May 14th, 2007
The proprietor of the local blog I’m Just Sayin Is All… has a recent post bemoaning the dearth of indie rock at Summerfest in Milwaukee. While the lineup would most definitely be different if I were in charge and I agree with some of the things the author, Kyle Pfister, says, I still feel that the post is nothing but an extended self-important bout of whining.
The first item in the litany of complaints is that “the majority of the lineup has peaked”. Peaked how? In popularity, I presume. Like Mr. Pfister, I have absolutely no desire to see REO Speedwagon or Def Leppard or most of the bands whom he lists. But he goes on to say:
“In order to stay relevant, a festival needs to showcase acts with new ideas who are advancing the current music scene.”
Relevant to whom? What exactly is the current music scene? Is it the music scene of the Top 40 singles from the Billboard chart? The blues scene? Hip-hop? Americana? Metal? No.
We find out of which scene he speaks in his next item which notes “the indie scene is strangely absent”. Elsewhere he says:
“Summerfest often seems like only one thing targeted at one type of person: A money-maker targeted at the lazy music consumer.” (emphasis his.)
In other words, he wants festivals to showcase acts which advance his current music scene. This is incredibly self-centered and insulting. When did you appoint yourself the arbiter of musical taste for everyone, Mr. Pfister? Contrary to your post, indie rock is not the end-all-be-all of music. And how dare you hold yourself up as a model “music lover” in possession of the only “proper” way to consume and enjoy music. Those of us who do not partake of indie rock as your ilk do love music no less than you, Mr. Pfister.
In the guise of just sayin’ that Summerfest could use a more varied lineup, what Mr. Pfister actually says is that his taste and the tastes of his fellow indie rockers are superior to all others. Thusly the post is an elaborate bout of whining about how Summerfest doesn’t cater to his musical preferences. Oh poor, misunderstood indie rocker! It must be a dreadful burden to be the keeper of the knowledge that is “the art of music”. And woe betide the indie rock musician who is relegated to the US Cellular stage! For it is a fate worse than death!
Hopefully someday Mr. Pfister will realize that the world does not revolve around him or his precious indie rock or, indeed, rock music. I also hope that he comes to understand that the art of music is not contingent on what is current and hip. The mostly young white men who perform indie rock and the mostly young white men who consume it do not have a lock on some mythical “pure” form of expression and consumption of music that is unsullied by commerce. Not only has the Summerfest lineup grown stale as Mr. Pfister notes, but so too the dithyrambic praise of indie rock.
Related posts:
“Oh poor, misunderstood indie rocker!”
Laughed out loud.
Well said, Palmer.
The D.
“The post is nothing but an extended self-important bout of whining “?
That’s the pot calling the kettle black !!!
Some padawan you turned out to be.
Well this padawan is a little irritated that all the stuff I forward to you doesn’t get posted.
Are you going to Summerfest for Son Volt? The Old 97’s are playing @ 8 on the same stage. Worth the $15 if you ask me.
Yeah, I was kind of whining that Summerfest doesn’t incorporate indie acts like many other summer festivals. I think it would make Summerfest better to freshen the lineup… and have these discussions about how. Sorry if I offended you somehow.
Hi Kyle,
Don’t worry about offending me. I do agree with you that Summerfest could you some fresh blood instead of all the cock rock and 70s bands. I just don’t find indie rock to be a cure-all.
Worry? Dude I was a blathering mess. I agree that “indie rock” is not the only under-represented category… personally I’m fine without importing Swedish synthesizers. Missing “indie” acts was one issue I found indicative of a larger point about taking risks and increasing diversity. I’m not an expert on hiphop music, but I’m sure the community would have a similar point to make.
I understand your criticisms of and frustrations with the indie music community. You’re right, many indie rock hipsters are pretentious little asses.
But “I’m Just Sayin Is All” is not a typical indie rocker blog intent on being the first to introduce you to Sweden’s next big electronica group. The music and art featured are thoughtfully chosen and accompanied by heartfelt descriptions of the type you won’t find on other blogs.
Yes, the criticism of Summerfest was indie-centric, but so are most successful music festivals. You say yourself that you’d like to see fresh blood at Summerfest – perhaps if enough people have this discussion we’ll all see more diversity on the lakefront in future years. What would you like to see there?
Well, we all blather at some point. If you look around this blog, you’ll see I’m just as guilty as anyone else. What are the Swedish synthesizers you refer to? Is Swedish electronica a big deal? Also let me say that I in no way intended to criticize “I’m Just Sayin Is All” or to intimate that it was a terrible blog. I was commenting on the one post exclusively.
I agree with you completely about a general lack of risk taking and diversity. My point was simply that more indie rock wasn’t going to turn Summerfest into a sprawling, diverse music festival. I don’t find indie rock to be a cure-all.
Indie rock – apply directly to the festival
Indie rock – apply directly to the festival
If you look around this blog, you’ll also notice I’m not a big indie rock fan. As for those folks who are, well, every music clique has schmoes in its ranks. However, I will never be critical of someone for being passionate about a particular band or music. If certain music really moves you, even if I don’t care for it, then there’s nothing for me to be critical about. But it does get in my craw when someone promotes a particular band or genre by privileging it above all others and heralding it as being in some way objectively better. The term “music blog” is almost synonymous with “indie rock blog” and my point was that there are more good bands in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in the indie rock philosophy.
Having said all this, I can still appreciate the fact that more indie rock acts at Summerfest would be a good thing. But so would musicians of other stripes. Not having seen this year’s schedule in its entirety and relying on past experiences, I’d like to see more local bands, more non-rock music, more progressive rock (a pipe dream, I know), more polka/non-Southern American folk, et al. Put up a tent and have some Sacred Steel music or some gospel from Milwaukee on a Sunday morning and even this godless heathen would be there. How about some more off the wall world fusiony stuff like Felonious Bosch, Gogol Bordello, or Madison’s own Reptile Palace Orchestra? Get Racine proggers Kopecky up on a stage. Guy Davis, Beatallica, Roscoe Mitchell, The Polkaholics, KTU, Madeleine Peyroux, Brave Combo, Los Lobos, Giant Brain, the Yoshida Brothers …there’s just too much great music out there.
Now that I’ve actually looked at the schedule, I see that Beatallica will be playing plus a lot of bands with which I am not familiar and have no idea what kind of music they play. I also see Baghdad Scuba Review and Mercury Crossing, the latter of which is led by a friend’s sister. And I notice that The Flying Calarco Bros. are appearing as well. Perhaps there is more variety than I realize. Then I see a couple progressive rock cover bands and ask myself why not get some newer prog bands? Amongst the groups with which I am not familiar, I see that The Melismatics describe themselves as an “indy powerpop rock band”. Is it also possible that there’s more indie rock there than you realize? It’s just that these bands aren’t well-known because they haven’t been reviewed on Pitchfork or the like. (Not being into the indie rock scene, I honestly don’t know where fans go to find out about new bands.)
Like you, I have to wonder about The New Cars and the appearances of Styx, Foreigner, etc.
One last thing – while getting Summerfest to have more diversity would be nice, I, as a Madisonian, would rather focus on changing the Madison music scene and strengthening it than trying to get a Milwaukee festival orientated towards something I’d appreciate more. Someone floated the idea of a SXSW-type festival here in Madison and I’d rather like to see that come to fruition.
I believe that all of you are greatly deluded as to the musical tastes of the average Wisconsin resident.
Most of them have never heard of Styx, OK?
Indeed. They’re all into Bill T Jones and Arnie Zane Dance, not Styx.
dude, lay off.
Who the hell are you to tell me what I can or cannot write at my own blog?