Opinion: On musical likes and label hatred

us with the following letter. I realize that the comments following Kip's article on the Warped Tour and the Drive Thru stage spiralled off into the (unfortunately) typical Punknews.Org-style cycle of insults. We were sent this by an anonymous reader with a rather level-headed opinion on all the ongoing arguments. I'm posting it because it was one of the few opinion pieces we've been sent that actually have a point. Click READ MORE to check it out, then by all means proceed to argue like 10 year olds.

On a side note, everyone STOP sending us opinion pieces. If you have something relevant to say then by all means use the comment boards and try to add a bit of civil conversation to the mix. We have a few of you who love to send us weekly rants, however the majority of them are either A) pointless, B) making unfounded attacks, or C) discussing something completely trite and tired like "what is punk." We don't like deleting them but we will if they're of no importance.

Honestly why do we even care? I don't. First we have to understand it's a business no matter what people say. I am 23 years old, i co-own a venue. One of the first things i realized is that it's all about money. 98% of the people including bands are in it for the money. It is the honest truth or they wouldn't sign on to a label. In the same way we can say all label's are in it for the money. There are a few out there that just do music or run a label just for the love of it. But those people after a year or to, move on to something else that will financially support them, and thier families.

It was hard to learn that, when i first got into the music business. I thought it would be so much fun to meet the bands, and just have a place for kids to see shows. But i quickly learned that most bands, not all but alot of them were jerks, carring huge egos, and rockstar attitudes. I have also met some of the nicest, and coolest guys to chill with like, the stryder, prevent falls, and clark. 

Now that i understand the industry better, i know how to deal with it, and i can partly understand were the bands are coming from. Being in music is a career choice, so they have to treat it like a business, i dont always agree with everything but i say pretty much anyband would like to sell a million albums, and play many shows, and make a living off of it. 

Even though alot of people hate drive thru. They are good at what they do. They run a good business, they market well, and promote there bands well. Though alot of bands frown on it. Most bands out there would like to be where new found glory is at, and where starting line is at. 

People have to make money or labels go under, bands break up. I know it shouldn't be like that but its just life. We can complain as much as we want but its not going to change anything. Nobody wants to be a 40 year old ex member of some punk band that was big in the eighties who still works at mcdonalds, because he didnt go to school to be with the band.

So why do we complain? Why do we knock people on what music they like? Let people listen to what they want to, enjoy it, and have fun. There are too many music scenes out there, with rules and restrictions telling you how to live an function within that scene. Honestly! What a bunch of shit!! Having to dress a certain way, and listen to certain music just to fit in. Sounds so much like highschool. So many kids knock highschool for the social groups, like the jocks, preps, and leave only to join another social group, with its own rules on coolness and fitting in. 

I like music in general. I lean more towards, the punk/indie/emo/core style, Because i like it. Most kids who are really into the scene usually can't stand me. For whatever reason I dont care! So what if i only started listening to american football since 2001, and so what if i like drive thru, and can't get into glass jaw. I recognize that they have alot of talent but, for some reason it just doesnt grow on me. I like Death Cab For Cutie, The Smiths, and Pedro The Lion, but that shouldnt stop me from liking also The Red Hot Chili Peppers, or No Doubt. What we need to do is just support our friends, and what ever bands you like, and let the rest of them be. Let people do what they want, if you agree then support them. If not then, life goes on, and we all move on. 

Alex