Tomorrow we are playing a show with This Time Next Year, who recently signed to Equal Vision.  I’ve followed this band ever since my buddy Mike, who I met through theprp.com’s discussion forums when I was probably around 15, released their album “A Place For You” on his label Escapist Records.

At first when I heard about this band I rolled my eyes and refused to listen.  Their name is obviously the title of the first Movielife record I fell in love with.  I don’t know why it bugged me so much at the time, but I couldn’t figure out why a band would so blatantly cite their influences through their band name.

As time passed, I heard more and more buzz about this band.  I finally caved and listened to what they had to offer.  I ended up kicking myself because of all that I had missed.  The band was good.  Their songs were catchy.  Their name, I came to find, was a fitting tribute to one of my favorite bands ever.  I dropped any convictions I had about tributary names, and became a fan of the band.

Not long after I finally became a fan, they signed to Equal Vision Records.  Their signing made me realize that in the realm of independent music, good music is good music, and I shouldn’t be so quick to pass judgment simply because of a name.  Their quick rise to a prominent record label was lost to me because my thick head wouldn’t allow me to listen to them.  As a fan of the band, I feel as if I missed their most trying moments.  Like a father who missed his sons first words.  A father who missed his sons first steps.  A father too concerned with work to watch his sons little league baseball games.  Now, as time has passed, I am now the theoretical father who has realized that his ways were flawed.  I will not miss any more baseball games.  I will be there on the side, hoping that they hit that home run.  Maybe that’s a terrible metaphor, but it pretty much sums it all up for me.

Independent bands, while plentiful, all deserve a chance.  You never know which ones are great if you don’t listen.  It took me a long time to listen to so many of the bands I love now a days, This Time Next Year being one of them.  Many of those bands’ best moments and shows didn’t include me, because I was just indifferent and too thick headed to take a listen.

I’m looking forward to tomorrow night.  I’ll finally be able to see one of my new favorite bands, and even better- I get to play a show with them.

-Andrew

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