There’s No Place Like Home

Looking at the music scene in Morgantown through the eyes of those who know it best- the artists. 

By Sarah Marino

As a kid who genuinely loved music, West Virginia did not strike me as a place where you could go to see good bands. Being 15, I remember my mom being a trooper and driving me to Pittsburgh to see all my favorite bands, or sitting in the hot sun at Warped Tour all day until I was old enough to drive myself.

Jared Miller, who is a native of Elkins, West Virginia, and also guitarist in the band Worst Kept Secret, agreed upon his first impression of Morgantown- the music scene wasn’t ‘all that.’

“I heard of this legendary music scene. It was just kind of stale. The same 4 or 5 bands would play every show,” Miller said.

This is what inspired him and the rest of Worst Kept Secret to start a band of their own, but what has changed?

Everything. Within the last couple years Morgantown has opened it’s doors to many outside acts coming from across the nation- and local staple 123 Pleasant Street alongside the newer, bigger venue, Mainstage Morgantown have sparked a musical revolution like none other.

But there are the downsides. Local rapper, Unkl Dadi (also know was Evan Michael Snider) is no stranger to the negativity associated with being from WV. People often associate WV with being hillbilly, and a place where people practice incest.

A veteran of the Marines, many did not even know West Virginia was a state- and made fun of him for wanting to be a rapper. This is why he coined Unkl Dadi, to make light of the situation.

Now attending school at Full Sail University in Orlando for his masters in business entertainment, Snider is no stranger to bigger markets of music, unlike the relatively small area that is Morgantown.

“The biggest thing about the music scene is building the entertainment industry. Especially hip hop, like there isn’t even a hip hop station [in West Virginia] – I think creating an entertainment industry would bring in tourists,” he said.

However he does see better things happening, with the opening of Mainstage, people who might tour in Orlando end up in Morgantown.

Unkl Dadi and Machine Gun Kelly, via Facebook

Snider also believes hip hop is really an underrepresented genre in West Virginia in general because the state is very “traditional” and “separated from the Urban Culture.” He says, that can work to our advantage though because he considers it “untapped ground.”

Drawing crowds to a show poses different challenges for any act in Morgantown, and for various reasons, “For one, people would rather go to a house party or a bonfire. They might not have the money to go see a band and buy drinks at a bar. I love WV- but there’s no denying there is a drug epidemic. I think that’s another thing keeping people from living a regular life,” he said.

He believes, however, that relating to these people is the first step in integrating the culture, and truly inspiring others.

People write West Virginia off very easily, in Snider’s instance- but it’s not limited to that.

Naturally, Snider wants to inspire others, and spark the mind and wants to see big things for the Morgantown music scene.

“I Would like to see, record labels, managers, people who are trying to make the dream come alive. I wanna see doors to Hollywood open in Morgantown,” he said.

The good and the bad might manifest themselves differently to other musicians, though many may stay the same. For Worst Kept Secret, they see a rise in demand for music of all genres.

In fact they feel they really don’t subscribe to any one genre, though they did say they were Nascore, an original genre for those who like NASCAR, cheap beer, and strip clubs, but maybe take that with a grain of salt.

Ben Geelhaar (guitar), Shawn Fisher (vocals), and Jared Miller (guitar) are only three of the five man band that is Worst Kept Secret, sans Pat Cole, their bassist, and drummer Ryan Schuauman. The guys have been playing as a band for two years, but have been friends and have been playing together since they were kids.

Worst Kept Secret

The guys think there’s lots of good bands of every genre and “If you’re a music fan, there’s something for you here,” said Miller.

Not only do local bands like The Manor and Friends pack houses, but people will come from all over to see big name bands from out of town play too. Worst Kept Secret is a big believer in friendship, and an organic following.

We try to work really hard, so many bands are just worried about Facebook likes and getting famous,” Miller said.

The band also wants a more inclusive music scene, where you can go to a show and see different bands of different genres. They are happy to play with just about anyone.

Geelhaar says they’ve met and played with so many awesome bands, and it’s not meant to be a “rat race, we just want to be friends, have a good time, and play music.”

