During my drive to work today, rocking out to The Fullblast, a wave of nostalgia came over me. Memories of local shows flooded my mind. They are playing a reunion show tonight for the first time in two years. I’m a little sad I can’t go, but driving to Toronto on a Wednesday night doesn’t work so well for me.
Local music filled my weekends and occasionally my weekdays from the time I was a junior in high school through college. I realized it was the same 15 – 20 bands I saw over and over and over again.
How many nights did I spend at VFW halls packed with kids, singing until I lost my voice and drinking in the parking lot? I’d go to a show, didn’t matter who was playing, and there were all my friends – every single one of them.
Almost can’t watch this without crying a little. I was standing just to the right of the camera.
I miss the high-fives, the handshakes and heartbreaks, the 40 ouncers, sing-a-longs, parking lots full of vans, late night trips to Pizza Bell, the Wrecking Crew, bball before the show, hanging out at the Supina’s, my ridiculous haircut, makeups, makeouts, solos and the overrated clapping part in every other song, holes in ceilings, grumpy old men, touring band sleepovers, no girlfriends allowed, halloween, and the songs…damn those kids were talented.
I miss it all. I hope the scene is still there, but the bands broke up and the kids moved on and I think all that passion went with them. We were really, really spoiled with how amazing it was.
So, to the King of the Detroit Local Music Scene, you know who you are…thanks for the memories.
I made a playlist on Last.fm, too many bands are missing. B was in about 50 of them ;)
I’ll go through my photos when I get home, I’m sure I’ve got some good ones I can post.
(Does anyone know how to put a playlist chart on a blog?)
Comments (9)
steph – it was the best time ever. those are my absolute favorite memories. and look at all the amazing people we met because of it!
I was just talking with some friends the other day about how amazing we had it when we were a bit younger and there were shows every weekend and tons of kids would come out and it was like this huge meeting of all these people from all over the state(s) and we all got along and we all became friends and it was pretty much the best time EVER. I don’t know if that will ever happen again due to the mainstream of things and due to the fact that kids just aren’t hosting hall shows like they used to. But nonetheless we were really lucky that we got to experience that!!
jess – yes! it was amazing. only wish i could find more videos.
Remember when I sent you these youtubes vids? I actually listened to before i go the other day – boy do i miss those times, carefree and CARELESS times, but it was great, right?
:)
narm – i’m trying to convince the bf to put on a show when he gets back from tour. you’ll have to drive your butt up here and check it out.
jamie – yay! best memories ever :)
athena – yeah, i’m so out of the loop now that’s i’m all growed up, i have no idea if there’s still a scene or not.
jessica – totally – i’m trying to get b to throw a show when he gets back.
I went to three different high schools, and only one managed to have a local music scene – and I LOVED going to those VFW halls, bowling alleys, etc. and rocking out next to my friends. In college, it was far easier to get into the local scene and dude…I miss it, too. I loved the way that music and these small bands fostered a (positive) community – so amazing.
I remember this… Still do it occasionally.. my brother and sister are both in (seperate) local bands, but yeah.. high school parking lot nights, really crowded ‘clubs’ with burnt cars out front, just dead warehouses converted with no real stage.. I loved it, and yeah, some great music. There is some new scene now that I’m well out of high schoool and they’ve got new bands and new hangouts, so that’s really weird to me. But man, I loved it too.
Oh my gosh, this posts brings back so many memories. This was my life a few years back.
100% jealous – grew up in an area with no music scene and didn’t even have one through college. The Real World makes it hard to enjoy much of one now.