I often here this term ?scene? and sometimes start to wonder what it actually entails and who it actually encompasses.? Now don?t get me wrong, I understand the concept that a scene is a group of like minded people participating in like events.? Even Websters dictionary gets this (scene – A sphere of activity.) ?but when I try to break it down I can?t seem to figure out the details.?
I tend to hang out at the New World Brewery, the Orpheum on Saturday nights, or on the other side of town at the Brass Mug or the CopperTop.? When I go to these places I see a few new faces, but there are always the familiar ones?.the guy at the end of the bar who nobody talks to?the group that is always playing pool or Golden Tee, and of course some of the folks that I know personally and talk with.?? Now does this encompass the scene?? It fits the definition, we are in a sphere of activity, we are all enjoying a drink at the pub and we are all there at the same time.?? But this is not the only scene that is happening here?
Amidst this group of people are smaller scenes, I mean you can?t just show up at a bar and expect to fit in and chit chat with everyone just because the bar is your scene. Take a look at the group playing pool over in the corner.? They all have on muscle shirts and are wearing sandals, something I myself couldn?t even imagine wearing.? As I bend an ear in their direction I also get a glimpse into their conversation?its about football.? Well this is definitely not my scene, I hate sports.?
Up towards the front is a group of tattooed guys with shaved heads and boots.? I can identify with these guys more, they look like people I hang out with all the time.? Hey I have tattoos and you know what, I have some boots too.? I wander up towards them and take a listen.? Their conversation is about the war and how they support bush and a bunch of other right wing claptrap?.Everyone has the right to an opinion but once again, this is not my scene.
Perhaps its more broad than these small groups.
The next night I wander into a concert over at the Orpheum.? Now this is more of the classic punk rock scene that I am accustomed to.? You have your tattooed neck guys over in that corner.? On the other side you have your mod looking square toed shoe people with shag haircuts and 70s track jackets.? And around the bar you have the tight shirted hot topic gals with cherry tattoos.? Oh yeh and everyone has a spiked belt on like me, this must be my scene.? But you know what, I don?t know anyone.? I am alone here drawn in only by the fact that I like the same band as these people.? So is this my scene?
Is the scene drawn from a broad base of people thrown together simply by the love of a musical style, but possibly not even knowing each other?? Or is it drawn up from just a small bunch of like minded people that you hang out with on a regular basis?? Perhaps its just the classic Webster definition, ?A sphere of activity.?? We are all at a place, in time, and for that moment it is our scene. I really don?t know myself, but I do know that I have heard this ?scene? term far too often over the years.?
Maybe I just am too caught up on who is doing what and where and why.? Perhaps my roots have jaded me into trying to categorize everything and figure out where it fits.? I do know that I am over thirty now and for some reason still thinking about a concept that I first heard when I was 14 or so.?? Maybe it does matter, or maybe it only matters too people who want to be cool, or people who want to belong to something. ?I really cant tell you.? What the fuck is a scene anyways?
