There are about 150 bands called Bullwinkle on Myspace - one is from Hudson, Florida, a little too close to the REAL Bullwinkle, I dare say - but ours is at: http://www.myspace.com/bullwinkleband.
I will say this: we were critiqued pretty harshly by our peers, which looking back now, I can't get my head around. Three of us were teenagers, for Christ's sake. I suspect we made a lot of people uncomfortable because two of us were girls and most people knew we were gay girls. Claire as the drummer, in particular, was really scrutinized. A 17-year-old boy would have been encourage but she was not at all.
At that time, the Tampa scene was very cock-rocky. The only male person in a band who really reached out to us was Mike O' Neill, but then he never gave a damn what anyone else thought and always knew when I was tossing out Patti Smith references onstage.
I knew Mike a little. Karen more so. I remember having a laugh with Mike about his Aprils Fools Dark Ages Festival piece in the Trib. I should find it on Nexis and post it on AF.
We head a lot of Scrawl comparisons back then. I don't hear it, but they're not a bad band to be compared to.
Bullwinkle doesn't sound like Scrawl. You sound a little like Mays. Her vocal performaces on I Need You and My Curse are two of my favorites.
I suspect we made a lot of people uncomfortable because two of us were girls and most people knew we were gay girls. Claire as the drummer, in particular, was really scrutinized.
In case you didn't notice: people were really stupid back then. Claire was cute. I'm sure scenesters had fantasies about hooking up with an underage lesbian. It's pretty sick.
I went to gigs, but didn't go to Fred Stotz's parties or date within the scene. I dated girls that never heard of Pavement. Which was fine. You don't date someone solely on musical tastes.
I was outside enough to find things about the scene weird and too soap operish (if that is a word.) Example: me and some friends went to see Monday Mornings at the Blue Chair. A clerk (not Tom Roe) overpriced the Husker Du Ticket to Ride floppy disc. He cited the Goldmine price. The Goldmine book was on the counter and I showed him the actual price. He just gave me a bitchy look. We were smoking because other people (including Blue Chair/ex-Sound Exchange employee Manfred) were smoking. The same guy comes over to us twice and tells us not to smoke. My friend points out several "scenesters" were smoking and threatens to kick the guy's ass. Record store geek left us alone. Apparently we were allowed to smoke.
That stupid Hi Fidelity shit is why people into punk music don't go to local shows. (Pete at Alternative Recods never pulled that stuff.) These promotors/musicians believe people should feel grateful for going to their shows. The joke was if you wanted a good Tom Roe review you buy him a beer and put him on the guest list. Kids don't want to take their girlfriend to a club with a shitty restroom and bad sound system.
Five Eight's records aren't great, but they put on a great show. Local bands made Laura Taylor jokes onstage. I never met Laura and have nothing against her. People spending their hard-earned money don't give a shit about Laura Taylor.
I will say this: we were critiqued pretty harshly by our peers, which looking back now, I can't get my head around.
Ask yourself this: how much is the opinion of a Tampa Smokes band worth? Seriously. "The Wankers said we suck. What are we going to do!"
Hey - I didn't just link to it! She blogged for us at my other blog Sweaty Bitches of Rock N Roll. Vanessa is a friend.
ReplyDelete--Miss Bullinkle
B-U-L-L-W-I-N-K-L-E
ReplyDeleteSorry. Been a long time since I've written it.
Gina, you should post an MP3 song of that old Bullwinkle song about Kim Gordon.
ReplyDelete"Sonic Thing or Two". It's on the Bullwinkle Myspace page.
ReplyDeleteThere are about 150 bands called Bullwinkle on Myspace - one is from Hudson, Florida, a little too close to the REAL Bullwinkle, I dare say - but ours is at: http://www.myspace.com/bullwinkleband.
ReplyDeleteOur drummer keeps it up.
How many bands are named Rocky?
ReplyDeleteI'm listening to Sonic Thing Or Two now. I never realized how much you sound like Marcy Mays. (I always wondered if Mays and Greg Dulli had a THANG.)
ReplyDeleteWe head a lot of Scrawl comparisons back then. I don't hear it, but they're not a bad band to be compared to.
ReplyDeleteI will say this: we were critiqued pretty harshly by our peers, which looking back now, I can't get my head around. Three of us were teenagers, for Christ's sake. I suspect we made a lot of people uncomfortable because two of us were girls and most people knew we were gay girls. Claire as the drummer, in particular, was really scrutinized. A 17-year-old boy would have been encourage but she was not at all.
ReplyDeleteAt that time, the Tampa scene was very cock-rocky. The only male person in a band who really reached out to us was Mike O' Neill, but then he never gave a damn what anyone else thought and always knew when I was tossing out Patti Smith references onstage.
Long live Mike.
I knew Mike a little. Karen more so. I remember having a laugh with Mike about his Aprils Fools Dark Ages Festival piece in the Trib. I should find it on Nexis and post it on AF.
ReplyDeleteWe head a lot of Scrawl comparisons back then. I don't hear it, but they're not a bad band to be compared to.
Bullwinkle doesn't sound like Scrawl. You sound a little like Mays. Her vocal performaces on I Need You and My Curse are two of my favorites.
I suspect we made a lot of people uncomfortable because two of us were girls and most people knew we were gay girls. Claire as the drummer, in particular, was really scrutinized.
In case you didn't notice: people were really stupid back then. Claire was cute. I'm sure scenesters had fantasies about hooking up with an underage lesbian. It's pretty sick.
I went to gigs, but didn't go to Fred Stotz's parties or date within the scene. I dated girls that never heard of Pavement. Which was fine. You don't date someone solely on musical tastes.
I was outside enough to find things about the scene weird and too soap operish (if that is a word.) Example: me and some friends went to see Monday Mornings at the Blue Chair. A clerk (not Tom Roe) overpriced the Husker Du Ticket to Ride floppy disc. He cited the Goldmine price. The Goldmine book was on the counter and I showed him the actual price. He just gave me a bitchy look. We were smoking because other people (including Blue Chair/ex-Sound Exchange employee Manfred) were smoking. The same guy comes over to us twice and tells us not to smoke. My friend points out several "scenesters" were smoking and threatens to kick the guy's ass. Record store geek left us alone. Apparently we were allowed to smoke.
That stupid Hi Fidelity shit is why people into punk music don't go to local shows. (Pete at Alternative Recods never pulled that stuff.) These promotors/musicians believe people should feel grateful for going to their shows. The joke was if you wanted a good Tom Roe review you buy him a beer and put him on the guest list. Kids don't want to take their girlfriend to a club with a shitty restroom and bad sound system.
Five Eight's records aren't great, but they put on a great show. Local bands made Laura Taylor jokes onstage. I never met Laura and have nothing against her. People spending their hard-earned money don't give a shit about Laura Taylor.
I will say this: we were critiqued pretty harshly by our peers, which looking back now, I can't get my head around.
Ask yourself this: how much is the opinion of a Tampa Smokes band worth? Seriously. "The Wankers said we suck. What are we going to do!"