Your Scene

South Burlington High School sophomore Eliza Kane looks for a music scene at her high school.

As a resident of South Burlington for most of my life, I feel I can be totally straight when I say that we have no music scene. I mean that in the most endearing way possible, but there really is no question - it's common knowledge. Now that I'm being totally honest, I might as well come out and say that South Burlington has virtually nothing of its own. Being so close to Vermont's biggest and best, Burlington, there has never been need for anything of our own. Burlington's culture is so appealing and so accessible, everyone in the surrounding area considers it their own. Sort of like how 90% of people who live in Massa-chusetts say they're from Boston.

South Burlington High School is not entirely unlike other high schools. Wherever you go, teens and their music are pretty much inseperable. We do have crowds, maybe even a few cliques who call themselves bands, but a scene? Hardly. "With music like what we've got, you don't have a scene" says Alberto Semidei, a senior at SBHS. So what is the difference between us and something semi-not pathetic? There are plenty of people who can tell you why SBHS has musically regressed, but few offer any solutions. Hilary Roberts, a sophomore at SBHS, thinks that "people here don't connect with each other." Her solution? "Maybe we could have various school bands compete against each other, like they used to." Hmmm . . . a very good idea, but I suspect that it would have to involve actual bands, which poses a problem for us. We do have a few groups: there's Ray Gun, a band who seems to be the only attempt at a real thing, and then there's American Head (insert sarcastic laugh here,) which is mostly a collage of sound effects designed to agitate anyone in ear shot.

"I think there's less enthusiasm for live music now. A lot of kids are into dance clubs, which is more recorded music" says Jeb Interlandi, a senior at SBHS, formerly of the band Phooka. "The problem that remains for us is that there aren't enough musicians who take it seriously. They need to practice more . . . Honestly, I put music in front of schoolwork. It's more important to me; that's how it works."

Well, maybe that works for Jeb, but I tried that line on my parents and they laughed at me.

Jane Beaumont Snyder, a junior at SBHS known mostly for her vocal talents, suggests a free or low cost program after school for kids who are interested in learning instruments or just being involved in music. What was that? A productive suggestion? It may not start a musical community, but it sounds like a first step.

What I'm sure you're saying to yourself at this point in the article is 'has anyone done anything to start a scene?' Good question. Unfortunately, there is no straight reply; it's a yes and no situation. Margaret Maurice, a senior at CVU and organizer of their Blue Moon Coffee House, tried to initiate a meeting for SBHS kids to help us start our own coffee house. Tragically, the meeting was scheduled for the Friday that turned out to be the Ice Storm of '98 (makes you wonder who we've got working against us here.) Needless to say, it never happened.

It may end up that we come to terms with our lack of musical merit. It could be that we're just not cut out for it. Some students, like Jane, whole-heartedly believe that somewhere we have a thriving scene. Some people, like Jeb, think that our scene in the past (which has produced success stories like Dave Morency of Chin Ho!, Andy Hildebrandt of Motel Brown and Science Fixion, Tim Malloy of the D. Jarvis Band, Angus Gluck of K-Nine and Todd Thibault of the Courage Brothers) is all our scene ever will be. Senior Brett Frattini believes that kids coming into SBHS in the future offer hope for it, but at the same time wouldn't mind if things stay exactly the way they are. "I'm sort of selfish, I guess. I don't mind seeing the same people at every show. I don't go out of my way to welcome people or anything."

Most students agree with Zack Martin, senior at SBHS and member of the bands Army of Darkness and Portrait of a Bastard, who says "I don't care (whether SBHS gets a scene or not.) I hate that school. I hope bands start and have success, but this is my last year; it doesn't affect me either way."

So, forced to draw a conclusion on a series of random opinions, I have to hope that newcomers to SBHS do bring their talents, and most importantly, their enthusiasm. Maurice says "In every school, there are people who will rise to the occasion. It just takes a lot of commitment, PR and support from other locals. And someone has to start it."

That's the truth according to Margaret Maurice, who should know what she's talking about. Hopefully, this month's Chin Ho! and DysFunkShun concert at SBHS will get some kids psyched, and maybe those kids will start a scene that we can write a real article about.

Eliza Kane is a sixteen year old sophomore at South Burlington High School. She has interned at 96.7 fm the Pulse, Big Heavy World and Good Citizen.

Every issue we'll ask a high school student to tell us what's happening at their school: we wanna hear about the music scene and how the schools around the state support their young musicians. If you wanna tell us what's going on at your school, write to us at Good Citizen and we'll tell you how to get the gig. Support YOUR scene!