As proficient as I am in music, there are plenty of homegrown bands Worst Kept Secret knows from all over the state I have never heard of. This lends itself to networking, and their acceptance of playing with anyone.

“Just booking shows with metal bands, we wouldn’t play with bands like We Are Funhouse or A Story Told,” Fisher said.

Worst Kept Secret acknowledges there are a lot of really good bands in the area, but they also believe, like Unkl Dadi,because of where we are they are easily discounted.

“West Virginia is a melting pot for good music, and people neglect it because it’s West Virginia. There are bands here that can compete with everyone,” said Miller.

The band wants to see people become more open minded to going to a show, rather than going out to a club on a Friday night. They want to put Morgantown on the map with music, and see the potential in many local acts.

Poster of WKS most recent show, happening Saturday at 123 Pleasant Street

“Genre does not define quality,” said Geelhaar. These guys think what’s important is remembering where you came from, and agree there’s nothing like playing a hometown show.

“I go to 123 I feel like I come home. Those people love me there and I love there,” said  Geelhaar. Their fans have proven that they’re also friends, family, and diehards.

“Always in the back of my head is where you came from, you were that kid in the crowd,” said Miller.

Overall, what they hope for the future of the music scene in Morgantown is respect between bands, building the music scene, and of course a genuine love and appreciation of all music.

The Morgantown Music Veteran

By Andrew Perez

There are some genres that are not meant to to be given a modern twist. Dan Cunningham would argue that Appalachia music is not one of those genres.

Cunningham is an accomplished musician formerly playing for the Grammy nominated Phil Keaggy Band. While that offers some prominence, Cunningham spends most of his time playing live music in the greater Morgantown area. A place where he has been playing since 1990.

Cunningham with the Phil Keaggy Band (second from left)

Some might stop and think why would someone with that much musical pedigree spend their time in a college town in Morgantown?

Cunningham is a live performance veteran in these parts. His genre may not be the most popular with this towns demographic, but he makes it work.

Cunningham’s style of music is described as  “New Appalachian music that incorporates the essential simplicity of the rural mountains, drawing on both ‘primitive’ and more recent folk styles.  At it’s root is his accomplished finger-picking style guitar sound and songs influenced by the story-telling folk tradition.”

While his style is by no means generic, Cunningham has learned how to keep getting gigs. You don’t perform in the same place for as long as he has without knowing what the people want. Checkout the map below for the places he frequents the most.

“The audience, and by extension, the venue owner has to be pleased. You have got know what the owner/manager of the establishment is looking for,” Cunningham said. “In some cases, the goal is actually background music while the patterns dine and socialize. The music and show still needs to be entertaining for those want to be entertained.”

It might be warranted to say that Appalachian music and a town full of college kids don’t necessarily mix. However, Cunningham uses his unique fingerpicking style and a combination of familiar tunes and New Appalachia to keep the crowd in it. See below for an example of fingerpicking.

I usually get a good reception with a mixture of Appalachian influenced music and familiar tunes bent to a fingerpicking guitar style. I try to make the music fun for the most part. Hopefully, the crowd enjoys it even if it is not their favorite style.

As a musician, marketing yourself is important. Cunningham has his website that includes a performance schedule,  his background, tutorials and more. He also uses Youtube to get himself out there. He has a channel with 45 videos and 67 subscribers. According to Cunningham, he get hundreds of viewers a week.

“I’ve tried a number of different strategies, including paid promotion. I think it really helps to be on tour and exposing your music to different audiences every night. I was in touring bands in the 70’s and that seemed to be vital, Cunningham said. “Since I do not tour, I find the best way market is to cultivate fans over the internet that you pick up through Youtube videos, Facebook, and your website. It also helps to have loyal friends in other cities to champion your music”

 

 

DNC: A local rapper’s take on the 2016 election

By: Clarissa Cottrill

One area rapper is expressing his opinions on racism, public controversy and the 2016 presidential election through his music.

