Yes, even in one of the largest cities in the United States, there was no audience to share your music with.

I also lived in North Hollywood for a couple years I can say that Los Angeles and its suburbs lack the community feel that has been essential to the success of scene uprisings in the past. We’ve seen DIY scenes explode in Los Angeles & New York in the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s, as well as 1990’s Seattle. The AV has that feel and it is pretty exciting.

There are a lot of young people in the AV. Some of you are starting bands and some of you are attending shows. Your participation matters to the music scene here. You don’t have to be a musician to participate. Obviously the most important thing you can do is attend shows but there are other things you can do as well. If you like to write, contribute local music and show reviews to this publication or even write an op-ed piece or whatever you want as a music lover. There ARE people out there who want to hear what you have to say. If you like taking pictures, you can contribute pictures of local shows or maybe your photography will end up on some local band’s album. Local artists can make flyers or contribute to album art. I’ve seen various fanzines that publish underground comic strips too. Even if you’re not into any of that you can help by distributing flyers to shows or just by encouraging your friends to attend shows and by word of mouth.

Over the years there have been street teams that have started up to help promote the shows and some promoters have given deals to members of the street teams for their assistance. Although it’s convenient, social media is not necessarily the best or most effective way to promote. People like to physically hold things in their hands. For example, flyers can be garbage to some and collector’s items to others. I figure the same goes for the resurgence of vinyl records. Not everyone is satisfied with everything being digital or clean sounding. Some people want to explore the “old ways” things were done. Sometimes those things get through to people in a different manner. Flyering is no different and can potentially reach different people; not everyone is on Facebook. All in all, there is something for everyone to do to help local music in the AV flourish. It’s an amazing feeling to be around at the beginning of something; when that something is growing a local music scene it’s even more amazing if you’re a music lover.

I am not putting this entirely on the young people in our “scene’. The older crowd who’ve been around needs to stay involved in order for it to thrive. Most feel they have already done their share, and those adult responsibilities can also get in the way. I’m still encouraging the older generation to try; make it a point to get out to the shows a little more often.

In closing, on behalf of my own band and a lot of the other AV bands, I want to let you know that we do appreciate ALL the support that you’ve given to the local music scene here. Despite all the grumblings you may have heard or that you’ve made yourself, the “scene” in the AV is not dead. It may not be thriving right now as it once did, but it exists. It is there if you look for it and it has great potential to be as big as it once was if not bigger. Artistic communities do not arise out of thin air. People have contributed to their uprising; they made the scene. People just like you and me.

Bio: Robo Joe is the lead singer and guitarist for the band Vatican Assassins from Palmdale, CA. Born in Chicago, he previously played guitar and sang for the band Spazz Attack as well as playing drums for the bands Lisa’s Kill and The Chuck Regal Three-O.