This post really isn't for the well informed and tasteful regular buffaBLOG reader, this one is for friends of regular buffaBLOG readers, the folks who went "huh?" when the 2012 Thursday At The Harbor line-up was released, or say that no good shows ever come to Buffalo. I love when people say that, I just laugh when I hear that because right now there's good shows going off in this city on a regular basis, and this year's Thursday at the Harbor is clearly continuing that trend.
The issue at hand really, is that the good shows aren't "mainstream." The thing is, mainstream is rubbish. Mainstream is boring. Very boring, and I hate boring. Boring music sucks, it wastes your time, and deep down you know this is true. That feeling you get when you start to notice that a lot of stuff all sounds the same, or goes in one ear and out the other and doesn't move you in any meaningful way, yes, that's mainstream, and that's rubbish. People who love music and give a shit about music by definition cannot be down with that, and they're not. Some go into their music collections and enjoy the storied past, occasionally enjoying an old favorite when they pass through town, and that's cool. That too is a vital part of the Buffalo music scene. Others however soldier on in the present.
Buffalo radio, by and large, sucks. American Idol sucks. All of these tv talent shows suck. MTV? MTV sucks. Let's face it. Another white goofball, this time with two first names is "our new American Idol?" Come on. But wait. The new Beach House album debuts at number 7 on the Billboard albums chart and get ripped off in a tv commercial, like LCD Soundsystem and the Black Keys. Meanwhile, 2012's edition of Record Store Day was the biggest yet, with music fans flocking to shops to enjoy music and spend cash on stuff old and new they love. There are interesting cross currents going on in American music: a tidal wave of rubbish with a concurrent surge in under the radar good stuff, and the ad guys and girls on Madison Avenue are taking advantage of this (by hook or by crook it seems). What's feeding this incongruous yet pleasing surge of goodness? The fact that the internet is the new radio.
At first, it seemed like the internet would destroy music. The instant gratification and disposability of downloaded music for a while encouraged disposable music, and while that is certainly an ongoing trend, it isn't the only trend happening. In addition to keeping fans hip to what their favorites were up to, the internet is also disseminating good music in a variety of ways, including Record Store Day. Websites and blogs not only unite music fans, they've in some ways become radio stations. With a click of a button you can listen to song in a few seconds. Youtube has become a great way to test drive music. The first time I heard Best Coast on last.fm on my Xbox I immediately went and watched more of their stuff on Youtube, and that was that, in the matter of minutes. Conversely, you can tell pretty quickly if it's not doing it for you, and move on. In many ways it's better than radio because you can saw through stuff until you hit something that hits you, and then you can go for it. Buffalo radio? Not when you can plug an mp3 player into your car and listen to something you like or something that you discovered. Ah yes, the joy of discovery.
That's why the 2012 Thursday At The Harbor line-up is good, and that's why looking at the music ads in Artvoice is fun. You'd be amazed at the stuff going on in Buffalo if you plugged a few names into the Youtube/Pandora/Spotify search bar. Yes, the internet isn't just for pornography and Pinterest. Nostalgia is all well and good, but the now is doing all right, all things considered, even in Buffalo (which of course is were buffaBLOG comes in). There seems to be something for just about everybody.
But you already knew that, buffaBLOG readers. You've got other ways to stay on top of the situation. Again, this post wasn't strictly speaking for you. But if you want to share this via social media, I won't stop you. In fact I'll thank you.
And have a good Memorial Day. Thanks to all who've served.
what the fuck?
like.
Interesting post. The only thing I would disagree with is:
" Conversely, you can tell pretty quickly if it's not doing it for you, and move on. In many ways it's better than radio because you can saw through stuff until you hit something that hits you, and then you can go for it."
Although this is true, there are other ways to approach music that are sometimes lost in the new era. I've noticed that shuffling through random youtube videos, spotify songs and pandora radio tracks on tiny laptop speakers while i'm busy at work isn't exactly going to "move me" all the time. What's nice about traditional car radio is that while you are driving in the car with a nicer stereo sound, there is more action. A more stimulating listening environment.
I often think about listening environments (and one's own personal state) and how it affects the listening experience.