[the_butcher]

Well, first of all, just so it doesn't look like I joined just for this post, I used to have an account, but when I try to log in, it says no one had the registered name that I entered. Oh well.

Now, to start off, I attended AND played in the YMCA Battle of the Bands yesterday (Friday the 25th). And I think that I speak for everyone when I say that the show rocked, regardless of what music type you are into. I'll list the bands and explain everything:

1) Frost - Shitty band that got together just for this event then left after they played.

2) The Ivy League - Wow. I have never seen these guys rock so much before at a show. They did an EXCELLENT job at this show, and it's the best I've ever seen them play (I've been to every one of their shows). Now musickid, you mentioned that you aren't a part of Ivy League, but yet you played with them last Friday...I think that would account for you being a part of them, whether temporarily or not. But regardless of that, I respect The Ivy League with the most undying form. I may not personally be into their music that much (with the exception of "Led Me On"), I will continue to support them. Hell, I even gave them their first show at Turning Point.

3. Ingsoc - I don't care how much everyone hates them, I am friends with the members, and while I don't agree with their messages they proclaim, I still enjoy the music. They did great. Enough said.

4. Stealing September - Again, I am friends with the members of this band, and this being their first show, they had mentioned that they wouldn't be that great, so I didn't really have that high of expectations for them. But wow, they blew me away. They were good, especially for being the first show for EVERY member but one(the drummer). They did a great job overall.

5. A Thousand Seasons - I play in this band, so I'm not going to talk about us. I will say though, that was the best show we've ever played, and we're very proud of it.

Now to move onto more of what musickid was talking about. You mentioned that Ivy League played all originals and that bands that didn't scored higher. The only band that DIDN'T do all originals was Ingsoc. Stealing September was completely original. And I thank you for saying we deserved to place, I'm glad you think that.

You also mentioned that judges in the past have rated punk bands lower than other bands. That's true, but I believe that just because a band is punk or punk-oriented, that should not be the reason they are graded lower. And to say that all punk songs are 4 random chords and lyrics about how the world sucks, you couldn't be more off. Our songs use more than four chords, and the chords we use are well composed. Our lyrics range from the end of the world, personal anguish(sp?), girl troubles and questioning our existence. Not one of our songs talk about how the world sucks, with the exception of one song talking about how we don't enjoy this town. Which brings me to my next point.

You say that you believe the town of Warsaw is being overrun by punkers and shitty punk bands and that the music scene is going down the toilet. Well, I WILL agree that the music scene is Warsaw is dying, if not completely gone. I have been a part of it for about 4 years now, and I've seen some amazing bands and shows just seem to disappear, and now we are left with nothing. But you can't judge the scene by the bands. It's more than that, it's also the amount of passion the peeople who are in the scene have for the music. You say it's all punk bands now, well, if you have other bands that you know of that want to be part of it too, then tell me. But wait a second, there AREN'T any other bands. We can't help it if no one is willing to step forward and start something different. We play punk because we like the music. Not only that, but it's fun to do.

You said that you didn't enjoy the show and that only the punkers could. Well, I listen to punk music, and while The Ivy League isn't punk, I enjoyed them thoroughly, I even sang along to the songs I knew. I believe that this show was just what Warsaw needed, that extra shove to try to bring back the passion/longing for the constant shows, good times and endless music. I believe that was one of the better shows I have been to in a long time, not only because I like punk, but also because the kids were singing along, moshing, clapping, screaming, jumping around and having one hell of a time. That's passion.

I DO care about the music scene in Warsaw, and that's why I PERSONALLY have been trying to set up shows to bring what we used to have back. As I said before, I gave The Ivy League their first show, and I will continue to give them shows, because they are a part of the music scene too. No one is saying "Only punk is allowed here in Warsaw". No, instead, the only type of bands that have been started have been punk, but how is that our problem/fault? It's not, and it shouldn't be. All that is here is punk, you say. You mentioned many times how you feel that The Ivy League gets screwed and looked down upon for not being punk. So why would any one aspire to be different, when this is the kind of treatment they will recieve?

One last comment I have to make. I screamed in my bands songs, cause that's what I do. It's my way to use my vocal talents. Whether you believe it's a talent or not is your opinion. But I seem to remember a certain band that you were in musickid, where YOU were the lead screamer for. Wow, the way the world turns...

I hate to end with questions, but it's the only way I can express my feelings:

Is the music scene in Warsaw dying/dead? Yes. Are there a lot of punk bands now in Warsaw? Yes. Do you have any better bands or ideas on how to make the music scene better? No, or at least you haven't said so yet. Until you do, keep your mouth shut and love music for what it is, someone else's expressions and emotions. Don't love the music because it's a certain type, love it because it's music. Rock on.

-the_butcher

[This message has been edited by the_butcher (edited April 26, 2003).]