tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496495388811244203.post2100372450065758012..comments2023-03-20T06:34:20.822-07:00Comments on Keepers of the Backbeat: Ethnography Project Initial Topic PostJohn H.http://www.blogger.com/profile/14235293445383390475noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496495388811244203.post-45483091562034951052009-02-18T15:06:00.000-08:002009-02-18T15:06:00.000-08:00To look at some of your questions about the histor...To look at some of your questions about the historic NY "indie" music scene, I would probably look at the No Wave movement of the early 1980's, and then the flirtation with major labels that occurred after Sonic Youth went on a major. Also, I would definitely try to tease apart where everyone in the band came from, whether they are originally from the New York area, whether this is their first band, etc. - would probably help a lot in determining motivation for remaining indieGabehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06178172778752326413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496495388811244203.post-56682511757002476952009-02-17T16:08:00.000-08:002009-02-17T16:08:00.000-08:00I lived in Brooklyn for two years and I must say f...I lived in Brooklyn for two years and I must say from my experience, yes, the indie scene there is HUGE. Brooklyn itself is a very interesting place right now, and is changing...rapidly. I think it would be interesting for you to go to a few shows in the Williamsburg area of north Brooklyn (off the Bedford Ave stop on the L), where most of that scene centers around, and really think about the context of the Brooklyn indie culture, its place in NYC, the influence of being so close to Manhattan, the relation to other media, and maybe choose a band or venue to focus on. You'll probably have some overlap with the World Inferno project at some point, that's a very influential Brooklyn band.<BR/><BR/>There's a to look at here, good luck narrowing it down a bit and I'm interested to see how it goes. I think it's going to be a great project.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496495388811244203.post-82191626010766242142009-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:002009-02-17T10:29:00.000-08:00This is a pretty interesting topic, but I agree wi...This is a pretty interesting topic, but I agree with everyone in that it is broad... I'm also focusing on some part of the indie scene here in providence (the folk-indie scene). Kind of had to reduce my topic as just the genre itself is broad and hard to define... <BR/>There are so many subgenres and bands, especially in Brooklyn. Its kind of a shame that Grizzly Bear isn't touring much this year (they have a show in Brooklyn but its already sold out)... but I'm sure you can find many other shows to go to. I'd be interested to see what you decide to focus on; the questions you are hitting (especially those about the mainstream) are very interesting and important questions to what may remain of the indie scene.Dani Lopez Goicocheahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09682053568471645445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496495388811244203.post-38083582678475864452009-02-16T07:17:00.000-08:002009-02-16T07:17:00.000-08:00John, I know we'll be meeting about this tomorrow ...John, I know we'll be meeting about this tomorrow so I won't write too much here. It looks like you are already asking yourself the appropriate practical questions (who do I know, how do I narrow the scope, etc.). The Brooklyn scene does sound the most doable at this point, but I think hyphy is also a great topic, and you could probably mine a lot of older web content for material (blogs etc. that tracked the genre's development). If you do decide to go in more of a west coast direction, here's an interesting source of youth-produced media (they often cover local music and youth culture): <A>http://www.youthoutlook.org/news</A>Kirihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08021285881199930235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2496495388811244203.post-59319281721190566852009-02-12T10:26:00.000-08:002009-02-12T10:26:00.000-08:00I believe you're right about the Brooklyn topic be...I believe you're right about the Brooklyn topic being the most fruitful. As novel as Hyphy is, it might not reveal that much ethnomusicologically; the 60s revival might have more historical referents, however I don't think the contemporary scene would be as good to study. I think Brooklyn works well because a geographical focus also contextualizes tangential issues such as ethnicity, gender, socioeconomics, style, urban space, etc. Not only that, but the "indie" scene in Brooklyn spans dozens of subgenres that could each prompt further study. (Or just Battles themselves.)<BR/><BR/>I would be very interested to read your fieldnotes on this. Let me know if you're interested in having a partner on this project.steven h hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15370354377471889733noreply@blogger.com