The results of this year’s presidential election have been nothing short of controversial,  spurring protests and causing many to question how much of a racist, bigoted ideology exists in the United States. Recently in West Virginia, two Clay County officials are under fire for making blatantly racist comments about First Lady Michelle Obama online and one musician is speaking out.

Cameron  Williams, also known as Elias Music on Soundcloud, saw news coverage on the incident and felt prompted to speak out through his medium, music.

“This entire election season was inspiration,” Williams said. “A few nights after the election I read a story about two Clay County officials who called Michelle Obama an “ape in heels” and the future First Lady classy, dignified, and beautiful. As to say our current First Lady isn’t. It just disgusted me that this man’s hate speech and bigotry has empowered others to speak out in the same manner.”

Williams wrote DNC (Dignity ‘N Class), released the track on Soundcloud and promoted it on his Facebook, which seems fitting since social media has played such a major role in this election and its aftermath.

In the song, Williams addresses his rejection of the President-elect and his bigoted, racist platforms, his perspective as a black man and a perceived regression the United States has taken by electing Donald Trump.

“I don’t acknowledge him (Trump) as my president in the song. And it’s not because of his policies and his plans as president,” he said. “He goes against so much of what I was taught to be right and moral as kid; he encourages violence, he’s extremely misogynistic.”

Williams is not alone in his view. Protests have erupted across the country, particularly on college campuses and even here  at West Virginia University.

 

With so much controversy and stimuli, Williams said this election has been particularly challenging as an artist.

“This election has been exhausting as an artist. I have so many thoughts racing around my head constantly and I can’t express them fast enough,” he said. “It’s like white noise up there.”

As we move further past Election Day, and closer to Inauguration Day even more uncertainties await U.S. Citizens, particularly minorities who are fearful of a Trump administration. In the midst of that, Williams hopes this song and other music can bridge a gap that’s growing between Americans.

” I just want to spread love and positivity through my music. And I hope this song inspires others to voice their opinion and be heard during a time when our nation is really divided,” he said.

To the Stage

Local favorites The Manor and Friends talked with me about how they prepare themselves for a live performance.

By: Sarah Marino

Deep in the recesses of the neighborhood of South Park lies a house- but not just any house. Upon entering you might question if you’re in someone’s living room, but for seven musicians it’s not just where they live, it’s where they practice.

The Manor and Friends have been a household name in Morgantown for quite some time. Ask any local show goer they would at least tell you they’ve heard of them, if not seen them perform, and if they haven’t you’ve more than likely seen their stickers stuck to street signs and building walls all over downtown Morgantown.

A recent line up change has happened in the last couple months, but it’s nothing negative and to guitarist James Darragh it wasn’t starting over, it was starting fresh. Something all the guys are excited about.

Joining Darragh, a full house including Ivan Gonzalez (bass), JC White (percussion), Andy Flanagan (Drums), and Nate Morgan (vocals), and that’s not even the entire lineup. Missing was Nick Adams, another guitarist (who showed up a bit later), leaving only Jason Leech, who plays keys, out of conversation.

If you ask anyone of the guys what genre they would considering themselves, they would give you three words: Jam, funk, and rock– and it can go in any particular order. However, they do pride themselves on being able to play just about anything.

 

Over the summer the guys played at a couple music festivals, and they are just now coming off of a four gig stretch- which calls for rehearsing, playing a show- then back to rehearse some more.

The band is also playing November  18th at the Metropolitan Theater in efforts to support the flood victims in southern West Virginia.

With such a busy schedule, practice is essential. Tuesdays and Thursdays are their go to days for practicing, though between class and work it can be hard for them to meet before the sun goes down.

Luckily for them, they have understanding neighbors who also enjoy music- and also are neighbors with local band Worst Kept Secret, so nobody on the block is a stranger to rehearsal.

With the recent addiction of JC and Andy, the band is coming into their own with their new lineup, learning the material is one of the keys to success for any music act. “We’re learning their catalog and at the same time getting to know them and the music,” said Flanagan.

Every show has it’s own set of songs, and the guys try to tailor to who they’re opening for, or who they’re playing with. “We’re pretty laid back as to what order we play in. we want to add more so we can keep it fresh each show,” said Darragh.

