Last year we went through the SX International housing dept to house Theoretical Girl. This year my husband was on the board of Dart Music International (DMI) and so our exposure to bands and the music was greatly increased. Let's see, the Beijing Invasion was P.K.14,
Carsick Cars,
AV Okubo, Xiao He, Snapline, White. Then there was the amazing Polly Mackey. We branched away a bit and headed over to the Japanese Showcase and Friends for Surf City and then to Maggie Mae's for a showcase with Capsula and Intimate Stranger. All in all, it was complete over stimulation and has taken me a week+ to recuperate. But oh so worth it.
After it was all over I realized how much I love music and what an important role it has played in my life. I think this realization came from watching and talking with the bands from China. There is an amazing rock/punk music revolution going on over there and some of these bands are seen as founders to this movement. Watching them I couldn't help but notice that their music seemed to be influenced by some of the same music that was such an important part of my life. I remember how I would sit by the radio and listen to the Rice radio station, KTRU, trying to catch the names of bands. Then I would save my money and head to the record store. I would learn lyrics and those that struck closest to the angst in my teen-age heart were written on my wall and my notebooks and on notes to my friends. I can still listen to those bands today and be taken back in time. Like when I smell Dove soap and am instantly reminded of my grandmother.
