Since we've added a new blog this semester (Inside the Music World), my colleague Dustin Pangonis and I will switch off as we see fit. Posting an entry here kind of feels like sitting in a seat that's long been occupied by someone else--at first it's uncomfortably warm, but hopefully I can become acclimated to the new environment.
Last week, Dustin wrote about the parity of the bands that play Roustabout! every week. While I can say there is a slight overload of britpop/indie-rock/post-punk/etc., there are a few good reasons for this. It all comes down to the bottom line. I would love to see a hip-hop act at a Roust, but I doubt that kind of show would sell many tickets. I'm sure there's enough of a hip-hop market in State College for that kind of show, but the crowd Roustabout! draws often has a lot of the same people coming back. I don't want to generalize, but I assume those people keep coming back because they know what they're getting from a Roust show. Booking a hip-hop act would involve weeks of promotion to get the word out to different groups of people. I might be pessimistic, but I don't think it'd be feasible.
It was funny Dustin should write that blog entry last week of all weeks. Just a day after he posted the blog, Roustabout! took a voyage into eclecticism. The original line-up for the show was a pair of Scranton-bred bands, Dr. Horsemachine and The Minor White. But when a couple members of Dr. Horsemachine had to back out of the show, a re-shuffling was in order. The Bullet Parade stepped in as a last-minute replacement, which--no offense to the band--wouldn't have solved Dustin's issues with Roust's lack of diversity.
But there was also another surprise--a member of fellow Roust band Okay Paddy (also from Scranton) joined an amalgamation of The Minor White and Dr. Horsemachine to make a new band. The spur-of-the-moment adjustment alone had me excited, but then I noticed a few quirks about the band: they played no electric instruments. And on top of that, one of the guys had a fiddle. They featured lots of improvisation in an alt-country style, and frankly, it was awesome. And I hope Roust organizer Jeff Van Fossan was paying attention, because the change-of-pace absolutely rocked the Darkhorse Tavern.
So much for a lack of variety.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
To-do list
With the State Theatre newly opened and the new semester starting, it might be a good time to give an overview of some of the arts activities available here and give a little to-do list of things to check out.
-Check out a Roustabout! concert. If you're 21, you'll have plenty of chances to attend at the Darkhorse Tavern on Wednesdays. If you're under 21, keep an eye out for the occasional all-ages shows they do at the hookah lounge (itself freshly renamed Chronic Town.) Roustabouts typically highlight good local groups and draw some great Pennsylvania and national acts, as well, and it's one of the more regular opportunities to see concerts. There is also an all-ages show this Friday.
-Look into a No Refund Theatre show. This is another easy one, as they put on performances most weekends in the forum.
-See an Outlaws peformance, too. They do shows on Thursday nights in the arts building. It's student-written, so the shows have a different flavor from NRT. It's worth checking both groups out at least once.
-Catch a SOMA show. It's a multiple arts club, so it can involve anything from music to film to comedy to visual arts, so it's always different. It can also be a good opportunity to check out a field of art you might not otherwise look into.
-Visit the State Theatre, which also features a variety of events, from concerts to screenings of clssic films.
-Find art showing. Be it the art museum, a display in the HUB, an artist's exhibition, or something else, keep an eye out for articles about art displays and take a few minutes to see one of the.
These are just a few of the basic suggestions. If I'm making any point, it's that there are lots of things going on all the time, and plenty of opportunities to try something new. Keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to try something new and get a better idea of what PSU has to offer.
-Check out a Roustabout! concert. If you're 21, you'll have plenty of chances to attend at the Darkhorse Tavern on Wednesdays. If you're under 21, keep an eye out for the occasional all-ages shows they do at the hookah lounge (itself freshly renamed Chronic Town.) Roustabouts typically highlight good local groups and draw some great Pennsylvania and national acts, as well, and it's one of the more regular opportunities to see concerts. There is also an all-ages show this Friday.
-Look into a No Refund Theatre show. This is another easy one, as they put on performances most weekends in the forum.
-See an Outlaws peformance, too. They do shows on Thursday nights in the arts building. It's student-written, so the shows have a different flavor from NRT. It's worth checking both groups out at least once.
-Catch a SOMA show. It's a multiple arts club, so it can involve anything from music to film to comedy to visual arts, so it's always different. It can also be a good opportunity to check out a field of art you might not otherwise look into.
-Visit the State Theatre, which also features a variety of events, from concerts to screenings of clssic films.
-Find art showing. Be it the art museum, a display in the HUB, an artist's exhibition, or something else, keep an eye out for articles about art displays and take a few minutes to see one of the.
These are just a few of the basic suggestions. If I'm making any point, it's that there are lots of things going on all the time, and plenty of opportunities to try something new. Keep your eyes open and don't be afraid to try something new and get a better idea of what PSU has to offer.
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