Wednesday, January 27, 2010

And the winner is... Spanking Charlene!


Have you ever played the card game “Bullshit!” I have and for the life of me cannot remember how its played, what the point is, I just remember feeling the joy of screaming the word “BULLSHIT” Its fun, its freeing. Just try it sometime, in times of crisis, those times when you don’t even know how you ended up backed into a corner, when you feel like the whole world is fraudulent, just yell BULLSHIT – you’ll feel better I promise.

One whole year has passed since Spanking Charlene won the title of “Best Unsigned Band in America” A lot went into that contest for us, “When I’m Skinny” was played on a radio show on Sirius radio’s Underground Garage, fans voted online and this went on for a year. Over a thousand bands to start out with, voted down to 3 best unsigned bands, then a big show at Pianos in NYC. We waited all night to play and when it was finally our turn we were very aware that we were underdogs. (could have been the 2nd bands fans booing us before we even hit the stage that made us keenly aware ) and we threw down, that’s all that can be said. Whatever it is that makes a band really great, the magic of knowing you can rely on the 3 others to ebb and flow and have a glorious time doing it, was there, it WAS magic. So to hear those words.. “and the winner is.. Spanking Charlene” was an unbelievable moment that none of us would give back. It meant that all the things we had worked so hard at, all the money that was spent on this band, the writing, the arrangement, Charlene and Mo sitting across from each other with pen and paper to begin with and screaming & throwing things in heated argument by the end of the songwriting “session” was appreciated by Steven Van Zandt, someone who has been in this fickle industry for years and knows what good rock and roll is, LIKE US!! And the prize!! Who wouldn’t want to be signed to such a cool label – Wicked Cool Records.

One whole year has passed. Babies have been born, friends hearts just stopped working for no good reason, songs have been written, drinks have been had and long cold lonely nights endured. It’s a rough time in music, we have all talked about it, read about it, tried to figure it all out. Jobs have been lost and promises broken.

We didn’t expect to win this contest and be onstage at the Grammys this month but we expected… something, anything. Can I say honestly that we’ve gained NOTHING from this experience, no I can’t say that. When it comes down to it, we are just 4 people who like to write and play rock & roll, we’d be lying if we said we didn’t want to get paid for it. But until we can, fuck it, we are just going to have a good time, surround ourselves with people who love our music, the same people who keep coming to our shows and the producer that pushes us to be better. We are all the better for it.

Worry not, we have plans… recording new material, more gigging, more merchandise and more fun on our own terms. We will not be denied. We will not bow down to the man. We will continue to do what we love. Are we bitter? Not so much, maybe wary is the better word. But revitalized is the best word. Re-energized. Ready to kick some ass.

Ready to scream BULLSHIT and move onward and upward.

To quote the late, great Patrick Swayze.. “Nobody puts baby in a corner!”

One whole year has passed and Spanking Charlene is STILL the best unsigned band in America.


Peace, Love and Soul – Spanking Charlene

6 comments:

  1. For being so concise, urgent and danceable as a genre, the recording and releasing of rock 'n' roll has a galling habit of moving at a glacial pace. I empathize! (& love you guys!)

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  2. You just keep rockin' and we'll keep listening!

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  3. for what its worth, I've been rocking my skinny ass off for 40+ years..its not that no one gives a shit...I for one give an enormous one, as do my fellow musicians, and the folks who come listen to us....but dollar rewards give us a wide berth...so I guess that's not why we do it....the money system appears to be sliding down the can anyway...all the more reason to keep on rocking!
    so all power to you for your defiant, healthy attitude..dont ever quit!....I'm in NYC in May...any chance you'll be appearing round that time?

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  4. all i gotta say is:

    http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/?

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