Bursting the Music Bubble

It’s the Sunday after spring break, and I find myself at the Bridge surrounded by a mix of Charlottesville locals and U.Va. students rocking out to the sounds of “Your Spirit Animal,” “Scary River,” “See Goon See,” “Cortez, Cortez,” and “The Caninos.” Thanks to the revival of Tyrannosaurus Rock, better known as T-Rock, such nights as this are possible: a break in the divide between U.Va. students and C-Vegas residents for the sake and celebration of good music. There’s an on-stage rotation of familiar faces, classmates, co-workers, friends, and out-of-state talents that have ushered in the enthusiastic crowd. Many stay until the last set is done, passing around homemade brownies and Spudnut donuts while praising the tunes. Unfortunately, nights like this appear to be the exception rather than the rule. It would be inaccurate to claim that U.Va. students do not attend local shows, support local music venues, or befriend members of the Charlottesville music scene, but, considering that there are thousands of eighteen- to twenty-two-year-olds (that’s undergrads alone) nearby, it’s an understatement to say there is a lack of a student presence.

T-rock is a student-run initiative to get the word out on local shows to the U.Va. community. By doing this, T-rock inadvertently breaks students out of the U.Va. bubble and into Charlottesville outside the Grounds and the Corner. But T-rock must contend with the fact that many people are content to remain within the boundaries dictated by Rugby road and 14th street. Few students seem to take any active interest in meeting locals and being part of the Charlottesville scene, as well as the U.Va. scene. Many, especially first and second years, are unaware or disinterested in the vibrant local music scene; most students are more interested in big-name performances and packed arena shows rather than local groups and smaller, more personal venues. There is a natural stigma attached to local music that comes with the expectation that more fame automatically means more talent. It is not about choosing between the two, but taking advantage of both options.

The death of the Satellite Ballroom is another factor to the lack of interest. Although local music shows still did not have the power to draw large crowds, Satellite did offer a cheap, close-by outlet for a mix of local acts and more famous names (Of Montreal, Boris, and Modest Mouse to name a few). It provided an almost effortless forum for U.Va. students to tune into a wide spectrum of music. It was not a cure-all for the distinct gap between U.Va. and the rest of Charlottesville, but it was most definitely a better pick for night-life than CVS (Dear Corner CVS, I hate you so very, very much). But the shut-down of the Satellite Ballroom was in no way a death knell for the music scene; all the same Charlottesville bands are still performing (in fact, more and more are arriving on the scene, like Pompadour, Your Spirit Animal, and the Caninos, all of which are made up of U.Va. students, as well as a few Charlottesville residents) but have scattered to the various other venues located throughout the Downtown Mall, Belmont, and even Valley road. The Tea Bazaar, the Box, the Blue Moon Diner, and Is Venue (to name a few) have absorbed the various bands that lost their stomping ground on the Corner. Most of the students at U.Va. are completely unaware that, every night, multiple bars and venues are housing worthwhile shows.

Another problem is that students who are not twenty-one or over do not see the point in spending a weekend night someplace they cannot drink. This is not an attack on the drinking culture at U.Va., which I avidly support. I’m simply suggesting that taking the night off to enjoy good music and meet people off the U.Va. grid (as well as fellow students) is not a bad option; by getting to know another side to this town early on in their U.Va. career, first and second years can gain even more ways to take advantage of their years here. Many first years at U.Va. complain about the lack of a social scene outside the fraternities of Rugby road without realizing that all they have to do is dig a little deeper to find a range of events going on in the immediate area. Nail gun media, a comprehensive music and arts blog, and the T-rock newsletter are two easy ways to keep up with the goings-on of Charlottesville, and both are available on the web. It really is as simple as Google in this case.

Considering the sheer amount of students at U.Va., such small venues as the Bridge and the Box should have no trouble hosting packed shows and making a steady income. As it turns out, many venues are having difficulties bringing in money due to lackluster showings. When it comes to the divide between U.Va. and Charlottesville, it is more than just a question of supporting local music; it’s also an issue of supporting local establishments. Most students at U.Va. arrive with the intention to stay for four years (maybe with a semester or two abroad), so it is hard to believe that there is so little effort geared toward keeping local businesses outside the Corner open. The students here need to consider themselves members of the Charlottesville community, as well as the U.Va. community; there should be no distinction between the two considering that U.Va. is part of Charlottesville, and the town is home to most of us for four years.

This entire article is biased, of course. I love Charlottesville from Rugby road to Belmont, which is something I never expected. The fact that I can spend one night at a frat party and the next at an amazing show featuring bands I have not heard of (and know nothing about) defied any of my depressing visions of life at U.Va. It kills me when friends and classmates complain about boredom and commiserate over the fact that Girl Talk is playing at JMU this April, and they can’t get a ride. Girl Talk is great, but apparently there are several dance parties in the near future: a killer lineup at the Tea Bazaar and a free house show going down at Grady. Seriously people, start looking this shit up.