Local Underground Music Scene Not so Underground

For years there has always been talk of the local music scene in Reading, but yet many people still do not know about the bands that are playing. Unless you frequent the Silo, or other clubs you may not be able to hear some of the music that is being created by local residents. To help promote the local music scene Hot Topic is allowing local bands to not only have a meet and greet with fans but also to play a totally acoustic set within the store, at no cost to the band.

Although many people may feel like this is just an attempt by Hot Topic to get more people into the store and by their merchandise, it is not. This idea was created by the store manager and district manager to help the local bands out, allowing them not only to play their music but to sell copies of their CD’s as well. The only problem with this idea is that not many bands know that the store is allowing them to do this and they are only allowed to play acoustic music.

This idea was started back in November of ’08 and so far only one band has come in and that was only for a meet and greet. The band was One Year Closer To Death, and they have a small local following and have played at the Silo several times. The band sold about ten CD’s and they were also signed copies as well. The next band to play in Hot Topic is The Impossible Call, which will be doing a set on February 15^th at 4pm. When talking to one of the band members they said that they were trying to get t-shirts to sell but they could not find a place who would do there band design without charging a lot of money.

Trying to get a band off of the ground is a very hard thing to do especially when there is not a lot of money to produce the products that the bands would like to. With Hot Topic allowing bands to play in there store and sell CD’s they are not only making the public more aware of the local music scene but helping the bands further their career as well. Who knows maybe one of these day’s we’ll see One Year Closer To Death or The Impossible Call playing in the Sovereign Center.