Morast hits the nail etc…

Okay. I’m going to hell for this, or at least my social circle might consider me on my way, but I feel sorry for Robert Morast.

Wait. That’s not right. I don’t feel sorry for him in a “boy, what a loser – he’s really being pummeled and I don’t know how he can handle it” way. Instead, it’s a “boy, it’s too bad that the local scene needs to put some local critic in an early grave every generation” way.

Morast, who’s column appears in the Argus’ Link every Thursday, is concerned about the local music scene, just like others before were concerned about the local scene. He doesn’t kiss the ass of every local band that comes out, and he doesn’t hype bands that aren’t worth hyping.

This has made him public enemy number one in the “scene.”

Here’s what the scenesters need to remember: the only people who care about the local music scene are those who are involved in the local music scene. I know this – I was, at one time, a very small part of it. Everyone in a local band, or those who book the shows, or those who are friends with the local bands or those who book the shows, are concerned about the lack of a venue. The rest of the population? They don’t’ care. For the most part, they wouldn’t notice if these bands were around or not.

In fact, I hardly notice if these bands are around or not.

The Sioux Falls scene has always had a certain air of self-importance – the notion that they are a crucial part of how this city works and what ultimately makes all of punk music click. This is important, to a certain extent, but the level that has been shown in Sioux Falls is ridiculous. If you want the music scene to succeed, stop being a martyr. Do something about it.

This doesn’t apply to everyone – Terry Taylor, to name one, has always been supportive of our local scene and has done things about keeping it alive instead of complaining about it. There were times that I saw a true tiredness in his eyes, a weariness with the overall scene. But he stuck with it because he wanted things to change. So he did something about it.

Robert Morast has been the subject of my own ire many times before. But his most recent column had a true humanist side to it, showing that he’s just a columnist who wants something to succeed. The difference is that he’s being critical about it. He’s pointing out what changes need to be made, instead of feeling sorry for the death of the Sioux Falls scene.

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*Update* — I had to get rid of the link because it was to the wrong article. The article in question is not on the website, but when it is I will make sure you know.