John Roderick: Take It or Regret It

These opportunities to be heard are nothing to squander. Music writers aren't engaged in a conspiracy of bitterness and bad taste (at least not most of them), they're just trying to make their deadlines. When a male writer asks "What's it like to be a woman in a rock band?", what he's really asking is "What's it like to be a woman?" Seriously, he wants to know! Women are mysterious to him! If you waste 30 seconds of your life seething about his Neanderthal question, you've already lost the initiative. Likewise, when he asks "What's your wildest tour experience?", he's asking "Do you get to have sex?", and when he asks "Where's your favorite place to play?", he's practically begging you, "No, seriously, you must get to have sex a lot of places, right?" That's how all interviews go, unless you get one of those "What's your favorite color?" interviewers, who are really asking "Are you ready to be blown away by my off-the-wall interview?" Don't complain, don't sneer, just tell your story how you want it told.

I hate to see young musicians get buried under waves of disappointment at the start of their careers. A bad tour and a few bits of bad press can crush the enthusiasm of otherwise talented kids who expect too much right out of the gate. Sometimes you push and strive and never get a gold-plated unicorn, but it doesn't mean you're not talented and might not have a long career if you keep at it. Often it only means that unicorns are fake and if you gold-plated one it would die.

Location Info

Venue

Showbox at the Market

Map

Showbox at the Market

1426 First Ave.
Seattle, WA 98101

Category: Bars/Clubs

Region: Downtown

Photos

Details

John Roderick, a regular columnist for Seattle Weekly, is the singer and songwriter in Seattle's The Long Winters. The band plays Showbox at the Market on Thursday as part of City Arts Fest—which runs Oct. 20–22 and features the likes of Ryan Adams, Robyn, and Ozomatli on various stages around town. All-access wristbands are $69 at cityartsfest.com.

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