The trouble with Tucson's music scene

My response was, predictably, "What Tucson music?" I blabbered on for several minutes about how when I first started hanging out, there were parties every weekend, the excitement for local music seemed to forgive all the differences between people who now create a maze for themselves to avoid enemies at the once-a-month shows they actually go to. If the scene lacked an abundance of enthusiasts, it was made up for by the pure dedication one had to have to be in four (sometimes five) bands at the same time. And since this "heyday," which at the time we still took for granted, "God, there's nothing to do," the Tucson scene has taken to embracing any art-punk, faux-rockabilly (perhaps the most detestable fad right now) etc. jack-off collection of dolts. Tucson has long since turned its back, if it was ever facing the right direction in the first place, on rock 'n' roll. If I have to hear one more person say, "At least Tucson has lots of bands," I'll puke. An excess of shitty bands does not make up for the lack of good ones. Narrow your perspective if you think Tucson has many.

There's plenty of people who will "not get this" or who will disagree. But I saw the proof in the number of people who didn't show up for the Statics show, and the number of numbskulls who flock to the Airport Lounge/Club Congress on any random night, looking like they took a grease shower with the Stray Cats, operating under the pathetic guise of being music lovers.

"We didn't enter ourselves into the Tammies because there's not a 'Rock and Roll' category," Jeff Glave, guitarist of the Fells, smugly announced from the stage during their Tammies performance. The Fells, around for about five/six (or more than I can remember) years, are one of Tucson's most unappreciated bands.

Their new single, "She's Alright" b/w "In My Head" (Estrus Records) is more kick ass and contains more ROCK AND ROLL than Tucson has been capable of recognizing in a long time. The Fells will probably sell/give away less than a dozen copies in their own hometown, even though at out-of-town shows a hundred fans will show up, and besides the fact they've opened up for such greats as Billy Childish and Thee Headcoats or the Untamed Youth in other cities. But I'm sure most readers of this section are scratching their heads at the mention of these names, anyway.

Anybody who knows my standing is free to accuse me of being biased, but my bias is towards good music and I'll make no excuses.

"She's Alright" is a great garage rock and roller about the most important rock 'n' roll influence-love. "We went to her house/You know her parents were out/ She said 'I know you're the one for me/ She makes me feel so right/ When she holds me tight ... My girl knows she's alright with me/Yeah she's alright," Glave sings in the Real Kids inspired, almost nostalgic a-side that's backed with great Jumpin' Jack Flash drumming. Catchy and without gimmick, "She's Alright" is a real hanky-panky hip-shaker.

And "In My Head", this time with vocals by Heath Heemsbergen, who shares lead vocals with Glave, could easily hold its own as an a-side of another Fells single. "I thought you were the coolest girl I could see/ But it was only cuz you were hanging out with me," Heemsbergen reveals in rock and roll cockiness as the song scatters into a Fells trademark, wailing guitar solo.

Rock 'n' roll isn't about performance art or providing some easy to recognize device - it is not about that half-naked dancing girl placed in the audience to hold your attention. A great rock and roll band is there to play music because THAT'S WHERE IT'S AT!, and they have the frustration and attitude to do it. The music speaks for itself.

Over the years, there's also been a decrease in participators of the scene who are willing to stick around for the music and vacate as soon as there isn't an immediately recognizable sound - and it doesn't matter to them, they'll take hardcore, lounge, tin-drum, whatever. They can't deal with music, they've come for an act, the clothes, or just to push other people around in chicken-dancing fashion.

"But the point in starting a zine is actually to get people to start doing something about it," Greg said. I agree, but this only works if there are people who actually think there's something wrong and if you look around, most are having a "good time!"