Showcase lets bands emerge from covers

Since its inception, the Original Music Showcase has set out to make local bands come out from under the covers.

The showcase is hosted by three local bars - The Brewery, 233 E. Beaver Ave., on Monday; Cafe 210 West, 210 W. College Ave., on Tuesday and The Darkhorse, 128 E. College Ave., on Wednesday. While it hasn't generated as much capital as the weekend cover bands do, it has been successful thus far.

"Original music is not the best seller here and that's what we're trying to change, but it's a long process," said John Matthews, unofficial showcase organizer and member of the local band Broken.

A rotation system is used mainly to keep fairness between bands with the number of sets they play. The system has been used since the showcase began last summer and started with 12 bands.

Matthews is satisfied with the way the system has worked so far, but does see room for some improvement. He said that while he did plan ahead and leave future slots open, he now has approximately 30 bands who'd like to play. In a sense, the rotation system binds Matthews from booking the best local acts available.

"I'm getting enough bands now that I can seriously consider cutting out bands that don't cooperate," Matthews said.

One of the bands that has been involved since the showcase's outset is Finster. Guitarist Doug Whittaker said that the showcase has had an effect on the local music scene. When Whittaker was in the now defunct Yam, he noted that bands did not help each other due to the limited availability of places to play. He said the showcase is changing that.

"A lot of bands are easing off the rivalry now," Whittaker said. "It's made all the musicians in this area cooperate a lot more."

Matthews came up with a formula to promote diversity within his shows. He rarely places bands from the same genre together in the rotation. Whittaker said that so far the method has worked. Finster can now reach more potential fans through the bands they play with. It is also a challenge for them to keep in sync with the mood the other bands set.

"The shows that are really diverse make the bands play differently, which creates a different vibe," Whittaker said. "It keeps a lot of the bands on their toes."

If Matthews has one complaint with the showcase, it is with a minority of the bands currently involved. He feels that the showcase may become damaged by newly-formed bands playing to crowds before they are ready.

"It's not my call if they want to play out. It's theirs. I'm not going to play judge and jury," Matthews said. "What I care more about is the damage the overall showcase would incur by having these bands play."

Matthews said he is concerned that the actions of a few may reflect on what he's trying to do as a whole.

"I want the integrity of the whole showcase to be high. For that reason I might say no to a band because they're not ready," Matthews said. "One band could detract from the whole showcase and in turn, all the bands that play it."

A fair amount of new bands are involved with the showcase. One in particular has done well for itself thus far. Fool has taken full advantage of the new opportunity to thrust themselves into the original music scene.

"It's given us a chance to play and some more exposure," Fool drummer Ben Sheets said. "There's a lot to be learned from other bands."

The older bands in State College are willing to lend a guiding hand to up and coming acts like Fool, provided the new bands help themselves.

"We're a new band and we're writing new music. The Original Music Showcase is helping and encouraging us to do that," Sheets said. "We're just happy to be involved."

The growth of the showcase is evidenced by The Darkhorse's involvement. In difference from the Brewery and Cafe 210 West, The Darkhorse actually approached Matthews about the showcase. Matthews said that unless a bar would be willing to give him a weekend night, the showcase will rest as it stands.

"I'd rather not do it (at two separate locations) in one night because it would spread out the interest and focus," Matthews said.

Since the showcase is still in its fledgling stages, change is inevitable. But the bands involved feel Matthews is on the right track.

"The idea has been in the works for years. It's just cool someone got off their butt and did it," Whittaker said.