Fear and Loathing in the Republic

 

It has been a while. So without furthermore a tiny summary.

• Lock-down
• The fall of live venues
• Streaming is now a thing
• The fact that we are trying to squeeze all the lost time into the last three months of the year

So we all know late 2019 to 2020 has been a roller-coaster. What a ride it has been. We have seen some bands call it quits. Some bands have reformed. Some bands have even come back from the dead. Some bands even morphed into these new small bite-sized packets.

Time has changed. Times have changed like really fast. As ugly as everything took place, I have personally been fascinated with how a plague has boosted generations to stop for change. To address the issues at hand and sort of, take action, with the limitations of being at home. 

People still drive like shit. It makes my blood boil and my brain wheel.

The actions ramp the blood pressure into a foreign blood type. I have heard rumours of a universal licence.

A friend told me it would be almost impossible to take a cheetah sticker off of a number plate.

This ramble brings me to the point. We still face boundaries and borders. Wth addressing all the issues at hand, hopefully, next year, those boundaries and borders will crumble. Some higher being knows what will happen if we do not work together next year.

Everywhere you travel crowd will come together; If those dirty sidewalks could speak. We draw crowds for nothing at all. The gatherings require reason.

It is a goddam shame how this year took so many venues from us. Places that have foundations we still can smell to this date are roaring through our nightmares. Some artists will tell you to have been there to know how much it meant to them. Not just the artists, the owners, the staff, the surrounding shops, they all are seeking a better future because of a lockdown.

It is futile to live in the past. This mentality needs to stop. We need to talk about what happened.

Talk about the past. Accept what happened and get on a thought train to how you are going to keep this scene alive. The future is out there.

Venues still exist and keep an eye out on that shady to-let place on that empty street. That barren place of a gem might blossom into your next local dive bar/venue. Jagged caves that have low moral standards and values forming your bones shiver. Now when I refer to low morals, I refer to not giving any thought to whom is playing and to whom is attending.

We live in a generational change. We are smart enough to do the right thing. Imagine telling your younger self that one day you would be able to stream your favourite artist from a television screen accompanied by your family and friends with illegal alcohol and smokes. It is a weird concept. Take into account that conglomerates and people with a load of currencies are going to invest in this concept. The infrastructure needs to take some amphetamines for one.

Look at it this way. More money into the streaming service, faster internet, the ability to still watch your favourite music, live, from the comfort of your own home or anywhere for the matter of the fact. Please refrain from doing it in a place of worship. One day there will be places of devotion for your favourite music artist that will exceed the standard local venue they perform.

We already see places of worship for genres.

These last three months are flying like a bat out of hell. We need to take it slow. The future is uncertain with the talks of a second lockdown might be on the way. We cannot gamble and put everything on red or black. Support your local scene. Wear a fucking mask, please. Wash your hands. Please refrain from jolling at 50 places on one weekend coming into contact with over 1500 people. Take it slow and stay safe. Please phone my mother if you see me doing the lather.

“Take me on a trip upon your magic swirling ship

 My senses have been stripped

 My hands can't feel to grip

 My toes too numb to step

 Wait only for my boot heels to be wandering

 I'm ready to go anywhere, I'm ready for to fade

 Into my parade

 Cast your dancing to spell my way, I promise to go under it “

Bob Dylan – Mr Tambourine Man

Written by Wessel