RTP-area local music and culture

[grady <grady AT ibiblio.org>]

*and* he's a bottom-poster. Yeesh.

Listen, dude: maybe we should meet somewhere and you can show us all how 
to dance to, say, "Every Holy Shroud." I'm sure we could all benefit 
from your years of experience. Or, to pick a more contemporary example: 
I've *tried* to dance to Hotel Motel. Really I have.

Ross

John Iwaniszek wrote:
> 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.
> -- ch-scene: the list that mirrors alt.music.chapel-hill --
> http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/ch-scene