Gang of Ten w/ Boy Eats Drum Machine

Welcome to the latest installment of Dave Allen's Gang of Ten, a 10-question Q&A featuring some of today's most promising indie bands, by one of music's most influential figures, Dave Allen of Gang Of Four. Today's artist is Boy Eats Drum Machine, a Portland, OR based trio. Check the Q&A with singer Jon Ragel after the jump.

1. If you were to pursue a record deal would you prefer to sign to an indie label or a major? What's the difference?

All things being equal with artistic/image control and label’s general backing of artist I’d rather be on a major or mid-major. This is mainly based on my assumption that greater market size makes becoming a professional artist more feasible. I see a true indie as self-owned with a niche market. Sub Pop is more of a mid-major with it’s resources and distribution, although it has an ‘indie’ styled brand and an excellent roster with some niche markets. How many major labels are there again? 

2. Are record labels necessary and if so are they changing for better or for worse?

Yes. However, a label is only necessary if it has creative people who understand the radical shift going on in the industry and sees the great possibilities of the digital age. ‘Traditional’ thinking labels are sinking because they can no longer control the way their property is being used and simply aren’t adjusting resources appropriately.   

3. Isn't it better to just self-release your own CDs and sell as many as possible through live shows, your web site, the Internet etc?

Only if you have access to the festivals, tours, and web-based resources necessary to achieve a strong enough presence to make recording and touring economically viable. Booking agents generally won’t work with unsigned acts. Clubs generally ask “what label are you on?” as a first question. Many blogs won’t even bother reviewing a cd or live show for an unsigned act. Whether justified or simply a matter of perception the industry isn’t quite ready to see unsigned acts as industry equals. I think part of this is based on the history of unsigned artists, who generally spend all of their time and energy making demos to get signed rather then making art to stand the test of time.  As more unsigned acts are recognized for making great art this perception might change. That said, I don’t see labels and the brand and industry savvy they can bring being completely out of the equation.

4. I believe that a web log is better than a web site for bands, do you agree?

Yes!  A static website is a waste of resources. Anyone can blog.   

5. Do you believe there are way too many bands out there fighting for attention?

Definitely. To tidy things up a bit I think all bands with the word ‘wolf’ in their name should be required to form one super-jam-group. Further, any band sounding like Interpol not named ‘Interpol’ should be destroyed immediately. 

6. What do you think of allowing your fans to download at least one song for free from your web site?

Giving away a free single is awesome! Remember the promo cassingle? So sassy. 

7. Are retail music stores going to disappear as music buying continues to surge online?

Retail stores have got to embrace the digital format. Ipod/Iphone service tech, high-speed purchase points for digital devices, coffee(!), beer(!), bribes(!)---I don’t know.  It seems everyone has a digital device but not everyone has access to a laptop with high-speed internet. There’s got to be a way retail stores can cash in on the digital format but it remains to be seen how. Meanwhile, is anyone even trying?  Another ‘Sting’ cd box set anyone?  Yea. Maybe retail stores really are doomed….

8. Videos are very important these days especially when you can get them up on your site or YouTube. Have you found it easier these days to get a video made? Do you think they are important in spreading awareness of your band?

I lucked out on our videos in that my best friend is in film school and he has some serious game. Of course, a video is more of a promo piece then it is a high form of art, so any video with some interesting image payoff will do. It doesn’t have to be high quality either. This is definitely an arena where the imagination is mightier then the dollar. In fact, I’d say it’s better to have 5 low budget videos with a fun element then 1 high budget high gloss affair. This perfectly illustrates how some people are way behind the times, spending millions on one video while Spike Jonze whips their pants off with a dance routine in front of a boom box.  I wish every video had Spike Jonze dancing in front of a boom box.  People don’t watch videos on TV anymore anyways---they watch them non a computer or digital device, so all that high budget gloss is for naught.

9. Do you film everything that you do and then post it for your fans to download?

Not yet. We should. Great idea!

10. Isn't the Internet great?

Oh yeah. The internet is now the public library, except it’s more interactive and responsive. It has everything the library has. Except books. And the smell of people.