RTP-area local music and culture

[John Iwaniszek <not AT hotmail.com>]

Duncan Murrell wrote:

> You are one of the most negative downers I have ever read on this list 
> in my nine years of subscribing. Congratulations, Oscar!
> 
> d
> 
> 
> On Mar 6, 2005, at 8:36 PM, John Iwaniszek wrote:
> 
>> clo AT nc.rr.com wrote in
>> 1110144166.737751.291630 AT g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:">news:1110144166.737751.291630 AT g14g2000cwa.googlegroups.com:
>>
>>> I moved here in '98, so I don't claim to know whether the scene is
>>> better or worse than it was in what many locals refer to as it's 
>>> heyday
>>> (some time in the mid '90s I guess).    I will tell you that many of
>>> the common generalizations you'll hear about the music community in
>>> Chapel Hill/Carrboro are by my estimation more the product of certain
>>> people's social anxieties than any actual, valid observations of
>>> individual or collective behavior at bars and at rock shows.    For
>>> instance : just yesterday at work I overheard some folks dragging out
>>> that tired old Chapel Hill stereotype - the "hipster" who is too cool
>>> to dance at shows and stands there with his hands in his pockets.   I
>>> don't know how many times I've heard this complaint, too many.   It's
>>> one that mas made some traction even outside of town.   I guess the
>>> idea is that people at indie rock shows (which is in itself so broad a
>>> classification that it's essentially meaningless) are so self-concious
>>> that they're afraid to indicate whether they like the music or not, by
>>> dancing and such, for fear of being out of step with the herd or
>>> appearing uncooly enthusiastic in some way.   This is complete
>>> bullshit.  I don't dance at most shows I attend, I usually prefer to
>>> snag a seat or a good spot against the wall and drink a lot of beer.
>>> I don't think I'm alone in this.   I don't think it's a crime.   When 
>>> I
>>> was younger and went to more punk rock shows I certainly jumped around
>>> and slam danced or whatever you want to call it and I'm sure people
>>> still do at those kinds of shows but is that kind of energy expected
>>> from me at all rock shows, all the time?   Some bands strive to make
>>> the underground rock show more of a give and take and think if the
>>> crowd isn't going completely bannanas something is out of whack, but
>>> I've got to admit that for the most part I go to rock shows for a
>>> passive experience on my part, and not all but some of those bands are
>>> simply trying too hard to get their egoes stroked by the crowd anyway.
>>>  Looking out off the stage to a mellow crowd just doesn't do it for
>>> them I guess.   When I hear someone in a band say "hey, move up to the
>>> front, c'mon, lets get into it" or whatever it's a big turnoff for me
>>> personally; not damning but definately annoying.    I just want to see
>>> some bands play, hang out with my friends, and get maybe get loaded.
>>> I don't expect to be judged on how much I appear to get into the 
>>> music,
>>> no one should.    If I'm particularly moved or in a certain mood, 
>>> yeah,
>>> I might get up and dance or whatever.    But this idea that Chapel 
>>> Hill
>>> is so up it's own ass that it can't express itself is plain stupid.
>>> Let's put it to rest.  And for that matter let's stop perpetuating the
>>> myth that the music scene is so exclusive.    There is no secret
>>> handshake, you don't have to know every bit of local music folklore
>>> minutia to fit in, and from what I've seen since I moved here, people
>>> are for the most part pretty darned friendly.   No place is perfect,
>>> but not many cities in this country have music scenes that are as 
>>> open,
>>> inclusive, supportive, and non-competitive.    Believe me, travel
>>> around a bit and you'll find that some music scenes can be pretty
>>> cutthroat and even downright nasty.   We've got it good.
>>>     I applaud your efforts to analyze and document the story of the
>>> Chapel Hill/Carrboro/Triangle music scene for the academic world.
>>> Best of luck with it.    I believe it is a worthy endeavor.  Make sure
>>> you make note of these things in your thesis so our 
>>> rock-music-playing,
>>> rock-show-attending grandkids might not be subjected to this brand of
>>> weird, self-defeating reverse-snobism!   It's only rockandroll, but
>>> darn it, I like it.
>>>
>>
>> Get your hands out of your pockets and dance.
>> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
>> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
>>
> 
> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene
> 

So is that why scenesters don't dance?  It depresses them?  Well, then; by 
all means.  Keep your hands in your pockets and stand still.