Hopefully this all gets resolved. I'd have to argue that if anything, there are more local bands around now than ever. But being a "band guy" myself, I can say it's become increasingly difficult to book shows around town. There is a lot of competition. Lots of good places have bitten the dust in the last year or so - Javalounge, the Hub, now Old I. On the Y was a great place for metal bands, but they are hardly doing any shows anymore because they don't draw enough people. At least Old I has a chance of coming back.