ZEN IN THE ROCK CLUB SCENE

in line with my routine change program, i once again introduced elements of chaos into my (ahem) now sedate, well ordered existence. i indulged into consecutive nights of what we refer to as “clubbing” during weekends, meaning, spending evenings at those places where alcohol is served and super loud music is played either by a dj or a band. we went with my band friends watched their gigs on friday, saturday and sunday night for the past two weekends.. ahuh.. we went to rock clubs.

now clubbing is a very appropriate thing if it is done consecutively – it calls to mind people hitting each other over the head with large sticks. doing it night after night, exposure to what is essentially very loud noise – combined with alcohol and pervasive reek of cigarette smoke, one does feel as if he had been clubbed mornings after.. (haha! umm..yeah aaaarghhh..my head!!)

in this place where i am, except for the decor and the price of liquor, rock clubs are all the same. the same bands do the club circuit. except for a few, they all seem to have marked preference for material by rock and roll gods who have long expired from various excesses. (face it : given the kind of life he led, if jim morrison were alive today - and some people claim he is –he’d be in terrible shape).

the quality of performers varies wildly. some belong to the “if you can’t dazzle them with artistry, drown them with noise “ school, which compensates for musical and technical flaws with brain osterizing volumes. then there’s the clone school, whose adherents – consciously or unconsciously – perform impressions of their idols. unless they happen to be skilled musicians, the results are ludicrous.

and ohh, there’s also the “i am a rock star” school, whose members embody the tired clichés of rock and roll – the posturing, womanizing, substance abuse and generally bizarre behavior. one advantage of being in an economically battered place, musicians here do not trash their instruments and wreck their equipment for their grand finales. are you kidding? at these prices? ( for a deeper understanding of what i’m saying, i recommend viewing of “this is spinal tap” a hilarious mock documentary about a has been rock and roll band on a concert tour.

wait. i’m not saying all our local bands here belong to these categories. now and then there emerge performers, like my friends (wink wink), who are obviously meant for bigger things, major talent who i believe must not be confined to the rock club scene and must seek larger audience.

despite limitations, they can not be faulted for a lack of energy or dedication. trite, frivolous, or immature as they may be, i consider them vastly superior to people who allow themselves to get bogged down by reality, the shouldabeens who gripe that they should be doing this or that but haven’t got what it takes to pursue their aspirations. these rock musicians love what they are doing; it is not an exaggeration to say that they live for rock and roll. how else to explain the time and effort they put into their music, the constant rehearsals, and personal sacrifices? certainly not the money – club gigs can barely pay for guitar strings. in the end, their only reward is that there are moments of communion, when the band and the audience achieve a zen kind of oneness. that’s when they hear the audience singing with them, the sound of hands clapping, and that’s why they play rock and roll.