thegrosbyfiles

So over on Phantasy Tour, some jackass posted how pissed he is that he got allegedly duped into buy Pearl Jam's new album when buying tickets for their summer tour. It was 17 bucks extra but if he was buying the album anyway he was really only out like 5-6 bucks. Then, he goes on to say he was going to download it anyway but won't now and that the music industry has always been stealing from him. This was my response.

I have never felt like the music industry is stealing from me. They have a service. They charge what they feel it is worth. If I don't feel like it's worth it, I don't buy it. I have never felt ripped off for a live show despite the service charges. Yeah, they're a little ridiculous but you gotta pay the cost to be the boss, as James Brown once said. As for records, I love liner notes. I love album art. I love being able to hold a record or toss it over to a friend and say check this out. And I've never paid over 15 bucks for a record unless it was rare or only available there. That's why I love having a local independent record store but even now more than ever, but you can also pick up stuff for 9.99 at Best Buy day of. In fact, if anything it's become less of a rip off due to big box stores and low prices but the truth is, if music feeds your soul enough, you can look over a few dollars. The only reason you're in this predicament is a rare case of technical glitch founded by the need to be able to buy tickets online, which as I've stated before is bullshit, that should in turn only cost you 5 bucks in lost cash as you should actually buy the physical album or get it from iTunes in order to support an artist you obviously dig enough to buy tix to two shows. The internet has made music fans selfish and greedy.

Now, I've downloaded records illegally mostly due to money needing to go elsewhere but I can recognize that I shouldn't and if it's an artist I really like, I buy it later anyway but NEVER have I felt that the music industry is stealing from me. They might take my money because I like what they do but that is the difference.

This is concept I typed up for potential publication in the Daily Orange. It never went anywhere so I figure why not just put it on the blog for all to see though most likely few will. It's full of bugs and you can argue about it until you are blue in the face but Just throw it up there. Probably miss a lot of people off but I just want to put it out there. To think about.

Indie Rock is dead. That's right despite all the popularity the Killers and Modest Mouse are having, Indie is dead. How can that be you ask? It's because indie bands are really no longer independent and the genre never should have been invented in the first place. That's why in this argument I will try to explain why the term should not be used in any rock writing from 2006 on. I propose a new term to define artists and bands that do not fall under existing genre definitions.

Modern Rock was termed as alternative came of age in the mid-1990s and is still fitting for bands that re-invented metal and hard rock in that decade. It was the cutting dge of its time. It was most likely the last original genre that rock will see as it stands now. Also as rap and hip-hop begin to "crossover" and the lines between rock, rap, and electronica blur, such as with the Postal Service, it becomes clear now that the rigid ways for the music indstury will not comply in the 21st century. Furthermore, othse bands within the "Indie" genre don't fit with modern rock and are being signed to major labels and hitting the mainstream. The new term that Indie rock should be definied as is Postmodern rock.

Webster's defines postmodern as, "of relating to, or being anf of several movements (as in art, architecture, or literature) that are reactions against the philosophy and practices of modern movements and are typically marked by revival of taditional elements and techniques." Bands of the 21st century oerfectly fit this description. The musical shifts that have occurred so far are a reaction against the harsh and jarring style of modern rock and several of the styles are reviving traditional elements and techniques. Here are some examples of the rivals of any popular music prior to 1995. Why 1995? The four most influential bands of 1990s had all been in existence by then and remained as touchstones available to the bands that emulate them now but where not popular during the modern rock period. These four bands are Nirvana (Grunge), Green Day (Pop-Punk), Radiohead (Brit-Pop/Experiemental), and Weezer (Emo). These bands are style originators, even if they themselves ripped off bands from the past and are acts that remain relevant in the postmodern rock world. Nirvana might have borrowed form the Pixies and Green Day from the Clash but each had taken their own take and launched a thousand imitators in their day. Bands now are no longer imitating but taking their influence as a force on their music. The origins of Postmodern rock are easily definied. When the Strokes went mainstream, heavily influenced by the Velvet Underground, it launched a wing of Postmodern rock that reinvoked bands of the 1960s. This includes such acts as The Hives and Louis XIV. Kings of Leon is on the Southern Rock front with a twist of the Cars. The biggest is the New New Wave bands that ape the 1980s. Bands in this category include Franz Ferdinand, The Killers, and Interpol. Postmodern is such a better term than simply adding an extra new in there. Postmodern would also give kids and hipsters a new buzz word to throw around, "I listen to PoMo music."

