Ah, It's not without a sense of irony that I sit here typing this. My hair is freshly blond out of the bottle, Glee Club is in the tape deck (no, of course its not playing, its just in the deck) I'm getting slowly fucked up on cheep beer and the back of my hands sport two big black Xs courtesy of my roomate Jer (a shit-eating scumbag, who should be dead) who convinced me that it would be a good idea as we ventured to downtown Northampton in what threatens to be the worst storm in Western Mass in a decade.
Since I'm not from Albany I left the task of some sort of 'scene report' to far more able hands. The following items are, in order: excerpts from a Glee Club interview in MRR, and from Brian Rake's Albany scene report in a different issue of MRR; Adzene, a one sheet flyer by Adam O'toole; a page from Pansy #3 by Ian Lynam; and, last but not least two items from Albany's BUZZ one from 1985 and the other from '87. curiously they both feature the Rhythm Pigs... Just for the record... I gather that this bunch of individuals isn't so popular with many elements of the Albany music "scene" well, they've always done good by me and most of the people who seem to have gripes will someday be right about where people the who were in Human Anxiety are now (I'll bet even some of the older people from upstate didn't get that one) Hopefully in reading this you'll see some elements of yourself, good and bad. The statements are of independent minds early in development. I'm not printing Sam McPheeters' high school aged comments on straightedge just to make him look like a jerk or for some other ulterior goal; but, to give perspective on an independent music "scene" and to make a few points on the development of thought in a growing subculture (wooh heavy) enjoy.
from MRR 89
In the beginning. the goal of Glee Club was to simply have fun. We were all friends and we decided to get together and play some music. As we got older and became more aware of the world around us. we realized that there were a lot of fucked-up things going on. That's when the band started to change for us, We realized that it would be a great vehicle for reaching people and expressing ourselves. We feel that we have a lot of important things to say.
If just one person listens to our music and gets something out of It, we feel that It was all worthwhile.
MRR: One of your songs talks about drugs, "ignorance." What do you feel about the drug problem In the United States, and how do you think we could change things?
GC: While Glee Club is not a straight-edged band [no doubt -ed.], the drug problem In the U.S. Is something we have tried to touch on in our Iyrics. I think it's to the point now where nothing can really be done to stop It. Our government is supposedly waging a battle against drugs, but we all know what a joke that is. The only difference we see Is that more 'suspicious' looking black kids are getting harassed for no reason. If you fit the stereotype then you're going to get flack from the police. Maybe If we legalized drugs, some of the killings would stop. They are so easy to get now anyway. I think that It has to start with the education of the young kids. They are the ones who can still be helped. There really is no war on drugs; It's a sham.
MRR. What inspired you to write the songs "Not to Late" and "EIephanthead"?
GC: The song "Too Late" is obviously about child abuse. We've all seen that shit first hand, and It really is a tragedy. Not just the physical side of It. but the mental as well. It can really fuck up a young kid for life. We wrote It because most of the people who listen to our music will soon be getting Into relationships and having children eventually. Hopefully, they'll think twice before they act. Talking is a much better form of communication than a backhand to the face. 'Elephant Head' is a song about failure. We have all, at times, felt like we've screwed up really bad. it's Just an introspective thing where we are questioning what we've done in the past. We also want other people to realize that they're not the only ones who feel that way.
MRR: If you could change anything In the scene, what would It be and how would you do it?
GC: I think we could write a novel on what needs to be changed In our
scene.. The racism and violence are definitely two Important things that
come to mind. If you see a fight. break It up. If you see racist bullshit.
Iet them know that our scene will not tolerate It. The racists are definitely
the minority. If we all stand up and confront them, they will go away. Luckily.
we've never had a problem with that at our shows. We would confront it if
It ever happened.
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