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Yes, yes!!! (devious laugh) an entire thread on screamo!!!!


Screamo...

I don't get it. But some musicians I respect are wasting their lives with it. Or are they? I need someone to explain it to me.

I have had industry people tell me it's days are numbered (this is true, they really have)

But I have investigated it a little more, and damn it, if there ain't an entire culture built around it. Whole music forums dedicated to it. Kids arguing about who the "real" screamo bands are, as opposed to the "wannabes".


Here is Wikipedia's definition:

"Screamo is a musical genre which evolved from emo and hardcore punk in the early 1990s. Characteristic of the genre are screaming vocals, harmonized guitars, rhythmic bass and fast-paced riffs. Screamo has been described as "mixing the literate, poetic lyrics of emo punk with a harsher and more metallic brand of sonic thrash" as well as using screaming vocals "as a kind of crescendo element, a sonic weapon to be trotted out when the music and lyrics (every bit as evolved and autobiographically sincere as emo's were) reach a particular emotional pitch"

That it is punk influenced is a given.

But what the hell????

Clearly there is music underneath it all, and often it is complex and well played at that.

But...

The screaming tends to blur the songs. Yes, there are different styles of screaming, but it is still screaming, and screaming tends to sound like, well... screaming.

I want to know what goes through the fans heads?

Surely they have "favorite" songs, right? But when the genre is so restrictive, where the screaming occurs, how is this possible, while still keeping a straight face? It's like two guys smashing metal garbage can lids together, and "critics" having discourse on the supposed nuances of the merit of each garbage lid banger. It's still just garbage lids being banged together isn't it?

Or what about...

When you have that favorite song, it gets stuck in your head sometimes. And you can't help but go around humming it. People hear you humming it, and may even comment "Oh, I love that song too, haven't heard it in awhile though."

How do you hum screamo? I've never seen a fan, screaming the lyrics to their favorite song in a grocery store. Is that even possible without getting arrested for disturbing the peace?

Do you even "remember" how your favorite screamo song goes, without hearing it being played? There are albums by artists that I could sing the entire album from memory. I remember each part, all the breaks, endings, everything, cause they were such great albums and I listened to them alot. Is that even possible with screamo? To memorize, without working at it, an entire songlist of tunes?

Screaming is anger. Don't tell me that there are screamo love songs that have tender lyrics. I don't care. If there are, that is utterly ridiculous. That's like pounding the sh*t out of someone with a hammer until they are bloody, and calling it a "massage". It's patheticly ridiculous. Tender or sensitive lyrics, must be expressed tenderly, or they are not sincere. That's like a guy who beats his girlfriend out of unfounded jealousy, telling her he does it because he loves her so much. That's not love. He is a maniacly controlling bastard because he is insecure, not because it is a valid expression of love.

So screamo is angry music. Who wants to be angry all f*cking day without end?

I have seen alot of screamo bands in person, and other than the occassional mosh pit, many of the fans just stand there lifeless, watching the band, without being moved by it, in any measurable way. When my band has shared a stage with these guys, their fans scream louder for us, than their own supposedly beloved bands. This is because, our music is moving them, affecting them. They take it home with them. I've seen them singing our choruses, walking out the door, even on a first hearing. And while they are listening to us, they are not lifeless by any means. They are clapping to the beat, dancing, cheering for us, swaying back and forth. The music is getting into their souls.

Does this happen for screamo bands? Do they walk out the doors singing... well... screaming the tunes they just heard? Do they get them stuck in their heads? We get fans messaging us all the time saying "Man, I can't get that tune of ya'lls out of my head! I've been singing it all day!" Do your fans tell you something similar? Maybe they do, that's why I'm asking, but that genre just doesn't seem condusive to that happening very often, if at all.

Now Mike's band is an exception, because they DO mix alot of melody lines in with the screaming, but alas, they would not be considered a true screamo band for doing so.

So, there you have it. Those are my thoughts and concerns. But maybe I am wrong, and just don't get it, so I need someone to help me understand it better.

