tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55669689756006313.post178573437431741080..comments2023-11-03T11:04:18.211-05:00Comments on where the rock is: Punk Rock Guilt IIRobert Griffinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12083668491519414851noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55669689756006313.post-47552809045601170182008-06-25T12:31:00.000-05:002008-06-25T12:31:00.000-05:00What about Nachtmystium? And Trouble's reunion alb...What about Nachtmystium? And Trouble's reunion album that was so fucking awesome? All less visible than the indie rock I guess (which is mostly neither), but at least it's there. Pretty much nothing in StL, just a couple bands. And Chicago had that Alehorn of Power or whatever fest with Manilla fucking Road! And the Metal Haven record store... from where I sit, Chicago looks pretty damn good, metal-wise.Robert Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083668491519414851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55669689756006313.post-75509744348669668142008-06-22T11:31:00.000-05:002008-06-22T11:31:00.000-05:00I noticed the same thing upon moving to Chicago. ...I noticed the same thing upon moving to Chicago. Chicago is the self-designated indie rock nexus of the universe. And, to some degree it's deserved. Judging by clubs alone, it's got a well deserved rep--Empty Bottle is the kind of place like the beloved Beachland Ballroom and Tavern: almost doesn't matter who's playing because it'll be a fun night just being there. Hell, they even allowed my indie rock art happening, the Complaints Choir of Chicago, headline with 1 song that lasted 7 minutes (but we sang it twice just to be sure people felt like they got their money's worth).<BR/> <BR/> But, this place is devoid of metal. The planets are out of balance here. Losing oneself in the melodious strains of Helen Money is fine, but don't the kids want to rage once in awhile? Would it kill Pitchfork Fest to book Dragonforce? The answer is clearly, yes.<BR/><BR/> And yeah, the thing about the chicks and metalheads is more of a pop culture view than actual truth. Us punks had our share of new wave girls, as Ron House would put it.Frank Maucerihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09645360289898493980noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55669689756006313.post-44279017449743965172008-06-18T13:39:00.000-05:002008-06-18T13:39:00.000-05:00Black Death ruled! The 80s underground metal scene...Black Death ruled! The 80s underground metal scene in Cle was definitely significant. Whether you were into it or not, its presence and vitality could not be ignored. That was one of the first things I noticed after moving to StL - where are all the metal bands? I'd just assumed every town had a significant metal scene. And the scenes were much closer than you'd think - I remember being at Chris' Warped seeing metal guys buying Black Flag LPs, punks buying Venom, and gods know plenty of people were nuts for Slayer. And of course the Friday metal, Saturday punk booking policy at the Pop Shop. We may have been suspicious of each other, but there was so much more in common between those scenes than people saw at the time. How many bands were covering Motorhead back then? More than I can recall. And really, isn't modern black metal pretty much a dark & psychedelic version of hardcore? OK, it's more than that, and there are genuine differences too, but I see lots of parallels there.<BR/><BR/>So yeah, I've got plenty of love for the metal, if you want to hear interesting guitar playing in the 00's, there's more of it happening there than anywhere else. That new Leviathan album, Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, is a total mind-blower and the drumming is awe-inspiring as well. I also love Hammers of Misfortune, Slough Feg, Gates of Slumber, many others.<BR/><BR/>I don't know if the metal dudes got all the chicks though - those shows were just as much sausage-fests as the punk shows. But the metal chicks were more fun, heh.Robert Griffinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12083668491519414851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55669689756006313.post-42963624158494433512008-06-12T15:17:00.000-05:002008-06-12T15:17:00.000-05:00Excellent post Robert. But, I must take exceptio...Excellent post Robert. But, I must take exception with Brant's premise that punk was one of the only meaningful forms of music in the 80's.<BR/>Cleveland was without a doubt a special place in the era 1974 through 1987ish. Hell, maybe before '74 it was special: The Choir, Granicus, Damnation of Adam Blessing, et cetera et cetera. And, in a weird cross section of physics/alien abduction/alternate realities, it's a scene that grew out of a freakin' local late night TV program more so than wanting to be the next MC5. And, of course, I was a fan lapping it all up, especially once I became old enough to attend gigs, starting around 1981. And I too am guilty of something I call the myopia of punk: the state of mind, the opinion, that in the period in question, punk, and it's various permutations, was god and nothing else can touch it.<BR/> Myopia in that years later, we can see the lasting impacts, but more importantly, we can see what we missed. I really wish during that time way back when I would have been more of a metal head than punk rocker. Smirk if you will, but metal ruled in the 80's, and it's impact far exceeds that of punk. Metal kids sold more records, played more gigs to more people, and walked away with more chicks. Silly as that sounds, that's what rock'n'roll is ultimately about in my book. Don't get me wrong, punk is what I lived, loved, and listen to to this day (well that, and a ton of Scandinavian psych and prog), but the underground metal kids did it just a bit better.<BR/> Punk's impact today? I think it's about equal to metal's impact, but it's hard to say. That's the myopia at work. Metal kids today, and yes, there's a huge underground metal scene today, still sell more records and play larger gigs, maybe not just here in the States (except San Francisco), more so in Europe.<BR/> Honestly though, I have no idea what the kids like today. If American Idol is any indication, I really have no idea what kids find interesting. I mean, can you imagine even the corniest of nerds from Cleveland or anywhere circa 1982 listening to stuff as sickening sweet as the fluff passed off for rock'n'roll today? Can you imagine kids back then dressing in janitor clothes with expensive gender-confusing haircuts. What do kids even consider to be punk rock these days? I have no idea. I do have my favorites though, anything on Fonal Records, for example, and it seems those are often undiscovered, but maybe not. Yes, Iron & Wine is the new Seals and Croft, and given the choice between Trans Am 80's cock rock or 00's yacht rock (almost the second coming of MSB?), well, Stroke Me Stroke Me.<BR/> And then there's the Easter Monkeys. Myopia or not, they were without a doubt the best. The LP is of course a revelation, but anyone lucky enough to possess the mythical alternate mix, or a tape of their WRUW in-studio live appearance (name checking my band for 3 months, The Dissidents), knows that they were truly special. Want to hear a crazy one? Jimmy told me once the best gig they ever did was with Black Death! Metal love, baby.<BR/> Keep it alive Robert, looking forward to the next post.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com