The end is near...Weekly post #10

Image via theswollenfox.com

 

This is my last official post for my Social Media class and though I really had to struggle to squeeze in this last show, I'm glad I did. I decided on the Black Cat this week and a show featuring Jukebox the Ghost. This band is awesome. Obviously I picked them because of the strong catchy vocals, and a piano in the mix is always a favorite of mine. I won't try to compare them because that never fully get the point across, but if you check out last week's entry, you can hear a sample. Added bonus: the lead singer really resembles my fiance. I can't post a pic cause he'll kill me, but trust me.

The Black Cat is another very cool venue. I am no longer surprised by this because all of the word of mouth we've heard here has been correct, so far. Again, the sound was great and the opening band was talented as well, and worth a listen. They're called Wakey! Wakey!, which I think is a great name. They're based out of Brooklyn, NY.

This is the first time I've noticed a high number of underage fans in the crowd. There were lots of X's on hands, but it was OK because their enthusiasm was contagious and even though I didn't know the songs, I didn't have to feel self-conscious dorking out to the upbeat pop-y songs. Overall, a very fun night (except for the somewhat grumpy bartenders at the downstairs bar after the show). Just saying.

So that's a wrap. This has been more fun than I ever would've thought and I think it shows how important it is to choose a niche for your blog that you're passionate about. I love music and my next goal is to continue to post about fun shows I see and cool new music I hear. I also think it's a fun way for my friends to keep up with me besides going on Facebook. It's a little bit more work, but a great way to remember my experiences here in DC. So stay tuned, there's definitely more to come.

Response Blog #5-New In Town

I had to respond to Miss Major Substance this week and her post about gentrification because this hits close to home for me as well. Austin, TX is also going through growing pains, and to be honest, no one seems to be bothered by it. I have not frequented a lot of the areas of Washington, DC Miss Major Substance speaks about in her blog, but I can imagine they are, or once were populated by a mostly minority population. In Austin, the area East of Interstate HWY 35 was home to a predominantly African-American and Mexican-American population. Now this is not so much the case. The area's proximity to the much-loved downtown nightlife scene made the area the next logical target for expansion. Most of the minority-owned homes are now home to-pardon the phrase-trust fund hipsters. A lot of my friends rent houses in this area, and it's the cool new place live. The thing I find sad is that no one cares that the diversity is being sucked out of the city. I also think it's mildly offensive that when minorities lived in the homes there, this neighborhood was considered scary and dangerous (this is what I was told my whole life), but now, people feel free to ride their bikes and walk home intoxicated at all hours of the night. I happen to personally know people who've still had burglaries occur but the stigma overall isn't there.

This weekend, I plan to go to Brooklyn for the first time. This is another more famous example of gentrification. I think it's sad that families and history get pushed out of neighborhoods, but I'm not sure there's a way it can be avoided. Unfortunately, it always boils down to money.