WAIM #093: Backyard Productions & The Los Angeles DIY Scene

There is a musical moment happening in and around Los Angeles right now. It’s not a revival of the Laurel Canyon days, nor is also it a new iteration of the hair metal craze that dominated the mid-1980s. In fact, this musical moment defies definition and classification because it is wholly unique. Across the greater LA area, young bands have been staging DIY house concerts for their friends, their classmates, their neighbors, and themselves. This is not a new idea. However, these young creatives have set the old ideas about house shows on their ear, and in so doing have started a revolution around Los Angeles.These shows are largely sober affairs, and are overwhelmingly attended by high school aged kids. More than half of the attendees, perhaps even two thirds of these showgoers are female; something heretofore unheard of in underground rock circles. The shows are genre agnostic as hosts and fans welcome music of all types and varieties. It is not at all unusual to see a punk band, a solo singer/songwriter, and a hip-hop act all on the same bill.I sat down to chat with writer and filmmaker Paul Covington, his daughter Ainslie Covington, and Keith Myers, a friend and filmmaking partner of Paul. They have been working to document these bands and shows for their forthcoming film, Backyards. They joined me to discuss their work on the film and to give me a better sense of this exciting new movement coming out of Los Angeles. These shows are routinely drawing 75, 100 and 150 people a night. Attendees pay a nominal cover charge of something around five bucks to see a slate of bands perform. And many of these bands perform with abandon. A large number of these artists are attending performing arts schools in the area, and so the level of talent and showmanship are both unusually high. It takes a multi-layered army to create a genuinely impactful culture. The scene in LA has proven that it might have staying power as the influence of the scene extends beyond just the bands making the music. While the foundation of the scene is the music, there are other elements of influence at work in this youth-driven Los Angeles DIY scene. In addition to the musical nature of these shows, there are zines teaching advocacy and FOIA rights. This community of show-goers are also unified in their rejection of past prejudices such as body image or choices of personal presentation. Ainslie describes the scene as “almost like a family”.Listen in to learn the story of how a cadre of a young creatives is rejecting the virtual, temporal culture in which they have been raised to manufacture an entire scene dedicated to music, culture, and the expression of their generation’s vast creative output. Backyards will not only afford us the opportunity to watch a dozen of LA’s great young artists in action, it will document a generation finding its voice in one corner of the globe. Join me as we learn all about the scene that may just be the next great movement in American music. Cheers,Matty CP.S. We’re releasing this pod on a non-traditional release day to allow folks the opportunity to support the Backyards film and to do our part help the team raise the necessary funds to complete post-production on the film. Please support the Backyards project today. Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe