Gym music....

I need to put together a compilation of music for a climbing gym....

Anyone want to share their lkes and dislikes?

NO MORE RAGGAE!!! Please! If I am screaming or puking in the gym, it should be due to hard climbing, not the music. Thank you.

The few times I've been in a climbing gym, I became agitated having to listen to loud acid rock. I haven't been back to a gym since, but if I were to frequent a climbing gym, I'd like mellow music, or no music at all.

But don't listen to me, I'm a strange creature. ; )

G

I either do not like the music I have heard at the gyms or I bring my ipod. I don't like fast music while climbing either. When I ride my bike I like faster music but when I'm climbing I like slower music. Maybe it's because I'm not trying to climb fast and I'm not trying to ride slow.

I prefer moody, despressing, "I am going to die music". This helps me clear my mind and makes me focus on the matters at hand. I, too, usually bring my MP3 player.

...Not that I ever climb in a gym.

John

I actually like reggae but it gets old pretty fast in a gym. Trance/techno/electronica is good filler, and the gym I go to in Portland uses SomaFM.com a lot; the Tag's Trance and Space Station channels are excellent.

I think that slightly less well-known music is usually a good thing. I've brought in a lot of cds to add to the gym's music server, from G Love & Special Suace, to TV on the Radio, Goldfrapp, Lifesavas, and a bunch more that I can't remember. After all the kids go home it's fun to put on some West coast gangsta rap-- nothing like a little Easy E or Dr. Dre to get the atmosphere right.

Johnny Cash.

I actually like reggae but it gets old pretty fast in a gym. Trance/techno/electronica is good filler, and the gym I go to in Portland uses SomaFM.com a lot; the Tag's Trance and Space Station channels are excellent.

I think that slightly less well-known music is usually a good thing. I've brought in a lot of cds to add to the gym's music server, from G Love & Special Suace, to TV on the Radio, Goldfrapp, Lifesavas, and a bunch more that I can't remember. After all the kids go home it's fun to put on some West coast gangsta rap-- nothing like a little Easy E or Dr. Dre to get the atmosphere right.

Indie Rock.

Pinback, J. DiMenna, Ambulance LTD, Arcade Fire, Apollo Sunshine, Belle and Sebastian, Ben Kweller, The Black Angels, Controller.Controller, Cursive, Death Cab for Cutie (used to be indie, anyway), Devotchka (was used in Mortimer's First Ascent and Little Miss Sunshine), Dispatch (perfect climbing music! Just enough reggae influence for the groove, but plenty of rock, and no Jamaican singers), Hot Hot Heat, Kaiser Chiefs, The Lucksmiths, Modest Mouse, Muse, Nada Surf, Of Montreal, The Postal Service, Pretty Girls Make Graves, The Shins (definitely these guys), Sleater-Kinney, State Radio, Sufjan Stevens (could work), Tilly and the Wall, The Unicorns, We Are Scientists...

That's what I'd start with :-) I'm also not adverse to some screamers while climbing from time to time (not that I ever go to the gym...), but I left most of those out of the above list. For a little variety from that front you could throw on Against Me or The Blood Brothers. As an added bonus, not too many people have heard of several of these bands, and they are all pretty good imho, so no one is likely to complain.

Minor Threat-Screaming at a wall!

I don't climb in a gym so I'm not much of an authority. But something like Crystal Method would be good or like John said....depressing stuff.

Like Kevin Calder says, "Angry Music Makes Me Happy".

~Susan

Andy, you might want to look into satellite radio... the gym I frequent has XM satellite and its pretty nice. You can choose from many different channels that play particular genres - makes it easy to switch as your mood or crowd changes. Just a thought...

ODUB

www.odubmusic.com

... a must have

Gigette Miller wrote:The few times I've been in a climbing gym, I became agitated having to listen to loud acid rock. ... I'd like mellow music, or no music at all.

I agree. Don't put on music that a number of people are going to find obnoxious, unless you are trying to convince them not to return to the gym.

Keep the volume down (it might be nice if the climber and belayer can actually speak to each other without screaming), and vary the type of music enough that you don't overwhelm people.

Casey Bernal wrote:ODUB odubmusic.com ... a must have

I have to second Casey's vote for ODUB. You have to love rock climbing themed battle raps.

Final Fantasy soundtracks...people will feel like they are saving the world while they are climbing :-D

If your gym were in Bouldaire, just run a continuous loop of String Cheese Incident.

How about sampling alot of sound effects, and having the counter people (who don't really do anything else anyway) strategically play appropriate sounds like creaking when someone barndoors, fart sounds, applause, etc.

"A.B.T."

Anything But Techno.

Boom Boom Boom NNNst NNNst NNNst Boom Boom Boom NNNst NNNst NNNst Boom Boom Boom NNNst NNNst NNNst Boom Boom Boom NNNst NNNst NNNst Boom Boom Boom

I'd barf if I didn't have to swallow it, on the account of clinching my teeth so hard. I never understood the cultural link between rave music and drugs until I went to one. Within minutes I had my hand extended to my friends:
"If you want me to stay here, I am going to need some of that too."

-T.

anything but folk music

90's rap is usually the best. 

i play a LOT of post rock and atmospheric metal at my openers. russian circles, mogwai, GY!BE, deafheaven, etc. heavy and emotional but drum and percussion driven. was pleasantly surprised at how much my regulars enjoyed it

Erroll Mwrote:

i play a LOT of post rock and atmospheric metal at my openers. russian circles, mogwai, GY!BE, deafheaven, etc. heavy and emotional but drum and percussion driven. was pleasantly surprised at how much my regulars enjoyed it

deafheaven is legit...but i need some bumpin' vibin' sending music. 

not godspeed :(