Cafe racers at the "Ace" and thoughts on hipsters

[Blake]

Shit, I guess I don't really care, definitely not "butthurt" (you kids and your crazy lingo!), thought I was helping someone so they don't get laughed at by people who know what they're talking about. But then again, if you only hang out with people under 25, then all your friends might call them "vinyls" too. Except the ones who know what they're talking about. Now turn that cute sad face emoticon upside down!

I'd give you a thumbs up emoticon if there was one. How's a wink instead? I grew up calling 'em records. Moved to a college town and everyone called 'em vinyl. Social/cultural thing I guess. I'm a little edgy 'cause I wasted a bunch of time trying to repair a modern turntable today and it was junk. Everything held together by hot glue.

 

[SimonDanger]

I saw the Ramones when they backed up Lou Reed in 1979 I think. Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, or as we liked to call it, the Aragon Brawlroom. They weren't calling it Punk as I recall, but then it's amazing that I can recall anything these days. Back then half the time you listened to the Ramones or Alice Cooper just to be anti-establishment and piss off your parents; it really wasn't about belonging to a scene or anything. Kind of a sex/drugs/rock-n-roll sort of meme. The guys ten or twenty years older than me at the time thought the music and "scene" of my generation was "bad music for bad people", to borrow from the Cramps.

And I suspect that the hipsters of today will be saying the same thing about the music and scene that their own spawn enjoy twenty years hence. As for café racers, man I just dig getting my hands dirty making a thirty-three year old internal combustion engine shoot my ass way too fast down the road. I only look at the bike the rider is on, not their cloths. 8)

 

[AndrewDoesHair]

I cracked open another facet of the hipster concept...

Early adopters make decisions based on their personal values aligning with a company's values (American made, shares profits with people in poor countries, made with respect for tradition, or whatever the reason). This is seen as authentic and genuine, because they aren't choosing what they do based on what anyone else is doing. Then the early majority sees these guys and will copy them, typically for the sake of being "cool" or whatever. Moving further right on the graph, you'll see the late majority. These are usually (but not limited to) guys who are married and have 4 kids, drive a mini van, and have vague recollections of belonging to (or sometimes even delusions of still belonging to) one of the categories to their left (I actually sit in this group, but I sell a product to the far left, so I've learnt to disguise myself for 8 hours a day. It's exhausting). On the far right is the laggard. He is someone who is either so painfully terrible at being cool, or he is someone who has a value set of his own (much like the early adopter), except that his value system says "screw the left side of this chart! You're all wasting your time! Just ride your damn 'cycle!" if he cares to say anything at all...

Save for the laggard with values, there are social pressures on all of us, to get to the left side of this chart. It's used in EVERYTHING advertised to us. "Buy this hybrid sports car and you can drive to the beat of your own drum, you individual, you!" or "Take this Advil and you can get over that headache to get back on stage, you fucking ROCKSTAR!" What a hipster is, is this early majority, who is copying the early adopter, who (again) is seen as authentic and genuine. This implies that the hipster is not genuine, though we can be nice and admit it's not necessarily always true.

The laggard with values hates to be accused of even being aware of this system, and often clings to said values because he's been burned by the system in the past (this is the writer of that "motorcycles are dick enlargers" blog). The late majority hates being told he's not at the least part of the early majority- he'll even admit to being a hipster (like I said, I'm him) in hopes it'll at least plant him in the early majority. The early majority hates that he's not seen as genuine, and often over compensates to prove that he is, and becomes offended when accused of being a part of this group. The early adopter doesn't care what we say about him. The innovator was called Steve McQueen.

Tune in next week for another episode of "Ask Dr. Cool"

 

[Rich Ard]

Tune in next week for another episode of "Ask Dr. Cool"

I most definitely will. This is great.

 

[Drey6]

I can honestly say my experience thus far has been eye opening. I realize how difficult this can get. I realize how much more difficult this could have been. I've learned a valuable lesson, patience. This all started for me just this past February. My friend who was building a CB650 had me stop by to give him a hand and I was like "Holy shit, this is fucking cool." See, that's what we all say when we see a nice bike. Or we a variation of that phrase. I talked myself into getting one and boy am I glad I did. I'm not even done with it yet and I've had so much fun learning from all of you and being covered in grease for the past 4 months. The anger, confusion, and the occasional "AHA!" moment makes this so special to me. My parents see this as a huge waste of time and money. But I see this as a lifelong journey. (They may be a little bitter due to the fact I hid the bike in my girlfriends garage for a couple months before they knew a thing) I would have never imagined I'd have the guts to just jump into all this, especially only being 20. But remember , this all has nothing to do with the jeans I wear or boots I rock. In all honesty my attire does reflect the music I listen too. But that's from bands influenced by the Punk era that all of you are talking about... Lets just say these Kurt Cobain references make me sick. But then again I may be a little biased. It's not like I just traveled from Columbus to Chicago to see Pearl Jam play (and keep the neighbors of Wrigley Field up till 2 A.M.) ... Or did I?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[JohnnySomersett]

NY Dolls

It doesn't matter what you label music. In your mind the Ramones were the first punk band, but they were absolutely influenced by the bands that came before them like the Stooges and NY Dolls. The Stooges are out because they were in the wrong place. That's fine. The Dolls came right from that place where the Ramones came from. The Dolls were formed first and successful sooner. In my opinion the NY Dolls were the first of the NYC alternative rock acts that would come to be called punk. In reality those bands were contemporaries. FIRST is relative because it doesn't really mean who made the first type of music that would be known as punk, it means who was recognized sooner by record companies, the music press and the music listening public.