Being in a jam band, what people might not understand is though songs have a structure, they might not always come out the same at every performance. Each time performed, it can be a variation, but this is what they’re good at.

“We’re pretty laid back as to what order we play in. we want to add more so we can keep it fresh each show,” said Darragh.

Sure, there are songs with a structure- but not every song does, and there are times where they wing it, “We have a starting and ending point but I don’t know how we’re going to get there in the end,” said Gonzalez.

The guys agree if they were to do that same structure 100 times they would get sick of their own songs. It’s always changing. It’s never a solid product. One person can change in the moment, and the rest follow suit- and sometimes the product is nothing short of amazing.

They said they can play the same song two weekends in a row, but they can go two completely different ways. Gonzalez calls it, “Being comfortable enough with the foundation and building on top of it.”

Coming off of a busy weekend, the guys played one gig, then played one the next Night at Mainstage Morgantown.

The (not) current line up of The Manor and Friends via The Daily Athenaeum

Since the new line up the guys haven’t had a chance to stop, building momentum and playing gig after gig. After Friday, they’re excited to have some time to not have to practice for a show.

The day of a show is really about the brotherhood these guys share.  Something they’ve done recently is have a meal as a band, something they want to start doing before every show. They will practice and make sure everyone is feeling good about the songs.

Building confidence (but not too much confidence) is another part in preparing to take the stage.

“As soon as it starts you’re kind of in the zone,” says Morgan.

There are those nerves and high energy, and they all feel that energy from each other, and from the people in the crowd already getting hyped. They agree it’s nerves, and adrenaline- weather or not your ready it’s going to happen.

After a show, they guys love to hear how they did- weather it was good or bad, ” I Would hope for more criticism than praise. It always feels good when someone has something specific to say- weather it’s criticism or praise,” Darragh said.

However, the uncertainty of what’s next is part of what a jam band thrives off of- and somehow it ends up working. “Somehow it all comes together right when it needs to. Weather it be the day of the gig or 15 minutes before the gig” said Flanagan.

“Most of the fun is exploring that area where not knowing is going to happen next. The unknown is the most fun part of this,” Adams said.

Though some would argue certainty is key to a good set- anyone in The Manor and Friends would probably disagree, “If you’re certain about anything you’re probably not going to get anywhere,” said Darragh. So far, this philosophy has worked out for them, and love it or hate it this is who The Manor and Friends are.

Coming off their busy month, in the future they hope to play some festivals in the summer time and getting physical material on YouTube. Recently, they even shot a 360 video. Next year is shaping up to be a busy one, hopefully with shows out of state, and getting some studio time to record.

Catch The Manor and Friends Friday November 18th at the Metropolitan Theater, check out their Spotify or find them on Facebook. They even have their own website themanorandfriends.com.

Old School, The Best School

By Andrew Perez

U92 F.M, the college radio station of WVU, has been using vinyls since it’s inception and has not looked back since.

When most think of radio, they think of digital music and new technology. However at U92 FM, The Moose, vinyls have been a staple at the station forever. Even when the CD revolution took radio by storm, U92 weathered it out and stuck with vinyls.

Vinyl shelf at U92

Not only has the radio station survived on vinyl, but U92 was recently named the Four-year college radio station of the year from the College Media Association. According to U92 FM’s General manager Matt Fouty, they might be the only college radio station still using vinyls.

“It’s unheard of, vinyl really went out of style in the mid to late 90’s,” Fouty said. “Thats when the CD transition took hold.”

While being a pioneer presents challenges, sticking with the old while virtually everyone else is switching to the new fad takes commitment. U92 has a vast collection that needs to be housed and updated frequently.

Vinyl has had a resurgence in recent years, and there is definitely a market for it. There are stores like Retrotique and Vintage Videos & Games in Morgantown, but they bank on the nostalgia aspect for sales. U92, a place where vinyl never went out of style,  uses online retailers like Amazon to expand their collection.

