Carcass, if You Really Knew Where I was Taking You, You Would Tremble

As of September 2008, Student Film will crawl back into the rat hole the we came from, where we shall hibernate for a season. This fact has made me reminisce, maybe too much. This wasn't the first or only band for any of us, but it was the best.

We are in the sixth year of Student Film. Like most bands, we were initially outsiders - not part of the artsy OKC elite. We couldn't even pay anyone to let us play their venue (we actually tried). We used to say things to each other like, "if we could just get a show with Little League Hero, 20 Minutes to Vegas, Ambassador Bill, or The Fellowship Students…" We looked up to these bands, not just because they made cool music, but because they were a symbol of what OKC thought it would become: the Great Promise, the next Great Scene. OKC would be the next Seattle, Austin, or even Omaha. This was and remains nothing more than an illusion.

The aforementioned bands eventually moved on. But not before we were lucky enough to connect with each of them (Student Film/20 Minutes or LLH shows became common). We even collaborated and became friends with a few of the members. Show attendance was high. New bands were constantly forming. Everyone's CD's were well-received. Things were looking up.
But there was a warning given by each Mother Band to us: "Be careful, you will wear out the OKC audience. You will be loved quickly, but forgotten quicker." Sure, sure, whatever.

However, just a few years later, I severely wish we would have heeded the warning. For we did indeed, wear out the OKC audience (as well as the Normanites). We did not reach the status of "seen better days" as quickly as some other bands. We tried to avoid it, but only delayed it: we played regionally and went on several small tours, but the vast majority of our shows were local. And naturally, people can only stand to see your band so many times. We were even looked at by Sony (as was Cheyenne) and other labels, though that eventually turned into nothing. OKC is not and will never be the next Great Scene. And why would we be? Corporate backing seems to deem scenes as scenes, not raw talent. OK is oil country - not indie rock paradise.

I have grown tired of being told over and over by burnt out 40-year-old Gen Xer's that if we just toured more, we would have "made it." This is logically equivalent to saying, "if you work hard, you will get ahead." Really? You promise? Both claims are silly because both claims come with no guarantee, although they pretend to. They really refer to probability, and probability is not the same thing as certainty.

Even then, these claims do not give us any specific degree of probability. Take for instance, El Paso Hot Button. It would be difficult to find a Rock 'n Roll act from OKC that has worked harder than Mickey. He is almost always out on the road, and he puts out more material than Moses did. But he hasn't "made it." Maybe he will very soon (I can only hope that this becomes the case).

But to further my point, consider two bands, Star Death and White Dwarves and Colour Music. Intending no personal offense to the individuals that comprise such acts, I must say it: they and their success are the products of privilege. Their music is inferior to the majority of OKC (and yes, even Norman) bands, but they are sanctioned by World's Fair, the enemy of the Great Promise.

When OKC bands got word that World's Fair was in town, we got excited. It was the Christ child of OK. The Hex famously set up their gear in the World's fair parking lot and played a set for Lord Booker. But to no avail. OKC bands, listen to what I'm telling you now: World's Fair is not here to help out the OKC arts scene. Can we blame them? The music industry is tanking right before our eyes and we were all foolish enough to think that World's Fair would gamble on a bunch of fellow Okies? Make no mistake about it, World's Fair is Establishment, 100%. Let them do their thing and quit bothering them with your brilliant demos. Life is too short and Establishment only has time for the things that generate profit, which good art rarely does. Whether or not your band makes it is solely a matter of luck. Can anyone really deny this?

But I would hate to sound jaded, bitter, whiney, etc. There are those who are glad to hear when any OK band makes it. I just happen to not be one of those folks. For instance, I think Hinder and the All American Rejects are nothing more than products that the Establishment that have been allowed to "make it" for no other reason than to fatten the wallets of a few corporate hacks (before the industry officially goes down in flames). Am I supposed to be happy for these OK bands? Do I need to be happy for Toby Keith when he makes a little cash off singing about shoving boots up people's asses, just because he's from OK? Did I miss a meeting, or does this issue go beyond mere taste and preference? Maybe not, I'm happy that Starlight Mints and The Evangelicals have experienced success.

My only intent here is to pass on the word from the Mother Bands. Do not let this warning fall upon deaf ears! OKC artists, do not anticipate prosperity. Only fools expect to flourish. So then, what is an OKC band to do? I will repeat the old cliché: "ART FOR ART'S SAKE!" Create, press on, play a ton of shows, wear out your audience if you must, write what comes naturally with no pretensions, record as many songs as you can, run up ridiculous band tabs at shows, tip your bartender, don't piss off the sound man, and most of all, ENJOY IT!

Word Happenings,
Justin Rice

Awesome. You may have just made yourself a local hero!

The world makes more sense than you give it credit for. Take Hinder and AAR. They're easy targets. We can all sit here and say "Hinder or AAR got signed and Student Film (a better band) didnt" Rather than look at like think, think about it like this. Was Hinder better than every other active rock band in OKC. Yeah, probably. Were AAR the best pop/punk band. Again, probably. Put in these terms, the perceived injustices start to make a lot more sense.

Nowhere in my post was it implicit that I thought Student Film either deserved or was entitled to anything.

By the way, the Evangelicals did have great draws before they were signed.

For starters, it's hard to see what your real point is. The world makes more sense than I give it credit for? What the hell does that mean? Why would I need to think that Hinder was better than every other local rock band? Or AAR?

For instance, I think Hinder and the All American Rejects are nothing more than products that the Establishment that have been allowed to "make it" for no other reason than to fatten the wallets of a few corporate hacks (before the industry officially goes down in flames).

Without that premise, your post has no purpose. There is no tragedy to be discussed. Without that premise, there is no injustice to be railed against. Without that premise, there is nothing particularly "wrong" with The Establishment you rail against.

. what you don't address is WHY. Why them??? Of ALLLLLLLLLLLLL the bands in the universe, why them? There is a reason.

IMO, any music that sells is good. In some way shape or form, it is good. It may not be good in the way that you want music to be good but it isn't total dogshit

Up until now you might have felt these chapters have been riddled with cynicism.

Cynicism is a terrible, disfiguring character trait if used by the
individual who is forced to carry a bitter chip. He will use his
cynicism to cope with the weight of life and all its trials. But
cynicism harnessed to your advantage can help debunk fraudulent
mysteries that prevent us from sharing in what is possible and what is
ours. At all times cynicism must be balanced with a belief and faith
in the intrinsic goodness of our fellow man. Nobody really wants to be
bad, even when they are pulling the trigger or handing out the towels
for the non existent showers.

don't piss off the sound man

Even if you're willing to kiss a TON of ass and make lots of compromises to your own vision then you're still gonna have to have a certain amount of luck if you ever plan to "make it" on a national level.

I have grown tired of being told over and over by burnt out 40-year-old Gen Xer's that if we just toured more, we would have "made it."

I'll never live long enough for that to sit well with me - especially considering some of the things I had to turn down over the following 6 months.

Oh man you set yourself up for a hilarious crack about your age. I thought about making one something along the lines of how you were only a few months away from life expectancy anyway but was like, "ehh... too easy..."

Cause when you play music, you end up making a ton of foolish life decisions based on the fact that you play music. How many people on this board are driving huge gas-guzzling SUV's because they need something to haul all their equipment in? Or got a smaller apartment so they can afford their rehearsal room? Or refuse a job that conflicted with band duties? Or dropped out of college to pursue music.