Recher Spotlights Local Artists

I have plenty of fond memories from my time at .  I'd have to say that one of the best memories I had was being in a rock band. For us, it wasn't about the drugs (for which there were none, save the occasional illicit beer or two), and it wasn't about the women (for which there were none, at least in the crazy rock band sense). For us, as cliché as it sounds, it was about the music.

There were a lot of aspects about being in a group such as ours that were exciting. For example, rehearsing in my basement meant that there was always a new chance to vibe off each other. There was always the possibility that maybe, just maybe, that would be the day we'd write our chart-topper.

Playing friends' parties was always fun, because you knew that everyone there, to some extent, was a fan and could probably sing along to a few of your words. But, none of that ever really matched up to the thrill of playing a live show, on a real stage, with real lights, and real big sound. That was what it was all about.

For us, being from Towson, was our dream; it was our Ed Sullivan Show. We had seen numerous groups inside those double doors and dreamed of being able to play Towson's premier music venue.

Luckily for us, the Recher was not and still is not blind enough to realize the huge market for local music around Towson. Sure, they make most of their money from the larger acts that pass through, but they also help local groups (like my band) to realize a dream with their "Local Music Spotlight."

A few times a month, this spotlight show hosts about four local bands at a time. It's good for the bands because it gets their name out there, and it's good for the average music fan because it exposes you to sounds which usually run underneath the radar. Who knows, you might end up being part of a grassroots fan movement for the next "big thing."

I went to one of these showcases last night. Unfortunately, I was too late to catch more than just the last two groups. As I walked in, "Always Better Tomorrow," was finishing out their set. I realized upon entering that I could have waited even longer to show up because, to be honest, the only thing I could think about Always Better Tomorrow was that it would, indeed, be better tomorrow because I wouldn't be listening to them. That's just one man's opinion, though.

The last set, though, was a band who was promoting their new EP. The band was called Medicine Lake, and they were very, very good. So good, in fact, that Patch's Ray Van Horn .

Either way you look at it, the local music spotlight is a gamble. The Recher gambles on not making any money, and you take a chance on seeing some pretty lousy bands before you get to see the ones with real talent, and most importantly, the bands gamble by getting up on that stage and giving it their all. As someone who's been on that exact stage, appreciate the gesture even if you don't appreciate the music, and always do whatever you can to support local music.