My new neighbor Dave, who at 24 years old is exactly half my age, invited me
to go to a bar with him tonight for $1 Rolling Rock night. I've never been
to this particular bar before -- called One Up because it's on the second
floor of a building in downtown Providence -- because it attracts, well,
kids.
It's mainly a Brown University and Rhode Island School of Design hangout --
"Sort of a punk place," Dave said -- and sure enough, I was by far the oldest
person in the bar, although there were young people there I knew and I was
not made to feel at all unwelcome.
So what were they playing on the sound system all night? The Who, Neil Young
and Dylan.
Go figure.
After last call (Bartenders hollering at the top of their lungs, "The bar is
closed. Get the fuck out right now!"), I asked Dave on the way home why most
of the music we heard tonight came out when I was about 18. He said, "Because
music today sucks." I tried to explain to him what I've learned from this
list -- that his generation's music doesn't necessarily suck, although
today's music marketing is horrendous. But I don't think he really believed
me. My guess is that he thinks I lived through some kind of magical
renaissance that can never happen again.
Dave is an aspiring actor, a filmmaker, and an intelligent, creative young
man. The friends he introduced me to were all interesting, aware and lively
people. The fact that the "voice" of their generation has been hijacked by so
many prepackaged and downright bland performers is, I think, a travesty.
When I think of all the artists I was exposed to at his age, and all the
talented performers of his generation who will never be brought to the
forefront by today's music industry, it just makes me angry and sad.
But I'm probably preaching to the choir in this forum.
That's all for now.
Good night.
--Bob
