perfect way to desribe the "rock" scene

[Bob Clayton]

saw this in someone's myspace.
i really like it and think it's a very accurate description.

You're more punk, hardcore, mod, straightedge, emo, indie than me. Your hair is cooler, your pants are tighter, you have more tattoos. You have cooler pins on your messenger bag and your favorite band is more obscure than mine. Your shoes are more vintage and so is your t-shirt. You own more black clothes than me. I don't even own a denim jacket. Your glasses are thicker and blacker than mine, the plugs in your ears are bigger. You know more people in bands and your black jelly bracelets are the envy of scenesters everywhere. Your photography is blacker and whiter, your MySpace profile is wittier, and you have more people in your friends list. Your tie is whiter, or redder, or blacker. Your scene points are double, perhaps triple, mine. Because as we all know, that's what really matters. In a scene where the music has taken a backseat to the haircuts, you win and I lose.

[James Hart]

Popular music is just that... popular. If you want music for the sake of music, you need to expand a little


The more things change, the more they stay the same...

Originally Posted by Billy Joel in 1980's "Glass Houses" LP

What's the matter with the clothes I'm wearing?
"Can't you tell that your tie's too wide?"
Maybe I should buy some old tab collars?
"Welcome back to the age of jive.
Where have you been hidin' out lately, honey?
You can't dress trashy till you spend a lot of money."
Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound
Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me

What's the matter with the car I'm driving?
"Can't you tell that it's out of style?"
Should I get a set of white wall tires?
"Are you gonna cruise the miracle mile?
Nowadays you can't be too sentimental
Your best bet's a true baby blue Continental."
Hot funk, cool punk, even if it's old junk
It's still rock and roll to me

Oh, it doesn't matter what they say in the papers
'Cause it's always been the same old scene.
There's a new band in town
But you can't get the sound from a story in a magazine...
Aimed at your average teen

How about a pair of pink sidewinders
And a bright orange pair of pants?
"You could really be a Beau Brummel baby
If you just give it half a chance.
Don't waste your money on a new set of speakers,
You get more mileage from a cheap pair of sneakers."
Next phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways
It's still rock and roll to me

What's the matter with the crowd I'm seeing?
"Don't you know that they're out of touch?"
Should I try to be a straight 'A' student?
"If you are then you think too much.
Don't you know about the new fashion honey?
All you need are looks and a whole lotta money."
It's the next phase, new wave, dance craze, anyways
It's still rock and roll to me

Everybody's talkin' 'bout the new sound
Funny, but it's still rock and roll to me

[Matt Till]

I wouldn't call what that guy is describing "rock"

[AxtoOx]

Image over substance, when I first started out, having hair down to the middle of your back was more important than talent to get in a band.
Same story different image.

[43% burnt]

Sounds exactly like the scene formerly known as "hardcore"

[Bard2dbone]

Originally Posted by AxtoOx

Image over substance, when I first started out, having hair down to the middle of your back was more important than talent to get in a band.
Same story different image.

I remember this all too well. I was once invited to audition for a band that I had owned albums from back in high school. I was totally psyched for the audition. I went to the hall where they were having the try-outs. I saw a line of several guys, all with a gig bag on their shoulders. So I got in line with them. Some minutes later a guy came over and identified himself as a member of the management team.(TEAM? They have a management TEAM???) He said "I'm sure you're a monster player, or you wouldn't be here. But we're also looking for a look. And you really don't have it."

I was rejected without ever playing because I was a heavy guy with short hair, and they were looking for a guy with eighteen pounds of hair and a tiny butt.

This would have been much less insulting if the band in question had had a history as a bunch of pretty-boys...but it was for Foghat.

I am officially too ugly for rock and roll.

[smo]

I hear what you're saying - its a shame. Sorry to hear it, you'd think the management team would've given you the opportunity to try out first - and then told you to grow your hair out?

But i like the other side myself........
NO one is too ugly for rock and roll.
Have you seen the drummer for the Melvins?

[Matt Till]

HAHAHAHAHHAHAH!!! That's the greatest story ever!! You sir, are not a fool for the city...

That made my day.

[Jonesy4fnk]

"Tinsel-town Rebellion"
F.Zappa

From Madam Wong's to Starwood
To the Whiskey on the Strip
You can hear the crashing, blasting strum
Of bands that come to be real hip
And get a record contract
From a talent scout some day
They'll sell their ass, their cocks and balls
They'll take the check 'n' walk away
If they're lucky they'll get famous
For a week or two perhaps
They'll buy some ugly clothes to wear
And hope the business don't collapse
Before some stupid magazine
Decides they're really good
They're a Tinsel Town Rebellion Band
From downtown Hollywood

Tinsel Town Rebellion, Tinsel Town Rebellion Band
It's a little bitty Tinsel Town Rebellion
A Tinsel Town Rebellion Band

They used to play all kinds of stuff
And some of it was nice
Some of it was musical
But then they took some guy's advice
To get a record deal, he said,
They would have to be more punk
Forget their chops and play real dumb
Or else they would be sunk
So off they go to S.I.R. to learn some stupid riffs

Oh no! No no no no no no no no! Cause the aces are good

And when they think they've got it
They launch a new career
Who gives a **** if what they play
Is somewhat insincere
Let's dance the blues again
Everybody!
Dance the blues again
Come on and
Dance the blues again
Get down from the...

