This is my first post here on NMScene, and I am honored to be a part of it. This is a cross post from my personal blog, but as I go on I will be doing material specifically for NMScene.
I’ve been thinking of writing this for a long time now, so here goes; I might edit as time goes on. Take anything I say with a salt lick. If you don’t like it, that’s fine - but also please keep in mind that I do know where I’m coming from here.
I’ve been part of what I call the New Mexico music scene since I was about 15 years old, when I started promoting and playing punk shows with my good friend, JJ. We threw shows at the Rockin’ Rollers event arena, Warehouse 21 and the Railyard performance space in Santa Fe. I learned a lot doing this; how to flyer, how to market my shows, book bands, etc. At this time, I was simply doing this because I felt it was something to do, and something I had fun doing.
As time went on, I realized that JJ and I were, with a select few others, filling a niche that did not exist had we not been promoting shows. Punk shows were pretty important for a lot of kids at this time; many of us were looking for some direction in our lives, and music seemed to be part of that. Most would think that getting drunk and doing drugs was what drew us all to this, but to that I say nay; we were actually there, enjoying the music and the bands that played it.
Then around 1996 or so, Raves started to pop up in New Mexico and more accurately, Santa Fe. I suppose I should clarify; this is when I started to notice them more; i remember seeing flyers for shows like H2O and other parties when I was 13 or so, so I know the scene had been around since before me; I make no claims to being “one of the founders” of this scene, nor even the punk scene. I was loosely part of the Rave scene and the promotion of it; I remember doing parties in old grocery stores and warehouses where we had to roll in our own heat and power to make the place usable, but we threw some great parties. At this time, I was helping my friend Hannah promote; I have since lost contact with her. I remember enjoying a lot of what I saw in Raves; people getting together, enjoying music, hanging out until the early hours of the night, and genuinely seeming to care about the music they were getting down to.
We used to have parties at a space called Harambe in Santa Fe; one of my favorite memories from that time is a Valentine’s Day show with the Gluey Brothers, Creation and Johnny and the Blades, followed by DJs and much partying. A great night, I remember showing up in full on suit and tie to get down and leaving with my feet hurting so very bad from dancing.
The punk scene started to die down around 1999 or so, and I was promoting shows less at this time. Raves were still happening, but I just was not at them as much. Everything rolls on without people, at least most of the time, it does.
Now, here is where I ask the question; what is a scene? When I refer to the scene, I am usually speaking of music, but I know that it encompasses so much more than that. Music is made by people who genuinely care about how it is made and given to an audience. Those people make part of the scene, but the other parts are made up of the spectators, the listeners, the artists and the creators who add to the scene with art, writing, promotion, support, etc. When I speak of the scene, I speak of all these people. I speak of people who get together in a space, outdoors, anywhere, and not only listen to and play music, but interact with each other (without having to be totally wasted on drugs) and learn more about their community.
When I speak of scene, I speak of community.
I think that what I see about being part of a scene is that, your scene is what you make it, and you have to be a part of it in some way for it to be better. You cannot simply expect a strong, vibrant scene without doing some part for it, weather this is going to shows and supporting bands, artists and DJs and performers you enjoy, or if it’s taking it to the next step and promoting, marketing and putting on your own show or starting a record label. Either way, you must be a part of a scene in some way that is not the unassuming tourist in order for a scene to flourish. You don’t need to spend thousands of dollars; you don’t need to be at every show; you don’t need to be some die hard fan who is at every show and every appearance someone makes - you just need to bring your eyes, ears and willingness to explore and hear something new each time. You need to do it if you can; if you have to work, have a kid, have school, whichever and whatever, that is understandable, and no one can hold that against you. However your support, whenever you can offer it, means the world to those of us who do it so often.
I think that my overall feelings are that a scene, and the community that comes with it, are directly reliant upon those people who are willing to put their time and energy into it, weather it be in promoting and making music and art, or just enjoying those creations. If you want to be a part of a scene, if you want to say that you are active in your scene, you have to be a part of it. You don’t have to go to every show that happens. You don’t have to spend all your money on local bands. This will not further you in the long run, but what will is the feeling you get when you go to an event, and look around, and realize that you’re surrounded by people who like what you like and care about what you care about.
Facebook and Myspace are not communities - not in my opinion. They are passive forms of entertainment which feed you the sense of community; in the long run, they are exactly the opposite. They are good for getting the word out, meeting some new people - but ultimately, you have to get out there, and make it happen.
I realize that I am a bit of a hypocrite here, because yes, I spend a lot of time on the internet and I can’t attest to being at every show that goes down - but at the same time, you’ll find me out there much of the time, pounding the pavement, working to do what I can do, everyday. In the end, that is all we can do, after all, and it’s up to the rest of the people to catch on.
