the breakdown of the singer and songwriter July 17, 2008

we’ve all heard that dumb term.  “singer-songwriter.” can it be any more vague?  this is how i’m forced to describe myself when someone asks at some party,  “ohhhh!  so you’re a musicccian!  what instrument do you plaaayyy?  what kind of music do you doooo?”

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on one hand, it leaves absolutely everything to the imagination.  it can mean any number of things, since anyone who writes a song and then sings it, could then be considered a singer-songwriter.  it doesn’t matter if you make r&b, power-pop, punk, or industrial grindthrashcxre.  now that i think about it, this is a term that should be celebrated for its diversity.

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instead, however,  anytime you mention the words “singer” and “songwriter” in the same sentence, people automatically raise a leery eyebrow and assume some stereotype of beatniks singing self-indulgent lyrics in a coffeehouse.   if you’re a girl and play guitar, there’s usually some variation of ani difranco involved, as well.

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what’s the deal, people?  is it just the human mind’s tendency to categorize things?  well the stereotypes are damn annoying. i feel like folks are stuck in the 1990’s version of the wikipedia page i just posted above.

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maybe it’s because we haven’t had a very strong movement of them since the 90’s? oh sure, everybody just can’t get enough of little darling regina spektor.  and feist is rather fetching.  but a whole movement?  a woodstock?  a lilith fair?  hasn’t transpired in awhile.

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i think people’s opinions haven’t changed because there’s nothing fresh on their mind. but not for lack of trying. i won’t deny that there’s there’s totally goings on in the realm of independent/ d.i.y. musicians. for instance, in brooklyn there’s jezebel, and local correspondents.  both are vehicles specifically designed for singer-songwriters.  they find artists they like and promote them for FREE.  this is huge, even though i, myself haven’t magaged to wrangle their attentions. 

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also i hear in l.a. the whole hotel cafe scene is buzzing.  from what i gather, it’s a venue that picks out high-quality performers, many who are on the path of successful careers, whose music has been featured on television shows and commercials.  they even have a national tour which, based on its amount of sold out shows, has proven to be popular.

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another trend is the tons of little apartment venues that are are opening up.   the words out:  people are sick of going to some gross dive bar in manhattan, to pay a $15 cover, buy a $5 pbr, then waiting it out through some shitty band on a shitty sound system, just to see your friends perform for like 20 minutes, while rude drunks talk through their songs.  (i have had experiences like this as both a performer and a spectator.)  why do that when you can go to a friend’s house, pay a $3-$5 cover, buy a $2 beer or bring your own, and see an amazing show in an authentic, intimate environment? 

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to my knowlege, in my neighborhood alone theres brooklyn cat house, brooklyn tea party, john bosch, market hotel, and silent barn.  in fact, it’s occurring all across america, and doesn’t only benefit the singer-songwriter, but anyone who desires to be heard, and does not desire to go through traditional venues. places like these help out the musician/ band who has no other outlet.

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new music is leaking out the cracks everywhere. and i think that’s totally awesome and beneficial. but still — it’s no mainstream movement… yet.  i sort of think a new one’s just around the corner.  what evidence to i have to back that claim up?  none, really.  just a hunch.  and the knowledge that the frilly, escapist music of recent times has worn out its welcome, and something has got fill its place sooner or later.

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then again, maybe we don’t want another mainstream movement.  maybe singer-songwriters are fine just the way they are now, thankyouverymuch, with thier indie-ness and d.i.y. ethics.  but darnitt, it would sure give the image of one a makeover, and then people at parties would be more convenient for me to conversate with.