The Local Music Scene Alive and kicking like a newborn baby...

...or fighting its own death?

By Charlotte Newman

Local music is the topic of discussion with an ever growing opinion of significance and worth. There comes a point in every hobby where it seems that its life is at its pinnacle. For Lake County’s music scene, it hit that mark in the late nineties spreading a couple years after the millennium. Creation and honest intrigue fed the hunger for young rockers with nothing to do. A show gave them purpose, drive and excitement for the week ahead. It inspired thought and provoked the uniqueness of individuals to let their repressed “un-cool” side free.

So, what happened?

Venues closed, change of pop culture tilted its hat in punk rocks direction. Punk music became mainstream and poseur became a hip term used frivolously by poseurs themselves. Audiences started to fade with the downside of maturity and responsibility. People moved away, moved on and left the rockin local scene to their teenage past. Most reflect fondly on their time spent at shows or in a garage band, but refrain from getting back into the scene for what it is presently. And who can blame them?

The new generation of local concert goers is an eclectic mix of ignorance and intelligence. They exclaim snobbishly to know and practice respect and unity of punk rock. But how is one to really know what it is about when they weren’t around for the initial wave of punk rock to know? Teenagers in the scene today have a vague glimpse of what pure punk rock entails. It’s like a story passed on from generation to generation and somewhere during this transfer of respect and music ideals, the story morphed. “We want unity but not conformity” but the unity and respect that is practiced is high school antics at its finest. I was recently at a show with Sean from Vacation Bible School (drummer and punk rock veteran) where he made a fine point: “Why go to a football game where the quarterback is going to kick my ass when I can go to a punk rock show where some punk ass kid will kick my ass.” The scenery has changed but the drama reeks in lack of respect that is found in your local hall ways.

But the shows still go on. I have been apart of our music community for years, and I’ve been disappointed, annoyed, but I have never lost complete faith. Lake County music makes me proud of living here because the potential it emits never ceases. We have maintained a constant interest in what our county presents musically. Fans will come and go and certain years are more exciting than others. We look to the “elders” or “music veterans” who have stuck with the fluctuating scene and empathize with our fascination of the unpredictable bands and shows.

Let’s practice unity and respect and leave the drama for those who are too careless to see the beauty that is happening here in Lake County and any other county that has a thriving music scene.

The scene will not die if we don’t stop caring, but fragile it is indeed. The scene counts on each and every one of you to express your interest in order to keep it alive.

Long live the music.