What's in a name? Does thing-a-bobber take on a new meaning with a different label even if it's the same thing-a-magig? It's just words but by giving a title, you are giving an excuse for actions. And all the while there is a big hussy fuss about it. I mean you say tomato, I say tomahto! You say punk, I say punx! I say theatre, you say theater.....
We are a generation of generalizations. When it comes to music, what's post really? What exactly is meant by prog? And then there's the big one. Indie. I never understood how that could be classified as a genre. Plus there's endless variations; no one can entirely agree on one word. Indie pop, rock, etc. Once you add hardcore-electronic-math-dream-experimental-afro-indie folk into the mix, I get so lost. What is it!? It just sounds like music to my ears! AHHHH I HATE DECIDING!
Don't forget about the opposite of indie: Top 40. Despite the negitive hype attached with a major label that allows the possibilty of a producer making decisions for an artist, I don't think Top 40 is bad. The Beatles were in the top 40. And what did we get? Across the Universe! (oh and maybe some other great bands along the way too). But what would have happened if Across the Universe didn't exist? Yes, Julie Taymor might not have been able to go off and direct a Broadway bank-buster with an Irish dude in sunglasses who had a charted hit or thirty.
Sometimes I feel the same way about theatre that I do about top 40. There are so many independent theatre companies not on a certain street in New York or anywhere someone desires to hear a story, who put on a professional show without the big name production company which has a hot shot producer to front an endless budget. They work from a grassroots perspective. A sort of Do It Yourself philosophy which allows them to run all aspects of a theatre, acting, directing, lighting, sound, scenic design, etc themselves. The only way to be successful is for creativity to be at it's finest. It's that same gusto for the love of true theatre that drives the independent music scene. Insert any DIY punk band here: (Love is all we need. Except that love isn't really all we need. We need compassion. And we need empathy. And we need love. And we need money or another way to fulfill the BASIC needs we all have.)
I believe Broadway is fantastic. Top 40 ain't too shabby either. In this economy, everyone needs support. However, it is times like these that I usually find myself supporting the underdog instead.
Such as The Gaslight Anthem. They have been my obsession of this month. Somethings you can't explain. Somethings are understood better with no words and left alone for one to make a decision of their own. To each person who listens, it's considered something different. With this band, I don't get a chance to choose. I get the best of both worlds. And that's exactly why I like them.
This summer
grant us all the power
Woah there cowboy! Let's get some things straight. Theater is the building which stories are told. Theatre is that thing-a-macallit which one does. Okie dokie, so the next time I mention theatre you'll be thinking exactly what I am, right? That's equivalent to saying what's punk to you is punk to me. It's mighty hard when to some, punk died decades ago and to many, punk isn't even referring to music. Even when specific, both words still have different connotations.
We are a generation of generalizations. When it comes to music, what's post really? What exactly is meant by prog? And then there's the big one. Indie. I never understood how that could be classified as a genre. Plus there's endless variations; no one can entirely agree on one word. Indie pop, rock, etc. Once you add hardcore-electronic-math-dream-experimental-afro-indie folk into the mix, I get so lost. What is it!? It just sounds like music to my ears! AHHHH I HATE DECIDING!
Don't forget about the opposite of indie: Top 40. Despite the negitive hype attached with a major label that allows the possibilty of a producer making decisions for an artist, I don't think Top 40 is bad. The Beatles were in the top 40. And what did we get? Across the Universe! (oh and maybe some other great bands along the way too). But what would have happened if Across the Universe didn't exist? Yes, Julie Taymor might not have been able to go off and direct a Broadway bank-buster with an Irish dude in sunglasses who had a charted hit or thirty.Sometimes I feel the same way about theatre that I do about top 40. There are so many independent theatre companies not on a certain street in New York or anywhere someone desires to hear a story, who put on a professional show without the big name production company which has a hot shot producer to front an endless budget. They work from a grassroots perspective. A sort of Do It Yourself philosophy which allows them to run all aspects of a theatre, acting, directing, lighting, sound, scenic design, etc themselves. The only way to be successful is for creativity to be at it's finest. It's that same gusto for the love of true theatre that drives the independent music scene. Insert any DIY punk band here: (Love is all we need. Except that love isn't really all we need. We need compassion. And we need empathy. And we need love. And we need money or another way to fulfill the BASIC needs we all have.)
I believe Broadway is fantastic. Top 40 ain't too shabby either. In this economy, everyone needs support. However, it is times like these that I usually find myself supporting the underdog instead.
Such as The Gaslight Anthem. They have been my obsession of this month. Somethings you can't explain. Somethings are understood better with no words and left alone for one to make a decision of their own. To each person who listens, it's considered something different. With this band, I don't get a chance to choose. I get the best of both worlds. And that's exactly why I like them.
I started off the blog saying The Gaslight Anthem is classic rock (nooooo it doesn't really exist!) meets punk (grrrrrr punk died!). No one would have known what I meant. How could those words and those labels hold any weight at all? I decided I'd put it this way....
Two summers ago I was high off anything The Boss has touched. Last summer The Hold Steady scored my days. This summer I can't wait to blast The Gaslight Anthem on any given humid familiar afternoon. Because to some, The Gaslight Anthem is brazen rock n roll. To them, it's true punk. To everyone, it's music. To me, they are good, and maybe you can join me
This summer
grant us all the power
to drink on top of the water towers
with love and trust and shows all summer.
Let this be my annual reminderthat we can all be something bigger.
Raise a toast to St Joe Strummer.Think he might've been our only decent teacher.
Getting older only makes it harder to remember
we are our only saviors.
We're gonna build something this summer.
Getting older only makes it harder to remember
we are our only saviors.
We're gonna build something this summer.