Otherwise, my theory may be true, which is the "sheep" mentality, of kids liking something, or thinking they do, or doing something, simply because it is supposed to be the "in" thing, and everyone else is doing it, and no one has the balls to stand up and say "Why the f*ck are we listening to this all day?" This mentality is what creates horrible polaroids of past fashion or hairstyles that, now, when someone looks back at themselves, they laugh their asses off and say "OMG!!! What the f*ck was I thinking? I actually thought that looked cool at the time."

Also, the "sheep" theory is kind of backed-up by the earlier comment I made, that fans of screamo bands get more into our music, than the bands they come to hear. This happens all the time guys. I mean EVERY SINGLE time. Wouldn't that logically, inform someone "Hey, I actually like real music better!"

Their response to us, says that they do. So why return to something they like less, other than a kind of brainwashed allegiance or sheep mentality?

Someone help me understand what I am missing.

I understand your angst and I empathize.

First of all, screamo is a convenient label but it's a slur; most of the bands I know that play this style prefer to just be known as metal bands. It's the music of young white people who embrace the alternative subculture. This includes piercings, tattoos, moshing and other activities.

Metal/punk music has always been the domain of the young (15-30). It's the music of rebellion and anarchy. Many young people feel alienated by society and this music helps them.

If you don't like to play with these types of bands you might be getting booked in the wrong shows. There's a market for all types of music, just find better gigs.

Try to have some tolerance. Go to some shows, get drunk and have a good time. You might even find a few bands you like.

Good luck and rock on!

I remeber being 15 to 30, we ( my friends and I we had jobs spent our own money being fools drove new cars we paid for and had insurance in case something happened) had some very unflattering terms for the jobless morons who spent moma's money to dress and act like fools. They all looked the same so they could be different? Got a thousand dollar worth of tats and bars but cant afford car or medical insurance. I'd love to see a poll of the fans of this particular genre of music (and a few others as well) just to see how many of them have applied themselves enough in life to get a real job. My soon to be x son in law is a good example. A very talented young man who could do well for himself and his family. But he seem to be more interested in dodging taxes, chasing a case of HIV, and playing screamo for losers in the local bar.
Sound a bit judgmental? It is. Stay sober and park out side one of these joints one night after 2400 hrs and see what stumbles out.
Or go into an ER in any city in America on a Saturday night.

jimmydanger wrote:

First of all, screamo is a convenient label but it's a slur; most of the bands I know that play this style prefer to just be known as metal bands.

I don't think you are right about that. Or else, maybe the bands you are referring to, are not truly "screamo" bands? I checked out ALOT of music forums for this genre, and the biggest fans of this genre call it "Screamo" proudly. If some are calling it a slur, I think it is a minority. The vast majority themselves, call it Screamo. Wikipedia has a section for them called "Screamo" and doesn't mention it being a slur either (of course you have to be careful about taking Wikipedia as gospel). But mainly it is the voluminous posts of these die hard fans that convinced me, it was NOT a slur. When someone had posted before about it being a slur (maybe it was you) I started calling it "screamer" to try and be more respectful about it, until I realized they shout the label proudly, which is why I went back to calling it what they do.

jimmydanger wrote:
If you don't like to play with these types of bands you might be getting booked in the wrong shows. There's a market for all types of music, just find better gigs.

Try to have some tolerance.

You misunderstand me bro. I am most sincere in asking the iniated to clue me in. Just because I expressed my own feelings as they currently stand does not mean I was insincere. It is in fact, in my researching this, that I realized how much more entrenched as a culture this phenomena was, that it made me curious about what I am missing. Kids have pretty detailed discussions, about the various groups, styles and merits of each band's approach to Screamo, and that made me realize they take this more seriously than I was aware. So, that means I may not be seeing it from the right perspective, thus my asking for others to enlighten me.

For example, when I was a kid, I didn't understand some forms of art, like impressionist or maybe surrealist works, and so I didn't appreciate them very much. Once I understood what to look for, I realized that these art forms were indeed meaningful and complex, and not just something it seemed a child could do.

I'm hoping for the same experience here, but felt it necessary to share my views or thoughts on it, as they stand, so someone else can address them.

