Amateur-ity

The Noble Amateur

This is an idea that was brought to my attention via a class I am taking on the media, specifically online, and its effects on society.

(SO cool, I know...Butler baby)

There is this guy... named Andrew Keen...who wrote a book... called The Cult of the Amateur from which we read an excerpt about his thoughts on "The Noble Amateur". 

In the excerpt he says, in a nutshell, that the amateurs (you and I) are getting online to blog, tweet, facebook, and are crampin' the experts' (Andrew Keen) style. He sees our online posts as "second hand information" that are purely "mediocre" and making "higher education lose its value." As a new blogger, I am offended. 

1. How is Andrew Keen any better than me? Because he has a piece of paper that deems him a scholar?

2. Since when was America based around such elitist ideals? 

This is America the FREE: Free to be amateurs! 

Now, I pose this thought for Keen:

If sites such as Wikipedia and social networks such as facebook are ruining the tradition of the scholar and spreading lies, then why are they so successful? Why have they created an extreme cultural shift? Don't you think the good, honest, people of America would see through theses sites if they were that transparent? 

Bringing this back to the music industry...what is Keen suggesting about all the successful musical artists that have gained recognition which otherwise would have been unavailable without tools such as blogs and YouTube? 

The band I used to work for, WALK THE MOON, is now one the most talked about up-and-coming bands of 2011 simply because of a single blog post calling all A&R reipresetives to see their show at a small venue in New York City. 

..and WALK THE MOON are no amateurs. 

The frontman studied theory in college, arranges strings for other musicians on the side, and has the talent to make a huge impact on the music industry. 

It is these instances that make me question Keen's attitude towards the amateur. 

Is he really trying to propose that our society has a problem and needs to stop referencing Wikipeidia? 

Or is he just pissed and bitter that us commoners no longer have to wait for his next appearance on a History Channel special to tell us what's what?

Think about it.

KGC

It's All Happening

"Never take it seriously, if ya never take it seriosuly, ya never get hurt, ya never get hurt, ya always have fun, and if you ever get lonely, just go to the record store and visit your friends."
-Penny Lane Almost Famous

It was a hazy June day as my gal-pals and I headed to Cincinnati to see Coldplay live in concert. I had crafted a mix CD for the car ride and was pumped to play DJ until Haley insisted we listen to this, “great new band she heard play at OWU who could sing and they were all super hot..." I was a annoyed. I was deemed jams master but I sat in the back seat with my mouth shut while the opening strings of Stone Cold Fox filled Haley's old Cadillac. 

Despite my desire to listen to Empire of the Sun:

My music kick of Summer '09

I couldn’t help but bob along to these groovy new beats. By the time we got to Cincinnati, we had rocked through this "great new band's" entire album; I was officially a fan. Little did I know just how much this band would completely change my life. Instead of "Walking On A Dream" all summer with Empire of the Sun, I'd be walking on the moon with WALK THE MOON. 

It's now December 2009, and I'm a freshman at Butler University. I'm sitting at a slightly sketchy diner in Fountain Square with the boys of none other than WALK THE MOON. They have just finished playing a successful show I had booked them in Indianapolis and I'm trying not to geek out as I sit with my favorite band. We hardly know each other, yet we nom on our diner food and joke like we're old  friends. It is here they officially ask me to join their team. I am star struck by these 23-year-old indie rockers wanting my assistance and attempt to not loose my cool while exclaiming "Yes!"

Fast forward to the new year and everyone in the band has quit except for the frontman, Nick. He is determined to keep the band alive with my help and I agree to be at his beck and call. We spend the next seven months booking tours, building WALK's social media, and calling musician friends to fill in for performances all while Nick works to record his next album.

