I don't want to spend too much time replying on this, because most of it would be reiteration.
Sir, you are so on the spot it's absurd. I only WISH we could have something like the Wigan or Wheel in detroit. Hell, I'd even be in favor of the same music policy if it meant having something like that happen here! Thank you for that rant. I can safely say it's the best thing I've read all day. rt -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, December 18, 2002 12:16 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: (313) Motown/Northern Soul/Detroit Techno connection Memo from Alex Bond of PricewaterhouseCoopers -------------------- Start of message text -------------------- Right, for some reason I've decided to go off on one on this topic. The reason being, is that I've been on this list a little while now and I've noticed how difficult it is to describe our 'scene' to other people on the list from different countries and cultures. I've seen arguments regarding alcohol and 'raves', drugs and 'raves', black producers/white producers, poor background/rich background and I've just come to the conclusion that the cultural differences are so wide on this list, that it's almost impossible to articulate what you mean to somebody who's on the other side of the world (without them taking it the wrong way). But this - this topic, this enables me to say "Yep, this is us here people". (Manchester, UK) It's about escapism essentially. Going out on a weekly basis to hear the music that you love. Getting leathered at the weekend (be it alcohol, drugs whatever you like - we're not fussy or don't care either) forgetting the bobbins week at work you've had. Meeting the same crowd week in week out dancing till it's getting light. Swapping stories about records, swapping records. DJ's not wanting you to know what they're playing. S**t, I still know at least three DJ's who use cover-up labels. Clothes aren't that much a part of it (that's a bit more of a football thing, although the two cultures collide), but you don't want to be the scruffiest head either. Getting the records first, discovering obscure things that no one else has - the japanese only issue Juan Atkins mix of "Hoodrum" anyone...? OK, the point of this is that the old Northern scene and our current scene I view as being very similar. The main differences are that the Northern scene was pretty massive, (couple of thousand a week at Wigan, quite a few hundred at the twisted wheel etc). Where as ours is very, very small (maybe 150 a week at our old club), but the common factors are there in droves. The trainspotter elements, the drugs/alcohol thing, the die hard, spend every last penny that you own on music and going-out attitude are there for all to see. One of the really good little second hand shops in the suburbs of Manchester is run by someone who was a big dj on that scene. God, you should hear the conversations I've overheard in there over the years regarding records. And people on this list think we're spotters, you wanna hear these boys, they are ON IT, big time. It's also why, the other month, when I spotted a 50 yr old over-weight dude at the bus-stop in the pouring rain, I afforded myself a warm smile. He had his best pants on, a mad pair of shoes, a battered 'overnight' bag and he was whizzing his tits off at about 6.30 pm, he was off to the all-nighter in Lowton. I thought. s**t, that's going to be me in 30 years time, except I don't like whizz and my bag will be full of retroactive 12's and my pants won't be as posh....... Sorry for the rant, it's just what I'm trying to say is that - Yep, there's a big connection there for me (between Northern and Techno) - it's the same s**t, different era. Alex. --------------------- End of message text -------------------- This e-mail is sent by the above named in their individual, non-business capacity and is not on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers. PricewaterhouseCoopers may monitor outgoing and incoming e-mails and other telecommunications on its e-mail and telecommunications systems. By replying to this e-mail you give your consent to such monitoring. _________________________________________________________________ The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from any computer.
