A quick update on what has been happening at The Loading Dock and our plans for building a second egress in 2017 so we can start hosting music and community events again.
2nd Friday Art Night in Littleton! Featured at The Loading Dock our very own Not Your Mother will be rocking out and you can get a sneak preview of Jason Tors' rent to own art show!
My stuff stacked
Here's the issue that probably most artists have... You make stuff, it doesn't sell, you keep it around... It stacks up.
introducing Art on Loan.
The idea is that you can select any of my art for a specific amount of time. You get something to put on your wall, office, dorm room, whatever and I get the satisfaction knowing that my stuff is up somewhere and not stacked in a dusty corner of the loading dock. In the next day or two I will create a product page that will handle the transaction.
Does anyone have any opinions about price point per month?
By the way, did you know if I sell any art or make money from playing music, that money goes right back into sustaining The Loading Dock!
Our space does a lot for music but there is more. Its also my art studio for painting.
-Jason
The Vulnerable from Detroit
Two questions popped up for me today about listening and making money. Both made me think about the growing DIY music thing that is happening of which we are a part of almost by accident. If my ... cousin-in-law ... if there is such a thing, Mario Santana had never told me about dodiy.org I probably wouldn't have known about the DIY scene. Sure I'd know that something like that existed but for the most part my initial reaction would be that it was mostly punk and hardcore bands. Not true. The mixture and diversity that I have been exposed to, and in turn exposing northern NH to, is really encouraging.
Young musicians are spreading out across the country, probably the way they always have, but aided with technology and a loose network of basement shows, house parties, art studios, etc they have a place to play music, their own music, no cover songs that everyone knows, original art. Thats what keeps modern music alive is supporting and sustaining the current sounds of the present not relegating music to a rehash of music made by other folks.
Don't get me wrong, two of my bands play tons of covers, in a way its a chance to try and stretch the limit of what a known song can be.
On listening. As I was driving away from The Loading Dock last night after The Vulnerable played I caught the tail end of an interview on NPR with the guy that started Story Corps. He said that just listening is the most direct expression of love, to listen without having to contribute and just take it in is drawing a deeper connection between people. Those connections are so important to small rural communities like ours in the north country of NH. Taking a few hours to be in the moment and listen to someone is a heavy heavy experience for the listener and for the one that has something to say.
Money... or currency. Would a musician or band still play music for people even if they did it for free? Again, I look at the DIY music scene, these artists are looking to play in places that are about people coming together to listen, that is the primary transaction. Sure everyone needs to get to the next gig and still have money to eat but did they have an attentive audience and make at least one connection? I think that is nourishing. That said I firmly believe that artists should be compensated financially for their dedication to their art. We charge $10 at the door and split 50/50 with the musicians the proceeds. I get seriously stressed out about the possibility of not being able to pay musicians what I think they deserve. Over and over, if its a tough night and I can only pay $50 they are still psyched, and I appreciate that. Personally I try to make up for it other ways, like cooking them a meal that adheres to their dietary restrictions. We can all find ways to create different forms of transactions that do not directly involve money, that can make up a bit of the difference... but not all, these guys struggle, they put on a good face, they play their hearts out and move onto the next show.
Up next is Mixed Doubles / Turtle Pond Union / Astral Leaks this Thursday. We are headed into different sonic territory. Astral Leaks is Dan Salomon from our local amazing music store Northern Lights Music in Littleton. Dan will be playing electric guitar, possibly joined by his two sons, Asher and Ben. Not to be missed these guys! Turtle Pond Union plays acoustic guitar based Americana, finger style, male/female vocals. Mixed Doubles is from Brooklyn. They play acoustic guitar duo, layered and improvised weaving dense textures of sound.
Owen
Friday night Spring Equinox Drum Circle with John Serino
Live at The Loading Dock this Saturday
LEFTY DRUMMERS UNITE! Jake Rivers is a lefty drummer, Ben Rathman sings and plays guitars thru his amp. I first met these guys at BAD ART in Littleton NH. My band, HOT MESS, was either practicing or messing around on a weekend while folks milled around the gallery. These kids came in and asked to play a few tunes. Their band was called The Fatigues, Jake Rivers and Ben Rathman were in that band. It was great, Im a lefty drummer too so Jake just sat right down and kicked out the beats while the rest of the band proceeded to demonstrate what ROCK really was! The Fatigues have since disbanded but Ben and Jake continued on with a new project, lean and mean: MANHATTANHENGE!
"Eric Kukler #openmic"
"Drew bishop #openmic"
"Bobby Risenowskis #openmic"
"Mike sudman ripping it up on Daydream Nation custom painted guitar by @80r6"
Another
Cold Night
IN THE NEGATIVES ALREADY BY THE TIME WE STARTED OPEN MIC. FOLKS CAME OUT FOR THE MUSIC ANYWAY!
Hosted by Asher Salomon at Northern Lights Music, guitar and electronics. Asher opens the mic after a set of improvised electric guitar x effects resulting in a highly textured sound scape with an ever evolving layers of shimmering guitar sounds.
Last night Bobby Wisnouckas played a few originals and a cover with Andrew Hauprich.
Drew Bishop played a Duran Duran tune solo.
Eric Kukler whipped a number of amazing tunes with growing backing support from Mike Sudman, Carl Gifford and Andrew Hauprich.
DAYDREAM NATION: Custom painted guitar by #80R6
"No where else will you see a bass amp with hay stuck to it and a hand painted / collages guitar by @80r6 #openmic #loadingdocknh"
It was a snowy night but still some die hard musicians came out to play music at The Loading Dock. White Wolf on harp, August West on vocals and guitar. Asher Salomon from Northern Lights Music hosting. Angela Low made some incredible tomato ginger soup. Just the thing on a cold night.