About a Roustabout!

Something clicked with me at this past weekend's all-ages Roustabout! Mainstays' the Bullet Parade were bookended by the Disconnect and the Brother Kite, who I'd heard nothing but great things about. But I found myself doing something I used to think I'd never do: sit through a show, idly talking, daydreaming, and more or less tuning the band out. And then I realized that this is a habit I've also picked up at a few Darkhorse Rousts, too.

So what was the problem? Well, on the surface, it just wasn't the greatest show. The Brother Kite had good qualities, but the vocals were pretty rough, and the songs were samey. But the more I paid attention, and the more I thought about it, the more I realized the more overarching problem: most Roustabout! bands sound pretty much the same.

It seems weird to say, because I'm a Roustabout! fan and have seen some excellent shows. It's one of the most consistently good concert opportunities in State College. But that virtue of consistency is also a huge failing: I've never hated a Roust show, sure. But I've not often been blow away either, and I've been indifferent often.

The Roustabout! Web site uses the genres "Britpop, indie, garage rock, shoegaze, synth, '60s soul, new wave and psych-rock" as the most common types of bands there. Those last four are red herrings: they just mean you'll see a keyboard now and then. And the first four, though distinct most of the time, kind of merge into a steady 4/4, rough-vooiced, chugchugchug guitar pattern when those bands hit the Darkhorse. It's standard rock to drink to, the kind of stuff where you could keep your head bobbing between sets and still be in synch when the next band comes on.

Where's the adventure? How about a folk or blues guy? How about an experimental band? Hell, how about anything not guitar-based? I'd love to see a rap or dance or electronic based act at a Roustabout! I say this fully realizing that rock bands are going to be the most common, but I'd still rather see a bad act in a fresh genre than a month of typical indie rock bands. I always promised myself I'd never be one of those guys who goes to a show and just drinks and ignores it, but it seems more and more appealing as more bands run together.