At some point, should really look into patreon system what its all about, since would have been really interested in Luke's thoughts about distributing questionable noise in the store! I guess even talking about it in open youtube feels a bit risky, haha.
Good episode and also nice to see forums talked in such a positive way. Like Oskar says, there seems to be kind of attitude that looks down on forums. I suppose some artists or people like the detachment that social media offers? Feeling as if they are not really part of anything. Not "scene" or "that kind of people" (referring to any type they feel they have nothing to do with). Just drop picture into their "own" social media account and that's that. They have their own followers there and actively taking part in forum discussion is quite another thing.
I do get it, most of them time. I would say every forum has some kind of "reputation". Whatever genre of music, or culture it is. That reputation barely does justice for most of forums. It would merely require little resilience to live with some sorts of nuisance. Couple knuckleheads bickering about conspiracy theory or daily politics could be something you just skip over, and continue talking about something else. Many seem to feel just seeing couple messages like that and forum is ruined. haha... Even if there would be vastly more talk about interesting things, the tiny negative experience appears to weight vastly more on the scale.
It is also possible that especially youngsters do not remember how vital forums were. If you'd hope to get people to shows 15 years ago, where you'd be telling about it? If you wanted to find out discography of some obscure power electronics project, there was no discogs out there, but group of collector nerds collecting information on forums. Days of "lets try to list all Con-Dom releases" and you'd be finding out there exists titled you never heard of. This type of activity is still very much possible. How would you use instagram, twitter, facebook or whatever, to build something like "THE BEST OF G.R.O.S.S.", "Lust Vessel overview", "Endorphine Factory appreciation", and so on.. Still now, any day, I would certainly like to read topic of complete album discography reviewed by actual noise listeners. See what I should be checking out, or what album I should pull out from shelves after many many years of not listening it.
That, opposed to bombarded with spam consisting mostly new bandcamp links.
Luke talks about how physical records have completely changed their nature, compared to past. They are bought, used and collected with very different motivation than in past. Even if it applies more in mainstream music, I would say it also applies to noise to some level. When seeing how this approach for music and physical media has changed, I also think it applies to use of forums. One can easily admit forums are not NEEDED in same was as they were for example 20 years ago. There are lots of easy alternatives to use instead. However, like physical noise media has benefits that "spotify" can't replicate, forums may not be the same as before, but they have some qualities what make them good. Like examples above. Despite slowness, despite little bit more clumsy interface, forums may be crucial and importance may not be fully seen unless we see how things are without them.
Can't expect masses of spotify users to return from easy streaming back to waiting tape to show up. Domination of addictive, instantly rewarding and visual heavy social media is the same. Masses of people probably won't return to old style forums, but there must be still thousands of people reading even SI! Registered active users loggin in on weekly or monthly basis is several hundreds. Amount of lurkers is vastly bigger.
Thing what Oskar talks about documenting the touring noise, would be excellent. I have mentioned this to others, like Noisextra crew too. Conelly certainly has ton of experience of endless tours. As they have framed podcast to be mostly 90's and older, I guess that type of noise touring is the early 2000's thing. I remember first hearing about guys playing several weeks, even month(s) non stop noise tour, basement show after basement show, and thinking what the hell! Over here, at the time, noise show would be anomaly. Like once a year, special gathering. Idea of noise tour of that length, on such settings, seemed unreal. I think that phenomena is still largely undocumented? At least I don't think I have ever read extensive stories about it. I recall talking about it with american harsh noise artists who said "well.. driving 5 hours and then playing in someones livingroom for 4 stoned guys ain't that interesting". haha... I would say as a phenomena, it is worth to look into how one could create "memoirs of the noise travellers" episode for podcast. I'd listen that! Or read, if it was on paper.
