Here Comes The Neighborhood: we love them. We support them. We obviously care about them. By “we,” I mean the kids that try and get out to most of their shows and know more about the band and its counterparts other than “Oh Dustin yor so foiiiiine” or “OMG Will I love yor hairs.” The people who can say “Hey Dustin, I still have to send you those Brand New tracks from that one EP” or “Hey Will, I want to see you play drums sometime.” In other words, the kids that are here to be more than just hopeful prospects for the members.
The show's over at the Matchbox. Hicktown and friends go to KenTaco Hut. American Legion Underground is so tiny, let's all go to White Castle and spend half our money on fake tattoos. Both of the vans broke down, but let's chill in Will's basement and walk to Turner Pond anyway. These are just a few memories the majority of us share. There isn't ever really anything epic going on here. We're usually just a bunch of hungry and/or bored people that are already hanging out with a bunch of other hungry and/or bored people that happen to be friends.
But we have good times. Really good times, sometimes.
And then one day, Dustin So Foiiiiine and Will Lovely Hairs resign from Town Council along with Joe Has A JewFro, Victor Appreciates Jesse Lacey, Mikey Wears DARE T-shirts, and Stephen Moonjumps Like A Goon. Our leadership is gone. Hicktown is no more, and its people don't know what to do.
Change: to make the form, nature, content, future course, etc., of (something) different from what it is or from what it would be if left alone. Regarding the lake that the FriendFans HCTN have been sailing on, the recent discussions and rough decisions have defied all science and created an iceberg somewhere in the middle of the water for this Here Comes The Titanic to crash into. In the movie, if it weren't for that stupid iceberg, people wouldn't have died. But plans change, and conditions aren't always favorable. You also gotta remember, in the movie, half the people were able to be saved. Sure, there's a little part in all of us that's gonna be dead. I'm gonna miss hearing Cowboys and Young Thugs live. But we gotta set sail on our little temporary lifeboats till we find and witness the potentially great new things that come out of this. Maybe we'll like the upcoming project just as much for what it is. Maybe we'll all still hangout at shows sometime soon enough. Maybe this isn't the end, guys.
Above all, I don't think the diffusion of the band is the real issue here. Yes, of course they have talent and it's sad to see some of those great songs be retired. I understand this, and I'm probably gonna get sentimental about it every time my iPod tells me I need to listen to HCTN on shuffle. But I really, truly, honestly believe this is about the people. The friends. Everyone who consistently gets together to chill with these people we seem to know so well. The fear of all of this being lost. The fear of the bond holding this together breaking. The fear of no one organizing any time together, of no one wanting to admit they want to hangout as a group again without some bigger reason to do so other than “I miss you guys.”
This could very well happen. At the same time, we only lose what we think we deserve to lose. We fight for what we think we deserve. If something falls apart that we all want, if we ever feel the need to blame Dustin So Foiiiiine, Will Lovely Hairs, Joe Has A JewFro, Victor Appreciates Jesse Lacey, Mikey Wears DARE T-shirts, and Stephen Moonjumps Like A Goon for anything that we've let ourselves lose on our own, then yes, there is probably something to be feared. That “something” is the realization that it was all an illusion, that there was never really any glue holding us together in the first place. That will only be as true as we let it be. It will be the fault of whoever lets it be their fault. After all, "Love is alive inside of us."
In conclusion: things will be okay if we want them to be okay. Also, change isn't always for the worse. Just stick it out. See what happens. Motion City Soundtrack says it well: “With all my dreams hooked to hospital machines, I think 'Let's try redefining beautiful...'”
8 comments:
Sarah, that was amazing.
In the last few days my eyes only once or twice got a little salty, but the honesty of how you wrote that blog nearly got me. You know you're right about all of it, I don't have to tell you again.
I'm happy somebody realizes what the whole thing really meant. You're "part of the group", don't doubt it, and never doubt your ability as a writer, it's pretty astounding.
Aw, thanks Dustin.
That means something to me that we can all hear each other like that. You know, kinda nudges at the idea that maybe we all do really have that little bond somewhere.
I really do love all of you guys, and Sir, your writing blows me away one time after another. You keep that up too.
Ya know, I never really thought about it in this aspect. Sure, maybe Here Comes the Neighborhood brought us together, but that was just the basis, the building blocks of a foundation of friendship (corny, corny, corny, I know!) that even though the purpose has been stolen away, the bond we've created is still very much there. This is going to be a "let's wait and see what happens" sort of predicament. It's all been so sentimental, but almost bittersweet. I suppose if some people are happier coming out of such a battle, then that's not so bad. However, I know most of us are fairly upset by it all. Again, let's just wait and see what happens. Maybe we are judging too soon? We are only human, right? Thank you for this new insight, my dear Sarah! I llove ya.<3
Allie,
No problem at all. I love you too :]
We don't have to lose any of what we've got. It's not gone if we say it's still here.
The more supportive we are, the happier the guys will be to keep going. I know if I were in their shoes, I'd be so much more motivated to do stuff if I knew a bunch of people were waiting for something fresh, something new rather than investing all that hope in something I don't really want to bring back. (Diversify! hahah. you should be the only one who gets that.)
That kind of hope goes so much further in the end, no matter how things end up. You know?
Lmao, I think that's the only word I remember in that class! Diversification!! Yeah, I gotchya. That makes sense, the whole if I were in their shoes thing. I love it. (:
Mm now, lemme go post a "I'm excited to see what you boys will be getting into in the future!! I'm on the edge of my seat, dears." comment on their myspace.
;P
<3
Sarah, I agree with you whole-heartedly. HCTN was never about the 6 of them onstage, it was about the experiences shared by the, oh fifteen people that enjoyed eachothers company in Roselle, in Bartlett, Carol Stream, Elk Grove, and Addison. And if all of us hold onto those memories, and hell, maybe even make a few new ones, that intangible being that is HCTN will live on for at least the rest of our collective youths.
Eddie, I'm glad that you, too, share this view. I'm okay with whatever the HCTN guys want to do with themselves, but I refuse to let us die! This has been too good to let go. We've got the rest of our senior year to make count, and I like these people too much to do it without them.
We must organize!
Sarah, I have said this before "many, many, many kudos" are the only four words that come to mind when I read this.
You know me well enough to know I never, ever, cry, but I can't deny this burning sensation in my eyes while I was reading this blog.
I see no purpose to me even posting the blog I wrote about this, as you have said everything I wanted to say.
I love you and HCTN.
Post a Comment