Broken Dreams Bands

There is a creature that frequently inhabits local bars on Friday and Saturday nights. These strange animals have several distinguishing characteristics, and are quite unfortunately no where near the brink of extinction.

The animal of which I speak is, of course, the Broken Dreams band. A Broken Dreams band is a group of normally middle-aged guys with careers, all of whom are now living out there long abandoned fantasies of rock and roll stardom by playing (poorly) old rehashed covers at dive bars on weekend nights. You can tell right away when you are dealing with a Broken Dreams band - they traditionally have top level professional equipment, but do not possess the skills necessary to validate the amount of money sunk in to said equipment. They all play the same songs, and the invariably take themselves way to seriously.

My feelings towards these bands is a strange mix of derision and pity. They piss me off because they obviously earn more money than they need in their real job, which is why they are playing American made Stratocasters through Marshall half-stacks and Yamaha Stage Custom drums, all of which cost thousands and thousands of dollars. They also obviously have always wanted to be a musician. However, they were never willing to put in the time, dedication, and sacrifice necessary to actually make a career out of music. Instead they got themselves a respectable, "normal" career, and just brought out music as a way through their midlife crisis. In and of itself that wouldn't be too bad, but they stereotypically act like they are the cat's fucking ass, as though somehow being on stage lent them a grandeur that only money can buy. Also, I can say from experience that the writing of music is the absolute hardest aspect of the art. Anybody under the sun can practice something that another person has already played - if you aren't writing it yourself, you don't have a whole lot to brag about. At the same time, though, I do feel sorry for these fools. Not everyone can make their living from music, and I understand that. Also, there is a kind of desperate melancholy in the way they so ardently play music written by other people.

So, next time you see one of these groups, feel free to make fun of them. Just, you know, quietly. To yourself.