Recently I have been thinking about what role music has had in my life. I have especially been thinking about all the local shows I used to attend, (by local I mean shows in people’s basements, garages, living rooms, and back yards.) Whether they were the ‘avant garde’ progressive/experimental shows in the suburb or Elmhurst, the screamo/metal and the instrumental indie shows of my home town Oak Park, or the ska and punk shows of other various Chicago Land suburbs, there was always a sense of solidarity.
One of my favorite experiences was my first real punk show. It took place in september a couple of years ago right after school had started. I went with my twin sister and two other friends of mine. We were all dress rather ‘normal’ in jeans and t-shirts. When we arrived, the first thing I noticed was that everyone else was dressed in studded leather or jean jackets, combat boots and mohawks. Anywhere else all these people would stand out in a crowd, and now that they were all together it was us ‘normal’ people who stood out. I soon learned that no one there really care what we looked like, because we were all there for the music. Me and my friends were quickly integrated in to the group and no longer felt like outsiders. As I look back at this experience I am still memorized by the openness and nonjudgmental attitude of everyone at the show. I would later find this attitude at most shows I attended no matter what genera of music was being played. It is this aspect I miss most, sharing solidarity with a group of people who enjoy music.
The following is a poem I wrote in the summer of 2009. It basically explains the power and beauty of small local shows.
When the musics just right it over powers the room and makes everyone feel alright.
Worries and troubles go out the window and the melodies and beats move through your body like a shock of happiness.
Each individual part can be heard but they are interconnected in to one.
The musicians just don’t play the music, they are the music; they swing and sway, and bang and jump giving their all to the music that swirls and flows through the room.
As everyone moves
To
With
At
The beat, the music becomes more than just notes and sounds.
It is alive!
Alive with all emotions
This kind of music you normally don’t pay a lot or anything at all to see. No ridiculously priced tickets. Just people who love music, the music that lives within.
Another thing I want to talk about is the music scene in Elmhurst. It was one of the strongest and well put together music scene I have ever experienced. ( Currently I do not know how well they are doing for I have not been to a show there in a while). When I was there there were shows almost every month, this is partly because of UniCom. UniCom is self described as a “collective community made up of kids from the town of Elmhurst, IL. We host shows at various houses around Elmhurst with about 1-5 bands per show. Usually each show has a theme and people tend to bring food or drinks for everyone to share. Come join the fun-loving music scene in Elmhurst! Help us keep the community thriving by coming to the shows and dancing your fucking ass off(pretty much everyone does). Anyone is welcome to join in the fun, unless you're a dick.” This music community had drug and alcohol free shows that gave bored youth something to do. If i had to compare it to something in New Orleans I’d say it is i bit like Community Records
I know this post doesn't really have anything to do with protest, but the music from theses local bands helped form who I am today. They made me think about how people interact with each other when gathered for the cause, (in this case the enjoyment of music). I can truly say that I am a less judgmental person because of the music communities I have been apart of during my high school years. I have learned that music tends to bring people together, no matter how different they might be.
Here are some videos of a few of the local bands I used to see in and around the Chicago area.