🚨🚨 Calling all @amazon addicts!!! 🚨🚨
Limited Edition Dim Mak 20th Anniversary Vinyl & CD!
Pre-order available now: https://t.co/DykVRfm80U pic.twitter.com/69eM74c2hV

— DIM MAK (@dimmak) November 15, 2016

The sound quality of vinyls compared to CD’s has always been a debate. While the case of improved technology for CD’s is valid, vinyls have there benefits. According to Fouty, vinyls provide more versatility than CDs.

“Vinyl has a wider response as far as the audio spectrum goes. So you hear audio frequencies you normally wouldn’t hear on a CD,” Fouty said. “You hear frequencies that are lower, you have a deeper, punchier bass response. actually  Digital media is the worst when it comes to quality.”

If your ever curious as to what vinyl sounds like, flip to 91.7 F.M on your radio. Whether the difference is distinguishable or not, the station itself has distinguished it self as one of the best college radio stations in the country using vinyl for its entire existence.

What a WVU music industry degree will actually get you

By. Clarissa Cottrill

West Virginia University offers a multitude of degree programs, and  the School of Music is described as an option to “prepare students for a future in music,” but it is debatable what that means.

A major criticism of fine arts degrees like music is that they’re useless, and cost wise, people are better off pursuing those fields independently if your goal is to be a genuine, full-time musician.

The Grimsby Institute

But, these days people are looking at doing more than playing the harp when it comes to earning a music degree.

The WVU School of Music has and 87 percent  acceptance rate, which is 20 percent higher than most other schools. To balance that, such a large rate of students have several choices on what musical path to pursue.

Students can pursue degrees in; Music performance and composition (which is what most people probably imagine when they hear music degree), music industry, music therapy  and music education.

The music industry degree touts an extensive list of possible careers ranging from music production to concert promotion. That’s a long way from playing with an orchestra, but for many students it can be a way to combine passion and profit.

Now undergraduates can major in music industry at #WVU ccarts.wvu.edu/ccablog/2016/0… #GoFirst https://t.co/y5A5U4JmbY—
WVU Creative Arts (@WVUCCA) May 12, 2016

The degree program is relatively new, but such a program has outlets for internships and possibly higher employment stats depending on career paths. So, while some WVU School of Music degrees have the potential to bring bleak outcomes, the Music Industry degree may set students apart.

A Band on the Rise

Riviera is using everything they’ve got to build their band into a musical powerhouse.

By Sarah Marino

The dudes in Riviera are no stranger to the grind of trying to make it as a local band. However, in the last year they’ve made major moves towards making all their dreams come true.

I sat down with Nathan Pipes, Sam Hartiens, and Zac Anderson sans lead vocalist Mike Higinbotham and discussed their rise to the occasion as a self funded and growing band.

Riveria has been a thing for about 2 years now. The guys come from all over the state- from the panhandle to Ripley, however they’ve made Morgantown their musical hometown.

Nathan, Zac, Sam, and  Mike via Instagram @Rivieraband

Everything is funded by the band, or the profits they make from playing shows. Seasoned musicians, Riviera won’t play a show without a contract, stepping over low level promoters who may or may nor pay you at the end of the night.

“That usually goes back into the funds like things for gas,” said Nathan Pipes, bassist for the band.

Aside from their hometown presence, the band also travels to Providence, Rhode Island and produce their music. This is where they recorded their EP, which offers professional recording, and something they’re very excited about. Granted, the spent 2,000 dollars out of their own pockets- but the price was right and they felt it was worth it.

“We talked to closer producers but he was a very good fit for us. He’s tight with the right people in the industry. He’s worked with a producer who produces bands like Blink 182 and Five Seconds of Summer, so it was a good way to get a foot in the door,” Sam Hartiens said, the band’s drummer.

They feel the travel is justifiable, and not only do they feel they save money, but they also operate on the same wavelength as their far away producer.

When they travel to Rhode Island, they got the EP down in two trips. The first trip merited 2 songs, which included the single “Dead Space” and the second trip created 4 more songs.

