Not so long ago before Covid, and when my friends and I were young, once a week, we used to go to local clubs to have meals and by around 8pm, they'll have bands playing, and we could have a bit of dance. Decent dance floor.
But now there seems not many available, and if they are, it's irregular, songs are not danceable, or just a one man band.
What do you have in your State?
I'm in Brisbane.
What's wrong with Fortitude Valley!?
Apart from the people…
Covid made it much much harder to be a working musician and those that can make a living can only really do so as a solo act. A lot of people have to choose between playing music they love in a band for about $20 each and a free beer, or playing acoustic 'sunday session' covers at some gastropub for $800. I know which one I'd choose.
just a one man band
Often comes to cost and the level of effort required.
Soloist are still pretty good, but you need to get the right one. I do a lot of AV work at Flemington Racecourse on Race Days and there are some really good Soloist or Duos that can get the crowd moving, but they need to play the right songs and have the right vibe with the crowd.
Bands also cost a lot more and there is a lot more effort required for those. Unless it is someone starting out looking for some free gigs and PR, then good bands cost a pretty penny.
Also, I've noticed a lot more DJs which are cheaper and play music people want. Again, at Flemington they will use a DJ in some areas over a soloist or duo or, they will use a DJ with a Sax to create a bit of a vibe.
Just my two cents as an AV guy.
Could be a demographics thing. Generic band playing in a pub strikes me as something that would appeal more to the 60+ crowd, especially as something to dance to. Probably music tastes are a bit more niche in the younger gens. I'm in my 30s and I hate that sort of thing, play the hits or some old obscure disco gems.
Maybe the bands that appeal to your tastes aren't as popular atm or have moved onto employment prospects with a chance of providing a minimum wage?
Dunno, but I can remember seeing Angels live at Club Mooloolaba. Must have been about 1988? Saw Jimmy Barnes at some back town pub too.
Once upon a time these dudes played to packed out crowds at major concert venues all over the world.
Also, back then, the soloists could just set up shop and busk in Queen St Mall and make a fortune in just a few hours. There would be solo artists surrounded by twenty or more punters singing along to whatever was going on.
Then some bright spark nixed that and you then needed to apply for a permit to busk in the mall, probably other places too, so all of a sudden, a whole bunch more of these dudes started looking for paid gigs in establishments that previously only used bands.
I also think all those X factor type shows have convinced a whole generation of barely talented wannabes that they too have what it takes to be a soloist in the music industry so every dog and and his uncle gives it a crack at some stage of their lives.
My guess is that once upon a time, very few genuinely believed they had the chops for a music career and even less gave it a good college try. Seems the industry is flooded with producers that will sign up any one hit wonder for their fifteen minutes of fame these day, whereas I think there were a lot less years ago and they were a bit more selective.
Then again, when I was in primary school, Violent Femmes were a big thing yet I was well into my twenties before I even heard of the likes of Art Pepper etc.
That might be the problem