I debated hitting the "heart" button because it seemed wrong to "like" the concept of polka's death rattle, but I did it anyway to indicate support. Now *exhales cigarette*, prepare yourselves while I pontificate. Insufferably.
There's something vaguely paradoxical, or at least slightly incongruous, about this message and the other recent one from Rebellion Festival. Punk undoubtedly climbed out from the shadows, and ultimately became much more main stream (to the point where people started calling Blink-182 punk), which innately undercuts the concept of rebellion. I know, I know, that's one of the points of your prior article. But imagine for a moment that polka did the same. There would be a gleeful 5-10 year honeymoon period of "OMG! POLKA'S NOT DEAD!!", invariably followed by an adulterated, bastardized, mainstream adaptation that would itself invariably be monetized and eventually regulated.
That's not to say music shouldn't evolve. We wouldn't have The Beatles (or more aptly The Pogues) if it didn't. The point is, there's something tragically valorous about being the "old guard ." About being the torchbearer, but never the gatekeeper. Saying "I liked them before they were cool" is itself one of the uncoolest things one can utter. All music is available to everyone, always. But I'm not sure I trust today's society to be the custodians of it (see Rebellion Festival). It's why I love St. Virus Bar. There's something delightfully antiquated (and likely unsafe) about that red light on the street with no signage, the blacked-out door and interior, and the total lack of ventilation. It SCREAMS of a time gone by, but still alive as long as we continue to support it (setting aside that the government shut them down...f**k the man!!).
Punk traveled underground until it didn't. I submit to you that polka does the same. It's why one of my favorite lines in Polka Never Dies is "to the Main Street Legion Hall..." The inevitable wellspring of all things "oompah" in the upper midwest. It's dressed up, different, sure, but it's its own underground. And it'll continue to be long after we're gone.
The last thing I'll say is: you know it won't die in your lifetime, and if you keep preaching, it won't die in your kid's lifetime either. Because as long as someone's playing it, it's not dead.
I debated hitting the "heart" button because it seemed wrong to "like" the concept of polka's death rattle, but I did it anyway to indicate support. Now *exhales cigarette*, prepare yourselves while I pontificate. Insufferably.
There's something vaguely paradoxical, or at least slightly incongruous, about this message and the other recent one from Rebellion Festival. Punk undoubtedly climbed out from the shadows, and ultimately became much more main stream (to the point where people started calling Blink-182 punk), which innately undercuts the concept of rebellion. I know, I know, that's one of the points of your prior article. But imagine for a moment that polka did the same. There would be a gleeful 5-10 year honeymoon period of "OMG! POLKA'S NOT DEAD!!", invariably followed by an adulterated, bastardized, mainstream adaptation that would itself invariably be monetized and eventually regulated.
That's not to say music shouldn't evolve. We wouldn't have The Beatles (or more aptly The Pogues) if it didn't. The point is, there's something tragically valorous about being the "old guard ." About being the torchbearer, but never the gatekeeper. Saying "I liked them before they were cool" is itself one of the uncoolest things one can utter. All music is available to everyone, always. But I'm not sure I trust today's society to be the custodians of it (see Rebellion Festival). It's why I love St. Virus Bar. There's something delightfully antiquated (and likely unsafe) about that red light on the street with no signage, the blacked-out door and interior, and the total lack of ventilation. It SCREAMS of a time gone by, but still alive as long as we continue to support it (setting aside that the government shut them down...f**k the man!!).
Punk traveled underground until it didn't. I submit to you that polka does the same. It's why one of my favorite lines in Polka Never Dies is "to the Main Street Legion Hall..." The inevitable wellspring of all things "oompah" in the upper midwest. It's dressed up, different, sure, but it's its own underground. And it'll continue to be long after we're gone.
The last thing I'll say is: you know it won't die in your lifetime, and if you keep preaching, it won't die in your kid's lifetime either. Because as long as someone's playing it, it's not dead.
TL;DR - plz keep making records.