07.13.98
Strange trends
In US culture, there seems to be a constant ‘retro’ thread that runs through the styles and fashions. It’s only one of a number of the distinct threads that make up this cloth of culture, but it’s a consistent one.
It’s also the one that just restarted itself.
From what I’ve seen in the late 80 and in the 90’s has been this thread, this stream moving decade by decade, slowly catching up with us. Parts of each decade’s fashions become popular for about 18 months, before the next decade’s fashions take over the heavy lifting of the retro thread.
Earlier in the 90s, a 60s chic had been very much the forefront of a new retro movement. As the current decade progreses, disco made a come back, and garage rock from the late 60s/early 70s worked it’s way along with the grunge movement.
The 70’s style continued until the approximately 1996 when the next decade’s fasion became more popular. Note the re-emergence of eletronic-based music, estabished in pop culture with the New Wave and New Romantic movements.
Certain elements of the retro portion of today’s culture: clothing, music, style, drugs, speech and art have kept in time to this sequence of fashions.
But where does the retro movement go from here? What comes after the 80s and early 90’s for a retro movement?
It’s already coming: swing/big band.
Witness the Cherry Poppin’ Daddys. Fastball. And even Squirrel Nut Zippers.
These are bands that have a line up of more than 4 instruments, often including some brass. The beats are up tempo, and the delivery leans hard on pin stripe suits. The retro movement has touched down – in the 30’s.
My suggestion for you: Start a band that draws from early rock and roll: Chuck Berry, Motown, perhaps even Elvis. Do this starting now, play for 2 years, and you will be picked up by a record label.
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