Hey. It's hot as hell and I'm taking a break from torturing myself by looking at dogs that I want but can't have on Petfinder for this.

I'm hopeful that I emphatically convey how grateful, amazed, excited I am to be a part of a space like In the West. Sidenote: I will openly answer any questions about how to start a space like this (it is truly a PITA but well worth others taking it on). This was a pipe dream of mine which may have been conceived sitting on the porch of Meattown fantasizing about purchasing the old Plum Street pub across the street, or maybe White Lotus down the block. Or, more recently, discussed as an improvement to the literal storage closet turned practice space in the sketchiest of auto shops that Wild Rice used to practice in.

I am 26 years old and I have been living in New Brunswick for the better part of the last six years. I feel (relatively) old and super out of touch. I really miss feeling like I live in such an inspiring place; this is probably my fault. Sometimes all of my anxieties kick in and I think I am overstaying my time here and that no one will give a shit about the shows I book. Sometimes it feels like people only want to be my friend so I can help their band play to an audience. Sometimes people seem to forgo attempting to befriend me and just pile the requests on. Sometimes I am tempted to move to Philly so I can feel less old at a house show.

I'd like to build another community that I want to be apart of in New Brunswick. I can't help but stick to the notion that a show is more of a show and less than a party, serves a function to help others within a larger network of likeminded individuals (see: bands on tour), and to make things more difficult I have weird taste in music :\ ... I'm torn between whether or not I'm too old to be psyched on crowd surfing (February's Pile show makes me think not).

[nostalgia and shit]

I'm not sure how I get what I have now--which is the space of my dreams--to function in the way that my old show houses did. One problem I'm finding is that I am being contacted by a never-ending amount of bands who want to play the space but don't show any desire to come out and support existing shows. It feels so self-serving. FACT: THE NUMBER ONE WAY TO GET ME TO BOOK YOUR BAND IS TO NEVER ASK ME TO BOOK YOUR BAND. On the other hand, booking shows and promoting them basically feels selfless. I don't book shows to give my bands an avenue to promote themselves. I book them to meet new people, feel like I'm contributing to a greater community, help touring artists, and create the desire to travel to new cities to meet new friends.

So when I have these encounters, everything that was previously rewarding about shows dissipates. It's void.

I'm not sure how to get people interested in the way that I want them to be. I would love to have some conversations about how to do that. Seriously, please get in touch with me. 

I can ask, repeatedly: please give a shit about what you're trying to be a part of. I know it's really hard to think of something as a part of a greater good rather than remaining self-centric. But by giving a home to DIY shows we are a part of something much larger than New Brunswick--something pretty loose and undefined but instantly recognizable when you travel to another city and experience it. It's cool.

[Pile playing at Meattown, complete with my heckling. I am so happy that they played the first show in our new space years later. Fun fact: I met Pile through my best friend's ex-boyfriend's old band mate's later band who put Bunny's a Swine in contact with me while they were on tour with Pile. THE NETWORK.] Finally, I think we forget how important fans are. Everyone who is in a band wants a piece of the pie via playing shows. But people who just go to shows--you are awesome. You are a very rare breed. Seriously, do not fucking forget how important fans are. 

Here's how the rest of March is panning out for In the West.

On March 20th we are hosting Radiator Hospital (PHL), Nice Try, Quarterbacks, and Pebbles. This show was booked by our pal Devin. GREAT JOB!!!!