As the fan-base expands, Nick envisions  a music video in the future and we briefly discuss story lines and themes. In September 2010, our discussion became reality and has generated over 70,000 hits in 3 months:


Official Anna Sun Music Video

Finally, November 13, 2010 the band lineup is set, the new album is mastered, and we are ready to host an album release party. The party was attended by more than 400 people which was double that of our projections.

i want! i want! Stream Album Here



On January 23, 2010, Neon Gold Records, a very influential blog of the indie-rock world, posts my boys' music video and sparks a WALK THE MOON epidemic. It is this post that sends their lives into a whirlwind of the unexpected. 

Today marked a whole new era for WALK THE MOON. They have signed on with Michael McDonald, founder of Mick Management who represent The Walkmen, Ray LaMantagne, and wait for it...John Mayer. 

"It's All Happening"
-Penny Lane Almost Famous


Now, I'm going to be honest, I feel like a parent who has dropped their kid off at college...my nest is empty. I am just some useless college girl that can't even begin to compete with Mick Management. WALK THE MOON may have outgrow me, but I will never out grow them. It dawned on me today that they are Almost Famous but you know what? So. Am. I. We both have worked very hard and as their time has come mine will too. 

Watch out world, WALK THE MOON is arriving and this starry-eyed dreamer is just a few steps behind.





KGC

            

And the Grammy goes to.....

WARNING: This is an Arcade Fire induced blog post 

WhoIsArcadeFire.com

As I heard Barbra Streisand say the words "Arcade Fire" I immediately hopped to my feet and began screaming, dancing, and twirling. I was certain Barbara was going to say Lady Antebellum. Woof.

One small step for Arcade Fire, one big step for the #HipsterNation.

My sorority sisters were just starring at me like I was a mental patient who needed a straight jacket.

Arcade Fire has been one of my favorite bands since high school:

Senior Pic!

In the indie rock world they are king. In the mainstream world they are the peasants. Which is exactly why it's SO DOPE they won ALBUM OF THE YEAR over LADY GAGA/ANTEBELLUM (what's with all these Ladies anyways?)

Wait, they're not wearing any sequins or scandalous outfits...isn't this the GRAMMY'S!? 

The best part of Arcade Fire winning the Grammy was their acceptance speech which, if you missed it went a little something like this:

"What the hell? We didn't even think we would get nominated for a Grammy. Okay, we're going to play you another song."

That was it. 

Like true indie-ROCKers they ROCKed out to express their gratitude because in #HipsterNation it's all about the music not the speech your PR rep. coached to you. 

hahahahaha

The second best part of Arcade Fire winning the Grammy was the aftermath. Thanks to websites like Who Is Arcade Fire? hipsters everywhere had a place to sit back and scoff at mainstream society while they tweeted in confusion and dismay.

Despite the poor response to Arcade Fire winning the Grammy being slightly humorous, it is disappointing that our culture is so close minded to what's NOT featured on Entertainment Tonight. 

Fans of Justin Beiber and Lady Gaga could not wrap their heads around the concept of a BAND winning a Grammy...not a PERFORMER. 

But let's talk about Arcade Fire real fast. They have been together since 2001 and put out 3 solid albums. In August, their Junior album, The Suburbs, debut at No. 1 on the American, UK, and Canadian Billboard charts selling more than 156,000 units in the first week. I would say that is Grammy worthy.

I was chatting with my Lady GaGa obsessed friend about the Grammy's and he said he doesn't believe Arcade Fire is a fair representation of 2010 in music. 

I completely disagree.

Music in this day and age is as much about technology as it as about purchasing and listening to it. 

Arcade Fire was able to have as much success as they did in mainstream culture because they built a buzz around The Suburbs online. It used to be that indie-rock music was something a music enthusiast had to seek out, dig up, or discover by going to shows and spend countless hours at a record store digging through bins. Now-a-days, you can just use Google. Arcade Fire owes much of their success to the internet. To me, this is why Arcade Fire is the most perfect representation of 2010 in music. 

But I must say in all my music snobbery, The Suburbs is the my least favorite Arcade Fire album...and most die-hard fans would agree.

IRONIC: The worst Arcade Fire album wins best album by mainstream music standards.

They will just never understand. 

So who is Arcade Fire?

Indie-Rock Heros. 

KGC