Late 80′s Seattle, Washington
The funny thing was many of the shows in [Charles] Peterson’s classic early Sub Pop photographs weren’t attended by more than a few dozen people. “Bruce [Pavitt] loved those Charles Peterson photos because it made it look like more of an event,” says Bob Whittaker. “Instead of sitting around a stinky club with a bunch of ugly people, it looked like this…scene. And we’re standing around, all smelly, going, ‘Huh? What’s the big deal?” (1)
Late 70s New York City, New York
“In those days [1978] most performances, whether in clubs or in art spaces, didn’t draw more than 40-50 people.” – Glenn Branca (2)
For you guys who are worried about how big your “scene” is, I give you the two above excerpts. Recently in the Chronicle’s blog and in a discussion with Chris Gray, the question of the “Houston” Scene came up. You know, there is nothing wrong with the music in Houston and all it’s various scenes. Sure, one sporting event will bring more people than 100 indie shows but so what? Who cares if most of the city is sitting home watching America’s Next Top Model (or whatever it’s called)? Let ‘em. Go out have fun, make stuff, if 40 people show up, so be it. Are they neat people and is the music good? Well hell, then it’s a party! In other words I don’t know how many people are going to show up at the Hootenanny and The Sad Like Crazy show tonight but damn if I ain’t goin’ out there.
That being said…
Credits:
(1) Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes fromt he American Indie Underground 1981-1991 Michael Azerrad (c) 2001 Back Bay Books pp.421-422
(2) New York Noise: Art and Music from the New York Underground 1978-1988 – Paula Court (c) 2007 Paula Court/Soul Jazz Publishing pp.54-55
Update
Blades (with guest Anna Garza) were a blast and John’s singing reminded us why they are an instrumental band. Joke! 
Indian Jewelry as Depeche Mode were strobe-a-riffic.
* Yes, John I know you were joking. 
You know, I think I’ve about had it with you prattling about the “local scene.”
Do you remember ten, twelve years ago when you didn’t give two shits about the “scene”?
What fucking gives. Who fucking cares about Houston? If you live here and like live music, go see some. Jesus, it’s a big city and there are a lot of bands. Plenty good ones. G-fucking-reat. Move on already. You don’t see me writing about the same damn thing every week, do you?
Hang on… scratch that.
Seriously though, who the hell is going to want to go out and catch bands based on your recommendatation that they are followed by “neat” people? Neat people? Who the fuck are you? Joel Osteen? Pussy.
Fuck local music, it’s local because no one gives a shit about it.
Guess what I’m doing tonight? Staying the fuck home.
Hootenanny. In my book, that’s called gay, as are you.
Drinking is fun.
Foodarama has 30-packs of Busch for $12.99. Just sayin. Sharpstown representin…
sweet ambrosia…
are the jonx any good? they’d better be, if they have the balls to cover nomeansno. why didn’t someone on that bill do jesus lizard?
btw john, i’m not buying your angry drunk shtick. your punctuation is way too good. try losing the quotation marks and using more run on sentences
A band named after a David Bowie song doing Jawbox songs? I’ve never heard a note and they may be my favorite band ever.
John = <3
I totally missed most of this Hootenanny… I saw the Dimes as the Pixies and that was about it… I wasn’t so much into what was happening after that, but I was pissed I missed the Mathletes as the Talking Heads, and whoever that was that did CCR. I wanted to hear some CCR dammit!
Wait a minute, THOSE PEOPLE AREN’T NEAT!!!
You liar, you!
john cramer said “Fuck local music, it’s local because no one gives a shit about it.”
best local music definition yet.
the indie rock scene gives a fuck about people giving a fuck about them. that’s what makes them indie rock.
as for me i was up the street at the punk show, breaking up fights and apologizing to the owner for the broken furniture. the hardcore scene: now there’s a scene that could give a fuck.
i’m with furr regarding punctuation. next you’re gonna tell me you’re one of those people who drive better drunk.
uh, non-sequitur time- you mentioned America’s Next Top Model- get a load of this: Shins member Martin Crandall arrested for domestic violence against America’s Next Top Model Elyse Sewell.
I never said I was drunk.
I am historically invisibly drunk though…
“are the jonx any good? they’d better be, if they have the balls to cover nomeansno. “
Duh, he said we were incredible. Doesn’t that sorta answer your question?
Honestly you make an excellent point, nomeansno was a lot to bite off. There was some pain involved.
“why didn’t someone on that bill do jesus lizard?”
The Guilloteens have more sense than some vis a vis self-embarrassment.
P.S. Ramon, thanks for the compliment. You are entirely too kind.
Y’all kicked it! It was sweet. You guys are always amazing to watch live your drums were particularly brutal in that small room. Unfortunately that room was too dark for any video to come out to prove it. But I swear y’all pulled it off in spades.
Yeah I noticed the Guilloteens kind of dropped of the radar on the whole Jesus Lizard thing. I think though they could have pulled off a nice scratch acid if they’d have put their minds to it.
Guilloteens
and
if they’d have put their minds to it
in the same paragraph…..
high comedy!
Yeah thank you. I’ll be here all week.
Oh PS someone asked why no Awesome shots. I had pinned myseld down by the PA speakers during the Dimes/Mlee set and couldn’t get down in time to beat the crowd in the small room. C’est la vie. 9 out of 10 bands wasn’t too bad.
Thanks John Sears for the “This is our last song” queue hint.
For the record, there is plenty of time for both watching your friends bands AND watching a hell of a lot of America’s Next Top Model.
- Melissa