In the past few weeks this study has revealed that audience is one of the main concerns in music and performance. There are many different situations and variables that may congregate a captive audience but some of the most interesting found comes from deep rooted struggles that can collectively be seen as movements.

1) In the early 1900s Seattle suffered harsh working conditions in terms of manual labor and was the center of a campaign by the Industrial Workers of the World. This campaign used work songs/folk songs to express certain agitations and create emotions and motivations through the Pacific Northwest (Before Seattle Rocked. Armbruster, 2011). (See: Little Red Songbook)

2) The social effects when music is used as a form of movements for any form of justice. In 1930-1940 there was the unionization and communist led movements and later in 1950-1960 civil rights movements. Both used folk music as a way to “bridge racial boundaries” (Reds, Whites, and Blues. Roy, 2010). The 1930-1940’s made folk music into popular music with the formation of blues/jazz/big band/swing, but in turn lost it’s purpose. The movements in 1950-1960 had basic intentions of peace songs among the racial segregation. Some of these songs weren’t meant to be hits, but ended up becoming them as activism progressed.

In both cases there was an audience because there was a demand for a change. This is an example of music being used as a social tool. If music builds relationships based on mutual fundamentals it is likely to be a successful part in motivating the masses.

This week I was able to see Grace Love and The True Loves a Soul/Funk band from Seattle. Grace Love did an amazing performance with a nice memoir to B.B. King. 

The audience was engaged and there was a constant rapport from call and response, old classics, originals, and covers of 1990’s R&B. The social scene was friendly and the opener was The Brown Edition, a well known established band in the community who brought in a crowd.

I also was able to get an interview from Razors and Red Flags and Ryan Baker, guitarist was quick to answer.

1. Do you have a specific route/venues you frequent, and why?
 “We are trying this year to maintain a looser schedule with doing so many shows last year, we worry that we may have over saturated the market, while it is important to build our name we want to try to focus more on a local level and primarily Portland and Seattle area.  Those areas, have been very receptive to our sound, where as we feel some places don’t embrace the rock as much.”
2. Has your sound changed much over the years?
   “Yes in 2009 i started the music as only a singer/songwriter aspect. Singing a lot at open mics, i started to get people that wanted to jam with me. Pete was one of the first few, and we immediately clicked, I had recorded and EP of 6 songs with rocket soul music’s Ryan Hansmann, we had a good run with that band, but broke up due to some reasons ill leave out for brevity sake, in 2013 we reformed the group and rerecorded all the material with a better line up and has gelled ever since. We are more of a Rock and multi genre because of the new additions and writing we have gone thru a metamorphosis of sorts to more of a danceable rock vibe with emphasis as storytelling lyrics.”
3. What importance does the opener band have in a show?
 “We believe the opening band warms up the crowd and builds the energy for the night, a lot of bands don’t like going first, we have played the role so many times, i kind of enjoy it, I am a music lover, so i enjoy seeing what a lot of other bands have to offer.”
4. What importance does the audience play?
“The audience is your vessel, who you are speaking too, playing too, trying to sway, in your favor. For when the crowd is with you, the energy is up, and everything seems to build to a rhythm and can make the band even play better. Support is everything, and this is art, so you are always a lil sensitive about your baby. We are always trying new things. So we put ourselves out there not everything works.”
5. Where have some of your best shows been, and why?
“Best shows are starting to be down in the harbor, we sort have built up a mystique down there and they come out and pack the small joints we play, best road shows are probably leavenworth at the munchen haus and also on the same trip we played Marko’s Place in Roslyn having great energy at both places, and they took care of us too.”
6. Where has your inspiration come from?
“Im inspired alot by jack white, and also jim morrison. the bands i would say that have inspired me would be like the who, motorhead, led zeppelin dr hook (Shel Silverstein) , johnny cash, i really like storytelling and poetry.”
7. Are you all from Olympia/PNW? What kind of music scene do you see currently in Olympia, and has it changed since you’ve been here?
“Here’s the run down, Mayo Georgia Nick and I come from Grays Harbor, Pete we imported from Rockford Il.  I grew up in the small logging, cow town of Elma Wa, and have lived in thurston and grays harbor my whole life, but have toured alot of the I-5 corridor and some other states.”
8. How is your music similar or different from where you grew up?
“I listened to alot of shitty country music, I mean shit. Like 90s pop drivel, and didnt really start branching out till 15 with rock and punk tunes. started writing when I was 15″
9. Have you traveled/performed anywhere else in or outside of the states? If so, what are some cultural similarities and differences?
“I have toured with this band as far as southern oregon, and as north as bellingham we do eastern washington and idaho shows as well, we want to play vegas reno and California next.”

This interview was helpful in seeing how music is welcomed and how a city or area can be conditioned to a type of music, which effects the audience and social scene and furthermore the reputation and followers.