When Big Gigs of an Underground Scene are (still) Questionable

Actually I have to apologize to my friends who conducted Brotherground Festival 2015 on last December since I was so busy with my family concern and my article about that gig was never written. Even though my wife and I eventually came to Brotherground Festival altogether with my idea that an after show review might sound better, but still, the article had never been done.

I was so stuck to decide the next topic that I wanted to write until I read an article from www.altpress.com with its questioning title, “Is Youtube Replacing The Live Music Scene?” written by Caitlyn Ralph. Well, apparently, her question is not contextually different with mine after all. I guess. But again, I think it’s important for me to underline that in terms of live music scene, I choose to dig specifically about the role and significance of gigs for the development of a local underground scene. Ralph’s article is like enlightening me to eventually imagine that people nowadays rather choose to sit or lay down in their cool and comfortable bedroom, watching Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” metal cover version by Leo Moracchioli much better than sweating after having jumps and screams for enjoying Antiflag’s show at The Prophet Bar. Is that too much? Perhaps. Considering that so called efficient accessibility (in my own term) has become more preferable. Personally, I can’t blame them who prefer watching live music by video streaming, because I believe that they may have their own version of many reasonable excuses and explanations. Furthermore, it’s because, I copy from what Don Corleone’s says to Virgil Solozzo on The Godfather, since their interests don’t conflict with mine. Hahahaha,…

Okay, back again to the issue. I kept thinking about this question in my head all along, “Does frequent gig reflect big and progressive scene?” Just like most of questions started with “does”, the answer can be yes or no. Me? I prefer saying, “No, not always.” I will simply state that, underground gig is made for bands to promote their music, isn’t it? What I’m trying to say is, the word ‘promote’ doesn’t always certainly mean ‘to earn money’ but, more importantly, underground gig is what musicians and bands really need to ensure that their creative work can be listened, appreciated, discussed, and so on. Therefore, eventually, the most important result is what bands promote, what they want to share with the audience, and since we talk about underground, I believe that it’s fair enough to find out whether bands have messages or agenda regarding how to protest or solve certain significant issue and represent those whose voice can’t be heard. And it is totally amazing if the message or another different and (perhaps) radical perspective that they spread behind their songs and creative works can help and contribute to progressively change the situation. If a certain small town in the middle of nowhere has a local underground scene that attempts such thing, personally, I will undoubtedly claim that, it is a significant and big scene.

However, it’s my very subjective opinion (so, pardon me), another important thing is not always about the outcome or the final result. I believe it is also about how responsive people, musicians, bands, artist of the underground scene can be, when it comes to certain issues like politics, injustice, and environment. There are people like, Yoyon Sukaryono (Klepto Opera, Ballerina Killer), Heri “Ucok” Sutresna (Homicide, Morgue Vanguard), Arian 13 (Puppen, Seringai), and Gede Robi (Navicula) or those people like, Zacharias De La Rocha (Rage Against The Machine, One Day As A Lion), Karl Buechner (Earth Crisis, Freya), and Greg Graffin (Bad Religion) who at least have been so responsive to straightly speak out their ideas of disagreement against certain distasteful problems around them. Even though, the outcome is unlike the expectation.

When I state that frequent gig doesn’t always reflect big and progressive scene, I don’t mean to offend or disrespect other people who have spent most of their life to organize gigs with their sincere hope that it can help enlarging their scene because I understand it may be unfair for them. I also realize that it is still acceptable when some people think that they have a big and influential underground scene even though the facts show differently.

         Let me come out with an example. In my hometown, Surabaya, some of my friends organize underground gigs by having local and foreign bands’ performance, which is not an easy job to do. There are many obstacles that they must overcome and there are many times that some of them end up disappointed for so many reasons.

             First, in a third world country like Indonesia, underground scene is still alienated as a part of western culture’s invasion by some conservative Indonesian people. They believe that it promotes nothing but overwhelming freedom and indecent lifestyles which are against the noble and religious eastern culture. Second, and I believe it is the worst, those conservative groups of people are usually linked and connected to the hands of the authority. Therefore, it is so common when some of underground gigs are cancelled or banned for so called “security concern” and “crowd permit” (call me retarded for not knowing the proper English terms) reasons. Third, some of those who are so active in the underground scene have uncertain incomes. It means, they have to work collectively to organize, even though it is just, a small street gig, which is still, costly. They have to pay for the venue, musical instruments, sound system, and not to mention security fee for certain people.

          Well, some people within the scene are not always financially troubled. Fortunately, there are other people, whom we can call wealthy, who also care and work hard for the development of the underground scene. What they contribute to the scene is so useful, but sometimes, there is still a stone left in the shoes. It had happened many times that some frequent big gigs were disappointing since the organizer accidentally (or maybe purposely) change the function of the gigs as the opportunity to obtain popularity, and the worse, profit. These people are sometimes so recklessly forgetful about an important fact that an underground scene may look tiny, but each scene of a certain place is globally connected to other scenes, which means, reputation also matters. Therefore, it may be acceptable when our scene is considered as a little scene, but it is shameful when it is labeled as an unrespectable scene.

          There is a fun fact about some people who prefer attending small gigs with less crowd of audience, small venue, rather than attending big gigs with expensive musical instruments and lighting, it is just because they can mingle with other people at the show that they are familiar with. I came to one of that show, and I think the reason quite makes sense.

         The conclusion is, it is hard for me to reach an objective opinion that a big and progressive underground scene is represented by frequent and big gigs, since the intention, purpose, and the outcome of the gig itself may vary. Another thing that I realize, it is a difficult responsibility when some underground scene is well known as a big and  reputable scene, since opinion and judgment also come externally from those who don’t understand, don't work, and don’t get involved within the scene. Pardon me for being too shallow, folks.