Showtime

On this night there were no tour buses lined up out back, no roadies hauling the equipment and tuning the guitars, and certainly no pyrotechnics or stage theatrics. But there were still bands prepared to take the stage and play their hearts out to their faithful fans.

Thursday night at The Rock (136 N Park Ave) featured several local metal and hardcore bands including Murder Victim (www.myspace.com/murdervictim) and Desired Affliction (www.myspace.com/desiredafflictionband). The venue wasn’t sold out but none of the bands could complain as there were enough fans willing to show support in the form of respectful applause, mosh pits, and crowd participation.

The groups hauled their own drum sets and guitar amplifiers, sound checked all their own equipment, and after working up a sweat playing through their time slot, had to pack it all up once again. Not so glamorous but rewarding all the same.

For a local band a show can be both the best and worst part of playing music. It offers a chance for freedom of expression, a way to make fans, and also an opportunity to pull in some money from the door and merchandise sales. On the other side of the coin, however, musicians can lose confidence when a show is less than packed or a crowd is disrespectful. At times a bands will also be thrown on a bill with other groups that may be out of their genre, which can also be a less than rewarding experience when the audience doesn’t want to listen.

But the bands of this night could call it a success. The cover charge was $8, and although that had to be divided amongst the bands and the venue, everyone most likely walked out with a little in their pocket. The crowd was positive and really cranked up a notch when Murder Victim took the stage.

If there is one thing that can be learned about the life of a local band from this experience it is that playing live is no walk in the park when you are doing it on your own. The musicians have to book their own shows, promote them and set up and break down their own equipment, yet they still do it week after week for the opportunity to share their music.