So what is SF rock?

So what is SF rock? orr better, where is SF rock? The reason I ask this is it seems every time I go see a local band in this town I feel like I'm at a burning man decompression party. 

Gimmie a fuckin break!

 This is it? Quirky combos with old drum machines and trombones? Fedora hats and 1890's circus ring leader facial hair? Striped pant wearing 'artists' playing bicycles? Maybe I'm missing something here. 

  Sure, all kinds of bands come here on tour. There are plenty of great shows to be taken in but how does the local 'scene' expect to make a blip anywhere else (let alone here) if that's what we're made of?  How can we expect people in the bay area to come out and support if that is the bulk of what's offered?

  Four or five years ago I thought it was kind of cute. But not cute enough to go out of my way to see more than once. Now in 2010, most of these bands are still doing the same thing -though the pants are tighter and the sideburns grayer. The music has not evolved in the least.  Yeah,  new bands come along and mix in some different flavors of cheese but it too often comes off as a well rehearsed spoof.

   Sure there is an electronica scene, and every town has some decent pop, but that aint rawk.  right?

   So where is SF rock? Simple.... in the rehearsal rooms. Just stroll the halls of a multi room rehearsal complex and you're bound to hear some great bands of all types. Adventuresome collectives that hit hard. So, where are they playing? I already told you where ---- the rehearsal rooms. In other words -for the most part, not in the clubs. 

  Okay, that is a bold generalization but somehow it seems to fit and It feels like it's been that way for far too long. 

  You may notice that I haven't picked a specific genre of rock because it doesn't matter.  What matters is other cities, some smaller,  don't seem to have this problem. 

   Who's to blame?  The clubs? The patrons?  Maybe we're all too cool to go out and hear something that doesn't have a ringleader and  vaudville dancers. Maybe those things are 'it' and I should shut the hell up but it seems that if that stuff hasn't flown this many years down the line, it most likely won't.

   Surely the clubs will book any band that fills the room and sells beer.  Simple economics

  Now, how do we get people out to see local shows?  ummm that's a subject for another day

  until then,   

see ya on the playa -bro


-lambo