I write the songs that make the young girls cry!

Did you know that in Tinsel Town the people down there
Think that substance is a bore
And if your New Wave group looks good
They'll hurry on back for more
Of leather groups

I do I!
We'll rock you like a nincompoop!

and plastic groups

Rubber goods!

And groups that look real queer

I'll tumble for ya!
(He'll tumble for ya!)
I'll tumble for ya!
I'll tumble for ya very much!
Moo moo moo moo moo
(Home town sausage tambourine)
Moo moo moo moo moo
Moo moo moo moo moo
Moo moo moo moo-wah!

The Tinsel Town aficionados
Come to see and not to hear
But then again this system works
As perfect as a dream
It works for all of those record company pricks

Let's see that record company prick again

It works for all of those record company pricks

Now do it when it hits the floor
It works for all of those record company pricks
Who come to skim the cream
From the cesspools of excitement
Where Jim Morrison once stood
It's that Tinsel Town Rebellion
From down down down
(down down down)
Town town town
(town town town)
Holly lolly lolly
(holly lolly lolly
Woody woody Pecker pecker
(Woody woody Pecker pecker)
Wood

Woody Pecker pecker!
Woody woody Pecker pecker!
Hi ho Woody!
Hi ho Pecker!
One-Adam-Twelve, see de pecker!

[smo]

After reading that I'm starting to understand why Zappa gave his kids such wierd names.........

[43% burnt]

Originally Posted by smo

NO one is too ugly for rock and roll.
Have you seen the drummer for the Melvins?

Lol...and to top it off he almost always wears just a speedo.

[Matt Till]

And lets not forget Joe Preston... ex Melvin's bassist... current high on fire bassist... always a... ahem... looker.

King Buzzo isn't exactly a hottie either... the Melvins are ugly.

[43% burnt]

Originally Posted by Matt Till

And lets not forget Joe Preston... ex Melvin's bassist... current high on fire bassist... always a... ahem... looker.

King Buzzo isn't exactly a hottie either... the Melvins are ugly.

And weird...

Funny how the Melvins came up...they're like the most "non-scene" band I can think of.

[Coutts_is_god]

Jean Jackets are emo/punk/hardcore but I wear one. I have black glasses. I try to be witty, I use black and white photo to hind teenaged facial blemishes. I'm not emo. I'm in a Blues rock band. Meh.

I ask a couple of my "Emo" friends what power their glasses are. They said like theirs are the weakest glasses you can get. Then they asked what mine is. I said -2.50 and -3.00. For those of you who don't know. That is pretty poor vision

[Bob Clayton]

i'm at -1.5 and -1.75

[Against Will]

My girlfriend's -8 and -7.5 I believe.

But, Rock's always been about image! If it isn't tight pants, it's long hair and beads, if it's not long hair it's eye shadow and platforms, if it's not that then it's leather jackets and safety pins. If it's not that then it's finely tailored suits, italian boots and trim bowl cuts. As much as hipsterism sucks, part of the fun of rock and roll is the spectacle and aesthetic that goes along with it. For every Interpol or Strokes that comes along, there's a Lightning Bolt or Locust for whom the aesthetic is as important as the music being produced.

[somrandomguy]

Originally Posted by Against Will

My girlfriend's -8 and -7.5 I believe.

But, Rock's always been about image! If it isn't tight pants, it's long hair and beads, if it's not long hair it's eye shadow and platforms, if it's not that then it's leather jackets and safety pins. If it's not that then it's finely tailored suits, italian boots and trim bowl cuts. As much as hipsterism sucks, part of the fun of rock and roll is the spectacle and aesthetic that goes along with it. For every Interpol or Strokes that comes along, there's a Lightning Bolt or Locust for whom the aesthetic is as important as the music being produced.

Personally, I'd group the Strokes and Interpol into the style over substance category as well.

[P. Aaron]

Billy Joel doesn't 'rock'.

[Coutts_is_god]

Originally Posted by Against Will

My girlfriend's -8 and -7.5 I believe.

That is hardcore bad vision. I am impressed.

Clay I'm not so impressed

[Brad Barker]

Originally Posted by P. Aaron

Billy Joel doesn't 'rock'.

he "piano rocks."