How It All Started

There's a really cool coffee shop a couple of blocks from my girlfriend's place that her and I like to go to to get out but not get caught up in all the bullshit (let's call it social politics) that goes with the regular string of places that all our friends hang out at. Not that our friends aren't awesome or that the places aren't awesome, it's just that sometimes it's nice to go somewhere low key, especially when one of us has to work early in the morning...

Anyway we were at this place one evening just killing time, enjoying our surroundings. It was getting late so I took my headphones off, packed up my computer and got ready to go. Well, when I took my headphones off, I overheard a conversation happening at an adjacent table. i only caught a piece but the gist of the conversation was the same old tired, "we just need more people to move into the city and talk about what a great place it is..." or something to that effect. The first thing that came to mind was "No fucking shit!" and a string of terrible thoughts about what a brain-dead fool this fellow must be to have just recently came to this realization. More than likely this guy was just as smart as anyone else you would meet or have a casual conversation with, I just had the bad fortune of hearing this little inane bit that really, at this point ought to be assumed and therefore not even needing of mentioning. Ever again. Ever. Because IT"S NOT GOING TO FUCKING HAPPEN! At least not in the numbers needed to make any significant difference.

I used to be idealistic and say "Oh, St. Louis is going to be just like Seattle was in the early-mid nineties, we just need like five to ten years." I realized a little while ago that I've been saying this for... wait for it... five to ten years! and I would venture to guess that we'll need... five to ten years to actually achieve this. I used to give my friends all kinds of hell for moving away or expressing any kind of interest in moving away, but now I totally get it! If you want a career, an actual career in say, film, music, art, software development, you something really cool, get the fuck out! Now. Run. Go. Faster. Finish reading this when you get somewhere that people give two shits about any of these things. It's cool I'll wait...

Here's the thing. It's not even that there aren't people that "care" about the aforementioned subjects. There are. But usually (I will be making broad generalizations quite a bit, though I don't think anyone would argue their truth) they care more about who the people involved in these things are and what kind of shit they can dig up, hold against, etc... This is very important. For those of you that need it spelled out, it goes like this: Often people involved in these professions are typically more concerned with if they LIKE that person rather than if they make good work and have the tendency to confuse the two. You don't have to like someone to like their work (Re: Roman Polanski, Phil Spector, Ike Turner, this could go on for a while). You have any idea how many complete assholes are in this city who also happen to be really good at their craft? Answer: Lots. How awesome would it be if all these assholes worked together rather than talking about what an asshole so-and-so is (and therefore they suck at what they do, of course). Who cares work with them. Call them out on being a prick. If enough people do they'll either go away or stop being a prick.

Here's the sad truth (at least about music): The only way people are going to listen to you is if you are in a cover band (Dr. Zhevegas, who will hereafter be referred to as Dr. Shitheap) or they can confidently wear tie-dye and patchwork corduroy to your shows and talk about how awesome Phish is. Dr. Shitheap is super popular and they actually make money. I mean fuck, they even opened a restaurant some years back. Any musicians making a living who do not fall into the Dr. Shitheap or Phish-phuck categories raise your hand... I didn't think so.

And you know who's to blame for this?

All. Of. Us. Yeah, me too. But also you. Yeah, you.

We are all complacent. We don't support shit unless it's our friends, we don't explore. We find our little corners of the city and talk about how much the rest of the city and all the people in it suck and then bitch and moan about how much it sucks that the city isn't in better shape... Fuck. Us. We deserve it.

Possible topics for next time:

- Why Ladue is a cancer on this region

- What to do with your money

- Why the RFT sucks

- Why anyone in the county has no business in a "how to make St. Louis better" discussion

- How to approach friends who have moved out

Yes, I am bitter,

Bye

Introduction

Hello Future Readers (if I ever get any),

I am a musician who lives and works in St. Louis, MO. I've lived here pretty much my whole life and I love this town. There is some really amazing music, art, food, people, schools, recreation, anything you could ever want here. Plus the cost of living here is REALLY low. But... for every person that really loves this town and wants to see it prosper there are (it seems like) dozens that either don't care or actively try to keep it down (Ladue, I'm talking to you, you racists fucks).

One of the biggest problems facing this city is that St. Louis city and St. Louis county are governed by completely different bodies with frequently conflicting interests. But more on that later... and for the record University City IS NOT part of St. Louis city for those of you that like to pretend it is. Let's face it, U City has become the Joe Edwards theme park. It's not a bad thing, in fact, I think that it's good that this formerly crappy part of town has improved by leaps and bounds. Though I suppose I should say that the part of town commonly referred to as "The Loop" does extend into the city limits, so, that's something, I guess.

My intention is not to scare people away from St. Louis, or even really to speak ill of this wonderful place. It's just that we've had soooo much goody, goody give me an "S", give me a "T"... what's that spell ST. LOUIS!!.... bullshit, half assed cheerleading by people who care, people who don't, people who live here, people who don't, etc... that HASN'T FUCKING WORKED. Maybe it's time that we take a good hard look at ourselves and see what we do (or don't) to contribute to this problem. To be clear, I would like to see this city become the cultural hotspot that it could be. But when I meet someone who was born and raised in the county who's almost thirty and can't even name one restaurant in the city, it reinforces my anxiety to get the hell out of here before I get to old to do anything with my life. Follow in the footsteps of the other people I have known in the arts.

I haven't decided yet if I'm going to provide links to some of the stuff I discuss here in this blog or if I'll leave them be and let them continue in their efforts. Stuff like the group devoted to bringing back St. Louis started by people who don't even live here, all the great bands, artists, restaurants, etc...

Also, I'm a musician. I see most things through the filter of music, art, culture in general. So I will try to limit my comments to these subjects or research my topics before commenting on them to any length.

Finally, I am expressing my OPINION, my stream-of-consciousness. You need not agree with it but keep in mind that most other opinions concerning the advancement of this city have failed.

More bitching and complaining to come...