fucking hipsters

(McCarren Park, Brooklyn)

Does anybody think the meaninglessness surrounding hipsters is getting a bit 'yawn'? Someone does.

(ibid.)

Via TrustoCorp.

PRO ANYTHING

Where is the scene? Where are the cultural movements? Surry Hills, what has happened to you? What was once a bustling art and music crowd, who previously competed to out-style, out-move and out-party each other on every level and in doing so developed an unpredictable and original movement for the fashion-istas to feed from, is now stagnant and unrecognizable.

A few years ago when I moved to the city from the south coast it seemed no matter what night of the week it was you could walk the streets of this cultural hub and stumble into a raging house party or free-boozing gallery opening and be inspired by the new and interesting people and their innovative ideas. Over the past year those quirky underground nights have slowly disappeared and with it the once artistically snowballing scene, has been replaced by business studying fashion followers. Have the pioneers of those days lost faith and gone underground when their unique niche got too crowded, or is their a deeper reason for this unfortunate change?

The main issue seems to be a distinct lack of pro-active thought. The kids of Surry Hills are an eclectic bunch to say the least and the answer to our problem is among them. The people who are going to reinvigorate the scene aren’t the designer label clad wankers in thousand dollar Incu jackets and thousand dollar hand made leather shoes, nor is it the upper class North Shore kids who dress down in Cream On Crown uniforms and samurai inspired hairstyles, it’s the quirky artists and eccentric muso’s avoiding the “in areas”. I’m not saying it’s limited to these categories of people at all, what I’m saying is bring on more of the weirdo’s and less predictability. Graffiti artists, fashion designers, graphic designers, dj’s, drugged out fashion models, junkies, hippies; these are the people that drove your hazy subculture coke and condoms fuelled nights at places like the old China Heights gallery, Health Club, Ox Arts, Hollywood, Thursday Nights Live at 77, and the Manner.

 Everyone’s heard about recent changes to liquor licensing laws to promote small bars. Could the popping up of a few trendy bars have achieved the paradox of its goal by reducing our inner-city culture? I mean, by providing an area of attractive coolness have we really just provided an area for the ‘i-wanna-be-seen-looking-cool’ herd to culminate? I’m sick to death of Sydney’s shiny, plastic, recently refurbished bar scene. Leave the grunge. Leave the dank. That’s the character and atmosphere we’re all craving and having a place to hang out, shoot the breeze and enjoy reasonably priced drinks is a good place to breed active-thought. 

Don’t slit your wrists just yet boys and girls, the well of opportunity is still half full. Put down the razor and pick up a guitar, a paintbrush, a spray can, or a hammer and go create something. Go destroy something. Get passionate about a community issue and do something about it! Sex, drugs and rock n’ roll will never die so keep your ear to the ground because there are still wild warehouse parties and late night beach parties, it’s just that the once notorious Surry Hills events have shifted more often toward newer low-key areas like Marrickville, St Peters and Redfern. Maybe I’m being over melodramatic and everything’s really OK and the scene is as strong as it has ever been and I, as an individual have just missed the eight ball so in conclusion I’ll finish by just saying the possibilities are endless, so get out there and start rattling cages, rocking boats and getting all anti-establishment n’ shit.

 

animal collective

I saw Animal Collective at the Enmore on December 11.

They were unbelievable. Thinking it's the best gig i've seen.

 

Before the doors opened a Hipster Collective filled quickly out front.

Seems skinny jeans are out and slim trousers have taken over. So has an indie-intellectual aesthetic, i.e. have a shower and polish ur boots.

 

Bachelorette played a support slot. Made my eyes dribble. Her accent made me cringe (kiwi).

Then Animal Collective came out and picked up their instruments (samplers/sticks). Noticed a weird art-banner at the back of the stage with a huge mermaid on it. It all seemed pretty placid.

 

Then INSANE lights started flashing in time with the music.

There were atomic strobe lights interspersed with red/blue/purple/green lights that flashed across the stage and inside tables the band’s equipment was on.

 

You've seen the cover art for their latest album Merriweather Post Pavilion? Do you like the optical illusion?

Well that mermaid banner DID THE EXACT SAME THING TO OUR EYES as the cover. The lights behind it made it appear to move back and forth. It was so trippy. Then the strobes would come on again. Then back to the marine colour lights. I was in a daze.

 

The mermaid and marine colours tied into the water motif running through their music. Seems to be Panda Bear’s influence; his solo work has water samples too. So well thought out.

Then the music. It was…wait for it…INCOMPARABLY BETTER THAN THE STUDIO ALBUM. They had long improv-type interludes between every song that sometimes went for 10 minutes. Then they'd lead into each track with tiny hints of a chord/riff and the audience went crazy.

Had some ravey beats and some hip-hop beats. I went from jumping up and down to being completely calm, depending on the songs they played.

 

After the gig came the Hipster Convergence. Spectators didn't want to kick on at a pub or go home. They all wanted to stand IN THE FUCKING DOORWAY.

Many of us were barged onto Enmore Rd. Made me happy.

 

Then we realised it was over. One of the last gigs Animal Collective would play for their Merriweather Post Pavilion tour. One of the last great gigs of the decade.

I wasn't down. Seeing them live confirmed their buzzband hype across the blogosphere. It's true. Animal Collective is unique. Their music represents our 'taste' in world music. It represents our post new-rave wardrobes. It represents the 'me' in all of us.