Other less popular genres could also be included. Alt-country, carrying big hitters Wilco, are in. Dance Punk, like Panic! At The Disco and the Arctic Monkeys, are in. Hip-Hop and Electronica and combined acts like M.I.A., The New Deal, or Aesop Rock are in. Therefore, in a Postmodern music world, genres would become one. While subgenres could still be used, the uniting of music in such a form would support the growing trend of support between genres.
How does this affect existing artists? New albums by those in classic rock would be defined as such. In 2003-5, this would have included "Hail to The Thief" by Radiohead, "American Idiot" by Green Day, "How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb" by U2, and "Make Believe" by Weezer. Bands in the "500 Greatest Albums of All-Time" by Rolling Stone seems to be a great indicator on a band's position. Placement does not matter, just having an album fits the timeline. It is the need to redefine Indie rock and cast those bands out of the shadow of older artists into their own age that makes the concept of Postmodern rock seem perfect for the new millennium and the future of Rock and Roll.

Classic Rock 1955-1995: 1 album appears in RS 500 or Rock Hall inductee.
The originators and innovators of a genre which has come and gone.

Genres:
Rockabilly
British Invasion
Blues
Jazz
Progressive Rock
Singer/Songwriter
Grunge
Emo
Punk
Pop-Punk
New Wave
Old Skool Rap
Hip-Hop
Country Rock
R&B
Southern Rock
Heavy Metal
Pop Rock
Psychedelica
Gangsta Rap
Any other genre that is no longer popular in its original form

Artists:
The Beatles
The Beach Boys
Pink Floyd
The Clash
The Smiths
The Ramones
Nirvana
The Pixies
The Replacements
Weezer
Green Day
Public Enemy
Eminem
Dr. Dre
Biggie
2Pac
Beck
Outkast
Jay-Z
Al Green
Grateful Dead
U2
Joy Division
New Order
Duran Duran

Modern Rock 1995-2001:
The various offshoots of the conversion of alternative to the mainstream and have no real reference to past artists.

Genres:
Later Pop-Punk
Rap-Metal
Alternative Rock
Pop-Rap
Boy Bands
90s Teen Idols

Artists:
Blink-182
Smashing Pumpkins
System of a Down
Limp Bizkit
50 Cent
Korn
Live
Shinedown
Nickleback
Hootie and the Blowfish
Ludacris
Cake
Everclear
Queens of the Stone Age
Daft Punk
Chemical Brothers
Jimmy Eat World
Deftones
The Roots
Incubus
Rage Against The Machine

Postmodern Rock 2001-Present or no major label album released prior to 2001 or any new artist that is a reincarnation of an old genre from Classic Rock or weaves one not from samples ala rap or electronica

Artists:
Modest Mouse
The Killers
The Darkness
The Bravery
Franz Ferdinand
Bloc Party
M.I.A.
The Strokes
The Hives
Gorillaz
Wilco
The Decemberists
Thievery Corporation
The Shins
LCD Soundsystem
Interpol
The Streets
Aesop Rock
Atmosphere

This is attempt number two to do this:

Entry #1:

Figured I'd give a little bit of an update.

Well it's come to this. . .

Let's see:

Monday, the Lake Monsters let me go.
Tuesday, I totaled my car.

Where can I go from here? Well, now I'm trying to piece things together and figure it my life right now. So, stay tuned to see what happens. Right now, I don't want to say I'm riding on one thing but having no job did allow me to focus on enter that MTV/Rolling Stone reality project.

I put a good effort into it and I really hope they accept me. All I can do is wait. In other news, I'm contemplating moving to NYC now. Find a job down there and take my life in a different direction. Just glad Meredith is still behind me 210% of the way. So, so long to baseball for now it seems but maybe it's just what I need. The announcement of the MTV thing's got my mind rolling more than ever about it and this just seals the deal I suppose. Anyway, that's about it. Figured I'd put it out there. Leave a comment if you like.

For a night without the lovely Miss Meredith, Thursday Night was raging.

