What exactly is our/the "scene"?

[CS Lewis]

Hey guys. I'm still fairly new to this forum and this is a question that I've been wondering for a while. I guess I don't really understand it because I'm not really apart of "the scene" but I'd like to have an understanding. For example, my favorite bands include Brand New, Manchester Orchestra, Taking Back Sunday - TAYF and WYWTB (which is pretty typical of an AP.net user and are bands that I would assume to relate to the scene by the way you guys talk), but then other bands like Rilo Kiley, As tall as Lions and Muse. These are bands that get respect here at the forums it seems like, but aren't considered apart of the scene, at least I wouldn't consider them apart of the scene according to my understanding of it. I'd just like a better understanding. I hear people say stuff like TAYF was a groundbreaking album for the scene, which I'd agree with, but for me that would be in comparison with "emo" bands at the time. And Brand New are basically like gods to a lot of people here, and yeah, they're one of my favorite bands, but I want to know how they fit into the scene. People say stuff like how Manchester Orchestra is the next big thing in the scene or how they are going to scene. Some people love All Time Low, some people say it's bands like them who are killing the scene. There are bands that I've really come to enjoy and wouldn't have done so if it wasn't for AP.net, like Valencia and The Dangerous Summer. There are other bands that I just don't get the hype for like Paramore. Are they all apart of the scene as well? What defines the scene, and how do bands like Manchester Orchestra, Brand new, All Time Low, Paramore, etc.? What classifies a band as apart of our music scene? And again, I may have this whole thing all wrong. So if you guys can help me out I'd appreciate it. Haha.

[bard]

* a part

[maxvsmaradona]

The scene depends on the person. Crunkxcore kids see the scene way differently then say the Brand New kids like you and I see it, you know? does that make sense?

[Regards]

Honestly dude, the more you search and become apart of these forums, the more you'll find that the whole Brand New, Say Anything scene really isn't that big, and there are a ton of people that represent different "scene's" of music.

I don't use the news or front page on AP, so I can only speak from a forum user perspective, but I can find discousion on almost all kinds of music here. So sit back, don't worry about it, and enjoy the convo's.

[CS Lewis]

Yeah that does help. Thanks guys :)

[Anton Djamoos]

The AP.net scene is any band that we want to talk about. We are not a punk scene, we are not an emo scene...we are an everything scene that is alive and flourishing because we have a great community that is open to all kinds of music.

[aoftbsten]

I'd say a scene is pretty much any community that shares interests in the same type art, be it music, film, or whatever. You'll go crazy looking for a definition because there really isn't a clear cut one. Some people may consider themselves part of one scene while others may look at them and see them as in another.
I'd say maybe this kinda started with the late 90's early 00's emo/punk scene, but since then music in the genre has evolved to include so many different sub genre's that you really can't classify it.

[michelle182]

I have the exact same favorite bands as you and I don't think those bands are 'the scene'. I'd say just the common popular bands/music among a group of people I guess.

[kemichels]

The AP.net scene is any band that we want to talk about. We are not a punk scene, we are not an emo scene...we are an everything scene that is alive and flourishing because we have a great community that is open to all kinds of music.

I agree with you and I absolutely love and respect this site for appealing to all different varieties and tastes (I especially love the increasing inclusion of hip hop on this site, this year), but hell, there are some close-minded people on these forums.

[weownthestreets]

The scene is just a semi-insulated soup of media news, review, and discussion; it froths beneath, and sometimes bubbles into, the mainstream.

So, like Anton said, it's what we talk about.

[briewer]

The 'scene' for this website is anything that is indie/underground that isn't covered by Pitchfork/Stereogum/Tiny Mix Tapes and isn't what would be considered 'avant-garde'. Of course there's always exceptions, but as a general rule that is the 'scene'.

[MrOctober430]

the scene is a bunch of guys looking like girls. its not about music anymore.

[Regards]

There's even discousion on Worship/Christian music! Seriously though, this site really is open to almost all music. It's pretty refreshing.

[micahistheballs]

I hate talk about a scene because it's so narrow minded to focus on one type of music and defend its legitimacy, novelty, etc etc.

[liquideasy]

the scene is a bunch of guys looking like girls. its not about music anymore.

Sad but true. Today, it seems the the "scene" consists of people who care more about the look than the music. I remember a few people I know were glad that the Matches called a hiatus because they looked weird...that hit me hard since they're one of the most talented bands of our generation.