Pissing off the pub with my metal bud

[PitViper]

Just thought I'd share a quick story that might evolve into something deeper...So last week I went into NYC for the Danzig show with a friend and had such a great time that we decided at least one night a week we have to do "metal night". An evening to dork out over our passion, drink too much, get him away from his wife for a bit, see a show and act like we did 10 years ago. Luckily for us there are 2 bars across the street from each other that are really the only game in town for metal and punk. Both of our bands (his more punk, mine was more along the lines of death metal) used to play at the one bar and the other is much smaller, no stage but a good metal juke box, a smokin' hot bartender and the decor is very metal. Dingbatz and Dingo's Den. The issue was we got to Dingbatz and the bands were like commercial rock and sucked. Crossed over to Dingos, and it was just dead..a few fat chicks and that was it. Nothing worth wasting a valuable weekend over. So with that we decided to drive to this bar closer to where we live and I said "dude I'm telling you it's gonna be all college kids" (We're both 36) We went anyway and I was right. In fact, when we walked in we both got looks, 1 probably because we were a little older and don't frequent the place and 2 I'm sure my Danzig hoody and his Reign In Blood patch didn't help. Oh well. We sit down order our beers and this God awful country music starts playing and what was worse was that this crowd of idiots were crowding the juke box. When they left I asked the bartender to break a large bill and quickly inserted a 20.00 bill into the box and threw in a few extra bucks to ensure my songs would come on next. Here was 30-40 people clearly annoyed were there and now Hell Awaits live comes on Followed by a shit ton of Misfits songs, a good portion of Among The Living, I played some GBH and Minor Threat for my friend and just when I didn't think I could get rid of these assholes any faster...there was a break. Some more damn country music came on but...What was left of my 20.00 kicked back in with World Painted Blood and unbelievably, Dying, Chopped In Half and Find The Arise were all found from Obituary on this touch screen juke box. We were almost hoping one of these guys would make a remark but they just stayed to themselves and rolled their eyes. Now comes the part where the story may get a bit deeper. My friend made a comment like "This is why metal heads get the stereotype we do, that we discredit everything not metal and we're ignorant to everything outside the music. If that's true it's just because these fuckers started it by pissing on everything that's not mainstream." I have to agree. While I obviously favor metal (and yes I do enjoy "real" punk and hardcore) I have always felt that everyone that doesn't like metal generally looks at it with a "wtf is wrong with you for liking a band named Cannibal Corpse" attitude, which in turn makes me want to throw those country music assholes through a window Does this make sense? Anyway, metal night was a success even if it was only 2 of us. Just a story I thought I'd share. Have a similar one? I'd love to hear it. Cheers.

[BlutAusNerd]

Re: Pissing off the pub with my metal bud I've heard of Dingo's Den, I think that bar was in a few of Bill Zebub's movies. Sounds like you guys had a good time though, that's what counts, hearing some Obituary on the Jukebox would be rad. My brother did something similar a few years ago, my mom took him to dinner at a sports bar frequented by 40 somethings, and he decided to queue up Mercyful Fate's Don't Break the Oath, which he was very surprised to find on their jukebox. The crowd was none too pleased, especially with how loud it came on. As far as the other point goes, many people don't see the appeal of metal music, just as many don't see the appeal of horror movies or other macabre art forms. It just never will appeal to most people, they don't find that stuff interesting or exciting. The same goes for any other kind of music, it's all subjective and speaks to people differently. Pop music is different though, as it is by design created to be as shallow and "pleasant" sounding as possible, so that it may appeal to the widest audience that it could reach in a minimal way while being catchy and "fun". With this being the case, pop music can never be deep and meaningful as it is too busy being concerned by existing on the surface and selling like crazy. The problem (as with movies, TV, and pretty much any form of media or entertainment that you can think of) is the this has become the standard that people expect and want from their "art", they do not desire stimulation that would make them think or feel, it's just a cheap thrill. Music that is not so easy to digest that strives to be more than just a catchy hook is then looked down upon as being needlessly indulgent and complex/deep, despite this level of personal communication being entirely the point of music in the first place. Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2

[PitViper]

Good call! Bill Zebub actually lives in the same town, Clifton NJ. I used to pick up the Grimoire all the time. He's a funny dude. Dingbatz is right across the street and it's kind of become cliche to bad mouth it...which is ridiculous because there are NO OTHER places that support metal, punk and hardcore AT ALL in the area. Also it's an incredible sound system and the guy that used to be the sound man "Sarj" quit recently..he was there for many years, a total burn out but cool guy and if you were playing and something happened on stage? He'd hop up like Spider Man with a mini flash light in his mouth and keep your set going. I got to open up for Generation Kill and Merauder there. Had so many fun times in that place...there is however this "posse" that shows up and I steer clear of them. They are a production company and do a lot of this "gangsta" rap/metal/hardcore thing...wannabe thugs and I literally can't stand the sight of them. Long story and off topic but you know every good thing always has one jerk off that's gonna F it up for everyone else? That's them. Little poser clique. Back on topic, I know what you mean about some people just not getting it. What's odd is that a guy like me can listen to Cannibal Corpse and probably recite lyrics to any song at any time. At the same time I honestly don't care for over the top horror movies. I LOVE classic stuff but the whole gore/torture/porn thing to me? I probably feel the same way about that as the people last night feel about metal. The difference is, for me anyway...I won't piss all over what you like. If Hostel and Saw are your thing? So be it, I don't think any differently of someone if they're into that. Maybe I'm like that because I'm a very passionate person. I know when someone flat out says "Metal sucks" I take that as a direct insult. There is a guy I know I ride motorcycles with from time to time..incredibly stupid and very blunt. I steer clear of him at the bars or dinners we go to because if I'm talking about something to someone else, that's just his way.."Slayer has no talent, that music isn't real"...I would NEVER say that to someone because when shit gets said like that to me? I feel like breaking your jaw. So...I just keep to myself and try to surround myself with like minded ppl when possible. I obviously felt like typing tonight lol.

[Will of the Ancients]

Was it one of those Jukeboxes that searches the net? I was at a bar once and you could search ialmost anything. My drunk friend/bass player put a bunch of money in and put Shattered by Pantera on 10 times in a row, lol

[Artemisia]

I was at a local bar with 3 friends last weekend, and we must have put about 200 bucks into that jukebox, playing all the metal we could in a bar that only plays pop music...we got away with it until the manager arrived. Luckily our playlist had finished by then, because bars in my town will just switch the music off if they don't approve, regardless of how much money you feed into the jukebox. This raises the question of why they have metal on it in the first place. Their excuse is "you're scaring away the other customers" - yet I didn't see one person leave because of our music.