Bonus points- the studio is located where their producer lives, so they would stay there overnight and get free lodging, “We would sleep and roll over and onto the drum set,” Hartiens said.

Over this period, they were very submerged into the task at hand, recording all day, “When you woke up it was like you never left,” said Anderson, the band’s guitarist.

The guys agree, at times balancing work, school, and the band can be very stressful and heavy on their funds, but it’s a labor of love. They know every other band out there trying to make it is going through the same things.

In the upcoming months, with the release of the EP they hope to see another tour, and a better means of transportation, upgrading from a Jeep and Uhaul combo, which is not ideal but it works.

The band also dropped a music video for their upbeat single, “Dead Space”, which was shot and produced by Hartiens’ friend, Another video is dropping on the 19^th, and he shot and edited that as well. “He’s a very good producer and we’ve never had to change anything about it,” Hartiens said. They were happy with the finished product for the price they paid.

Sure, expenses can add up, but these guys are no stranger to the game. Playing shows can pull in anywhere from 100-450 dollars, but it’s not all about the money.

“Even those shows that only pay 100 dollars you still get your name out there,” Pipes said. They also have a big online following that helps get their name out there.

Also under their belt is playing at Van’s Warped Tour in 2015- which didn’t cost them a thing.

They couldn’t be more excited for the release of their EP- and have already wrote an album and hope to put that out in the future too.

Of course with every stride, more money is needed, however, the boys are up for the challenge, Hartiens even said he did medical studies to raise funds, but it’s worth it.

Will you be seeing big things from Riveria in the next year? I think so, and so do they.

Aside from the anticipated release of their EP, they want to see a lot more touring and one good viral hit. They feel they’re constantly growing , and as the clock ticks down to the EP release they are optimistic that they’re headed in the right direction.

“When everything is out and done we’ll see how it plays out. That’s when we’ll really know what’s next,” said Pipes.

Keep up with the band on:
Twitter ,
Instagram or
Facebook.

And be sure to keep your eye peeled for the EP release and upcoming shows!

Does The Music Industry Affect The Election or Does the Election Affect The Music Industry?

By: Andrew Perez

It is finally upon us, Election Day is here. At the very least, can we at least say we are relieved? All viewpoints aside our country is going to have different leadership in January and depending on how it turns out our countries’ industries will be effected.

The music industry is no different, there are different implications based on who is elected. On the other hand, the music industry has left its fingerprints on this year’s election as well.

.@HillaryClinton with JAY Z and Beyonce in Cleveland before the concert. pic.twitter.com/11IkkK8j8n

— Doug Mills (@dougmillsnyt) November 5, 2016

Widely know artists like Shawn Corey Carter (Jay Z) and Beyonce Knowles have been hitting the campaign trail with Hilary Clinton. Most artists are not going to be too impactful, but these are two of the most successful and powerful people in the music industry.

Donald Trump’s musical artist supports is not as hands on but, many artists have come out to back him. Artists like Gene Simmons, Azaleia Banks, and Kid Rock have all backed the Republican Candidate.

"Let the business guy run the country like a business.” -Kid Rock on why he is endorsing Donald Trump for President https://t.co/moXBbM1RLb

— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) February 2, 2016

As many have probably found out, a lot of people are voting against a candidate rather than for a candidate. While there is widespread support, the opposition is just as strong for both Trump and Clinton.

Rapper YG offers 'F— Donald Trump' bagels to voters in Compton: https://t.co/Z7UDP6jm9L pic.twitter.com/ru9IrskQjq

— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) November 8, 2016

She couldn't stay up to answer a phone call to save Americans at Benghazi.

— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) September 27, 2016

These artists vote might be more important than they know. Each candidate has policy that will indirectly affect the industry. Trump’s election would have more visible effects on the industry. An easy change to spot would be Trump’s immigration policy. With potential border restrictions looming, that would prevent some immigrant artists coming to the United States.

There has been so many artists, past and present, that incorporate politics into their music. There are even numerous songs strictly election themed. Billboard did a top 10 if your interested. The bottom line is that politics are hugely important for the music industry.

