The Internet has opened up new platforms for the musician and music lover.
Grooveshark, a Gainesville company, is a Web-based music application that aims to improve the connection between people and music.
By providing on-demand access to music, as well as live performances, Grooveshark introduces the artist to the fan and vice versa.
On Saturday at Common Grounds, Grooveshark is hosting a show with Matt Butcher and the Revolvers, along with The Ones to Blame and The Deep and Holy Sea. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets are $6.
The show is the first of 2009, and it will be one of the five or six shows Grooveshark puts on a year.
Matt Butcher and the Revolvers is the headliner for this show. Matt Butcher, or MB, has no real expectations for the show other then to play well.
"Just playing live to people, that's one of my favorite things to do," he said. "As a songwriter too, it is a way for you to connect with a complete stranger. I feel a connection there, even though we've never talked before."
The concert has been set up around the release of the 25-year-old singer-songwriter's new album, "Me and My Friends."
MB said he is very proud of the album because of its honest storytelling.
"I picked songs that were the best fit and the most honest from my life," he said. "Even before I put the record out, I already considered it a success because I liked it."
Aside from his new album, Butcher is also looking forward to seeing The Ones to Blame perform. The last time he performed with the quartet was when he was a part of a band called The Headens.
Beth Condra, a writer and booking promoter for Grooveshark, said she saw the two artists perform a few years ago and thought they produced a good dynamic.
"It had been a couple years since the two had played together and I thought it'd be really great to see them again on stage," she said. "And then The Deep and Holy Sea really complements their style."
Josh Bonnain, Grooveshark's vice president of sales and marketing, wants the show to be a fun experience not just for he audience, but also for the musicians and producers.
"If it wasn't for entertainment we would all go crazy," Bonnain said. "Music really is an art form. You don't appreciate an act until you see them actually performing in front of you."
The show was originally going to be at the end of December, but due to winter break and the lack of students in town, they decided to wait.
"Every time we do a show we try to make sure it'll impact the artist, so it helps the artist," Bonnain said. "At the end of the day it gets people to associate a great experience with Grooveshark, and that's what we want to provide."
The show's timing also harmonizes with The Deep and Holy Sea, who will be the opening act. It has been a couple of months since the Gainesville band has performed at home.
"We have been doing a lot of recording, practicing new material," guitarist David Turbeville said. "We've been on tour for a while so I'm pretty excited to play in Gainesville with all our friends."
The band is also preparing to release its new album in spring.
"I feel like there is a lot more continuity because everybody has been playing together for a while."
Turbeville said fans could look forward to hearing both new and old music at the show.
"I think it's going to kind of sort of draw a diverse group of people."
