on community & the pittsburgh music scene...
feeble little horse are in hot water right now when it comes to the pittsburgh music scene. this interview came out, and this slide in particular peeved some people off:
who knows what they really meant with that, but it brings some things to mind. isn't the point of music to hang out with your friends, make the music you want to make, and have fun? i know that's why i do it, that's why my band does it, and why a lot of people in the pittsburgh scene do it. some seem to take the statement as "yeah, they're not really trying to make it big, they're not serious musicians in that place but we are." but could it also mean "pittsburgh is moving to the beat of their own drum, pittsburgh is real af?" perhaps. a half-baked answer from the band is pinned in the comments as some sort of damage control, but the deed is already done.
this also brought up a lot of anecdotal experiences from members of the community about how participatory this particular band's members are within the local scene. now, i don't really exist enough within their "side" of the scene to really comment on that fully, but if enough people are repeating certain points over and over again, a clearer picture starts to form. i'll let you form your own opinion on that one.
i would say i'm not the best example of showing up and showing out anymore. it's a bit different at 27 with a full time job than when i was 19 and ubering to shows after my 4-hour hostess shift at my parents' restaurant. i get tired, i get anxious, there's a plethora of reasons why i may not show up to a show all the time. but i do try to listen to local bands, buy records and merch, and show my love when i can. because in the end there's tons of great music out there, especially in your area, and you should be supporting those bands the most.
feeble little horse's comments inadvertently led everyone in our local scene to reevaluate what it means to be a community. a solid opinion is forming - you should show up how you can and show up LOUDLY because without mutual support no one thrives. pulling the ladder up as you climb is wrong.