I worked from 10 until 6 at the Expos office being assigned new projects to finish up and playing indoor bp. A typical fun day at the office. I left at 6 after covering for Carpy in the ticket office and didn't know what to do. It was a busy night. I had already procured some free tickets through work for the Benevento/Russo Duo show at Higher Ground and was stoked but it did suck that Meredith couldn't go with me. I called up my friend Tyler but he too had plans.
Nonetheless, I made the best of it. I had two options before the show. One, one of my favorite local bands was playing at the Champlain Valley Fair, James Kochalka Superstar. If you haven't heard him, please go to AmericanElf.com and listen to some tracks when you're done reading this. Option two was "Barton Fink", playing at the Spirit of Cinema series at the Firehouse on Church. I headed downtown to figure it out. One of my latest constant listening records is "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron. I decided to poke around Church for a bit. I went to Borders where everything was astronomically priced. I left a little bitter and headed to Downtown Discs to find only a used copy of his 1994 disc, "Spirits" something I didn't want. I went to Pure Pop, where shockingly they had none at all, which appalled me. I decided that a CD wasn't in the books tonight.
By that point, I had also decided not to go to the Fair was the traffic would be awful and paying $4 bucks for parking is a drag. Plus, I could miss part of the HG show. So, I bummed around downtown more. Went to Crow and finally picked up a copy of Kochalka's "Monkey vs. Robot" graphic novel. Something I'd been missing. By then, it was 7:15 with 15 min. until "Barton Fink." I decided to pop in if only dueto three coincidences that I should. One, the girl who helps run it works at Waterfront Video and told me about it. Two, I saw her later hanging a flyer for it at Radio Bean coffee house. Thirdly, and the most odd one, she ended up in my inbox as "New People To Meet" from OKCupid.com. After all this, I figured what the hell. It actually was a cool little event in Burlington. Plus, I could drink beer there. It might be come some bi-weekly ritual for myself at least. Anyway, she was there. Didn't recognize me but I'm in a great relationship right now anyway. I think I was just supposed to find a cool new thing. Anyway, movie was hilarious as always. Perfect Coen Brothers. Plus, I had a cold Mother Lager to boot.
So, I leave the screening. Call Nate up but he's busy, doesn't answer and head to Mickey D's for a quick bite. God was it disgusting yet filling. Needed something in there. I scarf it down and head down Williston Rd. to HG. I get there and the line's long. I wait and wait and wait and finally get in just as Drums and Tuba plays their first notes. I order a cranberry and Ketel One and head out to watch them play. More coming soon.

So we've been introduced, hopefully if you read this you leave a comment. So what can you expect here? Let's see. Anything I wanna write about. Music reviews, Movie reviews, the Red Sox, the NHL, the Vermont Expos, my love life, my work life, my friends, my enemies. If it's on my mind, you'll find it here. Hope you stay tuned. One entry coming up will be Eminem's Encore Revisited as the Detroit Free Press reports is his last album. I've been listening it a bit more as well and have some new thoughts to tack on to my old review. To prep, read it here:
http://www.dailyorange.com/media/paper522/news/2004/11/09/FaceTheMusic/Eminem.Dre.Create.Remake.Of.Past.Works-798016.shtml
Hope you stay tuned to the Grosby Files.

