jakorte's blog

I should have rolled myself back out of bed at 3AM when all those brilliant thoughts were running through my just-spent-six-hours-at-a-biker-bar, very late but night-clear head. My thoughts were exactly as I would have liked to written them. I repeatedly re-recited excited paragraphs as I drifted off, so certain in my brilliance that I wouldn’t forget. Yeah, I should know better. It happens every time, but I’ll give it my re-creative best shot now.

I think what impressed me most about Spence is that they are an abnormally normal bunch of good guys, with a great deal of talent. Polite, friendly, interested in their fans, perpetually circulating, unfailingly accessible, and willing to give their all to a less than all-there crowd after giving their attention to the two opening and opening bands before them. While Coldville and Redstone Riot are still cutting teeth, Spence are using theirs to smile widely at the people in front of them, and the people behind them.

Used to be, door sales were the only reimbursement process for self-funded bands. Even with the adoption of t-shirt sales, it used to be hard to break even, but with individual personal backing by very real individuals, monetarily and through social media marketing, Spence is holding it together. They’re also putting it out there with fan-funded recording. And while each individual fan is not carrying the bulk of artistic costs alone, they are all heavily emotionally invested. They show up, willingly pay door fees, purchase merchandise and revel in a real bit of ownership. The “I helped make this happen” mentality is a major ROI for all parties.

Used to be, the music industry considered themselves the ultimate coaches to the single-minded players – musicians with the muscle but not the marketing. Talent is everywhere. Real all-around, every facet of a band’s life creative talent is an elusive creature. Tweaking talent like this would be a pleasure, but I’m pretty sure these guys are gonna make it without all us jaded eyes poking holes in the good-guys good-show bubble they float from town to town in. Throwing pitch sticks in smoothly self-operating drive chains serves no purpose. Much like the trailer they pull behind them, Spence’ve got this thing in tow. All we have to do is follow.