Opinion: Die, Culture, Die!

Home » Schools News
Tue, 16 Mar 2010
News: Schools News | Logan Park High School
Lisandru Grigorut.
Lisandru Grigorut.
Dunedin, the fair city that most of the readers of this publication reside in, has an evil among it, writes Logan Park High School student and budding record company executive Lisandru Grigorut.

This evil however, seems to be supported by the people running the show. There used to be a flourishing music scene here that was renowned across the world.

Why has it changed? How can a human being choke culture so violently?

Frankly, I think that the people running this city are more concerned about indoor stadium sausage sizzle fireworks displays than an identity that makes Dunedin stand out from the crowd. And by that I don't mean the Friday night rock covers band at "Pub X".

In recent years, a couple of precious venues of the Dunedin underground music scene were shut down.

"The Backstage" on Bath Street was a great venue and they were very supportive of the underground scene going on. They got shut down.

The same happened to the once famous "Arc Café" who were equally if not more supportive of the alternative music happenings.

Now my bandmates and I along with countless others trying to bring a unique vibe to culture in Dunedin are stuck as to where to play.

Chicks hotel is an option, but that's all the way out in Port Chalmers (that's probably the reason it's not closed; nothing in Port Chalmers gets noticed too much).

Who's going to let an artistically inclined band play at a regular pub? Punters are not typically inclined to listen to that sort of music, and bars love punters.

So there you have it, a brief introduction to the sort of evil I'd like to dedicate my life to stopping.

As a city, we can progress and gain from independent artistic endeavours, so that the world can see that we mean business! I mean art.

- Lisandru Grigorut and fellow Logan Park student Sam Longmore have launched their own record label, "Proxy Music."  Lisandru plays in the band "TFF" and their debut album "Irregardless" is out next month.

 

Bookmark/Search this post with:
  • Delicious
  • Digg
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Newsvine
  • Facebook
  • Technorati
»

A name, residential address, and (preferably residential) telephone number is required from readers who comment on ODT Online. These details will not be visible to site visitors.

Ok . . .

Submitted by proxy music on Fri, 19/03/2010 - 10:12am.

I don't wish to sound malicious, but.. First of all, would evil be synonymous with business and competition, or a lively art scene? I agree that small towns cater more for mainstream sort of issues. But the council could at least have some sort sympathy for people that wish to bring a unique identity back to it. It's off the map now. No one cares.

Also, since when are people that like unique music all underage? Who buys southern gold? I'll tell you who. Not people concerned with the cultural identity of this place, but the people that come here to pretend to study, paint the town with eggs and riots, and ravage themselves with bad quality alcohol.

Also, why does a venue have to be a bar that sells alcohol? Why can't people just go to places to enjoy music? Music is NOT alcohol and anybody that thinks this has serious aesthetic problems. If they really want drinks, they can bring their own "southern golds". People in Dunedin seem to be stuck in this mentality which is really poisonous for a human despite the fact that they are so deluded to not even realise it.

Since when do art galleries make money off of selling drinks? I'm going to leave you all to post your absolutely brilliant 21st century ideals which many "great people" obviously agree with and don't stop for a second to think about love and happiness that life is supposed to be about.

 

»

Sport over music

Submitted by G on Wed, 17/03/2010 - 2:26pm.

I think the concern here is that sports are enjoying huge local government subsidies while local music enjoys none (at least none that I am aware of).
This is especially unsettling in light of the fact that Dunedin is well known internationally for its music.

The local government appears to have no concern for this aspect of Dunedin.
A negligible fraction of the cost of the stadium would be a huge boon to the Dunedin music situation... yet... nothing.

»

'The Evil in our midst'

Submitted by Ian Smith on Wed, 17/03/2010 - 11:35am.

For those whose ears are not attuned to the variety of music which this young man espouses, the 'evil' could be said to be the very music he seeks to promote.

After all, this garbage spews out of half of the shop doorways in the main street, and shops such as Dick Smith's, in which I have spent quite a bit over the years, I have declared to be off-limits because of this mindless racket.

I know a great many people who feel the same, and I have often wondered if for those around town who have serious money to spend, the experience backfires instead on those retailers which misguidedly support it.

»

Bars closing down

Submitted by growtago on Tue, 16/03/2010 - 4:24pm.

Just so you know, Backstage and Arc didn't "get shut down"...they went out of business.

 It is certainly unfortunate that the music scene is dwindling in Dunedin, but I think that the punters have no one to blame but themselves. If people weren't such cheapskates, and were willing to pay to go to gigs and actually buy a few drinks at a bar (rather than sneaky BYO), more 'alternative' bars would be viable in Dunedin.

But when it comes down to it, Dunedin is a small town (moreso than a city), and people here don't have much money. It's a hard place to operate businesses that are catering to anything outside of the mainstream.

As it stands, I can think of some decent options for gig venues in Dunedin. These include Sammys, Re:Fuel, Chicks Hotel, Musos Club, Cellars Bar, and a few of the smaller bars can cater to smaller gigs.

Other than that, if you really think that there is a niche that is left unfilled in Dunedin - expand your entrepeneurial flair a bit beyond a record label and start up a bar / venue of your own.

Unfortunately,  you may find that the bulk of your clientel are underagers more determined to drink Southern Golds in the car park than to actually provide any real custom to your business.

»