Back to Table of Contents

PUNK ROCKERS UNITE! Ithaca’s new rock and roll network

By Emily Gallagher

This goes out to that girl bitching in the dining hall about how there is no "scene" in Ithaca.
There is. And it's growing.

The "Scene." Or, to those on the outside: small, trendy concerts with a built in social grouping of underground music fanatics. The fabled, oft sought-after gathering of hipsters and music lovers alike. To some people it's nothing, but this article is not for them. This is for those who wake up thinking: "What rock/hardcore/indie/punk bands are playing here this weekend? Where are they? WHERE ARE THE BANDS?!"

Let's get one thing clear-there has never been a lack of local music in Ithaca. Ithaca, NY has always been known as a bohemian oriented town which takes good care to recognize and support the efforts and talents its locals.

Perhaps the tragic flaw of Ithaca is its disorganization. Even the streets move in a meandering, nonsensical fashion. This disorganization, in fact, was the problem with Ithaca's "Scene" as well. Rock, hardcore, indie and punk bands would all come and play… but only a handful of people would know.

On occasion these performances would have to take place without a suitable venue. Rumor has it that popular indie-rock band Q and Not U played in an Ithaca College residence hall lounge last year. This fact could be chalked up to their quirkiness, but for the sake of the article we'll say it's evidence of a lassiez-faire music community.

It's true. Without an inside connection, it was next to impossible to know what was going on, let alone make plans around it.

Enter the Ithaca Show Syndicate.

This network of fans, bands and people who care about the scene was founded somewhat accidentally. In August of 2002, two young men were discussing what kind of shows they'd like to see in Ithaca during the upcoming year. Aaron Scott and Eric Merklein realized during the course of the conversation that they had a lot more to talk about than they realized. Both involved in organizing shows, they decided to call together a handful of other people that they knew had a similar interest in independently promoted, all ages, fairly small shows.

"Our main focus was to share ideas and talk about our prospective projects. Much to my surprise, it was so productive that we decided to meet again," said Scott. "After a few meetings, we had a few projects in mind that we wanted to work together on producing. It was at that point (late October) that we hatched the idea for the name 'Ithaca Show Syndicate,' so we would have a recognizable title to start spreading the word. Even though we are still not necessarily a club or an organization, having the title has helped convince people that our efforts are worth checking out."

The ISS has a core of around 10 people, between the ages of 16 and 25, all of who are active members of the music scene. Their biweekly meetings take place in members' homes. These meetings are open to anyone interested in attending, whether it is an out-of-town guest or an intrigued college student.

Already, the group has been very successful. The creation of a website, www.ithacashowsyndicate.org, has brought attention to their purpose (to create better communication in the area.) It has been, among other things, a good starting point for bands looking to arrange shows in Ithaca. An email listserv (http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/boffoithacamusic) is letting potential show-goers know where and when shows are happening in Ithaca. Also, since the syndicate has made itself known, more venues are offering up an all-age show space, even if it is just for a day here or there.

A long-term goal of the ISS is to find a more reliable, accessible show space. Many hardcore and indie rock shows used to be able to take place at the See Spot Gallery downtown. However, because of recent complaints from the surrounding neighbors, this show space has been severely limited. Wownet café has been another popular choice for local shows, but often bands cannot afford to play there.

What it comes down to is this: every venue in town has other obligations to sell food or do another kind of business. These shows, to them, are a lure for customers. It's giving more people an opportunity to buy their product. When a show is small, it often doesn't attract the kind of sales that the venue was looking for and sometimes promoters end up paying more than they can to cut the loss.

The ISS would like to create a place that would be primarily for music. The concert itself would be the goal, not the sales of alcohol or food or whatever else. In this situation, the promoters would be able to make the band the priority. The band would be paid better and the overall experience would be a more positive one.

Currently the ISS is looking to rent a centrally located space. They are working with several organizations to help find a space as well as to help finance it. Right now, ISS's only source of revenue is benefit shows, and more money is required for a piece of real estate than these shows bring in.

The Ithaca Show Syndicate is living proof that loving something is enough. It's refreshing, at least in my perspective, to see a group taking control of what their passion's fate, and making it better. There IS a music scene in Ithaca. If you'd like more information on shows in the Ithaca area or the ISS itself, please visit the website, www.ithacashowsyndicate.org, and join the listserv. Anyone and everyone is welcome to get involved.