I like just about every form of music I've ever been exposed to, to one degree or another, but Screamo is one of those that I seem to loathe. I don't want to loathe it, and maybe I don't have to, but until someone clears things up for me, unfortunately it strikes me as cancerous, almost a backlash against melodic forms of music. Which alarms me, since personally, I find good melody "sacred".

It could be a regional thing, around here anyway, to not refer to this type of music as screamo. Emo has very negative connotations, and the label screamo builds on this. There's so many variations within the genre that it just makes sense to call it metal. Please check out the following bands and let me know what you think. I know these people and enjoy them greatly. Peace!

www.myspace.com/girlscouthandgrenade
www.myspace.com/idecay
www.myspace.com/cokedickmotorcycleawesome

Maxim doode, .. don't be so harsh...
here, lemme show you :
this is a little screamo-type tune I wrote for my wife.
It's a sort of lullaby.


grrr ahahhh a ghhr ahhh zz ghhrhggh
wooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghg
woorhhchhchhittttygaaarbbrhgheraaaaagh


than, after time index 35, it modulates to:

grrr ahahhh a ghhr ahhh zz ghhrhggh
wooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghg
woorhhchhchhittttygaaarbbrhgheraaaaaghgrrr ahahhh a ghhr ahhh zz ghhrhggh
wooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghgwooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghg
woorhhchhchhittttygaaarbbrhgheraaaaaghwooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghg
wooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghgwooorhhhoorbbrbboooornnghhhgaaaghghg



what do you think?

OMG Jimmy That girlscout thing is awful!
I'm sorry man screamo is what it is and I just cant do it. Id rather listen to ABBA do dancing queen over and over till my flesh rots off.
Ifn you like it then by all means you may have my share too.

I'm not sure it's on the outs. Our band has only been together for a few months and our new song has gotten about 3400 plays in just the past week alone. We average 400 hits a day. We are getting offers to play shows every week including an offer to play at the ShowBox the largest club in Seattle. Johnny Winters is playing there this month. I never came close to this when I had my Blues/Classic/Rock band. It's a younger crowd for sure but to me it's all about being out there playing and performing. We will see where this goes. I just added more of our stuff on my Soundclick site just to see the response of a wider Internet audience. The song I posted earlier "Left To Remember" has already hit number 46 on the charts in the Metal sub genre out of 11,000 songs and 203 on the metal charts out of 62,000 songs in just one day so there is an audience for this type music. You can check out some more if you like below.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=792461

I,m sure there is a great market for this Mike, and honestly wish you guys the best. But (I like that word a lot as well) I can remember the mid to late 70's Disco was all a rage to my total dismay The Richie Riches at my school decided to have our prom be disco because "everyone likes it."
I spent a lot of time deep in the woods with the other and older rockers partying and playing classic rock / metal praying for disco to hurry up and die. The only time we went anywhere near their disco dance clubs was to steal there women!

Thanks sanshouheil. You know I appreciate it and I respect your opinion as I do the opinions from all the great musicians here.

I started work on a quartet for screamo, looks like it's shaping up to be three movements:

I. Agitato Larynxa Bloodiando

II. Raspitatura Vocalis Phlegma

III. Rondo Vomitus


I'll let you know when I have a first draft....

Only you Irmy would come up with that.
Agitato Thats the trib my boss said I'm from

damn craig... right a book already. I think moby dick had less lip service.

screamo... I'm guessing here but it seems that every generation comes up with something new that only they can tolerate... or understand... allowing them to feel like "they know" and no one else does. In my day it may have been metallica... and people like my older brother saying "what's with all that fuzzy noise in the background... I can't stand it"... and I loved that he hated it... made me like it even more... and the best part was being part of the little club that "gets it".
as a musician... you would do well to force yourself to get past the initial "ugly-ness" of the music and see the things that make it good despite your/our initial dislike... but this is easier said then done.

so that's my synopsis... you are supposed to dislike it... that's half of what makes it so cool.

Hey Craig, I would like to add that we are the oddballs I guess. We don't have any hatred in our music and not one curse word so you could say even though it has hints of a beating it's more like with a rubber mallet and we call it love taps.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_mu ... dID=792461

I prefer a whiffle bat. You can do it sooo much longer!