Things That Threaten My Sanity: Regionalism
Local and regional music scenes are great. There’s a lot to be said for communities of artists, promoters, and fans forming support systems to enable success outside of the mass mainstream model that so often squelches the independence of its stars. Or forming support systems to help catapult local/regional acts to that national level so that they can have their independence squelched (if that’s what they want). In his excellent Red Dirt: The Power of Infrastructure at The 9513 last year, Ben Cisneros (himself active in the Southern California scene) concluded:
I, for one, hope that not only does Red Dirt music continue to thrive, but that folks in other regions of the country follow Texas/Oklahoma’s example, get organized, and work together to enable regional success for independent artists playing new, original country music.
Amen to that. I’m all for getting organized and supporting the music.
I’m not as crazy about the insular, myopic attitudes you sometimes find within these scenes. Like rabid Red Dirt fans loudly proclaiming the superiority of everything Texas to everything anywhere else (especially everything Nashville). Or some Nashville industry type who hangs out with bassists from justly forgotten ’90s bands proclaiming that Texas music is “quite un-polished (poorly recorded both vocally and musically)” compared to “the polished sound of good vocals and fine musicianship that Nashville is known for.”
Sometimes it’s outright antagonism, deliberate ‘us’ versus ‘them’ posturing: selling t-shirts with silly slogans on them or making a career of singing songs about how Nashville sucks. Or, on the flip-side, assuming that the world revolves around Nashville, that music made elsewhere is music on its way to becoming something good enough to make a dent in the consciousness of Music City. As though Nashville is the endpoint of every artist’s musical evolution. (Boy, wouldn’t that be terrible.)
Sometimes it’s just ignorance. People who spend most of their time wrapped up in the Texas scene or the Nashville scene or any other scene assume that whatever they’ve got going is better than what happens anywhere else… without really bothering to expose themselves to or understand music from outside.
Maybe my attitude toward this is partially informed by my own location. If I were in Nashville, I might be content to focus on the music happening around town without bothering to look elsewhere. There would certainly be enough happening to keep me occupied. I’m sure the Texas circuit could keep me busy too.
In Northern California, though, I get used to looking elsewhere. Because if I didn’t, there wouldn’t be much to look at. I like country music from Nashville, Texas, California, Kentucky, Illinois, North Carolina, New York, Oregon, Australia, and lots of other places. I just like country music, period, and don’t care where it comes from. The internet makes it easier than ever to be this type of music fan.
I’m glad that regional scenes exist to support the careers of acts I enjoy, so I guess I’m also glad (in a certain way) that some people militantly support these scenes to the detriment of all others. That sort of fervor keeps people coming out to shows and keeps musicians working. As a consumer of music, though, I can’t imagine imposing those restrictions on myself. I listen with my ears, not with my geographical biases.
Yup, ditto, particularly the last paragraph.
I should add that if I was in a region that could boast a certain type of good music, I’d be one of those obnoxious regionally proud people though. So, I can’t blame them in the least.
My regional bias is directed primarily towards those quality practitioners of the “Bakersfield Sound” most of which are deceased. San Diego’s “Palominos” sound about as close to Buck and the Buckaroos as you can get these days this side of Austin and yet they have a hard time finding gigs, which is a shame.
I like to hang out at times with the core supporters of LA’s country music scene on Sundays, where they attend the Americana Brunches at the Redwood Pirate Bar downtown and then the free afternoon shows at th Grand Ole Echo Club in Echo Park. LA based artists like Mike Stinson, David Serby, and Dead Rock West have developed fan bases but even they are lucky to draw a hundred people to a club. LA’s indigenous country scene is pretty moribund these days, but it has become like a close knit family since there are so few followers.
Speaking of Hollerin’ Ben, a band which is friends of his named “West of Texas” is playing in a cowboy dancing bar tonight in Bellflower. I don’t dance nor care much for bars, but I am going just to show support.
PS – As for the whole Texas vs. Nashville debate, I think a lot of musical crap is pouring out of both locales these days. There is quality music too, but as usual you have to go digging around to find it. That’s where the blogs come in handy! Well, to a point anyway….
Very interesting post. Thanks.
This is a really thoughtful and interesting piece. Me like.
“[People] assume that whatever they’ve got going is better than what happens anywhere else… without really bothering to expose themselves to or understand music from outside.”
This is true for regional fans, those of sub-genres, and even those who blindly and unconditionally follow certain artists. I’ve seen a lot of it in the past couple years – sometimes with music that puzzled me greatly.
As part of the Texas scene, I fully understand what you’re saying. The problem I have with the Nashville scene is two things.
One, what ever happened to writing your own songs. now, I know alot of great hits were writing by folks who don’t sing. but as someone who only records song he writes, I can’t tell you how much pride I have when someone asks me to play one of my songs, or makes a comment about how awesome a song is.
Two, overproduction. My band is fourpiece. When we record, I like to keep it the same. If your band doesn’t have steel and keys, or horns, why add them to the cd? Folks might buy the cd, and love it. Then at a live show, they aren’t happy because you don’t sound as good as the cd. If they like the live show, they may not like the cd because it doesn’t sound like the live show.
Just my simple thoughts.