columns_jerkface

Just got back from seeing Found My Direction at the arthouse...it was such a rad show...heaps fucking tough. The jam session was a kick-arse jam. The rock and roll was awesome. The rock and roll was fine.

But I called myself on something interesting at the show. We were watching Downfall, a little bit back from the stage, about level with the bar. There were a couple of kids (well they musta been my age coz they got in, unlike Brad...and I'm really, really sorry about that dude, I'll try and make it up to you somehow) up front, they looked like they'd had a bit to drink, dancing, going crazy, doing madarse windmills around the place.

Dan leaned over to me and said "look at everyone scowling at them, just because they're having a good time". I laughed, then stopped...because that's exactly what I was doing. I was thinking to myself, 'geez, what a couple of wankers'. I mean young Daniel is right. They're just having fun.

Okay, I don't like violent dancing at all. I mean that may sound wierd, coz what the fuck were we doing when FMD played? (you've made my back bleed, Alex, you monkey freak boy!) But you know...there is a line. I can't go in circles without the feeling that I'm gonna hurt somebody. So I don't. But hey, when there's rough housing in the pit, it's usually good fun. I've never seen someone fall over and not have two or three people reach down to pick them up before, unlike big day out or something.

***oh, a side note...like 7Seconds say, it's not just boys fun. I really love to see girls out in the pit. I mean watching Ally busting out to bands is entertaining enough in itself, given her now legendary capacity for near homicdial violence...I mean I'm intimidated enough when people are out there going crazy, and especially in hardcore, it can unfortunately be such a tough, guy oriented thing sometimes. I know it's been said before, but ladies, keep on taking back the pit, it's so awesome to see***

But anyway, I'm not Josh No-Mosh. Who the fuck am I to say that kids can't dance at shows? If no one's getting hurt, where's the fucking harm?

Okay, once someone starts acting irresponsible, and people who're just trying to watch the band are feeling intimidated or getting hurt or whatever, that's when it needs to stop. It's splitting a hair to define that exact moment. But you know, most people can sensibly determine that.

But really, I'm a fucking jerk for thinking what I did. I'm no cooler than anyone else there tonight, I shouldn't judge like that. Nor should I feel like there's some sort of code or set of rules. I guess maybe it's a good sign that I was able to recognise that after like a second and now I can mentally berate myself about it. I hope so anyway.

I was feeling a little embarrassed about totally getting into Blueline - I've been having a rough week emotionally, and as cheesy as it is, the music more than anything else was connecting a bit with me tonight. That sucks that because of so called attitudes towards (and I use the term so very loosely) 'emotional' stuff - that are there a little bit sometimes - I felt like a bit of a dork just standing there quietly rocking out.

I feel like a dork quite a lot of the time actually, probably something to do with me BEING a total dork...but that doesn't matter :)

So why should these kids be subjected to our sneers, and made to feel embarassed, just because they were having a good time? They're not harming anyone, just having fun, and who are we to scoff at them? We all love to mock the 'cool', precious, jaded scenesters (you know who). But then, acting like that is something those people would do.

Lame. So very, very lame.

So fuck it, let 'em have a good time. We each enjoy it in our own way, and that diversity should really be encouraged. You don't paint me as not 'real' because I don't dance much, and I won't think of you as some dumb kid if you're busting out a bit (while respecting others!). How's that sound?

We've all probably come to far to change our initial perceptions, like the way I so quickly categorised these kids. But maybe if we can call ourselves on that shit, well, then that's probably a positive thing.