The rebellion of folk

The August issue of The Wire has a cover article on the "free folk" scene. It's a great article. The only probelm I have with it is now I need to go spend money on exploring this scene. I mean I HAVE to go spend the money. Any day now the check I sent for my credit card should clear, and then I'll be placing an order with Eclipse Records, which distributes a lot of this stuff (along with distributing Acid Mother Temple Records).

Since I haven't heard any of these bands, I've got no idea exactly what they sound like. From the article though, I'm imagining some kind of "ruralish" version of no wave. There was a lot of talk about free jazz ideas, like letting the music play you, and the spiritual feeling of the music. The conviction that they spoke with is half the reason that I need to check this stuff out. There's also a punk element to the sound. Esspecially the idea of anyone being able to get up on stage and playing.

For a couple years now, I've been refering to punk as post-60's folk music. In it's purest form, it is the music of the people. While everything else can be debated about punk (sound, ethics, style, etc.) the idea that anyone can do this, is constant. People don't play punk because they think they are a really great musician, and want to express themselves, they do it because it looks fun, and why shouldn't they? They have something to say that's just as valid as whatever someone else has to say.

I love this idea. There's a freedom in just doing something for the hell of it. That freedom can be powerful. It can lead to revolutions, and can change the world. I can't help but wonder what the world would be like if more people bought into this. If the cult of celebrety was finally killed off, and people realized that no one is more important then they are. That no ideas are more valid or superior to thier own ideas. What the world look like?

I've been meaning to pick up a guitar for over a year now, and figuring out how to make my kind of noise with it. I don't particularly care about learning how to play it. May be a couple of blues chords to kind of get started. But, I'm more interested in making my own sound out of it. Something that's uniquely me. If all I do is focus on what other people think things should sound like, then what's the point?

I've got a feeling that that sound will probably be some kind of rhythm-based beast. I go back and forth between picking up an acoustic or electric. After reading the free folk article, I'm leaning towards acoustic again.

I need to get my finances in order.

I'm listening to the Kingston Trio right now. I probably should put some Pete Seeger back onto my iPod. The Kingston Trio CD I've got on here ends with a version of Seasons In The Sun. God, I love this song. I want it played at my funeral. The Kingston Trio version is cool, but my favorite version so far is the Black Box Recorder version. (right click and do a save as on that link, hopefully it'll work)

Posted by Matt at September 11, 2003 03:37 PM