Music and politics combined create the ultimate form of expression. The will be forever linked and a new chapter begins today. No matter who the candidate is, the music industry will be changing.

 

 

Mainstage Morgantown’s performance

By. Clarissa Cottrill

Morgantown is home to a rich nightlife, but only a few spots are  dedicated to music and Mainstage Morgantown threw its hat into the small ring just about a year ago, and has experienced a fair amount of success.

The club is in the heart of downtown Morgantown, making it accessible to most students and  opened in 2015. New businesses can always be a struggle, but new music venues can be particularly difficult  because of the balance of outreach, economics and entertainment.

Mainstage hit a scene that was nearly dominated by 123 Pleasant Street, a smaller music venue with a deep history centered on local, independent music.

Mainstage has more of a concert venue environment, and a larger capacity than 123 (500 vs. roughly 300), which could serve as a pro and con as far as resonating with the community. It may be more exciting, new  and spacious but it does lack the rich, homegrown history that other venues like 123 have.

 

123 Pleasant Street Image belongs to: morgantownmag.com

Mainstage Morgantown courtesy: Mainstegemorgantown.com

 

A main corner of success for Mainstage has been the variety of acts that grace the stage. In addition to local music, the venue has hosted more mainstream acts like Insane Clown Posse, Blue October and Waka Flocka Flame.  The ability to book even moderately well-known acts from varying genres proves a level of success.

Attendance has also been a key issue. I’ve gone to a few shows at Mainstage, and very rarely is the house empty. According to the ticket sale website, in the past six months at least 5 shows have completely sold out, which is a feat for a small town music venue.

See you tonight at Mainstage Morgantown. I really love this place. I shot this video at Hotel… https://t.co/IDi0IOlVbZ

— Danny Malone (@danny_malone) October 11, 2016

Audience reviews have been relatively high thus far, but the next step for such success is keeping momentum, which may prove difficult in the face of recent controversy.

On Sept. 25, Mainstage was the scene of a shooting that injured one person. As a result the venue’s liquor license was suspended. In just the past week, media outlets announced that the victim of that shooting was suing the venue, citing management negligence with hiring and supervision.

So, with a pending lawsuit and criticisms about management the year-long success of this new venue is muddled. Overall, the beginnings of Mainstage Morgantown saw success in variety of artists and economics of ticket sales, definitely making an impact on the community. Controversial happenings like the September shooting and the repercussions of it could halt that success though, proving that public opinion and appeal can make or break any new business.

Morgantown Records

How professional grade studios have popped up in the University City.

by Sarah Marino

Last time I posted we talked to Drew Keenan, a self-made recording artist, who does all his tracking by himself. Unless you live in a big city where there is an ample music scene, you might find that a recording studio is hard to come by.

If you’re not a recording artist, this would make no difference to you, however, local bands must either record at home or travel to places like Pittsburgh in order to get their music out professionally. There are a few recording studios in Morgantown, but I had the chance to explore Zone 8 Recording in Granville, WV. Mark Poole runs his studio in his home, and has had many different clients throughout the years. He records all kinds of music from bluegrass to metal. Poole offers his services for a reasonable price, and also is very open and willing to work with clients on their music. Poole owns a good bit of equipment from guitars to mixers, and have worked with many local favorites like Yellowdog Union .

Since 1994, Poole has worked with many acts, whether they are a local band or a solo artist trying to get ideas out. Poole prides himself in that no project is too big or too small, and it’s his passion to work with clients.

The atmosphere for a session is a relaxed, inclusive environment where artists can feel their work keeps their integrity as well as improve with guidance. Poole wants to produce major label sounding work for a fraction of the cost.

A self made man, Poole started his studio in the mid 90’s in his own apartment. He rented this apartment since 1989- and lived there with the studio for 10 years until he eventually ran out of room and had to get rid of all his furniture.

Taking a tour of the 4 room apartment, amps, cords and mics cover much of the space, and to my surprise the bathroom is utilized as a vocal booth. He says it’s very DIY, though he believes it’s not that great of a space the sound produced is good.