^----- this.

The Ramones cannot be classified as the original 'punk' band. Period. If we were to follow your core argument regards influence then pedantically one could say that someone like Chuck Berry 'started it all'

Punk as a musical style certainly grew from an embryonic state in the mid-60's American 'garage' era, and became more refined and directional in the early 70's - but as a full-blown lifestyle and attitude along with the musical aural structure it was most definitely encapsulated over in the UK. And, no, not the bloody Sex Pistols - they were simply a posterchild built for and chosen by the media.

Just my 2 pence from an educated standpoint


As for hipsters on bikes... can't say I've seen many to be honest, but then most of our 'hipsters' over here are in London or generally aren't petrolheads. They generally choose to ride those stupid fixed-gear-death-trap bikes. The whole 'hipster' thing slightly confuses me anyhow now I'm just old enough to look down on 'the kids'. Whatever it is, those suckers need to start eating decent meals. Skinny little fuckers.

A punk in Starbucks is a punk no more.

 

[Rich Ard]

They generally choose to ride those stupid fixed-gear-death-trap bikes.

Point of order, fixed-gear bikes are much more practical and fun than their hipster adoption would have one believe.

 

[carnivorous chicken]

^----- this.

The Ramones cannot be classified as the original 'punk' band. Period. If we were to follow your core argument regards influence then pedantically one could say that someone like Chuck Berry 'started it all'


Just my 2 pence from an educated standpoint

Shit, I thought this whole part of the thread got buried.
NY Dolls were a glam band. Long hair, make up, women's clothes, on the coattails of Bowie, T Rex, etc., but sure, more rockin'. Don't get me wrong, I love 'em.

Re: Chuck Berry, sure, godfather of rock 'n' roll (with Ike Turner, and others). And sure, punk came from rock 'n' roll (and against the excesses of prog), so yeah, everybody owes those guys something. And Elvis too.

The Ramones were the first punk band ever. Period. The NY Dolls cannot be classified as the first punk band. Period. As much of a fucking asshole as Johnny was, nobody played guitar like him, no band played 1:30 songs like they did and at the pace they did, no band acted like them onstage (arguments, fights, count offs, and all).

Again, I'm sure I'm not going to convince as you've got your mind made up (and your English bias established), and I don't care. Opinions are like assholes, yours just stinks a little worse.

 

[JohnnySomersett]

Sorry, just stirring the pot - how very punk of me (sic)

Its an ancient debate that has gone around and around for decades... And is the very nature of the scene, allegiances are hard to avoid - no matter how objective you're trying to be. I honestly believe it's something that'll never be decided or agreed upon due to the sheer amount of passion the entire movement has encapsulated.

Don't forget Link Wray, who basically invented how to play punk guitar. and I can't believe I forgot to mention Death, the 1971 band of 3 black guys who are most certainly punk!

Me and many others will disagree with you about the ramones but, hey, vive le difference!

I'm actually not gonna argue because I can already tell we're probably shouting from the same mountain and punk rockers should stand united.

 

[canyoncarver]

This thread has become:

 

[Drey6]

This thread has become:

Hahaha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk - now Free

 

[Drewski]

I just tune in once in a while to see what Rich Ard has to say. 8)

 

[Rich Ard]

And I'm watching this space for more comments from Andrew. I think we just proved his hypothesis!

 

[notlob]

Re: Cafe racers at the "Ace" and thoughts on hipsters - Now + Sociology

where does Voyeur and Witty Raconteur fit within the graph.

 

[Drewski]

My personal fav so far...



Quote from: AndrewDoesHair on Aug 20, 2013, 23:05:44

"Tune in next week for another episode of "Ask Dr. Cool"

Rich Ard:

"I most definitely will. This is great."



Classic Rich Ard! Wonderful! 8)

 

[lipuid]

subbed, interesting topic

 

[Ziggy Parker]

I think we all have to face it....we are not as cool as we all think or want to be...
Just do your own thing and enjoy life!
I like the cafe racer style.I like Bobbers...I like some modern Sports bikes..KTM RC8 (gorgeous) I like mine better... ..I also lots of music from the Clash to ABBA ...

I LIKE LAMP

 

[oldskool]

I just tune in once in a while to see what Rich Ard has to say. 8)

I'm with this guy^^^

 

[BmaEngnr92]

I think we all have to face it....we are not as cool as we all think or want to be...
Just do your own thing and enjoy life!
I like the cafe racer style.I like Bobbers...I like some modern Sports bikes..KTM RC8 (gorgeous) I like mine better... ..I also lots of music from the Clash to ABBA ...

I LIKE LAMP

This guy gets it.

 

[Mbstr51]

Im a noob here but old Punk Rocker,I just read these 7 pages and now feel I belong on this forum..... Bunch a super passionate and talented bikers still mentally in the seventh grade!