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NOVEMBER 24, 2004

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Hi Column: The Big Bitch on Campus

The Death of the Indie Music Nerd

KATHLEEN DE VERE: NEWS: EDITOR

This past week, the earth stood still for,a second.

Washington State scenesters Death Cab for Cutie signed to a major label.

Alright... I admit it. The earth didn’t stand still, and honestly, nobody was really surprised because Death Cab have been slowly.and steadily gaining popu- larity since they became sound- track mainstays for the popular teen melodrama, The O.C.

The point is, Death Cab for Cutie were staples of the indie- rock scene, and while I doubt their decision to join Atlantic records will see the band abandon their particular brand of earnestly poet- ic musings on life and love in favour of gallons of prostitutes and cocaine - it’s the principal of the thing that has me disturbed.

Death Cab’s signing comes quickly on the heels of Modest Mouse joining the ranks of radio play superstardom, and Bright

Eyes beating out like likes of

Usher and Eminem for the num- ber one (and number two) spots on the Billboard singles chart.

What principal has me dis- turbed?

The mainstream is appropriat- ing my ability to be a musical elit- ist. This is when one would say OWTE”

Walk into any mid-priced semi- trendy clothing store in our mediocre mall, and you'll hear The Postal Service, Muse and The Libertines playing over their tinny musical systems. Why? Will hear- ing such obscure music make me feel more “scene” (a favourite adjective of a 14 year-old girl I

know) when I’m buying their overpriced sweaters? Whatever happened to the days where I'd have to grit my teeth though Nelly and Christina Aguilera as I was trying to buy underwear?

Some have argued that it’s a good thing (not Martha ‘the felon’s’ definition either) that when we want to buy clothes we can listen to music we enjoy. Yes, it may be more enjoyable, but we're talking about trading the enjoy- ment of my fellow man for the enjoyment I get out of being a complete, total, musical elitist

bitch.

If everyone knows about all my favourite music, how am I sup- posed to lord my superior knowl- edge of obscure bands over them?

Will I be forced to start listening to unpopular Japanese soundtrack music, or obsessively collect Warp Record’s back catalogue? Well, I already do, and given this devel- opment, pretty soon I’m going to

PHOTO SUBMITTED Death Cab for Cutie - singlehandedly responsible for ruining Kathleen’s life. She’s out to get you Ben Gibbard. Watch out!

run out of options, and then what will be left for me? Unless I radi- cally change my taste in music, I’m going to be mainstream...Sure, my cds will be way cheaper, but still... I’ll listen to mainstream music.

I'll be fighting 13 year-old kids to get the last copy of Happy Bivouac by The Pillows.

Twenty years down the line, you'll find me on the street corner, homeless, toothless, hygiene-less, and most importantly, indie-cred- less. You will approach me cau- tiously to read the sign I’ll be hold- ing - it'll read “Will mock your

taste in music for food”, and you'll

ask me what happened to me. How someone so proud could fall so far?

That’s when I'll look up to you and say “Death Cab signed to Atlantic.”

Then I'll cough up a big gob of phlegm and soil myself. The hor- ror. The horror.

Ha Editorial

Addressing Some Concerns

EARSON GIBSON Copy EDITOR

ae

With the huge changes hap- pening at your student newspa- per, Over The Edge, I thought I should address some of the con- cerns I’ve heard regarding our service and our new situation as an autonomous body.

1. “Your newspaper sucks, it’s a forum for inside jokes that aren't funny, and I hate hearing about anus’s (anusi?)””

I have to agree that in the past OTE hassbeen plagued by inside jokes that revolve around scatol- ogy. I don’t find them funny either, and this year we’re chang- ing to prevent un-funny things from getting printed. The Three Lines Free section has been par- ticularly bad, and to make it bet- ter we're putting a box outside the office for anyone who wants their blurbs in the paper, so’on production night we don’t have to think of really crappy things to fill the space. Please help us by submitting to Three Lines Free! (You can also do so over e-mail over-the-edge@unbc.ca)

2. “Why do you have time to write about Death Stars and non- existent plans for pubs, and you don’t have time to cover the UNBC Apprentice?”

This is actually quite a compli- cated question. Firstly, is not about having the time to write fake news, it’s about joy in act of writing. I’m an English student so I write about poetry readings and fine arts events, and occa- sionally fictional pieces. Would I expect a business student to cover poetry readings? Certainly not. Should English students cover business events? I wouldn’t

Letters

expect them to. Currently we don’t have any business students submitting, and that is something we'd like to change. The most sure fire way to improve Over the Edge is to help out and volunteer, so if we’re not covering things you're interested in, let us know about upcoming events you think are important. We’re open to input, and we always need the extra help around the office if you feel like writing something.

3. “Your autonomy bid is a cash grab because you're greedy and want to line your own pock- ets.”

Ouch. That one hurt. Yes, we've effectively tripled our bud- get with the $5 per student fee, but after about five seconds of

deliberation the editorial staff

decided that it is not going to start paying itself. The only paid position is going be a bookkeeper to help us handle our financial matters. Other than that every- one stays as volunteers working only for experience. Everyone submitting to and working at the paper does so out of Love of The Word, and it’s going to stay that way. All the extra money is going into upgrading our equipment and programs, printing larger and more frequent issues, print- ing in colour when possible, and subsidizing travel expenses and fees-for students who go to the annual conferences put on by our press coop CUP. Not too much to ask.

I hope this addresses some of your concerns, and if you haye any more please e-mail them to us. Also I encourage anyone would like to see changes at Over The Edge, to come in and make them happen - this is your news-

paper!

Young People At Billy Talent Disappointing?

While I was glad to hear the Billy Talent concert was a success, I was rather surprised at Elizabeth Fyles’s comments about the “disappointing” num- ber of younger people present at the concert. Elizabeth, exactly who do you think punk rock music is for?

I for one was glad that teenagers in this town were actu- ally able to go to the concert. They have just as much right to see such bands as you do.

There aren’t usually any age restrictions for large concerts at venues like GM _ place in Vancouver, so why should there be any here? Im a grad student here at UNBC, but I also work as a school counselor and teacher in the PG school district, and I spoke to some teenagers who were not impressed at the fact

that the Sum 41 concert was not all ages.

As for parents bringing their ten year olds, perhaps their intent. was to expose their kids to good old-fashioned rebellious rock rather than crap like Hillary Duff and Brittney Spears.

Its also a sign of a healthy par- enting relationship when they want to take part in what their kids like, rather than dismissing it. 1 grew up in this town and | remember when there was no Multiplex, and the only concerts that ever came were Bryan Adams and Lee Aaron.

Elizabeth don’t forget, you were a pre-teen and underage youth once yourself; have a little respect for the kids, and get over yourself.

L.R.