“I’ve made  due with what I have, and it’s worked out- I’ve had a pretty steady flow of business for 20 years,” he said.

For Poole, this has become his full time job. He can work 7 days a week if he wants, and oftentimes can because demand is high.

“This past year has probably been my best year. I Went for a month without taking a day off,” he said.

Recording is a process in itself, but mixing tracks down can be a long tedious process. He tries to book 2 sessions a day, one in the morning and one in the evening.

What is remarkable about Poole is that he is self taught. He got into self recording because he didn’t like the studio atmosphere, and wanted to do it at home.

“It wasn’t long after I bought recording equipment friends bands would say hey would you record us, and it turned into a business, it started out as a hobby,” he said.

In the 80’s and 90’s Poole’s band recorded several albums at a studio in Ohio- and he wasn’t happy with those recordings. He wanted to up the game a bit, he learned from sitting in on class sessions and doing live sound at shows while working for a sound company.

This was all happening pre-internet as well, during what he calls the “Digital Revolution” before there was YouTube videos of anything imaginable.

“ADAT tape machines, which recorded to VHS, had 8 tracks that is what made home recording possible. That was the beginning of the digital and home studio revolution, everyone had a studio in their garage,” he said.

Looking at one of these in 2016 would be laughable to the modern musician, but it was revolutionary when Poole started recording.

An ADAT machine similar to Poole’s.

Though many studios jump on a computer and start their mixing process there, Poole prefers using an analog board.

“There’s something about the sound. If people are on a tight budget to do a really detailed mix down, you can do it in about 20 minutes on a board, if the band played well, it’s easy and quick,” he said.

A song can have 5 to 50 tracks on it, which layers the different sounds to make a finished product. Poole does use a computer, but feels it can be more time consuming.

“If a band comes in they might only have 250 bucks, and they want to get 6 songs down, if they perform them well, I can usually facilitate that,” he said, “You can really surgically alter things on a computer. It’s a lot more time consuming doing the computer stuff, it’s tools you didn’t have in the early days.”

Poole really likes to make sure the band keeps true to their sound through his recordings, because that makes each one unique.

He often sets up several different mics on one instrument, though he  may not use them all he feels he gets a better product from having that extra insurance.

So where has Poole gotten such a talent for recording so many kinds of music?

“The passage of time, I’ve recorded every conceivable genre of music, you just learn by doing it. And also having a wide variety of musical tastes. Rock and rock has always been my favorite, but I listen to jazz, country, some classical,” he said.

He also enjoys the variety, and said if he did the same thing everyday it would get very boring.

Poole offers his professional services for a fraction of what other studios might, charging only 35 dollars an hour, this is what he was paying for studio time in his early 20’s.

“I have low overhead, my rent is cheap, I try to keep costs down. I am geared toward bands who don’t have a lot of money but want a really good sound,” he said.

He said a record you hear on the radio can cost anywhere from 20-100 thousand dollars, but most records made in his studio are done for under 5 grand.  He enjoys working with bands who are just starting out, or may not have a lot of cash.

“I sort of wanted to fill that niche, cause I was that guy. We didn’t have money, we all had crappy jobs trying to pull our resources together, and then you would blow your bands savings in 2 days in the studio,” he said.

He really hopes to be there for those bands just starting out so they can get a good recording. He said he could probably have a nicer space, and charge some more money, but he likes his space, and says people are comfortable recording there.

He has been recording for a long time, and a musician himself he is happy doing what he’s doing.

“I’m not about money, I’m not striving to get rich. I like musicians. I like hanging out. I like band culture so it’s like a dream job for me,” he said.

He said he would have recording equipment anyways because he still actively plays in a band, so making money off of it is simply a bonus.

Over the years his equipment has added up, saying  he could have bought a house with all the money he’s spent.

For the future, he hopes to expand, and get some more equipment, and build himself a space of his own, of course he would not stray from the DIY aspect of it.

From metal to country he likes recording it all, and lives out what is many musicians dreams.

You can check out his website https://zone8recording.wordpress.com/ or take a look at his Facebook.