Introducting The Jaded Scenester

Okay, this may spin off into a whole 'nother "section" of the music page, something I've been meaning to do for a while. But, slacker that I am, I haven't gotten around to it. I'm also a little wary of a page that's going to routinely slam the local scene for it's peculiar idiosyncracies. I get in enough Googlebaiting trouble as it is. For the time being, I'll try to disguise actual names when I'm not talking about bands I'm actually playing in, but anyone with half a brain will be able to triangulate what I'm talking about.

Anyway, here goes. Feedback is encouraged so I can fine-tune the "voice." And be warned -- I'm going to be dark, and sarcastic. Don't take it too personally.

Went to see a band last night at one of my preferred joints. What impresses me about where I've gotten in this town is that one of the owners called me the "hardest working man in show business," and coming from someone that owns a rock club, that actually means a lot. Although, much like people who actually say I'm some kind of great drummer, I know too many guys who work harder and better to take it to heart. Still, I appreciate the sentiment.

First thing I saw was a poster for, um, "My Mixed Metaphor." I don't think I can even disguise talking about this in a way that won't get me in trouble. Suffice it to say I won't be going to that one.

I missed a band we will, for our purposes, call "The Grommits." I shared a bill with them probably about two months ago, for what was apparently their first show. They sure made it to weekend duty in a hurry, which means they either got a lot better, or the pool may not be as deep as one might think or hope these days. Or they brought a lot more people in a second and/or third show that I missed. It's still all about asses in seats, and there's no reason that's ever going to change.

The next-to-last band, "Changing Seasons," was interesting. Sort of a Dashboard Confessional/Shins-style vocal over what would have sounded like Soundgarden if the singer decided to play electric instead of acoustic. The acoustic was a little jarring, as it just felt like the wrong texture to me. I'm sure that's what Chuck felt about my snares off approach in the studio last year. As it was with him, my problem with that texture is, admittedly, my problem.

Anyway, on to the headliners, the "Weekend Warriors," who also shared a bill with a band I played with on what was also their first gig. They are, by and large, a good-looking bunch, with an equally good-looking (female) crowd. I've commented on that before elsewhere. Except, upon further inspection, this is not a crowd that normally goes out to hear local original bands, and in my semi-exhausted state, this got to be a bit annoying. I don't need leftovers from a casting call for "Friends" taking cute pictures of each other incessantly while I'm trying to watch a band. That's why I don't go to Lincoln Park bars. This is my turf, my element, my club, and I want it back!

As for the band, they were just a little too mid-tempo for my state of mind this time around. Which, again, isn't a value judgement, just a reflection of where my head was at. Influences continute to be worn on their sleeves, but they're not bad influences, and there are a couple of them -- although I don't know about the guy I talked to on the way out who said he heard some Mogwai -- so that's not a problem. At several points, the singer came across as a dead ringer for Robert Smith of The Cure. Vocally, anyway, as any more than that would be pretty disturbing.

Overall verdict? Weekend Warriors continue to be a band worth watching, because as long as they bring in the ladies, us guys will follow, and that can snowball into a significant audience pretty quickly, especially since they've got a sound that's particularly well-suited for their audience. Whatever that means. But upon further reflection, I would have rathered gone to see Helmet.