RTP-area local music and culture

["G.T. Tyson" <gtyson AT nc.rr.com>]

can you say:  Midlife Crisis?

and no, I don't mean the band (if there is one named that)

GTT




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.