So, I was about to reveal who I am last entry when I was called back to actually doing work. Well, here goes. I was born way back in the glorious year of 1983 in New York City. Months later, my parents moved to Vermont, which I consider my home state. In 1987, I graduted from Roxbury Mountain Nursery School. In 1994, I went to my first Phish concert at the age of 10 after receiving Hoist from a radio station. This would begin the monumental involvement of Phish in my life that would lie dormant for years. That was one of two major rock shows that year, the other being the Rolling Stones in Montreal, my 11th birthday present. While the show itself kicked ass, I have since decided that I never need to see the Stones ever again. In 1995, I graduated from Waitsfield Elementary and began a long relationship with a girl named Meredith. We dated all throughout middle school. She will factor back in a later chapter. In 1997, I decided that I would no longer attend Harwood Union High School and upon acceptance, enrolled at Westminster School in Simsbury, Connecticut. This would make my relationship with Meredith, long-distance and on-and-off, ending in confusion in 2000, when she took one of my best friends then to the prom, when I couldn't make it from CT. I'll let you fill in the blanks but needless to say it was over shortly after that. In 1998, I got a major concussion while attending Football Preseason. I did not play for four weeks but still feel effects of the injury. I would never play football again. (Not that I was any good at it anyway, I was much better with its replacement, Drama.) While at Westminster, I rose through the ranks of the Drama Club, becoming president my senior year. My roles included Lt. Brannigan in Guys and Dolls, A pirate in Peter Pan, part of the Dining Room ensemble, Grandpa Martin Vanderhof in You Can't Take It With You, and Moonface Martin in Anything Goes. But senior year would prove to be the best. Two major events capped that year in my Westminster career. One, I became manager of the Varsity Hockey team, a wild ride that started in triumph, winning our Christmas tournament, the Flood-Marr, currently the last team from Westy to do so, and ended in heartbreak as we lost in double overtime to rival Deerfield in the first round of the playoffs. This is a move that would put the future of sports management in the back of my mind as a career. The second was as a senior and Dramat president, I would be directing a one-act in the spring semester. I didn't just want to do the usual, finding a funny play. I wanted to do my own thing. I wanted to write something that would speak to my fellow students. So, I wrote and directed my own one-act. It was a story about a genius hockey player, ridiculed for being different and being forced to choose in the end. There was a big drinking scene in the middle and due to an incident, the lug was pulled two days before. I volunteered to re-write it but it lost a lot of the bite and really wasn't my work anymore. Besides, the last night, my star got a concussion playing lacrosse and it was a mess. But the experience was worthwhile but left a bitter taste in my mouth. I graduated in 2001 from Westy and went off to Syracuse University, over UVM and Ithaca College. Part of me wishes now after college I had gone to UVM and been a theater major but I cant dwell on it too long. Who knows where I'd be now but it doesn't matter. Certainly different carrer choices as I graduated Syracuse a history major. While my major was history, I got my real education elsewhere. I spent my life at WERW, the low-rent, free-format station on campus, jeering at Z89 and enjoying our renegade image. Mostly, I wanted to play extended Phish jams when I was on air but after a semester of the show, I grew tired of it and became more conventional embracing the latest college music, indie rock, hip-hop, and the like. naything that would come in. Everyday, when the new music would come in I'd be excited. It was this excitement, and losing the University Union presidency for a second time, that led me to be the station's music director senior year. This, combined with being a music critic for the Daily Orange, meant that music fueled senior year, made me excited about it. It was fantastic. It was also at WERW that I meet Kelley, a fun girl from Pittsburgh that I dated for two years, ending in anger and frustration just recently. Which pretty much sums up my whole life to now. I have just graduated from Syracuse in May. I was supposed to be on a cross-country road trip but a job offer and the end of us stopped that but I'm happy about it. I am working for the Vermont Expos minor-league baseball team, a team I interned for in 2003, as a group sales rep. I don't make much so I have to live at home but it's a job in sports, where I want to work, not something irrelevant to fill the time. I love my job. It's fantastic. Another thing, I ran into Meredith, back here in Waitsfield and after hanging out and kind of clicking, I decided to write how I felt and how I still thought about her during all those years. I debated it, swallowed hard, and put it in the mail. I thought she'd never speak to me again. Probably think I was the most pathetic guy ever. Well, it worked out. She called me about it and said I should take her out, which I of course did and now we're seeing where it takes us. Just spending time together when we can. It works out great, if not no hard feelings and I can't be more happy. It seems like she understands where we're at and with the turnaround in these two weeks I feel fantastic, the "real world" isn't so scary after all. So that's me and how I got to where I am right now. Tune in for another entry into what you can really expect here in the future.

Hey folks,
Here is entry numero uno on the Grosby Files. Why would you want to read the Grosby files? I don't know myself but since Blogging is apparently the hottest thing since the Earth was covered in magma and I love to write, I figured I'd finally get in on it. I mean I've read many blogs in time, followed a few friends but never really thought about doing it. . .until now. Why? Well, I never thought people would want to read about my life but I recently turned another page. I just got out of a long relationship. I just graduated college. I also just got my first job in the "real world". So, you're probably wondering at this point, "Well, everyone has moments like this. Who are you?" So, let's get everyone up to speed. But the boss is calling so that'll have to be for another update.