CRITICAL MASS HYSTERIA! (1978-)

I did an interview yesterday with a bright young guy named Dan whose website has been supportive of The Elms for years. A wonderful guy, this one. Good conversation ensued. The interview will surface at some point soon…

Dan and I discussed the unique interplay between our band and its supporters. The opportunity to interact personally with our audience after our shows became an intrinsic part of the concert culture of The Elms. When crowds were smaller, it was an easy post-show drink. When crowds were larger, we’d literally burn away two hours some nights hanging around with throngs of people, face-to-face, eventually one-by-one. And not in these efficient ropelines, either, where people get bussed through for a drive-by autograph. Anytime those lines were set up for us, it felt awkward and disconnected - so we’d walk around in front of the table so that the formality of it all was squashed. Our techniques were often to the chagrin of our exhausted tour managers who were anxiously waiting to drag us to a hotel for precious sleep. 

It occurred to me tonight how much I truly looked forward to those post-show hangouts. In all transparency, the idea to meet with crowds after shows wasn’t always 100% innocent. You see, there are some bands who are very much committed to tearing down the wall between artist and audience… but that wasn’t really something that we ever intentionally purposed to do. But before you assume the worst of us, remember that our band’s primary influences are larger-than-life personalities: Bruce, Pete, Mick, etc. Mystique is a big part of the escapist bravado of a rock & roll band. And while our band’s mystique may have never reached mythical proportions, it wasn’t for lack of trying!

We just thought that going out and meeting people after performing would provide another point of contact, something unique. Frankly, we thought that if folks could shake our hands, they might be more inclined to take home a CD and give the band’s music a long-term shot, (and many times it worked like a charm). This doesn’t make our strategy disingenuous, it just means that the idea of meeting people post-show originated from a slightly loaded angle. We were young guys in a rock band, hustlin’. 

Ah, but instead of us charming you, our audiences, with the post-show hangout… you started charming us. Before we knew it, seeing familiar faces on the road was one of the most wonderful parts of this whole affair, and “fans” started becoming friends. You were our community. We’d sit around with you after shows and talk music, or politics, or film, or tell stupid jokes, whatever. We were on a first-name-basis with many of you who were consistently coming to see us, and you burrowed right into our hearts. What an unexpected coup!

Now, with the band in its twilight, I’m trying to figure out how to stay engaged with all of you who we met and fell head-over-heels for while on tour.  I also know realistically that it’s impossible to devote equal time in all directions. Maybe Tumblr, Twitter, or Facebook (or a combination) is a decent start. 

Honestly, much of people’s usage of social media has had a cantankerous effect on me. The unlimited resources for widespread narcissism make me cringe. In fact, I heard Ashton Kutcher say to David Letterman the other night that he thought Twitter and social media was simply part of a new, growing form of entertainment. I like Ashton, and he may be correct about Twitter as he sees it. But if he is correct, it’s because he’s chosen to fashion Twitter as such for his purposes, by his design, for his world.

But with respect to Ashton (who is infinitely more wealthy, handsome, and popular than me), I don’t give a candy sh*t about what he had for breakfast, or where he’s taking Demi on vacation, or what kind of new Mercedes he just bought. And if there are half a million Twitter people who are hanging on Lindsay Lohan’s sordid and chemically unstable words, so be it… but it’s vapid Hollywood grossness, and it doesn’t make you any better for knowing it.

However, if there can be some kind of active, reciprocal, semi-regular dialogue… if we can all loosely humor each other, or edify each other, or inspire each other, excellent! And if the multi-way communicative qualities of social media can give me a touch of the feeling I got when meeting you wonderful souls on the road and interacting for a few minutes, then I can get into it — even enjoy it!      

I don’t know what you assume, but if I’m following you on Tumblr, then I do read what you post, and take from it what I think you’d want me to. And as it pertains to Twitter… well, that’s kinda like window-shopping. It’s a glimpse, and the quickie conversational part of it is fun. But usually for my purposes Twitter will be a conduit to a greater conversation happening elsewhere, probably here, where thoughts can be compiled and shared in a more voluminous way. 

HOME STRETCH: You know, I think that that to be an effective blogger, you need to be an effective writer. That’s not to say that the grammar and rhythm in one’s writing needs to be perfect, it’s just to say that you gotta be able to channel authenticity and transparency into written form. Not a copy of yourself, not how you think “cool” reads, and not just creative writing skills. It’s just got to be REAL, it’s got to be YOU.   

Ah, but then there are people like Perez Hilton and Ke$ha who use words like “shiznit” and “ferosh” a lot. Upon consideration, I’d say that those types are best relegated to being offered only 140 characters at a time to communicate. I’m pretty sure that they’re never gonna need more than that. Tiny spurts of boneheadedness do them fine.

Yeah, I’m long-winded.

My Twitter here.