RTP-area local music and culture

[John Iwaniszek <not AT hotmail.com>]

grady wrote:

> 
> 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.
>> 
>> 
>> 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.


> *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


Dancing depressives AND humor impaired ("maybe if you wrote something funny" 
"sheesh, not only is he a bottom poster, but he fills in both sides of the 
conversation" "Schizophrenia?" "Naw, just playing.")